The most fantastic amusement parks in the world full of magic

11.09.2022.

Sometimes we just want to run into fairy-tale made of good old magic that releaves stress. More than that, it’s a pure way to become children that are amazed by everything. Disneyland Paris was my first amusement park, I always wanted to visit Gardaland that lacks here.

When people allure you with Disneyland-like magic, you just want to be transferred there. At the end, who were my favourite comics characters?

These are the places where garden fairy-tale dwells in the symphony with magic. I collaborated with nearly 20 bloggers to have abundant choice to seek amuseument.

EUROPE:

Disneyland Paris, collaborated by myself

Disneyland Paris is an absolute fairy-tale that brings your childhood dreams come true. The fabulous castles that dwell among picturesque river views bring fantasy. It’s the world of adventure totally worth seeinf even if you go just for the curiosity.

With 2 parks and 7 Disney hotels it’s easily reachable from Paris by RER. 2022 is the year that celebrates the glorious 30 years so fantastic parade was incuded.

You can expect to see the Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. Even one day is not enugh so take the most of it. Absorb the magic that awakes the faith in miracles.

The ticket prices range between 70-140$. The best would be to buy it much in advance at the official website. I got mine at Klook as the website prices were much expensive and it was around 60€. It’s marvelous soulution also to get the anual ticket.

Fantastic rides cover every possible character from legendary Mickey to Scheherezade and Indiana Jones.

Tivoli- Copenhagen, contributed by Erica Riley from Travels With Erica

Tivoli is one of the most amazing amusement parks in the world.  It’s located in downtown Copenhagen, Denmark just steps from the main train station.  The park is one of the first things you’ll see when you arrive in Copenhagen. 

The park opened on August 15, 1843 and is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world.  Over 4.6 million people visit Tivoli every year, and it is one of the most popular things to do in Denmark. 

Walt Disney even visited Tivoli when he was touring theme parks gathering inspiration for Disneyland.  You can see a number of similarities between Tivoli’s rides and rides at Disneyland. 

Tivoli has every type of ride from rollercoasters and upside down rides to slow and calm children’s rides. 

You can purchase individual ride tickets, but if you want to go on more than one or two rides, it’s worth the money to purchase an unlimited ride ticket. 

The one ride you can’t miss at Tivoli is the Rutschebanen.  It’s a wooden rollercoaster and the most famous ride at Tivoli. 

The Efteling- Netherlands, contributed by Daniela Koleva from Exploring The Netherlands

The Efteling amusement park in the Netherlands is one of the oldest and most enchanting theme parks in the world. Efteling is where fairy tales come to life. All attractions in this theme park are based on a fairy tale or a local legend and the stories are told in such an immersive way that you feel as if you are a part of them.

There are attractions for every age and taste in the Efteling – from the Fairy-Tale Forest with its talking tree and musical mushrooms, which small children adore, to the dive coaster Baron 1898 or the double-track wooden racer roller coaster George and the Dragon, that will satisfy every thrill seeker. Other famous attraction in the Efteling include the madhouse Villa Volta, the trackless dark family ride Symbolica, and the suspended dark ride Dream Flight.

The Efteling is located near the Dutch city of Kaatsheuvel and can be easily reached by public transport in the Netherlands. If you are staying in Amsterdam, take the train to Den Bosch and then then bus line 300, 301 or 136. The Efteling has its own fairy-tale hotel, where you can stay in a themed room, or you can choose to stay in one of the holidays parks, located next to the amusement park: Loonsche Land or Bosrijk.

Parc Astérix- France, contributed by Esther from Dreams in Paris

Easily one of the best day trips from Paris, Parc Astérix may not be as famous as Disneyland Paris, but it’s equally stunning. In fact, it’s most second most visited theme Park in France.

Located less than one hour from Paris, this theme park is based on the hit French comic books of the same name which follow the life of Astérix and his friend Obélix as they defend their village against the Romans.

While it lacks the magical touch of its French theme park counterpart (Disneyland Paris), the broad array of thrilling rides it has makes it stand out.

From the wooden Tonnerre de Zeus, which is the most thrilling, and Goudurix which is the most looped and longest, to various rides that can be enjoyed by the entire family, Parc Asterix offers much more than you’d imagine. Plus, it’s less crowded making it easy to enjoy all the rides within the park.

What makes this theme park even more special is that most rides are dedicated to a specific culture. You’ll find rides paying homage to the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and of course, the French. Besides enjoying the rides, you’ll also have a sneak peek into other countries.

