Let’s Ride! Florida’s Best Theme Parks

Let’s face it: Florida is hands down, “The Theme Park Capital of the World.”

And with good reason.

Theme parks in Florida draw visitors from around the globe. Orlando, which is considered theme park central, is home to the ginormous Disney World and Universal Orlando complexes and the airport here welcomes flights from more than 50 international destinations.

The thrill-a-minute, heart-stopping rides and all-too-real exhibits at these parks create a fantasy world for all ages. It’s no wonder that both kids and gramps parade happily around donning Mickey Mouse ears with their names emblazoned on the front.

Of course there are lots more amusement parks all over Florida, but Disney cemented Florida’s theme park reputation when it opened the Magic Kingdom, a sister park to California’s Disneyland, in 1971. Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom soon followed but the indomitable Magic Kingdom, with its fairytale castles and nightly fireworks remains one of Florida’s most-visited parks.

Today, Disney encompasses a multitude of resorts, including the original Contemporary and Polynesian Village, plus the upscale Grand Floridian, Pacific-Northwest inspired Wilderness Lodge and walk-on-the-wild-side Animal Kingdom Lodge. There are several more themed resorts, as well, along with many budget accommodations.

Head up the road to Universal Orlando and immerse yourself in “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.” Part of Universal’s “Islands of Adven-ture” this two-park attraction pays homage to author JK Rowling’s fantas-tical tale of the boy wizard and will immerse you in his amazing world of magic.

True to its heritage, Universal revolves around movie themes, including the futuristic Jurassic Park and classic Dr. Seuss. One of the most popular annual attractions at Universal is the world’s premier Halloween event: Halloween Horror Nights.

Staged in early September, this chilling event runs through October 31 and brings together terrifying haunted houses, sinister scare zones, out-rageous live entertainment and some of the park’s most exhilarating at-tractions. Be prepared: you never know when Jack the Clown will lunge from the shadows so you’ll definitely need someone to hide behind, somebody to panic with.

Orlando is also home to the famous Seaworld. In addition to its wild an-imal shows, Seaworld also has four heart-pounding rollercoasters includ-ing the Kraken, a floor less coaster, and Mantu, a ride designed to mimiic how a manta ray moves along the ocean floor.

In nearby Lakeland, LEGOLAND, a 150-acre theme park built for kids, boasts more than 50 rides, shows and attractions inspired by the popular LEGO® brands and characters, as well as a LEGOLAND Water Park and world-famous botanical garden.

In Tampa, about 75 miles west of Orlando, the popular African-themed Busch Gardens is the ultimate family adventure, combining world-class thrill rides, live entertainment and more than 12,000 animals. Challenge a 335-foot drop tower, Falcon’s Fury, or race like a cheetah on Cheetah Hunt. Busch Gardens’ newest attraction, Cobra’s Curse puts a spin on family thrills with this one-of-a-kind spin coaster.

Sound like fun? Then pack your bags and head on down!