Rank your top 10 theme/amusement parks

[Walt Disney1955]

Okay, just so the whole lists aren't littered with WDW and Disneyland individual parks I am going to just lump them together as resorts. Same with Universal Orlando. If you like Islands of Adventure better than Universal Studios (and I do) that's fine but just lump them together and decide where it fits overall. Obviously it will be places I have been.

1 - WDW
2 - Disneyland Resort
3 - Universal Orlando
4 - Universal Hollywood
5 - Busch Gardens Tampa
6 - Cedar Point
7 - Sea World (Orlando)
8 - Canada's Wonderland
9 - King's Island
10 - Kennywood

That's it, that's my list. Still a lot more parks I would like to visit though. It looks a lot smaller when you lump all the WDW ones together. It almost looks like I haven't visited a lot of theme parks overall that way, but we have. Cedar Point I would definitely suggest that for the roller coaster junkies. No doubt. It is the Cathedral of thrill rides.

So what is your list?

Edit: Make the WDW and Disneyland parks separate if you would like

 

[TwilightZone]

I don't have many parks I've been to, but I will rank the ones I have been to. There's two I'm omitting because it's been so long that I don't remember what they are like, those being sea world san diego and six flags discovery kingdom.
From least favorite to favorite.

1. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
2. California's Great America
3. Six Flags Magic Mountain
4. Universal Studios Hollywood
5. DCA
6. Disneyland

If this list is too obvious, I do consider DCA and disneyland equals in terms of personal enjoyment. But if I had to rank, then Disneyland is better.

 

[eliza61nyc]

lol, does Coney Island count?? I'm not a real big lover of amusement parks outside of wdw. I've never been to Disneyland and Disneyland Paris was "ok". I hate the six flags (only been to the one in NJ once) with a passion. so I don't even have a top 5

 

[Trackmaster]

Okay, just so the whole lists aren't littered with WDW and Disneyland individual parks I am going to just lump them together as resorts. Same with Universal Orlando. If you like Islands of Adventure better than Universal Studios (and I do) that's fine but just lump them together and decide where it fits overall. Obviously it will be places I have been.

1 - WDW
2 - Disneyland Resort
3 - Universal Orlando
4 - Universal Hollywood
5 - Busch Gardens Tampa
6 - Cedar Point
7 - Sea World (Orlando)
8 - Canada's Wonderland
9 - King's Island
10 - Kennywood

That's it, that's my list. Still a lot more parks I would like to visit though. It looks a lot smaller when you lump all the WDW ones together. It almost looks like I haven't visited a lot of theme parks overall that way, but we have. Cedar Point I would definitely suggest that for the roller coaster junkies. No doubt. It is the Cathedral of thrill rides.

So what is your list?

Hmm... I think that you need to break out WDW into all four parks... here goes for me:

1. Cedar Point - four top 25 coasters and two in my top three. What more can you say about CP?
2. Holiday World - Not a huge park, but just fantastic overall. Disney-esque friendliness and atmosphere with world class coasters and a laid back environment
3. Six Flags Magic Mountain - I know, the park itself is trash, but its hard to say no to their line-up)
4. Animal Kingdom - I think it laps the other parks. Best coaster at WDW (one of two top 25 in the state of FL), best non-coaster ride of all time for me, best themed section, most authentic theming of any park, best themed section in WDW, easier to park and get in and out of, list goes on and on
5. Knott's Berry Farms - Disney quality theming with CF quality coasters
6. Kentucky Kingdom - two top 10 coasters for me, and I want to support them as they cater to enthusiasts)
7. King's Island - Two top 25 coasters and an impressive line-up.
8. King's Dominion - One of my home parks as a kid. Always had an impressive line-up. RIP Volcano
9. Six Flags New England (again, not a well run park, but two coasters in my top 10, hard to say no
10. Magic Kingdom - I really hate the no alcohol policy and how hard it is to get in and out, but the ride list goes on forever. Any Disney park will set the standard for what the other parks have to follow, so it makes sense to give Disney another entry.

Honorable mentions:
SFGadv - El Toro is my #2, and the park has an impressive line-up. It does get crazy NY crowds though.
Canada's Wonderland - So much potential, but despite having a top 15 coaster, they need to shake out some of the junk and improve the quality of their massive coaster collection.
Kennywood - Its hard for me to support Steelers nation, but its a solid park. It gets some big crowds, but its almost Holiday World-ish.
Dollywood - Its just been way too long since I've been there. It'll probably be top 10 when I get back there.
BGT - This is literally my home park now. Platinum pass, annual quick queue, go there all the time (but not as much as Disney) -- But it doesn't even have a top 25 coaster. So it pains me that its not top 10. Once they RMC Gwazi, it'll probably be top 5 for me, but they also need to work on their operations if they want to compete with Disney.
SeaWorld Orlando - The other FL park with a top 25 coaster. Not much there, but I appreciate how there's never a line, and the park is very supportive of drinking and providing gourmet food. Great for meeting up with people, hanging out, and spamming rides on Mako. Maybe seeing a fishy or two.


