10. Primorsky Oceanarium (Vladivostok, Russia)
Image: Primorky Oceanarium
Status: Under construction
Opening in: Spring 2016
Set to be a SeaWorld-style combination of a massive aquarium, other attractions and a research center, The Primorsky Oceanarium is backed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Guests will be able to take tours, views exhibits, watch marine mammal shows and interact with dolphins. Construction progress has been agonizingly slow, though, with the complex originally having been due to open in 2012.
Image: Primorsky Oceanarium
The construction delays haven't been the only problem, either - the Oceanarium has attracted unwanted headlines about alleged sub-standard animal care that make even Blackfish look tame. The allegations included drunk people diving into tanks and distressing animals, a lengthy power cut resulting in death of fish and insufficent medicines being available to tend to the wildlife. Officials admitted that some animals had died as a result of being kept in tanks that weren't designed for them due to the building delays, as well as accepting that power cuts had occurred.
Image: Primorsky Oceanarium
The scale of the aquarium, if and when it does open, will be impressive - holding around 25,000 tons of water, making it one of the largest in the world. An underwater tunnel will be 70 meters long, 2.5 meters wide and equipped with a moving walkway. 800 species of marine and fresh water creatures are set to be on show.
Image: Primorsky Oceanarium
Concept art appears to show that 3-D shows and other theme park-style attractions will also be a part of the Oceanarium's line-up.
Image: President of Russia
After the seemingly endless delays (and allegations of money laundering and theft by top officials and contractors), Primorsky Oceanarium does finally seem to be (nearly) ready for a spring 2016 debut. That's Vladimir Putin above, checking personally on progress in September 2015.
9. Movie Animation Park Studios (Ipoh, Malaysia)
Image: Movie Animation Park Studios
Status: Nearing completion
Opening in: 2016
Due to open in July 2016, Movie Animation Park Studios has already begun selling tickets. Hosted partly indoors and partly outdoors, the park will feature a host of attractions based on animated movies and television shows.
Image: Movie Animation Park Studios
Popular Malaysian character BoBoiBoy (who has superpowers and the ability to separate into three) will have his own zone, the Animation Square. The DreamWorks Adventure Zone will be dominated by the 20-story MegaMind Megadrop tower ride, while the Smurfs will have their own live show in the Blast Off Zone. The Fantasy Forest will host child-friendly attractions, while a large arena will host the Stunt Legends show.
The first phase of construction consists solely of the theme park, but this is due to be followed by hotels and a water park at a later date.
8. LEGOLAND Dubai (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
Image: Merlin Entertainments
Status: Under construction
Opening in: 2016
It's well known that Dubai's effort to establish itself as a serious rival to Orlando collapsed in the face of the financial crisis. The sight of Universal Studios Dubailand's iconic gates leading to nowhere in the desert became perhaps the most potent symbol of the ambitious project's death throes.
From the ashes, though, has arisen a new plan - and this time, Dubai Parks and Resorts is for real. While significantly less ambitious than before, it will still be one of the biggest clusters of theme parks outside Florida (although it will not come anywhere close to Orlando's scale, at least initially). It'll boast its own equivalent of Universal's CityWalk or Disney's Downtown Disney/Disney Springs, packed with shops and restaurants - Riverland Dubai. As you can see in the artwork below, it looks like some serious money is being spent here.
Image: Dubai Parks and Resorts
Let's start with perhaps the least interesting park coming to Dubai Parks and Resorts - surprise, surprise, it's another LEGOLAND. Expect the usual array of rides for kids aged 2-12, and the usual selection of local and international landmarks recreated in LEGO for the Miniland section.
Image: Merlin Entertainments
We do have some specifics on this one - the park's version of The Dragon roller coaster (which will headline the LEGO Kingdom area of the park) was completed some time ago. It's a Zierer creation, standing at around 53 feet tall and reaching a top speed of 37 miles per hour. Expect it to wind its way in and out of a castle when the theming is completed (you can see it in the top right-hand corner of the above artwork, and in its un-themed form below),
Image: Merlin Entertainments / Dubai Parks and Resorts
LEGOLAND Dubai is expected to be ready for a "soft opening" of Dubai Parks and Resorts - possibly as early as September 2016. It will be accompanied by a LEGOLAND water park, similiar to those in Florida and California.
7. motiongate Dubai (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
Image: Dubai Parks and Resorts
Status: Under construction
Opening in: 2016
Outside of LEGOLAND, things become a lot more ambitious at Dubai Parks and Resorts. motiongate Dubai promises to bring Hollywood to the desert, featuring attractions based on the works of three major movie studios: Sony Pictures Studios, DreamWorks Animation and Lionsgate. It's certainly an impressive line-up, with the potential - if the budget matches the vision - to create a park that could rival Universal's best offerings.
Image: Dubai Parks and Resorts
motiongate Dubai will feature 27 attractions, as well as nine themed family restaurants. These will be spread across five themed zones: Studio Central (the entrance area), Sony Pictures Studios, Smurfs Village, DreamWorks and Lionsgate.
Studio Central.
