<P> In the film, the Walley World theme park is represented by Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California and Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California . Santa Anita Park's large parking lot and blue - tinged fascia served as the exterior of Walley World, while all park interior scenes were shot at Magic Mountain . The two roller coasters seen in the film are The New Revolution, which can be recognized by the vertical loop, and Colossus, the double - track wooden roller coaster . </P> <P> The movie's popularity gave rise to an ongoing cultural running gag of using the name "Wally World" (spelled as "Wally" without an "e") as a nickname for real - life retailer Walmart . </P> <P> The Wagon Queen Family Truckster station wagon was created specifically for the film . It is based on a 1979 Ford LTD Country Squire station wagon . The car was designed by George Barris, and it lampooned American cars of the late 1970s . The Truckster features a pale avocado metallic green paint scheme; extensive imitation wood - paneling decals; eight headlights (the second pair was taken from another Crown Victoria / Country Squire and mounted upside - down below the stock pair); a grille area largely covered by bodywork with only two small openings close to the bumper; an oddly - placed fuel filler door; and an airbag made from a trashcan liner . </P> <P> In the 2015 film Vacation (a sequel to the original), the Wagon Queen Family Truckster reappears at the bed - and - breakfast garage of Clark and Ellen Griswold . The Truckster used in this later film is the creation of Lisa and Steve Griswold, a real - life family living in Atlanta, who created the replica wagon to take family trips with their two daughters . In July 2014, the real - life Griswolds drove across the United States, visiting the locations seen in the original film, and ended their journey on the 31st anniversary of the film at Walley World (Six Flags Magic Mountain), so they could ride the Colossus before Six Flags' planned closure of the roller coaster . </P>

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