Amusement Today’s The Golden Ticket Awards are presented annually to honor the “Best of the Best” in the amusement industry and are calculated from an international poll. The asks experienced amusement park voters around the country and world to rate the “bests” in 23 categories. Congrats to all the winners!
| CATEGORY | WINNER |
| Best Amusement Park | Europa-Park, Rust, Germany |
| Best Water Park | Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort, New Braunfels, Texas |
| Best Children’s Park | Idlewild & SoakZone, Ligonier, Pa. |
| Best Marine Life Park | SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, Fla. |
| Best Seaside Park | Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, Calif. |
| Best Wooden Coaster | Phoenix at Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg, Pa. |
| Best Steel Coaster | Fury 325, Carowinds, Charlotte, N.C. |
| Best Kids’ Area | Kings Island, Kings Mills, Ohio |
| Friendliest Park | Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tenn. |
| Cleanest Park | Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, Santa Claus, Ind. |
| Best Halloween Event | Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando, Orlando, Fla. |
| Best Landscaping | Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Va. |
| Best Christmas Event | Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tenn. |
| Best Food | Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg, Pa. |
| Best Shows | Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tenn. |
| Best Water Ride | Valhalla at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, Lancashire, England |
| Best Water Park Ride | Wildebeest at Splashin’ Safari, Santa Claus, Ind. |
| Best Dark Ride | Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Orlando, Fla. |
| Best New Ride of 2018 – Amusement Park | Steel Vengeance, Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio |
| Best New Ride of 2018 – Water Park | Ray Rush at Aquatica in Orlando, Fla. |
| Best Carousel | Grand Carousel at Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg, Pa. |
| Best Indoor Roller Coaster | Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Studios Orlando, Orlando, Fla. |
| Best Funhouse/Walk-Through Attraction | Noah’s Ark at Kennywood, West Mifflin, Pa. |
