Finding the right amusement park design company is one of the most important decisions for any theme park, water park, or family entertainment center (FEC) project. A great design partner influences everything—from guest experience and safety to budget control, construction efficiency, and long-term profitability.
This guide covers the Top 10 Amusement Park Design Companies in 2025, along with comparison tables, selection advice, pricing insights, and a full design-build process overview.
What Makes a Great Amusement Park Design Company? （Key Evaluation Factors）
A professional theme park design company should excel in several core areas:
Creative & Narrative Design Ability
- Unique themes & storylines
- Immersive themed lands
- IP integration & character-driven experiences
- Environmental storytelling
(See more: Amusement Park Layout: How to Plan a Fun and Efficient Park )
Engineering & Technical Capabilities
- Ride system engineering
- Structural design
- Mechanical, electrical, hydraulic systems
- BIM & 3D modeling
- Safety risk assessment
Compliance With Global Safety Standards
- EN 13814
- ASTM F24
- GB/T standards
- TUV / CE certifications
Turnkey EPC (Design–Manufacturing–Construction)
Some companies can only design concepts. Others provide:
- Concept design
- Schematic design
- Amusement Ride manufacturing
- Construction & installation
- Testing & commissioning
Real Project Experience
A good partner should have:
- Completed international projects
- Clear case studies
- Proven guest satisfaction
- Long-term operational data
These criteria guided the ranking of the 2025 Top 10 companies that design amusement parks, as listed below.
Top 10 Amusement Park Design Companies in the World（2025 Ranking）
Below is a list covering global giants + high-value Chinese one-stop solution providers.
1. Walt Disney Imagineering（USA）
Overview：
The world’s most iconic theme park design company, unmatched in storytelling and immersive environments.
Key Services：
- Creative master planning
- IP-based themed lands
- Ride engineering
- Large-scale construction
Signature Projects：
- Disneyland（California）
- Shanghai Disneyland
- Star Wars： Galaxy’s Edge
Why It Ranks #1：
Disney sets the global standard for narrative-driven theme park experiences.
2. Universal Creative（USA）
Overview：
Known for high-tech attractions and blockbuster IP integration.
Key Services：
- Ride system development
- Virtual simulation
- Immersive storytelling
Signature Projects：
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
- Jurassic World rides
Why It Ranks High：
Universal dominates the “thrill + IP immersion” segment.
3. Thinkwell Group（USA / Global）
Overview：
A creative powerhouse specializing in themed entertainment, museums, and interactive experiences.
Key Services：
- Creative strategy
- Attraction design
- Multimedia & show design
Signature Projects：
- Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi
Why It Ranks High：
Strong in character-driven, narrative-heavy environments.
4. FORREC（Canada）
Overview：
A global design firm focusing on theme parks, water parks, resorts, and mixed-use developments.
Key Services：
- Master planning
- Architectural design
- Water park engineering
Signature Projects：
- LEGOLAND parks
- Universal Studios Beijing（partial participation）
Strength：
Balance between creative design and architectural execution.
5. BRC Imagination Arts（USA）
Overview：
World-leading designers in storytelling attractions and cultural experiences.
Known For：
- Strong emotional storytelling
- Museum + immersive exhibition design
Signature Projects：
- Museum of the Bible（Washington, D.C.）
6. Rethink Leisure & Entertainment（USA）
Overview：
Creative studio focused on themed hotels, FECs, water parks, and themed attractions.
Representative Project：
- Cartoon Network Hotel
Strength：
Bold, IP-driven creative concepts.
7. Cedar Fair Entertainment（USA）
Overview：
Operators of 13 major parks across North America, with in-house coaster & attraction design.
Signature Parks：
- Cedar Point
- Knott’s Berry Farm
Strength：
World-class thrill rides.
8. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment（USA）
Highlights：
- Marine-life-themed attractions
- Educational + entertainment fusion
Signature Projects：
- SeaWorld Orlando
- San Diego & San Antonio parks
9. Six Flags Entertainment Corporation（USA）
Overview：
One of the world’s largest ride operators and roller coaster innovators.
Strength：
- Large coaster portfolio
- Extreme thrill focus
10. Carnee Rids（China）– One-Stop Design + Ride Manufacturing + EPC
Overview：
Carnee Rids is a leading Chinese amusement park design and equipment manufacturing company offering full-chain services for theme parks, water parks, and family entertainment centers.
