Valencia, California is home to our next featured theme park.  And if that doesn’t sound familiar, your hint is this:  It’s just a hop and a skip from Los Angeles student tours.

The theme at this park is Extreme, a challenge well met by the fact that Six Flags Magic Mountain is second in the world for the largest collection of coasters in any one park.  THE LARGEST COLLECTION.  (Later in the week, you’ll meet the the park that takes the top spot in that prestigious title).  Let’s discover some of the thrilling participants:

X2:  Um . . . 360-degree rotating seats, head-first drops, visual, audio, and sensory effects – Extreme doesn’t seem extreme enough to describe this ride.

The Riddler:  Another record breaker, the Riddler is the world’s tallest, fastest, stand up roller coaster.

The Viper:  This coaster named for a poisonous serpent has SEVEN head-over-heels inversions.

Tatsu:  A flying coaster, which describes your position to the ground, and also the tallest, fastest of its kind.

Deja vu:  You’ll be strapped into ski-lift type chairs, experience crazy-scary drops, a vertical loop and a 110-story butterfly.  Then you do it all AGAIN.  Backwards.

Are you intrigued yet?  This park is practically the theme park to end all theme parks.  At least if your favorite part is the thrills.  You know Six Flags, of course, there are plenty of attractions for the less than thrill-inclined members of your group.  Perhaps sometime we’ll even devote an entire week to attractions just for them.  This week it’s all about the dips, the dives, the scary climbs, mind-boggling loops, and of course – all the screaming.  Be sure to come back tomorrow for more!

(Photo by respres on Flickr).

Number Seventeen on Forbes’ list of most visited attractions is one of the many theme parks that makes Los Angeles so popular for graduation and senior class trips.  It’s Universal Studios in Hollywood.  It combines all the thrills of a theme park while capitalizing on the LA tourist’s love for all things movies, celebrities, and innovation in film.

In this photo by NightRpStar on Flickr, you can see some of the real-live movie fun you’ll experience on the studio tours. This is one of the Who homes from the set for Jim Carrey’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  You’ll see many sets like this – houses, buildings, and entire streets from some of your favorite films and television shows.

Rides and attractions here let you experience Shrek in 4D, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, Revenge of the Mummy, Jaws, and so many other characters and scenes from your favorites.  If you thought they were exciting on screen, just wait until you find yourself in the midst of the action.

Hollywood Studios is the perfect attraction for this area of the country and one of the favorite theme parks in the nation.  You’ll certainly see why when you experience everything Hollywood and high thrill these studios have to offer.

Still talking about the Forbes Traveler list here – and the 25 most visited attractions in the U.S.  There were just way too many attractions on it perfect for students.  Perhaps, based on the attractions featured, students are some of country’s most frequent travelers.  

This week is all theme parks.  I suppose it’s no surprise that so many exciting attractions made the list.  We don’t get a lot of coaster-riding on the day jobs, and a full day of pleasure and high-thrills usually makes the list when choosing destinations for that next great escape.  Certainly, these choices are perfect for families and students.  Today’s feature is the powerhouse of entertainment:  Disney.  And its parks that made the list can be included in Orlando or Los Angeles student tours.

The Magic Kingdom in Orlando was highest on the list at number Five.  But Disneyland in California was just one spot behind.  Disney has been pleasing visitors since it all began with Cinderella’s castle in California.  Now both parks are a favorite for family vacations, student tours, destination weddings and honeymoons, and every kind of proper escape.  Its classic rides have become American icons.  Its animated characters are beloved around the world, and they come to life in these theme parks both in the rides and attractions as well as the parades and throughout the parks, signing autographs and spreading Disney joy.

The Disney parks are beloved because they have something for everyone – live entertainment, rides for children and adults, snacks, shopping, fascinating exhibits, nostalgic thrills.  They grow all the time with new thrills, and they are surrounded by resorts of the same name so that vacation packages can begin and end with nothing but Disney magic.  

For student tours, the Disney parks offer all the same plus educational opportunities just for students like their Y.E.S. program and thrills just for them as well like their yearly Grad Night extravaganza. 

Come on, you know you wanna.  Don’t let the Small World jokes and Mickey ears burnout stop you from experiencing all that Disney has for people of every age group.  They know they can thrill you, and so do we.  And apparently, most of the country’s population agrees.

(This is a photo of Disney’s nightly fireworks display – a thrilling attraction in and of itself, set to music with amazing precision and timing.  It was taken by d4rr3ll on Flickr.)