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Spend a day at a theme park

A day at a theme park is a day for being a kid again: rides, parades and fireworks, with the people you came with screaming in the seat beside you. The great parks are also designed places worth seeing for their own sake, from a 19th-century pleasure garden in Copenhagen to a fairy-tale forest in the Dutch woods.

Where to do it

Disneyland and Walt Disney World, United States

Disneyland in Anaheim, California, opened in 1955 and is the only Disney park Walt Disney saw finished. Florida's Walt Disney World is a different scale: four theme parks plus water parks, and most families give it several days. Both are busiest in school holidays across the United States.

Disneyland Paris, France

Opened in 1992 east of Paris, with two parks and a train station at the gate, so you can arrive by RER or high-speed train. Weekdays outside French school holidays are the quietest days to visit France's Disney.

Europa-Park, Germany

In Rust, near the French and Swiss borders, Germany's largest theme park has been run by the same family since 1975. Each area is themed on a European country, and its big roller coasters draw fans from all over Germany and its neighbors.

Efteling, Netherlands

Opened in 1952 in Kaatsheuvel, Efteling grew from a Fairytale Forest designed with the illustrator Anton Pieck. It is gentler and stranger than most parks, and a favorite for families in the Netherlands.

Tivoli Gardens, Denmark

In the middle of Copenhagen since 1843: gardens, lanterns, concerts and an old wooden roller coaster. It opens in seasons, including Halloween and Christmas. Bakken, just north of the city, is older still, dating from 1583, so Denmark has two of the oldest amusement parks still running.

Tokyo Disney Resort, Japan

Tokyo Disneyland opened in 1983 and Tokyo DisneySea in 2001, side by side at Maihama on Tokyo Bay. DisneySea's harbor-themed ports exist nowhere else. Tickets in Japan are dated and can sell out on weekends and holidays.

Hong Kong Disneyland, Hong Kong

Opened in 2005 on Lantau Island, it's compact enough for one full day. The resort's own MTR line runs trains with Mickey-shaped windows, a small joy before you're even inside, in Hong Kong.

When to go

Weekdays outside school holidays are the quietest. Light rain empties queues; heat fills them, so summer days in Florida, Tokyo and Hong Kong start best at opening. Halloween and Christmas seasons are worth seeing but busy.

How to make it happen

Theme parks pair well with a road trip or a day trip, and a zoo or aquarium makes a calmer second day.

Questions people ask

When is the quietest time to visit a theme park?

Midweek, outside school holidays and public holidays, and early in the morning. Late winter and the weeks after the summer holidays are often calmer, but check each park's own calendar.

How many days do you need at Walt Disney World?

With four theme parks, most families plan at least four days, one per park, and more with water parks. Disneyland in California and Hong Kong Disneyland are much smaller and can be done in one or two days.

Are single-rider lines worth it?

Yes, if your group doesn't mind riding separately. They often move much faster than the main queue because they fill empty seats. They're not available on every ride, so check the park's app.

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