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NEWS
Wannado prepares launch
POSTED 13 Jul 2004 . BY
Wannado City, America’s first indoor role-playing theme park, is preparing to open its doors in August at the Sawgrass Mills Mall in Florida.

The 140,000sq ft site is aimed at children aged between four and 11 years-old and is designed to allow them to live out their dream careers.

The interactive concept encourages role-playing and features 60 different venues with over 250 careers for children to choose from.

Upon arrival, the visitors will find a fire and police station, hospital, circus, theatre, racetrack, restaurant and a news centre.

Children can then pursue a mini-career from a selection of jobs, including archaeologist, chef, dentist, detective, doctor and newspaper editor.

Each site has a ‘coach’, teaching basic skills and games relating to their choice of profession.

For their work, children will earn Wongas – the official currency of Wannado City. Each career carries a paycheck, which will then be paid into a savings account created in the child’s name for the day. Throughout the day, the children must make decisions how to spend their money, such as whether to buy food or spend it at the dance club.

Luis Javier Laresgoiti, chief creative officer, said: “The idea for this concept was born when I saw how much my daughter loved playing with my office equipment. Toy phones and faxes didn’t do the job – she loved to play with real ones.

“Wannado City offers kids a place where they can let their imaginations take flight and play out their dreams in a reality-based city, created just for them.”

Wannado City will be operated by Wannado Entertainment – a subsidiary of entertainment corporation, CIE – and has appointed Curtis Parks as its general manager.

Parks, who begun his career at Schlitterbarn Waterpark and Resorts in Texas, joins Wannado from the Wet’n Wild waterpark in Las Vegas, where he was general manager.

Jane Cooper, CEO of Wannado, said: “We hope that Curtis’ vast experience in strategic planning and operations will ensure Wannado City to establish the highest standards for our children and parent visitors.”

Wannado Entertainment aims to roll out the Wannado City concept throughout the US. Details: www.wannadocity.com

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NEWS
Wannado prepares launch
POSTED 13 Jul 2004 . BY
Wannado City, America’s first indoor role-playing theme park, is preparing to open its doors in August at the Sawgrass Mills Mall in Florida.

The 140,000sq ft site is aimed at children aged between four and 11 years-old and is designed to allow them to live out their dream careers.

The interactive concept encourages role-playing and features 60 different venues with over 250 careers for children to choose from.

Upon arrival, the visitors will find a fire and police station, hospital, circus, theatre, racetrack, restaurant and a news centre.

Children can then pursue a mini-career from a selection of jobs, including archaeologist, chef, dentist, detective, doctor and newspaper editor.

Each site has a ‘coach’, teaching basic skills and games relating to their choice of profession.

For their work, children will earn Wongas – the official currency of Wannado City. Each career carries a paycheck, which will then be paid into a savings account created in the child’s name for the day. Throughout the day, the children must make decisions how to spend their money, such as whether to buy food or spend it at the dance club.

Luis Javier Laresgoiti, chief creative officer, said: “The idea for this concept was born when I saw how much my daughter loved playing with my office equipment. Toy phones and faxes didn’t do the job – she loved to play with real ones.

“Wannado City offers kids a place where they can let their imaginations take flight and play out their dreams in a reality-based city, created just for them.”

Wannado City will be operated by Wannado Entertainment – a subsidiary of entertainment corporation, CIE – and has appointed Curtis Parks as its general manager.

Parks, who begun his career at Schlitterbarn Waterpark and Resorts in Texas, joins Wannado from the Wet’n Wild waterpark in Las Vegas, where he was general manager.

Jane Cooper, CEO of Wannado, said: “We hope that Curtis’ vast experience in strategic planning and operations will ensure Wannado City to establish the highest standards for our children and parent visitors.”

Wannado Entertainment aims to roll out the Wannado City concept throughout the US. Details: www.wannadocity.com

MORE NEWS
Bob Rogers hands BRC to long-serving leadership team
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while remaining actively involved with the company.
Rainer Maelzer joins Therme Group as chief entertainment officer
Rainer Maelzer, an experiential entertainment innovator, has been appointed chief entertainment officer by Therme Group.
Movie Park Germany reveals new Paramount attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK. 
Efteling expands family offer with new Hooghmoed drop tower
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
Universal and Puy du Fou projects point to rise of Oxford–Cambridge corridor
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’ planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford– Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
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COMPANY PROFILES
Painting With Light

By combining lighting, video, scenic and architectural elements, sound and special effects we tell s [more...]
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V.

Vekoma Rides has a large variety of coasters and attractions. [more...]
Polin Waterparks

Polin was founded in Istanbul in 1976. Polin has since grown into a leading company in the waterpa [more...]
instantprint

We’re a Yorkshire-based online printer, founded in 2009 by Adam Carnell and James Kinsella. [more...]
+ More profiles  
FEATURED SUPPLIER

Iconic Liverpool attraction opens door to new operators
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its next phase. [more...]
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

09-11 Jun 2026

World Sauna Forum 2026

Savutuvan Apaja, Haapaniemi, Finland
23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
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