DESTINATIONS — THEME PARKS & ATTRACTIONS
Big kids
Indulge your inner child on a theme park break that’s just for grown-ups, writes Katie McGonagle
O
ne of the secret perks of being a parent is reliving
your own childhood fun through your kids – playing games all day, hurtling down water slides or dragging them on your favourite rides, all under the pretence of good parenting. But why wait until you’ve got kids? Theme parks are an obvious fit for families, but they are just as suited to adults with a sense of fun. The most recent figures reveal that 57% of British visitors to Orlando travelled without kids, taking advantage of lower prices and shorter queues outside school holidays.
Gold Medal’s USA product manager Mark White says: “While it is usually associated with a family holiday, Orlando is not just for kids. There is so much on offer for couples, groups of friends and even older families. Universal Studios Florida is based on some of the best-known and loved TV shows
and movies such as Harry Potter, which are just as popular with adults, plus CityWalk comes alive each evening with a host of bars, restaurants and entertainment.” It’s not just the theme park
capital – plenty of attractions cater to an older audience, giving you the chance to tap into a new pool of potential bookings.
l BLAST FROM THE PAST Dig out those hoverboards and duck any flying DeLoreans – October 21, 2015 is the date Marty McFly visits in Back to the Future Part II. With Universal Studios Hollywood introducing a Nighttime Studio Tour this summer, featuring sets from the movie trilogy, now is the time to target nostalgic fans of the 1989 classic. Celebrating the park’s 50th anniversary, the night tour
will open up several iconic film sets, from To Kill a Mockingbird to Pirates of the Caribbean, and reveal secrets behind the movie magic. Teamed with a high-speed chase through Los Angeles on new ride Fast & Furious Supercharged, due to open in summer, this is a surefire hit. Attraction World is offering two days for the price of one (£59), with optional upgrades including a Front of Line Pass (£101) or VIP Tour (£204).
l FEEL THE RUSH While kids might not be brave enough or tall enough to try the scariest rides, adult adrenaline junkies have no such excuses. They’ll certainly test their mettle on the 335-foot-high
Falcon’s Fury at Busch Gardens Tampa, simulating the 60mph
face-down dive of a falcon swooping towards its prey, and another new ride Ihu’s Breakaway Falls at Aquatica, which drops riders near-vertical at 24 feet per second. Walt Disney World has its share of spills too, according to Virgin Holidays Disney account manager Nathan Tinsley. He says: “There are big thrills to try including The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith at Hollywood Studios, Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom and Mission Space at Epcot, to name a few.”
l DIARY DATES Child-free clients aren’t tethered to school holidays, so they can time a visit to coincide with events such as Halloween, when theme parks go all out to scare visitors in new and creative ways. Travel 2 product and purchasing manager Jonathan Couch says: “Come face-to-face with your greatest fears at Halloween Horror Nights, when
FAST FACT Do Something
Different is marking PortAventura’s 20th anniversary with a 20% discount on multi-day tickets
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