DreamWorks Animation in amusement parks

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Since the early 2000s, DreamWorks Animation , an American animation studio, owned by NBCUniversal, has had an involvement in the creation and theming of amusement park rides and attractions. This article details the ventures of DreamWorks Animation in amusement parks.

Contents

History

In 2003, Universal Parks & Resorts opened the 4D film called Shrek 4-D at Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Japan. The film is chronologically sequenced between the original 2001 film Shrek and Shrek 2 which was released in 2004. In 2005 and 2008, Shrek 4-D was added to Warner Bros. Movie World and Movie Park Germany respectively (the film was later removed from Warner Bros. Movie World and Movie Park Germany in favour of Journey to the Center of the Earth 4-D Adventure and Ice Age: The 4D Experience). [1]

On 18 March 2010, DreamWorks Animation moved further into the theme park industry with the opening of two themed lands at Universal Studios Singapore. The first land is Madagascar which is based upon the 2005 film of the same name. The second land is Far Far Away which is based on the Shrek franchise. Each of the lands featured a variety of attractions themed after the movies. In 2011, Dreamworld announced a $10 million deal with DreamWorks Animation to bring the company's characters to their amusement park. In a 3-stage development beginning on 19 December 2011, Dreamworld will open new shows and newly themed rides and attractions. [2]

In May 2012, the Brazilian theme park Beto Carrero World announced a partnership with DreamWorks Animation, later that year Shrek and other characters began to make meet and greets around the park. [3] The first area with DreamWorks Animation characters opened in February 2014, themed to Madagascar, the area features two attractions, a live show and a river rapids ride. [4] In March 2016, Beto Carrero World and DreamWorks Animation renewed the partnership for more 10 years, and announced three new themed areas featuring Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon , and Kung Fu Panda . The construction was scheduled to start in 2017. [5]

In July 2012, DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg announced that the attractions at the American Dream Mall (formerly Meadowland Mills and Meadowland Xanadu) in the Meadowlands Sports Complex at East Rutherford, New Jersey will be themed to DreamWorks' animated productions. [6] In September 2016, the mall's owner Triple Five Group announced that Nickelodeon Universe will also occupy the indoor amusement park space and DreamWorks Animation would work with partnership in creating the park. [7] In November 2018, the mall's vice president of Communications announced the opening date of September 2019 but by that date it was delayed to November 27, 2019, before being delayed again. [8] [9] By October 25, 2019, the Nickelodeon Universe theme park opened at the American Dream. [10] In February 2020, the park announced its opening date of March 19, 2020. [11] However, the onset COVID-19 pandemic caused American Dream to delay the opening again. [12] In September 2020, the park announced that it will finally open on October 1, 2020, along with the rest of the mall. [13] On October 1, 2020, DreamWorks Water Park officially opened to the public. [14]

In February 2013, it was revealed that DreamWorks Animation has partnered with Regions GC to build in Russia Europe's largest indoor theme parks. Set in Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Yekaterinburg, each park would incorporate a movie and concert hall, 4D movie theater, three-star 400-room hotel and retails. The parks, which were expected to be completed in 2015, would feature themes based on Shrek , Madagascar , How to Train Your Dragon , Kung Fu Panda , and Turbo . [15]

In May 2013, DreamWorks signed a licensing agreement with Sands China to bring its cast of animated characters to Sands Cotai Central in Macau. The resorts would present a series of performances, parades, dining experiences, meet-and-greets and photo opportunities highlighting characters such as Po from Kung Fu Panda; Shrek, Fiona and Puss in Boots from Shrek; Alex the Lion, King Julien and the Penguins from Madagascar and Toothless and Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon. [16]

Locations

ParkAreaOpening dateClosing datePrevious attractionReplaced by
American Dream Meadowlands [17] 19 March 2020 [19] ———
Beto Carrero World
  • Madagascar
10 October 2013———
Dreamworld 1 April 2012 [20] 2023 Kid's World
Nickelodeon Central 		Kenny and Belinda's Dreamland
Gardaland
  • Kung Fu Panda Academy
14 May 2016———
Heide Park Resort
  • Drachenzähmen - Die Insel
14 May 2016———
Motiongate Dubai
  • DreamWorks
    • Shrek
    • Madagascar
    • Kung Fu Panda
    • How to Train Your Dragon
16 December 2016———
Movie Park Germany Standalone attraction27 May 20082011 SpongeBob SquarePants 4-D Ice Age Dawn of the Dinosaurs: The 4-D Experience
Universal Studios Florida Standalone attractions12 June 2003
28 May 2021		10 January 2022
15 January 2023		 Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies
Stage 54
A Day in the Park with Barney 		Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast
  • DreamWorks Land [21]
2024 [21] — Woody Woodpecker's KidZone —
Universal Studios Hollywood Standalone attractions23 May 2003
15 June 2018		14 August 2017Rugrats Magic Adventure 3-D DreamWorks Theatre
Universal Studios Japan Standalone attraction20 June 2003———
Universal Studios Singapore
  • Far Far Away
  • Madagascar
18 March 201027 March 2022 (Madagascar) [22] —
Warner Bros. Movie World Standalone attractions17 September 2005 [1] 29 August 2010 [1] Marvin the Martian in 3D [23] Journey to the Center of the Earth 4-D Adventure [24]

Attractions

Below is a list of all of the attractions at DreamWorks Animation themed areas around the world. The dates shown in the columns refer to the opening and closing dates for the ride under that name. It does not mean that the ride was closed and/or removed.

