Experience the thrill at these theme parks

Love spending family time riding epic roller coasters, feasting on candy floss and clicking pictures with fluffy animals and mascots? Shikha Shah lists five amusement parks around the world that you can explore.
OTHER POPULAR THEME PARKS

Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida

Disneyland, Anaheim, US

Six Flags Magic Mountain, California

Cedar Point, Ohio

Universal Studios, Singapore

Parc Asterix, France

Ratanga Junction, South Africa

Universal Studios, Osaka, JAPAN

Incredibly friendly and lively, this theme park has eight sections: Hollywood, New York, San Francisco, Jurassic Park, Lagoon, Waterworld, Amity Village and Universal Wonderland. Enjoy a number of amusement rides, ranging from child-friendly carousels to thrilling roller coasters and simulators, based on popular movies such as Spider-Man, Back To The Future, Terminator 2 and Jurassic Park. They will soon be adding a Harry Potter-related attraction too! Don’t miss the chance of clicking photographs with popular mascots such as Snoopy, Hello Kitty and the puppets from Sesame Street.

Everland, Yongin, SOUTH KOREA

This world-class family amusement park is divided into five areas: European Adventure, Zootopia, Global Fair, American Adventure and Magic Land. In short, it has something in store for everyone. The place encompasses a large area filled with fantasy buildings, thrill rides, fairground attractions, zoo animals, seasonal gardens, budget restaurants and live music. A striking feature of Everland is the 15-minute African Safari bus ride t h r o u g h wildlife zones. The close-up views of animals like tigers, lions, hyenas, zebras and bears will leave you frozen in awe.

Walt Disney World, Orlando, UNITED STATES

Spread over an area of 27,443 acres, this is the world’s largest and mostvisited amusement park. It has four different theme parks : Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, each offering its own adventure. Moreover, it houses two water parks, a Downtown Disney shopping area, golf courses and a selection of hotels and dining establishments. The Magic Kingdom focusses on the classic Disney experience. Spend time exploring The Haunted Mansion, dine with Cinderella and her friends inside her castle or watch the amazing night fireworks in the park.

Europa Park, Rust, GERMANY

Asensational mix of adventure, entertainment and white-knuckle thrills, Europa Park is Europe in miniature. Indulge in high-adrenaline rides, cleverly-conceived themed areas, beautiful parks and watch many fantastic shows including children’s theatre and ice revues. The Silver Star and loop-the-loop roller coasters will literally take your breath away! If high-octane roller coasters aren’t your thing, opt for a nostalgic driving experience behind the wheel of a vintage car. To round off your action-packed day, enjoy a taste of the Mediterranean at one of its four-star hotels and gradually soak in the day’s experiences.

THEME PARK SURVIVAL GUIDE

Want to avoid the big crowds? Visit on a weekday as families tend to come on weekends, when kids don’t have to attend school. Get to the park early, start working your way backwards through a park instead of stopping at the first attraction you see.

Try and buy the tickets online. They are usually cheaper and will save you the time you’ll spend waiting in long queues at the ticket counter.

If you’re planning to go for water rides, bring a zip-lock sandwich bag for your cell phone and other essentials.

Carry sunscreen and re-apply every couple of hours. Wear shoes that are comfortable and provide proper support. Most parks will have you doing a lot of walking.

Make sure you always choose a place to meet in case someone from your family gets lost.

Don’t use any kind of tricks to make your kids look taller or convince the guard to let them go for a ride. Height and safety restrictions are there for a reason.

If you feel dizzy on a roller coaster, pretend you are driving the ride. You’ll feel like your body is in control, and you’re not just being thrown around.

Drink plenty of fluids on a hot day. You certainly don’t want to get dehydrated.

Ocean Park, Wong Chuk Hang, HONG KONG

If you wish to merge fun and education, this is the place to be. The two main sections, the Waterfront and the Summit, are connected via a scenic cable car ride and a marinethemed train called Ocean Express. The major attractions at Waterfront are Amazing Asian Animals and the Grand Aquarium that houses 5,000 fish belonging to 400 different species. To the north is Whiskers Harbour, which thrives on an assortment of children-oriented rides. Take a nostalgic trip through Old Hong Kong, another zone with an accurate replica of the old streets and buildings of Hong Kong. Remember to take home some antique souvenirs to keep those joyful memories alive.

Experience the thrill at these theme parks