10Best poll: Voters give nods to top theme parks, roller coasters, other attractions

The 10Best website has returned to the topic of theme parks, water parks, roller coasters and other rides in the United States for its reader polls. Central Florida attractions dominate the pool of nominees.

The site, owned by USA Today, asks the public to vote online for best theme park, best outdoor water park, best indoor water park, best roller coaster and best non-roller coaster ride for 2023.

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A panel of travel experts chose 20 options for voters. Participants can vote once a day through noon Eastern time on April 24. Winners will be announced May 5.

Peppa Pig Theme Park, which opened in Winter Haven in early 2022, is vying for best theme park in the 10Best poll.

Peppa Pig Theme Park, which opened in Winter Haven in early 2022, is vying for best theme park in the 10Best poll. (Orlando Sentinel)

Of the 20 theme park nominees, seven are in Central Florida. Those include Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Peppa Pig Theme Park, the year-old Winter Haven attraction adjacent to Legoland Florida.

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Additional nominees run from California to Pennsylvania to Tampa.

Islands of Adventure visitors plunge down the big hill of Jurassic World VelociCoaster, which debuted in 2021.

Islands of Adventure visitors plunge down the big hill of Jurassic World VelociCoaster, which debuted in 2021. (John Raoux/AP)

In the hunt for best roller coaster are Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which opened last year at Epcot; Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and Jurassic World VelociCoaster at Islands of Adventure; Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Studios; Mako at SeaWorld Orlando; and Tron Lightcycle / Run, which officially opens at Magic Kingdom on April 4.

Kylo Ren and a First Order general appear in animatronic form during Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Kylo Ren and a First Order general appear in animatronic form during Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. (Patrick Connolly / Orlando Sentinel)

For best non-roller coaster ride, Central Florida nominees include Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man as well as Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Islands of Adventure; Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts plus Men in Black Alien Attack at Universal Studios; Avatar Flight of Passage at Animal Kingdom; Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios; Test Track, Soarin’ Around the World and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at Epcot; and Pirate River Quest, which opened early this year at Legoland Florida.

Aquatica Orlando visitors take a spin on KareKare Curl at the water park in 2019.

Aquatica Orlando visitors take a spin on KareKare Curl at the water park in 2019. (Rich Pope / Orlando Sentinel)

Local nominees for best outdoor water park include Aquatica Orlando, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon at Walt Disney World, Volcano Bay and Island H2O Water Park. There are no Florida nominees for best indoor water park.

To vote, go to 10best.com.

Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters or the Theme Park Rangers podcast at orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-podcast.