Yordan Yordanov, a business student from Bulgaria, is spending his second summer working at Playland’s Castaway Cove in Ocean City, N.J., through the J-1 exchange visitor program.
Yordan Yordanov is spending his second summer in a row in New Jersey. “It will remain my second home for life,” he said. “Even though I’ve been here … overall, six months.”
Yordanov is from Bulgaria and has always wanted to see what life is like in America. He is in the United States on a J-1 visa, which allows overseas residents to enter the country on a work-study visitor exchange. He is one of 25 overseas students working at Playland’s Castaway Cove in Ocean City, New Jersey, this summer.
The boardwalk attraction employs 300 people during the summer tourist season. On any given year, Playland employs between 20-25 exchange visitors, according to Brian Hartley, vice president of the boardwalk attraction.
“We pretty much try to just keep it to that,” he said. “This way we can really make sure that they’re taken care of.”
Though COVID-19 is still a pandemic, according to the World Health Organization, Hartley hopes life does not return to the early days of the public health emergency.
“We had a lot of kids who were afraid, parents were afraid for the kids to get a job, especially here,” he recalled. “You’re collecting tickets from people, you’re kind of touching them, people are sitting in seats, and someone else is sitting in it. We were going around washing them between every ride.”
Playland also didn’t receive any overseas help in 2020.
Suspended early in the pandemic
The federal government under the Trump administration suspended J-1 visas as it tried to limit the spread of COVID-19, according to the American Immigration Council. Restrictions were eased the following year under the Biden administration. However, there was a backlog in American embassies overseas.
Hartley said things have slowly returned to pre-pandemic levels.
“In 2021, I think we only have four or five [students,]” he said. Then it was a slow start getting going in 2022. A lot of the embassies were still closed for a while. But everyone now is really back into the full swing of things.”
A State Department spokesperson said that substantial improvements were made last year in reducing wait times across all visa categories.
For the last couple of years, the Alliance for International Exchange reported that more than 4,900 overseas students came to the U.S. for a summer work-travel program.
Lisa Murray, director of the exchange program at the American Immigration Council, said she is also seeing a return to pre-pandemic activity in exchange programs.
“It’s taken us a few years to kind of get back up to our pre-COVID numbers. I would say that we are definitely there now.”
J-1 visa’s grand scheme is diplomacy
J-1 visas have been in existence since the 1960s when the Mutual Education and Cultural Exchange Act was instituted. The initiative allowed people into the United States to study and build experiences with host organizations.
“By doing these exchanges, you’re placing people in the U.S., they’re taking that experience, they’re returning home, and they’re sharing that experience,” said Murray. “That’s where … the diplomacy helps out.”
How the J-1 visa process works
According to the State Department, New Jersey was in the top 10 for summer work-travel destinations. But Murray said exchange visitors in resort areas get to share their culture with different people while experiencing different types of American culture.
She adds there are other opportunities available to exchange visitors.
“The other categories are interns and trainees, research scholars, teachers, and au pairs, with the summer work-travel,” Murray said.
A mutual exchange on the Jersey Shore
Hartley said exchange visitors fill an important gap in the summer tourist season — the last weeks of August. That’s when a lot of domestic students begin to head back to college, high school athletes begin preparing for fall sports and parents decide on one last trip for the family.
Most students he hires are primarily from Kosovo, Romania, and Bulgaria. That’s because of the timing with the summer tourism season and their academic year.
Brian Hartley, vice president of Playland’s Castaway Cove in Ocean City, said exchange visitors help the boardwalk attraction get through a staffing gap toward the end of August. His company is hosting 30 exchange visitors this summer.
But Hartley adds they’ve hired students who weren’t from Eastern Europe as well.
“This year, we have our first from Thailand,” he said. “We’ve had Jamaica, Ireland, Spain, France; we’ve … had a great mixture of kids from all over the place.”
