Amusement Today
Table:
Category
2017 Recipient
Location/Park

Best New Ride (Amusement Park)
Mystic Timbers
Kings Island

Best New Ride (Water Park)
Thunder Rapids
Six Flags Fiesta Texas

Best Park
Europa-Park
Rust, Germany

Best Waterpark
Schlitterbahn New Braunfels
New Braunfels, Texas

Best Children's Park
Idlewild Park
Ligonier, Pennsylvania

Best Marine Life Park
SeaWorld Orlando
Orlando, Florida

Best Seaside Park
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Santa Cruz, California

Best Kids’ Area
Kings Island
Mason, Ohio

Cleanest Park
Holiday World and Splashin' Safari
Santa Claus, Indiana

Friendliest Park
Dollywood
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Best Shows
Dollywood
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Best Landscaping
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Virginia

Best Food
Dollywood
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Best Carousel
Grand Carousel
Knoebels Amusement Resort

Best Water Ride (Park)
Valhalla
Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Best Water Park Ride
Wildebeest
Holiday World and Splashin' Safari

Best Dark Ride
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Disney's Hollywood Studios

Best Indoor Roller Coaster
Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride
Universal Studios Florida

Best Funhouse/Walk-Through
Noah's Ark
Kennywood

Best Halloween Event
Halloween Horror Nights
Universal Studios Orlando

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The Golden Ticket Award for Best New Ride is presented by Amusement Today to the best new attraction in amusement parks and water parks in the amusement park industry .
Mystic Timbers is a wooden roller coaster located at Kings Island in Mason , Ohio . Constructed by Great Coasters International , the roller coaster opened in the park 's Rivertown section on April 15 , 2017 . Mystic Timbers is the park 's fourth wooden coaster , and its opening allowed Kings Island to reclaim the title of having the most wooden roller coaster track of any amusement park in the world with 18,804 feet ( 5,731 m ) . During its marketing campaign , the ride 's finale element in an enclosed shed was kept secret until the ride 's debut . In the annual Golden Ticket Awards by Amusement Today , it was awarded Best New Ride in 2017 .
Kings Island is a 364-acre ( 147 ha ) amusement park located 24 miles ( 39 km ) northeast of Cincinnati in Mason , Ohio . Owned and operated by Cedar Fair , the park first opened in 1972 by the Taft Broadcasting Company . It was part of a larger effort to move and expand Coney Island , a popular resort destination along the banks of the Ohio River that was prone to frequent flooding . After more than $ 300 million in capital investments , the park features over 100 attractions including fourteen roller coasters and a 33-acre ( 13 ha ) water park . Early in its history , Kings Island has appeared in popular sitcoms and received widespread recognition for its record-breaking attractions and events . One of the park 's most well-known attractions , The Racer , is often credited with reviving worldwide interest in roller coasters during the 1970s . Others , such as The Beast and Banshee , have set several world records , some of which remain standing . The largest investment in park history is Orion , a giga coaster scheduled to open in 2020 . The park has also suffered through times of negative publicity , particularly surrounding the early demise of roller coasters The Bat and Son of Beast . Kings Island is divided into several themed sections and operates seasonally from early spring through the fall , partially reopening for Winterfest during the holiday season . In 2017 , Kings Island was the second-most visited seasonal amusement park in the United States behind Cedar Point , with an estimated 3.47 million visitors . It was third overall for seasonal attendance in North America , which was led by Canada 's Wonderland .
Six Flags Fiesta Texas , formerly Fiesta Texas , is a theme park located in La Cantera , San Antonio , Texas . It is owned and operated by Six Flags . The park was built by Gaylord Entertainment Company and opened on March 14 , 1992 as the first business in the district of San Antonio . The park was later purchased by Time Warner in 1996 , who turned it into a Six Flags park . Spanning 200 acres ( 81 ha ) , the park was originally built to become a destination performance arts park with its focus on the musical culture of the state of Texas . The park 's current icon is Scream which can be seen from all around the park as well as outside the property . The vibrant colors of Scream can also be seen from the intersection of Loop 1604 and Interstate 10 , as well as miles away from Six Flags Fiesta Texas . Most of the other attractions at the park are hidden due to the park being surrounded by a rock quarry wall , but some key visible rides include the SkyScreamer , the Crow 's Nest Ferris wheel in Fiesta Bay Boardwalk , the lift hill of Superman : Krypton Coaster and the lift hill of Iron Rattler .
