When deciding which theme park to hit on your family vacation, reviews are probably the last place you look for suggestions. The heart wants what it wants, and it won’t waver because Susy said the bathroom lines are long or John had a bone to pick with the guy who rung up his giant turkey leg. Still, validation is nice, which is why you’ll want to know if your next vacation includes a visit to one of the most popular theme parks in America.
According to a recent list published by Family Destinations Guide, which uses reviews from Tripadvisor to come up with its ranking, Universal Orland’s Islands of Adventure is the country’s favorite. And as Thrillist reported, it comes as somewhat of a surprise considering the number of Disney diehards in the world.
Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort comes in second, while Disney California Adventure Park is number three. Perhaps the biggest oddball on the list is number four, Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio. Around since 1870, the 364-acre amusement park is considered the second-oldest in the U.S. The rest of the ranking is standard, with picks from Orlando and California populating the list.
Family Destinations Guide avoided the usual vitriol you find on the internet these days and combed through only positive reviews to determine its list. Instead, taking the 20 most visited amusement parks and calculated the percentage of glowing reviews left for each park on Tripadvisor. Did your favorite make the cut? Find the full list of popular theme parks below.
1. Universal's Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort
2. Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort
3. Disney California Adventure Park
4. Cedar Point
5. Disneyland Park
6. Universal Studios Florida at Universal Orlando Resort
7. Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort
8. Universal Studios Hollywood
9. Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort
10. SeaWorld Orlando