Twitter has evolved into an essential platform for those hoping to keep up with the latest news and developments from theme parks all over the world. For the last few months, we’ve been picking out 5 Twitter accounts every week that every theme park fan should follow. Now, we’ve collated them into the essential list below (which is also available as a Twitter list).
Don’t forget, you can follow Theme Park Tourist via @ThemeParkNews and @ThemeParkOffers.
1. @latimesfunland (LA Times Funland)
Brady MacDonald runs the Funland blog over at the LA Times, and for our money, he also runs the best theme park Twitter account that there is. Naturally, Brady’s own posts focus on California-area theme parks (and he frequently breaks news first), but the real bonus from following his Twitter feed is the sheer number of updates he posts from other sites. Even if you followed nobody but Brady, you’d get a great overall view of everything that’s going on in the theme park industry.
2. @themepark (Theme Park Insider)
Robert Niles’ Theme Park Insider is one of the longest-running theme park websites on the ‘net for a reason. This is the site that broke the news of Universal Orlando’s Diagon Alley expansion, along with a host of other exclusives – and you can’t afford not to follow it.
3. @ImagineeringDis (Imagineering Disney)
Are you the type of person who can’t ride Disney’s Haunted Mansion without wondering how the special effects work? Then the Imagineering Disney blog is an essential read, providing detailed background on how rides at parks such as the Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Disneyland were put together.
4. @AttractionsOOTL (Out of the Loop)
We’re huge fans of Orlando Attractions Magazine, one of very few print magazines remaining that serve theme park fans. Obviously, the magazine is focused solely on Orlando news. Andy Guinigundo, though, does a great job of keeping fans up-to-date with news from theme parks elsewhere via his excellent “Out of the Loop” Twitter feed.
5. @FloridaThrills (Florida Thrills)
For fans of Orlando’s theme parks, you’ll find excellent photo updates from Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa and LEGOLAND Florida over at Florida Thrills.
6. @DIBBCast (theDIBB Podcast)
Every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists fly from the UK to Florida, with most of them descending upon Walt Disney World. theDIBB Podcast serves UK Disney fans, not only with its excellent audio offerings but also with its Twitter feed, which keeps them up-to-date on the latest developments at the resort.
7. ParkScope (ParkScope)
How do you stand out in a world where there are already hundreds of theme park news websites? It helps if you have a knack for outstanding investigative work and turning up exclusive scoops. ParkScope is a relatively young site with a burgeoning reputation.
8. @ClubWDW (ClubWDW)
With a presence on just about every social network going, ClubWDW does a great job of rounding-up all of the latest news from the Walt Disney World resort.
9. @thethemeparkguy (The Theme Park Guy)
Stefan Swanzger has set himself a simple, but hugely ambitious challenge: to visit every theme park in the world. Known, appropriately, as The Theme Park Guy, he has built up both a stunning store of photos and a thriving community on his website.
10. @Parkscout_com (Park Scout)
The English-language version of a huge German website, Park Scout offers regular updates from theme parks all over the world. The ParkScout.com website also offers detailed listings of amusement parks, zoos and other attactions.
11. @ThemeParkFoodie (Theme Park Foodie)
The quality of food in theme parks is one aspect of a visit that is often overlooked, so it’s great to see the Theme Park Foodie blog focusing on just that. It’s been a little quiet recently, but further updates are promised. Watch this space.
12. @InsideDLParis (Inside Disneyland Paris)
Disneyland Paris is one of Disney’s most beautiful parks, combining the company’s classic fairytale look with European-style architecture. That makes the daily photo updates from Inside Disneyland Paris well worth keeping an eye on.
13. @DisZine (DisZine)
Twitter updates have bit a bit thin on the ground recently, but it’s worth keeping an eye on the excellent DisZine for regular updates on Disney theme parks all over the world.
14. @AirgatesUK (Airgates UK)
For UK theme park fans, Airgates UK offers regular updates from the likes of Alton Towers, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Thorpe Park and dozens of smaller parks.
15. @OrlandoInformer (Orlando Informer)
Former Universal Orlando employee Dan Hatfield built a successful business by selling his knowledge of the resort to guests over at Orlando Informer.Even better, it’s now completely free…and it’s well worth keeping an eye on his Twitter feed for the latest updates.
16. @RideRater (Ride Rater)
If you’re based in the UK, then Ride Rater is an essential feed to follow. It features updates from theme parks across the UK, including the likes of Alton Towers, Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Thorpe Park.