Europa-Park is the largest theme park in Germany , and the second most popular theme park resort in Europe , following Disneyland Paris . Europa-Park is located in Rust , in south-western Germany , between Freiburg im Breisgau and Strasbourg ( in neighboring France ) . The park is home to 13 roller coasters , the oldest being Alpenexpress Enzian , a powered coaster that speeds through a diamond mine , and the newest coaster being the Ba-a-a Express , a small kiddie roller coaster . Europa-Park has very high capacity roller coasters and attractions meaning the park can accommodate approximately 60,000 guests per day . It counted 5.7 million visitors in 2017 . It is also the location of the Euro Dance Festival . Since 2014 , Europa-Park has been named the world 's best amusement park by the Golden Ticket Awards . In November 2019 , Europa-Park 's Rulantica water park opened , along with a new themed hotel Krønasår .
Rust is a town in the district of Ortenau in Baden-Württemberg in Germany . It is also the home of the famous theme park Europa-Park . The Renaissance era Balthasar Castle is now part of the theme park . The protected floodplain forest Taubergießen is adjacent to Rust .
Schlitterbahn is an American brand of water parks and resorts owned by Cedar Fair . It was previously a company that was family-owned-and-operated by the Henry family that was based in New Braunfels , Texas . Schlitterbahn opened its first location , Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort , in 1979 . At its peak , the company consisted of five outdoor waterparks , two indoor waterparks , and three resorts . Schlitterbahn 's outdoor water parks are seasonally-operated , typically open from late April through mid-September , while its indoor locations operate year-round . Two parks are located in Texas . On June 13 , 2019 , Cedar Fair entered an agreement to acquire two of Schlitterbahn 's properties in Galveston and New Braunfels for $ 261 million . The deal , which closed in early July 2019 , gives Cedar Fair the option to purchase Schlitterbahn Waterpark Kansas City for $ 6 million within 120 days of the transaction which Cedar Fair declined to do . Additionally , the rights to the Schlitterbahn name were included in the acquisition .
New Braunfels ( /ˈbrɔːnfɛlz/ ( listen ) BRAWN-felz ) is a city in Comal and Guadalupe counties in the U.S. state of Texas known for its Germanic Heritage . It is the seat of Comal County . The city covers 44.9 square miles ( 116 km2 ) and has a 2018 estimated population of 84,612 .
Idlewild and Soak Zone , commonly known as Idlewild Park or simply Idlewild , is a children 's amusement park situated in the Laurel Highlands near Ligonier , Pennsylvania , United States , about 50 miles ( 80 km ) east of Pittsburgh , along US Route 30 . Founded in 1878 as a campground along the Ligonier Valley Railroad by Thomas Mellon , Idlewild is the oldest amusement park in Pennsylvania and the third oldest operating amusement park in the United States behind Lake Compounce and Cedar Point . The park has won several awards , including from industry publication Amusement Today as the best children 's park in the world . The park was established by the prominent Mellon family in 1878 , and remained family-owned for over 100 years . It expanded greatly throughout the first half of the 20th century , adding rides including a Philadelphia Toboggan Company Rollo Coaster in 1938 , one of the company 's earliest . The park is home to the Ligonier Highland Games , a Scottish athletic and cultural festival that has annually drawn over 10,000 spectators . In 1983 , the park was purchased by Kennywood Entertainment Company , which oversaw additional expansion , including an attraction designed and voiced by Fred Rogers based on his television show Mister Rogers ' Neighborhood . Since 2008 , the park , as well as others formerly under Kennywood Entertainment , have been owned by Spanish company Parques Reunidos and operated by their American subsidiary Palace Entertainment .
Ligonier is a borough in Westmoreland County , Pennsylvania , United States . The population was 1,573 at the 2010 census . Ligonier was settled in the 1760s . The borough is well known for nearby Idlewild Park , one of the oldest amusement parks in the country ; and nearby Seven Springs Mountain Resort . Another tourist attraction is Fort Ligonier Days , a parade and craft market that takes place every fall over the course of three days , and the Ligonier Country Market in the summer months . Ligonier is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area . Ligonier is the site of a reconstruction of Fort Ligonier , an example of a frontier fort of the French and Indian War . Ligonier is also known for its downtown square , the Diamond , which has a bandstand in the middle .
SeaWorld Orlando is a theme park and marine zoological park , in Orlando , Florida . It is owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment . When combined with its neighbor Discovery Cove and Aquatica , it forms SeaWorld Parks and Resorts Orlando , an entertainment complex consisting of the three parks and many hotels . In 2018 , SeaWorld Orlando hosted an estimated 4.594 million guests , ranking it the 10th most visited amusement park in the United States .
