As young families we love nothing more than family vacations. And what better way to spend a family holiday than enjoying one of the thousands of theme parks around the world?
Unfortunately family trips cost money. But, before you download my FREE 6-Step Household Budgeting Cheat Sheet, check out 5 of the best theme parks around the world… just so you’ve got something to save towards.
Oh okay, download it now if you must!
Deciding on holiday destinations as a young parent can be stressful. Planning a trip with your family comes with a number of responsibilities and you may find yourself asking:
“Which theme park is best for young children?”
“What are the most affordable activities and accommodation available?”
“Where can I dump the kids if I need an emergency vino?”
“What’s that smell?”
“Whose kid is this? Where’s mine gone?”
Being a young parent doesn’t mean you have to restrict your holidays to the backyard. If you’re smart about your savings, and have prioritised an overseas getaway with the fam, you should schedule in activities that will keep them happy and earn you some brownie points in the process. You can always bring up this trip to your kids when they’re older if you happen to find pamphlets for the old folks home lying around. Guilt is a great tool, use it to your advantage.
In this article we will look over some of the world’s most popular amusement parks, in destinations like:
If any of these locations has made its way on to your bucket list, I encourage you to read further to find fun and interesting ways to tire your children out – We all know you need some quality ‘me time’.
The UK – Thorpe Park
By far, one of the best theme parks in the UK for young families is Thorpe Park. Located just 32 km from the centre of London, this amusement park offers attractions for young, old and whatever is in between.
Thorpe Park contains exclusive attractions like:
- Monkey’s Banana Ride
- Derren Brown’s Ghost Train
- The I’m a Celebrity Get me Out of Here Maze
- Angry Bird’s Land
- The Colossus
- Saw: the Ride
- And many, many thrilling roller coasters (Seriously, there’s a ridiculous amount)
Thorpe Park also offers the opportunity to relax on the sands of their man-made Amity Beach area. Here you will find a paddling pool, fountains and slides to enjoy.
Don’t fret if you can’t fit all of the park’s goodness in the one day, as there is on site accommodation available in the Shark Hotel. Each room comes fully equipped with Wi-Fi, TV, Shower, air-conditioning and mood lighting – yeah, mood lighting.
Australia – Warner Brother’s Movie World on the Gold Coast
Name one place that offers you and your family the thrill of movie themed rides and gripping stunt shows smack bang in the middle of paradise……
….If you mentioned anything but Warner Brother’s Movie World on the Gold Coast, you’ve either never been, or you’re telling porkies.
Movie World allows you to enjoy an action packed day out while your kids mingle with their favourite super heroes and cartoon characters – no doubt you will be crowned parent of the year for that one. This one ranks right up there with the best in the world and a fantastic place for toddlers.
The beauty of visiting the Gold Coast to fulfil your theme park fantasies is that the very best of the best Australia has to offer can be found in one location. Movie World is just a stones throw away (depending on how well you throw) from Dreamworld, Australia’s largest theme park and with a Village Theme Park Unlimited Membership you can enjoy unlimited entry to Movie World, Sea World, Wet and Wild and Paradise Country. The Gold Coast is truly the land of year round amusement parks.
Europe – Le Puy du Fou
Le Puy du Fou is known as one of the best theme parks in Europe and le Puy du… ok let’s end this charade and stop pretending any of us can pronounce the name of this French theme park properly. I can hear your thick nasal accent stumbling over it from here.
This park gives you the opportunity to step back in time and experience the grand day and night shows filled with knights, Vikings, Musketeers and more.
The park contains attractions like:
- The Children’s Lair
- Jousting Events
- Viking Battles
- A Fully Recreated 1900 Market Town
- The Aviary Walk
- The Deer Glade
- And more!
Stay on site at one of their four historically themed chatea… chat..ch…hotels and enjoy some of the cuisine that the French have become famous for.
Asia – Universal Studios
If you’re trekking around Singapore and looking to experience the celluloid greatness of Hollywood, be sure to check out Universal Studios world of excitement.
Singapore’s version of the American icon brings the big screen to life with rides and shows located in seven themed zones:
- Hollywood
- New York
- Sci-Fi City
- Ancient Egypt
- The Lost World (Prehistoric Fun)
- Far Far Away (Meet Shrek and Donkey)
- Madagascar (I like to move it, move it)
This park is great for the young’uns, as it offers the option to celebrate birthdays and other milestones with package deals that include a private host, games and food.
Singapore’s Universal Studios has been voted Trip Advisor’s number one best Asian Amusement Park for 2014-2016. Pampering yourself in the neighbouring hotels and restaurants will surely make your trip that little bit more bearable and aid in getting “I like to move it, move it” from the Madagascar zone out of your head (I bet it’s already stuck in your head from reading it in the earlier paragraph, am I right?)
The USA – Aquatica
Want a “cool” amusement park? This water park has some of the best rides available that are sure to make you a big splash with your family (get it?). Located in Orlando Florida – the theme park capital of the world, this park has some of the best attractions for young children, including:
- The Dolphin Plunge – slide down an enclosed transparent tube that passes through the underwater home of the spectacular black-and-white dolphins
- The Hooroo Run – this slippery slide attracts many tourists from around the world with its good old Australian theme. Stand out amongst the other tourist with your fairdinkum Aussie accent – and please tell them it’s not shrimp, it’s prawn for crying out loud!
- Tassie’s Twisters – Yeah, I had a second look at this too when I first read it. This ride shoots you down a slippery tube into massive basin where you will be spun around and around like a stubborn turd in a toilet bowl until you are returned to the placid man-made lake at the end of the park.
These are just some of the rides available to you in the park that, according to the Huffington Post, was included in Trip Advisor’s world’s best water parks.
There you have it. You now have a list of some of the largest and best amusement parks throughout the world. The benefits of keeping ahead with your finances and budget will easily allow you to make yearly trips to any of these locations and provide you with memories to last a lifetime. So, what are you waiting for?
