By Tim Baldwin via Amusement Today
http://www.amusementtoday.com/issues/2021/202104/
What’s next? A new theme park. Previously, Genting Theme Park entertained visitors from 1978 to 2013. The resort offered indoor and outdoor attractions but closed the outdoor theme park in 2013 when Genting Resorts implemented a 10 year masterplan. The desire to make the theme park a world class showcase has taken longer than desired, but the thematic results are nothing short of striking. The 26 acre park is the result of $800 million in investment and innovation.
All of this takes place 6,000 feet above sea level, making for a destination in and of itself. Year-round climate is subtropical and has spring-like temperatures of lows in the 50s and highs primarily in the 70s, making for comfort-able conditions. While temperatures are ideal, the resort receives several inches of rain a month, with an annual rain-fall of almost 97 inches.
No set opening date is con-firmed, but the park is optimistic for a summer debut.
Genting Skyworlds is the name of the newly imagined theme park. The logo features an amalgamation of clouds, stars and the façade of the park. The clouds symbolize the resort’s “elevated” positioning.
According to a press statement: “The five stars represent the Genting brand’s five core values of hard work, honesty, harmony, loyalty and compassion.”
“Genting SkyWorlds is the result of many years of hard work by our dedicated team members and our partners from all over the world. We are almost ready. We are put-ting the finishing touches to this amazing theme park. We believe we will deliver the very best experience to our guests throughout this journey,” said Mr. Lee Thiam Kit, head of business operations and strate-gies, Resorts World Genting.
An ambitious nine themed lands will greet visitors once gates open: Eagle Mountain, Central Park, Liberty Lane, Robots Rivet Town, Andromeda Base, Ice Age, Studio Plaza, Epic and Rio. Many of these areas’ themes are indicative by the names, but some still intrigue future guests with final details being kept under wraps. Some of the themes are original concepts developed by the park, but SkyWorlds has partnered with 20th Century Studios to also provide attractions based on such IPs as Night at the Museum, Ice Age, Rio and Planet of the Apes, among others.
Dynamic Attractions has two centerpiece rides for the park’s grand opening: a cutting-edge Synergy Coaster as well as its highly popular flying theater. After previously unveiling the thriller at IAAPA Expo as Duel Power Coaster, Dynamic Attractions changed the name of the product line to Synergy Coaster to eliminate any confusing aspects of the terminology.
“It has been thrilling to see this theme park come to life,” Executive Vice President of Business Development Cindy Emerick Whitson told Amusement Today. “Genting SkyWorlds has done a great job, and we are very proud to be their partner. They have set new benchmarks in theme attraction designs and ride experiences; being part of that is a privilege. The park’s location is extraordinary, set in the beautiful highlands. There’s no doubt it will be a beacon in entertainment for Asia.”
SkyWorlds has named the Synergy Coaster Mad Ramp Peak, and it is expected to be a marquee draw. It will be one of a handful worlds’ firsts once the park opens its gates. With a coaster-like feel, this powered attraction will seat riders on six-passenger vehicles that mimic motorcycles racing through a California-inspired canyon. Along the way, sections of switch track send trains along other paths so that vehicles can align at rally points to race each other.
“It’s a very complicated and expensive piece of hardware,” said Gregory Pearn, head of theme parks, Resort World Genting. Eager to welcome riders, Pearn noted the showpiece was an investment of more than $50 million.
Also in the mix is an S&S-Sansei air-launched tower. The company hints that it was requested to develop a first-of-its-kind feature. While not at liberty to discuss the element in detail, S&S doesn’t reveal any spoilers by saying it is incorporated into the storyline of the attraction’s queue.
Zamperla had previously provided multiple attractions for the indoor theme park. For SkyWorlds, an Air Race 6.4 is getting a thematic overlay.
“The customer request was to recreate the experience of climbing into a Marine Drop Ship and swoop over a distant planet,” said Nicolas Trentin, marketing manager, Zamperla. “Our art department has worked hard on colors and materials in order to reproduce the required scenario at our best, creating super-customized vehicles with different visual effects and an impactful lights package.”
Other manufacturers are supplying rides. In all, the park has 26 attractions. The intention is for the ride mix to be for all audiences, embrac-ing a wide range that exists within families.
“In terms of size when com-pared to Universal Singapore, we are a little bit smaller, but we still have the same amount of attractions,” said Kit.
“Part of our entertainment is our food,” said Executive Vice President of Leisure & Hospitality Dato Edward Halloway. “Every single item in every part of the park will be dif-ferent. You’ll have such a wide variety; it will be amazing.”
“We’re working with partners like Alibaba for virtual queue technology,” said Pearn. “It will really enhance the guest experience so that everyone gets to do everything during their day.”
Management fully admits that the hopes of opening in 2020 were hampered by the global health crisis. Currently, when the time to open does arrive, they feel it is in the best interest to ease into it until capacity restrictions are no longer an issue. When realized fully, the park is designed to accommodate 20,000 guests.
