Disney World sure isn’t the only theme park in the United States, but we’re kind of partial to thinking it’s pretty great — we are Disney Food Blog, after all.
Cinderella Castle
And although Florida isn’t the only spot in the United States where thrill-seekers can go to test their limits — it looks like another Orlando theme park has been voted the best in the country according to an online poll. So, let’s find out which park took the top spot!
According to News 6, SeaWorld Orlando has been named the Best Theme Park in the United States based on a new USA Today online popularity poll.
A panel of experts and USA Today editors chose the initial list of nominees and readers then voted on which parks deserved to be in the top ten. So take the ratings with a grain of salt since not every theme park was included.
©SeaWorld Orlando
Not only was SeaWorld Orlando voted number one, but its new rollercoaster, Ice Breaker, received the most votes for Best New Attraction as well. SeaWorld executives shared, “Our goal is to provide fun and inspirational experiences for families and friends through our parks’ up-close animal encounters, thrilling attractions and innovative educational entertainment, designed to insure guests of all ages celebrate, connect with and care for the natural world around them.”
©SeaWorld Orlando
So, how did Disney parks do in this poll? Well, not too great. Neither Disney World nor Disneyland were included in the top ten, which you can see here:
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SeaWorld Orlando – Orlando, FL
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Silver Dollar City – Branson, MO
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Kings Island – Mason, OH
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Busch Gardens Williamsburg – Williamsburg, VA
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Busch Gardens Tampa Bay – Tampa, FL
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Cedar Point – Sandusky, OH
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Dollywood – Pigeon Forge, TN
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Six Flags Magic Mountain – Valencia, CA
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Holiday World – Santa Claus, IN
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Hersheypark – Hershey, PA
Disney World didn’t make the cut this time.
You may noticed that Universal is also missing from this top 10 list. For the latest theme park news and more, be sure to stay tuned to DFB!
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Congratulations to SeaWorld. They went through some hard times with the live shows and everything but came back stronger. Obviously great leadership at the top to see the problem and act positively for the guests and corporate bottom line. Too bad Disney is still hiding bad leadership.
Disney is too crowded! I’d move Hersey up a few spaces—fantastic family park!
To paraphrase Yogi Berra: “It’s always so crowded, that’s why nobody goes there”
Bang for the buck….Holiday World has some of the top rated roller coasters,top 10 water park,free soft drinks,free sunscreen,free parking and food prices all for under $60.
We know we live n Indiana congratulations to holiday world !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!❤️
Guess more people than you think don’t like the changes Disney has implemented. I know I don’t. Maybe the execs will be smart and go back to prepandemic operations.
We love SeaWorld Orlando. They treat their passholders like gold, and offer something for everyone, including entertaining and educational animal shows. live concerts, great rides without 2 hour waits, fantastic festivals with budget-friendly lanyards you can purchase for food and drinks, one of the best Christmas and Halloween events anywhere, fireworks, etc. Disney is at the bottom of my list now.
I hate to say it, but it serves Disney right. They have sold their soul for outrageous profit margins. The “Happiest Place on Earth” and the “Most Magical Place on Earth” have become the Most Expensive and Least Guest Oriented Places on Earth”. The rides are in need of repair and updating. The cost of admission no longer includes all that it used to. The reservation system is a nightmare. Air travel guests are stranded at the airport. Food costs have skyrocketed. Housekeeping in the extremely expensive resorts is spotty. Think about it, Disney, your previously devoted guests and fans are not happy with your penny pinching changes.
As others have said, this serves Disney right. Walter is rolling in his grave and Chapek and the Disney leadership should take notice. I would have put Universal on this list but Disney is no longer the “Happiest Place on Earth”. They have become too expensive and complicated for the average person or family.
I’ve been to Silver Dollar City many times in my life, including yesterday. This park has grown up right! So many great coasters, lots of rides for younger kids, demonstrations and shows and top notch theming. And nothing beats the views of the gorgeous Ozark hills from the coasters.
Somebody please take chapek out of his position he is removing the pixie dust out of Disney and a lot of people can’t afford to go there anymore they r too greedy and ruining Walt disneys dream better do something b 4 all the other places like universal studios takes more people to start going there
To slm U have summed it up as to how it has changed and not for the good maybe they have to hit rock bottom and that probably won’t change it either and not having the Disney express at the airport could stop us from going back we have been annual Passholders for over 30 years and that has to cause lots of problems for people shame on them
As a Huge lover of Disney- this is not the only list they are not at the top of- with that said USA Today lost me a while back- they are a joke!
Way to go, Holiday World!
Polls don’t matter to me. I go to Disney parks because I want to, not because of a ratings/rankings list.