Every theme park fan has a favorite ride. If they’re lucky, maybe they get to ride it twice in a single visit. If they live near Disneyland or Universal Studios, they can probably go a couple dozen times in a lifetime. In the grand scheme of things, that’s a lot when you think about it.
But a couple dozen times is nothing for Jon Hale of Brea, California. Hale has ridden Radiator Springs Racers, the Cars-themed attraction at Disneyland’s California Adventure Park, over 15,000 times.
That is not a typo. He’s been on the Cars ride more than 15,000 times.
According to ABC, “Hale’s love for the Cars-themed ride began in 2012 when he visited the park for the first time since having a gastric bypass surgery, two knee replacements and losing over 150 pounds. He celebrated by getting on the attraction.”
Since then, he has documented his thousands and thousands of rides on his Instagram account. He hit 15,000 rides on December 8, 2025.
Radiator Springs Racers takes a photo of you each time you ride, so Hale has photographic evidence of each of his rides. He told ABC he writes down each one of the 15,000 rides in a notebook “where I keep track of the ride’s number. I also keep track of the lane for the race… And the color of the car, and whether or not I win the race.”
This video shows all the milestone bylines:
I can’t imagine going on any Disneyland ride 100 times, much less 1,000, much less 15,000. (Hale notes on his Instagram account that it took him “1,123 days at Racers averaging 13.35 rides per visit” to hit 15,000 rides. 13 rides per visit!) Honestly I can’t imagine doing anything in my life 15,000 times. How much do you have to love anything to do it 15,000 times? I would love to go to Disneyland 1,123 times, but I think I’d probably want to go on the Haunted Mansion once or twice too.
Anyway, this is a legitimately impressive accomplishment, and I doubt anyone will ever even come close to matching it. But just to be safe, I recommend Jon Hale keep going until he hits 20,000.
Amazing Theme Park Rides Based on Movies That Were Never Built
An emphasis on microtransactions and questionable cost cutting are among their concerns. Photo: Handout/Getty Images
You can exhale now, Bob Iger. This week, Disney named Josh D’Amaro as its next CEO, and he will be taking the Mickey mantle in March. As we noted earlier this week, the future head of a multibillion-dollar company making TV shows and movies has “no real experience making TV shows and movies.” He has, however, worked at Disney for 28 years, most recently as chairman of Disney Experiences, so in some ways, D’Amaro is Mister Experience. Crowning the guy who runs Disney’s theme parks, cruise ships, and hotels to head the entire company telegraphs how the megacorporation envisions its future; it is one of the last major Hollywood studios, but it might see other arms of its business as bigger priorities. You would think theme-park heads would welcome the news, but on Reddit and Twitter, Disney adults are raising concerns. If D’Amaro is going to run the Studios the way he runs the Parks, then it’s worth looking into why, exactly, fans of Disney World and Disneyland might be upset.
For decades, Disney Parks’ FastPass system was free to all theme-park guests, allowing them to nab passes (first paper, then digital) to wait in shorter lines for rides and attractions. It was a perk available to all who could get past the learning curve. In 2021, one year into D’Amaro’s tenure and following COVID shutdowns, Disney did away with FastPass and introduced a confounding and very costly series of pay-to-skip passes, which require timing advanced booking of limited slots in these formerly free-to-enter shorter lines. Lightning Lane Multi Passes, for example, can cost over $40 a day to skip the lines on certain attractions sorted into different tiers, excluding the best and busiest ones, which will require a Lightning Lane Single Pass (those range from $12 to over $20 per attraction). If the thought of staring at your phone all day at Disneyland, frantically booking ride slots like you’re using Resy, sounds horrible, you can now also buy a Lightning Lane Premiere Pass, which ranges from $129 to $449, per person, per day, plus tax, on top of your park tickets. On the busiest days, such as holidays, at the most popular parks like the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland, these baseline tickets can now cost over $200.
Now imagine doing this for a family of four on a three-day vacation. And imagine how expensive that vacation already is, as over the past few years, Disney has stripped away additional perks like the airport bus service and extended park hours, in favor of more points of purchase and labor-cost savings. The emphasis on microtransactions makes it so that the wealthy can afford to skip lines, creates hours-long waits for everyone else, and incentivizes even more people to pay up out of desperation and to make their limited time in the parks “worth it.” Defunctland has a brilliant video about how this experience is ruining theme parks for visitors, although it’s clear to see why Disney loves this model. Could D’Amaro be planning to apply these extractive pricing strategies to more products at the company? It’s not a stretch to imagine Disney+ adding an upcharge to stream Andor during “peak hours” or something.
Last year, Disney made the decision to tear down Jim Henson’s final completed work, a testament to the American pioneer’s humor and innovation, Muppet*Vision 3D, to replace it with a Monsters, Inc.–themed ride, despite there being so much underused space in that particular theme park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios. D’Amaro has since voiced his commitment to the Muppets, but it will be hard to overcome him overseeing this moment of betrayal to the Muppet community. The past few years have seen Imagineers’ artistic vision and thematic cohesion stripped away from parks like Epcot and Animal Kingdom in the name of making room for more profitable IP, in less thoughtfully executed attractions. Along the way, Disney’s attention to detail and historic trust in Imagineers like Joe Rhode has been decimated, and does not bode well for how much free rein Disney will or will not allow its creatives across divisions.
Whatever kind of slump you think the Marvel Cinematic Universe is in, Marvel’s Disneyland Universe has it worse. Under D’Amaro, Disney opened Avengers Campus in Disney’s California Adventure, and it is the sorriest concrete wasteland ever seen in a theme park: It demonstrates a callous cost-cutting approach in how Disney builds new major projects from the ground up — slapping logos on architecture that resembles an industrial business park. Under D’Amaro’s tenure, it wasn’t about creating a delightful atmosphere so long as the profitable IP was represented in the most perfunctory way possible. You can see the same turn away from ambition and whimsy in the newest Disney Resort hotels and in sad, airport Holiday Inn–level renovations of their existing hotels, compared to the mad creativity and beauty of the Michael Eisner era.
To be fair, D’Amaro is not single-handedly responsible for any of these Disney Parks’ problems. But it is hard to point to particularly amazing things that have happened in Disney Experiences under his reign: The two new coasters that have opened in Walt Disney World in the past five years are excellent additions, and they’ve vastly expanded the cruise-ship fleet, if that’s your speed. But do those wins say anything about how he will run such a vast entertainment company?
