Orlando and Southern California Theme Park Results in the 2012 Golden Ticket Awards

It’s the top award for theme park and amusement parks worldwide.  Each year, ‘Amusement Today’ magazine hands out its Golden Ticket Awards for the best of the best in several amusement park categories.  On September 7^th & 8^th, several amusement and theme park officials and fans gathered at the Dollywood Resort in Pigeon Forge, TN to see who would walk away with several Golden Ticket Awards which would be handed out in several different categories.  Continue through the page break to see who took home the hardware.

Each year I’m always interested to see who wins these awards.  Not just because they are the most recognized awards in the theme park industry, but because the individuals who choose these awards are theme park fans just like ourselves.  ‘Amusement Today’ selects various theme park travelers and experts throughout the world to vote on the best of the best in several amusement park categories.  Here’s a snapshot of this year’s award winners and top finishers.

In the most recognized category; Best Park the winner was Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH with Disneyland’s Magic Kingdom coming in 5^th and Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Universal’s Islands of Adventure tying for 7^th place overall.

In the Best Water Park category it was Disney World’s Blizzard Beach finishing 3^rd while Sea World’s Aquatica finished in a tie for 5^th place.

Sea World dominated the Best Marine Park category taking 4 of the top 5 spots.  Sea World Orlando took the Golden Ticket award in this category with its San Diego sister park taking 2^nd, and San Antonio park taking 3^rd place.  Discovery Cove came in at 5^th place overall.

In other award categories, both U.S. Magic Kingdom parks took 4^th and 5^th place in the Cleanest Park category.

Moving on to specific ride categories it was Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls taking the Golden Ticket Award for the Best Water Ride category while Walt Disney World’s Splash Mountain took 3^rd overall.

Another prestigious ride category is Best New Ride for 2012.  Finishing in second place overall was Radiator Springs Racers at Disney’s California Adventure.

In the Best Dark Ride category both Disney and Universal dominated.  Universal took the top spot with Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey winning the Golden Ticket Award.  The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman finished in a close second.  The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios finished in 3^rd place while Indiana Jones – Temple of the Forbidden Eye at Disneyland finished in 5^th place.

Moving on to the Best Indoor Coaster category again the Universal and Disney parks dominated.  Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Studios Orlando took the Golden Ticket Award for the top spot.  Rock ‘n’ roller Coaster took the 3^rd spot while Disneyland’s version of Space Mountain finished in 2^nd place and Disney World’s version finished in 5^th place.

Let’s jump to the shows and special events categories.  In the Best Shows category it was Disney’s Hollywood Studios taking 3^rd place overall while Sea World Orlando came in at 5^th place.

In the Best Outdoor Show Production category Disney dominated this category with EPCOT running away with the Golden Ticket Award.  Disney’s California Adventure finished 2^nd, Disney World’s Magic Kingdom finished 4^th while Disney’s Hollywood Studios came in 5^th place.

In the Best Halloween Event category it was Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights running away with the Golden Ticket Award.  The Best Christmas Event category saw Disneyland’s Magic Kingdom finishing 2^nd while Disney World’s Magic Kingdom finished in a tie for 3^rd place.

Here are the results of some other categories where the Orlando and Southern California theme parks finished strong.

Best Kids’ Area – Seuss Landing – Universal’s Islands of Adventure – 2^nd Place

Best Children’s Park – Legoland in CA – 2^nd Place, Legoland in FL – 4^th Place

Best Food – EPCOT – 3^rd Place

Friendliest Park – Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom – Tie 5^th Place

Best Carousel – Universal’s Islands of Adventure – 5^th Place

Do you agree with this year’s winners and top finishers?  Do you have a favorite that was left off the list?  Tell us your opinion in the discussion forum below or on the DIS’s Facebook page.  For a complete list of all the winners and top finishers of the 2012 Golden Ticket Awards see pages 4 and 5 of this month’s edition of ‘Amusement Today’ magazine.

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