Hartley adds it’s not all work for the overseas students that work for him.
“We’ll have a miniature golf tournament that we’re going to do with all the kids. We have a couple employee parties after the park closes,” he said, adding they encourage the students to travel during July, when there is enough staff available.
“They go down to Miami, DC, New York. … Philadelphia,” he said. “They’re here not only to work, but for the cultural experience as well.”
Yordanov, who is studying business back home in Bulgaria, hopes to take what he is learning along the Jersey Shore and use it to start his own clothing business after he graduates.
“I’m asking a lot of questions to the owner [and to] Brian about how they advertise the amusement park,” he said.
Yordanov also hopes to get some travel in as well. He visited Philadelphia last year, and though it was shortened by the weather, it was long enough for him to have a cheesesteak.
“I loved it,” he recalled. “They said Philadelphia has the best cheesesteaks.”
This year, he hopes to visit Philadelphia again. But Miami is at the top of his list of destinations, in addition to the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
Though Yordanov loves New Jersey, he admits, “If I fall in love with Miami, I will make it my second home.”
We’re close to the final days of summer but Kings Island is already looking ahead to next season. Today the amusement park announced that its Soak City water park will be adding RiverRacers, Ohio’s first and only dual-racing water coaster. Riders will board side-by-side rafts where they will be launched down a drop at speeds up to 30 mph then propelled uphill by water jets and sent through the rest of the course. For kids, the park is adding Splash River Junction, a play area with seven new water slides. Season passes are now on sale and include admission for the rest of this year and all of 2025.
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Halloween is just around the corner and LEGOLAND Florida Resort is introducing a brand-new Monster Skytacular drone aerial show! Get ready to party with your favorite LEGO monsters this fall when Brick-or-Treat presents Monster Party returns on select Saturdays and Sundays from September 14 through October 27. Plus, don’t miss our special opening day on Friday, September 13th. This Halloween-themed bonus day gives you even more time to enjoy the festivities!
This kid-friendly event is the only time of year where guests can meet the Park’s exclusive LEGO monster characters, indulge in our exclusive limited-time food and beverage offerings, enjoy special immersive Halloween shows and go trick-or-treating to collect loads of candy. It’s the ultimate kids’ Halloween celebration, packed with awesome entertainment and attractions.
“We are thrilled to introduce a new level of innovation and entertainment to our guests with our Monster Skytacular drone show. This marks a historic first for any LEGOLAND Park,” said LEGOLAND Florida Resort President Franceen Gonzales. “As the new President of this awesome resort, it’s exhilarating to hit the ground running with such a remarkable event. We can’t wait for everyone to witness LEGO creativity combined with cutting-edge technology light up our skies this Halloween.”
NEW! Monster Skytacular Drone Show
End your Brick-or-Treat nights with the exhilarating and brand-new Monster Skytacular aerial show! Featuring dazzling drones, flashes of fireworks and bumping beats, the monster party is taking to the skies. For the first time in LEGOLAND Florida Resort’s history, 500 individual drones will soar high over Lake Eloise to end every event night with a great show. The state-of-the-art drones will feature intricate, synchronized patterns and combine the excitement of fireworks… Seamlessly blending LEGO and technology in a unique way.
Candy, Candy and MORE Candy
The Monster Party wouldn’t be complete without the chance to Brick-or-Treat throughout the streets of LEGOLAND Florida Resort. Wander through awesome themed sections of the Park to fill your bags with all the candy at its seven themed candy stations. Beware of the Curse of the Pharaoh as you
creep past the Creatures of the Kingdom all the way to Wicked Sweet Way. All candy stations open at 2 p.m. every event day with courtesy candy bags available for guests.
Eerily Awesome Entertainment & Attractions
Guests can get into the BOO-tastic Halloween spirit each event day with several special shows and attractions throughout the Park:
- Lord Vampyre is hosting the coolest, most exclusive dance party for Very Important Monsters and guests are invited to bring their monstrous moves to the V.I.M. Dance Party.
