Roller Coaster Traveller

An ordinary travel blog about not-so-ordinary theme parks and roller coasters

TOP 100

THEME PARKS

FAST TRACK TO TOP 100 ROLLER COASTERS / TOP 100 DARK RIDES / NEDERLANDSTALIGE VERSIE

What’s your favourite theme park in the world? It’s a question I often get asked and honestly, I don’t find it difficult to answer. But which other parks claimed a spot in the top 10? What’s the highest-ranked Six Flags park? What’s the lowest-rated Disney park? While browsing through this ranking, you’ll certainly notice my love for highly-themed parks.

10

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS BEIJING

Tongzhou, China

Universal Beijing Resort opened in 2021 as the film studio’s third Asian location. The resort features two on-site hotels and the CityWalk entertainment district, but the obvious highlight is an 130-acre theme park. Universal Studios Beijing is home to seven themed areas, which can be considered as a sort of ‘best of Universal’. You’ll find quintessential Universal lands like the Hollywood-themed Main Street, a cheerful – and slightly chaotic – Minion Land and the snow-covered rooftops of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Besides, this Chinese Universal park has themed areas based on Transformers, Kung Fu Panda and Jurassic World.

When talking about the highlights of Universal Studios Beijing, I feel obliged to mention Jurassic World Adventure first. This motion-base dark ride shows Isla Nublar in the most immersive way possible. Passengers come face to face with the Indominus Rex, which even appears to be chasing the vehicle during one of the most elaborately executed scenes in dark ride history. The park also offers a large-scale (albeit somewhat empty-looking) dark ride based on Kung Fu Panda and the Transformers attraction you may recognise from Singapore, California and Florida. If you’re looking for coaster thrills, there’s the launched Decepticoaster, which may feel familiar to those who’ve been to Islands of Adventure in Orlando. In my opinion, Universal Studios Beijing is still missing a truly unique family roller coaster. That’s why I think that a Chinese version of Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure would be the perfect addition to this park.

9

EFTELING

Kaatsheuvel, the Netherlands

I really appreciate it when theme parks aren’t afraid to do things just a little bit differently. Experiencing a haunted house while being on a spinning flat ride? Yes, please. Working together with B&M to ensure even the roller coaster’s supports fit the theme? Love it. These are just two of the things that set Efteling apart from other theme parks. Apart from these unusual quirks, Efteling also excels in many other ways. Most attractions have an excellent capacity, staff members are friendly and there are quite a few good food and drink options. I’m certainly not going to claim that this is the world’s most perfect theme park, but Efteling definitely belongs in the European top 5, if you ask me.

The most famous roller coaster at Efteling is undoubtedly Baron 1898. This may not be the largest or most thrilling B&M Dive Machine on the planet, but its elaborate gold mine theme definitely makes it the most stunning one. Furthermore, you’ll find great coaster thrills on Joris en de Draak, De Vliegende Hollander and Vogel Rok. Yet, Efteling’s main draws aren’t the roller coasters, but the dark rides. Fata Morgana, which opened 40 years ago, remains my absolute favourite in that category, but more recent attractions such as Droomvlucht and Symbolica also stand out because of their original fairytale themes. And what about a one-of-a-kind spectacle inside a spooky abbey? Danse Macabre, which opened in 2024, is racking up one international award after another… and it deserves every single one of them.

8

SHANGHAI DISNEYLAND

Pudong, China

Until the opening of Disneyland Abu Dhabi, Shanghai Disneyland remains the newest addition to the family of Disney theme parks. The park opened in 2016 and, unlike the Hong Kong version, was an instant success. ‘Go big or go home’ seemed to be the motto while designing this Chinese park. Shanghai Disneyland doesn’t only boast the world’s largest Disney castle, but the sheer scale of the park is also impressive. Even more remarkable is the fact that very few rides are copies from attractions in other Disney resorts. The Imagineers really did their best to create an innovative, thoroughly contemporary experience. This includes a rather unusual park layout and a number of unique, magnificent rides.

For one reason or another, Soaring Over The Horizon (Disney’s famous flying theatre) often seems to get the longest lines in the entire park. I’m not sure why, as Shanghai Disneyland has considerably better attractions. One of them is TRON Lightcycle Power Run. This launched roller coaster reaches a top speed of 60 miles per hour and it’s a visual masterpiece. Even more splendour awaits at Battle for the Sunken Treasure, the Chinese version of Disney’s classic Pirates of the Caribbean. There aren’t many attractions in the world that deliver such an immersive, awe-inspiring spectacle as this stunning dark ride! The list of great attractions is rounded off by Zootopia Hot Pursuit, Roaring Rapids and a modernised version of Peter Pan’s Flight.

7

TOKYO DISNEYLAND

Urayasu, Japan

Let’s start with the bad news: Tokyo Disneyland isn’t exactly the most beautiful Disney theme park. In many respects, the park is starting to show its age. Some buildings look dated and quite a few attractions could use an update. Besides, the walkways are often so wide that the park definitely lacks some cosiness. However, if we set that visual aspect aside, Tokyo Disneyland is a world-class theme park. The staff are incredibly friendly, the ride selection is brilliant and the entertainment is top-notch. Parade enthusiasts, in particular, should put Tokyo Disneyland right at the top of their bucket list. Both the daytime and evening parades are longer and more impressive than the parades you’ll see at other resorts.

