With the yearly price hike at Disney resorts, single-day tickets now jump over the $100 mark for adults. For many families, it has become more of a strain to enjoy the all-encompasing theme park experience.
The convenience of a one-stop option that transports you to another world of excitement and imagination is a strong pull for families of all ages and sizes.
The mouse is not the only player on the block when it comes to immersive thrill ride vacations. 2015 saw the addition of several new parks to the mix that realize the draw and desire for the stay-and-play style resorts, appealing to and fostering the growing trend of multigenerational family travel.
Try these options the next time you plan a theme park getaway.
Dollywood and Dollywood's DreamMore Resort, Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
Approximately 3hrs and 45 minutes drive from Atlanta
Now taking reservations, Dollywood's DreamMore Resort will be completing the immersive experience with their own themed, on-site accommodations. Here the mood is all about the simple serenity of the surrounding Great Smoky Mountains.
Front porch swings, hammocks and s'mores by the firepit- these are the elements that will predominate and serve to set the stage for intentional family moments and the opportunity to just slow down and dream.....DreamMore!
Resort guests will receive front of the line access, complimentary resort shuttles, special early entry times, dedicated entrances, and other perks available only to resort guests. The theme park has already laid the foundations upon which the resort concept will build.
For the last three years in a row, Dollywood has been voted the "Friendliest Theme Park" by Amusement Today. The park, now in its 30th year, has built itself as a legacy park. Having visited with their grandparents, guests now bring their own children to this environment that truly caters to every age, making it the model for multigenerational theme park travel.
Carowinds, Charlotte, N.C.
Approximately 3hrs and 35 minutes drive from Atlanta
Dubbed the "thrill capital of the Southeast," Carowinds has added the world's tallest and fastest giga coaster to the roster of rides. They now boast two of the 10 tallest rollercoasters in North America.
It's not all about the extreme. Special events such as their Taste of the Carolinas and SCarowinds' Halloween Haunt are planned each year to draw crowds. Boomerang Bay waterpark is also included in your park admission.
The Camp Wilderness Resort sits adjacent to the park and includes lodging options such as tent camping, cabin rental, and even a 4-bedroom executive lodge.
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Busch Gardens and Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Va.
Catch a 2-hour flight from ATL to PHF
Animals, roller coasters and even a waterpark. Purchasing Busch Gardens' Fun Card allows you to enjoy unlimited visits for roughly the same, or less, than a single-day admission to Disney. Busch Gardens Williamsburg even hosts a food and wine festival on weekends from late-May to late-June.
For down days from the park atmosphere, there is a whole other world right at your fingertips. Colonial Williamsburg offers you the chance to live like a colonist. Museums and hands-on exhibits make this Revolutionary City come to life.
Take in a day of shopping, golfing, or time at the spa. Lodging options run the gamut from adjacent resorts to historic hotels, and everything in between.
Read more: How to spend a weekend in Williamsburg, Va.
LEGOLAND Florida Resort, Winterhaven, Fla.
1.5 hour flight from ATL to MCO
Situated about halfway between Orlando and Tampa, LEGOLAND Florida Resort is easily accessible from either city's airport. With the addition of the new LEGOLAND Hotel, which opened in May 2015, LEGOLAND Resort is becoming a destination unto itself.
Built around what used to be Cypress Gardens, this theme park is the serene cousin to a family of more exuberant parks in the neighboring Orlando/Kissimmee area. Not to be underestimated, this park can still deliver on thrills. Its approachable horticultural backdrop is a perfect compliment to rides that, on the whole, are less intimidating to families with younger children.
Read more: Atlanta's Legoland offers something for everyone
Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites - Waterpark, Orlando, Fla.
1.5 hour flight from ATL to MCO
For a water park complete with flumes and slides, this hotel can't be beat. A perfect answer for families looking to have a theme park feel, without having to leave their lodging. Originally called the Nickelodeon Hotel, this hotel near Walt Disney World has been renovated and rebranded in 2016 as the Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites.
Perfectly adapted for on-site enjoyment, room options range from 1- to 3-bedroom suites. Complete with kitchens and dining area, family convenience is the name of the game here.
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