Theme Park Insider Awards
January 1, 2023 - The readers of ThemeParkInsider.com each year honor the world's best in theme parks. Based on reader nominations and final-round voting, this year's winners are:
- Best New Attraction: Guardians of the Galaxy - Cosmic Rewind, Epcot
- Best Halloween Event: Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida
- Best Holiday Event: Holidays at the Disneyland Resort
- Insider of the Year : Bob Weis, Walt Disney Imagineering
- Best Hotel: Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge at the Walt Disney World Resort
- Best Restaurant: Blue Bayou, Disneyland
- Best Show: Fantasmic!, Disneyland
- Best Roller Coaster: Jurassic World VelociCoaster, Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure
- Best Attraction: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Disneyland, Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Best Theme Park: Tokyo DisneySea
Here are the previous winners of the Theme Park Insider Awards:
2022
- Insider of the Year: Universal Parks & Resorts Chairman Tom Williams
- Best Halloween Event: Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida
- Best Holiday Event: Holidays at Universal Orlando
- Best Hotel: Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge at the Walt Disney World Resort
- Best Restaurant: Mythos at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure
- Best Show: Untrainable at Universal Studios Beijing
- Best Roller Coaster: Jurassic World VelociCoaster at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure
- Best New Attraction: Jurassic World VelociCoaster at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure
- Best Attraction: Disney's Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- Best Theme Park: Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure
2021
- Best Theme Park: Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure
- Best New Attraction: Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway at Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Best Attraction: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Best Roller Coaster: Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Universal's Islands of Adventure
- Best Show: Fantasmic! at Disneyland
- Best Restaurant: Mythos Restaurant at Universal's Islands of Adventure
- Best Hotel: Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge at Walt Disney World
2020
- Best Theme Park: Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure
- Best Attraction: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Best New Attraction: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Best New Roller Coaster: Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Universal's Islands of Adventure
- Best Table Service Restaurant: Mythos Restaurant at Universal's Islands of Adventure
- Best Quick Service Restaurant: The Leaky Cauldron at Universal Studios Florida
- Best Luxury Hotel: Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort
- Best Moderate or Budget Hotel: Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort at Universal Orlando Resort
2019
- Best theme park: Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi
- Best themed ride: Pirates of the Caribbean Battle of the Sunken Treasure at Shanghai Disneyland
- Best roller coaster: Steel Vengeance at Cedar Point
- Best show: Fantasmic! at Disneyland (also runs at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Tokyo DisneySea)
- Best quick-service Restaurant: Satu'li Canteen at Disney's Animal Kingdom
- Best table-service Restaurant: Mythos Restaurant at Universal's Islands of Adventure
- Best value or moderate hotel: Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort at Universal Orlando Resort
- Best deluxe hotel: Disney's Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World Resort
2018
- Best theme park: Efteling
- Best new attraction: Steel Vengeance at Cedar Point
- Best new dark ride: Symbolica at Efteling
- Best quick-service restaurant: The Three Broomsticks at Universal Studios Hollywood
- Best full-service restaurant: Tiffins at Disney's Animal Kingdom
- Best hotel: Universal's Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort
2017
- Best theme park: Efteling
- Best new theme park: Volcano Bay
- Best new attraction: Flight of Passage at Disney's Animal Kingdom
- Best new coaster: Krakatau Aqua Coaster at Volcano Bay
- Best new show: Mickey and the Magician at Walt Disney Studios Paris
- Best quick-service restaurant: The Three Broomsticks at Universal Studios Hollywood
- Best full-service restaurant: Tiffins at Disney's Animal Kingdom
- Best hotel restaurant: Victoria and Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Walt Disney World
- Best hotel: Universal's Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort
2016
- Best theme park: Tokyo DisneySea
- Best new attraction: Pirates of the Caribbean Battle for the Sunken Treasure at Shanghai Disneyland
- Best new show: Frozen Live at the Hyperion at Disney California Adventure
- Best new roller coaster: Mako at SeaWorld Orlando
- Best quick-service restaurant: The Three Broomsticks at Universal Studios Hollywood
- Best full-service restaurant: Magellan's at Tokyo DisneySea
- Best hotel restaurant: Victoria and Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Walt Disney World
- Best hotel: Universal's Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort
2015
- Best theme park: Tokyo DisneySea
