FEATURE TOP 10 THEME PARKS
WORDS BY JENNIFER PLUM AUVIL
01 BEST ROLLER COASTERS CEDAR POINT
DAILY ADMISSION
$44.95 for adults, $24.95 for children
www.CEDARPOINT.COM
Just when you think that theme park rides can’t get any scarier, Cedar Point adds something new to its already stellar lineup. Likened to a giant Frisbee, the maXair promises to be this year’s craziest thrill ride as it sends riders on a whirling, twirling course at 70mph. Once you regain your balance, check out one of the park’s 16 roller coasters. Don’t believe anyone who tells you that the ride up to the top of the Top Thrill Dragster is scariest part-that momentary feeling of weightlessness before the tremendous drop is pretty darn scary too! This giant among roller coasters may have just lost the top spot as the fastest and tallest coaster on earth to Six Flags Great Adventures’ Kingda Ka, but we’re sure that the people behind Cedar Point have something up their sleeve to regain that title. And even if they don’t, they can still boast that they are the biggest theme park with around 68 rides and plenty of choices for everyone.
AKRON/CANTON OR FLINT
02 BEST WATER PARK BLIZZARD BEACH
DAILY ADMISSION
$34 for adults, $28 for children 3-9 $34 for adults, $28 for children 3 9
www.DISNEYWORLD.COM
When the temperatures creep up in sunny, sweaty Orlando, there is only one place to go. Blizzard Beach’s ski-resort theme just might trick your mind into a cooler way of thinking. If that doesn’t work, there are 66 acres packed with wild water fun. Chill out in a supersized inner tube for a lazy river ride on Cross Country Creek, or pile the whole family into a raft on Teamboat Springs (just be prepared to get soaked). If this really was a ski slope, the Summit Plummet would be classified as a black diamond run. The ski lift may seem tranquil as it inches up the 120-foot climb to the peak of this make-believe mountain, but the descent is anything but peaceful, as riders plunge down the tallest and fastest water slide in the country at an alarming 60mph. As well as the height restriction of 48 inches, there should be a bathing suit restriction, as this free-fall experience is only recommended for the strongest in swimwear. ORLANDO
03 BEST FOR KIDS SESAME PLACE
DAILY ADMISSION
$39.95 for adults and children, children under 2 free www.SESAMEPLACE.COM
We can’t tell you exactly how to get to Sesame Street, but Sesame Place is close enough to the real thing for little ones who want to visit Elmo, Big Bird and the rest of the gang. Sesame Place is celebrating its 25th birthday this year, but the characters haven’t aged a day at this magical spot. This is one park where height restrictions work in favor of the littlest guests, as it’s the adults that are banned from most rides simply for being too tall. The collection of spinning rides, mini-Ferris wheels and enormous ball pits are just the right speed for toddlers who might get easily overwhelmed at some of the bigger theme parks. The sprawling Big Bird’s Rambling River is a great alternative for nervous tykes who just aren’t ready for the dips and drops of the water slides. Everyone gets into the live shows and the Rock Around the Block parade complete with decorated floats and plenty of photo opportunities with children’s favorite TV friends. The best part? Sesame Place holds true to the notion of “chasing the clouds away” as promised in the TV show’s theme song. With the Sunny Day Guarantee, guests are given a free ticket to return if it rains continuously for more than an hour during any visit. PHILADELPHIA
04 BEST SWEET TREAT HERSHEYPARK
DAILY ADMISSION
$39.95 for adults, $22.95 for children 3-8
www.HERSHEYPARK.COM
It’s not called “the sweetest place on earth” without good reason. Theme park aficionados with a sweet tooth will find a sweet surprise waiting for them at Hersheypark—some worthy roller coasters and rides paired with lots of delicious snacking opportunities. Among the rides are 10 roller coasters, six water rides and 20 kiddie rides for a full day’s worth of family fun. But don’t fill up on too many chocolate chip cookies before hopping on board the fast-moving Storm Runner, or you might regret it after your body hurtles through the air for 60 seconds of wild twists and turns. Even more amazing than the rides might be the desserts dished out at the Tudor Grill and the Cocoa Beanery, featuring endless combinations of favorite Hershey treats. PHILADELPHIA
05 BEST IMPORT FROM EUROPE LEGOLAND USA
DAILY ADMISSION
$44.95 for adults, $37.95 for children 3-12 $44.95 for adults, $37.95 for children 3 12
www.LEGO.COM/LEGOLAND
It seems like Lego has been around forever, providing hours of entertainment for pint-sized architects. These colorful bricks make for a great play date in the living room and an even better treat at Legoland, with life-sized Lego creations and fun rides. While kids in Europe have had Legoland at their disposal since the ’60s, the park in Carlsbad, just over an hour from Los Angeles, is still pretty new. There are interactive play areas where kids can let their own imaginations provide the excitement, as well as tranquil rides like the boat ride that winds through fairy tale scenes in the Fairy Tale Brook or the slow-moving Legoland Express train ride. Be prepared to rearrange some furniture upon your arrival home as playtime will never be the same again. LOS ANGELES
06 BEST FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY WALT DISNEY WORLD MAGIC KINGDOM
DAILY ADMISSION
$59.75 for adults, $48 for children 3-9 $59.75 for adults, $48 for children 3 9
www.DISNEYWORLD.COM
The hardest thing about a trip to Orlando’s Walt Disney World is dividing up your time between the four main theme parks and countless attractions. Epcot is great for the whirlwind tour of 11 countries and the breathtaking Test Track. Disney-MGM Studios is home to the Tower of Terror, which undoubtedly lives up to its name, and Animal Kingdom is home to 400-acres of animal habitats and entertainment. But when it comes down to it, there is no better place to celebrate the spirit of Disney than at the Magic Kingdom. While the rest of the parks work to keep up with the biggest and scariest roller coasters, the old family favorites rule at the Magic Kingdom, with Cinderella Castle at the center of it all. Among the unmissable rides are classics like Pirates of the Caribbean, It’s a Small World and Space Mountain. Kids will love Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and the pint-sized roller coaster The Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm.