And if you’re wondering how to get there, you can go by car by taking the A1 motorway in the direction of Lille or by taking a Flixbus. If you’re going by train, you’ll have to take RER B to Charles De Gaulle Airport and then take the park’s shuttle from there.

Prater Park- Vienna, contributed by Alex and Leah from Alex and Leah On Tour

By far one of the most underrated amusement parks in the whole of Europe is the Wurstelprater amusement park located in Vienna. 

Located to the west of Vienna’s Innere Stadt (city centre), Wurstelprater is easily accessible via the U1 metro station as the Praterstern station is just a three minute walk from the park entrance. 

When to visit in the day purely depends on what you prefer; if you have a small family or don’t like big crowds, the afternoon is definitely the time for you. Alternatively, if you love the hustle and bustle and the atmosphere, the evening will be your ideal time. On a nice day, the evening brings out some stunning views so this is a highly recommended time. 

As soon as you enter the park, you’ll be amazed at how big it is and how much there is to do. You should absolutely take a wander round the place as there’s so much to see and you can stop off at everything you want to do. 

The pick of the bunch is definitely the 65-metre high Ferris wheel, not for the faint hearted, and the bumper cars. 

If you get peckish then no problem, there are loads of food and drinks stalls scattered around selling traditional fast food. However you should definitely make time to visit the Rollercoaster Restaurant where all your food and drink come whizzing (securely) down on rails, a very cool experience! 

Ultimately, what makes this place so different is its atmosphere as it’s not like any other amusement park you’ll visit!

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:

Busch Gardens- Williamsburg, Virginia, contributed by Melissa from Parenthood and Passports

Busch Gardens is considered one of the most beautiful amusement parks in the world. The Europe-themed park is tucked back into a wooded area on the Virginia Peninsula. For this reason, the park has both natural beauty and a charming European appeal. 

To help visitors navigate the park, Busch Gardens is divided into different areas, each themed after a European country, like Germany, France, and Italy. Aside from its aesthetic appeal, the park offers family fun for both thrill-seekers and those visiting with little ones. With adrenaline pumping roller coasters like Pantheon and Griffon, teenagers and adults looking for a thrill will certainly find it. And for those looking for something more tame there are lots of rides in the park that are suitable for young kids and even toddlers. 

Be sure to check out one of the shows or live performances at the theme park, as well! But save those for the afternoon hours when the park is most crowded. It’s one of the top Busch Gardens tips to maximize your experience in the park. 

Six Flags- Chicago, contributed by Kylie Neuhaus from Between England and Iowa

An amazing amusement park is Six Flags Great America in Illinois USA. It’s located in Gurnee, approximately 1 hour from Chicago. The best way to reach Six Flags is by car. However there is a fee to park, on top of the cost of the entrance tickets. A good tip for visiting is to stay at a nearby hotel with free parking and then walk to the park.

What makes Six Flags Great America so amazing is that there are 12 roller coasters alone! Every September they hold a special fund raising event for the Special Olympics Illinois. During this event guests can sign up to a challenge to RIDE the distance of a 5km, 10km, half marathon or a marathon in one day!

For those that aren’t fans of rollercoasters there are plenty of other rides and attractions for the whole family to enjoy. There is so much to do it’s impossible to see and do everything in just one visit! Lines can get long during peak hours but fast passes are available for purchase. Next door is the Hurricane Harbor waterpark.

Cedar Point- Sandusky, Ohio, contributed by Michelle Moyer from Moyer Memoirs

Cedar Point is an amazing amusement park located in Ohio in the Midwest town of Sandusky.  This amusement park is perfect for a one day adventure or even an entire weekend getaway. The park is known for being the ultimate thrill seeker’s paradise and the roller coaster capital of the world!  Cedar Point Amusement Park has the most up to date thrill rides to make everyone in your group happy. Your visit will be packed with a variety of roller coasters, thrill rides, fun activities, and live shows which makes it special because of the immense amount of options for everyone.

For visitors staying for a weekend, be sure to check out the Cedar Point Beach, one of the best beaches near Lake Erie.  The Cedar Point Beach is located right next to the amusement park and offers plenty of beach activities like volleyball and sun loungers along with its beautiful lakefront coastline to relax on when the summer weather gets hot and humid.  

Thrill rides are Cedar Point’s specialty and there is a lot of splish-splashing excitement for the activities at Cedar Point’s waterpark, Cedar Point Shores.  Imagine a slide where the bottom drops out from under you are the beginning!  The waterpark has an additional admission but is totally worth it on hot, sunny days!  It is 18 acres of exhilarating water slides and other activities for kids of all ages

Cedar Point hosts many events throughout the year. For example, around Halloween they turn the entire amusement park into Halloweekends with lots of decorations and walk-through haunted houses. At the amazing Cedar Point amusement park, there is definitely something for everyone! 