- Best new attraction: Justice League Battle for Metropolis at Six Flags Over Texas and Six Flags St. Louis
- Best new family attraction (no height restriction): Hogwarts Express at Universal Orlando
- Best new roller coaster: Thunderbird at Holiday World
- Best themed ride: Journey to the Center of the Earth at Tokyo DisneySea
- Best roller coaster: El Toro at Six Flags Great Adventure
- Best show: Aladdin at Disney California Adventure
- Best full-service restaurant: Monsieur Paul at Epcot
- Best quick-service restaurant: The Leaky Cauldron at Universal Studios Florida
- Best hotel restaurant: Victoria and Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Walt Disney World
- Best hotel: Universal's Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort
2014
- Best theme park: Tokyo DisneySea
- Best new attraction: Banshee at Kings Island
- Best themed ride: Journey to the Center of the Earth at Tokyo DisneySea
- Best roller coaster: El Toro at Six Flags Great Adventure
- Best show: Fantasmic! at Disneyland
- Best full-service restaurant: S.S. Columbia Dining Room, Tokyo DisneySea
- Best quick-service restaurant: Miss Lillian's Chicken House at Dollywood
- Best hotel: Universal's Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort
2013
- Best theme park: Tokyo DisneySea
- Best new attraction: Mystic Manor at Hong Kong Disneyland
- Best theme park restaurant: S.S. Columbia Dining Room, Tokyo DisneySea
- Best theme park hotel: Universal's Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort
2012
- Best theme park: Tokyo DisneySea
- Best new attraction: Transformers: The Ride at Universal Studios Singapore and Universal Studios Hollywood
- Best theme park restaurant: Bistro De Paris, Epcot
- Best theme park hotel: Disney's Grand Californian Hotel at Disneyland Resort
2011
- Best theme park: Universal's Islands of Adventure
- Best new attraction: Star Tours: The Adventures Continue at Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Best theme park restaurant: Bistro De Paris, Epcot
- Best theme park hotel: Disney's Grand Californian Hotel at Disneyland Resort
2010
- Best theme park: Universal's Islands of Adventure
- Best new attraction: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Universal's Islands of Adventure
- Best theme park restaurant: Bistro De Paris, Epcot
- Best theme park hotel: Disney's Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World
2009
- Best theme park: Disneyland Park
- Best new attraction: Manta at SeaWorld Orlando
- Best theme park restaurant: Les Chefs de France, Epcot
- Best theme park hotel: Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando
2008
- Best theme park: Disneyland Park
- Best new attraction: The Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood
- Best theme park restaurant: Mythos Restaurant at Universal's Islands of Adventure
- Best theme park hotel: Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge at Walt Disney World
2007
- Best theme park: Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg, Virginia
- Best new theme park attraction: Mystery Mine at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
- Best theme park restaurant: Mythos Restaurant at Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida
- Best theme park hotel: Disney's Polynesian Resort at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida
2006
- Best theme park: Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg, Virginia
- Best new theme park attraction: Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Florida
- Best theme park restaurant: Mythos Restaurant at Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida
- Best theme park hotel: Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida
2005
- Best theme park: Tokyo DisneySea
- Best theme park for kids: Legoland California
- Best attraction: The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, Universal's Islands of Adventure
- Best new attraction: Curse of DarKastle, Busch Gardens Williamsburg
- Best restaurant: Mythos Restaurant, Universal's Islands of Adventure
- Best hotel: Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Walt Disney World
2004
- Best theme park: Universal's Islands of Adventure
- Best theme park for kids: Legoland California
- Best attraction: The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, Universal's Islands of Adventure
- Best new attraction: Revenge of the Mummy, Universal Studios Florida
- Best family attraction: Festival of the Lion King, Disney's Animal Kingdom
- Best restaurant: Mythos Restaurant, Universal's Islands of Adventure
- Best hotel: Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, Disneyland Resort
2003
- Best theme park: Universal's Islands of Adventure
- Best theme park for kids: Legoland California
- Best attraction: The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, Universal's Islands of Adventure
- Best roller coaster: Incredible Hulk Coaster, Universal's Islands of Adventure
- Best restaurant: Mythos Restaurant, Universal's Islands of Adventure
- Best hotel: Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, Disneyland Resort
2002
- Best theme park: Universal's Islands of Adventure
- Best attraction: The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, Universal's Islands of Adventure
- Best attraction for kids: Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom
- Best restaurant: Blue Bayou Restaurant, Disneyland
- Best hotel: Universal's Portofino Bay Hotel, Universal Orlando
