A thread for theme park enthusiasts, ideally non UK

[ZenNudist]

Would anyone be up for a thread to share our destination theme park experiences?

Anyone else really keen on theme park centred trips?

I have been taking my family (11 and 14yo boys plus me and DH) on theme park holidays every year since 2022. Our local (good) park (from north west) is Alton towers but we've now done (in order):
Universal/Disney Orlando
Phantasialand Germany
Europapark Germany
Efteling Netherlands

We also visted Siam Park In Tenerife which might top Volcano bay for waterpark experience. I feel like waterparks need their own separate discussion. I love Sandcastle in Blackpool (my closest one). We enjoyed the alton towers one but its quite small . I love love Rutlantica at europapark but it is not up there with siam park or Volcano bay. Rutlantica looks amazing and I liked the paying bands for buying food and drink and we had our own area to relax in.

I'm weighing up my options for next year. DH wants to go back to Orlando to see the new Universal park. I want to go to Portaventurer in Spain or maybe Energylandia near Krakow. I'm up for Liseberg in gothenburg but waiting for their water park to open. If there was a good theme park in Belgium I might go there and team with visits to Antwerp Ghent and Durbuy.

If no one else joins in i might bump by posting my thoughts on Efteling... 😀

We are theme park fans. Not done any European ones but have done all the big UK ones and are regulars at Disneyland and World, now that our kids are older, they enjoy Universal too. We've also done Knotts Berry in California and are heading to Disneyworld and Universal, then a road trip to Dollywood and Six Flags Tennessee later this year.

What's knotts Berry farm like? Is there proper theming? I don't want to take the dc to the US unless it's universal and WDW. I've been to the LA universal but it was forever ago and seems like the Florida one is better and I'm really not keen to go to WDL. I was in Anaheim last October for DH work, passing through from LA to palm springs and it didn't occur to me to add it to the trip.

The disney park that does interest me is Tokyo Disney Seas which I'm considering for next Easter as part of a wider Japan trip if we don't go back to Orlando. I'd also go to universal osaka as the dc really keen to see supermario world. Thing is I'm torn because the new Universal park will have super Mario and the new HP ministry of magic. I enjoyed WDW and happily go back but there's lots of non-disney European parks I'd like to work my way around.

Off to Google best theme parks worldwide...

Theme park enthusiasts here! We have visited eurodisney (unimpressed), Efteling (loved!) and europa park (loved even more!)

we have the same list - keen to visit portaventura - maybe in an October half term ? and energylandia.
we often go to lake Garda but when it’s far too hot for Garda land but that’s in the list hopefully for a may half term

There are some good Facebook groups for most. European theme parks - that’s where I turn to for info

I was amazed by how much I loved Tivoli in Copenhagen

I was also going to mention Tivoli.

KBF is fun, not the most crazy spot, I used to only go around Halloween when it became Knotts Scary Farm. But if you’re going over that side of the world Six Flags Magic Mountain is the big thrill rollercoaster spot.
Love this thread as I’m a big coaster fan!

If you’re picking a USA coast for Disney, don’t forget Busch Gardens in Tampa which is one of the best thrill ride theme parks around.

Ooh I appear to have found my people! We’re a family of theme park enthusiasts, so far we’ve just done UK parks. Alton towers is our closest park, we’re pass holders so have done that multiple times, done Chessington, Flamingo land, Thorpe park, DLP and we go to Orlando in October. We intend on becoming pass holders for universal when we’re there and booking a couple of more trips. We’re also doing WDW and epic.

Before the kids came along I visited Disney California, Six Flags Magic mountain, Seaworld, Busch Gardens, Universal California, done a lot of rides in Las Vegas as well.

we just love rides and theme parks. It’s our favourite thing to do as a family, Very much looking forward to being pass holders for Universal UK!

i went to Disney Florida about 6 years ago such fun but i heard its gone downhill.We got a nice airbnb and a car rental it made for a lovely trip we even took a day trip to clearwater beach .Its only a 2 hour drive from orlando and absolutely gorges

If you like water parks if you ever go to legoland there's coral reef a short drive away

There are nice all inclusive resorts in salou near the theme park and the local beach is gorges

Big theme park family here! We’re doing a European road trip this summer and have 6 theme parks on our itinerary. We originally had Poland included but I’ve shelved it at the moment as the drive is long for the kids.

