Embrace Your Inner Child At These Top 10 Theme Parks Around The World

We all have ways to turn on our escape mechanisms. Babies gleefully shut their eyes, fully trusting that since they can’t see you, you won’t be able to see them too. Ostriches bury their heads in the ground, and yes, that only happens in cartoons, but there's a point to be proven here! And us? Until we find a means to get to outer space, we’ll gladly transform into inflated kids and run off to manmade worlds a.k.a. theme parks. Credit: Giphy

1. Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Florida, United States 

Credit: Sonny Abesamis on Flickr  Islands of Adventure consist of 8 islands, the latest being Skull Island, which opened its gates in July 2016. Unlike other Universal Studios theme parks, Islands of Adventure isn’t centred around a movie studio setting, but aims to pull visitors into the movies themselves!

2. Europa-Park, Rust, Germany

Credit: @alinamathers on Instagram You can travel the world in 80 days, but today, we’ll show you how to travel Europe in just one day! This family-owned park is divided into 13 European ‘countries’. The detailing is so impeccable, you’ll find craftsmen in Russia, taxis and a globe theatre in England, and even a church in The Netherlands where visitors can get married in! Credit: @mimirls on Instagram Scenic landscapes galore will make Eur-open your eyes at their largest. Many gardeners work in this park, and you’ll see rows upon rows of perfectly manicured flora. [caption id="attachment_13175" align="alignnone" width="960"] Blue Fire Megacoaster Credit: @birgit_loistl on Instagram Europa-Park has got something to offer for the entire family. For the little ones, Children’s World provides kiddy boat rides, merry-go-rounds and little slides. Scoot over to Iceland for thrill rides that were built to amaze adrenaline junkies! The Blue Fire Megacoaster slings riders from 0 to 100km/h in just 2.5 seconds, turning them upside down four times and taking them past manmade Icelandic cliffs on a 1050m journey. [caption id="attachment_13176" align="alignnone" width="960"] WODAN - Timburcoaster Credit: @zhivilov.ivan on Instagram WODAN - Timburcoaster was modelled to look like the wooden rollercoasters of yore. We wooden underestimate it if we were you, as just like the Blue Fire, it’s 1050m in length and reaches a speed of 100km/h. It’s going down, we're yelling timber!

3. Everland, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

  Credit: @kyeong_rin_k on Instagram Borrowing elements from Disney World, this theme park, run by a subsidiary of Samsung Group, boasts of picturesque surroundings that’ll make you feel like a child again. Credit: @bek_ggooo on Instagram Everland is split into five lands and even includes a zoo and a water park! Zoo-Topia has a petting zoo with goats and sheep, along with a mini zoo consisting of polar bears, sea lions, bears, and more. Blessed with a view of sprawling hills, it’s recommended you take the skyline ride which transports you across the theme park. The ride is a great help, especially in extreme weather, as you are required to walk a fair bit in this theme park! [caption id="attachment_13179" align="alignnone" width="960"] Double Rock Spin Credit: @ngnngoc on Instagram Should you ever wonder how a live chicken may feel like in a rotisserie oven (sans heat), we recommend you give the Double Rock Spin a try. This ride takes you on 360-degree spins, four consecutive times. It may be painted with an unassumingly innocent colour scheme, but cutesy it is not.

4. Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark 

Credit: Trish Hartmann on Flickr  Having first opened its doors in 1843, Tivoli Gardens is the second oldest theme park in the world. A good number of its monuments had been destroyed by Nazi supporters, but a cluster of historic architecture and attractions still stand today. [caption id="attachment_13182" align="alignnone" width="960"] Daemonen (The Demon), a floorless rollercoaster and the park’s newest ride Credit: @cowboydanl on Instagram Hop on the revamped century-old Roller Coaster, or simply enjoy the trancelike ambiance. Tivoli Gardens hasn’t much for the thrill seekers, but the numerous vintage rides and glistening antiquated sights make up for it. The park is so fairylike, its setting had inspired Hans Christian Andersen when he wrote “The Nightingale”. Even Walt Disney himself was so impressed, that he had approached the owners for valuable insights on the construction of Disneyland! [caption id="attachment_13183" align="alignnone" width="960"] Tivoli Gardens largely retains an oriental theme, with the exception of a few new additions Credit: @gretapoletti on Instagram Credit: Thomas Rousing on Flickr  It’s almost a crime not to stay till nightfall! If daytime Tivoli has already bewitched your senses to a point of no return, wait till its famed fairy lights are switched on! 120,000 lamps light up the park in the summer and about 2 million lamps illuminate the nights in winter. This place is lit! Operating hours: Sun – Thu: 11am – 11pm, Fri – Sat: 11am – 12am Ticket prices: DKK 110 (USD 16.57) on weekdays, DKK 120 (USD 18.08) on weekends, Free for children under 8 years of age Website: http://www.tivoli.dk/en Address: Vesterbrogade 3, 1630 København, Denmark

