My top ten parks has changed since I first made this topic in, mostly due to an outstanding new ride at Phantasialand rectifying a lot of the problems I had with the park.
1: Europa-Park
Europa is the only park that I've ever been to that feels like it's run by theme park professionals, rather than amateurs as a weekend project. Europa are not the best at anything. But crucially, they are
nearly the best at
almost everything. Food, operations, area design, events, shows, entertainment, quantity of things to do and general soul or character of the park. Whereas every other park may only hit one or two of these areas, EP excel in every single one. They are also absolutely unique for a park of their size in feeling like a small, independent family business while having the ride line-up firepower of a major corporation. At no point while visiting EP, from staying in the sumptuous hotels to visiting the sprawling paradise of a theme park, do you feel that you are being ripped off or taken advantage of. Every other park in the world,
bar none, could learn from what is undoubtedly the best theme park in the world.
2: Disneyland Park, California
The original, and best. While EP is a constantly expanding unfinished product, Disneyland is the absolutely perfect 'complete park'. Even more-so than in Florida, the magic is engrained in every attraction, every piece of scenery. The tiny size of the park means that the maximum amount of magic must be wrung from every square inch of the place. It's idyllic, where it all began, the theme park equivalent of Mecca. Perfectly measured, perfectly proportioned, a masterpiece in miniature. And the two best rides in the park, Matterhorn Bobsleds and Indiana Jones dark rides, aren't even at any other Disney park outside Japan. Again, the line-up of this park is just crazy: Matterhorn, Indy, Jungle Cruise, Thunder, Splash, Space, Buzz and Star Tours. Wow.
3. Phantasialand
Since my last visit, the gaping hole slap-bang in the middle of the park has been filled with one of the most beautifully realised and immersive areas/attractions that I've ever seen, which has done wonders for the character of the place. Chiapas, the greatest blend of themed environment and ride hardware ever achieved, is for my money, the best water ride in the world. Looking past that, BOY do they have the hardware. RiverQuest, Mystery Castle, Mamba, Talocan, Winjas and Colorado are all among the world's greatest rides in their respective categories. The theming in the Chinese area at night is, well, it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. The single most beautiful moment I've ever experienced in a park.
4. Efteling
Ahh, my dear Efteling. The most visually-pleasing park on my list, with its gorgeous landscapes complemented by the beautiful built environments of stunningly themed rides, delectable street scenery (those lampposts!) and amazing architecture (the entrance!). Some pretty good rides too, though it needs more, but this is another park like EP where, as AstroDan put it, 'it feels like they're rolling out the red carpet for every visitor.'
5. Islands of Adventure (pre-Potter)
What it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality! Seriously not enough to do for a major park, but what there is to do is amazing. Dueling Dragons and the first half of Hulk are great, Spiderman is good, and the rapids, log flume and Jurassic Park boat ride are all top-notch.
6. Blackpool Pleasure Beach
A living museum. Compared to other historical amusement parks around the world, that may have one or two rides of interest, the amount of historical gems in this park is breathtaking. No other so-called 'historical' amusement park can match this place in terms of line-up. Not Kennywood, not Bakken, not Coney Island, not anywhere. The park presents a cross-section of every era of ride design from the 1900s through to the 2010s. It's a staggering treasure trove, an anthropological study in British leisure over the past century. And it's got two cracking coasters. Whenever visiting, with the number of rides on offer, I do feel like a kid in a candy-shop.
7. Alton Towers
With all the negativity around Merlin, it's easy to forget how great Alton is, if you look past the reality that the character of the park that has been decimated by the terrible company that own it. Imagine you're driving around Europe and your friend suggests a visit to a park you've never heard of. "Oh, what rides does it have?" "Oh, just an Intamin Accelerator, a B&M Flyer, an Intamin rapids, a B&M dive machine, a Maurer spinner, a HUSS Topspin, a Mack powered coaster, an experimental Intamin drop coaster, two Mack dark rides and the best regarded B&M Invert and Vekoma Madhouse in the world, respectively. Wanna go?" "Err... YES!" A park with that line-up should be much higher on the list, but the food, events, shows and cynical nature of the place let it down.
8. Magic Mountain
Absolutely no theming, soul or anything even approaching a heart. But do you know what? It's just a big load of bloody huge coasters plonked in the desert. Which is fine. Tatsu and X2 are amongst the most intense rides I've ever been on. Goliath, Terminator and Batman are all also brilliant coasters!
9. EPCOT
Something completely different - less of a theme park and more the world's greatest visitor centre. The atmosphere around the World Showcase is electric. What I love about the park is it's such a... wait for it... cerebral and thought-provoking experience. It doesn't patronise or insult your intelligence, but helps you imagine other cultures on our planet, or other planets entirely.
10. Animal Kingdom (pre-Everest)
Not enough to do really, but still great. A totally different vibe, just so relaxed. Dinosaur! and Kali River Rapids are both brilliant in their fields. Great potential in this park. What Chessington should be but never will be.
Honourable mentions: Disneyland Park (Paris), Magic Kingdom Florida, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Nigloland, Thorpe Park.