Travelers Advantage Rates the Top U.S. Theme and Amusement Parks
As summer fun coasts onto the scene - one in 10 vacationers will visit a theme or amusement park this summer - the experts at Travelers Advantage have strapped in for the ride, rating the top U.S. theme and amusement parks.
More than 328 million people visited amusement parks and attractions last year, according to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. In addition, theme park travelers spent an average of $839 per trip, excluding transportation to their destination, compared to just $433 on the average U.S. trip, according to the Travel Industry Association of America. They also included longer overnight stays (5.4 nights) compared to the average U.S. trip (4.1 nights).
"As vacationers bask in the sun this summer, family travel to theme and amusement parks continues to surge in popularity," said Julia Ryan, vice president of Travelers Advantage and TravelersAdvantage.com. "Some of the best summertime memories are created by escaping to the magic of the great U.S. theme and amusement parks."
Visiting a theme and amusement park is definitely a family affair. More than five in 10 (59 percent) of U.S. households that visit theme or amusement parks include children under 18, according to the TIA. By comparison, just over one-quarter (26 percent) of overall traveling households include children on their trips. Both beach travelers (20 percent) and theme and amusement park travelers (21 percent) are more likely than average (16 percent) to fly to their destination and to rent a car upon arrival (6 percent vs. 3 percent).
Speaking of flying, you can jump into your exciting theme park adventure by booking flights on TravelersAdvantage.com today. Log-on, and also extend your fun while enhancing your screams with great hotel rates near these top-rated attractions. Here's the ticket to the top U.S. theme and amusement parks according to the experts at Travelers Advantage:
1. The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
2. Disneyland, Anaheim, Calif.
3. Epcot at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
4. Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
5. Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
6. Universal Studios at Universal Orlando.
7. Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando.
8. Disney's California Adventures, Anaheim, Calif.
9. SeaWorld Florida, Orlando, Fla.
10. Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal City, Calif.
• Top Theme Park Foods ... Funnel cakes, ice cream, pizza, hot dogs and cotton candy. Men go for the pizza and hot dogs, while women prefer funnel cakes and cotton candy, according to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.
• Favorite Park Features ... Rides, shows, special events/festivals and playing games. Most often, men prefer rides, women go for shows and festivals, according to IAAPA.
• Ticket To Ride ... Roller coasters, ferris wheels & carousels, oh my! Roller coasters grab top honors, according to IAAPA, followed by bumper cars, ferris wheels and carousels. Men would rather jump on roller coasters, while women opt for ferris wheels and carousels.
"As vacationers bask in the sun this summer, family travel to theme and amusement parks continues to surge in popularity," said Julia Ryan, vice president of Travelers Advantage and TravelersAdvantage.com. "Some of the best summertime memories are created by escaping to the magic of the great U.S. theme and amusement parks."
Visiting a theme and amusement park is definitely a family affair. More than five in 10 (59 percent) of U.S. households that visit theme or amusement parks include children under 18, according to the TIA. By comparison, just over one-quarter (26 percent) of overall traveling households include children on their trips. Both beach travelers (20 percent) and theme and amusement park travelers (21 percent) are more likely than average (16 percent) to fly to their destination and to rent a car upon arrival (6 percent vs. 3 percent).
Speaking of flying, you can jump into your exciting theme park adventure by booking flights on TravelersAdvantage.com today. Log-on, and also extend your fun while enhancing your screams with great hotel rates near these top-rated attractions. Here's the ticket to the top U.S. theme and amusement parks according to the experts at Travelers Advantage:
1. The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
2. Disneyland, Anaheim, Calif.
3. Epcot at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
4. Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
5. Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
6. Universal Studios at Universal Orlando.
7. Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando.
8. Disney's California Adventures, Anaheim, Calif.
9. SeaWorld Florida, Orlando, Fla.
10. Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal City, Calif.
• Top Theme Park Foods ... Funnel cakes, ice cream, pizza, hot dogs and cotton candy. Men go for the pizza and hot dogs, while women prefer funnel cakes and cotton candy, according to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.
• Favorite Park Features ... Rides, shows, special events/festivals and playing games. Most often, men prefer rides, women go for shows and festivals, according to IAAPA.
• Ticket To Ride ... Roller coasters, ferris wheels & carousels, oh my! Roller coasters grab top honors, according to IAAPA, followed by bumper cars, ferris wheels and carousels. Men would rather jump on roller coasters, while women opt for ferris wheels and carousels.
