This article looks at the 5 best alternatives to Disney World for a family theme park vacation. If you wish to check out our detailed analysis of the theme park industry and its success, you may check out 13 Alternatives to Disney World for a Family Theme Park Vacation.
5. Tivoli Gardens, Denmark
Insider Monkey Rating: 11.5
Trip Advisor Rating: 4.5 (26,852 Reviews)
Tivoli Gardens is one of the oldest theme parks in the world, established in Copenhagen in 1843. Despite its age, the park offers an exciting mix of historical and modern attractions. Some of its iconic features include the century old roller coaster Rutschebanen and the Nimb Hotel. It also houses various carousels and entertainment activities which are perfect for a pleasant family holiday. Moreover, the experience at Tivoli Gardens is further enriched by the charm of the city of Copenhagen. Thus, families have the option of not only enjoying their favorite rides, but also engaging with the Nordic culture and its rich heritage during their stay in the city.
4. Universal Studios Florida, USA
Insider Monkey Rating: 11.5
Trip Advisor Rating: 4.5 (41,281 Reviews)
As with Universal Studios Japan, Universal Studios Florida captivates its audience by incorporating the various movies and tv shows owned by Universal Pictures into the experience. This includes cinematic experiences out of the worlds of Harry Potter, Fast and Furious, and Transformers among others. In comparison to the Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios is regarded as being a more nostalgic experience, especially for people who can relate to productions such as E.T.
3. Port Aventura, Spain
Insider Monkey Rating: 12
Trip Advisor Rating: 4.0 (24,604 Reviews)
Located in the region of Catalonia, Port Aventura consists of multiple parks, each of which characterizes a unique region. Apart from incredible rides, family-friendly events, and a range of other exciting attractions, this place is home to the Caribe Aquatic Park as well. Thus, Port Adventura offers a comprehensive escape for vacationers, ensuring there are ample activities to engage the entire family. Moreover, its close proximity to the Ferrari Land allows you to have the option of visiting more than one theme park in the same vacation, without the hassle of travelling to multiple destinations.
2. Universal’s Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando, USA
Insider Monkey Rating: 12.5
Trip Advisor Rating: 4.5 (52,342 Reviews)
Ranking at number 2, the final Universal Studios Park in our list is the Island of Adventure Park, also based in Orlando. Unlike Universal Studios Orlando, this park focuses less on cinematic experiences/ live shows, and more on the adrenaline pumping rides most theme parkgoers crave for. Rather than being themed around movie productions, this park incorporates themes of various fandoms owned by universal pictures into thematic lands. By merging heroes, mythical creatures, and other characters into these lands, the Island of Adventure provides a more thrilling experience, which is also the reason it outranks Universal Studios Orlando in this list.
1. Europa Park, Germany
Insider Monkey Rating: 14.5
Trip Advisor Rating: 4.5 (14,522 Reviews)
Europa Park in Germany tops our list as being the number one spot for families to visit in a theme park vacation. Much like other top theme parks, Europa is segmented into distinct zones. Each zone in this park represents a different European country, and currently the park hosts 15 different countries. This number will rise soon with the addition of Croatia this spring. Over the years, Europa Park has won several awards and accolades as a theme park. Many regard it as being the best theme park in the world, inclusive of Disney Parks. Unlike most parks, Europa has no single feature which enables it to stand out. Rather, owing to the diversity of cultures and a whopping 100+ rides and attractions, Europa has the capability to cater to all kinds of theme park visitors. Thus, whether you’re an adrenaline junkie looking for a blood curdling experience, or a single parent looking to bring your children to a memorable childhood experience, it is unlikely that you will leave disappointed.
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