Rodolphe Bouin / MAGE: FUTUROSCOPE

Due to open July 2024, Futuroscope’s Aquascope indoor waterpark will combine water and digital technology in a unique way. Futuroscope has invested just under E60 million in the project, making it the park’s largest investment since it was founded.

“We’re creating a waterpark that’s unlike anything that’s been done before,” said Futuroscope CEO Rodolphe Bouin, speaking to Attractions Management. “It will offer highly original aqua digital experiences. Innovation and creativity are at the heart of what we do.”

The Immersion zone features an aquatic cinema, an underwater viewing experience, a futuristic zone with on-water video mapping, water jets and special effects. The digital set design was created by multi-media entertainment company Moment Factory.

The Thrill zone features eight slides, some designed exclusively for Aquascope, all accessible from a central hub. They include a spiral slide that winds its way outside the building, a vertical drop-launch slide, a head-first slide and a two-lane Racer slide. A bar and DJ area will be used for night-time events.

An Aquafun zone for children aged three and over, designed around the theme of the mascot Kraki. This will also feature a 350m-long lazy river that will wind its way through the aquapark’s three zones. The park also features an outside area with a ‘dynamic river’ an outdoor pool and a beach area.

The waterpark will have its own ticket office and will be able to accommodate a maximum of 1,500 people at any one time.

Universal Orlando Resort is launching DreamWorks Land this summer – a new themed environment inspired by DreamWorks Animation characters Shrek, Trolls and Kung Fu Panda.

Located in the Universal Studios Florida theme park, the new area will include a family-friendly coaster, multiple interactive play areas, live entertainment, character meet and greets and more.

As soon as guests step into the spectacular new land, the vivid world and imagination of DreamWorks Animation will surround them as they embark on exciting adventures like exploring Shrek’s Swamp just outside of his 35-foot-tall cottage, taking a ride on a dazzling Trollercoaster, interacting with Po in the Panda Village and meeting favourite characters like Gabby from Gabby’s Dollhouse. Guests will also discover unique treats, photo-op-worthy murals, interactive play areas, splash pads and entertainment offerings themed to popular stories and characters from DreamWorks Animation, which is part of the NBCUniversal family of companies.

The Shrek-inspired zone will feature a 35-ft-high Shrek cottage, Shrek’s Swamp Meet, where guests can interact with Shrek, Princess Fiona and Donkey, the Shrek’s Swamp for Little Ogres play area and Mama Luna Feline Fiesta – an interactive experience that brings Puss in Boots 2: The Last Wish to life.

Themeing in the Trolls Village will include a marquee starring Trolls characters, a play area under the shade of a 20-foot mushroom and a fountain featuring Poppy and Branch. This zone will also be home to a family-friendly rollercoaster and a F&B kiosk designed to look like Poppy’s boombox from Trolls Band Together.

Kung Fu Panda-inspired experiences include a digital interactive meet and greet experience and the Po’s Kung Fu Training Area playground.

Additional experiences in the new DreamWorks land include a multi-sensory attraction in the new DreamWorks Theater called Imagination Celebration which will combine pop songs, dancing and advanced technology.

Disney’s Splash Mountain log flume ride closed at Walt Disney World in January 2023, and Disneyland in May 2023.

The closure of the flume ride, which was based on the 1946 Disney film, Song of the South, followed criticisms that it used racist stereotypes and romanticised plantation life in the American South.

The ride will be reimagined at both parks, to reopen as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, based on the 2009 film Princess and the Frog. Disney promises to offer guests a musical journey with Princess Tiana, Naveen and jazz-loving alligator Louis set against the backdrop of New Orleans and the Louisiana bayou. The ride will feature original music, as well as songs from the film.

Disney said: “The re-theming of Splash Mountain is of particular importance today. The new concept is inclusive – one that all of our guests can connect with and be inspired by, and it speaks to the diversity of the millions of people who visit our parks each year.”

The ride is also due to open at Disneyland California later this year, although no opening date has yet been given.

Opening in June, the Fantasy Springs expansion at DisneySea Tokyo consists of three areas inspired by the Disney films Frozen, Tangled and Peter Pan.

Frozen will be brought to life in the Frozen Kingdom, featuring a themed area based on Anna and Elsa’s home Arendelle, including Arendelle Castle. The Frozen Journey boat ride will take guests on a journey through Anna and Elsa’s memories, and will feature songs from Frozen including Do You Want to Build a Snowman, For the First Time in Forever, and Love Is an Open Door. The climax of the attraction depicts Anna turning to ice in an attempt to save Elsa from Hans.

Frozen Kingdom will also be home to immersive restaurant Royal Banquet of Arendelle.

The Tangled-themed area Rapunzel’s Forest features another boat ride, Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival. This gondola tour tells the story of Rapunzel exploring the kingdom of Corona. The area is home to the Snuggly Duckling restaurant.

Peter Pan’s Never Land will feature two dark rides: Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies, which promises to shrink guests to the size of fairies, and Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure, which allows guests to ‘to soar alongside Peter Pan, Tinker Bell and the Lost Kids as they attempt to save John from the clutches of Captain Hook.’

The Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Hotel is made up of two buildings: Fantasy Chateau, offering ‘deluxe’ accommodation, and Grand Chateau, the area’s luxury offering. Interiors will be inspired by Disney princesses, flora and fauna with motifs of the themed port, and more.

This one is not due to open until 2025, but it’s such a major project that we had to mention it. Earlier this year Universal Orlando Resort shared details and images of its major new theme park, Universal Epic Universe.

Epic Universe is described by Universal Orlando as “a radically transformational theme park experience that will fully immerse guests in beloved cross-generational stories that empower them to be the epic heroes of their adventures.” The park is located a just a few miles from Universal Orlando’s three other theme parks - Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Volcano Bay – and will feature more than 50 attraction, entertainment, F&B and shopping experiences.

