20 iconic amusement parks that have nothing to do with Disney

Universal Studios is part amusement park, part pop culture experience. It often gets lumped in with Disney since there's a park in Orlando and one in Los Angeles, but it's an entirely different experience that feels like you're stepping into an entirely separate set of movies. 

Within the Universal World is Universal Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida, including Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and Skull Island. There are rides, entertainment, shopping, and dining. It’s an epic experience for anyone who’s part of those fandoms.  

Thanks to its cheeky commercials, six Flags had everyone in America wanting to visit in the 2000s. There are 13 Six Flags parks in the United States, one in Mexico, and one in Canada, making this amusement park chain much more accessible to most Americans than any Disney park. 

You know a business is successful when it can afford to invest in an amusement park dedicated to its product. Why spend your time with mascot animals when you can pose for photos with mascot candy bars? Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, has all that and more, including lots of chocolate. 

Dolly Parton will be an icon for eternity for many reasons, one of which is that she has her very own amusement park. Dollywood is located near Knoxville, Tennessee, and it's got rides, a water park, spas, and entertainment. You name it — it's at Dollywood. 

Kings Island is a water and amusement park in Cincinnati, Ohio, full of rides from a low thrill level to what the park categorizes as "aggressive." If intense roller coasters are your jam, Kings Island is the place for you. 

Ohio is the place to go for amusement park lovers. Cedar Point is located in Sandusky, Ohio, and another joint water amusement park owned by the same company as Kings Island. Cedar Point has lots of aggressive rides, so when you’re finished in Cincinnati, travel on over to Sandusky for more thrill. 

Busch Gardens has locations in Tampa, Florida, and Williamsburg, Virginia. The parks are similar, but certain aspects change from Florida to Virginia due to the different climates. What you can expect at both parks are crazy rides, animal experiences, and food and wine festivals. 

There are SeaWorlds in Abu Dhabi, Orlando, San Antonio, and San Diego, with the last location being the most famous. The theme of the park is evident in its name, but there are also roller coasters and rides, shopping, and dining at SeaWorld. It's not just aquatic animals.

There are multiple Legolands across the United States and abroad, and they are every Lego lover's dream. In addition to the rides and extra parks, Legoland has shows and activities (all Lego-themed, of course) that will spark your creative building juices. 

Nickelodeon Universe is inside the Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It features SpongeBob, Dora the Explorer, Paw Patrol, and other character-themed rides. You can also go mini-golfing and meet the characters. And there's plenty of slime. Its sister park, American Dream, is in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Nestled in Rapid City, South Dakota, is the magical Storybook Island, a theme park centered around everyone's favorite fairytales. Although the park is only open during the summer, it's a perfect introduction to theme parks for young children. 

The United States isn't the only country with good amusement parks. In Copenhagen, Denmark, Tivoli Gardens is a park with rides for the whole family and plenty of beautiful gardens. It's the perfect place for anyone whose ideal amusement park day includes riding one ride and spending the rest of the time looking at flowers. 

Abu Dhabi has many stellar attractions, including Ferrari World. There are all the typical musings of a theme park with one special exception: Ferrari driving experiences. If you've always wanted to drive or ride in a Ferrari but don’t have the cast to buy one, take a trip to Ferrari World for the experience.

In Buena Park, California, is Knott's Berry Farm, a renowned amusement park with rides, attractions, and Camp Snoopy. Whether you like Peanuts, water rides, roller coasters, or arcade games, you'll have a blast at this park. 

Canada's Wonderland is a funny little theme park in Vaughan, Ontario, with water rides, roller coasters, and even more Peanuts attractions. How the Peanuts have worked themselves into so many theme parks is a mystery, but the rides are fun, so it's best to just enjoy them and not ask questions. 

Europa Park in Rust, Germany, has been compared to Epcot because they both have similar-looking orbs in their parks, but it’s a little different. It has rides, quaint aesthetics, and different areas themed by country, but as some who've visited will tell you, Europa Park is more of an oddity. 

Everland is your typical theme park. It's just located in Yongin, South Korea. It's open year-round and has both a European Adventure and an American Adventure, as well as some roller coasters and a Tulip Festival. 

Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is a family-friendly amusement park that truly feels like you're stepping into a wonderland. It's magical and full of exciting rides that kids love, and it's much cheaper than Disney. 

Kennywood, in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, is a fun amusement park with rides, shows, and all sorts of other attractions. The only thing that would make Kennywood better is if it belonged to Kenny Rogers and were the counterpart to Dollywood, not named for another man named Kenny who originally owned the piece of land the park was built on.