Credit:@WDWToday
The sunshine state has a lot of places for tourists and residents to visit and experience fun and tropical adventures. However, Florida has known better for one fun activity in particular: amusement parks. With the rides, shows, and different kinds of food, these places attract the most people into the state. But which ones are the best to visit? Well, here is a list of the top 13 amusement parks to go and experience in the state of fun and sun.
- Legoland
Ever wanted to see those building blocks you played with as a kid turn into a giant theme park? Legoland brings that idea into reality as the Lego-themed park has many activities and rides for the family to experience and even has a water park section as well. While it feels like it’s built more for a younger crowd, adults can have fun at this amusement park as well.
- Wet ‘n Wild
This water park is fantastically fun with a handful of cool and unique water rides. It is known well in Orlando and is one of the best water parks to go to. Also, though small, it has a lot to offer its guests. With rides like the DiscoH2O, Brain Wash, and more, it’s an experience to go and see for yourself.
- Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park
One of only two Florida Disney water parks, Blizzard Beach has a cool theme of a ski resort that has melted into a watery landscape. There are a decent amount of rides and places to relax in the sun all around the park. One complaint of this water park that puts it so far back on this list is that there isn’t as much to do at this park compared to the other Disney water park, Typhoon Lagoon. However, Blizzard Beach can still be a lot of fun and a good way to spend a day in the water.
- Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
Speaking of the other Disney water park, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon is one of the best water parks to visit in Florida. With a tropical lagoon theme, this water park is better known to the general public, and rightfully so. The park has a giant wave maker and a lazy river for guests to float down on tube rafts. In addition to the handful of fun water rides throughout the park, there is even an area where you can swim with sharks. While Blizzard Beach is fun, Typhoon Lagoon has it beat with more activities to do and experience.
- Aquatica
The water park tied to the SeaWorld brand, Aquatica is very much like Typhoon Lagoon but with a lot more color and flair to it. This water park has more animal exhibits than Typhoon Lagoon, including one for dolphins. It also has a tropical theme and has the Dolphin Plunge, a water ride well known for having an outer glass section in which viewers can look around and see live dolphins swimming around them.
- SeaWorld
While one of the most ethically controversial parks due to the documentary “Blackfish,” SeaWorld still has a lot to offer its guests. With its many aquatic animal exhibits, three roller coasters, some thrill rides, and its few spectacular shows, this park can still be a fun place to experience. It’s also a good place to go to cool down on a hot day. Just sit in the splash zone at any of their shows.
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom
While this theme park is part of the four Disney World theme parks, it’s far back on this list for one reason: the lack of rides. This theme park is still a lot of fun and should be experienced at least once, but with it only having two coasters, three small rides, and four shows, there just isn’t much there. However, if you’re an animal lover, this place is right up your alley as the park has more animal exhibits than anything else in the park.
- Busch Gardens
One of the most well known amusement parks in Florida, Busch Gardens is a place to see both animals and ride a lot of rides. With its many coasters such as the Cobra’s Curse, Falcon’s Fury, and Cheetah Chase, this park is heaven for thrill-seekers. The many animal exhibits around the park are also great, as the park is sectioned into different segments of the world, much like Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This park is a blast to visit and always provides its guests with plenty to experience and enjoy.
- Universal Studios
This amusement park is one of the best places for fans of movies, television, and music. With rides such as the Simpsons Ride, Shrek 4D, Revenge of the Mummy, and lots more, Universal Studios has become one of the most popular theme parks to visit, next to Disney World. Its latest addition of Diagon Alley, bringing in a bit of Islands of Adventure’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter, has made Universal Studios even more tempting for guests to visit.
- Islands of Adventure
While this theme park is part of the Universal Studios resort and one ticket can get you into both parks, Islands of Adventure is one all on its own. Breaking away from Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure has even more to do. With its different islands focused around certain themes such as Jurassic Park, Dr. Seuss, and of course its main popular island, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, this theme park is one that anyone who visits Florida should experience.
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios
This theme park, much like Universal Studios, is all about movies and television. From the falling Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ride, to adventuring through galaxies far, far away in Star Tours, this theme park is full of thrill rides, shows, and cool themed sections. While Hollywood Studios is currently lacking a lot due to the construction of the upcoming “Star Wars: Galaxies Edge” section of the park, there is still plenty to do there to have a blast.
- Disney’s Epcot
What’s better than a theme park about movies and television? A theme park about the world today and the future tomorrow. Epcot is both an educational and thrilling park. With its thrills rides like Mission Space, Test Track, Soarin’, and other exciting rides, there is something for everyone to enjoy. If the futuristic section isn’t up your alley, there is always the world showcase in which different sections have themes of various countries that allows you to have a taste of each country’s culture.
- Disney’s Magic Kingdom
The Magic Kingdom is the main theme park that most people think of when visiting Florida. The park lives up to its reputation of being the most enjoyable and unforgettable theme park to experience. With the many sections such as Adventureland, Tomorrowland, and Fantasyland, there are numerous amounts of rides and shows to go to. It is no wonder that it is number one because many people have gone to it at least once in their lives and always remember their time there. It truly is the most magical place in Florida and it earns the number one spot on this list.