- Don’t miss tryouts for the Zombie Cheer Crew in Fun Town where guests can show off their best dance moves at a high-energy pep rally featuring Zombie Cheerleader herself.
- Something ‘unbeLEAFable’ is happening in LEGO City! Packed with energetic singing and dancing, The UnbeLEAFable Halloween Night is a musical mystery featuring an appearance by Plant Monster.
- Every event evening, the 4D Theater transforms into the Mad Scientist Laboratory, an interactive experience where families can meet special LEGO characters including Square Foot and Wolf Guy.
- Step aboard the Disco Dragon Coaster in LEGO Kingdoms and get ready to jive with a groovy monster jam and party lights or take a ride on the Monster Party Carousel to really show off your costume around Fun Town.
- In addition, all your favorite LEGO Monsters can be found throughout the Park, including Monster Rocker, Spider Lady, Mummy, Zombie Pirate, Mad Scientist, Scarecrow, Witch and Shark Suit Guy!
This year marks an exciting chapter for Zamperla’s family- friendly attractions, with two highly anticipated rides debuting at major theme parks. These are two Family Coaster 155’s, each showcasing immersive theming and exceptional customer interaction, underscoring Zamperla’s dedication to creating unforgettable experiences for visitors of all ages.
“These two attractions exemplify Zamperla’s dedication to realizing our purpose of delivering smiles,” says Adam Sandy, Roller Coaster Sales and Marketing Director at Zamperla. “It has been a lot of fun for our team to work with the IP owners to design parks limited only by the size of imagination, allowing even the youngest riders to experience the thrill of their first coaster adventure.”
Snoopy’s Tenderpaw Twister Coaster, a Zamperla Family Coaster 155, is one of the several new additions to the newest Camp Snoopy™ at Knott’s Berry Farm.
The attraction, along with a Super Happy Swing and a Dino Convoy, has already captivated young visitors and their families, who have enjoyed the fun-filled sensations on board.
The coaster features engaging theming inspired by the beloved Peanuts characters, providing a charming adventure for kids of all ages and their families.”Experiencing first rides and first theme park moments as a family is what Knott’s is all about,” said Jon Storbeck, Vice President and General Manager at Knott’s Berry Farm. “Our newly reimagined Camp Snoopy will allow parents and kids to ride and play together and be truly immersed in a summer camp experience right alongside the entire Peanuts Gang.”
This project marks three decades of collaboration between Knott’s Berry Farm and Zamperla. One of the main focuses of this attraction is the theming using the Peanuts™ IP. It offers a new experience for park-goers, fitting the great storytelling found at Knott’s Berry Farm, showcasing the artistry and care of Zamperla’s artistic department.
“This has been one of the most challenging IPs for our team,” says Enrico Patechi, Creative Design Manager “Our artistic team works with great care, experience, and precision, which is crucial because working with intellectual properties is not easy. Adapting the IP to the strict rules of the mechanical ride and safety constraints is indeed demanding. We must achieve this without altering the IP, maintaining accurate proportions and design guidelines, and meeting both the client’s and the brand’s requirements.”
Another attraction where theming and IP work have been highly significant is Papa Wutz’ Achterbahn, another Zamperla Family Coaster 155 at the brand-new Peppa Pig Theme Park in Germany.
“Hasbro’s Peppa Pig and her loving family coming to Günzburg, Germany is our opportunity to bring joy, create connections, and make memories for families with young children throughout Europe,” said Scott O’Neil, Merlin CEO, at the opening.
The project includes Papa Wutz’ Achterbahn, one of Zamperla’s Family Coaster 155, crafted specifically for young children and their families, and a Zamperla Jumping Star. The Family Coaster 155, already loved by park-goers, invites guests to join Daddy Pig on a fun journey, providing just the right amount of excitement for little ones experiencing their first coaster with both a lift and launch. The Daddy Pig’s Roller Coaster is not the only one created by Zamperla. The first one opened in 2022 at the Peppa Pig Theme Park in Florida, and another one is set to open before the end of the year at the Peppa Pig Theme Park in Dallas.
