Fun for people of all ages, amusement parks are known for their rides, water parks, and entertainment. The United States alone is home to over 400 amusement parks. Seven of the world’s 10 biggest parks are located in the United States. One is located in Europe and two in Asia.
In this article, we’ll look at the 10 largest amusement parks in the world and discover what attractions they offer.
Table of Contents
1. Walt Disney World Resort
By far the largest amusement park in the world, Walt Disney World Resort covers an astonishing 25,000 acres. Located near Orlando, Florida in the United States, this park opened in 1971.
Averaging around 58 million visitors every year, Walt Disney World Resort is the most popular amusement park in the world. The resort has over 75,000 employees as well as its own transportation system called Disney Transport that takes people around the park.
Walt Disney World Resort includes four areas: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. It also features two water parks, four golf courses, and an outdoor shopping center. Visitors can stay in one of 36 hotels or at the camping resort.
Magic Kingdom is recognized by its famous Cinderella Castle, which is its hub. Main attractions in this part of the resort include Adventureland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Main Street, Frontierland, and Liberty Square.
Epcot features a giant sphere called Spaceship Earth. The themed areas here include World Nature, World Discovery, World Celebration, and World Showcase. Epcot showcases innovations in science and technology and also celebrates the diversity of cultures around the globe.
Hollywood Studios features attractions that focus on film and television history. Popular movie series like Toy Story and Star Wars have their own areas.
Animal Kingdom features seven areas that focus on animals and the natural environment. This part of Walt Disney World Resort is represented by an enormous baobab tree. An incredible variety of wildlife can be seen in this area of the park including crocodiles, zebras, elephants, and tigers. DinoLand is a part of Animal Kingdom that explores the history of dinosaurs.
2. Chimelong Ocean Kingdom
The second largest amusement park in the world, and the largest in Asia, is only one-fifth the size of Walt Disney World Resort. Chimelong Ocean Kingdom stretches 4,942 acres in Hengqin, Zhuhai, People’s Republic of China.
A relatively new amusement park, Chimelong Ocean Kingdom opened in 2014 and it sees approximately 10 million visitors per year.
This park features roller coasters and other rides, animal shows, and entertainment. Chimelong Ocean Kingdom holds the Guinness world record for having the largest aquarium in the world.
Destinations inside the park include Dolphin Cove, Amazing Amazon, Polar Horizon, Hero Island, Ocean Avenue, Mount Walrus, and Ocean Beauty.
3. Disneyland Paris
The third-largest in the world and the largest amusement park in Europe, Disneyland Paris encompasses 4,800 acres in France. It opened in 1992 and is the most popular park in all of Europe.
In addition to the theme park attractions, Disneyland Paris features 15 hotels, a shopping center, and a golf course. Roughly 12 million people visit the park each year to enjoy its rides and other features.
Famous attractions include Frontierland, Fantasyland, Adventureland, and Discoveryland. Other features include Davy Crockett Ranch, a wilderness and adventure resort area, and an aquatic attraction called Villages Nature Paris.
4. Beto Carrero World
The largest amusement park in Latin America, and the fourth-largest in the world, Beto Carrero World covers 3,459 acres. Located in Penha, Santa Catarina, Brazil, this park opened in 1991.
The park features eight themed areas: Aventura Radical (Extreme Adventure), Vila Germanica (Germanic Vilalge), Ilha dos Piratas (Pirates’ Island), Avenida das Nacoes (Nations’ Avenue), Mundo Animal (Animal World), Velho Oeste (Old West), Terra da Fantasia (Fantasy Land), and Madagascar.
5. Shanghai Disneyland
Another new amusement park which opened in 2016 is Shanghai Disneyland. Located in the People’s Republic of China, this park covers 963 acres, making it the second-largest amusement park in Asia and the fifth-largest in the world.
Shanghai Disneyland features seven main areas. Adventure Isle, Fantasyland, Gardens of Imagination, Mickey Avenue, Tomorrowland, Toy Story Land, and Treasure Cove make up the majority of the park.
An average of 11 million visitors come to Shanghai Disneyland each year. The park plans to open the world’s first Zootopia attraction in 2022.
6. Universal Orlando Resort
Located in Orlando, Florida, Universal, as the park is commonly known, covers 541 acres. This theme park sees over 20 million visitors a year, in part due to its close proximity to the famous Walt Disney World Resort.
Universal opened in 1990 and features a number of attractions dedicated to the film industry, including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Marvel Super Hero Island and Jurassic Park are two other areas in the theme park that are based on movies.
Volcano Bay is Universal’s waterpark. The resort is currently working on adding another section to the park called Epic Universe. This area will feature attractions based on the film series How to Train Your Dragon and Fantastic Beasts.
7. California Disneyland
Covering 500 acres, this Disneyland park is located in Anaheim, California in the United States. The park opened in 1955 and was the first amusement park to have a Disney theme.
Disneyland sees 18 millions visitors a year and employs 65,000 people. There are nine major attractions: Frontierland, Critter Country, Mickey’s Toontown, Adventureland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Main Street, New Orleans Square, and Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge.
The Disneyland Railroad is a train that encircles the park, offering a tour of the entire property. Visitors can also ride on the monorail system, a fire engine, and a horse-drawn carriage.
California Adventure, another section of Disneyland, consists of eight themed areas: Pixar Pier, Grizzly Peak, Pacific Wharf, Cars Land, Paradise Gardens, Buena Vista Street, Avengers Campus, and Hollywood Land.
