Your guide to the best theme parks and amusement parks. ThrillZing covers the standout rides, must-do attractions, tips, and history for the parks worth planning a trip around — whether you’re chasing thrills or a full day out with the family.
tz
/ June 26, 2026
Universal Studios Hollywood, located in Universal City, California just north of Los Angeles, is one of the oldest and most iconic theme parks in the United States. Born from a 1964 tram tour of Universal’s working film lot, the park has grown over six decades…
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tz
/ June 25, 2026
Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened on Earth Day, April 22, 1998, at Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando. Spanning 580 acres, it was the largest theme park in the world at its debut, and it remains the only Disney park built around…
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tz
/ June 24, 2026
EPCOT opened on October 1, 1982, as the second theme park at Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. Derived from Walt Disney’s original vision of an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, the park was reimagined after his death as a permanent world’s fair…
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tz
/ June 24, 2026
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the movie- and Star Wars-themed quarter of Walt Disney World, built on 135 acres in Bay Lake, Florida, and split into seven distinct lands anchored by the roughly $1-billion Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. It opened on May 1, 1989, as Disney-MGM…
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tz
/ June 23, 2026
Six Flags Magic Mountain still bills itself the Coaster Capital of the World, and even after a wave of recent retirements, that’s not empty marketing: the Valencia, California park runs 17 roller coasters across a mountainside that turns a full day into something closer to…
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tz
/ June 23, 2026
Magic Kingdom opened on October 1, 1971, as the anchor park of Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. Modeled closely after Disneyland in Anaheim, the 107-acre park debuted with 23 attractions spread across six themed lands, welcoming guests with admission priced at $3.50…
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tz
/ June 23, 2026
Disneyland opened on July 17, 1955 in Anaheim, California, making it the first theme park ever built by The Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney himself. Built at a cost of $17 million on…
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tz
/ June 22, 2026
A day at an amusement park is basically a marathon with roller coasters: ten-plus hours on your feet, baking in the sun, packed into lines, and strapped into rides that fling loose items into the void. What you wear makes the difference between a great…
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tz
/ June 22, 2026
Six Flags Magic Mountain is a 209-acre amusement park in Valencia, California, roughly 35 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. It originally opened on May 29, 1971, developed by the Newhall Land and Farming Company, and was acquired by Six Flags in 1979. The park…
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tz
/ June 20, 2026
Universal Orlando Resort now spans four parks — Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe, and Volcano Bay — and each one has its own mix of height-restricted rides. If you’re traveling with kids of different heights, knowing the exact requirement for each attraction…
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tz
/ June 20, 2026
Magic Kingdom is the most kid-friendly of Walt Disney World’s four theme parks, but seven of its rides still have a minimum height a rider must clear before boarding — and one of those minimums just changed. When Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened on May…
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tz
/ June 20, 2026
Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania is home to more than 70 attractions and 15 roller coasters — the largest coaster collection on the East Coast — and it is the only major theme park in the world that uses candy-branded height categories to sort its entire…
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tz
/ June 20, 2026
Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California holds the title of the world’s coaster capital, home to roughly 19 roller coasters and dozens of additional thrill, family, and water rides. Before you go, knowing the park’s height tiers can save your family hours of frustration…
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tz
/ June 20, 2026
Cedar Point, located in Sandusky, Ohio, is one of North America’s most celebrated amusement parks, home to 66 rides ranging from gentle PEANUTS™-themed attractions to record-breaking roller coasters. The park enforces height requirements developed in consultation with safety specialists, and every restriction is measured at…
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tz
/ June 20, 2026
Kings Island in Mason, Ohio is one of the Midwest’s premier theme parks, home to more than 100 rides and attractions — including record-breaking roller coasters like Orion, Banshee, and The Beast. Whether you’re bringing a toddler to Planet Snoopy or a teen ready to…
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tz
/ June 20, 2026
If you’re searching for roller coasters in Sandusky, Ohio, there’s really only one answer: Cedar Point. Perched on a narrow Lake Erie peninsula, this 364-acre park has built, broken, and rebroken world records since 1892, earning its nickname as the Roller Coaster Capital of the…
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tz
/ June 20, 2026
Kings Island is a 364-acre amusement park in Mason, Ohio, about 24 miles northeast of Cincinnati, known for one of the densest roller coaster lineups in North America. Since opening in 1972, it has grown into a seasonal destination anchored by record-setting coasters, a full…
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tz
/ June 20, 2026
Hersheypark is a world-class theme park located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, founded in 1906 by chocolate magnate Milton S. Hershey as a leisure retreat for his factory workers. What began as a simple park with picnic grounds and a merry-go-round has grown into a sprawling 121-acre…
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tz
/ June 18, 2026
Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California has the unusual distinction of being America’s first themed amusement park, predating Disneyland by more than a decade. The park grew organically from a roadside berry stand and chicken dinner restaurant into a full theme park during the…
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tz
/ June 13, 2026
Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana consistently earns top rankings as one of the most family-friendly theme parks in the United States, despite its modest scale and rural Indiana location. The park’s famous free unlimited soft drinks, free sunscreen stations, and free parking model…
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