What other amusement/theme parks to you like

[DVCsince02]

Another Hershey Park fan.

 

[DisneyDoc5]

We just did Busch Gardens Tampa and it was lots of fun, I was only slightly depressed the entire time thinking I was 1.5 hours away from the happiest place on earth! It was fun because of the roller coasters - Shiekra is the best! But the overall park was just, let's say, not Disney. Paint peeling here and there, no cast member magic, no pixie dust. If your in Tampa and not going to Disney, it's worth it. They have a buy one day, get a second free. Like Disney, go first thing in the morning to avoid lines. Cedar Point is also awesome, all about the rides, I spent every summer there over 4th of July growing up, but again, nothing compares to Disney magic!

 

[dpuck1998]

Another Hershey Park fan.

Me 3! I love Hershey. I always say it is by far the cleanest park outside of Disney. I wish they would put some effort into that zoo though.

 

[lonegungal17]

I go to Disneyland Paris at least a few times a year but my favorite park after WDW is Cedar Point. My family went there every year when I was kid and I am a roller coaster junkie. It feels more like home too me than WDW. That's why my last two trips home have involved a trip to Cedar Point/ Soak City before WDW. I'm sad we won't be going to Cedar Point this year but we will be trying Knott's Berry Farm and Disneyland instead.

Mel

 

[757hokie]

It's Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg, VA for us. We get season passes every year. The park is always beautifully kept...the most gorgeous landscaping I've seen in any theme park. Maybe EPCOT rivals it during Flower & Garden, but I've never been, so I can't compare.

The park has a ton of attractions for adults down to toddlers, especially with the brand new "Sesame Street Forest of Fun," which includes a kid's coaster and other rides, plus great character meet & greets. The Gryphon coaster is awesome, much like Sheikra in Tampa, 200 feet straight down with a nice 5 second dangle over the edge! Apollo's Chariot is still my fave though.

Shows are great there too. Water Country USA is a few minutes away, which is also fantastic. For a day outside the parks, Colonial Williamsburg is right there too...a must-do at least once, especially for history buffs and kids learning about that era in school. They do combo passes for both parks or even both parks plus the historic area.

And no...I don't work for the Williamsburg chamber of commerce!

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Dave, did you get into the race?

Kim

I did Kim. I'm on the charity team for Children's Hospital.

 

[my3sonstx]

ceder point!!! fun, fun coasters

 

[cathie1327]

We have a couple parks here in Denver that I kind of like, but they're not really entirely noteworthy.

We do, however, have a water park that has been recognized by the Travel Channel several times called Water World. It's #3 on their list for best family water parks, and is one of the largest in the US at 64 acres. I have to say that even though I haven't been to Disney's water parks (yet! ), I'm pretty sure they will be a hard match-up to Water world here

 

[WaltD4Me]

Of course we are all WDW fans, but what other parks to you like? Why?

My answer.

Kennywood Park just outside of Pittsburgh. A traditional amusement park, first opened in 1898 I think. It started as a trolley park. It still has picnic pavillions, some wonderful wooden coasters that take advantage of the topography (the park is built on the bluff above the Monongahela River). A great wild mouse that is in a building. And one of the last Noah's Ark fun house type attractions. I have been going to this park my whole life. Its great.

Kim

I really like Kennywood too! It's a very nice park, they have done a great job of keeping it up. It's so weird, just smack in the middle of a city like it is. I've been a few times and we get lost EVERY time. We make a game out of finding the yellow Kennywood arrows to get there (find it.)

 

[spaddy]

I did Kim. I'm on the charity team for Children's Hospital.

That is great Dave.

What day are you thinking of going to Kennywood?

 

[chirurgeon]

I did Kim. I'm on the charity team for Children's Hospital.

Excellent. So you are just doing the 1/2 Marathon? That doesn't go by my house unfortunately.

Good Luck, Dave.

Kim

 

[LHN2009]

Any UK poster's may know of Alton Tower's which is the biggest theme park in the UK, that or Thorpe Park, anyway Alton Towers is in Staffordshire which is a nice little area and they have some pretty cool rides although the theming is just a tad basic. But still my favourite park outside of Disney World.

