Summer will be here before we know it. It's such a great time for vacations, beach trips and visiting theme parks. What I love most about the theme parks, besides the thrilling rides, is the fun filled atmosphere. Where else can you pretend to be a kid again and get away with it?Before I start planning my summer theme park visits, I decided to find out what the top searched theme parks were on AOL Search. Of course, I was not surprised when Disney World and Disneyland showed up at the top of the list. Who doesn't love hanging out with Mickey Mouse and friends?
Disney can get really expensive for a family, so it's nice to know that there are cheaper options that could be just as fun. I decided to do some research on Dollywood, Cypress Gardens and Cedar Point. Dollywood located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is a one-of-a-kind Smoky Mountain Family Adventure. Besides the rides, Dollywood is known for the best live entertainment that showcases country, bluegrass, mountain and gospel music.
Cypress Gardens which opened in 1936, was Florida's first theme park. Originally known for it's gardens, water ski shows and Southern Belles the park has expanded by adding rides, attractions and a water park. Cedar Point located in Sandusky, Ohio, has 17 roller coasters, which is more than any other park in the world. If you are a coaster lover than this theme park is for you.
What is your favorite theme park? Did it make our list? If not try searching for theme parks on AOL Search or check out AOL Travel for special deals.
Top Searched Theme Parks on AOL Search:
1. Disney World
2. Disneyland
3. Six Flags
4. SeaWorld
5. Dollywood
6. Cedar Point
7. Kings Dominion
8. Carowinds
9. Cypress Gardens
10. Kings Island
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posted by Heidi
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COMMENTS
Silver Dollar City is by far a great bargain! Cheap admission, and high quality attractions! Dollywood and Silver Dollar City are very similar (Dollywood was a silver dollar city before Dollied up) Go to silverdollarcity.com!! Branson has like 3 major theme parks, and they are all fantastic!
By brittany on Apr 4th 2008 at 10:03PM
Cedar Point, 6F Magic Mountain and Paramount's Kings Dominion are #1 in my book. Dorney Park is the worst!
By Javah on Apr 4th 2008 at 9:58PM
Holiday World in Santa Claus, IN is one of the best around! Free softdrinks and sunscreen! And clean! They have one of the best parks that I have ever been to! Some of the best wooden rollercoasters, and the best water park! Its close to home, but would make it a destination vacation! Check it out and enjoy!
By cindy on Apr 4th 2008 at 9:59PM
What happened to Busch Gardens??? That is an awesome park because it has great rides, beautiful animals and amazing shows!!!! Busch Gardens is truly my favorite.
By KLH121074 on Apr 4th 2008 at 10:01PM
I have fond memories of spending the summers at Two Flags over Fuquay...
By Daisy on Apr 4th 2008 at 10:07PM
We just came back from Disney World. It was amazing. As far as the price, if you pay for everything a little at a time, it doesn't hurt as bad. Also, we brought our own water and snacks into the parks each day. We ate at the resort (All Star sports) for breakfast and dinner. We had sandwiches and crackers for lunch. One night we ordered a large pepperoni pizza from the resort food court for only 16.00 and it was enough to feed a family of four. We did buy burgers at Peco Bill's one day, but that wasn't too bad. We splurged for one sit down dinner and that was at Chef Mickey's. It was very expensive, the food was not that great, but the kids loved getting their pictures made with Mickey and the gang. It is not something I would do each time, but it was a nice treat for the kids. We made out reservations eight months in advance and paid for them during that eight months, we bought our them park tickets in advance, and so when we went we didn't have to worry about anything. We kept our spending down to a minimum and waited until our last day to purchase items we wanted. That way we could definitely get what we really wanted and not just a spur of the moment purchase. We stayed 6 days and 5 nights. By staying at the resort, we were able to stay in the park until 3:00 a.m. on two separate occasions. We rode any and every ride we wanted to without waiting in line. It was awesome!!
By Angela on Apr 4th 2008 at 10:11PM
There is an old fashioned park in central Pennsylvania called Knoebels Groves. There is no charge for parking and you do not have to buy a day pass. You get in for free and can buy a day pass or pay by the ride.
The main attraction is the Phoenix wooden roller coaster which has be featured on the Travel Channel. Knoebels has won the title of best park food for a few years because the food is good and is reasonably priced. They beat out Disney and all the other theme parks in this category.
