Florida, the Sunshine State, has undeniably earned its title as the "Theme Park Capital of the World." This transformation began when the Walt Disney Company selected the once-sleepy Orlando area as the location for its East Coast empire. The arrival of Disney World sparked a wave of development and innovation, drawing in other major players in the entertainment industry and solidifying Florida’s position as a premier destination for thrill-seekers and family vacationers.
Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, the original park, holds the distinction of being the most visited theme park on the planet. However, the landscape is constantly evolving, with Universal Orlando Resort investing heavily in its parks and experiences, steadily closing the attendance gap with Disney. Beyond these two giants, a diverse array of theme parks, including Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Legoland Florida, and SeaWorld Orlando, offer unique and compelling attractions, ensuring that Florida truly has something for everyone. Let’s embark on a comprehensive exploration of Florida’s theme parks, from the iconic to the hidden gems.
Many of the state’s major theme parks also operate affiliated water parks, offering a refreshing escape from the Florida heat. Additionally, a multitude of standalone water parks dot the landscape, providing even more options for aquatic adventures. The concentration of theme parks in Florida also naturally leads to a high number of world-class roller coasters, offering adrenaline-pumping thrills for coaster enthusiasts.
The following guide presents Florida’s theme parks and amusement parks in alphabetical order, providing detailed descriptions of their key attractions, experiences, and unique features.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a unique hybrid, seamlessly blending the excitement of a world-class thrill ride park with the captivating experience of a major zoo. Located approximately an hour south of Orlando, it offers a compelling reason to venture beyond the immediate Orlando area.
The park is renowned for its impressive collection of roller coasters. Montu, an inverted coaster, sends riders soaring through a series of intense inversions. SheiKra, a diving coaster, plunges riders at a near-vertical angle. Cheetah Hunt, a launched coaster, delivers exhilarating bursts of speed. Most recently, Iron Gwazi opened as a wooden-steel hybrid coaster, claiming the title of Florida’s fastest and tallest thrill machine.
Beyond the rides, Busch Gardens is home to a vast array of animals, representing species from around the globe. Guests can observe these creatures in naturalistic habitats and participate in educational programs. The park also hosts live entertainment, seasonal events, and dining experiences, making it a complete destination for a full day of adventure.
Discovery Cove (Orlando)
Discovery Cove, a sister park to SeaWorld Orlando, offers an exclusive and immersive experience, allowing guests to interact with dolphins and other marine animals. This boutique theme park provides a more intimate and personalized experience compared to larger parks.
The admission price, while higher than typical theme park tickets, includes all attractions, the signature swim-with-dolphins experience, all meals and beverages, and a 14-day pass to either SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa, or Aquatica water park. This makes Discovery Cove a worthwhile investment for those seeking a unique and memorable experience.
Epcot (Lake Buena Vista)
Epcot, one of the four theme parks at Walt Disney World, is a celebration of innovation, culture, and global unity. Divided into two distinct realms, Future World and World Showcase, Epcot offers a diverse range of experiences.
Future World explores emerging technologies, scientific advancements, and the potential of the future. Attractions like Mission: Space, Soarin’, and Test Track provide thrilling and immersive experiences. World Showcase features pavilions representing a diverse array of nations, each offering unique insights into the culture, cuisine, and traditions of that country.
Epcot is also a culinary destination, boasting some of Disney World’s best restaurants. The park continuously evolves, with recent additions including Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, a delightful dark ride located in the France pavilion, and Harmonious, a breathtaking nighttime spectacular.
FastTrax (Fort Myers)
FastTrax in Fort Myers leans more towards an indoor family entertainment center than a traditional theme park. Its main draw is go-karting, with three types of karts available: Storm Duo for parents and children to ride together, Storm EFD for high speeds and thrills, and Junior for younger drivers. FastTrax also features duckpin bowling, a large game room, and a pub.
Fun Spot America (Orlando and Kissimmee)
Fun Spot America operates two smaller amusement parks in the Orlando and Kissimmee areas. These parks are known for their collection of classic amusement park rides and attractions, including two notable wooden roller coasters: White Lightning and Mine Blower. They also offer a variety of spinning rides, go-karts, and one of the world’s tallest Skycoasters. The Orlando location introduced Sky Hawk, a 90-foot-tall swing ride, with riders seated in two-passenger swing vehicles or laying prone in a "flying" position.
