The idea of creating in the real world, a world in which to materialize castles, roads, trees and animals that have always populate fairy tales and imagination of young and adult people, born from the genius of Walt Disney, in the fifties, in California, with the opening of the famous Disneyland Park.

The idea of Disney is to give shape and substance to the dreamsand to the imaginary, to create a container of classic games and attraction, already present in the classic amusement park, and to make it a fantastic place, where every visitor can estrange from reality and live a little bit of magic.

In 1971, in Florida the great Walt Disney World Resort opens and also in Europe, business men begin to replicate the success of the concept of amusement park dedicated to a wider target. In fact, until the seventies European parks were designed to amuse and attract only children: the first park in Italy, in 1963 was a wildlife park, Città della Domenica in Perugia, then Cavallino Matto Park in Donoratico, in Tuscany, Edenlandia in Napoli (1964) and Fiabilandia in Rimini (1965).

With the economic boom and mass tourism born Gardaland in Italy (1975), Europa Park in Germany and Alton Towers in England (1975). The play structures are more articulate, in response to the success and the demand of new and strong emotions, they are enriched year by year, even today, with new attractions, entertainment and technology.
Do not forget, another American invention, all focused on two elements, the fun and the water: the water park.

In Italy, the number of water parks constant increases as technological innovations. By now, the categorization of amusement parks gets refined: theme parks, educational parks, water parks, adventure parks and of course attractions and fun for adults and children. Even the competition from neighboring countries, in Italy there are some great fun parks: Riviera Parks, in Emilia Romagna, which groups Aquafan, Oltremare, Imax, Le Navi Aquarium, Italia in Miniatura and Mirabilandia; Parchi del Garda, with Gardaland, Canevaworld, Parco Natura Viva, Medieval Times, Jungle Adventure; Aqualand del Vasto, Acquapark Odyssey 2000 ….

Tourism also has noticed the increased interest by the public and so proposes customized packages, conventions and special rates for family holidays. The latest trend of theme parks are the adventure parks, where the adrenaline comes out from the challenge with the height, balance, courage and ability to move, in a context far from technology and device, plunged in natural parks and woods!

source: Article written by Lisa Guerrini (www.articlecity.com)