The theme park industry continues to perform well, despite the woes that have hit the global economy since 2008. In fact, there are dozens of new parks under construction (or soon to be) all over the world, including brand-new additions from the likes of Disney, Universal, and Six Flags. Although many of them are in the growing Asian market, there are also plans for new sites in both Europe and America.
Every month, Theme Park Tourist rounds up the new parks that are in the pipeline for locations all over the world. In addition to a description of what’s in store with each project, we also look at progress on funding and construction – as well as some contextual analysis as to why the millions of theme park fans around the globe should be excited for them.
1. The Skyscraper
Location: Orlando, Florida
Opening date: 2017
Current status: In planning
The last we heard of the Skyscraper, the tallest roller coaster in the world that will be installed on International Drive, the developers behind the record-breaking attraction had unleashed a POV video of what, exactly, it’ll be like to ride the behemoth. Developments occur quickly, however, and even though it’s only been a short month since the jaw-dropping video was made available, there’s already more to report – and, of course, to speculate – on.
First, the latest news: after already pledging to spend some $250 million on the Skyplex compound that will house the “mega-thrill ride,” the owners of Mango’s Tropical Café – who are bankrolling the project – have just dropped another $1.2 million on an one-and-a-half-acre slice of land on Canada Ave, according to I-Drive Orlando. The real estate was being used as parking for Pirate’s Dinner Adventure and will now serve the same function for the Skyplex, serving both guests’ and employees’ vehicles, as well as buses and shuttles. (The land grab follows several such purchases over the course of the past year, including parcels that used to contain a 7-Eleven and the World Bowling Center.)
Much more titillating, however, is one of the Skyscraper’s possible usages that, until now, has been on the backburner of most coverage.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Polercoaster model (which, of course, the Skyscraper is based off of) when it was first unveiled by manufacturers US Thrill Rides and S&S Worldwide three years ago was the fact that it could actually house several different attractions in one: the roller coaster itself, which stretches up and races back down the 570 feet of the tower, along with one or two additional stories atop the structure. These extra levels could function as either an observation deck (like the one atop the Seattle Space Needle) or as a mini-mall, featuring restaurants, stores, and, even, traditional theme park dark rides.
Our friend Lance over at Screamscape has an interesting hypothesis as to why the top of the Skyscraper’s tower looks the way it does, with a ringed platform running around its circumference. Assuming that it’s there for functionality and not aesthetics, Lance speculates that it looks suspiciously similar to attractions already seen in both New Zealand and Las Vegas: SkyWalk allows guests to take a stroll around a platform (wearing a roped safety harness, of course) at Sky Tower, while SkyJump has its patrons essentially bungee-jump their way back down to the ground from the top of the Stratosphere Hotel Casino.
Given the exorbitant price tag of Skyplex – it’s already reached the level of Universal’s first Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and it will only go up as ground is actually broken next year – incorporating such additional experiences (particularly ones so unique in the crowded attractions area) is a no-brainer.
2. Legoland Korea
Location: Chuncheon, South Korea
Opening date: March 2017
Current status: Under construction
If you thought global heavyweight Disney or the ever-more-expanding challenger Universal was leading the pack in terms of worldwide theme park construction, think again – it’s actually Merlin Entertainments who takes the crown, with its vow to open a new Legoland, on average, every two to three years.
The company has already opened two new parks since acquiring the Legoland property in 2005 – in Malaysia and, perhaps most famously, in Florida – and has announced plans for one in Japan. Now, thanks to ground being broken last month in South Korea, it can add an eighth entry to its global portfolio (that’s right – after only nine years, Merlin is already two-thirds of the way to catching up with Disney).
Costing just a tad more than I-Drive’s Skyplex at $270 million, Legoland Korea will be the largest Legoland in the world and will also, according to Travel Daily, feature “further retail and complementary leisure offerings.” Although no official attraction lineup has been disclosed, it’s expected to be largely consistent with the six extant parks in Europe, the United States, and Malaysia.
And as icing on the cake, the development has further bolstered the financial might of Merlin, which is already the second-largest theme park operator in the world; just this month, the company reported that its pre-tax earnings for 2014 are expected to be over $625 million.
At this rate, Merlin will no longer be able to be ignored by either Disney or Universal – it’s more than earned a seat at the table with the Big Two.
3. London Paramount Entertainment Resort
Location: Swanscombe, United Kingdom
Opening date: Spring 2020
Current status: In planning
After attaining government approval to start development in October and releasing its very first concept art in November – see the full report on those happenings here – London Paramount Entertainment Resort is finally ready to move full-steam ahead.
And that’s exactly what it did this month, inking a major deal with the BBC to deploy some of its most popular intellectual properties as attractions in the $3.14 billion theme park resort. According to The Verge, the franchises possibly involved include Doctor Who, the recently relaunched Sherlock, and Top Gear, although it should be noted that previously existing deals or other legal entanglements might get in the way of their eventual arrival (such as a rumored Doctor Who ride for Thorpe Park, which has reportedly been in the works for quite some time and is believed to debut sometime in 2016).
What’s perhaps even more interesting to note is that London Resort Company Holdings, the developer behind London Paramount Entertainment Resort, has the rights to not only utilize the BBC properties as rides in the park, but also as shows, meet-‘n-greet characters, and, even, hotel themes elsewhere in the resort. (If Universal Studios Japan just recently announced a brand-new hotel with a time-machine-themed elevator, why can’t London Resort Company do a TARDIS-branded one?)
When combined with Paramount’s own properties – everything from Mission: Impossible to Star Trek is already expected to be in the works for the park – the resulting lineup just might be enough to give the likes of Disney and Universal (and, apparently, Merlin Entertainments) a true run for their money; as The Verge noted, the latest season of Sherlock attracted roughly 69 million viewers in China alone – viewers who more than likely will be traveling to the United Kingdom and will, according to some recent tourism reports, spend some $1.5 billion by 2017.
By appealing to both the West and the East, London Paramount Entertainment Resort just may singlehandedly make the next decade the most competitive yet in the theme park wars.
