The end....

I have finally reached the end of the semester, which means I am now almost done with this class. It is been an interesting run. While working on this project I have learned more about different types of parks than what I had ever imagined was possible. I hope you too have been able learn something or found some of what I had to say helpful! Doing this project has taught me a lot about websites and what exactly has to go into them to make them run smoothly. This project took up a lot of time and effort and gave me a better appreciation for the people that are continuously doing things like this. After this class is fully over I do not know how much I will keep up with this as I am not a big fan of writing that much. It will also be summer and I am sure I will be busy with job hunting and maybe even visiting some of the parks that I wrote about here in my blog. Hopefully they will turn out to be as exciting as some of their websites make them out to be. If not, I will probably be a little bummed. If you haven’t seen my products already, please take a look at them on

Cafe Press and see if there is something that you like on there. I would really appreciate it if you decided to buy something. Anyways…I hope you all take care and maybe someday I will decide to come back to this and add on to my current parks.

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom is an animal theme park located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida at the Walt Disney World Resort.  This park themed around animal conservation opened on April 22, 1998 and was the fourth park built at this resort and is more than just a zoo. This park is also the largest Disney theme park in the world! It covers more than a whopping 500 acres. One of the major attractions at this park is the tree of life. This is a sculpted 14-story, 50-foot-wide tree. Within the tree you can find 325 animals carved in the bark.

Within this park you can find seven different themed areas. When you first enter the park you enter in the Oasis. This area is filled with a large number of animal habitats. A rainforest is also located in this section with a restaurant that makes you feel like you are part of the atmosphere. In the center of the park one can find Discovery Island, which will connect you to almost every other area.  Also located in this section is The Tree of Life along with kangaroos, cranes, lemurs and so on. Africa is another section you can visit. Here you can take a safari vehicle to see African animals such as giraffes, hippos, elephants and lions roam freely.  At Camp Minnie-Mickey you can meet all of the Disney characters in a summer camp setting. If that’s not for you, you can head over to Rafiki’s Planet Watch where you can see and learn about endangered species.  Next, there’s Asia. Here one can venture through the jungle and see animals native to the continent. Finally, there is DinoLand U.S.A.  In this area you can learn more about dinosaurs and see live animals that can be linked back to dinosaurs. 

Knowbels

Knoebels Amusement Resort is located in Elysburg, Pennsylvania. The park was opened in 1926 and is one of the few amusement parks that is actually family-owned and operated. Just out side of the park you can find a picnic grove and campground that you may wish to use for an additional price.

Currently the park has more than 57 rides, free admission; yes I said FREE admission, a couple wooden roller coasters, a haunted house, and a carousel that was made before the time that the park first opened making it almost 100 years old.

Admission into the park is free along with parking, and entertainment. You do have to pay to go on the rides though if you wish to. To go on the rides you either pay-one price, or during week days you can get an all-day/unlimited-access wristband, a limited access hand stamp, or a books of tickets. For the hand stamps, there are several options; you can get them for just the night or during the morning. These options make it kind of nice especially for those that do not going on that many rides in the first place. You can bring Grandma and Grandpa along to help you keep the kids in check.

Within the park you can find two different countries: Northumberland and Columbia. In these areas you can find different shops, shows and attractions including kiddie rides, water rides, thrill rides, and roller coasters. There are also many different food options, and games that one can play if they choose to.

Knotts Berry Farm

Knotts Berry Farm is a theme park located in Buena Park California. The park first opened in 1940 and is open year round. This park is owned the same people that own Cedar Point and Worlds of Fun This company was not the company that originally built this park thought. When they took over, they made many changes to the park and started taking out some of the older rides to add thrill rides. Thrill rides include rides such as large roller coasters, their Shoot-the Chutes ride and Perilous Plunge. This park also has acquired a hotel for its guest to stay at if they choose to. Currently this hotel is called Knott’s Berry Farm Resort Hotel.

Within this park you can find six different themed areas: Ghost Town, Fiesta Village, The Boardwalk, Camp Snoopy, Wild Water Wilderness, and Indian Trials. The ghost town section of the park is based on the real ghost towns such as the ones of Calico, California and Prescott, Arizona. Here you can find old buildings that are full of shops and great learning exhibits. There is also numerous attractions.  In Fiesta Village, you can enjoy a Mexican theme and find all of the carnival rides that the park has to offer. The Boardwalk is the place to go to enjoy a majority of the parks thrill rides. Camp Snoopy is full of attractions for the young ones or those young at heart. Here kids are able to ride all of the rides and interact with the Peanuts cast if they choose to.  Wild Water Wilderness offers two different water rides just as the name suggests. Finally, in Indian trails you can find Native American art, crafts, and dance.