17. @AboutThemeParks (About.com Theme Parks)
Arthur Levine acts as the theme park guru over at themeparks.about.com. As well as offering regular updates from his own site, Arthur also keeps his followers up-to-date on theme park news from all over the world on Twitter.
18. @thescarezone (The Scare Zone)
Halloween events have become a really big deal at theme parks, with the likes of Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights pulling in massive crowds. The Scare Zone offers news and reviews for haunts in the US and farther afield – essential reading if you’re a fan of being terrified.
19. @thrillridecom (ThrillRide.com)
His ThrillRide.com website may not be updated as frequently as it used to be, but Robert Coker’s Twitter feed is still an entertaining source of theme park news and gossip.
20. @skubersky (Seth Kubersky)
When he’s not busy authoring updates to his popular Universal guidebook, Seth Kubersky posts regular updates relating to Orlando theme parks to his excellent Twitter feed.
21. @ukparknews (UK Park News)
As its name suggests, UK Park News provides regular updates from theme parks in the UK, including Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures, Thorpe Park and many others.
22. @WDWForGrownUps (WDW For Grownups)
Walt Disney World is often associated with children, but Disney’s parks have always been designed to cater for guests of all ages. WDW For Grownups offers guidance, tips and a forum for adults who haven’t grown out of having fun.
23. @WDWDailyNews (WDW Daily News)
WDW Daily News does exactly what it says on the tin – provides daily news updates from the Walt Disney World resort. If you’re a Disney fan, following its feed is essential.
24. @DisMarks (DisMarks)
For Disney fans, Dismarks is a godsend. It’s a social bookmarking site that focuses exclusively on Disney content, and following its feed means you’ll be up-to-date with all the most interesting posts about Disney’s parks.
25. @CoasterBuzz (Coaster Buzz)
The long-established Coaster Buzz community offers a great place for like-minded coaster enthusiasts to discuss the latest developments. Its Twitter feed offers a broader range of theme park news, too.
26. @Imaginerding (Imaginerding)
If you’re a fan of books about Disney theme parks, then Imaginerding will be right up your street. As well as book reviews, it also offers occasional looks at other Disney memorabilia.
27. @CompletelyLLW (Completely LEGOLAND Windsor)
It’s been a bit light on updates recently, but Completely LEGOLAND Windsor is an outstanding source of information and updates from the child-friendly park in London.
28. @chipandcompany (Chip and Company)
Chip and Company is a sprawling site dedicated to Disney’s theme parks and movies. It’s well worth following the site’s Twitter feed, which posts both news and the latest discounts for Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Resort.
29. @BehindThrills (Behind the Thrills)
While it offers updates from parks all over the world, Behind the Thrills specialises in excellent photo updates from Orlando-area theme parks. The site’s regular polls are also fun to participate in.
30. @Mouseketweeter (Mouseketweeter)
A dedicated Twitter feed for Disney fans, sharing news, tips and reviews. Zev Mo Green does an outstanding job of spotting and sharing all the latest updates.
31. @partyttparks (Party Through The Parks)
If you enjoy an occasional beer, wine or cocktail at a theme park, Party Through The Parks is the site for you. It does an outstanding job of keeping track of upcoming events, as well as providing reviews of specific drinks.
32. @DLRPToday (DLRP Today)
If you’re a fan of the Disneyland Resort Paris, DLRP Today is a fantastic resource for keeping up-to-date with the latest news. The updates come thick and fast via its Twitter feed.
33. @Zannaland (Suzannah Mitchell)
Suzannah Mitchell’s excellent Zannaland blog offers updates from Orlando-area theme parks, Disney parks and the Disney Cruise Line, along many other topics.
34. @TheDisneyChick (The Disney Chick)
If you like your Disney news with a slice of humour, don’t look any further than the excellent The Disney Chick blog. Look out for recipes for your favourite Disney theme park foods, too.
35. @TheDailyDisney (The Daily Disney)
The Orlando Sentinel frequently breaks news relating to Walt Disney World first, and you can keep up-to-date with its coverage of the resort by following The Daily Disney feed.
36. @PointBuzz (@PointBuzz)
Cedar Point remains one of the leading theme parks in the US, with a stunning line-up of roller coasters in particular. PointBuzz does a great job of keeping fans up-to-date on the latest news from the park, as well as hosting a thriving community.
37. @InsideTheMagic (Inside the Magic)
As well as hosting an excellent weekly podcast, Inside the Magic‘s Ricky Brigante frequently offers up oustanding photo and video updates from Florida parks.
38. @TowersNerd (TowersNerd)
Alton Towers fans should keep a close eye on TowersNerd, which posts regular, detailed updates from inside the park.