8. Carowinds
A unique amusement park that crosses the state lines between North Carolina and South Carolina, Carowinds’ motto is “Where the Carolinas Come Together.” The park opened in 1973 and sees around 2 million visitors each year.
Blue Ridge Junction, County Fair, Carolina Boardwalk, Celebration Plaza, Crossroads, Carousel Park, Thrill Zone, and Camp Snoopy are the eight main attractions in the Carowinds park.
The park also features Carolina Harbor, a water park, and an amphitheatre called Paladium. Altogether this amusement park covers over 400 acres.
9. Universal Studios Hollywood
Receiving over 9 million visitors a year, Universal Studios Hollywood covers approximately 400 acres. It features a theme park and a functioning film studio.
Universal Studios originally opened in 1912 as a movie studio. The amusement park was added later in 1964.
The park has several attractions based on popular films and television shows like Jurassic Park, The Simpsons, Psycho, King Kong, and Harry Potter. Other features include animal shows and special effects demonstrations.
10. Kings Dominion
Also measuring 400 acres, the Kings Dominion is located in Doswell, Virginia. This amusement park opened in 1975.
Old Virginia is one of the original sections of the park and depicts the history of the state. International Street features rides and attractions based on European cultures.
Candy Apple Grove, Jungle X-pedition, and Snoopy Point feature various rides, while Soak City is the water park.
Related Questions
What is the largest amusement park in Australia?
Dreamworld, located in Coomera, Queensland is Australia’s biggest theme park. It opened in 1981 and covers 210 acres.
This park features over 45 attractions including The Giant Drop which is the world’s third tallest and fastest drop tower.
What is the biggest amusement park in Africa?
Hi Impact Planet, located in Nigeria, is the largest amusement park in all of Africa. This theme park covers 46 acres and opened in 2015. Features include animal attractions, rides, a cinema, and an ice rink.
What is the world’s tallest roller coaster?
Kingda Ka, located at Six Flags Great Adventure, is 456 feet high and over 3000 feet long. Traveling at a top speed of 128 miles per hour, this roller coaster provides maximum thrills. The Kingda Ka also holds the record for the longest steel roller coaster drop at a length of 418 feet.
Coming in second is the Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point, reaching 420 feet in height.
What is the world’s oldest theme park?
Dyrehavsbakken, commonly known as Bakken, is the oldest amusement park in the world. This park opened in 1583 and is located in Denmark.
With almost 3 million visitors a year, Bakken features roller coasters and other rides, a children’s section, and entertainment shows. The park offers free admission.
What is the longest theme park ride?
The Steel Dragon 2000 is the world’s longest ride. It is 8,133 feet long and 318 feet high. It’s top speed is 95 miles per hour. Located in Japan’s Nagashima Spa Land, the Steel Dragon 2000 opened on August 1, 2000.
The second longest roller coaster is located in the United Kingdom at Lightwater Valley. The Ultimate is 7,442 feet long.
Where is the fastest roller coaster located?
The Formula Rossa is the fastest roller coaster in the world, located in Ferrari World on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The top speed for the Formula Rossa is 149.1 miles per hour.
Six Flags Qiddiya is hoping to beat this record. This theme park, located in Saudi Arabia, will be the home of a new roller coaster called the Falcon’s Flight. It will reach a top speed of 155 miles per hour and feature a drop of 525 feet.
What is the tallest wooden roller coaster?
Two roller coasters hold the record in this category, with both having a height of 183.8 feet. The T Express is located in the Everland theme park in South Korea. The Wildfire roller coaster is in Sweden’s Kolmarden Wildlife Park.
What is the fastest wooden roller coaster in the world?
Reaching speeds of 72 miles per hour, the Goliath is the world’s fastest wooden roller coaster. It is located in Six Flags Great America in Illinois.
Only two other wooden roller coasters reach speeds of 70 miles per hour or more. These are Sweden’s Wildfire at Kolmarden Wildlife Park and New Jersey’s El Toro at Six Flags Great Adventure.
Where is the longest wooden roller coaster?
The Beast at Kings Island has held the record for the longest wooden roller coaster since 1979. This ride is 7,359 feet in length and is located in Mason, Ohio.
What roller coaster has the most inversions?
The Smiler, located at Alton Towers in the United Kingdom, features an incredible 14 inversions. This is the most of any roller coaster in the world.
The next highest is found in China at the Great Xingdong Tourist World. The Eleventh Roller Coaster features 11 inversions.
What is the best amusement park in the world?
Cedar Point, located in Sandusky Ohio, was named the Best Amusement Park in the World for 16 years in a row. It opened in 1870, making it the second-oldest park in the United States.
Cedar Point sees over 3 million visitors each year. The park boasts the third-highest number of roller coasters of any park in the world. It also features a beach and two water parks.
Blue Streak is the park’s oldest roller coaster, made of wood and operating since 1964. The park also includes the Magnum XL-200, which was the first roller coaster in the world over 200 feet high.
What is the smallest roller coaster in the world?
Dvergbanen, a steel roller coaster located at the Tusenfryd park in Oslo, Norway, claims to be the smallest roller coaster. This children’s ride opened in 1996 and measures 8 feet high, 85 feet long, and has a top speed of 3.7 miles per hour.
What is a walking roller coaster?
The Tiger ; Turtle is a roller coaster that is designed not for speed and thrills, but for slowness and contemplation. Found in Duisburg, Germany, this 69-foot roller coaster is designed for walking, not riding, and offers a beautiful view of the countryside.