The only way to end a day in the Magic Kingdom is taking in the fireworks—even sullen teenagers should find the Wishes Nighttime Spectacular pretty cool. r
07 BEST UNDERWATER ADVENTURE SEAWORLD ORLANDO
DAILY ADMISSION
$59.75 for adults, $48 for children 3-9
www.SEAWORLD.COM
SeaWorld Orlando is a classic hybrid park, offering visitors the best of aquariums and amusement parks all in one place. The thrill ride Journey to Atlantis combines roller coaster drops with log flume splashes, while Wild Arctic showcases the popular synthesis of larger-than-life film with flight simulator technology. Be prepared for the floor to drop out on you—literally—if you take a spin on the park’s Kraken coaster. The creeping ascent seems endless, but brave riders are left wondering if the ride will ever stop while careening through seven loops at 65mph. If you need a chance to catch your breath and soothe your stomach, check out some of the great animal attractions. The leading characters—a sea lion and sea otter—of Clyde & Seamore Take Pirate Island have lots of funny, seaworthy friends, and of course there’s the killer whale who made this park famous over at Shamu Adventure. ORLANDO
08 BEST THRILL RIDES UNIVERSAL’S ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE
DAILY ADMISSION
$59.75 for adults, $48 for children 3-9 www.UNIVERSALSTUDIOSVACATIONS.COM
Don’t let Orlando’s feel-good, family atmosphere fool you—at Universal’s Islands of Adventure it’s all about fantastic drops, ricocheting loops and blood-curdling screams. This park is a feast for the senses from the minute you step through the turnstile—the coasters whoosh overhead, and the screams echo long after the last car has wrapped around another double-corkscrew turn. Marvel Super Hero Island is the place to go for the looming green Incredible Hulk Coaster that shoots riders from 0 to 40mph in under two seconds. Over on the Lost Continent, you are guaranteed a longer wait for the front car for one of the Dueling Dragons, but you won’t regret it as you careen through the course to beat the other dragon. Just be warned—the rides may be scary, but the despair of kids just under the serious height restrictions might be even worse, so check before you plan a trip with mini-daredevils in tow. ORLANDO
09 BEST BREAK FROM HISTORY BUSCH GARDENS WILLIAMSBURG
DAILY ADMISSION
$49.95 for adults, $42.95 for children 3-6
www.BUSCHGARDENS.COM
The costumes and historical vibe at Colonial Williamsburg can be pretty cool, but lots of kids overload quickly on Civil War talk and butter-churning demonstrations. But Busch Gardens has enough high-tech, looping rides to give the kids another reason to appreciate living in the present. The newest thrill ride, The Curse of DarKastle, is one spooky ghost chase as you escape from nasty other-worldly creatures in deepest darkest Bavaria. What makes this park extra-special is the great non-ride attractions including the recreated European villages and family-friendly shows. NEWPORT NEWS/WILLIAMSBURG
10 BEST POST-RIDE DINNER KNOTT’S BERRY FARM
DAILY ADMISSION
$35 for adults, $14.95 for children 3-11
www.KNOTTS.COM
The owners of Knott’s Berry Farm built the theme park in the ’30s around their Chicken Dinner Restaurant to give patrons something to do while they waited for the dinner bell. Today, the Peanuts gang hangs out in the kid-friendly Camp Snoopy, while more daring visitors flock to high-speed coasters like Montezooma’s Revenge and Jaguar!. After touring the park, visitors sit down for a fried chicken dinner followed by a sweet gooey slice of boysenberry pie. The park dishes out an extra serving of terror as the park is transformed into Knott’s Scary Farm for a Halloween celebration unlike any other, with kids under 13 banned from the fright fest! LOS ANGELES
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