In Europe, Europa Park is my favourite for rides and we’re huge Disney fans, I just love the Disney magic.

We did a big US trip when I was on maternity leave a few years ago and hit up all the big parks! I also want to do an Asia Disney/Universal tour as we loved the Japan parks.

Ive been to parc asterix and futuroscope in france and bellwaerde and plopsaland in Belgium.

Moderate theme park enthusiasts. This year we are going to Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea. We are visiting the in-laws in Oz, so it's planned as a few days of family time tagged on our way home. Unfortunately it will be August so we are all likely to melt. We have done Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong previously, and some of the UK parks. I had planned to visit Efteling over the Easter school holidays this year, but couldn't get the week off work in the end.

Please share your thoughts on Efteling, I’m thinking of taking the DGC there this Autumn.

Yes my kind of thread!!

we’re going to Orlando this year for the second time - cannot wait to see Epic Universe!!

we’re planning Efteling/Phantasialand/Europa or some combination for 2026.

I highly recommend Energylandia in Poland - we went in 2024.

We are a theme park family. I’ve always loved them brought up with Blackpool pleasure beach before it was one entry fee. We love them brought up rides but always see the shows and love European theme park treats.We’ve done most uk parks but the European ones are our favourites.

Currently done:
Walibi Holland(when it was six flags)
Efterling spring and winterling
Plopsa du Pane and water park
Bellwaerde
Energylandia
Disney Paris
Disney Orlando
Santa Park Finland

Have a road trip this year hoping to do Walibi Belgium and Europa park inc Rutlantica and Phantasia if we have time.

Bucket list:
Disney sea
Cedar point
six flags magic mountain
Kolmarden Zoo
Tivoli
Put du fou

It’s amazing we absolutely loved it. We stayed in the park in a two storey lodge with its own sauna and that one its own was fab without the rides. Fountain show blew my not theme park fan dad away. LED flashing candy floss finished it off.

looking to go back and stay in a sand dune lodge. We went via hull on the over night ferry.

@FrangipaniBlue

“I highly recommend Energylandia in Poland - we went in 2024.”

We had the best time. Zadra is the best coaster I’ve ever been on,
Food and drink offer was very impressive we thought.

Canada’s wonderland near Toronto is good and you can tie in a visit to niagara. The Yukon striker ride is epic

We love theme parks ! We have been to Disney Paris many times, Duinrell in Holland ( amazing water park ) many times, Efteling , Alton Towers and Thorpe .
Really want to go to Europa Land but it always seems awkward to get to !

I can recommend Parc Asterix, just outside of Paris. I do think though that you need to have an understanding of the books to get the most out of it, but even if you haven't, it's great. Love the Tonnaire de Zeus, which is a massive wooden rollercoaster.

Great thread thanks OP! What ages would you recommend for Efteling those who have gone? And what accessibility accommodations are there (if anyone knows)?
We did disneyland paris at easter for our kids first overseas holiday and enjoyed it but the priority pass for DS7 who is autistic was a lifesaver and worried about not being accommodated in the same way elsewhere.

Great idea for a thread! We went to Efteling last year on a Mumsnet recommendation and I loved it, especially the Flying Dutchman, but my 8 year old found the Python underwhelming given the long queue time. What did you think OP?

We’ve just come back from Dubai and visited Atlantis Aquaventure water park. It’s meant to be the biggest in the world and it was great, but I think Siam Park has the edge in terms of big tube rides and the massive wave pool. We loved Siam Park but definitely recommend the fast pass.

Paultons Park is great at Halloween, the decorations are fab.

If you like Zadra you’d love Iron Gwazi in Busch Gardens!

I couldn’t get over how efficient the ride operations were on everything - virtually no down time and queues constantly moving. Longest we waited for any ride I think was 30 minutes and that was only if we waited for front row. When we didn’t we were on in 10/15 minutes.

I agree re: food and so cheap!

Zadra was my first and currently only RMC. Iron Gwazi does look amazing. Waiting for a UK one Blackpool PB would be good.

Everything about Energylandia was impressive. I think they undersell how many coasters they have (27) one less than six flags MM

We stayed in Krakow but I think we will try the Cowboy wagon camping next time.

We went in with UK Groupon which was even cheaper than the already cheap entry price.