10 Must-Visit Entertainment Parks in the World

The school holidays are just around the corner and if you’re a parent, why not spend time with your family at an entertainment park! There is an incredible number of amusement parks and theme parks around the world, so to save you the hassle of researching online, we did it for you.

Here is a list of 10 unique parks in Malaysia and beyond that we recommend (in no particular order). There’s sure to be something you can enjoy in this list, even if you’re not a big fan of roller coasters. Yes, we threw in a few good deals as well of course.

Credit: Liseberg

 1. Liseberg, Gothernburg, Sweeden: For its interesting rides

Liseberg is an amusement park definitely worth mentioning even though it doesn’t follow a particular theme. If there’s one consistent thing throughout the park, it has got to be an unmistakable Sweedish aesthetic that makes every corner pleasing to the eye. But let’s focus on the rides. Liseberg has over 35 fascinating rides and attractions - many of which are quite unusual compared to the typical amusement park. There is the Hanghai, AtmosFear, Valkyria with its 50-meter drop. Also to be appreciated is the Blomsterkarusellen, a gorgeous double-decked carousel and the beautiful Barnens Paradis “Children’s Paradise” playground. Liseberg was once voted one of the top 10 best amusement parks in the world by Forbes Magazine. More info at their website here.

Credit: DisneyParks Blog

2. Tokyo DisneySea, Tokyo, Japan: For a unique Disney experience

This is the park you have to experience at least once in your lifetime! Tokyo Disney SEA is the only Disney theme park of its kind in the world, featuring rides and elements from The Little Mermaid, Aladdin’s Arabian Nights, A Journey to the Center of the Earth, Raiders of The Lost Ark, Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and more! The mark of Japanese excellence and finesse is evident in every detail as you’ll have a seamless experience going from one “world” to another throughout the park. Plan up to two full days there and stay till after sunset for the Fantasmic! water and light show which makes a truly magical end to one of the world’s happiest places. More info at their website here.

Credit: Sunway Lagoon

3. Sunway Lagoon, Selangor, Malaysia: For “real” mermaids

This park has been around long enough for most young Malaysian parents to have fond childhood memories there. It has now expanded to include a water park, amusement park, wildlife park, extreme park, scream park (not really for screaming kids) and Nickelodeon’s Lost Lagoon. Sunway Lagoon sure knows how to give families a fantastic time with its many rides and shows like the Pirate Show, Slime Time, Waves Of Fun and the chance to swim with mermaids or be one! More info at their website here.

A Special Mayflower Travel Online Fair Offer:

• 3D2N stay in Sunway Clio Hotel with breakfast and a 1-Day Sunway Lagoon theme park pass for two persons. (Excluding the Bungy Jump, G-Force X, and Go-Kart).
• Package prices for Malaysian citizens start at RM1000.00.
• Offer available from 15 March till 24 March 2019 only.

Credit: DisneyParks Blog

4. Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Florida, United States: For favourite Disney animals

Many families flock to Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park for a celebration of all living things. It's a zoological theme park exhibiting hundreds of real-life animals but the real thing that sets this experience apart from other Disney theme parks is its storytelling factor. The Animal Kingdom is a wonderfully immersive experience of all your favourite childhood Disney stories brought to life in a safe and educational environment. Highlights include the Festival of The Lion King musical, Tree of Life Awakenings light show, Pandora - The World of Avatar, privately guided behind-the-scenes VIP safari tours, and more. Great for kids and adults of all ages! More info at their website here.

Credit: Lost World of Tambun

5. Lost World of Tambun, Perak, Malaysia: For a unique historic experience

Malaysians who live further up north would know that Lost World of Tambun is a convenient choice for family-friendly activities. There is a Petting Zoo with 55 species of cute animals, a Luminous Forest that is part of the Night Park, a chance to go ‘glamping’ under the stars, and up to 64 attractions in total.

Fun fact: the state of Perak is known for its tin mining and this theme park also pays homage to that heritage through the Lost World Tin Valley located within the park. Young visitors will get a unique and hands-on historical experience in tin ore panning with a life-size sluice box and an original gravel pump monitor. More info at their website here.

A Special Mayflower Travel Online Fair Offer:

• 2D1N stay in the Lost World Hotel with breakfast and tickets to Lost World of Tambun theme park for two persons. This covers access to Access to the Water Park, Amusement Park, Tiger Valley, Tin Valley, Petting Zoo, Hot Springs & Spa and the Hotsprings Night Park.
• Package prices for Malaysian citizens start at RM206.00.
• Offer available from 15 March till  24 March 2019 only.