Orlando ( /ɔːrˈlændoʊ/ ) is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Orange County . Located in Central Florida , it is the center of the Orlando metropolitan area , which had a population of 2,509,831 , according to U.S. Census Bureau figures released in July 2017 . These figures make it the 23rd-largest metropolitan area in the United States , the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the Southern United States , and the third-largest metropolitan area in Florida . As of 2018 , Orlando had an estimated city-proper population of 285,713 , making it the 71st-largest city in the United States , the fourth-largest city in Florida , and the state 's largest inland city . The City of Orlando is nicknamed the City Beautiful , and its symbol is the Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain , commonly referred to as simply the Lake Eola fountain at Lake Eola Park . The Orlando International Airport ( MCO ) is the thirteenth-busiest airport in the United States and the 29th-busiest in the world . Orlando is one of the most visited cities in the world primarily driven by tourism , major events , and convention traffic , in 2018 the city drew more than 75 million visitors . The two largest and most internationally renowned tourist attractions in the Orlando area include the Walt Disney World Resort , opened by the Walt Disney Company in 1971 , and located approximately 21 miles ( 34 km ) southwest of Downtown Orlando in Bay Lake ; and the Universal Orlando Resort , opened in 1990 as a major expansion of Universal Studios Florida . With the exception of Walt Disney World , most major attractions are located along International Drive with one of these attractions being the Wheel at ICON Park Orlando . The city is also one of the busiest American cities for conferences and conventions ; the Orange County Convention Center is the second-largest convention facility in the United States . Like other major cities in the Sun Belt , Orlando grew rapidly from the 1980s up into the first decade of the 21st century . Orlando is home to the University of Central Florida , which is the largest university campus in the United States in terms of enrollment as of 2015 [ update ] .
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is an oceanfront amusement park in Santa Cruz , California . Founded in 1907 , it is California 's oldest surviving amusement park and one of the few seaside parks on the West Coast of the United States .
Santa Cruz ( /ˈsæntə ˈkruːz/ ; Spanish for Holy Cross ) is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County , California . As of 2018 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated Santa Cruz 's population at 64,725 . Situated on the northern edge of Monterey Bay , about 32 mi ( 51 km ) south of San Jose and 75 mi ( 120 km ) south of San Francisco , the city is part of the 12-county San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland Combined Statistical Area . Santa Cruz is known for its moderate climate , natural environment , coastline , redwood forests , alternative community lifestyles , and socially liberal leanings . It is also home to the University of California , Santa Cruz , a premier research institution and educational hub , as well as the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk , an oceanfront amusement park operating continuously since 1907 . The present-day site of Santa Cruz was the location of Spanish settlement beginning in 1791 , including Mission Santa Cruz and the pueblo of Branciforte . The City of Santa Cruz was incorporated in 1866 and chartered in April 1876 . Important early industries included lumber , gunpowder , lime and agriculture . Late in the 19th century , Santa Cruz established itself as a beach resort community .
Mason is a city in southwestern Warren County , Ohio , United States , approximately 22 miles ( 35 km ) from downtown Cincinnati . As of the 2010 census , Mason 's population was 30,712 . Mason is home to Kings Island amusement park and one of the largest tennis stadiums in the world , the Lindner Family Tennis Center , home of the Western & Southern Open , one of the world 's top tennis tournaments for both men and women .
Holiday World & Splashin ' Safari ( known as Santa Claus Land prior to 1984 ) is a combination theme park and water park located near Interstate 64 and U.S. 231 in Santa Claus , Indiana , United States . The theme park is divided into four sections that celebrate Christmas , Halloween , Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July with rides , live entertainment , games , and attractions . Holiday World contains three wooden roller coasters : The Raven , The Legend , and The Voyage , as well as Thunderbird ( a Bolliger & Mabillard launched Wing Coaster ) and The Howler . The safari-themed water park includes the world 's two longest water coasters : Wildebeest and Guinness World Record Holder Mammoth , numerous family raft rides and water slides , two wave pools , junior-sized wave pool , two children's-sized water slide areas , a lazy river , two family tipping bucket .
