And I suppose it's also a good time to remind folks looking for tips on budgeting, saving money and buying tickets about our new How to get the best deals on theme park tickets page, which incorporates the best advice from our series on those topics last year.
So where are you headed in 2010? Let's try not to make this a "wish list," but instead, a list of those parks for which you've already begun to make plans, or have completed a visit already this year. If you think there's less than a 50/50 chance that you'll visit, don't check it. And if you're not planning to go anywhere this year, please check the final box in the list.
Now that you've checked your list, tell us in the comments which park you're most looking forward to visiting this year, and why. Thanks, again, for reading Theme Park Insider, and let's have a great year at the parks!
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I also interested in the Harry Potter addition at Universal, but I don't want to put up with the crowds so I won't be there day 1.
And, of course, having been a Busch Gardens passport holder since 2000, I'll hit all the Seaworld/Busch Gardens parks on the east coast.
Everyone knows about Harry Potter opening at IOA, but Universal will also be debuting Peter Jackson's King Kong 4D as a replacement for the old King Kong attraction at Universal Studios. The attraction will be presented on gigantic wrap-around screens, but I don't know much else about it.
This might be just cool enough to take some of the Harry Potter traffic in IOA over to the Studios side for awhile.
October/November should bring the excellent Food and Wine Festival at EPCOT
And, of course, good ol SFGA!
Hopefully I should also get in a visit to Alton Towers to try out their new coaster 'Thirteen'.
For Disney, I am going to hit Epcot for Flower & Garden this month and then Food & Wine in the fall plus at least one visit to each of the other parks especially during the holiday season. I did Mickey's Christmas party and liked it last year so will probably do that again this year too.
In May (on the way to Orlando), I will be hitting Wild Adventures in Georgia, though it is not on the selection list above. Since it was bought by Herschend in 2007, a lot of improvements have been made, so it is definitely time for another stop. Furthermore, the "Jack Rabbit" coaster from (defunct) Celebration City is opening at the park this Spring and I am interested to give it another spin.
Also in May, I will be spending ten glorious days in Orlando just to visit the four Disney theme parks. I opted to skip out on Universal until a) I am sure all the Harry Potter stuff is good to go, and b) the potential for large crowds is diminished. Besides, it has been three LONG years since I last experienced Disney Magic, so ten days should be just about right!
In July I will make my annual pilgrimage to Annandale, Virginia, and will therefore make a side trip to Kings Dominion to ride Intimidator 305 and Dominator (which I have not yet experienced).
In late August, I will be hitting Kansas City's Schlitterbahn water park for the very first time, and testing out the new Triple Twist water slide at the nearby Great Wolf Lodge.
And in December, the emerging Rao tradition of Christmas at Silver Dollar City is the second most anticipated theme park visit of the year. I can't wait for that delicious Hot Chocolate and Wassail!
That's probably it for this year... but 2011 is shaping up to be the year of Universal and SeaWorld, with maybe a visit to the two Ohio parks, KI and CP. But, we'll just have to wait and see on that...
And who isn't planning to visit Disneyland/DCA in 2012 when Cars Land opens????
"They say he was amazing! He won three Piston cups!"
"He did what in his cup?"
So it will be fun to hit some new parks, but I'll probably be stressed at the universal parks since we won't have passes and won't be able to come and go as we like.
I did see the disneyland paris park many times before and the original disneyland resort.
If any of you guys ever get to europe: try the Efteling.. it's wonderfull (Netherlands)
But what I'm most excited for is Holiday World! I'm excited beyond words to finally ride those woodies, especially Voyage! June can't come fast enough. I'm also trying to join some friends on a trip to Carowinds and Kings Dominion in April, but money is tight with cut hours at work and monthly student loan payments. I'm doing my best to budget some money, but it's tight.
Mike
Are you going to be attending Holiwood Nights at Holiday World or are you just going for a day trip to the park?
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