At some point, I'd like to get to all of the Disney parks across the planet. Its so hard, as they're so far apart.

 

[KINGLOUIS1993]

I also think you should split WDW and Uni in to the separate parks, mainly because in the UK our parks aren't brilliant. The only good parks I have been to are in Orlando, apart from Alton Towers.

1. Magic Kingdom (WDW)
2. Busch Gardens Tampa
3. Universal Islands of Adventure
4. Animal Kingdom
5. Universal Studios Orlando
6. Epcot
7. Hollywood Studios (Will move up the list when SGE opens)
8. Sea World Orlando
9. Alton Towers
10. Aquatica

 

[Goofyernmost]

Easy...

1. WDW
2. WDW
3. WDW
4. WDW
5. WDW

Continuing independently...

1. WDW
2. Epcot
3. Magic Kingdom
4. DHS
5. DAK

Honorable mention...
Disneyland
Disneyland Paris

 

[bryanfze55]

1. Disneyland
2. Animal Kingdom
3. Magic Kingdom
4. Epcot
5. California Adventure
6. Hollywood Studios (might jump to 4th if SW:GE meets expectations)
7. Holiday World
8. Busch Gardens Williamsburg
9. Silver Dollar City
10. Busch Gardens Tampa

Honorable mention: Legoland, since my daughter loves it. Simply not much for an adult to do there, but I appreciate it for what it is.

I have never been to Universal Studios.

 

[Kevin_W]

Hmm... I think that you need to break out WDW into all four parks... here goes for me:

1. Cedar Point - four top 25 coasters and two in my top three. What more can you say about CP?

I'm guessing Steel Vengance and Millennium force?

 

[aliceismad]

1. DLR (Taken separately, Disneyland would be #1 and DCA would be #4)
2. WDW (Taken separately, Magic Kingdom would be #2, Animal Kingdom would be #3, Epcot #5, and HS #6)

...(Large break between Disney and other parks)...
9 (tie). Knott's Berry Farm
9 (tie). Six Flags Magic Mountain
9 (tie). Busch Gardens Tampa
9 (tie). Hersheypark
9 (tie).Universal Orlando (Pre-Potter)
9 (tie). Kings Dominion
9 (tie). California's Great America
10 (tie). Six Flags Over Georgia
10 (tie). Six Flags Over Texas
10 (tie). Universal Studios Hollywood (Pre-Potter)

 

[ChrisFL]

1. Tokyo Disney Resort
2. Disneyland Resort
3. WDW
4. Universal Orlando
5. Universal Osaka
6. Hong Kong Disneyland (I haven't been since they made all of the updates, so it might go higher)
7. Hershey Park
8. Busch Gardens Williamsburg
9. Busch Gardens Tampa
10. Sea World Orlando

Note: I would have put Universal higher on my list, but I can't ride as many thrill rides anymore, and it drops a few notches due to this.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I'm going to split WDW and DLR.

1. Animal Kingdom
2. Disneyland
3. Magic Kingdom
4. Epcot
5. California Adventure
6. Hollywood Studios
7. Dollywood
8. Hershey Park
9. Busch Gardens Williamsburg
10. Canobie Lake Park

I don't really care for either Universal Orlando park and I really hate Cedar Point.

 

[Tom Morrow]

It's been a while since I've been somewhere other than the Florida parks, so I don't feel right making a list.

I don't really care for either Universal Orlando park and I really hate Cedar Point.

Why? Regarding Cedar Point.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Why? Regarding Cedar Point.

The big coasters don't do it for me and I think they're visually ugly.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

Split WDW and Disneyland and Universal. Sorry, I just figured there would be more theme parks people have gone to that would fill up 10.

Just a revised version for me if we are doing it this way:
1 - Disneyland
2 - Magic Kingdom
3 - Epcot
4 - California Adventure
5 - Islands of Adventure
6 - Animal Kingdom
7 - Disney Hollywood Studios
8 - Universal Orlando
9 - Universal Hollywood
10 - Cedar Point

Honorable mentions: Canada's Wonderland, King's Island, Sea World Orlando, Bush Gardens Tampa, Kennywood, Darien Lake

 

[Walt Disney1955]

1. Disneyland
2. Animal Kingdom
3. Magic Kingdom
4. Epcot
5. California Adventure
6. Hollywood Studios (might jump to 4th if SW:GE meets expectations)
7. Holiday World
8. Busch Gardens Williamsburg
9. Silver Dollar City
10. Busch Gardens Tampa

Honorable mention: Legoland, since my daughter loves it. Simply not much for an adult to do there, but I appreciate it for what it is.

I have never been to Universal Studios.

