2015 Golden Tickets Theme Park Awards just announced...

[bcrook]

Check out the awards here!

Disney dominates the Night Time Show Category - Illuminations wins again.

Dollywood does well in lots of categories.

My local favorite Silver Dollar City gets honorable mentions in Food, Christmas Celebration and Shows and friendliness.

 

[ldymcbth]

We have season passes for both Dollywood and Carowinds - nice to see them both win a few things. The Fury 325 coaster that won - it is a SERIOUSLY amazing roller coaster. And sorry, disfans, but I have to agree about Dollywood being the friendliest park! Everyone there is so nice.

 

[bc7ate9]

Yay - something from Minnesota made the list! Not sure I agree that it should be there, but I still have a bit of local pride.

 

[jsbowl16]

The one that surprises me every year on these lists is Knoebles. This is one of the few parks that still has a pay per ride system so if you are going with people that do not enjoy rides, they don't have to pay to enjoy watching everyone else have fun. Knoebels has some of the classic wooden roller coasters of days gone by but they do not have as many thrill rides that many of these other parks do. They really do an amazing job of keeping prices down with good food and a classic park that is in the middle of the woods in Pennsylvania.

 

[maryj11]

I think Wishes is better than illuminations.

 

[bcrook]

I've only been to the Silver Dollar City Christmas... but these results are a stunner:
Dollywood must be great lit up for Christmas.

Best Christmas Event
Dollywood Pigeon Forge, Tenn. 40%
Disneyland Anaheim, Calif. 10%
Silver Dollar City Branson, Mo. 9%
Magic Kingdom Orlando, Fla. 6%
Europa-Park Rust, Germany 5.5%

That Europa Park seems like a cool place.

 

[bcrook]

I think Wishes is better than illuminations.

I would flip flop the two Fantasmic! I skip Wishes the most of all the night time shows. World of Color and DL Fantasmic were quite good. But I really love the atmosphere of Illuminations. I am looking forward to the Rivers of Light at DAK.

Illuminations Epcot 24%
World of Color Disney California Adventure 15%
Fantasmic! Disney’s Hollywood Studios 12%
Fantasmic! Disneyland 11%
Lone Star Nights Six Flags Fiesta Texas 9%

 

[Jhondy210]

How are winners chosen? by vote? there are so many results that I don't agree with

 

[bcrook]

How are winners chosen? by vote? there are so many results that I don't agree with

There is a FAQ on the web page. Theme Park enthusiasts vote.

I don't look at it as agreeing with, but seeing new perspectives. It's cool information to plan new trips. For example, I've been to Dollywood three times in the summer (and loved it), but had no idea they have a great Christmas Season. I'd never heard of Knoebels, and I had no idea Holiday World has much to offer even though it is relatively close to me.

Also I went to DL this summer, I agree that complex is managed much better than its Florida Counterpart.

I think it's fun to see all those cool things out there.

There is no doubt that Forbidden Journey is the best dark ride, even though I did fall in love with the DL 15 minute long version of Pirates of the Caribbean.

 

[Jhondy210]

I do agree Forbidden Journey was awesome and I also agree that many of the parks I now want to go visit but there were just some that I disagree with.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Yay - something from Minnesota made the list! Not sure I agree that it should be there, but I still have a bit of local pride.

Well, it is a nice little kids area. And it's great you can go there and ride rides when it's 900 degrees below zero.

These results definitely pique my interest in Disneyland. I assume since it won in so many ride categories, it has "better" versions of these rides than at WDW.

 

[powellrj]

Holiday World is a great park. I have to agree its the cleanest park I have ever been to. While its not on par with the newer bigger parks, its a great park! I also agree with the Dollywood wins, its a great park too!

 

[mesaboy2]

There is a FAQ on the web page. Theme Park enthusiasts vote.

I don't look at it as agreeing with, but seeing new perspectives. It's cool information to plan new trips. For example, I've been to Dollywood three times in the summer (and loved it), but had no idea they have a great Christmas Season. I'd never heard of Knoebels, and I had no idea Holiday World has much to offer even though it is relatively close to me.

Also I went to DL this summer, I agree that complex is managed much better than its Florida Counterpart.

I think it's fun to see all those cool things out there.

There is no doubt that Forbidden Journey is the best dark ride, even though I did fall in love with the DL 15 minute long version of Pirates of the Caribbean.

I went there in July when I was faced with a dreadfully dull weekend on business travel. I rode exactly 2 rides, Thunderbird and The Voyage, and left after no more than 3 hours. I enjoyed the short time I was there, but it was too hot and I was a single so I just wasn't motivated to sweat with everyone else to ride anything else. HW is about 60% water park and 40% theme park, and the WP stuff looked fun but I wasn't gonna be the creepy dude by himself there either. I agree the park was clean and friendly, and I liked the free parking, free sodas, and the concept of free sunscreen even if I didn't use it.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

My MIL has been trying to get me to go with her and the kids to Holiday World for a few summers now. I just refuse. It would mean a flight + 3 hour drive. My niece and nephew have lots of fun there, but UGH. I just don't wanna go.

 

[bcrook]

My MIL has been trying to get me to go with her and the kids to Holiday World for a few summers now. I just refuse. It would mean a flight + 3 hour drive. My niece and nephew have lots of fun there, but UGH. I just don't wanna go.

A Disney friend of mine drove there Labor Day weekend, and his Family raved. They did enjoy the water park component.

 

[bc7ate9]

Well, it is a nice little kids area. And it's great you can go there and ride rides when it's 900 degrees below zero.

These results definitely pique my interest in Disneyland. I assume since it won in so many ride categories, it has "better" versions of these rides than at WDW.

Yeah, I guess...as a local, I think the Mall of America is over-rated in most respects anyway, though.

We had fun at Disneyland when we took our first trip there in January. Tokyo Disneyland is our favorite, though - they picked the better version of everything AND it's all newer and perfectly maintained.