Busch Gardens’ Adventure Parks comprise two family-vacation destinations with widely divergent themes. The Williamsburg, Va., park has an Old World theme, and the Tampa park has an African wildlife theme. Next year will see the debut of the Cobra’s Curse ride in the Egypt section of Busch Gardens Tampa. The spin coaster will feature a vertical lift and reach speeds of 40 mph.
The 85-acre Disneyland Park is Walt Disney’s original theme park, welcoming more than 700 million guests since 1955. It has since expanded into a 500-acre destination with two Disney theme parks (the original Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure park), three hotels and Downtown Disney, a shopping, dining and entertainment district. The park celebrated its 60th anniversary this year, and the Walt Disney Co. announced it will invest at least $1 billion on park improvements, to begin by the end of 2017.
Whether riding a manta ray, encountering orcas, counting the teeth on a shark or feeding seals and sea lions, visitors have thrilled to SeaWorld’s offerings since the opening of its first park in San Diego in 1964. The company announced this year that it will debut a new experience in San Diego in 2017 that will provide a more natural setting to interact with the orcas. Also in the works are new attractions such as a SeaWorld Rescue-themed roller coaster and the addition of holiday shows and experiences.
Six Flags is the world’s largest regional theme park company, with 18 parks across the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Beginning in 1961, Six Flags has entertained millions of families with world-class coasters, themed rides, thrilling water parks and unique attractions including up-close animal encounters, Fright Fest and Holiday in the Park. This year its Justice League: Battle for Metropolis ride, featuring Batman, Superman and other DC Comics characters, opened at Six Flags locations in Arlington, Texas, and St. Louis and will debut at its Chicago-area and Mexico City parks in 2016.
Universal Studios markets itself as the No. 1 movie-and-TV-based theme park operator in the world. At Universal Hollywood, visitors can see movie sets and go behind the scenes via thrill rides. Universal Orlando offers three parks in one venue: Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Wet ’n Wild. This year the Fast & Furious: Supercharged ride opened at Universal Studios Hollywood; in 2017, Universal Orlando will get that ride as well as Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon. Next summer will see the debut of the Orlando park’s Loews Sapphire Falls Resort.
Walt Disney World is a nearly 40-square-mile entertainment and recreation destination with four theme parks (the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom); two water adventure parks; more than 30 resorts, including eight Disney Vacation Club resort properties; four golf courses; Disney’s Wedding Pavilion; ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex; and Disney Springs, an entertainment/shopping/dining complex. Walt Disney Co. this year announced it would build out 14 acres for new, Star Wars-themed attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida as well as at Disneyland in California.