He did get Michael Eisner’s seal of approval, as the Old Master declared D’Amaro to be a “wise pick” and cautioned him to “keep close the words of Walt Disney: ‘We love to entertain kings and queens, but the vital thing to remember is this — every guest receives the VIP treatment.’” I will take that as subtle Lightning Lane shade. Eisner also points at the promotion of Dana Walden to president and chief creative officer as great news for the company. If the new CEO and his leadership can heed this advice, maybe the future of Disney still holds a great, big, beautiful D’Amaro.
Finally, we are one step closer to a full-on Pokémon land coming to a theme park in the United States. Universal Studios Japan just made the first move in making our Poké friends into an amusement park staple. Pokémon International and USJ are expanding their collaboration by creating “an unprecedented, innovative experience” that will first debut at Universal Studios Japan before expanding to other theme parks globally. Currently, USJ offers parades and holiday experiences featuring Pokémon characters, but it has never had a dedicated area or attraction for the beloved IP. “As Pokémon celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, we are thrilled to launch this new project at such a significant milestone,” Pokémon Company president Tsunekazu Ishihara shared in a press release. “Our mission is to enrich both the real and virtual worlds through Pokémon, and with this project, we aim to create theme park entertainment that surprises and delights fans around the globe.”
As for any other details? They’re still very slim, however, USJ promises the experience will be a “hyper-realistic experience that stimulates all five senses.” Like the smell of a Trubbish loitering around, kind of five senses? Or more like an Aromatisse sprinkling the scent of perfume around? Fingers crossed it’s the latter.
Pokémon and Universal are teaming up for what the companies are describing as “innovative, immersive, and world-class” attractions.
The hugely popular and long-running multimedia franchise will first debut at Universal’s park in Japan. Following that, according to the press release, “Universal Destinations & Experiences will deliver unique Pokémon experiences across the company’s global footprint.”
Further details about the project, they claim, will be announced at a later date. So let your speculation about what a Pokémon ride or area could entail begin. (Universal and Pokémon have previously partnered on parades and shows at Universal Studios Japan.)
Here was Universal Destinations & Experiences CEO Mark Woodbury’s statement on the news:
Collaborating with imaginative and inventive storytellers fuels our ability to create and deliver mind-blowing attractions and experiences that shatter guest expectations. The Pokémon Company is one of the most beloved interactive franchises in the world, and through our ongoing partnership, we will continue bringing its vibrant world to life in new and innovative ways for years to come.
Universal has already had enormous success through a similar partnership with Nintendo. In less than a decade, they have built Super Nintendo Worlds in three of their parks. Just like this Pokémon deal, they started with one at Universal Studios Japan, followed by copies of that original area at Universal Studios Hollywood and the new Epic Universe park in Orlando, Florida.
The Nintendo land features multiple rides, including a Mario Kart attraction, as well as interactive games sprinkled throughout an environment designed to mimic the hyper-colorful world of Super Mario video games. Win enough mini games around the land and you can then access a boss battle.
Given Pokémon’s emphasis on collection, it’s easy to envision a similar theme park concept for it: An area where you can find Pokémon and then use them in some kind of battle via your smartphone or some kind of accessory (at Super Nintendo World, you have to buy a band to play the games and fight the boss).
Amazing Theme Park Rides Based on Movies That Were Never Built
I guess technically the name “Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift” could refer to Hollywood, Florida?
Universal already has a Fast & Furiousroller coaster called Hollywood Drift coming to its Universal Studios Hollywood theme park. It’s slated to open there later this year. But today Universal announced their Universal Studios Florida park in Orlando will get its own version of Hollywood Drift as well.
The ride will replace the park’s former coaster, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, which closed in 2025. According to the press release, Hollywood (Florida) Drift “will put guests in the driver seat of the high-speed thrills of Universal Pictures’ Fast & Furiousuniverse like never before. Riders will experience the exhilarating sensation of 360-degree drifting as they speed through jaw-dropping maneuvers – including a 170-foot vertical “spike” that will send riders nearly 17 stories in the air over the outskirts of Universal CityWalk.”
As the Hollywood version is further along, Universal has already revealed quite a bit about the coaster, from the look of the cars (designed to look like, well, cars)…
To the layout of the track and the design of the station…
As part of the addition of Hollywood Drift to Florida, Universal also announced they will be closing its existing Fast & Furious attraction, Fast & Furious: Supercharged. The ironically named ride was actually an update of Universal’s old Earthquake and Disaster attractions, and used a tram in a screen-filled tunnel to simulate a high-speed chase.
Although the attraction featured performances from much of the Fast & Furious cast, including Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson, the attraction was poorly received due to its unconvincing effects. It’s got such a bad reputation, in fact, that one longtime Universal theme park designer said publicly that not stopping the company from bringing Supercharged from Hollywood (where it was originally part of the famous Universal Studios backlot tour) to Florida was the biggest mistake in his career. (The Hollywood version of Supercharged closed in the spring of 2025.)
If you’re going to make a roller coaster based on a movie, it’s hard to think of a franchise more suited to that task than Fast & Furious. It’s got speed and bombastic music and the whole conceit of drifting and those NOS speed boosts. If the ride lives up to the movies, it should be a lot of fun.
Universal Kids Resort: Full Details and Concept Art
Here is the latest on Universal’s new Kids Resort, located in Frisco, Texas.
Since it opened in 2019, Disneyland and Walt Disney World’sStar Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has focused exclusively on characters from the sequel trilogy of films, and almost entirely from The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. The land wasn‘t just a bunch of Star Warsthemed rides; it was designed to be its own in-continuity location — the far-off planet of “Baatu” — within the galaxy of the franchise. Characters like Rey and Kylo Ren roamed the land, interacting with guests.
The immersive qualities were really fun — but they also posed a problem. More casual Star Wars fans who just wanted to see the characters from the classic films like Luke Skywalker or Darth Vader would walk away unsatisfied. Vader, for example, couldn’t show up because (spoiler alert) Darth Vader is dead by the time of The Force Awakens and Galaxy’s Edge paid shockingly close attention to Star Wars continuity. The only exception to the rule was Chewbacca, because Chewie appears in both the old films and the new ones, so it made sense that he’d be roaming around the Millennium Falcon with Rey.
