2013 in amusement parks
Poll rankings -- Golden Ticket Awards
Table:
Category
2013 Recipient
Location

Best New Ride (Amusement Park)
Outlaw Run
Silver Dollar City

Best New Ride (Waterpark)
RiverRush
Dollywood's Splash Country

Best Amusement Park
Cedar Point
Sandusky, Ohio

Best Waterpark
Schlitterbahn
New Braunfels, Texas

Best Children's Park
Idlewild and Soak Zone
Ligonier, Pennsylvania

Best Marine Life Park
SeaWorld Orlando
Orlando, Florida

Best Seaside Park
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Santa Cruz, California

Best Indoor Waterpark
Schlitterbahn Galveston Island
Galveston, Texas

Friendliest Park
Dollywood
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

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

Best Shows
Dollywood
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Best Food
Dollywood
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Best Water Ride (Park)
Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls
Islands of Adventure

Best Waterpark Ride
Wildebeest
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari

Best Kids' Area
Kings Island
Mason, Ohio

Best Dark Ride
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Islands of Adventure

Best Outdoor Show Production
Epcot
Orlando, Florida

Best Landscaping
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Virginia

Best Halloween Event
Universal Orlando Resort
Orlando, Florida

Best Christmas Event
Dollywood
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Drawing on the provided table along with the article excerpts listed at the end.

Give the answer to the question: What is the location of the ride that won Best New Ride in an amusement park ? Provide just your answer in a JSON object {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}.

