With this wet and windy weather, it’s no surprise that our thoughts are constantly drifting to lovely, sunny holidays with all the family.
Usually, our go-to for vacation destinations is somewhere calm and chilled with an endless supply of sun, food and beaches. However, this year, if you fancy something a bit different with the kids, why not try a theme park holiday?
With theme parks, there’s always an abundance of things to see and do for all ages, meaning that everyone in your family will have a fantastic time. Plus, as everything you need is in the one place, it ends up being an incredibly convenient vacation as less travelling is involved.
So, if you’re looking for theme park holiday inspo, you’ve come to the right place! Below, the experts at Looking4.com have set out the top 10 most popular theme park destinations. Have a scroll through, and see if any of these tickle your fancy:
Marne-la-Vallee, France
Is it a huge surprise that this is at the top of the list? We don’t think so! Marne-la-Vallee is home to the hugely popular Disneyland Paris. Situated roughly 45 minutes from the heart of France’s capital city, Disneyland Paris is a huge hit with tourists each year. Marvel at the sight of the magnificent castle, enjoy the thrilling roller coasters (Big Thunder Mountain will always be our favourite), and be sure to stay until late to witness the amazing fireworks. They’re worth it!
Anaheim, California
If you’re looking to go stateside, then why not go to California? Anaheim is the location for Universal Studios Hollywood, which houses numerous popular franchises that everyone in the family will love. Walk through Springfield with The Simpsons, take off on Buckbeak’s flight in the Harry Potter universe, or race everyone in your fam with a real-life Mario Kart competition! You can also take a Studio Tour, where you can delve into all of the behind-the-scenes magic of one of the most famous movie studios in the world.
Rust, Germany
Welcome to the biggest theme park in Germany! Europa-Park has over 100 attractions for you and the family to enjoy, including the ‘Silver Star’ roller coaster, which was once the highest and fastest roller coaster in Europe. The park also offers around a dozen different shows, including Flamenco and figure skating! If you’re looking for a chilled celebration, you can be sure to catch Europa-Park’s daily parade, a spectacle of colour and joy that is impossible not to love.
Castelnuovo del Garda, Italy
Italy’s most famous theme park! Located in the province of Verona, Gardaland is perfect for the littlest members of your family. The park plays host to a dedicated Peppa Pig Land, where tots can get into a whole host of fun with Peppa, George and their friends. There is also a Legoland Water Park, perfect for water babies and those with an obsession with Lego! Finally, alongside all of the typical roller coasters, the park also houses a spectacular aquarium, filled with the most wonderful creatures.
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is one of the most popular theme park destinations in the world, and it’s not hard to understand why! The state of Florida is home to two theme park giants - Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort. At Disney World, you can dine with your favourite Disney characters and get into all of the Disney action, whereas over at Universal, you can visit Hogwarts and get up close with the Minions from Despicable Me. Brilliant family fun!
Bruhl, Germany
Situated near Cologne, Phantasialand is an epic theme park! The park is split into six marvellous themed worlds - Asia, Africa, Fantasy, Berlin, Mexico and Mystery - meaning that there is a huge variety to try! Each world has its own brilliant set-up of attractions, rides and shows. Celebrate Día de los Muertos in the heart of Mexico or speed through Taron - the world’s longest multi-launch rollercoaster… it’s completely up to you!
Sandusky, Ohio
Located near Cleveland, Cedar Point is a must-visit! The park houses 18 incredible rollercoaster rides to suit everyone in your family, whether you’re a coaster novice or a confident expert. The park also includes an extensive waterpark for the kiddies to enjoy a splash about. For the adults in the gang, there are plenty of exciting opportunities for you to enjoy along the seaside, including a cruiser wine tour and a thrilling jet ski ride. What more could you ask for?
Vaughan, Ontario
That’s right, Canada has a theme park! Canada’s Wonderland is situated just north of Toronto and features over 70 rides, including 17 heart-stopping roller coasters. There are plenty of attractions to satisfy the thrillseekers in your family! However, if you’re looking for something a bit more water-based, then the park also offers a stunning water park with a wave pool and an opportunity to cliff dive. How cool is that?
Santa Catarina, Brazil
This theme park truly is stunning! Beto Carrero World is the largest theme park in Latin America and is divided into seven distinct areas, including themes of animals, pirates and old westerns. However, the main attraction in this park is its castle. Named Castelo das Nações, which translates to ‘Nations’ Castle’, the stunning building is a display of technicolour. The park also has a unique partnership with Universal Studios, meaning that there are attraction homages to franchises such as Madagascar and Fast & The Furious.
Tokyo, Japan
Last, but by no means least, we have Tokyo DisneySea! Located just outside of the Japanese capital, DisneySea is split into seven magical districts, all of them inspired by Disney’s magical sea legends. Whether it be the Mermaid Lagoon (based on The Little Mermaid) or the Arabian Coast (based on Aladdin), Disney magic can be found everywhere you look. Excitingly, this year, the park will be opening an expansion into an eighth district called Fantasy Springs, which will pay tribute to iconic films Frozen, Tangled and Peter Pan.
