It’s a disgrace there have by no means been any particularly LGBTQ+ theme parks on the earth… nicely, until you rely the ill-fated “Homosexual World” of Singapore again in 1937—however I don’t suppose that’s what they meant by “homosexual” on the time. Nevertheless, most theme parks boldly declare to be welcoming to all, no matter sexuality or gender id, with some going that further step in terms of being inclusive and supportive of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood.
‘Homosexual Days,’ Satisfaction marches, and inclusive insurance policies push a few of these theme parks forward of the pack. So, fasten these bars—you knew that metaphor was coming—as we go to probably the most LGBTQ-friendly theme parks on the earth.
Disneyland Paris and Disney World
Any checklist of theme parks in any context can be remiss to not point out Disney—and let’s be actual, the gays love Disney. The rides are, in fact, iconic, such because the indoor curler coaster Area Mountain, the Pirates of the Caribbean boat journey, and points of interest related to any Disney movie or character you possibly can identify, from Mickey Mouse to Frozen.
Disney has confronted controversy lately relating to how a lot they really assist the LGBTQ+ neighborhood. Information that Disney has donated to legislators backing anti-gay payments and reduce queer content material from motion pictures has considerably tainted their popularity. On the flip aspect, homosexual characters are slowly starting to seem of their movies, with characters like LeFou in Magnificence and the Beast, Artie in Cruella, and The Valkyrie in Marvel.
The query is: the place do their amusement parks stand in all this? Fortunately, they’re recognized for selling inclusiveness and variety, although some parks are extra outspoken of their assist than others. Essentially the most supportive is Disneyland Paris. Nearly all Disney parks host ‘Homosexual Days’—every week in early June when Disney-loving LGBTQ+ guests flock to the parks, heartwarmingly reclaiming a childhood misplaced to homophobia. Nevertheless, these occasions are organized externally and aren’t an official a part of the parks. Disneyland Paris goes additional than its worldwide counterparts by internet hosting its personal Satisfaction celebration, ‘Magical Satisfaction,’ which features a parade, reside live performance, and points of interest open till 2 a.m. They’ve additionally been probably the most outspoken in brazenly supporting the LGBTQ+ neighborhood.
Disney World in Orlando has been barely quieter about their occasions, regardless of being the origin of Homosexual Days and constantly displaying Satisfaction merchandise throughout Satisfaction month. Pink Mickey Mouse ears apart, they’ve additionally made it clear that they stand with the LGBTQ+ neighborhood in Florida by getting concerned in a public feud with the state over the “Do not Say Homosexual” invoice. Lastly, though not formally affiliated with Disney, ‘One Magical Weekend’ coincides with Disney World’s Homosexual Days—a circuit occasion the place homosexual males from all over the world go to Orlando for a weekend of partying, together with a Friday evening occasion at Disney’s Storm Lagoon.
PortAventura World (Spain)
Spain is without doubt one of the most gay-friendly international locations on the earth, and PortAventura is situated within the Catalonian area—house to the undeniably homosexual vacation hotspots of Barcelona and Sitges. Throughout the board, the Spanish theme park has obtained constructive suggestions for being inclusive and various, each in its hiring practices and occasions. PortAventura hosts its personal Satisfaction Evening annually from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.—a singular occasion the place the most effective rides keep open late, and there are themed exhibits, gay-focused leisure (like drag exhibits), and a DJ.
At PortAventura, you get entry to 3 parks: PortAventura Park, Caribe Aquatic Park, and Ferrari Land—sure, a theme park about Ferraris. Moreover, it boasts a number of the most memorable rides on the earth, together with the legendary Dragon Khan curler coaster, which passes by means of a staggering eight loops in—appropriately sufficient—69 seconds.
Tivoli Gardens (Denmark)
Tivoli in Copenhagen is the progressive grandad of theme parks, being the second oldest on the earth—after Bakken (additionally in Denmark). The old-school amusement park has managed to keep up its traditional appeal whereas incorporating trendy parts to maintain its guests entertained. It additionally options some thrilling rides, starting from classical carousels and a wood curler coaster to the 63-meter-high freefalling Golden Tower. Legend has it the park impressed Walt Disney himself to create Disneyland.
Don’t let the normal setting idiot you; Denmark is understood for its LGBTQ+ pleasant insurance policies, and Tivoli Gardens isn’t any exception. It’s not an unusual date spot for homosexual {couples}, and the park has held gay-themed days. Fairytale-like homosexual weddings have even been hosted alongside its adjoining lake.
Efteling (The Netherlands)
Let’s face it, fairytales are a little bit bit camp by nature, and Efteling Park within the Netherlands takes the theme and runs with it. The fantasy-themed amusement park is twice the scale of the unique Disneyland however has a darker fashion, drawing inspiration from historic myths and legends, in addition to conventional fairytales and considerably sinister folklore. The park’s highlights embrace The Flying Dutchman—a mix indoor curler coaster and water coaster—and the Steampunk curler coaster, which plunges 123 toes right into a mineshaft. Efteling has additionally obtained reward for its inclusive insurance policies and assist for LGBTQ+ occasions, with dress-in-red Homosexual Days receiving full assist from the park and even that includes points of interest associated to it—like dancing pink slippers.
Europa Park (Germany)
The third most visited amusement park in Europe, Europa Park in Rust, Germany, has a European theme. The park is split into areas designed to signify international locations of the continent, that includes replicas of 18 European monuments. Europa Park is very well-known for its curler coasters, which embrace Silver Star—a “hypercoaster” with a drop of 67 meters—and Euro-Mir, a curler coaster with rotating gondolas. Moreover, it has an adjoining water park, Rulantica, providing a wide range of water points of interest, slides, and themed experiences.
Like a lot of Western Europe, the park is extraordinarily gay-friendly. Europa Park has an unofficial GayRedDay annually, impressed by the Homosexual Days of Orlando’s Disney World. Nevertheless, it’s value noting that the occasion isn’t formally acknowledged by the park… but.
Common Studios (Hollywood)
Looping the loop again to the U.S., Common Studios Hollywood is a world-renowned movie studio and theme park situated within the San Fernando Valley space of Los Angeles, California. It is without doubt one of the oldest and most well-known Hollywood movie studios and has been a preferred vacationer vacation spot because it opened to the general public in 1964. All their rides are based mostly on well-liked motion pictures and TV exhibits, with notable points of interest together with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Jurassic World – The Experience, Transformers: The Experience 3D, and The Simpsons Experience. You can even take a tram journey by means of the studio for a behind-the-scenes take a look at varied movie and tv manufacturing units, with encounters that includes particular results, animatronics, and iconic movie places.
Common Studios is extraordinarily inclusive and welcoming. They’ve participated in LGBTQ+ occasions and sometimes characteristic various LGBTQ+ characters and themes of their points of interest. Like Disneyland Paris, it hosts an official themed Satisfaction evening—in contrast to wherever else within the States—throughout which Common Studios Hollywood works with LA Satisfaction for ‘Satisfaction is Common’—an evening of late-night points of interest, vibrant drag exhibits that includes native expertise, meet and greets with queer characters, DJs, and loads of ingesting. The long-lasting entrance arch even lights up with a rainbow at evening!
Theme parks convey out the internal baby in all of us, and if anybody deserves a little bit childlike enjoyable, it’s the LGBTQ+ neighborhood. So, push these bars down and get driving!