The Top 10 Most Popular Amusement Parks in The United States According to TripAdvisor
Some amusement parks are built for thrill seekers, some are more family oriented. But one thing most everyone can agree on - the best ones are here in Florida. Orlando, actually. So how do you choose? Family vacations experts at Family Destinations Guide analyzed TripAdvisor data on the 20 most visited amusement parks in North America. They calculated the percentage of “excellent” reviews for each to find the most popular.
Taking the top spot is one of our faves. Universal's Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort. The one in Florida, boasting 52,180 total reviews on TripAdvisor. 38,582 (73.9%) of those reviews marked “excellent”. The park is renowned for its six themed islands: Marvel Super Hero Island, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Seuss Landing, Toon Lagoon, and Skull Island.
Cedar Point is the only amusement park on this list that’s neither in Florida nor California. It’s in Sandusky, Ohio. And Cedar Point was my favorite summer vacation as a kid in Ohio. I loved the "Corkscrew" so much I had to have the souvenir shirt. CP ranked at fourth place with 9,186 total TripAdvisor reviews. 5,930 (64.6%) of those reviews were “excellent”. The park, which is one of the biggest amusement parks worldwide, is home to over 70 attractions, including 17 roller coasters.
This Top 10 ranking is based on Trip Advisor reviews. One interesting thing to note, the Florida parks tend to rank higher than what should be identical parks in California. Universal Orlando ranks higher than Universal in California. Disney World > Disneyland. Finally, let's get to the rankings based on Total Percentage of "Excellent" Reviews.
10. SeaWorld Orlando
9. Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort Florida
8. Universal Studios Hollywood California
7. Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort
6. Universal Studios Florida at Universal Orlando Resort
5. Disneyland Park - California
4. Cedar Point - Ohio
3. Disney California Adventure Park
2. Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort
1. Universal's Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort
Here's how they made the rankings
Name |
Location |
TripAdvisor Reviews (Total) |
TripAdvisor Reviews (Excellent) |
Total Percentage of "Excellent" Reviews |
Universal's Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort |
Florida, US |
52,180 |
38,582 |
73.9 |
Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort |
Florida, US |
69,284 |
47,937 |
69.2 |
Disney California Adventure Park |
California, US |
15,682 |
10,524 |
67.1 |
Cedar Point |
Ohio, US |
9,186 |
5,930 |
64.6 |
Disneyland Park |
California, US |
27,817 |
17,755 |
63.8 |
Universal Studios Florida at Universal Orlando Resort |
Florida, US |
40,919 |
25,319 |
61.9 |
Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort |
Florida, US |
34,659 |
21,245 |
61.3 |
Universal Studios Hollywood |
California, US |
37,016 |
22,541 |
60.9 |
Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort |
Florida, US |
29,571 |
17,721 |
59.9 |
SeaWorld Orlando |
Florida, US |
33,610 |
19,981 |
59.4 |
My take
There's not a bad one on this list. Each park has it's strengths. Some have more and bigger coasters. Some are better if you have small children. Do your research and I'm sure you'll have a great time.