That will change later this year. Disney Parks Blog announced that by the end of April, vintage Star Wars heroes and villains will appear in Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland. The site specifically calls out “Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Han Solo, and Luke Skywalker” as names of characters you will be able to see in the land.
In another big change: The land will now feature the famous Star Wars themes by John Williams. Williams previously composed a bunch of original music for Galaxy’s Edge — but as Baatu was supposedly a location within the movies, the score was far more subtle and ambient rather than typical Star Wars movie music.
Disney announced the news with a video on social media…
The article also notes that “Rey and the Resistance will continue their fight against the First Order in the Resistance Camp” — that’s the area of Galaxy’s Edge around the big Rise of the Resistance ride. Meanwhile Ahsoka and Mandalorian will be found “near the marketplace” that’s between the Resistance Camp and “Black Spire Outpost” — the name of the village portion of the land, which is where the Millennium Falcon is parked, and where the old school Star Wars characters will be found.
So if you do like Rey and Mando, and other more recent Star Wars heroes, you’ll still see them in Galaxy’s Edge. How any of this will be made to make sense in the continuity — or what the Rey character will say if you ask her if she’s going to go fight Darth Vader — remains to be seen. (My guess: They just won’t care about this stuff anymore.)
I am sure a lot of people will be very excited about this news; some visitors really disliked the way Galaxy’s Edge emphasized the new movies to the exclusion of the old ones. They wanted to see Han and they wanted to hear John Williams’ theme. Personally, I always liked the way you really felt like you’d fallen into Star Wars roaming Galaxy’s Edge. I had an amazing experience there last year with my kids, who were absolutely starstruck by Rey and Chewie. They still talk about it. (Of course, they might have equally memorable interactions with Princess Leia. We’ll see.)
The new (old) characters will debut in Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge on April 29. (The post makes no mention of if or when these changes will come to the sister Star Wars land in Florida.) And this is not the only update to Galaxy’s Edge coming in 2026; the Millennium Falcon ride, Smuggler’s Run, is getting a new ride video featuring the Mandalorian and Grogu, set to debut at the same time as their new film in late May.
Amazing Theme Park Rides Based on Movies That Were Never Built
The first-ever permanent Pokémon theme park will open to the public in just a few short months, but the Internet is already buzzing like a Beedrill about one of the park’s more controversial guest restrictions.
PokéPark Kanto, which is scheduled to open on February 5, 2026, inside Tokyo’s Yomiuriland amusement park, will feature two main lands: Pokémon Forest and Sedge Town. Over 600 Pokémon statues, rides, souvenir shops, shows and various Poké-themed attractions will be spread across the two areas — but it appears not all Pokémon fans will be able to enjoy the full experience.
According to the theme park’s official website, guests who do not meet certain age and physical fitness/ability requirements will not be allowed to enter the Pokémon Forest half of PokéPark Kanto.
The park’s official admission policy says that any guest who plans to enter Pokémon Forest must be able to climb, unassisted, a stairway of roughly 110 steps. Those who are unable to climb the steps without assistance won’t be allowed entry.
In addition, guests who have either high or low blood pressure, have any heart conditions or are simply pregnant also won’t be allowed into Pokémon Forest. Perhaps most surprisingly, children under the age of 5 won’t be able to enter “even if accompanied by an older guest,” per the park’s official restrictions.
Guests are also advised to wear “comfortable, non-restrictive clothing and footwear that you don’t mind getting dirty.”
The strict restrictions are all in the name of safety. According to the PokéPark Kanto website, “Pokémon Forest is comprised of natural woodland, so visitors can expect grassy areas and uneven paths. Please be aware that there are entry restrictions in place to ensure visitor safety.”
Of course, these grassy sections, steps, tunnels and elevation discrepancies mean it would be nearly impossible for folks with certain disabilities or mobility challenges to traverse the forest area safely, though for many Pokémon fans it’s frustrating that more inclusive accommodations weren’t taken into consideration for such guests.
Thankfully, fans who are unable to enter Pokémon Forest due to the health restrictions can still enjoy the other half of the park, Sledge Town. Three different ticket types will be available for guests: an Ace Trainer’s Pass to enter all areas of PokéPark Kanto at any time; a Trainer’s Pass to enter any area of the park during a single visit; and a Town Pass to enter only the Sledge Town area of the park. The latter ticket type is expected to be made available by summer 2026.
If you’re planning to travel to Japan next year and are ready to live out your Ash Ketchum fantasies, tickets to PokéPark Kanto will soon be available to purchase via a lottery system beginning November 21 at 1AM PST. Just make sure your physical fitness is up to the challenge before you book; those cute Pokémon Centers in the park aren’t able to provide trainers with actual medical care, after all.
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These disappointing video game adaptations barely made it to screen before audiences said, “Game over.”
MrBeast, the YouTuber whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, announced Thursday that he’s opening a theme park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, next week. Dubbed “Beast Land,” the park will be a temporary experience that runs from Nov. 13 until Dec. 27, but commenters on social media are already asking questions about why the YouTuber chose Saudi Arabia.
“Next week Beast Land our brand new theme park opens!!!!” Donaldson tweeted. “We built custom games modeled after our videos that don’t exist ANYWHERE else and will have the world’s largest prize wall.”
Donaldson shared renderings of the theme park with mysterious white boxes on them which were unexplained.
For example, this game called ‘Tower Siege’ where you load balls into real catapults and have to land them in these giant 60 foot tubes for points! pic.twitter.com/RMP0UQUIwp
“For example, this game called ‘Tower Siege’ where you load balls into real catapults and have to land them in these giant 60 foot tubes for points!” Donaldson wrote.
Another tweet from Donaldson explains an attraction where six people compete: “Drop Zone is also exciting!! 6 people are standing on trap doors. A button lights up in front of each player and whoever presses it last, gets dropped. Last remaining gets the most points.”
An attraction called Airmail is supposed to appeal to people who like zip lines: “I made a game for people that like zip lines called Airmail! you basically have to drop a weighted bag on to a target below. Closer to the middle, the more points you get.”