The park is clean and free of troublemakers. The setting is rural with trees surrounding the entire park. If you like a park from a different era, which is family owned, you should pay a visit. The park is in Elysburg, PA off of route 80.
By Joseph Poli on Apr 4th 2008 at 10:13PM
I love Hershey Park! I used to go there once a week when I was growing up! Wonderful place and great chocolate YUMMY! Last week I went to chocolate world and had the best chocolate chip cookie in the world!
By Tish on Apr 7th 2008 at 10:41PM
Best Amusement Park? Kennywood, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh)!!! One of two Historical landmarks. The other , you ask......... Coney Island
By Laura on Apr 4th 2008 at 10:23PM
Carowinds in Charlotte, NC is a great park. The kids have a great time and the roller coasters, especially "The Borg" is wild!
By Lisa on Apr 4th 2008 at 10:29PM
lagoon amusment/water park needs to be on here :]
By tayklly on Apr 4th 2008 at 10:30PM
Leaving Silver Dollar City in Branson MO off the list is surprising. It's a unique theme park and was the prototype for Dollywood. Maybe the author(s) have never been to Branson?
By Cindy on Apr 4th 2008 at 10:32PM
Univeral Studios is the best park hands down in Florida! It's not as crowded, the lines are shorter and the attractions are much better!! The food is great and the walking distance between the attractions are much less!!! Do you want to see animal's or a mouse with history or just want to have fun?
By John Walton on Apr 7th 2008 at 9:46PM
Hey, Kings Dominion is the best theme park in the U.S. They have it all, great location. My opinion, Dollywood is the second best, and Busch Gardens comes in a close third. There is another theme park that is located on top of a mountain in North Carolina. Its small compared to all the other parks, but its a great family getaway. Its called Ghost Town In The Sky and its a very cool place, for family fun.
By Puffy on Apr 4th 2008 at 10:35PM
Disney World and the other mega parks are great, but don't overlook the wonderful smaller parks all over the country. If you have young children, Idlewild in Erie,PA is the perfect park for you. Waldemeer in Ligonier,PA offers a great day of fun for all ages. Holiday World in Indiana offers the best service you can imagine, and Michigan's Great Adventure is a family owned park where you just might be riding the coasters with the owner! These small parks need our support to keep going. So many of these parks have had to close over the last few years and they are missed terribly. They offer an affordable alternitive to the huge parks most of us can only afford to go to occasionally. Support your local parks!
By Victoria on Apr 4th 2008 at 10:38PM
Universal Studios is always a wonderful experience for my family. I think it outbeats Disney anyday.
By teri on Apr 4th 2008 at 10:46PM
I have been to they all, even carried season pass to Kings Island. Cedar Point hands down is the best park around. Besides all of the roller coaster they have rides for all taste. The halloween deco is so cool. How they can have a Six Flags park in the top ten tells me someone has no clue on rating these parks.
We were going to Ky Kingdom until Six Flags took over man thet went down hill. Employees,Manitance,cleanless and the food is so nasty.
Six Flags @ Saint Loius was not to bad. Six Flags @ Houston... what a dump! Six Flags @ Alanta you are always walking up on down hill no level ground.
See you at Cedar Point!
By joechoochoo on Apr 4th 2008 at 10:47PM
Hands down, Holiday World is the greatest value BAR NONE. It is in Santa Claus Indiana. FREE soda, FREE suntan lotion, FREE inner Tubes and FREE parking! And the food is inexpensive and tastes great!
By bangarola on Apr 10th 2008 at 10:05AM
We go to Holiday World/Splashin Safari every year. It's very affordable for families. They are very clean and you get free sunscreen and soft drinks. We stay next door at Lake Rudolph and camp for the week. They have swimming pools, a lake, very inexpensive paddle boat and row boat rental, free horseshoes, volleyball, and miniature golf. You can ride the shuttle from the park to the campground. There is always someone around cleaning. It's great!!
By Cris on Apr 5th 2008 at 6:01AM
Well I live 5 min from Disney World, went to high school across the street from Universal, and live about 10 min from Sea World and I have to say of all of those Sea World has the best coaster, Universal has the most stuff for teens and young adults to do, and Disney is the place for families. Oh and have been to Six Flags, Bush Gardens (both of them), Dollywood, and Cypress Gardens and nothing I have been to measures to Florida theme parks (particularly Orlando ones).
By Trent on Apr 5th 2008 at 2:42AM