Travel

Trip Advisor names USA’s, world’s top amusement parks

Atlanta area travelers don’t have to travel far to enjoy the country’s top amusement park.

Tripadvisor officials named Dollywood as the number one theme park in the United States and the number eight theme park in the world during the 2022 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards.

The 160-acre destination earned top honors with Tripadvisor users. The award was calculated based on reviews and ratings from travelers on Tripadvisor from the 12-month period from May 1, 2021, through April 30, 2022.

“I’m so proud of the work my people do to make Dollywood such a great place for families,” Dolly Parton said. “When I started dreaming up Dollywood all those years ago, I hoped it would be somewhere folks were excited to come visit and enjoy time together. To hear that they are leaving so many positive comments about their time here really shows what we’re doing is working. In the current world, I want Dollywood to be a place where the light shines every day.”

Eugene Naughton, President of The Dollywood Company, echoes the thoughts of the park’s Dreamer-in-Chief.

“We’re working every single day to ensure our guests have the best possible time while they are with us,” explained Naughton. “This award is a little bit different because there is no voting factored into these rankings. The Tripadvisor rankings come from actual reviews left by guests about their time here with us at Dollywood. It is extremely gratifying to see this recognition for the effort our hosts give to ensure our guests have an unforgettable time while they are here.

“We are humbled by the results of this ranking, as well as the recent USA Today 10Best #1 finish for Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa. These awards continue to show what we’ve been saying for so long—the Dollywood Parks & Resorts experience truly is world-class.”

According to the Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best website, “The Best of the Best Things to Do Awards are calculated based on the quality and quantity of traveler reviews and ratings for experiences, tours, activities, and attractions on Tripadvisor.”

“Congratulations to the 2022 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Winners,” said Kanika Soni, Chief Commercial Officer at Tripadvisor. “The Travelers’ Choice Awards recognize the best in tourism and hospitality, according to those who matter most: actual guests. Ranking among the Best of the Best is always tough — but never more so than this year as we emerge from the pandemic. Whether it’s using new technology, implementing safety measures, or hiring outstanding staff, I’m impressed by the steps taken to meet travelers’ new demands.”

The United States top-10 is:

  • Dollywood (Pigeon Forge, Tennessee)
  • Universal’s Islands of Adventure (Orlando, Florida)
  • Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park (Orlando)
  • Universal Studios Hollywood (Los Angeles, California)
  • Universal Studios Florida (Orlando)
  • Silver Dollar City (Branson Missouri)
  • Funland (Rehoboth Beach, Delaware)
  • Fun Spot America (Kissimmee, Florida)
  • Santa’s Village (Jefferson, New Hampshire)
  • Busch Gardens Tampa (Tampa, Florida)

American parks hold two of the 10 spots on the worldwide theme park list. The worldwide top-10 list is:

  • Siam Park (Adeje, Spain)
  • Puy du Fou (Les Epesses, France)
  • Beto Carrero World (Penha, Brazil)
  • Puy du Fou España (Toledo, Spain)
  • The Milky Way Adventure Park (Clovelly, United Kingdom)
  • Hot Park (Rio Quente, Brazil)
  • Waterbom Bali (Kuta, Indonesia)
  • Dollywood (Pigeon Forge)
  • Universal’s Islands of Adventure (Orlando)
  • Parque Terra Magica Florybal (Canela, Brazil)