Universal Studios- Florida, contributed by Jillian Michelle from Adventure Dragon

Universal Studios Florida is one of the most famous amusement parks in the world! It’s located in Orlando, Florida, and covers 541 total acres of land. The park features classic rides, roller coasters, and other attractions that are all themed around popular Hollywood movies.

It is best known for its recreation of the fantasy world of Harry Potter. At Universal Studios Florida, you can visit Diagon Alley, dine at the Leaky Cauldron, and even ride the Hogwarts Express. You can also ride an indoor roller coaster in the dark at Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.

Universal Studios Florida has a twin park called Islands of Adventure where you’ll find many other fantasy lands like Hogsmeade and Jurassic Park. Both require separate theme park admission or a combined park-hopper ticket.

If you’d like to dine at Universal Studios without purchasing a ticket, you can visit the restaurants at Universal Citywalk without needing any admission. Citywalk is located right at the entrance to Universal Studios and features an entire street of shops, food options, and free entertainment!

To get to Universal Studios, fly into the Orlando International Airport. The park is just a 25 minute drive from there.

Silver Dollar City, Missouri, contributed by Caitlin Dismore from Twin Family Travels

Silver Dollar City is an 1880s-themed amusement park located in the
beautiful Ozark Mountains of Branson, Missouri. This park takes you back
in time. View the craftsmen at work and enjoy the bluegrass and gospel
singers.

Silver Dollar City has a very unique attraction for an amusement park: a
cave! Marvel Cave is how the park got its start. Guided tours of the
cave have been happening since 1894. As the years went on, the amusement
park evolved to include top-notch rides. Now, the cave is an often
overlooked attraction.

There are five main roller coasters in the park. Time Traveler is the
world’s fastest, steepest, and tallest spinning coaster. It is
guaranteed to satisfy any adrenaline seekers with its’ 95-foot vertical
drop and 50-mile-per-hour speeds.

The Frisco Steam Train is a family-friendly attraction that takes you on
an entertaining ride. There are plenty of food options in the park to
choose from including kettle corn, funnel cakes, and their famous
cinnamon bread.

The best time to visit Silver Dollar City is when they go all out on
seasonal decorations. The Harvest Festival in October features thousands
of illuminated pumpkins. The Christmas spectacular throughout November
and December brings 6.5 million lights to the park.

Coney Island, Brooklyn (New York), contributed by Samantha from Find Love And Travel

Luna Park located in Coney Island (Brooklyn), New York is one of the most iconic amusement parks. The amusement park has had several names including Astroland, Dreamland, and now Luna Park, however, it has been in operation since 1962.

The amusement park sits right on the boardwalk of Coney Island beach with 6 rollercoasters including the famous wooden roller coaster, The Cyclone which is a must when visiting the park! This gives you the opportunity to enjoy both the amusement park and the beach. Best yet, Coney Island boardwalk and beach is one of the top free things to do in New York City, especially on a weekend. 

You can even see fantastic views when riding the Wonderwheel, another iconic ride in the park. While Luna Park has all the carnival-like goodies you’d expect at an amusement park, you have to stop by the famous Nathan’s Hotdogs right outside the park. 

Getting to Coney Island’s Luna Park is pretty easy. There are multiple subway lines that will bring you to Coney Island. You can also take the Metro Bus or Uber/Lyft. 

Disney World, Florida, contributed by Kelly Duhig from Disney Trippers

If you’re looking for one of the most amazing amusement parks in the world then you can’t beat Disney World in Florida. 

Opened on October 1st, 1971, this incredible theme park covers an astounding 43 square miles of land and features over 173 different rides spread out across Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. 

As a result, it has something to offer every type of visitor, whether you have small children and need to stay in Fantasyland, want to party the night away at the House of Blues in Disney Springs, or want to enjoy a bit of world culture at Epcot. 

Plus, Disney World hosts an array of epic special events throughout the year. So, regardless of when you visit there is always something exciting to enjoy, like the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. 

Additionally, this park is well located near Orlando. So, visitors can easily  fly into Orlando International Airport and take a short drive to the park from there. 

Then, upon arrival, enjoy amazing rides like Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, The Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, and more. 
And if it’s your first time at Disney book a room inside Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. It’s one of the best resorts in Disney and employees even offer you a flower lei upon arrival.”

