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 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
Cedar Point is a 364-acre amusement park perched on a Lake Erie peninsula in Sandusky, Ohio, recognized worldwide as the Roller Coaster Capital of the World. Open since 1870, it ranks as the second-oldest operating amusement park in the United States and consistently draws more
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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 year-round 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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tz
/ May 26, 2026
The Universal Orlando Resort combines two theme parks, a water park, and the CityWalk entertainment district into one of the most thrill-dense destinations in the world. Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure each carry their own marquee experiences, and the rivalry between Universal and
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tz
/ May 23, 2026
Kings Island in Mason, Ohio ranks among the most coaster-rich regional parks in the United States, currently operating 16 roller coasters across its 364-acre footprint just north of Cincinnati. Originally opened in 1972, the park combines a serious thrill lineup with a charming themed setting
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tz
/ May 21, 2026
Hersheypark in central Pennsylvania has evolved from a 1907 Hershey Chocolate Company employee picnic ground into one of the largest regional theme parks in the country. The park’s 15 roller coasters span every category from family woodies to hypercoasters, and the chocolate-themed branding extends through
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tz
/ May 9, 2026
Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia consistently earns recognition as one of the most beautifully landscaped theme parks in the world. The 422-acre property organizes around themed European-village hamlets — England, Scotland, Germany, Italy, France, and Ireland — each with distinct architecture, food, and themed attractions.
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tz
/ May 7, 2026
Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California opened in 1955 as Walt Disney’s only park he personally walked, and it remains the spiritual heart of the entire Disney theme park empire. The two-park complex (Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure) feels intimately scaled compared to Walt Disney
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tz
/ May 5, 2026
A successful Cedar Point visit rewards riders who plan ahead, arrive early, and understand how the Sandusky, Ohio peninsula park actually flows. With 18 roller coasters spanning the entire spectrum from family woodies to a 420-foot record-setter, Cedar Point packs more vertical thrills per acre
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