How Disney World compares to 14 popular theme parks across the US

I regularly visit theme parks all across the United States.Carly Caramanna

• I'm a theme-park journalist who's been visiting parks all over the world for over three decades.
• Disney World was my first love, but I enjoy exploring other places, like Dollywood and Hersheypark.

I've been exploring theme parks across the country (and the world) for over three decades, and there are so many options beyond Disney and Universal.

To help with future trip planning, I've broken down the cost, size, and highlights of some of my favorite US parks.

Editor's note: Ticket prices are based on 2023 data and are subject to change.