Top 10 US theme parks, 2024: A non-Disney surprise

Thursday, January 11, 2024

Discover the top American theme parks to visit in 2024. Surprisingly, a non-Disney park takes the lead in this exciting new study.

The comprehensive study conducted by Westgate Palace Hotel at Universal meticulously analyzed all amusement parks across the United States by evaluating them based on three pivotal criteria: Instagram hashtags, monthly Google search volume, and the percentage of ‘excellent’ reviews featured on TripAdvisor. These criteria were subsequently amalgamated into an index, affording each amusement park an overall score to ascertain their popularity within the United States. Furthermore, to underscore the significance of the visitor experience, TripAdvisor reviews were given greater weighting due to their direct correlation with the satisfaction of park attendees.

Here is the list of the top 10 highest-rated amusement parks in the United States:

According to the research findings, Universal’s Islands of Adventure secured the top position as the most popular theme park in the United States. Islands of Adventure, one of the two primary parks at Universal Orlando Resort renowned for its exhilarating rides and attractions, including the acclaimed The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, clinched the number one spot with an impressive overall index score of 91.1 out of 100. This was fueled by a remarkable 52,310 reviews from park-goers, with a staggering 74% falling into the ‘excellent’ rating category – the highest rating not only in Florida but across the entire United States. The high number of TripAdvisor ratings, combined with 854,821 Instagram hashtags, firmly solidified Islands of Adventure’s position at the top.

Disney’s Magic Kingdom narrowly missed the top spot, securing second place behind Universal with a score of 90.4. Known for its iconic Cinderella’s Castle, Magic Kingdom is the most visited vacation resort in Florida, with over 17 million visitors in 2022 alone. However, it is the second highest-rated park. Magic Kingdom also boasts the distinction of being the most Instagram-worthy theme park in the United States, boasting the highest number of Instagram hashtags among all theme parks worldwide, with an impressive 8,012,859 posts.

Disney California Adventure Park clinched the third spot in the rankings. Situated in Anaheim, California, it is one of the two parks at Disneyland Resort, with Disneyland Park securing eighth place. The park achieved the third-highest rating on TripAdvisor, with 67% of its reviews receiving the ‘excellent’ label out of a total of 15,724 reviews, contributing to its overall index score of 84.2.

Cedar Point emerged as the fourth most acclaimed theme park in the United States, characterized as the ‘rollercoaster capital of the world’ due to its impressive array of roller coasters. Cedar Point also garnered the third-highest number of Google searches in the study, with an average of 355,000 monthly searches. Situated in Sandusky, Ohio, Cedar Point holds the distinction of being one of the oldest amusement parks in the United States, established in 1870.

The study’s results revealed Silver Dollar City as the fifth highest-rated amusement park in the United States, predicated on visitor experiences. Located in Stone County, Missouri, Silver Dollar City offers a diverse range of entertainment, including live shows, festivals, and demonstrations of traditional crafts. The park achieved the fourth-highest rating among theme parks on TripAdvisor, with 66% of visitor reviews earning the ‘excellent’ designation.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom secured the sixth position among the best-rated theme parks nationwide. Animal Kingdom ranked as the second most searched theme park in the United States, with an average of 379,000 monthly searches, and boasted the third-highest number of hashtags in the ranking, amassing 4,752,545 hashtags. Opening its doors in 1998, Animal Kingdom stands as the largest of the four Disney theme parks in terms of land area, marking the second Walt Disney World park featured on the list, achieving a total score of 80.7.

Completing the roster of the top 10 best-rated amusement parks in the United States are Universal Studios Hollywood in seventh place, California’s Disneyland Park in eighth place, Dollywood in ninth place, and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park in tenth place.

A spokesperson from Westgate Palace Hotel at Universal commented on these findings, stating, “It’s no surprise that theme parks operated by Walt Disney and Universal Studios have dominated the list. What may be unexpected, however, is that our research names Universal as the best-rated theme park, surpassing all four major Disney parks.”

They further added, “Universal Studios Orlando stands out as the premier theme park destination in America due to its unparalleled customer experience and unwavering commitment to visitor satisfaction. With a recorded 37.9 million tourists in the first three months of 2023 alone, Florida continues to be a major vacation hotspot in the United States.”

“From the enchanting world of Walt Disney World to the exhilarating experiences at Universal Orlando, Florida’s theme parks add a touch of magic to any vacation. Guests naturally extend their stay to visit as many of Florida’s major theme parks as possible, and our family-friendly hotel suites are strategically located on I-Drive for easy access to these attractions, offering a welcoming retreat after a day of park exploration.”

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