5. Nagashima Spa Land, Kuwana, Japan

  Credit: Hideyuki Kamon on Flickr  Thrill ride purists rejoice! Nagashima Spa Land is home to about 45 rides, 10 of which are rollercoasters that are sure to leave even the hardiest of daredevils gobsmacked! [caption id="attachment_13186" align="alignnone" width="960"] Steel Dragon 2000 Credit: @takaki.waga on Instagram This formidable ride put the theme park on the Guinness Book of World Records when it first started operating for having the longest rollercoaster in the world! The Steel Dragon 2000 is 97-metres tall and runs at a top speed of 153km/h, and there aren’t enclosures to fence the seats, so you can scream your hearts out, perhaps even literally! [caption id="attachment_13187" align="alignnone" width="960"] White Cyclone Credit: @ableabel101 on Instagram Due to Japanese regulations on the construction of wooden structures, you can count the number of wooden rollercoasters in the country with one hand. Before its conception, the White Cyclone’s creators rubbed their chins and thought, “Now that we can build wooden structures, why not make the longest wooden rollercoaster… outside of the US?” And the rest is history. Nagashima Spa Land sticks out into the sea, so its terrifyingly terrific rides are made even better with favourable water views! Credit: @kiyoaki.i on Instagram Have young children with you? Don’t go bakin’ their hearts - take them to the Anpanman Museum located near the entrance of Nagashima Spa Land! P.S. Screaming on rollercoaster rides can be gratifying, but having to deal with screaming kids? Hmm. Here are 11 Tips to Conquering Japan with Kids in Tow.  Operating hours: Vary daily – do check the daily schedule prior to your visit http://www1.nagashima-onsen.co.jp/m/land/tenken_unkyu.php Ticket price: JPY 4,100 (USD 40.37) Website: http://www.nagashima-onsen.co.jp Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nagashima-Spa-Land/104030692969614 Address: 333 Nagashimacho Urayasu, Kuwana 511-1192, Mie Prefecture

6. Efteling, Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands

Credit: Marco Nedermeijer on Flickr  If you can’t get enough of the rustic feel from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, there’s an entire theme park in the Netherlands that’s just as charming! Efteling is equal parts magical and quirky, so it’s sure to wow fans of Tim Burton too. The theme park is kept clean with the help of Holle Bolle Gijs, an ever hungry chubby trash can boy who yells, “Papier hier (paper here)!” Holle Bolle Gijs is based off a nursery rhyme, and we can’t help but appreciate the thoroughness of the theme park with its concept. Operating hours: Vary daily – do check their calendar for opening hours on specific dates https://www.efteling.com/en/park/opening-hours Ticket price: EUR 34.50 (USD 38.48) Website: http://www.efteling.com/en Address: Europalaan 1, 5171 KW Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands

7. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Florida, United States

Credit: Dr. T on Flickr  If animals a-moose you, you otter give this African-themed animal park a visit! Home to almost 12,000 animals, visitors can meet zebras and giraffes, as well as feed tropical birds and kangaroos at Busch Gardens! [caption id="attachment_13194" align="alignnone" width="960"] The view at the top of Falcon’s Fury Credit: @buschgardens on Instagram Falcons eat other birds. Falcon’s Fury is a re-enactment of an angry falcon swooping down at you if you stand too close to a pigeon. On this ride, spread your wings and be the falcon, plunging 100 metres face-down. At the end of it, you’ll have some insight on why you, the falcon, were so furious at yourself, the human. Credit: @buschgardens on Instagram A sanctuary for many endangered species, Busch Gardens even has a fully functional animal hospital! Do pop by the animal reserves to say hi! Operating hours: Vary daily – do check their calendar for opening hours on specific dates http://seaworldparks.com/en/buschgardens-tampa/park-info/park-hours Ticket prices: Starting from USD 79.99 Website: https://seaworldparks.com/en/buschgardens-tampa Address: 10165 N McKinley Dr, Tampa, FL 33612, United States 8. Beto Carrero World, Santa Catarina, Brazil [caption id="attachment_13196" align="alignnone" width="960"] Beto Carrero World’s iconic paddlepop castle Credit: @iingridi on Instagram The largest theme park in South America, Beto Carrero World has also been rated as one of the top 10 theme parks of the world in 2016 (based on user reviews)! Credit: @_julioneeto on Instagram The park has nine sections, including a pirate island and a German village, a tribute to the German immigrants in Brazil! Credit: @marciadelongaray on Instagram Beto Carrero World has partnered up with DreamWorks and Universal Studios to bring in characters from the films. The newest show to hit the theme park is the Madagascar Circus Show, which features stunts and dancing performances. They always say - the bigger, the Beto! Credit: @giordanatrubian on Instagram The Firewhip is the best loved ride of the park. The attraction has five inversions, and provides sweeping views of lakes and waterfalls! Opening Hours: Tue – Sun: 8:30am – 7pm, Closed on Mon Ticket prices: BRL 88,00 (USD 27.37) /Adult, BRL 70,00 (USD 21.75) /Child aged 4 to 9 years old, Free for Infants Website: http://www.betocarrero.com.br Address: Rua Inácio Francisco de Souza, 1597 - Praia de Armação, Penha - SC, 88385-000, Brazil