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 .
Outlaw Run is a wooden roller coaster located at the Silver Dollar City amusement park in Branson , Missouri . The ride was the first wooden roller coaster manufactured by Rocky Mountain Construction and the first wooden roller coaster with multiple inversions , in which riders are turned upside-down and then back upright . The 2,937-foot-long ( 895 m ) ride features three inversions and a top speed of 68 miles per hour ( 109 km/h ) , making Outlaw Run the sixth-fastest wooden roller coaster in the world . The 162-foot-tall ( 49 m ) first drop of the ride is the fourth steepest in the world among wooden roller coasters , at 81° . Planning for Outlaw Run began in 2009 , three years before its official announcement in August 2012 . Rocky Mountain Construction were contracted to manufacture the ride as their proposal best suited Silver Dollar City 's available space and budget . The ride 's track layout was designed by Alan Schilke . Outlaw Run opened to the public on March 15 , 2013 , to generally positive reviews .
Silver Dollar City is a theme park in the US state of Missouri . Opened on May 1 , 1960 , the park is located between Branson and Branson West off of Missouri Route 76 on the Indian Point peninsula of Table Rock Lake . The park is an 1880s-themed experience that fits Branson 's vision as a family-friendly vacation destination with down-home charm . Silver Dollar City 's operating season runs from mid-March until late December , with the park closed during the months of January and February . Silver Dollar City is owned by Herschend Family Entertainment .
Dollywood 's Splash Country is a 35-acre ( 14 ha ) water park located in Pigeon Forge , Tennessee , adjacent to the Dollywood theme park . The park 's central theme rests around entertainer Dolly Partons childhood swimming in the rivers of the Great Smoky Mountains . Dollywood 's Splash Country operates from May through September . Both Dollywood and Dollywood 's Splash Country are co-owned by country music star Dolly Parton and the Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation .
An amusement park is a park that features various attractions , such as rides and games , as well as other events for entertainment purposes . A theme park is a type of amusement park that bases its structures and attractions around a central theme , often featuring multiple areas with different themes . Unlike temporary and mobile funfairs and carnivals , amusement parks are stationary and built for long-lasting operation . They are more elaborate than city parks and playgrounds , usually providing attractions that cater to a variety of age groups . While amusement parks often contain themed areas , theme parks place a heavier focus with more intricately-designed themes that revolve around a particular subject or group of subjects . Amusement parks evolved from European fairs , pleasure gardens and large picnic areas , which were created for people 's recreation . World 's fairs and other types of international expositions also influenced the emergence of the amusement park industry . Lake Compounce opened in 1846 and is considered the oldest , continuously-operating amusement park in North America . The first theme parks emerged in the mid-twentieth century with the opening of Santa Claus Land in 1946 , Santa 's Workshop in 1949 , and Disneyland in 1955 .
Cedar Point is a 364-acre ( 147 ha ) amusement park located on a Lake Erie peninsula in Sandusky , Ohio . Opened in the late-1800s , it is reported to be the second-oldest operating amusement park in the United States behind Lake Compounce . Cedar Point is owned and operated by Cedar Fair and is considered the flagship of the amusement park chain . Known as America 's Roller Coast , the park features a world-record 72 rides , including 17 roller coasters - the second-most in the world behind Six Flags Magic Mountain . Its newest roller coaster , Steel Vengeance , opened to the public on May 5 , 2018 . Cedar Point 's normal operating season runs from early May until Labor Day in September . The park then reopens only on weekends until the end of October or early November for a Halloween-themed event known as HalloWeekends . Other attractions near the park include a one-mile-long ( 1.6 km ) white-sand beach , an outdoor water park called Cedar Point Shores , an indoor water park called Castaway Bay , two marinas , an outdoor sports complex called Cedar Point Sports Center , and several nearby resorts . The park has reached several milestones . It is the only amusement park in the world with six roller coasters that are at least 200 feet ( 61 m ) in height - Magnum XL-200 , Millennium Force , Wicked Twister , Top Thrill Dragster , Valravn , and Steel Vengeance - as well as the only one with roller coasters in all four height classifications . Cedar Point also received the Golden Ticket Award for Best Amusement Park in the World from Amusement Today for 16 consecutive years from 1997-2013 . The park is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the United States with an estimated 3.6 million visitors in 2017 .
Sandusky /sænˈdʌskiː/ is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Erie County . Situated in northern Ohio on the shores of Lake Erie , Sandusky is midway between Toledo to the west and Cleveland to the east . According to 2010 census , the city had a population of 25,793 , and the Sandusky , Ohio Micropolitan Statistical Area had 77,079 residents . In 2011 , Sandusky was ranked No . 1 by Forbes as the Best Place to Live Cheaply in the United States . The city has a median family income of $ 64,000 . Sandusky is home to the Cedar Fair Entertainment Company and its flagship amusement park , Cedar Point . Cedar Point has one of the largest collections of roller coasters in the world and is widely regarded as one of the best amusement parks . Cedar Point includes 17 roller coasters . The National Arbor Day Foundation has designated Sandusky as a Tree City USA .
A water park or waterpark is an amusement park that features water play areas such as swimming pools , water slides , splash pads , water playgrounds , and lazy rivers , as well as areas for bathing , swimming , and other barefoot environments . Modern water parks may also be equipped with some type of artificial surfing or bodyboarding environment , such as a wave pool or flowrider .
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 .