Islands of Adventure

Islands of Adventure is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida that is part of the Universal Orlando Resort. This park opened its doors in May of 1999. What is unique about this island is that the overall theme is journey of exploration and you get to explore 7 different islands, each having their own distinct themes.

Port of Entry is the first island you are in when you enter the parks entrance. Here you can shop at one of the island six different stores or enjoy some food at one of the four restaurants. Unlike the other islands, this one contains zero rides.

Marvel Super Hero Island is an Island that is totally inspired by the Marvel comic books. Here you will find the characters Wolverine, Captian America, Spider-Man, and the Incredible Hulk. Even some of the bad guys can be found here such as Doctor Doom, M.O.D.O.K, Hobgoblin, and Kingpin. The rides here are all focused around these characters and their stories.  

Toon Lagoon is more focused on kids but adults will be able to enjoy this park too. Most of the rides and attractions here contain water. This is a great area to visit on a really hot summer day and you are looking to cool off!

Jurassic Park is based off of the Jurassic Park movie. Here you can encounter dinosaurs, enjoy discovery-based exhibits, and feel like you are a part of the real Jurassic Park.  There are also multiple rides that you here for everyone to enjoy.

The Lost Continent is all about ancient myths and legends. Some of the parks areas features are an ancient Arabian marketplace called Sinbad’s Bazzaar and the mythological Grecian-Atlantis-style Lost City. While here you can enjoy two different live action shows.

Seuss Landing is much like the Dr. Seuss books, far from ordinary. If you have small children they are bound to find something to enjoy here. Some of the same features from the book include a Green Eggs and Ham Café and Circus McGurkus restaurant.

The Wizzarding World of Harry Potter is a section of the park that I have already wrote about. Refer back to my earlier post to find out more about this section by clicking here.

Typhoon Lagoon

This is a water park located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida at the Walt Disney World Resort.  This park opened up on June 1, 1989. Its theme is “Disney Legend” of a typhoon that wreaked havoc upon a formerly pristine tropical paradise.

The park is separated into five different sections known as: Mount Mayday,  Hideaway Bay, Typhoon Lagoon, Shark Reef, and Castaway Creek.  In Mount Mayday you can find “Miss Tilly,” a shrimp boat that is stuck on the mountain along with several different slides. In Hideaway Bay, you can find and thrilling water coaster and a sandy white beach area where you can relax in one of the many lounge chairs. The largest area of the park, Typhoon Lagoon is where you can find that widest variety of attractions.  One can learn to serf by taking a lesson before the park opens. If that’s not for you one could enjoy a slide or the world’s largest outdoor wave pool! For an ocean like experience you can head on over to Shark Reef where you can find saltwater tanks that you can snorkel in  or look at an underwater viewing of the reefs. Those that are not up for much adventure can enjoy Castaway Creek where there is a lazy river that circles the entire park with a little excitement along the way.  Finally, for the little one there is Ketchakiddee Creek which features small slides and fountains with different water features everywhere! People of all ages are bound to find something here that they will enjoy!

Legoland

Legoland Califonia is a theme park located in Carlsbad, California. This park opened up on March 20, 1999. This entire park is based around Legos, the toy that almost every kid is able to enjoy at least once in their life. But don’t let this let this fool you, people of all ages can enjoy this place. The park is separated into nine different sections including: The Beginning, Dino Island, Duplo, Village Green, Fun Town,  Castle Hill, Miniland USA, Pirate Shores, Imagination Zone, and Land of Adventure. On top of all this the park also features a water park that just opened in 2010.

Dino Island features all sorts of things about Dinosaurs. Here one can enjoy dino rides or dig for imitation dinosaur bones in the “Dig Those Dions” attractions.  Duplo is the smaller water area of the park. Here you can find numerous little water attractions and even enjoy a boat ride down a river lined with Fairy Tale Lego models. In Fun Town, the little ones can learn to drive electric cars made up of Legos. There is a more complex course for the older ones to enjoy. Castle Hill is a medieval-castle themed area. You can get a better look at the castle by taking  a ride on the Dragon roller coaster. In Miniland USA you can see miniature replicas made entirely of legos of popular cities across the United States. Imagination Zone allow its guest to play LEGO PC games and program robots.  Next you can go to Pirate Shores and enjoy one of the six pirate themed rides. Land of Adventure was made to look how Egypt did in the 1920’s.