In the heady world of theme parks, 2010 belongs to Harry Potter and Hogwarts. Few new attractions in recent years have been as hotly anticipated as Universal Orlando Resort’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction, set to open its hallowed doors in spring.
Everything about the ‘immersive’ park in Universal’s Islands of Adventure park is massive, from its physical size to the cost and build time, and Universal has already been promoting it hard since February.
On entering the park, visitors will be greeted by the spectacle of the Hogsmeade Express steam train chugging into Hogsmeade Station before pushing on to explore faithful recreations of such Potter mainstays as Hogwarts Castle.
When they tire of that they can indulge in a bit of retail therapy in Zonko’s joke shop, Honeydukes sweet shop and Ollivanders wand shop before kicking back with a butterbeer or pumpkin juice in The Hog’s Head pub.
Rides in the resort include Dragon Challenge, a twin high-speed roller coaster based on the Triwizard Tournament, and the family-friendly Flight of the Hippogriff coaster over the grounds of Hogwarts Castle. Inside the castle, big draws include Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, which draws heavily on new technology to bring the Potter stories to life.
Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore
As if it didn’t have its hands full with Potter and Co, on March 18 Universal will open its first theme park in Southeast Asia.
Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore comes complete with casinos, restaurants and shopping options-a-plenty, along with 24 major film-based rides and attractions spread over seven different themed zones such as Hollywood, Sci-Fi City and The Lost World.
Stand-out rides include the Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure and Battlestar Galactica, a dual-track roller coaster that will pit riders in the cars on one track against those in the other.
Future plans include adding the world’s largest Marine Life Park, a destination spa and two more hotels, bringing the total to six.
And just to prove that theme parks are like buses, Singapore is set to get another major park in the shape of Marina Bay Sands, located on the mainland. The first phase of the resort will officially open on April 27, while a second phase is set to open on June 23.
PortAventura, Spain
Closer to home, PortAventura, the popular Spanish theme park that re-opens on March 26, has launched a range of special deals to celebrate its 15th birthday.
For the first time, it is offering all-inclusive packages at its Mexican-themed hotel El Paso, including unlimited entrance to the theme park, half price entry to Port-Aventura Aquatic Park and exclusive Beach Club, and half price queue-busting PortAventura Express Passes.
In addition, UK and Ireland customers who book before March 31 will get 14 days for the price of four. The park has also teamed up with Thomas Cook, First Choice and Thomson to offer free child places this summer. The offer applies for the first child and relates to bookings made before June.
Disneyland Paris
Staying in Europe, the big news at Disneyland Paris is the April 1 launch of the New Generation Festival.
The festival will last for a year and there will be a new show and parade floats featuring characters such as Princess Tiana, Buzz Lightyear, and Lilo and Stitch. Then in August, a whole new land will arrive in the Walt Disney Studios park.
Visitors to Toy Story Playland will get the sensation of having been shrunk to the scale of toys in an enormous playground and can experience three new attractions – Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop, a dive simulation with Andy’s Green Army Men; a family-friendly coaster, the Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin; and roller coaster RC Racer.
Dubai
Future openings in Dubai are based around the massive Dubailand development, including a Six Flags theme park, the first outside the US; a Universal Studios park; Universal City, with a wide range of attractions based on movies and TV shows on a 149-acre site; and F1-X theme park based on a range of attractions related to Formula 1 racing, from roller coasters to more family orientated junior rides and attractions.
Recently opened attractions in the emirate include Kidzania, where young visitors get to act like grown-ups and try their hand at different professions from pilot to surgeon, and effectively run their own city.
Abu Dhabi
Less than an hour’s drive down the road on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi’s massive new tourism destination development, all the talk – at least among petrol heads – is about Ferrari World. At some 200,000sq metres, it will be the world’s largest indoor park.
The new attraction will open towards the end of 2010, in time for the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which will be held next door on the Yas Marina Circuit, and promises to deliver “an intense multi-sensory experience and a must-visit for enthusiasts, fans and families”.
