The Not-So-Magic Kingdoms

Forget Disney. If Barack Obama wants to know where the world goes to play, here are five global theme parks he should visit.

BY STEFAN ZWANZGER AND ISAAC STONE FISH | JANUARY 19, 2012

President Barack Obama was down in the soon-to-be electoral hotbed of Florida on Jan. 19, giving a speech at Walt Disney World, in which he outlined a plan to make it easier for international visitors from countries like Brazil to spend money in the United States. But Walt Disney World is so, well, the land of yesteryear. We at Foreign Policy, with the help of theme park expert Stefan Zwanzger, have compiled a list of the five world parks that Obama should visit for the future.

DISNEY SEA, Tokyo, Japan

"This the best theme park in the world! It has a Jules Verne-inspired volcano ride that is both retro and futuristic, a Tower of Terror better than [the one] in the United States of America, and an impeccable love for detail in theme and composition of the attractions," says Zwanzger, who visited in February 2008 and July 2009. He also notes that the park featured an Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull ride six years before the corresponding movie was actually shot, featuring a surprisingly life-like tornado. "The atmosphere everywhere, the eye for detail, and the evidence of a real budget make me wish I could buy property inside the park and live there," he says. The 21st century belongs to Asia, and Obama could come and literally bow to the inevitable.

 SUBJECTS:
 

Stefan Zwanzger is the founder of the website www.thethemeparkguy.com.

Isaac Stone Fish is an associate editor at Foreign Policy.

ALEXANDER JAMES

10:34 PM ET

January 19, 2012

Cool list I hadn't before seen

Never heard of Disney Sea in Japan but it doesn't surprise me Disney's there. Sounds like a cool theme park. With all that's happened to Japan in the last year with their economy, aftermath from the tsunami, fallout from Fukushima Dai-ichi, their Yen falling like Fap Turbo on the currency exchanges, and other turmoil.

I look at their economy improving and their resilience with respect. And hopefully the president will tour these theme parks after he's out of office and not on the taxpayers' dime.

 

PUCK101

6:10 AM ET

January 20, 2012

Places Obama should visit .

Certainly not Amusement parks , but important nonetheless . Try visiting Arlington National Cemetery more often , and not just for photo-ops putting wreaths on a grave on Veteran's day. That is before you think about dragging us into another Mid-East crisis, and good advice for future Presidents as well.
Try visiting what use to be our National Treasures and Wonderful Old-Time neighborhoods before the Greedy were allowed to turn the Landscape into Condominiums and Strip Malls. Try visiting a True Christian Church instead of a Mosque and praying to God and not Mohammed . Then we might receive some of His Graces instead of the Swamp into which you are leading us. Try visiting the place where the Constitution is exhibited and try to remember all the hype that was afforded you as to being a Constitutional scholar at Hahvahad , when in the aftermath you seem to show that you either know nothing about it, or choose to ignore it's rules. Try remembering the other side of your makeup. All we hear out here is that you are an African-America . Never once have I heard you or your pundits refer to the Caucasian side . A little habit that might bode well for all those in the land that insist on doing the same. If you want to ease Racial Tensions this might be the first step. Putting America second in the phrase reminds us too much of your wife

 

KORVOSCOP

11:40 AM ET

January 20, 2012

Disney on december

Forget Disney. If Barack Obama wants to know where the world goes to play, here are five global theme parks he should visit
fashion Should be interested?...what you think/

 

MONGO46538

2:20 PM ET

January 20, 2012

Hope for the World

Don't forget Dream City in Northern Iraq

 

AMIYNA

8:22 AM ET

January 21, 2012

Ami

I've been reading FP for almost a decade and this is by far the most useless article I've ever read by this publication. Mistakes can be excused. I just hope this is not the beginning of a trend.