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — River Club Glen Arbor (RCGA) with 400 feet of riverfront footage on Crystal Rivers in northern Michigan, opened just before the 4th of July weekend promising a unique dining experience. It features an outdoor 18-hole Bunkers & Bumps-style custom miniature golf course designed and built by Adventure Golf & Sports (AGS), along with Mexican inspired food, a full bar and music! “There’s nothing like it anywhere in the Midwest,” says Mike Sheldon, owner of the RCGA.
Mike and his wife Gina felt northern Michigan had wonderful wineries, breweries, distilleries and cideries and restaurants, but at all those places, besides eating and drinking, they felt there was nothing else to experience.
“So the idea was born,” says Sheldon, “to have a full liquor license so that there’s no veto vote on the alcohol, and to have something to do that you can enjoy whether you’re seven or 97. And putting fills that role.
“We’re an 18-hole executive putting course with food and beverage, live music, riverfront and Sky Deck seating with a full bar and Mexican inspired food – so that’s burritos, tacos, bowls, salads. We like to say, ‘Everything good all at once!’”
According to AGS, the Bumper & Bunks style miniature golf course featured at River Club Glen Arbor is a fairways-and-greens design using interlocking, patented panels made from recycled materials that are also permeable for instant drainage so the course won’t harm natural flora and fauna. The panel permeability also allows the course to be ready for play soon after a rain shower since there is no water pooling common with other surfaces like concrete. And, unlike traditional mini golf that often uses bricks, walls, obstacles or theme elements for boundaries, a Bunkers & Bumps style course relies on various topography and rough turf to shape holes that can include faux sand bunkers.
“Nine of the 18 (mini golf) holes are ADA compliant,” says Sheldon. “It’s a rolling, meandering, beautifully landscaped design with speakers and lights and a drink holder at the beginning and end of every hole so you never have to set your drink down on the ground. It’s like a stroll through a well-landscaped park.”
As suggested by AGS, the miniature golf course is designed so there are three different ways to play each golf hole. “You could take a route to the hole that is high risk – high reward” says Sheldon, “or play it super conservatively and maybe shoot par or something in between. And so, the more you play, the more you figure out how you want to play a particular hole.
“It is a challenging course,” says Sheldon “…It’s not a putt-putt or goofy golf kind of place, but there are some areas where we’ve created some visual interest and a nod to where we are. We’ve created a bit of an homage to northern Michigan. So one hole is in the shape of Lake Michigan, which you discover once you’re right in front of it. One hole is a tribute to Sleeping Bear Dunes and it looks like the whole thing is a sand trap but you have to go over the ‘dunes.’ One hole has a simulated Glen Lake with Big Glen (lake) and Little Glen (lake).
“The whole thing is turf and then there are simulated areas where it’s blue (turf) that looks like water and tan (turf) that looks like sand. A ‘Bunkers & Bumps’ style course.”
Music also plays a prominent role at River Club Glen Arbor.
“We have live music five nights a week – Tuesday through Saturday,’ says Sheldon. “And when there’s no live music, we have a heavily curated playlist that could be anything from pop hits to classic rock to Motown. Music is a very big part of myself, my family – we’re all very musical. It’s a big part of the offering here.
“We’ve got a defined amphitheater style band stand with metal trusses with a roof and a back and a banner out front that says ‘River Club Live’ and that provides a shaded area for the performers and that’s right at the point on the river focused and pointed at the patrons that will sit and enjoy the performance… It’s all designed purposefully for a concert.”