Key Services：
- Master planning
- Concept & schematic design
- Custom amusement park ride R&D
- Manufacturing (pirate ship, carousel, flying chair ride, ferris wheel, coaster…)
- Installation & commissioning
- One-stop theme park solution, turnkey EPC
Signature Cases：
- Middle East water park projects
- Southeast Asia family parks
- Outdoor city amusement parks
- Customized pirate ship ride, small roller coasters, & classic carnival rides
Why It Ranks in the Top 10：
- Strong price-performance ratio
- Fast global shipping
- Engineering + manufacturing integration
- Export-grade quality（CE / ISO）
- Ideal for small-to-medium investors
Comparison Table： Top 10 Theme Park Design Companies（2025）
| Company | Country | Strength | Project Scale | Provides Rides? | Best For |
| Disney Imagineering | USA | Storytelling, IP | Mega parks | No | National mega parks |
| Universal Creative | USA | Tech + IP | Mega parks | No | Immersive IP parks |
| Thinkwell | USA | Narrative design | All sizes | No | Museums + themed lands |
| FORREC | Canada | Architecture + planning | All sizes | No | Resorts + water parks |
| BRC | USA | Emotional storytelling | Medium-large | No | Exhibitions, dark rides |
| Rethink L&E | USA | Creative concepts | Small–medium | No | Themed hotels |
| Cedar Fair | USA | Coaster engineering | Large | Partial | Roller coaster parks |
| SeaWorld | USA | Edutainment | Large | No | Marine theme parks |
| Six Flags | USA | Thrill rides | Large | No | Coaster-heavy parks |
| Carnee Rids | China | EPC + Ride Manufacturing | Small–large | Yes | Investors needing full solutions |
How to Choose the Right Amusement Park Design Company
Different project scales require different types of partners.
For Mega Projects（Budget $200M–$1B）
- Disney Imagineering
- Universal Creative
- FORREC
Best for： State-level attractions, IP-heavy developments.
For Medium Projects（Budget $20M–$200M）
- Thinkwell
- BRC
- FORREC
- Carnee Rids（China EPC option）
For Small or Fast-Deployment Projects（Budget $1M–$20M）
- Carnee Rids（Strong price–performance）
- Rethink L&E
- Chinese ride manufacturers
Ideal for：
- City parks
- FECs
- Small outdoor amusement parks
Typical Amusement Park Design & Build Process
Below is the standard end-to-end project pipeline:
- Pre-planning & site analysis
- Master planning（layout, guest flow, operational zones）
- Concept design（themes, storytelling, sketches）
- Schematic design（engineering, MEP, ride placement）
- Ride selection & customization
- Fabrication & manufacturing
- Construction & installation
- Testing & commissioning
- Opening & operations handover
Companies like Carnee Rids offer all stages (EPC), reducing risk and cost.
(See more: 【2025-2026】Your Guide to Theme Park Design )
Budget & Timeline Overview
Typical Budget Range
| Project Type | $1 $1M–$5M |
| Small outdoor park | $1M–$5M |
| Medium theme park | $20M–$80M |
| Water park | $10M–$50M |
| Large theme park | $200M+ |
Typical Timeline
| Phase | Duration |
| Concept + planning | 1–3 months |
| Schematic design | 2–4 months |
| Fabrication | 3–6 months |
| Construction | 6–12 months |
| Total | 12–24 months |
Why More Investors Choose Chinese One-Stop Design Companies（Including Carnee Rids）
- Lower costs（30–60% cheaper than Western firms）
- In-house ride manufacturing
- Faster production & shipping
- Experience with global safety standards
- Ideal for small–medium budget parks
Carnee Rids is one of the leading one-stop companies offering design + manufacturing + installation services.
FAQ： Amusement Park Design Companies
Conclusion
The amusement park industry continues to evolve rapidly, driven by immersive storytelling, advanced technology, and smarter construction solutions. The Top 10 companies listed above represent the best in creativity, engineering, safety, and operational excellence.
Whether you’re building a mega IP theme park or a small family park, selecting the right partner is the key to long-term success. Global leaders like Disney and Universal dominate high-budget projects, while Chinese one-stop EPC companies like Carnee Rids offer powerful, cost-effective solutions for small and medium investors.
If you need concept park planning, themed design, custom ride manufacturing, or turnkey EPC service, Carnee Rids can help you develop a complete, efficient, and profitable amusement park project.
