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Cedar Point named best U.S. amusement park
Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Awards were announced this weekend, and Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, nabbed the top spot as the best amusement park in the United States.
The theme park industry considers the Golden Tickets a top honor. Industry mag Amusement Today surveys experienced, well-traveled theme park enthusiasts from around the country to determine the best theme parks in a variety of categories.
Here's a complete list of the winners:
- Best Amusement Park: Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
- Best Waterpark: Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort, New Braunfels, Texas
- Best Children's Park: Idlewild and SoakZone, Ligonier, Pa.
- Best Marine Life Park: SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, Fla.
- Best Seaside Park: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, Calif.
- Best Wooden Coaster: The Voyage at Holiday World, Santa Claus, Ind.
- Best Steel Coaster: Millennium Force at Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
- Best Kids' Area: Kings Island, Kings Mills, Ohio
- Friendliest Staff: Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, Santa Claus, Ind.
- Cleanest Park: Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, Santa Claus, Ind.
- Best Halloween Event: Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando, Orlando, Fla..
- Best Landscaping: Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Va.
- Best Christmas Event: Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
- Best Food: Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg, Pa.
- Best Shows: Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
- Best Outdoor Night Show Production: IllumiNations: Reflections of the Earth at Walt Disney World's Epcot Center, Orlando, Fla.
- Best Water Ride: Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls at Universal's Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Fla.
- Best Waterpark Ride: Wildebeest at Splashin' Safari, Santa Claus, Ind.
- Best Dark Ride: Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man at Universal's Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Fla.
- Best Indoor Waterpark: Schlitterbahn Galveston Island, Galveston, Texas
- Best Funhouse/Walk-Through Attraction: Noah's Ark at Kennywood, West Mifflin, Pa.
- Best Carousel: Grand Carousel at Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg, Pa.
- Best Indoor Roller Coaster: Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Orlando, Orlando, Fla.
- Best New Ride of 2010 - Amusement Park: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Universal's Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Fla.
- Best New Ride of 2010 - Waterpark: Wildebeest at Splashin' Safari, Santa Claus, Ind.
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[Image credit: Flickr user daveynin]
Filed under: North America, United States, Theme Parks
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
steve Sep 13th 2010 11:09PM
Cedar Point could be an "amazing" park. We drove 700 miles last summer, to go there and experienced VERY long lines all day. We got there in the early morning....we rode 5 rides all day! The rides were awesome....but only 5 rides!!! Come on Cedar Point....you need a fast pass or something.....I hate long lines!
lac Sep 13th 2010 11:29PM
go in mid september. Thats what my family and I do and the longest we have ever waited was 15 mins. Even on the big coasters
Woody Sep 13th 2010 11:35PM
Its hard to beat Spiderman,Harry Potter & Ripsaw Falls at Universal Studios in Orlando,FL. Weve been several years in a row & they are hard to beat. Think about it,nothing like a few indoor,air conditioned rides to take part of in the summer when its 98 degrees & 60% humidity.
And if youve never ridden the Revenge of The Mummy indoor roller coaster,get out from under the rock that youre living under & go ride it, its the best ride there & there are tons of great rides at USO & IOA.
I need a road trip........
L Sep 14th 2010 12:09AM
Cedar Points rocks. Went there for the first time this past August (the week some schools returned for the year) and waited no longer than 40 minutes for any ride (first trip on the Maverick -- and was gladly willing to wait 35 minutes the next day to ride it again!). The only ride that "shut down" was Top Thrill Dragster, and we were just trying to ride it at night (we had already ridden it earlier that day and the day before), so we went back to Millennium Force (for the third time that day!). I guess it's all about timing. There was plenty of room for you to wait, but we lucked out with timing! We loved it so much, that we are considering going back the same time next year! First visit to Lake Erie. I was impressed.
Al Sep 14th 2010 1:39AM
Ceder Point is a good pick but it is true the lines are real bad and one reason I stoped going. I feel Kennywood might be the best complete package. It is not mega company place but rather real. If not so land locked into a real neighborhood it would have been a maga attaction. You have not been on a real coaster until you have been on the Thunderbolt. If not for the Phantom being made an easy ride it would be a worth a visit on its own.
JLS Sep 14th 2010 2:05AM
Your "list" only needs one entry: Disneyland. First, last, always. Nothing else tops it; nothing else comes close.
Cortez Sep 14th 2010 3:42AM
Why isn't Six Flags Magic Mountain (in California) NOWHERE on this list??
Mikey Sep 14th 2010 7:17AM
Lst: You are right about the Fl residents, we get little or no break anymore even thru AAA. I do not recall what ticket price I looked at but the difference between the regular gate price and the AAA member price was about a two dollar difference. What an incentive to travel 160 miles to save 2 bucks............In some instances, there is NO difference. You are correct about the 100 bucks a day per person also. Sea World is still nice but they too have raised everything up and the free beer samples are now 5 bucks for a tiny plastic cup. ( I wondered why no one was lining up at the bar, now I know). Not worth it anymore and I have stopped going. I have tried all seasons and times of the year to find a 'slack' time but now there are no slack periods. Back in the mid '70's maybe, not anymore.
Traffic is out of control and always backed up on I-4 and Hwy 192. I-4 is like a linear Indy 500 with drivers who should not be on the roadways. Nuff for me.