“We’ve probably got 40 speakers throughout the place so whether you’re listening to the pre-recorded music or you’re listening to the live music, the music will play whether you’re in the bathroom or on the (mini) golf course or walking up to the front of the building or right in front of the stage, you get the same music everywhere.
“Music at River Club Glen Arbor is part and parcel to how you enjoy the place; how you consume the place. The place without music is fine. It’s wonderful. The place with music is ten times the experience because it just provides this sort of emotional transportation that you don’t even realize how powerful that is until you compare the two – music on, music off.”
“…We probably get a dozen people a day just admiring how beautiful the course is and the buildings and the whole property. We think there will be a ton more of that.”
Adventure Golf & Sports (AGS) is a global leader in the design and installation of fun, interactive, cost-effective entertainment attractions like Miniature Golf, Pickleball, Shuffleboard, Bocce Ball, Duck Pin Bowling and other recreational courts. Besides traditional concrete-poured installations, AGS has long term experience installing interlocking panel system versions like the environmentally-friendly Modular Advantage Mini Golf system and Bunkers & Bumps for a variety of indoor and outdoor applications for businesses, family entertainment centers, amusement parks, campgrounds, retail centers, hotels and resorts, as well as installations on rooftops, piers and cruise ship decks.
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Halloween is just around the corner and LEGOLAND Florida Resort is introducing a brand-new Monster Skytacular drone aerial show! Get ready to party with your favorite LEGO monsters this fall when Brick-or-Treat presents Monster Party returns each weekend on Saturdays and Sundays from September 14 through October 27, with a special opening day on Friday the 13th. This Halloween-themed bonus day gives you even more time to enjoy the festivities!
This kid-friendly event is the only time of year where guests can meet the Park’s exclusive LEGO monster characters, indulge in our exclusive limited-time food and beverage offerings, enjoy special immersive Halloween shows and go trick-or-treating to collect loads of candy. It’s the ultimate kids’ Halloween celebration, packed with awesome entertainment and attractions.
“We are thrilled to introduce a new level of innovation and entertainment to our guests with our Monster Skytacular drone show. This marks a historic first for any LEGOLAND Park,” said LEGOLAND Florida Resort President Franceen Gonzales. “As the new President of this awesome resort, it’s exhilarating to hit the ground running with such a remarkable event. We can’t wait for everyone to witness LEGO creativity combined with cutting-edge technology light up our skies this Halloween.”
NEW! Monster Skytacular Drone Show
End your Brick-or-Treat nights with the exhilarating and brand-new Monster Skytacular aerial show! Featuring dazzling drones, flashes of fireworks and bumping beats, the monster party is taking to the skies. For the first time in LEGOLAND Florida Resort’s history, 500 individual drones will soar high over Lake Eloise to end every event night with a great show. The state-of-the-art drones will feature intricate, synchronized patterns and combine the excitement of fireworks… Seamlessly blending LEGO and technology in a unique way.
Candy, Candy and MORE Candy
The Monster Party wouldn’t be complete without the chance to Brick-or-Treat throughout the streets of LEGOLAND Florida Resort. Wander through awesome themed sections of the Park to fill your bags with all the candy at its seven themed candy stations. Beware of the Curse of the Pharaoh as you
creep past the Creatures of the Kingdom all the way to Wicked Sweet Way. All candy stations open at 2 p.m. every event day with courtesy candy bags available for guests.
Eerily Awesome Entertainment & Attractions
Guests can get into the BOO-tastic Halloween spirit each event day with several special shows and attractions throughout the Park:
- Lord Vampyre is hosting the coolest, most exclusive dance party for Very Important Monsters and guests are invited to bring their monstrous moves to the V.I.M. Dance Party.
- Don’t miss tryouts for the Zombie Cheer Crew in Fun Town where guests can show off their best dance moves at a high-energy pep rally featuring Zombie Cheerleader herself.
- Something ‘unbeLEAFable’ is happening in LEGO City! Packed with energetic singing and dancing, The UnbeLEAFable Halloween Night is a musical mystery featuring an appearance by Plant Monster.