Icon Park (Orlando)
Located just off International Drive, Icon Park is a vibrant entertainment complex centered around The Wheel, a towering observation wheel offering panoramic views of the Orlando skyline. The park also features Madame Tussauds Orlando, Sea Life Orlando Aquarium, the Orlando StarFlyer, a large arcade, a 7D Dark Ride Adventure, and a kiddie train. With shopping and dining options, Icon Park offers a diverse range of experiences for visitors of all ages. In late 2021, two new attractions opened, the world’s tallest drop tower ride and the world’s tallest Slingshot ride.
International Drive Rides and Attractions (Orlando)
Beyond Icon Park, International Drive is home to a variety of independently operated rides and attractions. These include I-Drive NASCAR Kart Racing, Magical Midway, and WonderWorks, an upside-down building housing interactive exhibits.
Legoland Florida (Winter Haven)
Legoland Florida, located in Winter Haven, is a delightful theme park specifically designed for children ages 12 and under. The park features a wide range of Lego-themed attractions, including Lego Ninjago the Ride, Miniland USA (featuring iconic landmarks built from Lego bricks), the Lego Movie 4D, and the beautiful Cypress Gardens, a tribute to the historic botanical gardens that once occupied the site.
Recent additions include a new 4-D movie, "Journey to Mythica," and a Lego Mythica scavenger hunt incorporating augmented reality. A separately ticketed Peppa Pig Theme Park is also planned for 2022, along with Pirate River Quest, a boat ride attraction in search of buried treasure.
Magic Kingdom (Lake Buena Vista)
The Magic Kingdom, the flagship park of Walt Disney World, is a timeless classic and the most popular theme park in the world. Inspired by Disneyland in California, the Magic Kingdom is filled with iconic attractions, including Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, and It’s a Small World. More recent additions, such as the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, have further enhanced the park’s appeal.
In celebration of Disney World’s 50th anniversary, the Magic Kingdom debuted Disney Enchantment, a new nighttime spectacular featuring fireworks and projections on Cinderella Castle and Main Street U.S.A.
Race City (Panama City Beach)
Race City in Panama City Beach is a family fun center offering go-karts, mini-golf, a sea maze, a huge arcade, and a few rides, including the Hurricane steel roller coaster and a 137-foot-tall Skycoaster.
Route 7 Adrenaline Warehouse (Rockledge)
Located on the Space Coast, Route 7 Adrenaline Warehouse is a family entertainment center featuring go-karts, a ropes course, a zip line, laser tag, bowling, an XD Dark Ride Theater, and an arcade. The Pitstop Grill offers food, beer, and wine.
Sam’s Fun City (Pensacola)
Sam’s Fun City in Pensacola is a small amusement park geared primarily toward younger children. In addition to mild spinning rides, attractions include go-karts, an arcade, an indoor play structure, and the Surf City water park.
SeaWorld Orlando
SeaWorld Orlando has evolved beyond its traditional marine life shows to incorporate thrilling rides and immersive experiences. The park is home to ambitious roller coasters like Mako and Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin. SeaWorld has announced that it will no longer breed orcas and will be phasing out its killer whale entertainment shows in favor of more educational presentations. Ice Breaker, a multi-launch roller coaster, is scheduled to open in February 2022.
Silver Springs
Silver Springs State Park, a historic natural attraction, has been showcasing the underwater wonders of the Silver River through glass-bottom boat tours since 1878. The park also offers a Jeep Safari, an alligator show, and a nearby waterpark.
Walt Disney World (Lake Buena Vista)
Walt Disney World, the sprawling theme park resort, has surpassed Disneyland in popularity and scale. It encompasses four theme parks, two water parks, Disney Springs (a dining, shopping, and entertainment district), and numerous hotels. Disney World launched an 18-month 50th anniversary celebration in October 2021.
Weeki Wachee Springs
Weeki Wachee Springs, a historic park, has been home to "live mermaids" since 1947. The state park also includes the Buccaneer Bay spring-fed water park, a boat cruise, and an animal show.
Peppa Pig Theme Park
Peppa Pig Theme Park, opening in 2022 as a separately gated park at Legoland Florida, is aimed at young children who are fans of the popular animated series. The park will feature gentle rides like Daddy Pig’s Roller Coaster and Grandad Dog’s Pirate Boat Ride, as well as a toned-down drop tower ride, Mr. Bull’s High Striker, a Muddy Puddles Splash Pad, and interactive play areas.
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the diverse array of theme parks that Florida has to offer. From thrilling roller coasters to immersive experiences with marine life, Florida truly is the Theme Park Capital of the World.