Santa Claus is a town in Spencer County , Indiana , United States , in the southwestern part of the state . Located in Carter , Clay and Harrison Townships , it sits between Interstate 64 and the Ohio River . The population was 2,481 at the 2010 census , making it the largest community in Spencer County . The town was established in 1854 and known as Santa Fe ( pronounced fee ) . In 1856 , when the town was working to establish a post office , the Post Office Department refused their first application as there was already a Santa Fe , Indiana established with the Post Office Department . Several town meetings were held , during which the name Santa Claus was selected . The town has the world 's only post office to bear the name of the eponymous Christmas figure . Because of this popular name , the post office receives thousands of letters to Santa from all over the world each year . A group of volunteers known as Santa 's Elves ensures each child receives a reply from Santa Claus ; this tradition has been in existence since at least 1914 . Every year , the post office also creates a special Christmas hand-cancellation pictorial postmark for use during December , which also attracts mail from all over the world . The pictorial postmark is chosen each year from submissions from art students at nearby Heritage Hills and South Spencer High Schools . Santa Claus has grown substantially since the 1990 census , which recorded 927 residents .
Dollywood is a theme park jointly owned by entertainer Dolly Parton and Herschend Family Entertainment . It is located in the Knoxville-Smoky Mountains metroplex in Pigeon Forge , Tennessee . Hosting nearly 3 million guests in a typical season - mid-March to the Christmas holidays - Dollywood is the biggest ticketed tourist attraction in Tennessee . In addition to standard amusement park thrill rides , Dollywood features traditional crafts and music of the Smoky Mountain area . The park hosts a number of concerts and musical events each year , including appearances by Dolly Parton and her family as well as other national and local musical acts . It is also the site of the Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame . The theme park is the anchor of Parton 's 150-acre ( 61 ha ) Dollywood amusement destination , which also includes the 35-acre ( 14 ha ) sister water park Dollywood 's Splash Country , the 20-acre ( 8.1 ha ) Dollywood 's DreamMore Resort and Spa , and the 5-acre ( 2.0 ha ) Dolly Parton 's Stampede Dinner Attraction .
Pigeon Forge is a mountain resort city in Sevier County , Tennessee , in the southeastern United States . As of the 2010 census , the city had a total population of 5,875 . Situated just 5 miles ( 8 km ) north of Great Smoky Mountains National Park , Pigeon Forge is a tourist destination that caters primarily to Southern culture and country music fans . The city 's attractions include Dollywood and Dollywood 's Splash Country as well as numerous gift shops , outlet malls , amusement rides , and musical theaters .
Busch Gardens Williamsburg ( formerly known as Busch Gardens Europe and Busch Gardens : The Old Country ) is a 383-acre ( 1.55 km2 ) theme park located in James City County , Virginia , United States . Located about sixty miles ( 100 km ) northwest of Virginia Beach , the park was developed by Anheuser-Busch ( A-B ) and is owned by SeaWorld Entertainment . It opened on May 16 , 1975 , adjacent to Anheuser-Busch 's brewery and near its other developments including the Kingsmill Resort complex . The park is themed around various European countries and as such was originally called Busch Gardens : The Old Country . In 1993 , the park was renamed Busch Gardens Williamsburg before briefly being named Busch Gardens Europe in 2006 until it returned to the Williamsburg name in 2008 . Similarly , its sister park in Florida was originally called Busch Gardens : The Dark Continent until it was officially renamed Busch Gardens Tampa Bay until a brief switch to Busch Gardens Africa from 2006 to 2008 . In 2015 , the estimated attendance of 2.78 million makes it the twentieth most-visited park in the US . In addition to its landscaping and European theme , Busch Gardens is widely known for its roller coasters , including Griffon , Alpengeist , and Apollo 's Chariot , which won No . 4 best steel coaster in 2012 from the Golden Ticket Awards .
