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Southern Living, Jul 2002 by Thompson, Annette

Park It on the Web

Splurge this summer with a trip to one of the South's major theme parks. Save your valuable vacation time by logging on to a park's Web site before you set out. With a plan in hand, you can focus on more merriment and laughter.

Go to www.themeparkinsider.com for an overview. This independent

Web resource provides objective reports and details to help plan a trip to any of the world's major amusement destinations. When you can't decide where to go for your vacation, let this site's rankings help you choose. They are listed by suitability for adults, children, and toddlers. The editors also give information about parks and individual attractions that may not be worth your time. Also, look to this site for nearby hotel ratings by style and budget.

Before you leave home, check out these theme park Web sites to help you plan your adventure.

The Mouse Pads

The official Walt Disney World Web site, www.disneyworld.com, puts everything about Orlando's most visited attraction at the click of your mouse. Drop in here to view restaurants, special attractions, prices and packages, ride restrictions, and maps of each theme park.

Next, scurry to a couple of nonDisney-affiliated sites for more objective tips and directions. The best known, www.laughingplace.com, links to hundreds of other sites to answer vacation questions. We're enchanted by avid Disneyphile Mary Waring's www.mousesavers.com, which offers park-goers tips on smart budgeting in Orlando.

For a head start at uncovering the different images of Mickey Mouse lurking in the park's architecture, track down www.hiddenmickeys.org.

Coasting Away

If you claim a case of coaster mania, imagine all the thrills and squeals at the Roller Coaster Data Base. Access www.rcdb.com to get the fast facts on the best keep-your-hands-in-theair rides. Type in a search by theme park or locale to learn a coaster's vital statistics, including height, length, and speed.

Park Megasites

When your plans take you to any of the other major amusement venues, it's worth your time to visit the official Web sites for each one.

Any theme park in the Busch family can be linked from www.4adventure. com. Or simply go directly to www.buschgardens. com for the Tampa and Williamsburg, Virginia, facilities. Educate yourself about programs that introduce you to whales, dolphins, and penguins at SeaWorld in Orlando and San Antonio at www.seaworld.com. Then venture over to the Busch family's newest venue, Discovery Cove, at www.discoverycove. com to plan your own dolphin swim.

Universal Orlando makes surfing easy with one Web site for both of its parks-Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. The park maps, lodging deals, and CityWalk entertainment details are available at www.universalstudios.com.

All the Six Flags family parks are linked to the main address, www.six flags.com. There you'll find Six Flags Over Georgia in Atlanta; Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville; Six Flags America near Washington, D.C.; Six Flags St. Louis; Six Flags Over Texas near Dallas; AstroWorld in Houston; and many more.

Paramount's theme parks each have an individual Web listing. Go to www.carowinds.com for Carowinds in Charlotte, or visit www.kings dominion.com for Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia.

ANNETTE THOMPSON

One-of-a-Kind Parks

Take a look at www.dollywood.com, the site for the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, park that features country music and down-home fun. March to star-spangled entertainment at www.libertyland.com, the site for Memphis' small theme park. Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, shines at www.silverdollarcity.com, while Kansas City, Missouri's Worlds of Fun is at www.worldsoffun.com.

Go to www.cypressgardens.com, www.lioncountrysafari.com, or www.silversprings.com to check out some of Florida's most timehonored and newfangled parks.