I made a game for people that like zip lines called Airmail! you basically have to drop a weighted bag on to a target below. Closer to the middle, the more points you get. pic.twitter.com/b9kLZqCV3n
“I didn’t want this to be like a typical theme park,” wrote Donaldson. “Thought of things from first principles and created games I would love to play! Tons of original games created plus of course we have rollercoasters and rides.”
A general entry ticket costs about $7 but doesn’t include access to actually play the games, whereas the higher priced tickets cost about $66, according to Dexerto.
Commenters on X asked Donaldson why he was doing his theme park in Saudi Arabia, a question likely rooted in the country’s history of human rights abuses. Big name comedians from the U.S. got similar questions recently during the Riyadh Comedy Festival.
Donaldson responded that it was located in the “middle of the world,” and that “a majority of my audience is outside America and we have a big middle eastern fan base.” Donaldson continued that he “wanted to give them a chance to participate!”
The world is a globe so it’s unclear what he meant by calling Saudi Arabia the “middle of the world.”
Donaldson is perhaps the wealthiest YouTuber, with some claiming he’s worth over $1 billion. But that claim should probably be taken with a grain of salt. The source, it would seem, for many of those claims is a website called Celebrity Net Worth. But Forbes, the gold standard for measuring the net worth of wealthy people, hasn’t released anything more reliable.
Whatever Donaldson’s actual net worth, there’s no denying he makes a ridiculous amount of money. And he’s likely making even more money opening this temporary theme park in Saudi Arabia. That was, after all, the big appeal for American comedians who went to perform there. They made a boatload of money, even if they had to endure criticism about putting on a show in a place where some domestic workers in the country are suffering from a form of slavery.
Have you ever wanted to own gigantic, realistic-looking dinosaurs for your backyard? Now might be your chance to scoop some up. Provided you have a few thousand dollars lying around.
The New Jersey theme park Field Station: Dinosaurs is closing Nov. 9, and they’re listing all their dinos on Facebook Marketplace. There are plenty to choose from, including a 52-foot-long Spinosaurus ($2,900), a Hadrosaurus with eggs and nest ($2,450), and a bright blue Parasaurolophus ($2,410).
Some of the dinosaurs have limited movement and voice boxes, along with controls. And everything must go, according to the park.
“Where do 30 plus dinosaurs go when their park closes?” Guy Gsell, the park’s executive producer, told NewJersey.com. “Hopefully to a good home — or maybe a few unexpected places. We’re ready to let the public make their best offers. Just be sure you’ve got a big backyard.”
The theme park opened in Secaucus in 2012 but had to close down in 2015 to make way for a new high school that was being built. Field Station: Dinosaurs moved to the Henry Hoebel Area of Overpeck Park in Leonia, New Jersey, in 2016.
The dinosaurs range in price from about $500 to almost $3,000, depending on the size. Listings for the dinosaurs note that “Buyers are responsible for all deinstallation and shipping/transportation costs,” while explaining that the theme park “will arrange to have all necessary equipment on site. Dinosaurs available for pick-up after November 9.”
The theme park recently appeared on a Fox reality show called The Fixer, where struggling small businesses get help, but it obviously wasn’t enough to keep this New Jersey attraction around.
Anyone who wants to see the theme park for its last hurrah still has an opportunity. There’s the “Jurassic Petting Zoo” Sept. 27 and 28, where visitors can get up-close encounters and “amazing photo ops” next to the dinos.
And there’s a special “Dinosaurs After Dark” event happening Friday and Saturday nights from Oct. 3-25 between 7:00 and 9:30 pm.
A spooky, funny and thrilling adventure for the whole family featuring a lantern lit tour of the park, games and activities where everyone is a winner, and The Dinosaur Séance, a mysterious thrill ride into the shadowy realm of dinosaur ghosts. America’s only Mesozoic medium and Cretaceous conjurer will be our guide as we journey into the Jurassic (Spirit) World and summon the long-lost spectres of the prehistoric dearly departed. Sometimes scary, sometimes funny but always surprising, the show features new puppets created by the acclaimed fabricators at Palmieri Puppets.
At the end of the night, everyone will gather around the campfire for a dinosaur song-a-long with the Dinosaur Troubadour. A thrilling adventure you don’t want to miss. Limited tickets; reservations highly recommended.
The park is also hosting a “Dogs & Dinos” day on Monday, October 13, from 10 am-5 pm, where visitors are allowed to bring their dogs.
The new filling worried some fans about the future of fan-favorite ride WaterWorld
Credit: Tada Images via Adobe Stock
New documents submitted to Los Angeles County in June reveal more information regarding an upcoming expansion of Universal Studios Hollywood, as part of a multi-decade project.
The “Evolution Plan,” as it’s called, was first unveiled in 2006 with an estimated cost of around $7 billion. The plan includes expansions to the exciting studio, theme park, retail, hotel and entertainment areas. The “Evolution Plan” was officially filed in 2013 and promises a multi-decade time frame.
“The NBC Universal Evolution Plan is a comprehensive planning and development effort to maintain Universal City’s status as a center of entertainment and tourism,” says the official plan guidelines. “To meet the future needs of southern California’s entertainment industry, and to allow the site to grow in a way that is compatible with Los Angeles.”
The latest filing of the plan, which was originally submitted for a new technical services building set behind the E.T. parking garage, also includes a map with more never-before-seen conceptual plans for the “Evolution Project.” Fans were quick to notice that a site currently occupied by fan-favorite stunt show WaterWorld is overlaid on the map with a designation for a “New Theme Park Attraction w/ Food & Beverage Retail.”
While Universal currently has no plans to remove WaterWorld, the map does grant them the authority to do so in the future or simply expand the land around it. This left many theme-park fans nervous about the future of WaterWorld, which was originally introduced to the park in 1995. Theme Park Insider speculated about the possibility of an “entire WaterWorld land around the show theater,” like Universal’s parks in Asia currently have.
The map also indicates a brand new CityWalk “Future Destination Venue,” as well as “Parking/Tram maintenance” in a section currently being used for Halloween Horror Nights. The future 500-room hotel originally included in the proposal is also designated on the map, yet Universal has yet to announce the project officially.
Fall is one of the most rewarding times to travel — cooler temperatures, lighter crowds, and if you time it right, landscapes ablaze with crimson and gold. Whether you’re chasing foliage, festivals, or fresh air, the question remains: where can you go to maximize the fun without draining your wallet?
