Amusement Park News

DreamWorks Land is now a part of Universal Orlando. The new land is a complete revamp of what was the park's KidsZone space. This new addition to the park is designed to bring young guests directly into the world of hit DreamWorks Animated movies.

The land features five interactive areas, all based on characters from DreamWorks animation's quiver of films, including Trolls, Shrek, and Kung Fu Panda. The appeal is focused squarely on younger guests and their families.

The five areas include Shrek's Swamp for Little Ogres, Poppy's Playground, King Harold's Swamp Symphony, Mama Luna's Feline Fiesta, and Po's Kung Fu Training Camp.

Each area has its own activity-filled fun. Shrek's Swamp features a 35-foot-tall replica of Shrek's cottage, which is also a meeting spot for interactive meet and greets with characters such as Shrek himself, Donkey, and Princess Fiona.



Shrek's Swamp for Little Ogres is also a part of this area, offering four slides, wet zone play areas, and even a themed Shrek playground.

Taken from the film Puss in Boots 2, Mama Luna's Feline Fiesta is set in Mama Luna's retirement home for cats. The attraction allows park visitors to play with the cats including Puss in Boots, via screens that are activated by pressing buttons, sounding bells, and moving levers.

King Harold's Swamp Symphony allows guests to create their own musical experience through the interactive lily pads on which a frog choir is poised to sing a ribbitting song.

The Trolls Village area of DreamWorks Land is the location of the only new ride in the land, the Trolls Trollercoaster, based on the Trolls film series, with the car design itself based on that of the Caterbus that appears in the films. Riders on the family-friendly coaster are required to be a minimum height of 36 inches with kids under 48 inches requiring adult accompaniment.

The area also includes a central fountain with Trolls characters, and Poppy's Playground, a play area which perches beneath a 20-foot-tall mushroom and offers shaded climbing and bouncing features.



In Panda Village, attractions include an interaction with Kung Fu Panda's Po at Po's Kung Fu Training Camp. Featuring both wet and dry play areas, here, kids can wash and dry panda laundry with water cannons, leverage dump buckets, and enjoy giant fans, as well as sounding an interactive gong, and spinning on a merry-go-round that looks like the noodle bowls at the films' Mr. Ping's Noodle Shop.

Along with these areas, the land is also home to two live shows, Po Live, and DreamWorks' Imagination Celebration. The latter combines characters from each of the different film franchises in the land, using digital elements along with costumed characters singing and dancing to the high energy songs their films are known for.

Po Live brings the dragon warrior from Kung Fu Panda to life both through an interactive large screen depiction, and an inventive, live Q and A from the audience. The answers are provided by a voice actor off-stage.



DreamWorks Land also has a separate meet and greet area for all the films' favorite characters, as well as dining, and retail opportunities.

Dining options are available via two quick-service options, with themed food the order of the day. Among the items offered in the Shrek area of the land are Swamp Snacks such as a Shrek and Donkey favorite, a Far Far A Waffle, a cheese Shrekzel pretzel, a Swamp Dog that comes with melted green cheese, the chocolate Mud Puddle Pudding, and apple or chocolate ice pops.

In the Trolls area of DreamWorks Land, it's sweet treats only, with Poppy-licious Pink Lemonade Soft Serve topped with “Flower Sprinkles” and the BroZone Berry, a huckleberry soft serve.

A press release from 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 release points out that "As soon as guests step into the spectacular new land, the vivid world and imagination of DreamWorks Animation will surround them as they embark on exciting adventures.”

Every aspect of the new land is driven by interactivity. The creative director of Universal Creative at Universal Orlando Resort, Dean Orion, stresses that the interactions are varied.
“…There are interactions that are digital. There are interactions that are physical. There are interactions with characters. There are interactions with water…it really is going to be just a great destination for families with younger people."

Karen Irwin, President & COO of Universal Orlando Resort adds that “We are thrilled to debut an array of never-before-seen experiences for the entire family to enjoy from day to night…”

There are other new experiences now unfolding at Universal's Florida locations along with Dreamworks Land, including the debut of CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular. The new show combines 4k projection mapping, over 600 drones, and 228 towering fountains along with a soundtrack that represents Universal Orlando's films, projecting images from iconic films ranging from Jurassic World to Minions.

A new projection show is also on hand at the Florida location of Universal Islands of Adventure, with the Harry Potter-themed Hogwarts Always. This show features memorable clips culled from the Harry Potter films.