39. @laughing_place (The Laughing Place)
The Laughing Place is a long-running resource for Disney fans, covering the chain’s parks all over the world. It collates news from multiple sources, so its Twitter feed is well worth keeping an eye on.
40. @StitchKingdom (Stitch Kingdom)
Another outstanding Disney site is Stitch Kingdom, which does a superb job of tracking Disney news, product developments and even updates to Disney-related mobile apps. The planning tools on the site itself are excellent, too.
41. @JimHillMedia (Jim Hill Media)
Jim Hill is something of a legend in Disney circles, and has built up an extensive network of insiders in the company. That means his updates are worth keeping an eye on – Hill frequently has the inside track on the latest development at Disney theme parks, and his retrospective looks at classic attractions are always fun to read.
42. @OrlandoUpdates (Orlando Updates)
If you’re keen to stay up-to-date on the latest news from Florida’s theme parks, Orlando Updates is an essential feed to follow. It collates news from multiple sources, ensuring that you won’t miss a thing.
43. @MickeyUpdates (MickeyUpdates)
MickeyUpdates tweets all the latest news from Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando and other Florida theme parks. The site also has a handy app for iPhone users.
44. @Blooloop (Blooloop)
If you’re interested in the business side of theme parks, then industry website Blooloop‘s feed is worth tracking. Theme parks and their suppliers post press releases to the site, which can often be the first announcement of major news.
45. @TheDis (The DIS)
The DIS is an extensive source of information on Walt Disney World and Disneyland, and home to one of the web’s most popular Disney forums. You can often find news of special events and discounts via its feed.
46. @Orlando_United (Orlando United)
The Orlando United forums are a fantastic source of photo updates from Florida theme parks – if you want to keep an eye on progress on Universal Orlando’s Harry Potter expansion, for example, then be sure to follow this feed.
47. @ParkThoughts (Park Thoughts)
Rather than just regurgitating news that is posted to dozens of other websites, the ParkThoughts blog prefers to take a deeper look at the latest theme park developments. There’s plenty of lively banter on its Twitter feed, too.
48. @CoasterFusion (CoasterFusion)
CoasterFusion is a club for coaster enthusiasts, which hosts regular events across the US. The site itself hosts a lively forum, while the Twitter feed is a good source of news on under-construction coasters.
49. @ValleyMania (Valley Mania)
We’re big fans of Lightwater Valley, a small but pleasant park in the north of England. If you are too, you can keep track of the latest news from the park via the excellent fan site Valley Mania.
50. @Coaster101 (Coaster101)
Long-running site Coaster101 is a great source of updates on new roller coasters, as well as general updates from the theme park industry.
51. @DatelineDisney (Dateline Disney)
Every week, Dateline Disneyland offers up an extensive photo update from the Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. Not to be missed for fans of the resort.
52. @BGWFans (BGWFans)
Busch Gardens Williamsburg has an excellent reputation for combining thrilling rides with detailed theming. BGWFans is a superb fan site dedicated to the park, and its thriving forums often turn up news and rumours about the park before anyone else.
53. @TheSeasonPass (The Season Pass Podcast)
For us, the The Season Pass is hands-down the best theme park podcast around. Hosts Doug Barnes and Brent Young regularly welcome legends from the industry, who discuss the creation of classic rides and attractions. Don’t miss another update by following their feed.
54. @ThemeParker (Theme Parker)
Set up by our good friend Joel Bullock (aka The Coaster Critic), Theme Parker is a site that collates updates from multiple theme park news websites (including TPT). Its Twitter feed shares many of these, and is worth keeping a close eye on.
55. @westcoasternet (WestCoaster)
If you’re interested in the latest developments at California’s theme parks, look out for the extensive photo updates that are regularly posted by WestCoaster.
56. @CoasterCrew (The Coaster Crew)
The Coaster Crew is a coaster enthusiasts’ club that also runs the excellent In the Loop podcast. Follow them for regular updates from US theme parks.
57. @themeparkreview (Theme Park Review)
As well as hosting one of the busiest theme park-related forums on the web, Theme Park Review is renowned for producing some of the best “point-of-view” roller coaster videos around. Follow the feed for lots of banter and links to classic videos from years gone by.
58. @Attractions (Orlando Attractions Magazine)
Print magazines focused on theme parks are thin on the ground, so it’s great to see the ongoing success of Orlando Attractions Magazine. Its Twitter posts regular photo updates from its excellent blog, as well as many, many videos.
59. @ThemeParks (Dewayne Bevil)
Dewayne Bevil is a reporter for the Orlando Sentinel, and frequently breaks exclusive news relating to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando.