ASIA:

Fuji-Q Highland, Japan, contributed by Kate Hood from Passports And Playgrounds

Fuji-Q Highland is a famous amusement park that is known for its record-breaking roller coasters right near the base of Mount Fuji. Less than 2 hours from Tokyo, this amusement park is perfect for the entire family.

Fujiyama, the park’s centerpiece attraction, was the world’s tallest and fastest roller coaster when it opened in 1996. Dodonpa holds a world record for being one of the fastest roller coasters in the world.  Eejanaika, has the most inversions of any roller coaster. Finally, Takabisha, built in 2011, is the steepest roller coaster in the world, dropping at an angle of 121 degrees.

Besides the roller coasters, guests can ride a variety of traditional rides such as teacup, log flume, pirate ship and drop tower type rides, a Ferris wheel, carousel, and sky swings. There are also kids’ attractions including Thomas Land. This train-themed zone is based on the British Thomas the Tank Engine books and television series. This zone was the highlight with the preschooler/toddler group as the rides were designed for their exact size.

With award-winning roller coasters, family fun zones, and a stunning view of Mount Fuji, you will quickly see why Fuji-Q Highland is one of the most popular amusement parks in Japan.

How to get there

Address: 5 Chome-6-1 Shinnishihara, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi 403-0017

Hours of operation: 9:00 to 17:00

Ba Na Hills, Danang, Vietnam, contributed by Jackie Szeto & Justin Huynh from Life Of Doing

Sun World Ba Na Hills, Danang, Vietnam

Sun World Ba Na Hills is a European-inspired theme park located on the hills of Danang, Vietnam. It’s a popular theme park for visitors who want to do something different besides staying at Danang’s beaches.

The most famous attraction is the Golden Bridge. Two giant stone hands hold up a yellow bridge. The bridge isn’t long and takes a few minutes to walk across. It gets crowded here, so arrive early for the best photo shots. 

Ba Na Hills has one of the longest cable car rides in Vietnam. It takes over 30 minutes one-way from the cable car entrance to the first stop. The mountains are lovely to see on the ride.

Other cool things to do are watching dances and other entertainment, speeding down the mountain on an alpine coaster, visiting a wine cellar, and visiting a pagoda. The park has fun spots to take pretty photos, such as a flower garden and a cathedral at the French Village.

To get here, hire a driver or ride a motorbike from central Danang to the Ba Na Hills cable car parking lot. Then, take the cable car to various stops along the theme park. Group tours also depart from Danang.

Universal Studios Japan, contributed by Francesca Makana from HomeRoom Travel

Universal Studios Japan is one of the most amazing amusement parks to visit. It is one of four Universal sites in the world and is a fun day trip from Osaka. 

To get to Universal from Osaka, it is a short metro ride on the Osaka Loop Line. Visitors get off at the Universal City stop and it is a short walk to the park entrance from there. 

A trip to Universal Studios Japan is relatively affordable. Tickets cost around $75/person. Make sure to buy your ticket online to beat the lines at the box office. 

In total, Universal Studios Japan has 10 lands to visit. The park is laid out in a loop, so it is easy to walk between the lands. 

Make sure to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and cast some spells throughout the land. The Hogwarts Castle ride is a must-do as well as checking out all of the shops. 

Another awesome land to visit is Jurassic Park. Here they have both a water ride and a roller coaster where you soar over the land. 

Other highlights include Amity Village, a Jaws themed land, complete with a Jaws ride as well as Minion Park with a Despicable Me themed land.

Legoland Malaysia, contributed by Brodi Cole from Our Offbeat Life

It’s no secret that Legoland Malaysia is one of the most popular amusement parks in Southeast Asia. With more than 40 rides, shows, and attractions, there’s something for everyone at this incredible theme park.

What makes Legoland Malaysia so special? First and foremost, it’s the perfect place for families with kids. There are plenty of rides for younger children, as well as several large LEGO playgrounds throughout the park that’s sure to keep them entertained for hours on end. There’s also an on-site Aquarium and full-size waterpark to enjoy! 

In addition, Legoland Malaysia is home to a large LEGO model area of scale replicas of famous landmarks throughout Asia. There are models of the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur as well as other landmarks from China and Singapore! While all Legolands around the world have lego model areas, this is the only one that focuses on Asian architecture.

If you’re looking for a fun day out, Legoland Malaysia is definitely worth a visit. The park is located in Nusajaya, Johor Bahru, and can be easily reached by car or bus from Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. Admission tickets are affordable and there are plenty of places to eat and drink inside the park. 

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