Are you wondering what is the BEST theme park in Orlando for your vacation?
Fair warning– this article is going to be a lot like reading The Bachelor. There is going to be tons of drama. A little bit of cattiness. And a lot of unsheathed claws.
And it is for you (my amazing ThemeParkHipster) that I am going to brave this storm and find out:
- Which theme park will be crowned the Best Theme Park in Orlando?
- And more importantly– which one will end up at the bottom of the list?
*dramatic pause*
Alright folks, let’s meet our theme park contestants!
They each will give a short speech about why they are in the running to be the Best Theme Park in Orlando. And why they should win.
Then I’m going to hand the mike to the judges (or judge I guess, since it’s the crew here at ThemeParkHipster).
So let’s begin this exciting journey where we get to know the theme parks a little before we decide: Which one is the BEST Theme Park In Orlando!
Give it up for the theme parks everyone!
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1. Disney’s Magic Kingdom (17.13 Million Visitors in 2022)
“Classic. Timeless. Essential. That’s what I am. I am the soul of Orlando. And I was here before it was cool to be a theme park. So, move over newbies, the queen is here.”
Pros of Disney’s Magic Kingdom:
Cinderella. Tiana. Peter Pan. Snow White. Who would miss a chance to meet Disney’s greatest stars?
Disney’s Magic Kingdom has been a part of Orlando since 1971.
Not only is it the first of Disney’s parks in Florida, but it is also the most well-known one.
This sprawling theme park has six different themed areas and requires three full days to explore thoroughly.
For the occasional theme park goer, solo traveler, or first-time visitor, overall the Magic Kingdom is a manageable and easy park to navigate.
It represents what generations of Disney-lovers have grown up with wrapped up into a fun family-friendly package.
Cons of Disney’s Magic Kingdom:
I would say the only drawback to the Magic Kingdom is the lack of over-the-top thrilling rides. It does have a good variety of thrilling attractions but they are on the more milder side.
But some people believe that Disney has lost its magic. They say it has become no different from other theme parks and accuse it of becoming profit-oriented.
Regardless of what people say, personally, as a solo theme park traveler and adult Disney fanatic I like to mix up the moderate thrills with more relaxing moments for a perfect balance.
Read NEXT: 21 Magnificent Things You Must Do at Magic Kingdom (Best Rides, Attractions & Food)
2. Islands of Adventure (11.03 Million Visitors in 2022)
“I call upon my brethren– the adrenaline junkies, to back me up on this: No one can beat Hogwarts, Dr. Seuss and Spiderman all rolled together into one thrilling theme park. And that theme park is me, baby!”
Pros of Islands of Adventure:
Not everyone who goes to a theme park falls between the ages of 5-10 years. And that’s why many theme park fans love Islands of Adventure!
People go to this park for the thrills (and the Butterbeer).
You can try to escape the escaped dinosaurs in Jurassic Park or run alongside King Kong on Skull Island. You can take a ride on Hagrid’s motorbike or jump skyscrapers with Spiderman.
Whatever thrill you seek, there’s a good chance that the Islands of Adventure can give it to you.
Cons of Islands of Adventure:
People have always groaned about theme park food all over the internet and Islands of Adventure was not spared.
There was a special outrage edition about the Universal Orlando app and how the Mobile Ordering service works sometimes and other times leaves you more frustrated.
But personally I absolutely love using this tool!
It is the ultimate time saver for your theme park experience. You can find it in the Universal Orlando app which I always recommend downloading before you get there.
That way you can familiarize yourself with it so you’re not scrambling last minute and feeling so much pressure trying to figure out how to use it when you’re at Islands of Adventure and hangry.
3. Disney’s Hollywood Studios (10.9 Million Visitors in 2022)
“Whether you’re a Star Wars person or a Beauty and the Beast kind, I’ll always have something you can have fun with. I let you step into the silver screen. Isn’t that something you’ve been dreaming of?”
