Daily Star experts name fave theme parks and give advice for Universal Studios (2025)

DAILY STAR SAYS: As ever, Daily Star Towers has become weirdly animated at the chance of debate as they reminisce about Kent fair, piers and rides that make teeth fall out

HollyWood, Orlando, Osaka, Beijing, Bedford. Five big-hitters in the theme park world, all the lucky (or unlucky, depending on your point of view) recipients of a Universal Studios.

Of course, the new Kempston Hardwick site will be far from the only theme park out therewith many people having grown up regularly visiting their local back-of-the-trading estate rollercoaster.

It’s certainly the one in the headlines right now, but which is the best?

As ever, Daily Star Towers has become weirdly animated at the chance of debate, with, stuffed teddies left over from long-extinguished summer romances being flung across the news desk in anger at one unnamed writer, who said they thought theme parks were ‘for children and idiots.’

Here’s a rundown of some of the best points.

Who do you agree with and who do you think is off the money? Let us know in the comments.

Andrew Gilpin – Deputy-Editor-in-Chief – Ferrari World, Yas Island

Imagine a ride so fast the cap on your tooth falls out. Well I don't have to. This happened to me at Ferrari World on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi one hot (very hot) morning.

The ride in question was the Formula Rossa which takes you to 149.1290861mph in 4.9 seconds. The tooth in question was my left incisor. And no, travel insurance doesn't help you there.

Was it worth it? Hell yeah. The countdown to the ride rocketing off is truly terrifying - made worse by the fact that I was in the front row. Put it this way, it's so fast you have to wear goggles.

The entire Ferrari World was an adrenalin junkies dream - and because it was Abu Dhabi there were zero queues. Will this be the same in Bedford? Well weather and queues aside, er, probably not. But it's in Bedford, home of the world's first tractor, not 4,313 miles away. So swings and roundabouts really.

PS. The Flying Aces ride was vomit-inducing. I have truly never been as ill as I have after that ride.

Tom McGhie – Reporter – Canterbury Fair

I'm sworn against theme parks, after an evening spent at a local fair in my Canterbury hometown yielded sickness. I was 9 years old at the time, and the feeling of nausea that is induced by spinning round in a circle - married to an overindulgence in chocolate cake - meant that I had to 'retire hurt' from the ride.

The tragic affair was watched from the sidelines by my childhood crush, and safe to say we're no longer together.

So no - I will not be riding the Jurassic Park Velocicoaster.

Kelly Williams – Assistant News Editor and theme park evangelist – Universal Orlando (buzzing, presumably)

My earliest memory of a theme park was Gulliver's World in Warrington, where, in my excitement, I ran to get into a little boat and fell face first into the water in front of a queue of people. A man in big wellies had to fish me out but did that put me off? No.

If anything, it was where my love of theme parks was born. Fast forward to my teenage years and a school trip to Alton Towers saw us hit the unassuming log flume - sponsored by Imperial Leather (the soap). There we were sailing along, listening to the cute sounds of the ducks quacking.

That was until the log entered a dark and scary cabin where the quacking got more sinister and out popped the scariest-looking duck you've ever seen.

Yes, it freaked me out and gave me nightmares and yes I almost ended up in the water (again). But it's one of my funniest memories looking back. Though the ride has since been removed, the scary duck lives on in Alton Towers' Haunted Hollow.

Over the years, my love of theme parks has taken me to Disneyworld and Universal in Orlando, Florida.

From The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Tron and Tower of Terror, America does things on another level. It makes Alton Towers look like the teacups. Now I've got kids, I've been rollercoaster training them from an early age - ignoring their cries as we queued for Blackpool's Big One the minute they were old enough to ride it.

Now I can proudly say they've evolved into hardcore theme park fans ready to fearlessly take on the biggest and fastest rides, so when Bedord's Universal opens, we'll definitely be the first in the queue.

Ruby Naldrett – Assistant editor (social) – Brighton Pier (not really)

As with all of these questions, I never have a normal answer. As a child, my mum had to get the ride operator at Brighton Pier to stop the ride so that I could get off because I wouldn't stop crying. On a school trip to Chessington World of Adventures, I got heart palpitations on the Bubble Works and spent the rest of the day standing at the bottom of the rides holding everyone's coats while they went and enjoyed themselves.

Ashley Pemberton – News Reporter – Anything in the North West

Gulliver’s world, Warrington, and Blackpool pleasure beach. As with everything, the north west is best.

Lloyd Coombes – gaming writer – Disneyland Paris

Literally just got back from Disneyland Paris (haven't been to Florida) and it was the happiest place in the world. Queues were a nightmare though (and not even in school holidays), but cramming my 6 ft 5 frame into the teacups with my son at least gave everyone something to enjoy

Josh Whorms – Apprentice Content Creator – Chessington World of Adventures' Blue Barnacle ride

I have a complex relationship with theme parks. My first conscious memory was aboard Chessington World of Adventures' Blue Barnacle ride in the early 2000s.

Poor little three-year-old Josh was brutally hurled into consciousness mid-ride as his body was rag-dolled around by force of the swinging ship.

I don't completely remember what happened before, or after the traumatic event. But the horror has clearly lingered with me for the rest of my life and makes for a rather unsettling first memory.

On reflection, I have no clue why I was allowed to go on the ride at the measly age of three but I remember leaving a terrified toddler.