As Valentine’s Day draws near, the hunt begins for fun couple, friend, or family dates. To make this holiday easier, The Gamut evaluated four iconic Southern California amusement parks — Disneyland’s Magic Kingdom and California Adventure Park, Universal Hollywood Studios, Knott’s Berry Farm, and Six Flag Magic Mountain — on their atmospheres, ride varieties, food options, and pricing for the perfect date.
Disneyland’s Magic Kingdom and California Adventure Park
Located in Anaheim and known for its dual-park system and immersive experience, Disneyland attracts a global audience. Though immensely popular for its themed attractions and foods, Disneyland is notorious for rocket-high ticket prices, as much as $250 for a single ticket. Famous menu options like the Dole Whip and the Churros are also pricey, with one Churro costing $6.00. While the exhibitions are immaculately decorated, the rides may be lacking for thrill-chasers. The majority of attractions are built for a younger audience; few exceptions include The Incredicoaster in California Adventure Park and Space Mountain in Magic Kingdom, where older guests can enjoy exhilarating loops and drops.
Universal Hollywood Studios
Renowned for famous attractions and captivating shows, Universal Hollywood Studios is built for movie-fans everywhere. The park is located near Los Angeles and features blockbuster-themed sections, including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, home to the “Flight of the Hippogriff” ride, and Super Nintendo World. Popular shows include Waterworld, an immersive act with stunts, and action. Attractions are themed for an older audience, offering variety for thrill-seekers. A single pass is around $130, being on the lower end of ticket prices. Food options are themed according to their respective lands as well, so movie fans are bound to enjoy their day.
Knott’s Berry Farm
Located in Buena Park, Knott’s Berry Farm is a popular theme park for families and teenagers, noted for its seasonal events. Though not as well-known for themed attractions, Knott’s still contains fan-favorite franchises like The Peanuts and stays consistent to its original Berry Farm theme. The cost for a single ticket is the cheapest in this list, with the price being an average of $70 a day. The food options are diverse, but the rides are the highlights of the park, with various intensity levels to enjoy. Thriller rides like the GhostRider and HangTime are available for roller-coaster lovers, while milder rides like Charlie Brown’s Kite Flyer are perfect for those seeking a relaxing ride.
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Located in Valencia, California, Six Flags is not for the faint of heart. For thrill-seekers, this park is the perfect place for endless twists, drops, and screeching stops. Famous for its X2, a winged roller coaster, and Twisted Colossus, the longest and most innovative hybrid roller coaster of metal and wood in the world, Six Flags adds the biggest thrills for visitors. The park is suitable for teenagers, and adventure-chasing students are bound to enjoy its endless thrill. Single-tickets sell for $70 each, making it a great price.
From adventurous to story-loving, there is a park for every student to visit in this list. Whatever your choice, The Gamut hopes that you can curate your perfect Valentine’s date.