Pros of Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
The entire Disney brand is centered around the movies. If the words ‘Jedi Training’ aren’t enough to make you buy tickets, the Tower of Terror and Toy Story Land will do it.
And don’t worry, Disney staples like Beauty and the Beast and Frozen are still a part of your adventure.
This theme park is a Hollywood-style extravagant celebration of Disney’s years on the screen.
Cons of Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
Some (unnamed persons) have recently dared to say that Disney’s Hollywood Studios isn’t as immersive of an experience as Universal Studios.*ducks under table*
There is only one outstanding grumble that many stringent Disney fans complain about and that is the low number of rides and attractions at this park.
Read NEXT: Top 10 Hollywood Studios Rides and Attractions You Must Do
4. Universal Studios Florida (10.75 Million Visitors in 2022)
“Yer’ a wizard ‘Arry! Remember how much you loved that line? Yeah, that is me. I rest my case.”
Pros of Universal Studios Florida:
Yes, I know I promised to be unbiased. But how can someone beat Harry Potter, The Simpsons, Transformers, AND The Mummy?!
We all have watched these movies at least ten times (each). Plus, we love/hate the characters with all our collective hearts. And we have always dreamed of being a part of their world.
And now, we can be.
Universal Studios blends roller coasters and blockbusters to give just the right amount of thrill, excitement and joy. It cannot be missed.
Cons of Universal Studios Florida:
The biggest complaint you will hear from people is about the long wait times and pricey food since the park opened.
Others may complain about the price of tickets.
But my guess is those people did not buy their tickets in advance or take advantage of the crowd calendar to help them see what are the best days to go to Universal Orlando.
You can find discount Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure tickets on websites such as:
Believe it or not, you can actually save a lot of money by getting your tickets early. Plus, you won’t have to wait at the ticket booth when you arrive at the park and avoid the long wait time.
ORDER NOW to secure your Universal Studios theme park ticket! GET MY TICKETS.
5. Disney’s Epcot Theme Park (10 Million Visitors in 2022)
“Is there any other theme park where you can have drinks from 11 different countries at the same time? I thought not. I offer my guests the world– literally. And being crowned Best Theme Park of Orlando would be the best thank-you I could get for that.”
Pros of Disney’s Epcot Theme Park:
When you can’t disapparate or use Floo Powder, Epcot might be your best bet to explore the world (or 11 countries at least) for cheap.
But don’t worry, there’s still a touch of Disney’s magic here. This is one of the parks truly inspired by Walt Disney himself!
Young Disney fans will adore the Frozen Ever After Ride and snorkeling in the Finding Nemo attraction.
Adult travelers will want to time their visit to coincide with one of many jaw-droppingly amazing festivals Epcot hosts regularly.
My recommendation? The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.
And let’s not forget about “drinking around the world in EPCOT.”
If you are up for the challenge and think you can drink around the world in 8 hours then I highly recommend you click here to download our EPCOT Drinking Around the World Passport.
It will give you quick and easy access to our exclusive World Showcase drinking checklist. But I’m not going to lie drinking around the world in EPCOT is not for the faint of heart!
Grab your own copy below!
Cons of Disney’s Epcot Theme Park:
Surprisingly enough, out of all the Disney parks, Epcot has the least number of bad reviews.
It was mainly during the past pandemic when most people were grumbling.
After all, with so many interactive elements missing at the time and so much construction going on at the park, paying full price would have made anyone cranky.
Now it seems the ongoing complaints are focused mainly on the price of food and drinks, but hey authenticity is expensive.
Get Your FREE Epcot Video Planning Guide TODAY!
6. Disney’s Animal Kingdom (9.02 Million Visitors in 2022)
“Don’t even bother going through the rest of this list. You’re looking at the winner. I mean, great rides and cute, fuzzy animals? Who can compete with that?”
