"Theme parks offer you a whole world of fun and adventure — fulfilling every child's dream of the ultimate in holiday fun," says Dillon Serretta, marketing manager for the Flight Centre group.

"And, let's face it — this type of holiday isn't just for the little children. It will be just as hard to wipe the smile from your face as you are about to take off on the world's fastest roller coaster as it will be the children's faces!"

With so much entertainment provided by theme parks the world over, there's no doubt about the fact that a theme park holiday is a great way for every member of the family, no matter their age, to have a great day out. Today's theme parks are not just about rollercoaster rides, many have a wide variety of entertainment guaranteed to please even the pickiest of people.

"We've put together a list our Flight Centre favourites," adds Serretta, "so that families can start planning their theme park holiday together." Here are the top 10 theme parks across the planet:

1. Hong Kong Disneyland Park
   Discover a magical kingdom of thrilling adventures, storybook journeys and much loved Disney characters. Stay amid the magic in two enchanting hotels offering unique shopping, imaginative dining and family recreation, all delivered with the style and service for which Disney is renowned. Visit Adventure Land, Tomorrow Land, Fantasy Land and Main Street USA when entering this wonderful world of magic and fun.

2. Sea World, Gold Coast, Australia
   Experience a whole world of amazing rides, shows and attractions. Look out for rides like the Corkscrew, the Bermuda Triangle and the Pirate Ship. More than just a theme park, Sea World is committed to educating guests about the marine environment and playing an active role in Australia marine research and rescue.

3. Universal Studios, Hollywood and Orlando
   Go behind the scenes and on the sets where movies are made. See thrilling rides, shows and attractions that bring movie action to life. Plunge into total darkness as you face fireballs, scarab beetles and an army of warrior mummies on a psychological thrill ride unlike anything that's come along in the past 3000 years when you venture onto The Revenge of the Mummy ride. Or join The Simpsons, America's favourite animated family, in an all-new theme park adventure. It's a wild and hilarious ride that sends you swooping, soaring and smashing your way through Krustyland!

4. Kennedy Space Centre
   At Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, you get the unique chance to tour — up close — NASA's launch and landing facilities. Experience interactive simulators, live shows and jaw-dropping encounters with massive rockets, as well as have the opportunity to meet a real member of NASA's Astronaut Corps.

5. Disneyland, California + Walt Disney World, Orlando
   Now bigger and more magical than ever, featuring Disney's California Adventure Park and Disneyland Park, plus dining, entertainment and shopping at the Downtown Disney District. With more to see and do here than ever before, Disneyland Resort is truly the holiday where dreams come true. Walt Disney World Resort covers a vast area of 122km² — experience a world as big as your imagination and create memories to last a lifetime. The Magic Kingdom in Orlando features a host of 'must-experience' rides including the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' ride where you can join Captain Jack Sparrow's crew and set sail on a boisterous journey of discovery. There are so many options to choose from you'll need at five days to a week to completely explore the Magic Kingdom.

6. Euro-Disney France
   The Euro-Disney experience is similar to what you can enjoy in the USA and Hong Kong. There are rides, roller coasters, themed areas suitable for all ages. Relive the excitement of Cars when you join the race for Route 66, waking up the sleepy town of Radiator Springs. Or ride a runaway mine train on the wind-swept sierras of Big Thunder Mountain.

7. Alton Towers, United Kingdom
   Twist and turn, loop and swoop, speed and soar at Britain's premier theme park. Hurtle at terrifying speeds, dip and dive upside down; feel the adrenalin rushing. Alton Towers is the United Kingdom's most popular theme park offers rides like Nemesis, Oblivion and Rita, Queen of Speed (where you're catapulted at tremendous speed — reaching 0 to 100 in 2.5 seconds!). Also look out for the magical and mysterious rides like the Haunted Hollow and the incredible Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ride.

8. Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen
   The Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark is said to be the oldest amusement park that has survived intact to the present. It opened in August 1843 and was said to have been the place that inspired Walt Disney to build Disneyland.

   This park combines incredible gardens with unforgettable attractions. It is "the seventh most visited park in the world" — pretty incredible, especially considering it is open only five months of the year. The park offers the world's oldest operating rollercoaster. Don't forget to see Tivoli at night, where the park features over 110 000 bulbs, strung through the garden. Tivoli also owns its own firework factory and pyrotechnic designer that closes the park every night.

9. Gold Reef City, Johannesburg
   Closer to home we have a number of exciting theme parks right here in South Africa. There's Ratanga Junction in Cape Town and Ushaka Marine World in Durban. Gold Reef City in Johannesburg has a plethora of fun rides, exciting experiences and more. From the skyline, the Giant Wheel, Anaconda and Tower of Terror will beckon; join the young at heart and test-drive these or any of the more than thirty adrenaline-boosting rides.

10. LEGO land, Windsor — United Kingdom
    With Adventure Land, Land of the Vikings and Loki's Labyrinth your family will have hours of fun in this theme park. Or enjoy the thrill of a medieval adventure fill loaded with eye-popping 3D special effects.