A marine park is a park consisting of an area of sea ( or lake ) sometimes protected for recreational use , but more often set aside to preserve a specific habitat and ensure the ecosystem is sustained for the organisms that exist there . Most marine parks are designated by governments , and organized like 'watery ' national parks . [ citation needed ] [ clarification needed ] The largest marine park used to be the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in Australia , at 350,000 km² until 2010 , when the United Kingdom announced the opening of the Chagos Marine Park or Chagos Archipelago . [ citation needed ] Although for many uses it is sufficient to designate the boundaries of the marine park and to inform commercial fishing boats and other maritime enterprises , some parks have gone to additional effort to make their wonders accessible to visitors . These can range from glass-bottomed boats and small submarines , to windowed undersea tubes . In New Zealand a marine reserve is an area which has a higher degree of legal protection than marine parks for conservation purposes . [ citation needed ] In New South Wales , there are planned marine parks which will stretch along the coastline of the entire state . [ citation needed ]
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 .
Galveston ( /ˈɡælvɪstən/ GAL-vis-tən ) is a coastal resort city and port off the southeast coast on Galveston Island and Pelican Island in the American State of Texas . The community of 209.3 square miles ( 542 km2 ) , with a population of 47,743 in 2010 , is the county seat of surrounding Galveston County and second-largest municipality in the county . It is also within the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan area at its southern end on the northwestern coast of the Gulf of Mexico . Galveston , or Galvez ' town , was named after the Spanish military and political leader in the 18th century : Bernardo de Gálvez y Madrid , Count of Gálvez ( 1746-1786 ) , who was born in Macharaviaya , Málaga , in the Kingdom of Spain . Galveston 's first European settlements on the Galveston Island were built around 1816 by French pirate Louis-Michel Aury to help the fledgling Republic of Mexico fight for independence from Spain , along with other colonies in the Western Hemisphere of the Americas in Central and South America in the 1810s and 1820s . The Port of Galveston was established in 1825 by the Congress of Mexico following its independence from Spain . The city was the main port for the fledgling Texas Navy during the Texas Revolution of 1836 , and later served temporarily as the new national capital of the Republic of Texas . During the 19th century , Galveston became a major U.S. commercial center and one of the largest ports in the United States . It was for a time , Texas ' largest city , known as the Queen City of the Gulf . It was devastated by the unexpected Galveston Hurricane of 1900 , whose effects included massive flooding and a storm surge which nearly wiped out the town . The natural disaster on the exposed barrier island is still ranked today as the deadliest in United States history , with an estimated death toll of 6,000 to 12,000 people . The city subsequently reemerged during the Prohibition era of 1919-1933 as a leading tourist hub and a center of illegal gambling , nicknamed the Free State of Galveston until this era ended in the 1950s with subsequent other economic and social development .
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 .
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 .
Water rides are amusement rides that are set over water . For instance , a log flume travels through a channel of water to move along its course .
Dudley Do-Right 's Ripsaw Falls is a log flume ride at Islands of Adventure in Orlando , Florida inspired by the Dudley Do-Right character created by cartoonists Jay Ward and Alex Anderson . Opened on May 28 , 1999 , it is one of the park 's original attractions .
Universal 's Islands of Adventure ( originally Universal Studios Islands of Adventure ) is a theme park located in Orlando , Florida . It opened on May 28 , 1999 , along with CityWalk , as part of an expansion that converted Universal Studios Florida into the Universal Orlando Resort . The resort 's slogan Vacation Like You Mean It was introduced in 2013 . Islands of Adventure is modeled after a journey of exploration , where guests embark on an adventure to visit a variety of themed islands . Initially , the park featured six islands . A seventh , The Wizarding World of Harry Potter , was added in 2010 , themed to the highly-successful Harry Potter franchise . It was Universal 's largest investment since the resort 's founding in 1990 . The expansion led to a significant increase in attendance , and in 2013 , Islands of Adventure ranked seventh domestically and eleventh internationally after hosting approximately 8.1 million guests . The eighth island , Skull Island , opened on July 13 , 2016 and is themed to the King Kong franchise .
The wildebeest ( /ˈwɪldɪbiːst/ WIL-dih-beest , /ˈvɪl-/ VIL- , plural wildebeest , wildebai or wildebeests ) , also called the gnu ( /njuː/ NEW or /nuː/ NOO ) , is an antelope in the genus Connochaetes . It belongs to the family Bovidae , which includes antelopes , cattle , goats , sheep , and other even-toed horned ungulates . Connochaetes includes two species , both native to Africa : the black wildebeest or white-tailed gnu ( C. gnou ) , and the blue wildebeest or brindled gnu ( C. taurinus ) . Fossil records suggest these two species diverged about one million years ago , resulting in a northern and a southern species . The blue wildebeest remained in its original range and changed very little from the ancestral species , while the black wildebeest changed more as adaptation to its open grassland habitat in the south . The most obvious way of telling the two species apart are the differences in their colouring and in the way their horns are oriented . In East Africa , the blue wildebeest is the most abundant big-game species ; some populations perform an annual migration to new grazing grounds , but the black wildebeest is merely nomadic . Breeding in both takes place over a short period of time at the end of the rainy season and the calves are soon active and are able to move with the herd , a fact necessary for their survival . Nevertheless , some fall prey to large carnivores , especially the spotted hyena . Wildebeest often graze in mixed herds with zebra , which gives heightened awareness of potential predators . They are also alert to the warning signals emitted by other animals such as baboons . Wildebeest are a tourist attraction but compete with domesticated livestock for pasture and are sometimes blamed by farmers for transferring diseases and parasites to their cattle .
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 .
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 .
A dark ride or ghost train is an indoor amusement ride on which passengers aboard guided vehicles travel through specially lit scenes that typically contain animation , sound , music and special effects . Appearing as early as the 19th century , exhibits such as tunnels of love , scary themes and interactive stories have been the subject of rides under the original definition . [ citation needed ]