WalletHub’s “” study offers a data-driven answer. With pure enjoyment in mind, they ranked all 50 states across 26 indicators — from movie ticket prices to national park access to nightlife per capita.
Whether you’re planning a weekend escape or a longer fall road trip, these rankings offer a fresh lens on where to go — and why.
Overall Winners: States That Deliver Across the Board
If you want a destination that checks multiple boxes, these five states top the overall fun rankings:
California: From beaches to mountains, theme parks to wine country, California offers endless variety — and it ranks high in restaurants, performing arts, and outdoor recreation.
Florida: Known for sunshine and theme parks, Florida also scores well in marinas, golf, and nightlife.
Nevada: Las Vegas alone gives Nevada a nightlife edge, but the state also offers desert beauty and quirky roadside attractions.
Illinois: Chicago’s cultural scene boosts Illinois in performing arts, restaurants, and entertainment variety.
New York: From Broadway to the Adirondacks, New York blends urban energy with natural escapes.
Nightlife Lovers Rejoice
If your idea of fun includes dancing, live music, or late-night bites, these states shine:
Nevada: No surprise here — Vegas is a nightlife juggernaut.
Illinois: Chicago’s bar scene and music venues make it a top contender.
California: LA, San Diego, and offer diverse nightlife experiences.
Washington: Seattle’s indie music and craft cocktail culture earn it a spot.
Wisconsin: A sleeper hit — college towns and brewery culture give Wisconsin unexpected nightlife appeal.
Foodies, Take Note
Looking for culinary variety? These states rank highest in restaurants per capita:
California: From Michelin stars to taco trucks, the food scene is unmatched.
New York: Global flavors and iconic eats — from bagels to banh mi.
Florida: Seafood, Cuban cuisine, and Southern comfort all shine.
Texas: BBQ, Tex-Mex, and bold flavors make Texas a foodie favorite.
Illinois: Deep-dish pizza and farm-to-table dining elevate the Midwest.
Tee Time and Tranquility
Quiet fairways, crisp air — fall golf at its finest.
Prefer a slower pace? These states lead in golf courses and country clubs per capita:
Michigan: Scenic fairways and fall foliage make it a golfer’s dream.
Iowa: Affordable and accessible courses across the state.
Wisconsin: Home to championship courses and cozy clubhouses.
Florida: Year-round play and resort-style amenities.
Arts and Culture Buffs
If you love live performances and cultural experiences, head to:
New York: Broadway, off-Broadway, and everything in between.
California: A rich mix of theater, film, and music festivals.
Minnesota: The Twin Cities boast a surprisingly vibrant arts scene.
Illinois: Chicago’s theaters and comedy clubs are world-class.
Florida: From ballet to jazz, the arts are alive statewide.
Skiers and Snow Seekers
Planning ahead for early snow? These states have the most skiing facilities per capita:
Vermont: Quaint towns and powdery slopes make it a fall-to-winter favorite.
Montana: Big sky, big mountains, and uncrowded runs.
Alaska: Rugged and remote — for the truly adventurous.
Colorado: Legendary resorts and high-altitude beauty.
Maine: Small but mighty ski areas with New England charm.
Coastal Escapes and Marina Views
Highland Light, quiet sentinel of the Cape Cod shore.
If water is your happy place, these states offer the most marinas per capita:
Florida: Boating, fishing, and waterfront dining galore.
New York: From the Hudson to the Finger Lakes, options abound.
Connecticut: Charming coastal towns and sailing culture.
Maryland: Chesapeake Bay beauty and nautical heritage.
Massachusetts: and beyond — a sailor’s paradise.
Nature Lovers and Park Explorers
Want to immerse yourself in the great outdoors? These states offer the best access to national parks:
Alaska: Vast wilderness and jaw-dropping landscapes.
Wyoming: Home to Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
New Mexico: Desert beauty and ancient ruins.
South Dakota: Badlands, Black Hills, and more.
Variety Is the Spice of Fun
Vermont’s quiet beauty, one sweeping view.
If you want a little bit of everything — arts, entertainment, recreation — these states offer the most variety:
South Dakota: From Mount Rushmore to quirky roadside attractions.
Maine: Lighthouses, lobster, and leaf-peeping.
Minnesota: Lakes, museums, and music festivals.
Michigan: Great Lakes charm and cultural depth.
Vermont: Cozy towns and creative communities.
Smart Ways to Travel More and Spend Less
To help travelers enjoy budget-friendly adventures, WalletHub tapped a panel of experts for tips on maximizing fun without overspending.
Robby Lybrand, Chef Instructor, School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management – University of South Carolina, says, “For those looking to enjoy travel and leisure without breaking the bank, there are several effective strategies. Planning ahead remains one of the most important ways to save money, booking hotels and experiences midweek or in the off-season can result in deep discounts.
Travelers can also explore discount platforms like Groupon, TodayTix, or city tourism cards that bundle attractions. Many communities offer a wealth of free attractions, museums with free days, city-sponsored concerts, public art walks, and state parks provide high-value, low-cost options. Families can also explore youth and amateur sports events, which offer affordable ticket prices and still bring the excitement of competition. With a little creativity, travelers can maximize “fun density”, packing memorable experiences into even a modest budget.”
Where Will Fun Take You This Fall?
Whether you’re chasing fall foliage, live music, or a quiet round of golf, WalletHub’s rankings offer a roadmap to fun. With a bit of planning — and maybe a few creative detours — you can pack joy, adventure, and affordability into your next trip.
Disneyland and Deadpool. Yes, you read that right! Wade Wilson has managed to make his way to the mouse house and Avengers Campus to play nice for the usually very naughty Marvel comics superhero. Starting today you can meet him at Disney California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort–with Wolverine along for the ride, to keep Deadpool on a tight leash.
Disney has shared more on their Deadpool and Wolverine offerings to celebrate this week’s release of the latest Marvel movie. The limited time interactions with Deadpool at Disneyland include “Story Time with Deadpool,” which will see a the merc with a mouth use said mouth to recount “family friendly tales” to “delight, charm, and inspire in the way only Deadpool can.” Which means, in all likeliness, not to expect Wade’s typically twisted tongue in the parks. Wolverine will also be participating in the show, as you can see below in a brief clip from a performance today:
Not gonna lie, that Splash Mountain gag as pretty good, at least! It’s a fun way to bring in Deadpool’s meta-humor. Beyond “Story Time,” Deadpool will also interact with the crowd throughout Avengers Campus, as well as crash various shows too, including “Avengers Assemble!” and “Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Dance Off!” as he attempts to coax his way onto Marvel’s various teams.