Williamsburg is a city in the U.S. state of Virginia . As of the 2010 U.S. Census , the population was 14,068 . In 2018 , the population was estimated to be 14,896 . Located on the Virginia Peninsula , Williamsburg is in the northern part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area . It is bordered by James City County and York County . Williamsburg was founded in 1632 as Middle Plantation , a fortified settlement on high ground between the James and York rivers . The city served as the capital of the Colony and Commonwealth of Virginia from 1699 to 1780 and was the center of political events in Virginia leading to the American Revolution . The College of William & Mary , established in 1693 , is the second-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and the only one of the nine colonial colleges located in the South ; its alumni include three U.S. Presidents as well as many other important figures in the nation 's early history . The city 's tourism-based economy is driven by Colonial Williamsburg , the restored Historic Area of the city . Along with nearby Jamestown and Yorktown , Williamsburg forms part of the Historic Triangle , which attracts more than four million tourists each year . Modern Williamsburg is also a college town , inhabited in large part by William & Mary students and staff .
The Grand Carousel ( referred to simply as the Merry-Go-Round ) was built in 1926 for the Philadelphia sesquicentennial by William H. Dentzel . Finished too late for the sesquicentennial , it was installed at Kennywood Park outside Pittsburgh in 1927 . A Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmark , the Grand Carousel is Kennywood 's third and largest carousel . The music on the carousel is provided by a 1916 Wurlitzer Military Band Organ , Style # 153 ( one of the oldest Wurlitzer # 153 's in existence ) . It is a four-abreast carousel ( meaning that it has four rows of animals ) and travels in a counter-clockwise direction with over 1,500 lights decorating the ride . The two notable non-equine animals featured on the ride are the tiger and the lion . These two non-equine animals qualify this carousel as a menagerie carousel . It is one of the three rides at Kennywood with a start/stop bell that dates back to the origin of the ride .
Knoebels Amusement Resort ( /kəˈnoʊbəlz/ ) is a family-owned and operated amusement park , picnic grove , and campground in Elysburg , Pennsylvania . Opened in 1926 , it is America 's largest free-admission park . The park has more than 60 rides including three wooden roller coasters , one steel roller coaster , a 1913 carousel , and a haunted house dark ride . The amusement park is owned and operated by the Knoebel ( pronounced kuh-NO-bel ) family , who also operate a lumber yard next to the park . The park 's name has traditionally been spelled Knoebels without the apostrophe , and appears that way on all official park advertising and correspondence . The park straddles the line between Northumberland and Columbia Counties . The complex is mainly in the Columbia County townships of Cleveland and Franklin and is in Ralpho Township on the Northumberland County side of the South Branch Roaring Creek . The park and its rides have won awards from organizations such as Amusement Today , American Coaster Enthusiasts , and the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions . In 2014 , Travel Channel rated Knoebels one of their Top 10 Family Friendly Amusement Parks in the United States . America 's Number One Amusement Park In 2008 , the parks dark ride was the subject of a one-hour documentary , Laff In The Darks Behind The Scenes At Knoebels Haunted House .
Valhalla is a large indoor dark flume ride at Pleasure Beach Blackpool in Lancashire , England . Opened on 14 June 2000 at a cost of £15 million . It is one of the longest indoor dark rides in the world at a duration of just over six minutes Both a dark ride and a water ride , Valhalla uses special effects which incorporate fire , water and snow . The ride is closed for refurbishment and will reopen for the 2021 season .
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is an amusement park situated in the South Shore area , of Blackpool , Lancashire , North West England . It is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the United Kingdom , and one of the top twenty most visited amusement parks in the world , with a peak estimate of 5.5 million visitors in 2007 . In 2014 it was voted as the best theme park in the United Kingdom and the ninth-best park in Europe by the Travelers ' Choice Awards . The park is host to many records , including the largest number of roller coasters of any park in the United Kingdom with ten , of which four are wooden : the Big Dipper , Blue Flyer , Grand National and Nickelodeon Streak . Many of the roller coasters in the park are record-breaking attractions . When it opened in 1994 , the Big One was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world . It was also the steepest , with an incline angle of 65° and one of the longest , measuring 5,497 feet ( 1,675 m ) . Currently , the ride holds the record as the tallest roller coaster in the United Kingdom , standing at 213 ft ( 65 m ) , with a first drop of 205 ft ( 62 m ) . The park was the first in Europe to introduce a fully inverting steel coaster , Revolution and is the last remaining park in the world to still operate a Steeplechase roller coaster . The Grand National is one of only three Möbius loop coasters in existence , where a singular track loops around itself , offering a facsimile out-and-back layout and creating a racing effect on two parallel tracks . Sir Hiram Maxims Captive Flying Machine is the oldest amusement park ride in Europe having opened in August 1904 . At the cost of £15 million , Valhalla was one of the largest and most expensive indoor dark rides in the world .
