Discovery Cove named ‘best amusement park’ by TripAdvisor

Frances Cha, CNN
Updated 10:53 AM EDT, Tue July 15, 2014
Visitors to Orlando, Florida's Discovery Cove, named world's best amusement park by TripAdvisor, encounter dolphins, snorkel with tropical fish and get soaked on an array of rides.
Best amusement parks: Discovery Cove —
Visitors to Orlando, Florida's Discovery Cove, named world's best amusement park by TripAdvisor, encounter dolphins, snorkel with tropical fish and get soaked on an array of rides.
Courtesy Discovery Cove
A Thai village, a floating market and an island full of frisky sea lions are among attractions at Siam Water Park on the Spanish island of Tenerife. The park was named best water park by TripAdvisor.
Siam Water Park (Tenerife, Spain) —
A Thai village, a floating market and an island full of frisky sea lions are among attractions at Siam Water Park on the Spanish island of Tenerife. The park was named best water park by TripAdvisor.
courtesy Siam Park
Surfing machines, water slides and an artificial waterfall refresh crowds in the desert heat at Wild Wadi Water Park in Dubai, named sixth-best water park.
Wild Wadi Water Park (Dubai, UAE) —
Surfing machines, water slides and an artificial waterfall refresh crowds in the desert heat at Wild Wadi Water Park in Dubai, named sixth-best water park.
Courtesy Wild Wadi Water Park
Dubai's Aquaventure -- number eight on the water park list -- features Aquaconda is the world's first slide-within-a-slide.
Aquaventure (Dubai, UAE) —
Dubai's Aquaventure -- number eight on the water park list -- features Aquaconda is the world's first slide-within-a-slide.
AFP/Getty Images
Beach Park Brazil, second-best water park, features Insano, one of the world's tallest and fastest water slides.
Beach Park (Aquiraz, Brazil) —
Beach Park Brazil, second-best water park, features Insano, one of the world's tallest and fastest water slides.
Courtesy of Beach Park Brazil
Germany's Europa Park -- TripAdvisor's second best amusement park -- is home to Blue Fire, which catapults riders from zero to 71 mph in 2.5 seconds with no overhead restraint.
Europa Park (Rust, Germany) —
Germany's Europa Park -- TripAdvisor's second best amusement park -- is home to Blue Fire, which catapults riders from zero to 71 mph in 2.5 seconds with no overhead restraint.
Coutersy Europa Park
The Disney empire claims several entries on TripAdvisor's best park lists. Magic Kingdom in Orlando was named the world's fourth best amusement park.
Magic Kingdom (Orlando, Florida) —
The Disney empire claims several entries on TripAdvisor's best park lists. Magic Kingdom in Orlando was named the world's fourth best amusement park.
Gene Duncan/Disney Parks via Getty Images
Portaventura, near Barcelona, features several zones themed on ancient civilizations -- and one based on "Sesame Street."
PortAventura (Salou, Spain) —
Portaventura, near Barcelona, features several zones themed on ancient civilizations -- and one based on "Sesame Street."
Courtesy PortAventura Park
tripadvisor water amusement parks

Story highlights

TripAdvisor publishes new rankings for best water parks and amusement parks based on reviews

Spain's Siam Park takes top spot for world's best water parks

Florida is home to five out of 10 of the world's best amusement parks

CNN  — 

In the hunt for the world’s best amusement park, the people have spoken – and it seems the people like mixing with creatures who eat a lot of fish.

Travel review site TripAdvisor has revealed its new rankings of the the best amusement and water parks around the world, with the winners in both categories both featuring marine life attractions.

Discovery Cove, a sprawling aquatic complex in Orlando, Florida where visitors can swim with dolphins and snorkel with tropical fish in Orlando, scooped the top amusement park prize.

Meanwhile Siam Park, an unlikely-sounding Thai-themed venue on the Spanish island of Tenerife, which features a colony of frisky sea lions, was named best water park.

The results of TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice awards were based on data gathered from reviews over the past 12 months.

Orlando did well – claiming five out of the world’s top 10, including three hits for the Disney empire.

With its whimsical European fairy tale settings and thrilling rides, Germany’s Europa Park came in second while Universal’s Islands of Adventure, also in Orlando, placed third.

Disney and Orlando also proved a strong combination in the world of water parks with the Florida destination claiming two of the top 10 – Disney’s Blizzard Beach, at number three, and Typhoon Lagoon at four.

In Brazil, Beach Park in Aquiraz polled second in the water park category while Dubai fielded two of the top 10 – Wild Wadi Water Park and Aquaventure.

World’s top amusement parks

1. Discovery Cove, Orlando, Florida
2. Europa Park, Rust, Germany
3. Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Florida
4. Magic Kingdom, Orlando, Florida
5. Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Orlando, Florida
6. Beto Carrero World, Penha, Brazil
7. Disneyland Park, Anaheim, California
8. Universal Studios Singapore, Sentosa Island, Singapore
9. PortAventura Park, Salou, Spain
10. Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Orlando, Florida

World’s top water parks

1. Siam Park, Adeje, Spain
2. Beach Park, Aquiraz, Brazil
3. Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, Orlando, Florida
4. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park,Orlando, Florida
5. Waterbom Bali, Kuta, Indonesia
6. Wild Wadi Water Park, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
7. Hot Park, Rio Quente, Brazil
8. Aquaventure Waterpark, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
9. Aquatica, Orlando, Florida
10. Aquaventure Water Park at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Paradise Island, Bahamas

For the complete rankings, go to TripAdvisor.com.

What’s your favorite water park and amusement park? Do you agree with these rankings? Let us know in the comments.

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