60. @thedisneyblog (The Disney Blog)
John Frost’s long-running The Disney Blog remains a leading source of news and reviews from Disney theme parks, as well as the company’s movies and other activities.
61. @InsideUniversal (Inside Universal)
Inside Universal is an excellent fan site dedicated to Universal Studios Hollywood, the original movie-themed park. Watch its Twitter feed for the latest news on new attractions and ride refurbishments.
62. @AllEarsNet (AllEars.net)
Most fans of Disney theme parks will have stumbled across AllEars.net at some stage. Run by the very knowledgeable Deb Wills, the site offers frequent news and photo updates, as well as details of discounts for Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
63. DisneyORama (DisneyORama)
You’ll find lots of updates from Disneyland and Walt Disney World over at DisneyORama, as well as some great original articles.
64. @MouseKingdom (Mouse Kingdom)
The Mouse Kingdom feed posts updates from both the Mouse Kingdom blog and from the sprawling Disneyland Paris fan site DLP.info. If you’re planning a visit to the French resort, it’s an essential resource.
65. @DLRPMagic (DLRPMagic)
Speaking of essential Disneyland Paris resources, DLRPMagic is one of the most extensive guides to the resort to be found anywhere.
66. @Jason_Garcia (Jason Garcia)
Jason Garcia is a reporter for the Orlando Sentinel, and frequently turns up exclusive news relating to Florida’s theme parks. Fans of Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa should keep a close eye on his Twitter feed.
67. @disneyamore (Disney and More)
The excellent Disney and More blog has a well-deserved reputation for turning up exclusive details of new Disney rides at its theme parks around the globe. Whether it’s information about future expansion at Disneyland Paris, or rumours about the under-construction Shanghai Disneyland, you’re likely to read it here first.
68. @DLToday (Matthew Gottula)
Matthew Gottula is a dedicated Disneyland fanatic, who posts the latest news, photos and tips for the resort on a daily basis. His large follower count is a testament to how good he is at keeping fellow fans up-to-date.
69. @CoasterCrazy (Coaster Crazy)
CoasterCrazy is a sprawling membership site with a thriving community. Its Twitter feed is a little light on updates, but if you’re interested in meet-ups and other events it’s worth keeping an eye on.
70. @MiceChat (MiceChat)
The well-established MiceChat website is one of the most comprehensive resources dedicated to Disney parks on the net. Watch its feed for the extensive updates from Walt Disney World and Disneyland, which frequently turn up exclusive information from insiders at the parks.
71. @TouringPlans (Touring Plans)
When Len Testa visited England to research a new book, we saw first hand his detailed methods for calculating the optimum “touring plan” for any theme park. TouringPlans.com offers Len’s latest plans for Walt Disney World and Disneyland, as well as accurate wait times for rides and a crowd calendar. If you’re in the parks, keep and eye on its Twitter feed – it’s an invaluable source of tips.
72. @OCDisney (Orange County Register)
The Orange County Register, Disneyland’s local newspaper, offers an excellent Twitter feed and associated blog that provide regular updates on the resort.
73. @mouseplanet (MousePlanet)
Sprawling Disney fan site MousePlanet offers regular photo updates from Walt Disney World and Disneyland, as well as lots of useful articles packed full of tips for visitors to both resorts.
74. @Screamscape (Screamscape)
Lance Hart, the man behind Screamscape, deserves huge credit for having single-handedly built up a site that has become a regular stop for almost every theme park fan. Don’t miss his daily updates on news and rumours from theme parks around the world.
75. @CoasterCritic (The Coaster Critic)
Joel Bullock has built a great reputation as The Coaster Critic, offering up reviews of roller coasters all over the US. Every self-respecting thrill-seeker should follow his feed.
76. @CoasterForce (CoasterForce)
CoasterForce is a very popular community for theme park fans. Look out for regular in-park photo updates and some outstanding point-of-view coaster videos.
77. @KentuckyKingdom (Kentucky Kingdom Redevelopment Company)
For anyone who’s been watching the long, drawn-out saga of the reopening of the shuttered Kentucky Kingdom theme park, it’s worth following this feed. It was set up by the Kentucky Kingdom Redevelopment Company, the firm run by former owner Ed Hart that hopes to revive the park.
78. @ThorpePark (Thorpe Park)
Thorpe Park, one of the UK’s most popular theme parks, has become increasingly fond of viral marketing campaigns for new rides in recent years. Keep an eye on its official Twitter feed for the latest mysterious pictures and videos.