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a motion-based dark ride located in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-themed areas of Islands of Adventure in Orlando , Florida ; Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City , California , Universal Studios Japan in Osaka , Japan and is upcoming to Universal Studios Beijing in Beijing , China . The ride takes guests through scenes and environments in and around Hogwarts Castle from the Harry Potter series of books and films . Mark Woodbury , president of Universal Creative , described the ride as an in-depth look at the world of Harry Potter , which utilizes never-before-seen technology which transforms the theme park experience as you know it . The ride first opened at Islands of Adventure with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter on June 18 , 2010 ; subsequent versions opened at Universal Studios Japan on July 15 , 2014 , and at Universal Studios Hollywood on April 7 , 2016 .
Epcot ( stylized as EPCOT ) is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake , Florida . It is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks , Experiences and Products division . Inspired by an unrealized concept developed by Walt Disney , the park opened on October 1 , 1982 , as EPCOT Center , and was the second of four theme parks built at Walt Disney World , after the Magic Kingdom . Spanning 305 acres ( 123 ha ) , more than twice the size of the Magic Kingdom park , Epcot is dedicated to the celebration of human achievement , namely technological innovation and international culture , and is often referred to as a permanent world 's fair . Epcot was originally conceived by Walt Disney during the early development of Walt Disney World , as an experimental planned community that would serve as a center for American innovation and urban living . Known as EPCOT , the idea included an urban city center , residential areas , churches , schools , and a series of mass transportation systems that would connect the community . After Disney 's death in 1966 , the EPCOT concept was abandoned as the company had uncertainty about maintaining an operating city . In the 1970s , WED Enterprises began developing a second theme park for the resort to supplement Magic Kingdom , as that park 's popularity grew . The new park maintained the idea of showcasing modern innovation and enterprise through avant-garde edutainment attractions , as well as the addition of a world nations exposition . The newly-designed park , featuring two sections - Future World and World Showcase - opened as EPCOT Center in 1982 . In 1994 , the park was renamed to Epcot , dropping the acronym and Center from the name . In 2018 , Epcot hosted 13.444 million guests , ranking it as the fourth-most-visited theme park in North America and the seventh-most-visited theme park in the world .
Landscaping refers to any activity that modifies the visible features of an area of land , including :
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 .
Halloween or Hallowe'en ( a contraction of Hallows ' Even or Hallows ' Evening ) , also known as Allhalloween , All Hallows ' Eve , or All Saints ' Eve , is a celebration observed in several countries on 31 October , the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows ' Day . It begins the three-day observance of Allhallowtide , the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead , including saints ( hallows ) , martyrs , and all the faithful departed . It is widely believed that many Halloween traditions originated from ancient Celtic harvest festivals , particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain ; that such festivals may have had pagan roots ; and that Samhain itself was Christianized as Halloween by the early Church . Some believe , however , that Halloween began solely as a Christian holiday , separate from ancient festivals like Samhain . Halloween activities include trick-or-treating ( or the related guising and souling ) , attending Halloween costume parties , carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns , lighting bonfires , apple bobbing , divination games , playing pranks , visiting haunted attractions , telling scary stories , as well as watching horror films . In many parts of the world , the Christian religious observances of All Hallows ' Eve , including attending church services and lighting candles on the graves of the dead , remain popular , although elsewhere it is a more commercial and secular celebration . Some Christians historically abstained from meat on All Hallows ' Eve , a tradition reflected in the eating of certain vegetarian foods on this vigil day , including apples , potato pancakes , and soul cakes .
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 .
Christmas ( or Feast of the Nativity ) is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ , observed primarily on December 25 [ a ] as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world . A feast central to the Christian liturgical year , it is preceded by the season of Advent or the Nativity Fast and initiates the season of Christmastide , which historically in the West lasts twelve days and culminates on Twelfth Night ; in some traditions , Christmastide includes an octave . Christmas Day is a public holiday in many of the world 's nations , is celebrated religiously by a majority of Christians , as well as culturally by many non-Christians , and forms an integral part of the holiday season centered around it . The traditional Christmas narrative , the Nativity of Jesus , delineated in the New Testament says that Jesus was born in Bethlehem , in accordance with messianic prophecies . When Joseph and Mary arrived in the city , the inn had no room and so they were offered a stable where the Christ Child was soon born , with angels proclaiming this news to shepherds who then further disseminated the information . Although the month and date of Jesus ' birth are unknown , the church in the early fourth century fixed the date as December 25 . This corresponds to the date of the winter solstice on the Roman calendar . Most Christians celebrate on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar , which has been adopted almost universally in the civil calendars used in countries throughout the world . However , part of the Eastern Christian Churches celebrate Christmas on December 25 of the older Julian calendar , which currently corresponds to January 7 in the Gregorian calendar . For Christians , believing that God came into the world in the form of man to atone for the sins of humanity , rather than knowing Jesus ' exact birth date , is considered to be the primary purpose in celebrating Christmas . The celebratory customs associated in various countries with Christmas have a mix of pre-Christian , Christian , and secular themes and origins . Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift giving ; completing an Advent calendar or Advent wreath ; Christmas music and caroling ; viewing a Nativity play ; an exchange of Christmas cards ; church services ; a special meal ; and the display of various Christmas decorations , including Christmas trees , Christmas lights , nativity scenes , garlands , wreaths , mistletoe , and holly .