Image: Dubai Parks and Resorts
Ironically, at a time when Universal and Disney are both radically changing their studio-themed parks to move away from a "behind the scenes" theme, motiongate's creators appear to be following the blueprint set by Disney-MGM Studios and Universal Studios Florida back in the 1980s. Visitors will begin their journey by stepping into Studio Central, which aims to bring the Golden Age of Hollywood to life using sets that represent New York. Publicity materials promise that guests will be able to "go behind the scenes and discover the illusion of filmmaking, theatrical opening shows and the characteristic executive offices of a working movie studio".
Sony Pictures Studios
Image: Dubai Parks and Resorts
Hotel Transylvania.
Image: Dubai Parks and Resorts
Sony Pictures Studios will host seven attractions, including a trackless dark ride based on Hotel Transylvania. This will see guests board four-passenger vehicles for a seven-minute trip, with a companion restaurant - the Hotel Beastro - featuring live character interactions.
Zombieland Blast Off.
Image: Dubai Parks and Resorts
Elsewhere, look for a Zombieland-themed S&S drop tower (anyone who has seen the terrifying final scenes of that movie will understand the significance of this drop tower). There'll also be a water ride themed around Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, a "white knuckle" Green Hornet experience and 4-D movies based on Ghostbusters and Underworld.
DreamWorks area.
Image: Dubai Parks and Resorts
DreamWorks area.
Image: Dubai Parks and Resorts
The DreamWorks area will be headlined by a Mack Rides-built How to Train Your Dragon dark ride, similar in style to the Arthur and the Invisibles suspended coaster/dark ride at Europa Park. There'll also be a trackless dark ride based on Shrek, and a classic swinging ship ride themed around the Dragon movies' Vikings.
Lionsgate area.
Image: Dubai Parks and Resorts
The most talked-about element of the Lionsgate area will undoubtedly be the Hunger Games-themed launched roller coaster, set to be themed around the high-speed trains that link the Districts.
Hunger Games theming.
Image: Dubai Parks and Resorts
Hunger Games launched coaster.
Image: Dubai Parks and Resorts
There'll also be a Star Tours-style simulator that will take guests on a hovercraft tour of the world of Panem. In a jarring switch of theme, a dance show based on Step Up, hosted in a 1000-seat theater, will be the area's only other major attraction.
Smurfs Village
Image: Dubai Parks and Resorts
The final area, Smurfs Village, is aimed at younger guests. They'll be able to step into the toadstool homes of the Smurfs, enjoy live shows, ride a kiddie coaster and enjoy multiple play areas.
motiongate is likely to absorb a large chunk of Dubai Parks and Resorts' reported $2.9 billion budget. Will it be enough to produce a Disney/Universal-quality experience? We'll have to wait and see.
6. Bollywood Parks Dubai (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
Image: Dubai Parks and Resorts
Status: Under construction
Opening in: 2016
Rounding out the line-up at Dubai Parks and Resorts is Bollywood Parks Dubai, which promises to be the first theme park in the world dedicated to all things Bollywood.
Image: Dubai Parks and Resorts
In many ways, it seems it will be an appropriate sister park to motiongate next door, offering an alternative, Indian-style movie experience, rather than motiongate's decidedly American focus. Bollywood Parks Dubai will cover around 70 acres, hosting 16 rides and attractions within five themed zones.
Bollywood Boulevard.
Image: Dubai Parks and Resorts
Visitors will enter onto Bollywood Boulevard, a mix of cafes, food carts, shops and live entertainment. The park's headline restaurant, Rock On! (inspired by a movie of the same name) promises to offer a lively atmosphere.
Mumbai Chowk.
Image: Dubai Parks and Resorts
Next, it's off to Mumbai Chowk, themed around the birthplace of Bollywood. This will feature a "3-D ride experience" through the streets of Dubai, with guests chasing a mafia boss. A recreation of Victoria Terminus will house a live dance show, with all of the songs being performed on mock trains.
Rustic Ravine.
Image: Dubai Parks and Resorts
Rustic Ravine is designed to represent the heart of rural India. A motion simulator will recreate, of all things, a game of cricket against the British Raj from the movie Lagaan. An interactive 3-D shooter game will see guests take on the bandit Gabbar Singh from the movie Sholay, while a live stunt show inspired by Dabanng will accommodate large crowds.
Royal Plaza.
Image: Dubai Parks and Resorts
The icon of Bollywood Parks Dubai is the Rajmahal Theatre, hosted in the Royal Plaza. This will host live shows throughout the day, with a ticketed Broadway-style Bollywood musical being hosted in the evenings.
Bollywood Film Studios.
Image: Dubai Parks and Resorts
The final land is the Bollywood Film Studios, where guests can sneak a peek into the production set of the Spanish-themed Bollywood movie Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and get a chance to be the star. In the Hall of Heroes, they can go on a simulated flight tour of India's landmarks with superhero Krrish. A theatre will also host a 4-D battle between RA.One as he takes on the "digital master" G.One.
As with motiongate, it all sounds very 1980s-era Disney-MGM Studios, and maybe that's not such a bad thing for those of us who miss those movie-themed parks.
Comments
I really don't like the design of that Shanghai castle. Way too much going on. Too ornate & cutesy. I guess Disney has done research to ensure this castle's design is appealing to Chinese?