Pros of Disney’s Animal Kingdom:
Edu-taining and enter-cational? Yes ma’am!
You can go trekking up Mt. Everest or lose yourself in the otherworldly land of Pandora.
Travel back in time to see dinosaurs or visit live animals with the Kilimanjaro Safari, either way, it is a learning experience.
If you’re feeling a little fancy, they also have a Broadway show of The Lion King, it is a real adventure– with a heart-warming message.
Plus the park is filled to the brim with exotic animals, wonders of the natural world, and incredible dining experiences.
Cons of Disney’s Animal Kingdom:
One of the popular gripes about Animal Kingdom is the lack of thrill rides.
With just three thrill rides, some reaching two-hour-long waits, Disney Guests at time do put this park towards the bottom of their must-do list.
This is where being a solo traveler has its benefits. You can skip the regular stand-by line at the super popular Expedition Everest and head over to the line at the Single Rider Line.
This line is typically shorter and you won’t have to go through the entire queue like all those standing around waiting.
Read NEXT: 9 Incredible Animal Kingdom Solo Tips for Beginners (Solo Travel Destinations)
7. SeaWorld Orlando (4.45 Million Visitors in 2022)
“Live performances. One-of-a-kind roller coasters. Tuxedoed penguins. I’m here because no theme park can give you what I do. And that’s also why I’m going to win.”
Pros of SeaWorld Orlando:
SeaWorld not only has the cutest sea animals within petting distance, but it also has the tallest, longest and fastest roller coaster in the Florida.
Whether you are a nature enthusiast, or an adrenaline junkie, SeaWorld will bring something for everyone to enjoy!
While the Orca Encounter has changed over the years, there are so many entertainment options for you to enjoy on your trip.
There are also so many places to escape the Florida heat in attractions such Antarctica: Empire of the Penguins.
Bored with learning stuff? Get on Mako– SeaWorld’s terrifying 200-foot hypercoaster.
See? There’s always something to do!
Known as the Coaster Capital of Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando holds the title of having the most roller coasters in one theme park in Orlando with 8 in total.
It is quickly becoming the number one destination for coaster enthusiasts with 16 rides and attractions for you to enjoy at SeaWorld Orlando,
Plus, it reigns as one of the last maritime theme parks left in the nation.
Cons of SeaWorld Orlando:
This aquatic park in Orlando can be done as a half-day or whole-day park. If it was to become an all-day destination it would need more family-friendly rides and attractions throughout the park.
Although they do have quite a few places to keep cool as mentioned above it would be nice if they had more indoor attractions, even another full-service restaurant would be great.
Read NEXT: SeaWorld Orlando Ultimate Guide
The Results are in…What is the BEST Theme Park in Orlando?
Wow, that was *ahem* very enlightening. I never knew theme parks could be so sassy… or competitive.
We just met some awesome theme parks. Every one of them had something exciting and unique to offer.
But here’s the thing: only one of them can win.
To compile our final list, we used a combination of which parks are fan favorites and which parks are the most visited.
Here is our list of Orlando’s best theme parks:
This list is based on our expert experiences and reviews from other ThemeParkHipsters.
- Islands of Adventure
- Magic Kingdom
- Epcot Theme Park
- Universal Studios Florida
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- SeaWorld Orlando
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios
What did you think of the winner? What would your list look like? Tell us in the comments below!
And thank you ThemeParkHipster for tuning in on The Bach…err… I mean our blog!
Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!
About the Author
My name is Nikky. I’m a wife, a mother, a pharmacist turned theme park blogger, USA Today 10Best Contributor, and a writer who loves ALL things amusement park related!
Traveling alone to the parks has changed my life and I want to show how you can create your own solo theme park memories.
Connect with me on Instagram!
ORDER NOW to secure your Orlando theme park ticket reservation in the parks! GET MY TICKETS.
(Original Article Date: February 14, 2021/Updated by Editor on July 27, 2024)