But although it will feature more than 20 rides and attractions, including state-of-the-art racing car simulators and a flume ride through the heart of a Ferrari 599 engine, the buzz on the blogs is all about the world’s fastest roller coaster, set to catapult visitors from 0 to more than 200 km/h in a bone crunching four seconds and propel them through the roof to a heady height of just over 62 metres. What’s not to love?
Florida
Earlier this year, visitor attraction operator Merlin Entertainments announced plans to open the world’s biggest Legoland in Florida at the end of 2011. Located on the 145-acre site of the historical Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, about a 30-minute drive from Orlando.
The year-round resort will be geared towards families with children aged between two and 12, and will feature more than 50 rides, shows and interactive attractions, as well as oversized Lego models.
News in brief
Over in Orlando, Florida, SeaWorld’s water park, Aquatica, will debut a new attraction this spring. The Omaka Rocka waterslide will deliver a sensation of near-weightlessness.
New for 2010 at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Florida, Sesame Street: Safari Of Fun will include a range of attractions including a junior coaster, Air Grover, based on the Muppet character Grover, and a 4D cinema. There is also a series of ‘behind the scenes’ tours, offering an insight into how the many animals are looked after.
Over at Universal Studios Hollywood, a new 3D King Kong attraction will replace the attraction that was destroyed in a fire in 2008.
At Disneyland in California, the big news this year is the return of Captain EO, a 17-minute, 3D musical spectacular featuring the smooth moves of Michael Jackson. The show previously ran from 1986-1997.
Legoland Windsor re-opens on March 20 with a new area, Pirates Landing. Wannabe salty sea dogs can hone their swashbuckling skills at the interactive Pirates Training Camp, make sail on the swinging Jolly Rocker ride and get soaked at Pirate Falls Dynamite Drench.
And in Germany, Europa-Park has a new water ride, Whale Adventures – Splash Tours.
Ticketing info
Keith Prowse Attraction Tickets is offering ‘14 days for the price of seven’ deals on its Disney Ultimate Ticket, which provides unlimited entry to all Disney parks; the new Orlando Mega Park Pass, for Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort; and the Walt Disney World Resort ticket.
Respectively, the cost of a ticket for adults and children (aged three to nine) is from £219 and £199; £318 and £280; and £247 and £215 for tickets booked before March 31 for use by December 31. keithprowse.com/agents, 02890 232425
Agents will receive a £5 Love2shop voucher for every ticket booked. Email the booking reference to agentincentive@keithprowse.com.
Attraction World’s New-to-Do ticket, aimed at repeat visitors to Florida, will include entry to new attractions such as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando and Busch Gardens. The multi-ticket – £153 per adult and £141 per child – combines 14 days’ unlimited entry at Aquatica, Seaworld, Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios.
Its other options include a multi-ticket aimed at first timers. The One ticket (£409 per adult, £369 per child) offers 14 days’ consecutive entry to Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, Aquatica and Busch Gardens. attractionworld.com, 0871 700 8888
Sample product
A seven-night Universal Orlando Resort package with Virgin Holidays, including flights to Virgin Atlantic from Gatwick or Manchester, accommodation at Loews Royal Pacific Resort on a room-only basis and hire car, starts from £1,015 per person for departures between May 6-16, representing a saving of up to £184. The price is based on two adults travelling and sharing a standard room. In addition, agents can also book Universal Orlando Resort Tickets through the operator. A Two Park or Three Park Bonus Ticket costs from £76 (adult) and £71 (child) and £96 (adult) and from £91 (child) respectively.
vhols4agents.co.uk, 0844 557 3982
Dertour offers packages to Europa-Park, Germany, which also features Europe’s highest roller coaster, SilverStar, and a 4D cinema, leading in at £135 per person for one night’s accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis in a four-star hotel and two days’ entry to the park. dertour.co.uk/travel_agents,
020 7290 1111
