The theme park is the modern amusement park, either based on a
central theme or, divided into several distinctly themed areas,
or "spaces" as is often used. Large resorts, such as
Walt Disney World in Florida (United States), actually house several
different theme parks within their confines.
Walt Disney, however, is usually credited with having originated
the concept of the themed amusement park. Disneyland was based
loosely on Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Children's Fairyland
in Oakland, California, and various World's Fairs. Disney took
these influences and melded them with the popular Disney animated
characters and his unique vision, and "Disneyland"
was born. Disneyland officially opened in Anaheim, California
in 1955 and changed the amusement industry forever.
Since the 1980s, the theme park industry has become larger
than ever before, with everything from large, worldwide type
theme parks such as Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood
to smaller and medium-sized theme parks such as the Six Flags
parks and countless smaller ventures in many of the states of
the U.S. and in countries around the world. Even simpler theme
parks directly aimed at smaller children have emerged, including
Legoland in Carlsbad, California (the first Legoland opened
in Billund, Denmark). The only limit to future theme park ventures
is one's imagination.
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