What Park Was Wally World in Vacation?

By Robert Palmer

If you’re a fan of the classic comedy film Vacation, you might be wondering which park was supposed to be Wally World in the movie. The 1983 film follows the Griswold family as they embark on a disastrous cross-country road trip to visit the fictional amusement park known as Wally World.

Despite its fictional name, Wally World was actually based on a real-life theme park. In fact, the movie’s creators used multiple locations to bring the park to life on screen.

One of the main filming locations for Wally World was Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. This popular theme park served as the backdrop for many of the movie’s most iconic scenes, including the roller coaster ride and the climactic showdown with security guards.

In addition to Six Flags Magic Mountain, other California-based amusement parks were also used for filming various scenes in Vacation. These included Santa Anita Park Racetrack in Arcadia and Disneyland Resort in Anaheim.

While many of the exterior shots were filmed at these actual parks, most of the interior scenes were shot on soundstages in Burbank, California. This allowed filmmakers greater control over lighting and other production elements that would have been difficult to achieve at a working theme park.

So there you have it – while Wally World may not actually exist in real life, it was brought to life on screen using a combination of real-life locations and clever filmmaking techniques. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or simply looking for a bit of trivia about this beloved comedy classic, knowing where Wally World was filmed is sure to add some extra enjoyment to your next viewing!