There are those on these boards that are indifferent to Universal. Others like me love it very much and can't understand why the first group doesn't. I see you have been a lot of different places. When you are in Florida next time............go to Universal for sure. Same with Hollywood. But Orlando's is the best. It is well worth the trip to Florida just to do Universal down there.

 

[Scrooged]

@Trackmaster So thrilled to see Kentucky Kingdom on your list! That’s our “home park” as my family and I live in Louisville. They do their best to cater to enthusiasts with special events and behind the scenes stuff. This year they are adding the “Kentucky Flier” to their lineup of coasters. It’s such a small footprint and little space to grow into, its amazing that the original owners came back after the Six Flags debacle and spruced it up. (Plus the battle between them and the KY state fair board as well as the airport authority is a story ina nd of itself.)

Ok- enough of my blathering. I know KK doesn’t compete with the likes of King’s Island or WDW by a long shot- but it makes me happy to see our “little park that could” on someone else’s radar.

 

[Trackmaster]

@Trackmaster So thrilled to see Kentucky Kingdom on your list! That’s our “home park” as my family and I live in Louisville. They do their best to cater to enthusiasts with special events and behind the scenes stuff. This year they are adding the “Kentucky Flier” to their lineup of coasters. It’s such a small footprint and little space to grow into, its amazing that the original owners came back after the Six Flags debacle and spruced it up. (Plus the battle between them and the KY state fair board as well as the airport authority is a story ina nd of itself.)

Ok- enough of my blathering. I know KK doesn’t compete with the likes of King’s Island or WDW by a long shot- but it makes me happy to see our “little park that could” on someone else’s radar.

Yeah, I'm going to be stopping into Kentucky Kingdom and Holiday World again in May. Hopefully the Kentucky Flyer will be ready by then. KK just has such a laid back atmosphere with two coasters that are arguably in my top 10 (I have a top 25 list, but I probably need to work on it some). I put Storm Chaser and Lightning Run ahead of anything in Florida. I'm an airtime addict, and if a coaster doesn't have airtime or serious theming, it has to do a lot more to get top recognition from me.

I was just thinking last Saturday night when I spammed 7 laps on Slinky Dog that if they gave the coaster about 20 MPH more throughout its whole course it would be a top 10 coaster for me. It would just be airtime heaven.

 

[Trackmaster]

I'm guessing Steel Vengance and Millennium force?

My top list at Cedar Point:

1. Steel Vengeance
2. Maverick

A lot of distance....

3. Millennium Force
4. Top Thrill Dragster

A lot of distance....

5. Gatekeeper
6. Valraven
7. Gemini
8. Blue Streak
9. Raptor
10. Iron Dragon
11. Wicked Twister
Everything else.

Everything else is alright, they're either coasters that need to be moved on from, or family coasters. I find Magnum too rough at this point, but if it wasn't for the thigh crushing, it would have an awesome layout. Steel Vengeance is my #1 overall, and Maverick is my #3 overall. MF and TTD are in the backend of my top 25. But I think that a quality B&M invert being #9 at a park shows that the park has some incredible depth. Wicked Twister isn't a bad ride, but its out of place in a park like CP. It would do better in a smaller park.

 

[Think Tink]

1. Magic Kingdom
2. Epcot
3. Disneyland
4. Universal Studios Orlando
5. Hollywood Studios
6. Islands Of Adventure
7. Animal Kingdom
8. Kings Island
9. Universal Hollywood
10. Cedar Point
11. Geauga Lake ( No longer open but that was my whole childhood)

 

[Kevin_W]

My top list at Cedar Point:

1. Steel Vengeance
2. Maverick

A lot of distance....

1. Millennium Force
2. Top Thrill Dragster

A lot of distance....

1. Gatekeeper
2. Valraven
3. Gemini
4. Blue Streak
5. Raptor
6. Iron Dragon
7. Wicked Twister

Everything else.

Everything else is alright, they're either coasters that need to be moved on from, or family coasters. I find Magnum too rough at this point, but if it wasn't for the thigh crushing, it would have an awesome layout. Steel Vengeance is my #1 overall, and Maverick is my #3 overall. MF and TTD are in the backend of my top 25. But I think that a quality B&M invert being #9 at a park shows that the park has some incredible depth. Wicked Twister isn't a bad ride, but its out of place in a park like CP. It would do better in a smaller park.

Millennium has long been my #1 coaster - I like it quite a bit more than Maverick. I only rode Steel Vengeance once last summer, so I'm not sure whether it will dethrone Millennium, but it seems likely - it was a ton of fun.

I pretty much agree with the rest of the list except Blue Streak - that one hurts me too much (more than Magnum) so goes to the bottom. I'd rather do the mine train.

My wife would put Raptor up in her top 3, but I don't like it quite that much.

Hopefully the new coaster at Kings Island will be comparable to some at Cedar Point. Ever the best at KI (Mystic Timbers, Beast) don't quite measure up.