EXCLUSIVE: Kelly Williams and her family spent an adrenaline-inducing four days at PortAventura World as the Costa Dorada theme park celebrated its 30th anniversary
There’s something special about a really good theme park that makes it feel timeless. Places where parents get to be kids again, and children’s laughter (and screams) fill the air.
So when PortAventura World in Spain announced its 30th anniversary celebrations, it seemed like it was the perfect excuse for an autumn escape. With our three children – aged 15, 11 and three in tow – my partner and I packed our sense of adventure and set off for a few unforgettable days of rollercoasters, shows, and sunshine.
Our base for the trip was Hotel Gold River, one of PortAventura’s on-site themed hotels. Stepping into the lobby felt like walking onto a film set where we half expected John Wayne to burst through the saloon doors at any moment.
Our room overlooked a Wild West “main street,” and each morning we’d wander past the clapboard façades to reach the park entrance. The convenience of staying on-site made all the difference – no parking wars or traffic jams, just an easy stroll to the day’s adventure. Plus, it helped that the plentiful breakfast buffets ensured we were well-fuelled and ready for the day ahead.
PortAventura is divided into several themed lands that celebrate different parts of the world, and exploring them felt like a global journey without the jet lag. Dining here is half the fun, too, as each “continent” offers a different culinary world. Even the snacks feel part of the story.
We began in Mediterrània, where Spanish music floated across the waterfront and the scent of paella drifted from the restaurants. From there, we crossed over into Mexico, where we celebrated the Day of the Dead before braving the towering Hurakan Condor drop tower.
In China, we took on the legendary Dragon Khan, a twisting roller coaster that roars through the air, weaving around our park favourite – Shambhala. If there’s anywhere to start rollercoaster training your kids, it’s definitely here. Thanks to our Express Passes, we were able to skip the ride queues – perfect for keeping the excitement high and the meltdowns low.
But if fast rides aren’t your thing, there’s still plenty else to do. Over in the Far West, the kids delighted in the old-fashioned shooting galleries and funfair games. The log flumes and water rapids are also a giggle (if you don’t mind getting drenched).
There are parades and shows aplenty for people who prefer to keep their feet firmly on the ground. Not to mention meet-and-greets with characters from the past, including Woody Woodpecker and Bert and Ernie. The little one was mesmerised by the Sesame Street characters and the 3D dark ride – Street Mission where he kicked butt at shooting at 3D cookies – even beating me!
The park’s newest attraction, Uncharted: The Enigma of Penitence, was a highlight for the older two. Inspired by the action-packed film, this is no ordinary coaster.
It’s a fully enclosed, multi-directional ride that hurls you into darkness with sudden twists, drops, and reversals you never see coming. We screamed, laughed, and stumbled out slightly dizzy but exhilarated, unanimously declaring it among our top five favourite rides of the trip.
This year, the entire resort buzzed with celebration, adorned with banners marking 30 years of thrills and family fun, along with themed menus to boot. But no visit to PortAventura World is complete without a detour to Ferrari Land, we couldn’t wait to test Red Force – Europe’s tallest and fastest roller coaster, which rockets from 0 to 180 km/h in just five seconds.
The kids’ faces when they climbed off said it all – pure, speechless awe. We spent time exploring the interactive exhibits, racing, simulators, and child-friendly driving zones, where even our three-year-old braved Junior Red Force.
Each evening we returned to Gold River, dusty, sun-warmed and grinning. From our window, we could see the distant glow of the park lights fading into the night – a perfect backdrop to the hum of tired excitement that only a day at a theme park can bring.
PortAventura’s 30th anniversary turned out to be more than just a milestone for the park, it became a celebration for our family too. A few days of laughter, adventure, and shared memories that reminded us how good it feels to play, to explore, and to be together. Our only regret was that we couldn’t be there for longer.