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Universal Orlando is launching its new DreamWorks Land this summer with attractions including a Trolls coaster, Shrek’s Swamp and an interactive Kung Fu Panda experience. Here’s everything that will feature...
Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 04 Mar 2024
Shrek’s Swamp Meet will see visitors able to meet Shrek alongside other DreamWorks characters Credit: Universal
Universal Orlando Resort’s all-new DreamWorks Land is set to make its debut this summer, with characters and locations from Shrek, Trolls, Kung Fu Panda and more all set to feature.
Part of the Universal Studios Florida theme park, the expansive new land will include a number of new attractions, including a family-friendly coaster and multiple interactive play areas, as well as live entertainment and character meet and greets to create an immersive DreamWorks experience.
A key location within DreamWorks Land will be Shrek’s Swamp, which will feature a 35ft tall replica of Shrek’s home as seen in the franchise. Guests will be able to visit the cottage to meet characters such as Shrek, Donkey and Princess Fiona.
Within the themed area will be Shrek’s Swamp for Little Ogres - a kids play area featuring four slides, wet play areas and a playground based on Shrek’s outhouse.
From Puss in Boots 2, Mama Luna Feline Fiesta is an interactive experience that takes place in Mama Luna’s retirement home for cats. Inside, guests get to play with Mama Luna’s cats, and Puss in Boots himself, on interactive screens activated by buttons, bells, maracas and levers.
Finally for Shrek-themed attractions, King Harold’s Swamp Symphony sees guests create music by triggering a choir of frog ribbits by stamping on an array of interactive lily pads.
Meanwhile a Trolls-themed rollercoaster will be the signature ride of DreamWorks Land and the centrepiece of Trolls Village, which will feature at its heart a fountain featuring Trolls characters Poppy and Branch.
The family-friendly coaster, imagined by Universal’s creative team, sees guests of all ages able to take a ride on the Caterbus, with riders escaping evil spiders as they speed along a bright orange and yellow track.
More play areas feature in Trolls Village, with Poppy’s Playground sitting underneath a giant, 20ft mushroom. This shaded play area features colourful flowers and bugs with a range of bouncing and climbing structures for young children.
A retail area also features, with the High Five Hideaway offering apparel, plush and accessories from Shrek, Trolls, Kung Fu Panda, Gabby’s Dollhouse and more.
In Panda Village, visitors will be able to interact with Kung Fu Panda’s Po inside Po’s Kung Fu Training Camp. Within both wet and dry play areas, guests can help the pandas wash and dry their laundry with water cannons, dump buckets, giant fans and more. Guests will also encounter an interactive gong, mischievous baby pandas, and a merry-go-round resembling noodle bowls from Mr. Ping’s Noodle Shop.
Panda Village will also feature Po Live! - a digital, interactive meet and greet experience where guests can interact with the Dragon Warrior himself as he teaches them Kung Fu moves, cooks stir fry and babysits his little cousin, all at the same time.
DreamWorks Land will also feature DreamWorks Imagination Celebration, an immersive attraction where popular DreamWorks stories “leap off the screen and come to life”. The multisensory adventure combines pop songs, dancing, advanced technology and more. The land will also feature DreamWorks Character Zone - a meet and greet area for guests to interact with their favourite characters.
Finally, a range of themed F&B options and photo ops, as well as other entertainment offerings themed to popular DreamWorks stories and characters, will be on offer.
Universal describes DreamWorks Land as “a continuation of Universal’s commitment to rich storytelling that places guests of all ages in the most incredible and immersive environments”. The new themed area is a refresh of the park’s KidsZone space, which spans 16,000sq m (172,000sq ft).
The plans follow that of the all-new Minion Land at the park, which features an interactive, immersive gaming experience, for the Villain Con Minion Blast.
DreamWorks Land isn’t the only new Universal DreamWorks attraction coming to Universal’s Orlando parks. How to Train Your Dragon Isle of Berk is based on the popular Dreamworks animated hit How to Train Your Dragon and will be part of the under-construction Epic Universe, which is scheduled to open in 2025.
The themed land will be one of a number of ‘portals’, with Isle of Berk seeing visitors “soar with dragons in a colourful world filled with Viking adventures”, with one of the experiences including a chance for visitors to fly their own dragon.
Theme park
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