When it comes to attractions, Tokyo Disneyland offers a great mix of classics and unique rides. Among the classics are Big Thunder Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain and The Haunted Mansion (which, interestingly, can be found in Fantasyland). Tokyo Disneyland guests can also experience three dark rides that are unique in the world. Monsters Inc Ride & Go Seek is an interactive attraction where you have to search for monsters using torches. It’s quite cute and fun, but that’s it. If you really want to be amazed, head for the park’s trackless dark rides. Pooh’s Hunny Hunt actually was the very first trackless dark ride in the world back in 2000. Winnie the Pooh got his own attraction at almost every Disney resort, but the Japanese have certainly taken things a step further. And last but not least, there’s Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast. This currently is Tokyo Disneyland’s most popular attraction, so queues can get extremely long. Once you experience the ride, however, you’ll immediately understand why. This dark ride boasts gigantic scenes, world-class audio-animatronics and a downright magical transformation effect.

6

DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE PARK

Anaheim, United States

Kudos to the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, as both of the parks manage to claim a spot my personal top 10. However, Disney California Adventure used to be a rather unsuccessful park. It opened in 2001 and it was immediately faced with criticism from Disney’s fan community. The park lacked the quality, the theming and the atmosphere that guests had come to expect from the original Disneyland. Attempts were made to boost the park’s low visitor number with a few quick additions, but the major boost would not come until 2012. On 15 June of that year, Disney California Adventure Park was officially re-dedicated and it literally felt like a totally different place than before.

The centrepiece of Disney California Adventure’s renaissance was Cars Land, a huge area based on the Pixar animated film of the same name. The area boasts an incredibly impressive artificial mountain range and it’s home to Radiator Springs Racers, a large-scale racing adventure that counts as one of Disney’s best rides ever. Disney California Adventure is also home to Mission Breakout (a reimagining of Tower of Terror, based on Guardians of the Galaxy), Soarin’ Around the World (an impressive flight simulator), Grizzly River Run (one of the world’s most impressive water rides) and the photogenic Pixar Pier. If there’s one specific area that doesn’t quite win me over, it’s Avengers Campus. This superhero area feels a bit too clean, and the area’s main attraction (Web Slingers: a Spider-Man Adventure) lacks the star quality you may expect from Disney’s modern rides.

5

HONG KONG DISNEYLAND

Lantau Island, Hong Kong

Hong Kong Disneyland is often regarded as the world’s least glamorous Disney destination. According to general opinion, the park is too small and has too few headliner rides. When Hong Kong Disneyland opened in 2005, it was indeed a small-scale park with hardly anything to do. However, the park has been expanding rapidly over the past 20 years. And much like Disney California Adventure, Hong Kong Disneyland can now be counted among the greatest family theme parks in the world.

The must-do attractions of Hong Kong Disneyland are mainly located in the southern half of the park. That’s where you’ll find a top-notch family coaster and a truly phenomenal dark ride. No other roller coaster in the world tells a story as effectively as Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars, whilst Mystic Manor shows what Disney Imagineering is truly capable of. This tour through a mysterious museum boasts mind-blowing special effects and the ride’s soundtrack is absolutely breathtaking. Another highlight is Frozen Ever After, part of the World of Frozen. This dark ride is very similar its namesake at EPCOT, albeit with greater detail and a considerably nicer themed land surrounding it. I’d also like to mention Mickey and the Wondrous Book, a theatre show that manages to give me goosebumps every single time I watch it. So don’t be put off by Hong Kong Disneyland’s modest size, as this park offers exceptional quality to its guest.

4

UNIVERSAL EPIC UNIVERSE

Orlando, United States

Universal Orlando Resort once was a second-choice destination in America’s theme park capital. Many tourists in Orlando spent most of their time at Walt Disney World and would pop over to Universal for a day or two. However, Universal has steadily invested in its Florida property over the past decade. That’s why we can speak of two equally strong contenders nowadays. The culmination of Universal’s recent wave of expansion took place on 22 May 2025, when Epic Universe was unveiled. Orlando’s newest theme park is built around five portals featuring immersive theming and state-of-the-art attractions. At the heart of Epic Universe lies Celestial Park. Thanks to its stunning landscaping, eye-catching water features and wide promenades, this land truly embodies the essence of a theme park. The other four portals, situated around Celestial Park, are based on Super Nintendo, Universal’s Classic Monsters, Harry Potter and How to Train Your Dragon.