Wildebeest is a water coaster at Holiday World & Splashin ' Safari in Santa Claus , Indiana , United States . It was designed and built beginning in 2009 by ProSlide Technology ; it opened on May 7 , 2010 . Wildebeest is named after the African mammal , keeping with the water park 's safari theme . When it was completed in 2010 , Wildebeest held the record for the world 's longest water coaster at 1,710 feet ( 520 m ) long . It held that record until May 11 , 2012 , when Mammoth , Holiday World 's second water coaster , took over the title at 1,763 feet ( 537 m ) long . In 2010 , Wildebeest was voted the world 's Best New Waterpark Ride at the Golden Ticket Awards , which are presented annually by Amusement Today magazine . Wildebeest was also awarded the Golden Ticket Award for Best Waterpark Ride in 2010 and 2011 .
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror , also known as Tower of Terror in Tokyo and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror : A New Dimension of Chills in Paris , is an accelerated drop tower dark ride located at Disney 's Hollywood Studios , Tokyo DisneySea , Walt Disney Studios Park , and formerly located at Disney California Adventure . The attraction is inspired by Rod Serling 's anthology television series , The Twilight Zone , and takes place in the fictional Hollywood Tower Hotel in Hollywood , California . The Tokyo version , which features an original storyline not related to The Twilight Zone , takes place in the fictional Hotel Hightower . All three versions place riders in a seemingly ordinary hotel elevator , and present the riders with a fictional backstory in which people have mysteriously disappeared from the elevator under the influence of some supernatural element many years previously . The original version of the attraction opened at Disney 's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in July 1994 , and was the basis of the 1997 television film of the same name , several scenes of which were shot at the attraction . A decade later , Disney began plans to add similar versions of the attraction to their newest parks at the Disneyland Resort in California , Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan , and Disneyland Paris . In California and Paris , Disney sought to use the popular attraction to boost attendance at the respective resorts ' struggling new theme parks . The California and Tokyo versions of Tower of Terror opened in 2004 and 2006 , respectively , while financial problems delayed the opening of the Paris version until 2007 . The California version closed in January 2017 . The Tower of Terror buildings are among the tallest structures found at their respective Disney resorts . At 199 feet ( 60.7 m ) , the Florida version is the second tallest attraction at the Walt Disney World Resort , with only Expedition Everest being taller by 0.5 feet ( 0.2 m ) at 199.5 feet ( 60.8 m ) . At the Disneyland Resort , the 199-foot ( 60.7 m ) structure ( which now houses Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission : Breakout ! )
Disney 's Hollywood Studios is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake , Florida , near Orlando . It is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks , Experiences and Products division . Based on a concept by Marty Sklar , Randy Bright , and Michael Eisner , the park opened on May 1 , 1989 , as the Disney-MGM Studios ( Theme ) Park , and was the third of four theme parks built at Walt Disney World . Spanning 135 acres ( 55 ha ) , the park is dedicated to the imagined worlds from film , television , music , and theatre , drawing inspiration from the Golden Age of Hollywood . Disney 's Hollywood Studios was initially developed as both a theme park inspired by show business and an operating production studio , with active film and television production services , an animation facility branch , and a functioning backlot . Construction on the combined park and studio began in 1987 , but was accelerated when the construction of the similarly-themed Universal Studios Florida began a few miles away . To increase public interest and the variety of film representation within the park , Disney entered into a licensing agreement with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer , from which the park 's original name was derived . The park 's production facilities were removed throughout the 2000s , and many of the park 's soundstages were retrofitted for newer attractions and guest use . The park 's current name took effect in 2008 , with the removal of the MGM-branding throughout the park . In the 2010s , the park began to distance itself from the original studio backlot intention and entered a new direction of immersive theming and attraction development inspired by Hollywood stories . The park 's icon was originally the Earffel Tower from the park 's opening until 2001 when the Sorcerer 's Hat - a stylized version of the magical hat from Fantasia - was erected in the park 's central hub . It then served as the park 's icon until its removal in January 2015 .