Source: Tivoli Gardens

6. Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark: For its whimsical charm

Known for being the inspiration behind Walt Disney’s idea of a theme park, Tivoli Gardens is the second-oldest theme park in the world and the most-visited theme park in Scandinavia. Since 1843, its whimsical charm continues to sparkle brightly in the eyes of anyone who visits its grounds. It’s well-known for having one of the world oldest wooden roller coaster rides that are suitable for all ages. 

Tivoli also celebrates the performing arts with a 1,660-capacity concert hall, a pantomime theatre that hosts regular ballet and modern dance performances, and a live music series called Friday Rock which has featured many popular artists including Smashing Pumpkins, the Beach Boys, and even Kanye West.

Do note that Tivoli has seasonal opening periods so just plan your trip well and look forward to experiencing a whimsical theme park with a little bit of history!

Credit: Desaru Park

 7. Desaru Adventure Waterpark, Johor, Malaysia: For a splashing good time

You can always count on a cool sea breeze to add to the enjoyment at a coastal amusement park. Desaru Adventure Waterpark offers experiences that range from ‘relaxing’ to ‘thrilling’. Grab a few floats and lazily cruise down 350-meter Penawar River with your family and then let the younger ones conquer the park’s 13 different water slides. Older teenagers and adults can go nuts on the Kraken’s Revenge, a water roller coaster ride that goes up to 30-metres above ground! It has two full 360-degree loops to go through before you are sent plunging into the mouth of a ferocious sea monster below.

A Special Mayflower Travel Online Fair Offer:

• 2D1N stay at Tunamaya Beach & Spa Resort with breakfast and a 1-Day pass to Desaru Coast Adventure Water Park for two persons.
• Package prices for Malaysian citizens start at RM545.00.
• Offer available from 15 March till 24 March 2019 only.

Bonus tip: Purchase any of the above Mayflower Online packages from 15 - 30 April 2019 through the Boost app and get RM30.00 cash rebate with a minimum spend of RM300. This offer is limited to the first 500 persons only.

Source: PortAdventura

 8. PortAventura Park & Ferrari Land, Salou, Spain: For a round-the-world experience

An hour’s train ride from Barcelona Airport, PortAdventura Park in PortAdventura World Resort is Europe’s largest theme park and attracts the highest number of visitors for a theme park in Spain. What’s interesting about this park, is it’s “civilization” theme which features: Mediterrània, Far West, México, China, and Polynesia. Rides and shows are centred around each civilization and there’s even a Sesame Street area that’s suited for little ones.

Right next to PortAdventura Park is Ferrari Land - every F1 fanatic’s dream place to be. Experience how traveling around the world would feel like in a Ferrari GT or sit on the fastest roller coaster ride where you’ll experience accelerating from 0 to 180 km/h in 5 seconds, reaching a height of 112 meters! More info at their website here.

Image by Cedric Yong from Pixabay 

9. Universal Studios, Singapore: For added entertainment around the island

You’ve probably heard plenty of reviews on how awesome Universal Studios Hollywood is. However, If you’re located in Asia and the United States is too far out of reach, there’s always its Singapore counterpart which offers a different park experience. It’s collection of multiple themes: Hollywood, New York City, Sci-Fi City, Ancient Egypt, The Lost World, Madagascar, and Far Far Away (which relates to the movie, Shrek) gives you an unpredictable park that’s fun to explore. The other unique thing about it is that its located within Sentosa Island, a man-made resort island that offers plenty of other fun activities. In particular, the cable car ride with great views, flowboarding at Wave House Sentosa, making friends with intelligent sea creatures at Dolphin Island, and a beautiful scenic trek at Fort Siloso Skywalk. More info at their website here.

Source: Ocean Park

 10. Ocean Park, Hong Kong: For educational entertainment

While everyone is busy raving about Hong Kong Disneyland, it’s worth remembering that Ocean Park Hong Kong has a lot to boast about too. Within the park’s premises are a marine mammal park, an oceanarium, an animal theme park and the amusement park. Rated 4.5 stars on Trip Advisor, it's a favourite choice among families. The park layout is quite unique as it starts from ground level, and you can take a cable car to The Summit at the top of the hill. Notable highlights are the Grand Aquarium that’s filled with over 5000 species of marine life, the Flying Swing ride, Ocean Theatre, Castle of Redd, the Hair Raiser roller coaster and many more. You would also be giving back to the community with every ticket bought as a percentage of their proceeds goes towards supporting various wildlife conservation programs in Hong Kong and Asia. More info at their website here.

We hope this list has given you a glimpse of a few interesting entertainment parks available locally and internationally. It’s important to know what you’re looking for before you visit one, and remember, there are many other things to be appreciated about a park experience that goes beyond its “amusement” factor too. Enjoy the holidays!

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