AttractionType DW MPG USF USH USJ USS WBMW BCW
Donkey Live Interactive live show2010– [25]
Donkey's Photo Finish Meet and greet 2003–2022, 2022–2023
DreamWorks Holiday Shrektacular Show Live show2011–2012 [26] [27]
DreamWorks DestinationInteractive live show / Meet and greet 2021–2023
DreamWorks Theatre 4-D film/Motion simulator 2018–
Dronkey Flyers Children's rotating flat ride2012–2023 [27]
Enchanted Airways Junior roller coaster 2010– [28]
Escape from Madagascar Suspended Family Coaster 2012–2023 [27]
Gingy's Glider Kite Flyer 2012–2023 [27]
King Julien's Beach Party-Go-Round Carousel 2010–2022 [29]
King Julien's Theatre in the Wild Show stage2012–2023 [27]
Kung Fu Academy Play area2012–2023
MAD Jungle Jam Ball play area2012–2023 [27]
Madagascar: A Crate Adventure Water ride 2011–2022 [30]
Magic Potion Spin Children's Ferris wheel 2010– [31]
Meet Shrek and Donkey Meet and greet 2003–2017, 2018–
Pandamonium Zamperla Air Race2012–2023
Puss in Boots Sword Swing Swing ride 2012–2023 [27]
Puss in Boots' Giant Journey Inverted roller coaster 2015–
Shrek 4-D 4D film 2008–20112003–20222003–20172003–2010– [32] 2005–2010 [1]
Skadoosh Bumper cars 2012–2023
Shrek Live Live show ????–???? [33]
Shrek's Ogre-Go-Round Carousel 2012–2023 [26]
Madagascar Crazy River Adventure! River rapids ride 2014– [4]
Madagascar Circus Show!Live Show2014– [4]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Shrek 4D (Warner Bros. Movie World)". Parkz. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  2. ↑ Scott, Tessa (10 November 2011). "DreamWorks at Dreamworld". Nine Gold Coast News. Archived from the original on 1 May 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  3. ↑ "BETO CARRERO WORLD CONFIRMA ALIANÇA COM DREAMWORKS E UNIVERSAL STUDIOS". Beto Carrero World Press Release. 25 May 2012. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 "MADAGASCAR, DA DREAMWORKS ANIMATION, CHEGA AO BETO CARRERO WORLD". Beto Carrero World Press Release. 21 February 2014. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "Beto Carrero terá três novas áreas temáticas". Panrotas. 21 February 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "DreamWorks Plans "Shrek" Theme Park at Stalled NJ Mall".
  7. ↑ "SpongeBob, Ninja Turtles sign on with American Dream".
  8. ↑ "See the progress on the American Dream water park, now taking shape".
  9. ↑ "American Dream's theme park to open in October. For other attractions, you'll have to wait". 20 September 2019.
  10. ↑ "It's finally happening: American Dream mall will open Oct. 25".
  11. ↑ "Water park, some stores at American Dream mall announce openings". 27 February 2020.
  12. ↑ "American Dream closes over COVID-19, postpones opening of DreamWorks Water Park". 16 March 2020.
  13. ↑ "American Dream announces reopening date, but it's far away". 3 September 2020.
  14. ↑ "American Dream mega-mall reopens Thursday. What to know about stores, parking, water park". October 2020.
  15. ↑ Tartaglione, Nancy (15 February 2013). "DreamWorks Animation Plans Indoor Theme Parks in Three Russian Cities". Deadline. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  16. ↑ Yu, Grace (2 May 2013). "Sands China-DreamWorks agreement: Shrek, Kung Fu Panda and more coming to Cotai". Macau Daily Times. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  17. ↑ "American Dream Meadowlands Is Slated to (Finally!) Open in March 2019" . Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  18. ↑ "American Dream Meadowlands Is Slated to (Finally!) Open in March 2019" . Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  19. ↑ "Opening date for American Dream water park and some retail stores announced". North Jersey. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  20. ↑ "Dreamworld Unveils Spectacular End of 2011: New World-Class Entertainment Alliance with DreamWorks Animation". Press Release. Dreamworld. 10 November 2011. Archived from the original on 22 May 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  21. 1 2 Goldsmith, Jill (20 July 2023). "Universal Studios Florida To Debut DreamWorks Land In 2024". Deadline. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  22. ↑ Niles, Robert (18 February 2022). "Madagascar gets 'One Last Boogie' at Universal Singapore". Theme Park Insider. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  23. ↑ "Marvin the Martian in 3D (Warner Bros. Movie World)". Parkz. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  24. ↑ "Journey to the Center of the Earth 4-D Adventure (Warner Bros. Movie World)". Parkz. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  25. ↑ Universal Studios Singapore. "Donkey Live". Resorts World Sentosa. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  26. 1 2 Abate, Amanda (10 November 2011). "DreamWorks Deal". Seven News. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Dreamworld To Open New Dreamworks Animation Precinct". Press Release. Dreamworld. February 2012. Archived from the original on 15 November 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  28. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Enchanted Airways  (Warner Bros. Movie World)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  29. ↑ Universal Studios Singapore. "King Julien's Beach Party-Go-Round". Resorts World Sentosa. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  30. ↑ Universal Studios Singapore. "Madagascar: A Crate Adventure". Resorts World Sentosa. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  31. ↑ Universal Studios Singapore. "Magic Potion Spin". Resorts World Sentosa. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  32. ↑ Universal Studios Singapore. "Shrek 4-D Adventure". Resorts World Sentosa. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  33. ↑ "Shrek Live (Warner Bros. Movie World)". Parkz. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
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