9. Lotte World, Seoul, South Korea

  Credit: @chacriya_pp on Instagram Of all the theme parks in the list, Lotte World would be the most unaffected by extreme weather. That’s right, the cold never bothered it anyway, and neither had the heat, the rain, hailstones, snow, and actual cats and dogs. That’s because most of the theme park is indoors! Credit: @metoday137 on Instagram Recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest indoor theme park in the world, Lotte World maximises its unique layout with its ample vertical space. Rather than being divided into lands as we’ve seen so far, the attractions and amenities are dotted around different levels. So, like high-rise apartments, but fun. The glass ceiling allows for natural sunlight to seep in, which as we all know, makes for more Instagram-worthy photos! Credit: @oranginee on Instagram Start off slow with a bird’s eye view of the theme park on the Aeronauts Balloon Ride! With 45 attractions, there’s something for the entire family. [caption id="attachment_13203" align="alignnone" width="960"] Gyro Drop Credit: @jaewon_iii on Instagram To prevent the apocalypse from happening soon, the more exhilarating rides like the Gyro Drop, Gyro Swing, and Gyro Spin, are placed outside. The Gyro Drop releases you at a speed of 100km/h and the ride ends in just two seconds. If only weekends could arrive this swiftly. Opening hours: 9:30am – 10pm daily Ticket prices: KRW 52,000 (USD 46.88) /Adult KRW 45,000 (USD 40.57) /Youth aged 13 to 18 KRW 41,000 (USD 36.96) /Child KRW 13,000 (USD 11.71) /Infant Website: http://global.lotteworld.com/main.asp Address: 240 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea

10. Disney Parks

Credit: Jeff Krause on Flickr Disney parks and prom kings and queens have a lot in common. They’re popular, everyone wants a piece of them, and they all have crowns and tiaras. Also, it’d be weird if no one ever mentions their names, just as no theme park list is complete without the dreamlike worlds come to life from our childhood memories. [caption id="attachment_13205" align="alignnone" width="960"] Disney World, Florida, United States Credit: @frncissdominic on Instagram The greatest theme park, Disney World, is not just one theme park, but 6 land and water theme parks with 46 total rides! Flutter around Magic Kingdom, an extension of Disneyland California, and enter Disney’s best version of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios! Considering the sheer massiveness of the park and the crazy queues, it’s virtually impossible to cover the whole space in a day! [caption id="attachment_13206" align="alignnone" width="960"] Big Thunder Mountain at Disneyland Paris Credit: @kraser1 on Instagram Disneyland Paris is the most popular theme park in Europe, drawing in throngs of guests with its swirl of Disney’s signature style with European architecture. While you’re here, do give the Big Thunder Mountain a go! With its scenic river view, it’s known to be the most unique version of the ride in the world. ShellieMay Elsa and ShellieMay Anna don’t need a prince to be happy! Credit: @duffygeeeek on Instagram Mickey and Minnie may be a mousehold pair everywhere else, but surf over to Tokyo DisneySea and you’ll find that the park is a place of residence for a different duo, Duffy and ShellieMay the Disney Bears! Do not miss the Journey to the Center of the Earth ride, the park’s flagship attraction. P.S. Did you know that Disneyland Hong Kong serves halal food? Here are Hong Kong’s must-try halal eateries!  Website: http://disneyparks.disney.go.com Credit: Giphy Go on! Follow this guide and find the ride of your lifetime! Meanwhile, we’ll warm up for ours!