 

[dalt01]

knoebels grove is a very popular park in central PA about 40 miles from williamsport which is famous for the little league world series. which is where i live. we are also only about 80 miles from hersheypark which is great and about the same distance from dorney park which we have not been to but some say is very nice. about knoebels, it has been there since the 30's and is famous for the Phoenix, which is almost always on the list for the 10 best wooden coasters in the world and almost every year wins the number 1 spot for amusement park food. most of their rides were rescued over the years from defunct parks and restored. they have a carousel horse museum with restored original carousel animals dating over 125 years. very cool park.

 

[astrodrummergirl]

Any UK poster's may know of Alton Tower's which is the biggest theme park in the UK, that or Thorpe Park, anyway Alton Towers is in Staffordshire which is a nice little area and they have some pretty cool rides although the theming is just a tad basic. But still my favourite park outside of Disney World.

I'm a big fan of Alton Towers and Thorpe Park, I've been going to both since the same time I started going to disney! Not too happy about the Saw ride tho, I'm not a big fan of straight up, straight down coasters, also why I'll never step foot on Stealth, but am intreaged to to know what SW6 is!

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

That is great Dave.

What day are you thinking of going to Kennywood?

Maybe May 2nd on Opening Day. However, this is all dependent on my Mother-in-law. My guess is that she will have plans for us, and we won't make it to Kennywood.

Excellent. So you are just doing the 1/2 Marathon? That doesn't go by my house unfortunately.

Good Luck, Dave.

Kim

Just the half?!? Just kidding. Yeah, I couldn't get all the training necessary to do the full marathon this year. I may try to do the full in 2010. My mother-in-law lives on the North Side one block from Western Ave. So I'll still go by her house.

 

[spaddy]

knoebels grove is a very popular park in central PA about 40 miles from williamsport which is famous for the little league world series. which is where i live. we are also only about 80 miles from hersheypark which is great and about the same distance from dorney park which we have not been to but some say is very nice. about knoebels, it has been there since the 30's and is famous for the Phoenix, which is almost always on the list for the 10 best wooden coasters in the world and almost every year wins the number 1 spot for amusement park food. most of their rides were rescued over the years from defunct parks and restored. they have a carousel horse museum with restored original carousel animals dating over 125 years. very cool park.

Knoebels is on our to do list for this summer. I have heard great things about the food. It is also has free parking?

Maybe May 2nd on Opening Day. However, this is all dependent on my Mother-in-law. My guess is that she will have plans for us, and we won't make it to Kennywood.

Just the half?!? Just kidding. Yeah, I couldn't get all the training necessary to do the full marathon this year. I may try to do the full in 2010. My mother-in-law lives on the North Side one block from Western Ave. So I'll still go by her house.

It would take a miracle for me to run 13 miles. Even if I had the rest of my life to train.

I would love make it to Kennywood Opening Weekend, but I with the cruise packing/planning I am sure I will not make it.

 

[Stitchmistress]

knoebels grove is a very popular park in central PA about 40 miles from williamsport which is famous for the little league world series. which is where i live. we are also only about 80 miles from hersheypark which is great and about the same distance from dorney park which we have not been to but some say is very nice. about knoebels, it has been there since the 30's and is famous for the Phoenix, which is almost always on the list for the 10 best wooden coasters in the world and almost every year wins the number 1 spot for amusement park food. most of their rides were rescued over the years from defunct parks and restored. they have a carousel horse museum with restored original carousel animals dating over 125 years. very cool park.

I'm going there in June for the very first time! My family is excited, my kids love rides, and my son is a real "foodie".

 

[dalt01]

Knoebels is on our to do list for this summer. I have heard great things about the food. It is also has free parking?

and free admission. pay as you go, tickets per ride on weekends and handstamps on weekdays. large campgound attached to the park with log cabins to rent, they are usually booked full. they own the adjacent golf course.

 

[DLBDS]

I've only been to Busch Gardens, Williamsburg but I really liked it.

In May we go to Universal Studios Orlando for the first time and in June we're going to the new Great Wolf Lodge in Concord, NC for a weekend (also a first).

Can't imagine anything can be better than WDW though!

 

[cj9200]

Bush Gardens in Williamsburg is a great park, clean nicely themed and some good rides. Hershey Park in PA was kind of fun. Good rides and of course chocolate. I was working in New York at the time and brought about $50 worth of chocolate for the office and it was inhaled in less than a day. Six Flags in New Jersey has some great rides but it is a bit disconcerting having to go through a metal detector before you enter the park. Always wanted to do Kennywood and Cedar Point. Some day.