Beyond Deadpool and Wolverine themselves, it wouldn’t be Disney without some food: namely, chimichangas! Here’s a look at the new food item added to Pym’s Test Kitchen. The beefy creation even has Wolverine’s claw marks of approval.
Screenshot: Disneyland App
Deadpool and Wolverine will be appearing for a limited time at Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure, so if you want to get up close and personal with Marvel’s latest movie heroes, you’ll need to head down to the parks soon.
In honor of July 4, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom will celebrate with patriotic festivities that includes an all-new nightly drone show.
Each of the four nights, the sky above Discovery Kingdom will come to life through the use of 200 drones illuminating the night with animated figures. The new drone display will recreate patriotic and iconic Six Flags imagery up to 400 feet in the sky.
“We’re thrilled to be hosting four days of Six Flags 4th of July Celebration, our favorite summer event, with festivities for the entire family, including an exciting new drone show,” said Park General Manager Kirk Smith. “We are proud to present this event to celebrate our country’s Independence Day, to display patriotism, and bring families and friends together for what we do best, which is fun!” he added.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is proud to present park-wide entertainment each day including:
A nightly, spectacular drone show beautifully choreographed to feature iconic patriotic and Six Flags imagery from up to 400 feet in the sky at 9:15 p.m.
Premium drone show viewing by Lake Chabot in the park’s Chabot Stadium; Live entertainment featuring music, dancing and more.
Kids Activity Zone with games and prizes; and Special festive limited-time food and drink offerings at several park locations.
For additional information on Six Flags visit sixflags.com/discoverykingdom/events.
Tower of Terror was changed to Mission: Break Out, Splash Mountain has been upgraded to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and now another Disney Parks attraction is being eyed for some historically accurate updates. Stephen Colbert has pitched some new dialogue to the Hall of Presidents at Disney World after an orange man will be color-clashing in his new uniform. “I used my mushroom penis to have underwhelming sex with a porn star and then committed a bunch of fraud to hide it,” shared Donald Trump’s newly imagined animatronic before teaching the kiddos what it means to be a felon. “I cannot buy a gun, and I cannot travel to Canada. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m late for my community service.” Thankfully, Disney World has plenty of trash cans.
A few months ago, we told you about a legendary ride closing its doors for good at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri.
It was called Fire In the Hole. The coaster was a mainstay attraction for millions of families over the decades it operated at the theme park. Riders traveled through a town battling a fire, with animatronic characters on sets and a few dips along the way. Fire in the Hole was one of those rides the entire family could enjoy – and they did. I was there when it closed and met parents riding with their children one last time, remembering the times they were kids riding with their parents and grandparents.
When the original Fire in the Hole was built, the park had no idea they would be operating well into a winter season. The building had no heating or air conditioning system. It was getting older by the day, making maintaining the ride a real challenge. Silver Dollar City made the difficult decision to say goodbye to the coaster – but not for good.
The exterior of the new Fire In The Hole show building
Instead, they spent $30 million to completely recreate the ride in another section of the park. The brand new building now has heating and air conditioning and is built to last. They hired Rocky Mountain Construction to build the coaster, but the ride is exactly the same as it was before, with the same pattern and the same dips.
Some of the first riders leave the station on the all-new Fire In The Hole.
But there are some changes.
An entire new audio system has been added to the coaster trains. As you travel through the building and through the multiple set pieces, you hear new dialogue explaining the story and everything happening around you. There is a music score that drives the action. All of the sets were built in house by the staff at Silver Dollar City with incredible focus on detail. This is one of those rides where you will notice something new each time you ride it.
For example, when a character named Bugs hisses his line of dialogue, you’ll hear the scurry of roaches all around you. Look closer at the walls and you’ll see those roaches covering them.
A character named “Bugs” appears to drop bugs on passengers below
The original Fire In The Hole featured a moment where you encountered a train car – it was just an old coffee can that spun around a light to give you the impression that a train was coming. This time? They built the actual train and it’s revealed just as you take the drop.
The new train just before a drop on Fire in the Hole
And finally, when you take the last drop, look for a lit fuse along the right wall that leads to an explosion as you hear a voice yell “FIIIIIRE IN THE HOOOOOOOLE!”
The scene before the last drop on the new Fire In The Hole. Look for the fuse that lights on the right wall.
There are so many little things like that throughout the ride, minor details that will likely be appreciated by longtime fans of this attraction. You can watch my full ride on Fire In The Hole in the video below, with and without commentary:
Here is the official POV video from the park:
The all-new Fire In The Hole is now open at Silver Dollar City in Branson. You can find more information about the park on their website here.
This isn’t my first trip to Silver Dollar City. I’ve done a few stories on the park and their unique attractions they’ve added over the years.
Here’s my ride on their launching, spinning roller coaster Time Traveler:
And my first-ever Coastin’ the Country segment was on their roller coaster Outlaw Run:
ABANDONED, torn apart by weather and left to rot – one of New Zealand’s largest and most adored water parks is now an apocalyptic wasteland.
The iconic Waiwera Hot Pools in Auckland was central to the local community before it became a haunting reminder of better times.
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The iconic Waiwera Hot Pools became a haunting reminder of better timesCredit: Facebook
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The water park’s pools have been left in disarrayCredit: Facebook
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The whole site is littered with weeds, broken plaster, the remains of chairs, pool covers and dead palm treesCredit: Facebook/Derelict NZ
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Rubbish floats in green swamp-like pools surrounded by roofless, graffiti-covered buildingsCredit: Facebook/Derelict NZ
After decades as a destination spot, the resort closed its doors in 2018 with the promise of a major renovation.
But its gates have stayed firmly shut, hiding what former visitors have described as a “horror movie”.
Rubbish floats in green swamp-like pools surrounded by roofless, graffiti-covered buildings.
The whole site is littered with weeds, broken plaster, the remains of chairs, pool covers and dead palm trees.
But decay had long sunk in since its former Russian billionaire owner abandoned ship a few years ago.
