The Best Disney World Alternatives

Disney World is one of the most popular theme parks in the world, but it's not for everyone. Maybe you've already been, and you'd like to try somewhere new. It's also pricey and might be out of your budget, or you could just want to avoid the massive crowds.

If so, there are plenty of other great theme parks that may be smaller in scale but still serve to provide family-friendly entertainment.

The following are some possible Disney World alternatives to think about.

Silver Dollar City

Silver Dollar City is a charming amusement park in Branson. It has more than 40 thrill rides and dozens of entertainment shows each day. The park is based on the 19th-century culture of the Ozarks. There are craftsmen and shops as well as new features like Rivertown. Rivertown features Mystic River Falls and the Family River Expedition.

There are a number of yearly events held at Silver Dollar City like Bluegrass & BBQ, the Summer Concert Series, Star-Spangled Summer, and Country Music Days.

The Old Time Christmas event is incredibly popular. There's a five-story Christmas tree and more than 200,000 lights on the Rudolph Holly Jolly Christmas Light Parade.

Knott's Berry Farm

Knott's Berry Farm is in Buena Park, California, and it's only about 10 minutes away from Disneyland. Knott's Berry Farm is great because it has age-appropriate options for young kids as well as thrill-seekers.

The GhostRider and Silver Bullet coasters are popular, and Knott's started as a farm stand selling pies and preserves. With that history in mind, you'll still find country fair-style rides and games too.

Knott's Berry Farm has the Timber Mountain Log Ride for scenes from the Old West, and the Ghost Town area has a working blacksmith.

Carowinds

Carowinds is in Charlotte, North Carolina. It's an affordable place to get all the thrills you're looking for.

Carowinds has rides like the Fury 325, which has an 81-degree drop and a top speed of 95 mph. The Fury 325 also happens to cross the North Carolina-South Carolina state line twice while you're on it.

The Nighthawk is another Carowinds thrill ride, with a 115-drop and eight inversions. You can fly face down at speeds of more than 50 mph. The Intimidator is one of the country's top 10 tallest steel coasters. There are seven drops and speeds of 80 mph.

Afterburn was originally named Top Gun: The Jet Coaster. It's the third-tallest ride in the park, and it's got a 113-foot drop.

If you want something a little less adventurous, there are plenty of other options at Carowinds, like the county fair rides, which were just added to the park in 2017.

Six Flags Fiesta

Six Flags Fiesta is in San Antonio and spans 200 acres. The showcase ride at Six Flags Fiesta is currently the Scream. You can see it from anywhere in the park and from Interstate 10.

There are five themed areas and an adjacent water park, which is White Water Bay.

There's Los Festivales, which is a Spanish-themed area and one of the original sections present when the park opened. Crackaxle Canyon is based on a 1920s Texas town, and it's home to the Iron Rattler.

There are a couple of sit-down restaurants in that section and two theaters.

Strassburg models a German village, and there's a kids' area called Kidzopolis.

Rockville is supposed to be a fictional town from the 1930s.

There's also the Fiesta Bay Boardwalk, which is home to the Pandemonium spinning roller coaster.

There's a lot of live entertainment in the park and annual events like Fright Fest, Holiday in the Park, and Mardi Gras.

Dollywood

Dollywood is located in Pigeon Forge and is themed around Dolly Parton, who owns the park, and Appalachian culture. It's close to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and more than million visitors make their way to Dollywood each year. There's also an adjacent waterpark-Dollywood's Splash Country.

Dollywood is around an hour outside of Knoxville, and there are eleven themed areas. Dollywood focuses on the culture, history, and heritage of the Smoky Mountains and the people who call the area home.

There are quite a few thrill rides too.

There's the FireChaster Express, which opened in 2014, and is the first dual-launch family coaster in the country, meaning you go forward and backward.

There's the Lightning Rod, which is the fastest wooden roller coaster in the world.

The Tennessee Tornado goes through a mountain at speeds of nearly 70 mph, and there's also the Wild Eagle, which is the first wing roller coaster in the country. You're seated on either side of the track so you're in mid-air.

When you're at Dollywood, you should definitely take the time for Chasing Rainbows, which is the Dolly Parton museum.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Finally, if you're looking for a good Disney alternative, you might think about Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

It's like a trip to Europe without a long flight. You can go by train through German, France, Ireland, Italy, England, and Scotland.

It's a seasonal park very popular in the summer months, so if you can visit during the weekdays, you can beat some of the crowds.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg is around 400 acres in total, and there are more than 50 rides, with nine roller coasters.

Busch Gardens is also located near the historical sites of Jamestown, Yorktown, and Williamsburg, which offer their own family-friendly entertainment.

Some of the most popular roller coasters include Griffon, Loch Ness Monster, and the Alpengeist.

The park includes Jack Hanna's Wild Reserve, which houses species that are endangered, like gray wolves as well as bald eagles.

If you're also going to nearby Colonial Williamsburg, it's the world's largest living history museum. There are more than 300 acres dedicated to museums, working tradespeople, and taverns.

The area where Busch Gardens Williamsburg is located is known as the Historic Triangle, and it's where the first permanent English settlers arrived.

It's a great place for both history and entertainment.