79. @DisneyParks (Disney Parks)
Disney has done an outstanding job of moving into social media in recent years. Perhaps the best example is its Disney Parks Blog, which offers frequent, exclusive updates from Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
80. @SeaWorld (SeaWorld Orlando)
SeaWorld has followed in Disney’s footsteps, enhancing its own online efforts with the SeaWorld Parks Blog. Watch the official SeaWorld Orlando feed for the latest updates from its Florida park.
81. @HOSInsider (Howl-O-Scream)
Busch Gardens Tampa has developed its Howl-O-Scream Halloween events into one of America’s most popular haunts. In the weeks leading up to the event, watch HOSInsider for the latest hints about what to expect.
82. @HorrorNights (Halloween Horror Nights)
Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights are similarly popular. The HorrorNights feed offers year-round updates on plans for the horror mazes, scare zones and shows that will be on offer.
83. @Disneyland (Disneyland Resort)
Fans looking for the latest updates from Disneyland and Disney California Adventure should be sure to follow the resort’s official Twitter feed, which posts updates on special events, discounts and more.
84. @SixFlags (Six Flags)
Six Flags’ online efforts may be somewhat weak when compared to the likes of Disney, but it’s still worth following the official feed for the latest updates from its parks across the US.
85. @themeparkstudio (Theme Park Studio)
Fans of Rollercoaster Tycoon are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new Theme Park Studio simulation game in summer 2013. Watch the developers’ feed for the latest news on the title.
86. @DCAToday (DCA Today)
The official in-park Twitter feed for Disney California Adventure is worth tracking if you’re in the park – it features updates on special events, show times and queue times, along with lots and lots of photos.
87. @WaltDisneyWorld (Walt Disney World)
The official Walt Disney World Twitter feed offers more than just bland updates from the park, frequently taking a look back in time at what was happening at the resort decades ago.
88. @PremierRides (Premier Rides)
Premier Rides is a leading supplier of dark rides and roller coasters to some of the world’s most popular theme parks. Follow its Twitter feeds for regular photo updates from its latest construction projects.
89. @UniStudios (Universal Studios Hollywood)
Universal Studios Hollywood’s official Twitter feed offers updates from the park, as well as frequent competitions for fans. Details of special events and discounts are also worth looking out for.
90. @HorrorNightsORL (Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights)
Haunt fans are always keen to know what Universal Orlando has up its sleeves for the next Halloween Horror Nights event, and the official Twitter feed regularly offers up hints.
91. @AltonTowers (Alton Towers)
Alton Towers owner Merlin loves nothing more than teasing fans with bizarre promotional videos online, and you’ll find all the latest ones posted to the park’s official Twitter feed.
92. @DisneylandToday (Disneyland Today)
If you’re a Disneyland fan who wishes they were in the park every single day, following the official in-park Twitter feed offers you the chance to stay fully up-to-date on events at the world’s second most popular theme park.
93. @WDWNT (WDW News Today)
WDW News Today offers extensive, daily updates from the Walt Disney World resort. Check out the site’s magazine for more detailed and opinionated articles.
94. @Disney_ParisEN (Disneyland Resort Paris)
The Disneyland Resort Paris hasn’t quite kept up with its US counterparts in terms of its online presence. Still, it’s worth watching its official feed for some nice photos from inside Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios.
95. @EPCOTExplorer (EPCOT Explorer)
Are you interested in the history and development of Epcot, which Walt Disney originally envisioned as a living, working city? EPCOT Explorer posts some great articles on just that topic.
96. @CoasterGallery (Coaster Gallery)
Coaster Gallery is an extensive library of roller coaster photos from all over the world. The Twitter feed posts many of the latest shots, along with some great videos.
97. @WDSFans (WDS Fans)
Walt Disney Studios, Paris is arguably the weakest of Disney’s theme parks. Still, things should improve over the next few years, and you can keep up-to-date with construction work at the park by following the WDSFans.com feed.
98. @ThrillNetwork (Thrill Network)
As well as hosting a lively forum, Thrill Network offers regular theme park news updates via its Twitter feed.
99. @sea_fun (SeaFun)
Despite the chain’s popularity, SeaWorld has been somewhat underserved by fan sites in recent years. Thank goodness, then, for SeaFun, a relatively young blog that posts regular updates from SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld San Diego, SeaWorld San Antonio, Discovery Cove and the Aquatica water parks.
100. @thegravitygroup (The Gravity Group)
The Gravity Group is a world-renowned wooden coaster manufacturer, and fans of “woodies” should watch its Twitter feed for teaser photos and videos for upcoming rides.