Waiwera, known for the healing qualities of its water, was the site of the country’s first tourist spa in the 1880s.
From the 60s onwards, the thermal resort was being constantly developed and upgraded as it catered to an increasing influx of tourists in summer months.
And by the 90s, it had been turned into a thrilling water park and in the early 2000s, truly hit its glory days.
Up to 350,000 splashed about in its warm waters every year.
And by 2005, it boasted some major waterslides – the names of which are still well known by former visitors, including The Black Hole, Twister and Speedslide.
Inside bizarre abandoned theme park with eerie giant statue modelled after classic tale near infamous ‘suicide forest’
In total, it now had 25 pools, including a movie pool and an adults-only pool.
The park also made money from bottling up the famous local water to be sold to restaurants, bars and shops.
Local news outlet, The Spinoff, described the Waiwera Hot Pools as “a place of hopes and dreams” for all the kids that grew up nearby.
A site that “put us on the map” until it was “mismanaged into oblivion,” the outlet said last year.
It was referring to Russian Billionaire Mikhail Khimich who became obsessed with Waiwera after trying its water for the first time in 2008.
In 2019, he leased all the land and businesses associated with it, including the water park and hotel.
However, critics accused the businessman of only being interested in the water bottling plant as he ploughed his energy into taking the brand global.
Under his helm, Waiwera Artisan Water began to be shipped internationally and even once scooped an award for “world’s best water”.
However, the water park was neglected, underfunded and quickly losing its spark.
It began racking up one star ratings online as visitors despaired over “terrible” conditions.
Decay was creeping in, there was algae in the swimming pools, exposed nails near pool areas and children were getting hurt on the rusting waterslides.
A few upgrades were made in 2012 but its patrons said it was far too little, too late.
The resort continued to suffer as visitor numbers tanked and businesses shut.
In 2017, plans emerged for major and costly renovations to restore the park to its former glory and also add an entire new section that would include pirate-themed water slides and a cafe.
It was closed in December – and the public was told renovations could take up to two years.
But it never reopened.
Khimich reportedly laid off all the employers and construction workers were spotted at the site, but they appeared to be taking it down, The Spinoff reports.
All the slides were removed except the much-loved Twister and the rest of the park was left to rot.
It turned out that Khimich had gone bankrupt and had two years worth of unpaid bills on the resort.
He fled the country, abandoned the property and allegedly left behind hundreds of thousands in debt.
“It looks like something out of the Syrian war,” one local man told the YouTube channel, The Department of Information.
“It should be bulldozed,” another said.
“The place looks like a bomb site,” a third said.
Now, it’s back in the hands of its long-term owners who hope to carry out an entire renovation that is set to cost a staggering £120million.
Last year, The Sun told the pitiful story of L’aquatic Paradis water park, which has been dubbed the “world’s creepiest”.
The spooky Spanish theme park has sat abandoned for almost 30 years – rotting, decaying and terrifying the locals due to the grim urban legend behind its closure.
And thousands of miles away, another eerie deserted water park has been terrifying those that live near to it.
End of an era: Waiwera Thermal Resort is to be demolished after years of sitting in disrepairCredit: Facebook/Derelict NZ
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After decades as a destination spot, the resort closed its doors in 2018Credit: Facebook/Derelict NZ
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Waiwera, known for the healing qualities of its water, was the site of the country’s first tourist spa in the 1880s. It has now been left to rotCredit: Facebook
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After decades as a destination spot, the resort closed its doors in 2018Credit: Facebook
Though ideas at Disney aren’t always developed in a linear fashion—a prototype of an invention might be started years before the company finds the place to put it into action, or an idea for something artistically cool might germinate for a bit before Research figures out the technology—Smoot has worked on a few things with a hard deadline, including the lightsabers for the Star Wars Launch Bay in 2015 and the Galactic Starcruiser in 2022.
While one could argue that not everything Disney makes is pure, inspirational magic, Smoot designs everything he works on to either entertain or spark joy. “There are engineers that have to work on things that can hurt people or that aren’t necessarily that good, and that’s never something I have to worry about,” Smoot says. Instead, he jokes, he just concerns himself with how Madame Leota will “float” through her seance room every few minutes for years on end. (He also had a hand in the operation of the Haunted Mansion’s stretching paintings, which were refurbished a few years back.)
Citing Arthur C. Clarke’s third law that “any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic,” Smoot says part of his work is about conveying a smooth and perfect sheen of surprise. When parents take their kids to a Disney park, they want those kids to have the same experience they did, even if all of the tech has been replaced.
Smoot points to Madame Leona as an example. Online, people had all kinds of theories about how Disney made the Haunted Mansion character fly—proof that Smoot’s tricks worked. “I read some descriptions from people who loved it and how they thought it worked, and without going into too much detail, I’ll say they were completely wrong and completely simplistic,” he says. “That’s when I said, ‘OK, yeah, what we did was good.’”
It’s this kind of impact that moves Smoot’s work beyond the realm of cool gadgetry. Paiva says that “when we look at potential inductees, we’re looking for inventors who have US patents that cover their work, which certainly Lanny has, but beyond that, we’re looking for inventors whose work has made societal, economic, and cultural impact.”
While Smoot’s Disney career has certainly wowed and enriched the lives of park goers and cruise ship passengers over the years, his work on teleconferencing at Bell was also an important factor into his induction, as was his work with aspiring young inventors.
“I’ve become a bit of a role model for young Black kids and people of color and women who have been looked over or not been in the room where things are done,” Smoot says. “I came from Brownsville, and I didn’t have a lot of money. Even today, I am one of the most thrifty people when it comes to building things. Some people say, ‘I can’t start my work unless I have this much money,’ but I’m like, ‘OK, I have a broomstick and I can take the keyboard apart…’”
Ask me about my new best friends, Chronos and Astronomica. Photo: Universal via YouTube
The dream of a classic-movie-monster cinematic franchise called Dark Universe is alive in Orlando. In its ongoing noble quest to become the superior Florida theme-park destination (real heads know it alreadyis), Universal Orlando Resort has released a trailer for Epic Universe, its long-anticipated “third gate” and the first new Disney or Universal theme park to open in America since Disney California Adventure beta-launched in 2001. It looks expensive. It looks creative. It does, in fact, look epic.
