2. Vortex (Kings Island, Ohio, USA)

Kings Island fans will need no introduction to Vortex, which has carried more than 38 million riders since its debut in April 1987. But outside of locals and roller coaster enthusiasts, it's perhaps not as well-known as it deserves to be.

Created by long-time Disney partner Arrow Dynamics in one of the company's last real successes before its collapse into bankruptcy, Vortex is a steel coaster that cost $4 million to construct. At the time it was the tallest full-circuit roller coaster in the world, the first to feature six inversions and also boasted the highest drop in the world at some 138 feet.

Arrow's infamous trackwork makes Vortex a real treasure - six inversions over the course of the sprawing roller coaster may leave adults feeling a little unsteady, but the twisted steel contraption has earned a loyal following. Deservedly so.

As with most aging coasters, there are consistent rumors that Kings Island will one day look to replace Vortex. To be on the safe side, experience it while you can.

1. Cinemagique (Walt Disney Studios, Paris, France)

Although it’s frequently derided as the weakest of Disney’s theme parks, the (relatively) tiny Walt Disney Studios is home to one or two gems.

Completely unique to the park, CinéMagique uses a combination of live action and spliced-together footage from classic movies to celebrate the history of cinema. It is housed in a large theatre that can hold up to 1,100 guests, and performances take place at scheduled times throughout the day.

The storyline features actor Martin Short (or, at least, a lookalike) emerging from the audience and being sucked into a black-and-white movie that is showing on-screen. After meeting, and falling for, Julie Delpy, the character races through a series of recognisable movie scenes in search of his mobile phone.

The two love-struck stars are edited into sequences from movies such as Star Wars, The Magnificent Seven, Mary Poppins and The Wizarding of Oz. Will they escape back into the real-world before the end of CinéMagique’s 25-minute running time?

One of the big problems faced by Disneyland Paris is the need to present every ride in multiple languages – English and French at a minimum, and often several others. Although it features dialogue in both French and English, CinéMagique overcomes this constraint by making the majority of expression purely visual. Telling a convincing love story in 25 minutes is a challenge, but the attraction’s creators somehow pull it off.

As it’s not a major thrill ride, CinéMagique is overlooked by many guests at Walt Disney Studios. Don’t make this mistake – this is one of the very best attractions that the park has to offer, and it isn’t available at any other Disney park. Most crowds enter CinéMagique with relatively low expectations, and emerge grinning from ear-to-ear