FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Marlowe McClasky Futrell (412) 831-6315 or www.napha.org KENNYWOOD, WALT DISNEY WORLD NAMED TOP AMUSEMENT PARKS Lombard, IL – The National Amusement Park Historical Association (NAPHA) released the results of its 26th annual NAPHA Amusement Park and Attractions Survey. The NAPHA survey is the oldest of its type. NAPHA members named Kennywood (West Mifflin, PA) as their Favorite Traditional Amusement Park, while Walt Disney World (Lake Buena Vista, FL) was their Favorite Theme Park. Knoebels Amusement Resort (Elysburg, PA) topped the list as the Best Park for Families, while Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Williamsburg, VA) was cited for the 22nd consecutive year as the Most Beautiful Park. “Throughout its existence, the NAPHA survey has been highly regarded not only to enthusiasts, but to the industry. Many parks feature the results prominently in their marketing and advertising materials,” noted NAPHA’s Survey Coordinator, Marlowe McClasky Futrell. NAPHA members are experienced riders who have visited countless amusement parks and have ridden a diverse assortment of roller coasters and other rides. The average member has been to 101 amusement parks and has ridden more than 300 roller coasters. These NAPHA survey results list some of their favorites. FAVORITE TRADITIONAL PARKS Two Pennsylvania amusement parks, Kennywood (West Mifflin, PA) and Knoebels Amusement Resort (Elysburg, PA), have been neck and neck in the standings since 1996 with each in holding one of the top two positions in this category. This year Kennywood was voted number one, a position it held in 2009 as well as 2008. FAVORITE TRADITIONAL PARKS 1 Kennywood (West Mifflin, PA) 2 Knoebels Amusement Resort (Elysburg, PA) 1 FAVORITE THEME PARKS Walt Disney World has been named NAPHA members’ Favorite Theme Park for ten consecutive years – a full decade. Disneyland (Anaheim, CA) came in second, a position it held last year. Holiday World reappeared in the top three, after skipping a year. FAVORITE THEME PARKS 1 Walt Disney World (Lake Buena Vista, FL) 2 Disneyland (Anaheim, CA) 3 Holiday World (Santa Claus, IN) BEST PARK FOR FAMILIES For the past six years, Knoebels Amusement Resort has finished as one of the top two parks in the category. For the first time, three parks tied for second place, Holiday World, Idlewild (Ligonier, PA) and Walt Disney World. BEST PARK FOR FAMILIES 1 Knoebels Amusement Resort (Elysburg, PA) 2-tie Holiday World (Santa Claus, IN) 2-tie Idlewild and Soak Zone (Ligonier, PA) 2-tie Walt Disney World (Lake Buena Vista, FL) MOST BEAUTIFUL PARK Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA, has been voted the World’s Most Beautiful Amusement Park for twenty-two consecutive years. Walt Disney World was named the second most beautiful, a position it has held since 2005. FAVORITE WOOD ROLLER COASTER The Phoenix, once again was voted by NAPHA members as Favorite Wood Roller Coaster. The Voyage secured the second position. The two wood coasters have been named as either the Favorite or Second Favorite since 2006. FAVORITE WOOD COASTER 1 Phoenix, Knoebels Amusement Resort (Elysburg, PA) 2 Voyage, Holiday World (Santa Claus, IN) FAVORITE STEEL ROLLER COASTER Millennium Force, members’ Favorite Steel Roller Coaster, has been the top ranked or tied for the favorite coaster since 2002. Kennywood’s Phantom’s Revenge grabbed the second spot. FAVORITE STEEL COASTER 1 Millennium Force, Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH) 2 Phantom’s Revenge, Kennywood (West Mifflin, PA) 2 BEST NEW ATTRACTIONS Two rides were named by NAPHA members as the Best New Attractions for 2011 – the Black Diamond, a combination roller coaster and dark ride (Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg, PA) and the Zippin Pippin wood roller coaster (Bay Beach, Green Bay, WI). Last year the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Islands of Adventure, Orlando, FL) and Kennywood’s Sky Rocket shared the honors. Other past winners include: 2009: Diamondback (Kings Island, Kings Island, OH), Manta (Sea World Orlando), and Prowler (Worlds of Fun & Oceans of Fun, Kansas City, MO) 2008: Ravine Flyer II (Waldameer & Water World, Erie, PA) 2007: Maverick (Cedar Point), Mystery Mine (Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, TN), and Renegade (Valleyfair!, Shakepee, MN) 2006: Voyage (Holiday World) 2005: Hades (Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park, Wisconsin Dells, WI). _______ The National Amusement Park Historical Association, founded in 1978, is an international, educational and enthusiast’s organization dedicated to preserving and documenting the heritage of the amusement park industry, past, present and future. For more information about the survey or about NAPHA, please contact Marlowe McClasky Futrell, Survey Coordinator, at (412) 831-6315 or at [email protected], or go to www.napha.org. This study was conducted for NAPHA by MMc Marketing Research, which can be reached at (412) 813-6315, or via email at [email protected]. 3 .