The Number One Theme Park in the U.S. Is NOT a Disney Park…Again!

When it comes to vacations, we love a good theme park!

From Disney World to Universal and all the others in between, it can be hard for us to pick a favorite. For others, however, picking a favorite is no issue! This year’s rankings for the best United States Theme Parks and Water Parks might surprise you because Disney isn’t number one.

TripAdvisor has done it again! They have taken on what feels like the impossible task of ranking the theme parks across the U.S. and managed to surprise people. To create their rankings, they award spots based on parks that “receive a high volume of above-and-beyond reviews and opinions from the Tripadvisor community over a 12-month period. Out of our 8 million listings, fewer than 1% achieve this milestone.”

So we know that Disney isn’t snagging that top spot… so what is? As a Tennessee local, I couldn’t be more proud to say that Dollywood in Pigeon Forge was awarded number one! This theme park was created by Dolly Parton and is located in Tennessee because she grew up in the Smoky Mountains.  It has tons of thrill rides and even a museum dedicated to her and her career.

The number two theme park is the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando! The original Disney park in Florida, Magic Kingdom, is home to the truly iconic Cinderella Castle as well as thrill rides and family-focused attractions fit for any age.

Knoebels Amusement Resort takes the third spot on the list! It’s located in Elysburg, Pennsylvania, and has been family-owned and operated since 1926. TripAdvisor writes, “It’s got it all: roller coasters, kid-friendly rides (bumper cars, a haunted mansion), swimming, camping, a mining museum, and even a championship 18-hole golf course. The accommodating staff, clean facilities, and fun attractions make for a memorable family-friendly visit.” 

Disney World is coming back into the number 4 slot thanks to Hollywood Studios! This is the Disney park for thrills and movie fans. You can go into Star Wars and Toy Story after dropping in a falling elevator over at the Tower of Terror. This park is currently changing quite a bit, so we’re eager to see where it lands on the list next year!

Number 5 goes to Universal’s Islands of Adventure! This park is located in Orlando, Florida, and you can expect major thrills, magical moments, and fearsome dinosaurs in this park.

We’re super surprised by this one, but number 6 goes to Fun Spot America in Kissimmee, Florida! It offers classic amusement park rides and concessions like Bumper Kars, a Ferris Wheel, and Go-Karts. It’s super affordable, which is a huge reason people stop by!

LEGOLAND California was ranked 7th when it came to best theme parks! It’s located in Carlsbad, roughly 30 minutes north of San Diego! It has more than 60 rides, shows, and attractions to enjoy. Plus, you can even experience going into The LEGO World Movie thanks to Emmet’s Flying Adventure ride.

Number eight goes to Universal Studios Florida! This park takes you into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the movies of Dreamworks, and more as you explore this thrilling park. Plus, this is one of the two locations that host the terrifying Halloween Horror Nights.

Over in Branson, Missouri, you can find the number 9 best theme park in Silver Dollar City! This is an 1880s-style theme park with tons of record-breaking coasters and family rides alike. It also features live concerts, crafts demonstrations, and one-of-a-kind attractions.

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