2018 Most Wanted Parks

As always, this isn't my 100%, locked down list of things we'll be doing, nor is it a complete list of every park I'll be visiting in 2018, but it's the parks I'm aiming to conquer this season.

So, without further ado, here's what we'll be getting down to in 2018!

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Kicking things off with Hong Kong Disneyland! Finally getting my butt over to explore some more of Asia, and of course it'd be rude not to poke our heads into the awesome looking Hong Kong Disneyland for a couple of days! Finally I'll get to experience the incredible looking Mystic Manor! Honestly, I'm a little peeved that the castle will likely be covered with scaffolding when we go, meaning I won't get that coveted pic in front of the castle to go along with my others, but I'm sure I can get somebody to photoshop something for me.

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Of course, it'd be rude to visit Hong Kong without making a stop at the majestic looking Ocean Park! Perfect for a unique look at the bustling city and I can't wait to try out some of the cliff-edge coasters that inhabit this park. I'm also a huge animal geek so looking forward to taking the time to check out some of their awesome looking exhibits too!

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Probably one of my most anticipated parks of this entire trip, Ocean Kingdom basically rewrote the book on lavish and extravagant theming. The entrance alone looks ridiculous - a giant Manta Ray adorned with a gigantic screen that gives the illusion that all manner of sea creatures are swimming by as you make your way in. And it doesn't stop once you get inside the park - I am SO excited to jump on their B&M wing coaster Parrot Coaster and obscene looking water coaster complete with walrus mountain. Yep.

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Well, yh. Makes sense to spend a cheeky couple of days at Shanghai Disneyland whilst we're in the neighbourhood to finally complete my set of Disney Resorts, yay! I'll be honest - I'm actually more excited to visit Hong Kong Disney than this park but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't gagged for Pirates and Tron. Oh, and Crystal Grotto. I LOVE cutesy boat rides (I always make a point of riding the one at Disneyland Paris) so I'm pretty stoked to try that out too. And am just intrigued in general to see how different it is from the other resorts.

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We're visiting a whole bunch of parks on our trip out East, and I'd be here all day if I listed every single park we're visiting. But at the top of the 'non-mjaor' chain parks we'll be visiting I'm by far the most excited to finally visit an Oriental Heritage park. Sure, Jungle Trailblazer looks pretty awesome but what I'm interested in are the dark rides. This park has a pretty massive selection of major dark rides, including a different version of the RoboArm type ride you'll be familiar with from the various Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journeys. And it's kind of been dubbed as a bit of an antidote to Disney, being themed to Chinese heritage and stuff so it'll be interesting to see how that stuff has been translated into rides.

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Before we head home from out honeymoon, we're also making a little stop off to the UAE. Ferrari World is at the top of my most wanted parks in this area for two reasons. Number one, Formula Rossa, aka the fastest coaster in the world! After riding this I'll have ridden the tallest, longest, fastest and steepest coasters in the world, and I need that collection in my life. But secondly, Flying Aces, which we've lovingly dubbed 'SandRush'. SkyRush is my number one coaster so I'm excited to give Conor even the slightest taste of what that is like and also interested to see how they compare.

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Similarly to China, we're visiting a buttload of parks in the UAE, but of the other parks Motiongate tops my list of most wanted. Honestly, the coaster selection doesn't really tickle my pickle, but I love me a movie themed park and this one hosts some of my favourite IPs - including a How To Train Your Dragon coasters AND a Hotel Transylvania trackless dark ride (which I absolutely ADORE!) Again, just looking forward to getting stuck in to somewhere new!

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Well yh, of course I'm going to Blackpool this year. In case you've been living under a rock, you'll be well aware of Icon, the awesome looking Mack multi-launch coaster gracing us with its presence in 2018. It's somewhat of a landmark for the park - they haven't built anything of substance really since The Big One in 1994, so I'm excited to see how Icon affects attendance. And having taken a look up close to the construction during our visit back in August I am so ready to experience those near misses and up close interactions as the coaster whizzes around.

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Yh, in a similar vein to the above, if you haven't heard of SW8 then where the heck have you been. The UK are finally getting NEW WOOD, in Alton Towers of all places! From getting up close to the thing back in Scarefest and despite what many an enthusiast has moaned, I think the layout looks super fun - kind of like Joris en de Draak style with fun little pop of airtime and quick whips around the corners and transitions. Plus, come on, NEW WOOD!!

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I actually wasn't planning on Liseberg this year, but since seeing the pics of the track arriving at the park combined with how cheap a trip it usually is, I've decided I need to go. I absolutely adore Dive Machines, they're one of my favourite coaster types, and considering this one is going to be at one of the best parks in Europe you just know it's going to be good. Plus it's an excuse to get back on Helix, so I didn't really need much to convince myself.

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For some reason B&Ms in Europe seem to be like busses, you wait ages for a new one then two come along at once! Currently this one is a little bit up in the air - I still don't fully believe that Fenix will open in 2018, or that the new area will be done in time, but if it just so happens that it does get finished then I'll be on the first plane out there to try it for myself. I love Toverland and I've been visiting since 2009, it's been amazing watching a park develop and grow in such a way as this, and I'll be there to support them all along the way!

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Finally, I'm heading out to Orlando in September to take in the parks in their Halloween best! We're hitting up all the major and minor parks in the Orlando and Kissimmee area as well as Busch Gardens, as well as all the major Halloween events and water parks. This trip has been a long time coming - I've visited Orlando many times but I've never had the chance to take in the Halloween events until now and I am SO BLOODY EXCITED. My favourite time of year, in my favourite place with my favourite people? Hell yes.

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Visiting Phantasialand and Efteling over Christmas this year has given me the bug, and I need to head out to more parks to see them all dolled up for Christmas. Makes sense then to head to Europa Park given what a huge Christmas event they put on. Again, this is one of those things that is entirely dependent upon what our bank balances are looking like towards the end of the year but I would absolutely love to get another theme park Christmas event under my belt. Plus, it's been a while since I've enjoyed a visit to Europa Park, so I still haven't experienced Voletarium - something I'm really excited to try out.

...and breathe! 2018 is going to be absolutely stacked for me but I absolutely cannot wait to get stuck in, explore some more of the world and expand my coaster portfolio!

What plans do you have for 2018? What parks are you most excited to visit this season? Leave me a comment on Facebook or Twitter, I'd love to have a chat!