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.
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/ June 27, 2026
SeaWorld Orlando opened on December 15, 1973, as the third park in the SeaWorld chain, spread across 200 acres in Orlando, Florida. Acquired by Anheuser-Busch in 1989, the park was rebuilt from a show-driven marine attraction into a ride-intensive destination. Now owned and operated by
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tz
/ June 26, 2026
The biggest Universal Studios theme park in the world is Universal Studios Beijing, located in the Tongzhou District on the eastern edge of Beijing, China. It opened on September 20, 2021, as the seventh Universal-branded park and instantly became one of the largest single Universal
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tz
/ June 26, 2026
Shanghai Disneyland opened in 2016 as the newest, boldest castle park in the Disney portfolio — and it pushed the company’s imagineering to new heights. Built to blend Disney storytelling with Chinese culture, it features the largest castle Disney has ever built: the Enchanted Storybook
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tz
/ June 26, 2026
When Tokyo Disneyland opened in 1983, it became the first Disney park built outside the United States — and decades later, fans still argue it’s the best-run Disney park on Earth. Tucked into Urayasu just outside Tokyo, it pairs the familiar Magic Kingdom layout with
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tz
/ June 26, 2026
Universal Studios Florida opened on June 7, 1990, as the flagship park of what would become Universal Orlando Resort. Set on roughly 107 acres in Orlando, Florida, it was originally envisioned as both an active movie production facility and a themed entertainment destination — a
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tz
/ June 26, 2026
Universal’s Islands of Adventure opened on May 28, 1999, at Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida. Built as Universal’s most ambitious project since the debut of Universal Studios Florida in 1990, the park was designed around the concept of exploration, organizing its experiences into eight
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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. Spanning 580 acres, it was the largest theme park in the world at the time of its debut. The park blends a fully accredited zoological collection
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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 in Valencia, California holds the world record for most roller coasters at a single park, currently operating 19 distinct coasters across its mountainside acreage. The park’s Coaster Capital of the World branding is genuinely earned — no other operator has matched
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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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