Revenge of the Mummy , officially named Revenge of the Mummy : The Ride , is an enclosed roller coaster based on the Mummy film franchise , located at Universal Studios Florida , Universal Studios Hollywood , Universal Studios Singapore using linear induction motors ( LIMs ) to launch riders from a complete standstill to a top speed of between 40 and 45 mph ( 64 and 72 km/h ) in a matter of seconds . All Revenge of the Mummy roller coasters have a minimum passenger height requirement of 48 inches ( 120 cm ) . Two versions of the attraction have the same track layout but different storylines ; however the attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood has an original layout and storyline . All three attractions are manufactured by Premier Rides , feature track switches by Dynamic Structures , and are themed by Universal Creative and ITEC Entertainment Corporation . Some of the alternate features of the Singapore version were designed by Adirondack Studios .
Universal Studios Florida is a theme park and production studio located in Orlando , Florida , United States . Opened on June 7 , 1990 , the park 's theme is the entertainment industry , in particular movies and television . Universal Studios Florida inspires its guests to ride the movies , and it features numerous attractions and live shows . The park is one component of the larger Universal Orlando Resort . In 2017 , the park hosted an estimated 10,198,000 visitors , ranking as the sixth most attended theme park in the United States , as well as the ninth most attended theme park worldwide .
Noah 's Ark is a type of amusement park walk-through attraction built between 1919 and 1936 . It features a fun house in the shape of the biblical vessel found in the Genesis flood narrative . As such , most Noah 's Arks featured scenes depicting animals and the biblical prophet Noah alongside traditional fun house gags .
Kennywood is an amusement park located in West Mifflin , Pennsylvania . The park first opened on May 30 , 1899 , as a trolley park attraction at the end of the Mellon family 's Monongahela Street Railway . It was purchased in 1906 by F. W. Henninger and Andrew McSwigan , both of whom later formed the family-owned Kennywood Entertainment Company . The company later sold Kennywood , along with four other parks , in 2007 to Parques Reunidos , an international entertainment operator based in Spain . The amusement park features various structures and rides dating back to the early 1900s . Along with Rye Playland Park , it is one of only two amusement parks designated as a National Historic Landmark . Kennywood is also one of only thirteen trolley parks in the United States that remains in operation .
Halloween Horror Nights ( formerly known as Fright Nights ) is an annual special event that occurs at Universal Studios theme parks in Florida , California , Singapore , and Japan . The parks remain operational during the day and transition to Halloween Horror Nights at night . The Halloween-themed event occurs during the fall season and features haunted houses , scare zones and live entertainment , many of which use Universal Studios ' characters . Its intended audience are teenagers and young adults .
The Universal Orlando Resort , commonly known as Universal Orlando Studios and Universal Studios Orlando , formerly Universal Studios Escape or simply Universal , is an American theme park and entertainment resort complex based in Orlando , Florida . The resort is operated by Universal Parks & Resorts . It is wholly owned by NBCUniversal , a division of Comcast . Universal Orlando is the second-largest resort in Greater Orlando , after the Walt Disney World resort , covering 541 acres of land . Universal Orlando consists of two theme parks ( Universal Studios Florida and Universal 's Islands of Adventure ) , a water park ( Volcano Bay ) , a night-time entertainment complex ( Universal CityWalk Orlando ) , six Loews Hotels ( Loews Portofino Bay Hotel , Hard Rock Hotel , Loews Royal Pacific Resort , Cabana Bay Beach Resort , Loews Sapphire Falls Resort , Universals Aventura Hotel ) , and an upcoming park , Epic Universe . All of the hotel resorts offer Early Park Admission into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Universals Volcano Bay . Additionally , the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel , Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort offer free unlimited Universal Express Pass for use at participating rides at Universal Studios Florida and Universals Islands of Adventure . There are similar products valid at Volcano Bay , Halloween Horror Nights , and Rock the Universe . Universal Orlando is one of the most visited resorts in the world , with an annual attendance of 21 million in 2017 . Universal Orlando is the flagship resort of Universal Parks & Resorts , especially due to the competitive nature between the resort and Walt Disney World .