The new park will feature five immersive worlds.

The first world guests will encounter at Epic Universe, Celestial Park will feature acres of rolling gardens, waterways and pathways. This area will feature architecture inspired by astronomical and mythological elements, as well as rides including the Starfall Racers dual-launch racing coaster, the Constellation Carousel and the Astronimica interactive wet play area.

and discover a new way to play as they step into the worlds of beloved characters like Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Donkey Kong.”

In this themed area, guests will discover “a different era of the wizarding world in an all-new land that blends 1920s wizarding Paris from Warner Bros Pictures’ Fantastic Beasts films with the iconic British Ministry of Magic from the Harry Potter series.”

In this zone, guests can “soar with dragons in a colourful world filled with Viking adventures based on the wildly popular How to Train Your Dragon film franchise.

Here guests encounter everything from the experiments of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein to the shadowy landscape where monsters roam in a world of myth and mystery.

Epic Universe will be adjacent to three new Universal hotels, co-owned and operated by Loews Hotels & Co, – including sister properties, Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort, and the majestic Universal Helios Grand Hotel – which is located inside of the theme park.

Warner Bros Movie World is launching a new Wizard of Oz themed land this year, based on the 1939 film.

The park, which opened in 1991, is located on Australia’s Gold Coast. The new ‘multi million dollar immersive precinct’ will feature a range of themed environments and attractions, and two family-friendly rollercoasters. The first, the Flight of the Wicked Witch, is a suspended family coaster with a 454m-long track. It will be 19m-high with a maximum speed of 67km/h.

The second coaster, the Kansas Twister, is a boomerang racer, featuring two racing tracks of 225m-long and 220m-long, 22m high and max speed of 58km/h.

The Wizard of Oz land will feature immersive themeing, including a recreation of the Yellow Brick Road from the film.

“This precinct is going to be like nothing we have ever done at Movie World and we are working closely with our partners at Warner Bros Themed Entertainment to make this one of the most beautifully themed precincts in Australian theme parks,” said Clark Kirby, CEO of Village Roadshow Theme Parks, the company that operates the park.

“The new precinct will be developed in the retired Arkham Asylum area and will transform the space into the colourful and vibrant world of Oz,” he said.

“Movie World fans in Australia will get to step into Oz like no fan has done before,” said Peter van Roden, senior vice president of global themed entertainment at Warner Bros Discovery.

“A first of its kind, the Wizard of Oz land will extend the storytelling and bring one of the most iconic and beloved films to life in an amazing way.

“We’re over the moon to be bringing Oz to guests of Movie World in 2024.”

Merlin’s Scott O’Neil / IMAGE: MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS

As part of the continuing collaboration between Merlin Entertainments and Hasbro, two new Peppa Pig Theme Parks are set to open this year.

The first, opening next to the Legoland Deutschland Resort in May, will be the EU’s first independent Peppa Pig Park, and will feature a colourful mix of attractions, including multiple rides, interactive attractions, themed playscapes and shows, all based on locations from the Peppa Pig brand.

Merlin’s second Peppa Pig Theme Park, opening in Texas, US, broke ground in June 2023 and is due to open later this year. Designed for children under six, Peppa Pig Theme Park Dallas-Fort Worth will feature rides, interactive attractions, themed playscapes and shows. Rides include Daddy Pig’s Rollercoaster, Peppa Pig’s Balloon Ride, Grandad Dog’s Pirate Boat Ride, Grampy Rabbit’s Dinosaur Adventure and Mr Bull’s High Striker. Playspaces include a Muddy Puddles Splash Pad, Rebecca Rabbit’s Playground, Peppa Pig’s Treehouse and Madame Gazelle’s Nature Trail, while live shows will run throughout the day at Mr Potato’s Showtime Arena.

“The success of the first Peppa Pig Theme Park has been phenomenal, and we’re excited to embark on the journey again with our friends at Merlin to expand the reach of this immersive experience,” said Matt Proulx, vice president of location-based entertainment at Hasbro.

“At Merlin Entertainments, we’re dedicated to creating experiences that bring joy, stimulate learning and imagination,” said Scott O’Neil, CEO at Merlin Entertainments.

Barbie definitely had a moment in 2023, and that’s set to continue this year with the opening of the Mattel Adventure Park indoor/outdoor theme park in Glendale, Arizona.

As well as Barbie, the theme park will also bring to life Mattel toy brands including Hot Wheels, Thomas the Tank Engine and Masters of the Universe.

Barbie fans will be able to visit the Barbie Beach House, featuring the Barbie Dream Closet Experience which will use “hologram technology to bring Barbie to life before guests’eyes,” according to Mattel.

The park’s thrill rides will be based on the Hot Wheels brand, with two Hot Wheels-themed rollercoasters - Hot Wheels Bone Shaker: The Ultimate Ride and the Hot Wheels Twin Mill Racer. The Hot Wheels Bone Shaker: The Ultimate Ride is a family ride that climbs 84ft high, while the Hot Wheels Twin Mill Racer features a double loop and two corkscrews.

Other attractions will include a 4,500sq ft Masters of the Universe-themed laser tag arena; a Thomas and Friends-themed area featuring seven attractions and rides aimed at younger children; and a mini golf course inspired by Pictionary and Magic 8 Ball.

“Mattel Adventure Park features a unique and strategic year-round indoor/outdoor design providing acres of air-conditioned space to ensure a cool guest experience all summer long here in the heat of Arizona,” said Mark Cornell, president at Epic Resort Destinations.

“Our attractions development team are redefining the entertainment channel by bringing Mattel’s powerhouse, evergreen brands to life like never before.”