The trailer is hosted by Mark Woodbury, CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences, who is feeling his Michael Eisner oats as he talks about the storied history of the studio tram tour that started it all. He then launches into Universal’s current mission of building a theme park that will offer storytelling and immersion in “the most visceral manner possible.” The result is a theme park made up of “five worlds,” connected through “portals,” a frightening example of multiverse oversaturation crossing over from movies to real life.
This is forgiven, though, once the president of Universal, Molly Murphy, introduces the concept of “Chronos, the first portal, where all the planets will align.” We love highfalutin world-building-, original IP–, sci-fi/fantasy-speak. Chronos leads to Celestial Park, which will “put the park back in theme park,” which I guess means it will have grass, benches, and landscaping in addition to “Astronomica, where you can play with dancing fountains.” Love that. The concept art lands somewhere between the Jules Verne Tomorrowland in Disneyland Paris, His Dark Materials, Spyro, and ancient civ.
The other four areas are IP based. There’s a How to Train Your Dragonland and a Dark Universe featuring Frankenstein, the Mummy, et al. that promises “everything you’ve ever wanted to experience with monsters in this world” (which … have you ever searched Dracula or werewolf on AO3?). There’s also another Wizarding World park, this time themed to the Ministry of Magic. I shudder at the thought of experiencing Grindelwald’s many crimes up close and in person. Finally, and most anticipated, is the East Coast version of Super Nintendo World, which will be larger than its Hollywood counterpart. While it wasn’t teased in the video, we know that Universal is constructing a Donkey Kong mine-cart coaster in addition to porting over the Mario Kart ride.
The video ends with Steven Spielberg promising that “Epic Universe is built on an amazing concept,” which the CEO defines as “What I think we’re trying to do most is give people the opportunity to really experience the full thrill of being alive.”
So what do you think? Too much for a theme park to promise, or just the right amount of ambition? Do you think there will be a Grindelwald meet and greet? Are you excited by the thought of Jay Baruchel’s prerecorded voice telling you to “keep your hands and arms inside the vehicle at all times” on a How to Train Your Dragon ride? Epic Universe opens officially in 2025. Then, and only then, will we really experience the full thrill of being alive.
EERIE photos of a deserted alligator-infested theme park with a tragic history show its rapid deterioration.
Six Flags Great Adventure was shut down in 2005 after it was hit by hurricane Katrina – but the land has a past far darker and more unfortunate than its demise alone.
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The park is now infested with alligators
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An explorer named Jason Lanier went to the park after it closed and discovered alligators swimming in the lakeCredit: Jason Lanier
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Smashed glass is all that remains of the windows after the hurricane hitCredit: KEG-KEG/Shutterstock
The park was once a bustling popular attraction, but due to it’s many misfortunes it has been left to rot and reptiles now roam the land where children once played.
Disaster struck the theme park in 2003 when a horrific accident occurred that resulted in the death of a woman.
A grandmother, Rosa Donaldson, was helping her four-year-old grandson get strapped into a ride while the rider vehicles were about three feet off of the ground.
It is not clear how but Rosa entered the attraction area after it had begun to operate.
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The 52-year-old was hit by one of the cars – once in the head and again in the pelvis.
She was was rushed to Lakeland Medical Center but died from her injuries.
Haunting pictures show the lifeless rotting park frozen in time and left untouched for nearly 20 years.
The once vibrant rides have faded to neutral shades of colour and debris left over from the hurricane litter the floor.
All the windows are blown in, with the remains of sharp shards of glass around the frames.
One picture shows a bumper car consumed by so much dust that only a section of its green colour is visible.
No trespassing signs now surround the park and a thick rusting padlock has been placed on the entrance gate.
Creepy statues of clowns, mermaids can be seen broken and dirty and faded graffiti appears on most of the buildings.
An explorer named Jason Lanier who visited the site after it had closed found that the land has now been claimed by alligators.
He took video footage of the reptiles prowling the waters in pursuit of food.
Despite its current state there is still hope for Six Flags to gain a new lease of life.
AN IRAN-BACKED militant group more formidable than Hamas is also the unlikely owner-operator of a multi-million pound theme park.
The tourist attraction, built in 2010 by Lebanese terror organisation Hezbollah, was intended to indoctrinate children and western tourists with hatred for Israel.
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Visitors look at tanks left in Lebanon by Israeli forces at the Hezbollah-run war museumCredit: AFP
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Tourists can wander through a commander’s bunker at the theme parkCredit: Phil Hannaford – The Sun
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Replica war scenes feature destroyed Israeli tanks and toppled grave stonesCredit: Getty
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A mannequin dressed in military fatigue lies on a stretcher at the parkCredit: AFP
The Iran-backed militia leader Hassan Nasrallah will break his silence on the conflict this afternoon.
Where most theme parks would have rides and games, the Tourist Landmark of the Resistance has tanks, rockets, barbed wire, and guns.
Those who visit will be find replica war scenes complete with destroyed Israeli tanks and toppled grave stones.
Large Hebrew letters spell out “The Abyss” and “The Swamp” in stone, meant as taunts directed at Israel.
Archive video footage shows a timeline of Hezbollah’s rise to prominence, as well as its grievances with and victories against Israel.
Children and other tourists can play at aiming anti-aircraft guns, climb overturned armoured personnel carriers, and wander through a Hezbollah bunker and 200-metre-long tunnel used during the 2006 Lebanon War.
A walk through the forest where Hezbollah guerrillas waged their war just four years before the tourist park opened features real weaponry and artefacts, from strewn soldiers’ helmets containing real human hair to burnt clothing with Hebrew inscriptions.
The £3.2million theme park was built on the remains of a former Israeli settlement near the Lebanese village of Mleeta to promote its ideology, or what it calls “resistance tourism”.
It was also once an important base for Hezbollah fighters.
The terrorist group reportedly has plans to expand the park’s visitor facilities with swimming pools, spas, playgrounds, a five-star hotel, and camp site so people “can come here and spend their vacations”.
More than half a million people visited the tourist attraction in the month after it opened.
Hezbollah was founded in the 1980s to oppose Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon, triumphing when Israelis quit the south in 2000.
Some expect the Israeli air force will flatten the tourist park in the next war, as it did in 2006 when it destroyed a museum in the village of Khiam.
