Hospitality Management Schools

There are plenty of amusement parks out there, but sometimes you want more than just a wooden roller coaster and some cotton candy. You want a full-on resort, with on-site lodging and access to amenities not available everywhere. For that, look no further than these ten fantastic examples of entertainment and hospitality. Whether you’re looking for thrill rides or the countryside, you can’t do much better than these amusement park resorts:

1. Walt Disney World Resort (Orlando, Florida)
Was there any doubt this would make the list? Disney’s sprawling resort near Orlando, Florida, is the biggest in the world, complete with multiple theme parks and hotels designed to please families and couples of all ages. There are 32 (!) resorts and hotels on the property, which covers 40 square miles, with 24 of those directly operated by Disney. They’re broken down by price and luxury, from deluxe all the way down to campgrounds, which means there are plenty of options for vacationers looking to save a few bucks or splurge a bit. A great example of this is the Animal Kingdom Lodge, adjacent to the Animal Kingdom theme park, which offers panoramic views of the 43-acre wildlife preserve.

2. Cedar Point (Sandusky, Ohio)
Spread over more than 360 acres, Ohio’s Cedar Point packs a ton of rides and attractions onto a peninsula that extends into Lake Erie. The location also boasts indoor and outdoor water parks and a theme park with go-karts and miniature golf. The on-site hotels feature special dining as well as early access to the park, before the rest of the public can get in for the day, and discounted prices on admission tickets.

3. Universal Orlando Resort (Orlando, Florida)
This overarching resort covers two theme parks: Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Although the Hollywood location of Universal Studios is a functioning film studio that happens to have rides, the Florida location is solely designed for tourists. The site’s hotels each have a different feel, from the Italian-inspired Loews Portofino Bay Hotel to the more tropical-themed Loews Royal Pacific Resort. They’re all in walking distance of the parks, too, and not having to commute between hotels and parks makes for a more relaxing and less structured vacation.

4. Hershey Resorts (Hershey, Pennsylvania)
Billing itself as “the sweetest place on Earth,” Hershey is all about its chocolate, even in the amusement center of Hersheypark. The theme park also offers admission to the adjacent zoo, Zoomerica. The official resorts of the company and park include the Hotel Hershey, a high-class hotel; Hershey Lodge, a more rustic-themed place to stay; and Hershey Highmeadow Campground, for people who want to experience the parks and then get away from it all.

5. Schlitterbahn (New Braunfels, Texas)
Although the company now has several parks throughout the state (and one in Kansas), the original Schlitterbahn location remains the brand’s flagship and one of the biggest water parks in the world. Schlitterbahn gets the water for its rides from the adjacent Comal River, then cleans it (without chemicals) before letting it out into the river again. Resort guests get a 20 percent discount on park admission, and in a rare twist, visitors can stay at the resort year-round, even when the water park is closed for the winter.

6. Darien Lake (Darien, New York)
Visitors to Darien Lake can split their time between a theme park filled with traditional roller coasters and other rides (there’s one called the Mind Eraser, if you’re up for it) and a water park called SplashTown. The resort’s hotel is the Lodge on the Lake, with rooms big enough to sleep six people between the beds and sleep sofa. It’s a great option for families looking to experience the park.

7. Six Flags Great Escape Lodge (Lake George, New York)
Six Flags’ Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom covers almost 150 acres in upstate New York, and has almost 60 rides, not counting the water park attractions. Teh nearby Great Escape Lodge is a high-quality hotel designed to allow visitors easy access to the theme park as well as private amenities like an indoor water park for guests only. The Lodge is home to 200 suites among four levels, as well as a spa, fitness room, and arcade.

8. Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Williamsburg, Virginia)
Busch Gardens’ Virginia outpost is inspired by Europe, with different sections of the theme park taking design and entertainment cues from countries including England, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, and Germany. Located right next door is Kingsmill Resort & Spa, the state’s biggest golf resort, spanning 2,900 acres along the James River. It’s the ideal place to stay to enjoy the park and take in the gorgeous views of the countryside.

9. Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park (Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin)
Opened in 2004, the Mt. Olympus park has a wonderful assortment of attractions, including a wooden roller coaster with the world’s longest underground tunnel and a host of water activities including raft rides and slides. Mt. Olympus has two on-site hotels as a part of its resort facilities: Hotel Rome and Mykonos Village. Hotel Rome has an indoor water park and multiple go-kart tracks for younger visitors, amenities shared by Mykonos Village. As a bonus, guests of both hotels receive free admission to the Mt. Olympus parks.

10. Disneyland Resort (Anaheim, California)
Don’t say it’s cheating to have two Disney properties on the list. There’s a reason the company is the global leader in vacations and resorts, and their original Southern California location is a strong reminder of their commitment to quality. There’s the Disneyland Hotel, the first to bear the Disney name; the Paradise Pier Hotel, a casual but classy hotel that overlooks the California Adventure theme park; and the Grand Californian Hotel, centrally located among the two theme parks and the Downtown Disney nightlife area. The sheer number of rooms and amenities available make it easier to spend more time at the park to take it all in at a relaxed pace. You probably won’t want to go home.

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