Thrill and excitement are never far away at Epic Universe. If you prefer thrills on roller coaster tracks, Stardust Racers is a not-to-be-missed attraction. This duelling launch coaster offers a smooth and lightning-fast ride, but it’s mostly the interaction between its trains that makes this experience so spectacular. We were also pleasantly surprised by Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, which is situated in the Viking village of Berk. This is a nearly-perfect family coaster that could easily be described as Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure‘s little brother. Besides, Epic Universe offers a rather impressive dark ride lineup. Head to Super Nintendo World for a (chaotic) game of Mario Kart, whilst The Wizarding World is home to Orlando’s third large-scale Harry Potter dark ride. During our visit, however, we were particularly blown away by Monsters Unchained – The Frankenstein Experiment. This is one of the very few modern Universal dark rides in which screens play a secondary role. The ride features a whole host of high-tech animatronics and mind-boggling special effects.

3

EUROPA-PARK

Rust, Germany

When it comes to visitor numbers, Europa-Park has been Europe’s most popular non-Disney theme park for many years. The park welcomes around six million people every year, including an ever-increasing number of international guests. That’s not a coincidence, as Europa-Park has grown into a travel destination of impressive proportions. The complex now comprises six hotels, a water park and a huge theme park with 14 roller coasters and numerous family-friendly rides. Most of the hotels and attractions are elaborately themed, and Europa-Park’s dining options meet exceptionally high standards. Furthermore, this park is often praised for its wide range of shows, but to be honest: most stage shows are rather underwhelming.

Shows aren’t Europa-Park’s biggest strength, but its rides certainly are. The highlights include Voltron Nevera (a multi-launch coaster with no fewer than seven inversions and an impressive Croatian theme), the 240-foot-tall Silver Star, Wodan (one of Europe’s most thrilling wooden coasters) and Blue Fire, an incredibly smooth launch coaster. Besides, Europa-Park offers many ways to cool down on hot summer days, as there are no fewer than five water attractions. The lineup includes Fjord Rafting (a rapid river winding through the Scandinavian themed area) and water coasters called Poseidon and Atlantica SuperSplash. The park also has an abundance of dark rides, but I must add that Piraten in Batavia is the only one that really stands out. The original version of this boat ride was lost in 2018 due to a massive fire. That was a terrible moment in the history of Europa-Park, but there is a silver lining: the modern Piraten in Batavia is a lot more impressive than its predecessor.

2

DISNEYLAND

Anaheim, United States

Welcome to the original Disneyland, that can be found approximately 25 miles southeast of Los Angeles. This place in Anaheim may be considered as the first modern-day theme park. Every steel roller coaster and every dark ride you enjoy today has probably been (partially) influenced by this Californian theme park. Walt Disney himself opened the park on 17 July 1955, long before any other Disney resorts existed. Since then, Disneyland has welcomed more than 900 million guests from every corner of the globe.

Thanks to its long history, Disneyland is a dream destination for fans of classic Disney attractions. The original versions of Pirates of the Caribbean (1967) and The Haunted Mansion (1969) should not be missed, but Disneyland isn’t only there for people who love nostalgia. The park also boasts thrilling attractions such as Space Mountain, Matterhorn Bobsleds and the fantastic Indiana Jones Adventure. A few years ago, Disneyland also opened a hugely expensive Star Wars-themed expansion. Galaxy’s Edge features two immersive rides, and the theming is on an out-of-this-world (pun intended) level. The highlight of the area is undoubtedly Star Wars – Rise of the Resistance, a dark ride that managed to push all existing limits. This immersive experience lasts around twenty minutes and features multiple ride systems, combined with a series of incredible special effects.

1

TOKYO DISNEYSEA

Urayasu, Japan

All of the aforementioned places are great, but there’s no doubt about it: Tokyo DisneySea is my favourite theme park. The park opened in 2001 and was built right next to Tokyo Disneyland. Whilst Tokyo Disneyland focuses on families and classic Disney magic, this ‘second gate’ was designed for a more mature audience. It’s important to note that this doesn’t translate into spectacular top-class roller coasters. No, Tokyo DisneySea’s two coaster credits are actually rather underwhelming. Fortunately, every other aspect of this park is of the highest standard. I’m talking about fantastic dining options, brilliant entertainment and incredibly dedicated staff members.

Tokyo DisneySea is, first and foremost, the world’s most beautiful theme park. The opulence can hardly be put into words. Visual highlights are Mount Prometheus (a gigantic volcano that erupts several times a day) and the S.S. Columbia, a sort of Titanic lookalike that seems ready to embark on a grand voyage. When it comes to attractions, DisneySea mostly relies on world-class dark rides. Journey to the Center of the Earth and Indiana Jones Adventure are classics that have been providing thrills since the early days of DisneySea. Don’t miss Sindbad’s Storybook Adventure either. This family-friendly boat ride may seem a bit dull at first, but it’s actually the park’s hidden gem. Be ready to be amazed by the ride’s incredible number of audio-animatronics and great musical score. In 2024, Tokyo DisneySea was expanded with Fantasy Springs, an area dedicated to Frozen, Rapunzel and Peter Pan. The land offers three marvellous dark rides, but Anna & Elsa’s Frozen Journey is definitely the star of the show. Some of the special effects in this attraction look like pure magic.

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