- Every event evening, the 4D Theater transforms into the Mad Scientist Laboratory, an interactive experience where families can meet special LEGO characters including Square Foot and Wolf Guy.
- Step aboard the Disco Dragon Coaster in LEGO Kingdoms and get ready to jive with a groovy monster jam and party lights or take a ride on the Monster Party Carousel to really show off your costume around Fun Town.
- In addition, all your favorite LEGO Monsters can be found throughout the Park, including Monster Rocker, Spider Lady, Mummy, Zombie Pirate, Mad Scientist, Scarecrow, Witch and Shark Suit Guy!
Noah’s Ark Waterpark’s popular Salute to Heroes weeks continue this month, aimed at honoring heroes with free admission to the Wisconsin Dells water park. America’s Largest Waterpark is paying tribute to educators, farmers and EMS on dedicated weeks throughout August. To receive free admission, Heroes will need to present an educator employee ID, farming association membership (one per household), or EMS badge on the designated week. Each Hero can also purchase up to four discounted tickets for just $29.99 each. Tickets can be purchased at the gate only.
- Educators Week – August 5 – 11
- Farmers Week – August 12 – 18
- EMS Week – August 19 – 25
GLEN, N.H. — Happy Hauntings, New Hampshire’s Best New Way to Halloween, will take center stage at Story Land this fall. The Place Where Fantasy Lives will introduce its first-ever Halloween event opening one week earlier than anticipated on Saturday, September 28, marking the park’s longest season ever. Happy Hauntings closes out the park’s 70th Celebration Season and will be a little Spookley and a whole lot of silly as the larger-than-life Spookley the Square Pumpkin makes his debut at Story Land.
Happy Hauntings extends the park’s season with two additional weekends and 10 new kid-friendly Halloween traditions including:
- Story Time and Meet and Greets with Spookley the Square Pumpkin: everyone’s favorite square pumpkin will be on-site every day during Happy Hauntings for a story time and meet and greets with the entire family;
- Special Halloween Themed Shows: two spectacular shows, Unhappily Ever After and Cinderella’s Royal Celebration: Villains Takeover take center stage select times throughout the day;
- Daniel Tiger Shows: it’s a grr-ific day for shows with Daniel and his friend Katerina Kittycat from the PBS KIDS show Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood every day in the Loopy Lab Theater;
- Halloween Hay Maze: a timeless fall tradition joins the Halloween lineup at Story Land as a hay maze pops up challenging guests to make their way through the interactive maze and onto their next fall-themed adventure;
- Cinderella’s Pumpkin Patch: visitors can pick their very own pumpkins and even have the opportunity to paint pumpkins and show them off to Cinderella herself when they visit her castle;
- Fairy Tale Trick-or-Treat Trail: everyone is invited to collect candy as they make their way through the park’s storybook area with delicious treats and beloved characters like The Old Woman in the Shoe, Little Red Riding Hood and more; and
- Exclusive Halloween Activities: each weekend will bring select activities to the park including a Halloween scavenger hunt, Halloween Bubble Bash, scream contests, scary-oke and a kid’s costume contest.
“Our first-ever Halloween event, Happy Hauntings will offer activities the whole family can enjoy,” said Chris Kearsing, General Manager. “New Hampshire’s Best New Way to Halloween is our final birthday gift to anyone visiting the White Mountains this fall, as they are invited to close out our longest season ever while making new family memories.”
Happy Hauntings will run every Saturday and Sunday from September 28 through October 27 plus Monday, October 14. Families are invited to enjoy the park from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. with fall décor throughout and select rides and attractions including Antique Cars, the Pumpkin Coach, Great Balloon Chase, Polar Coaster and more.
Visitors can save up to $50 on 2025 Gold Season Passes when they purchase online now and can enjoy the rest of the 2024 season free, get access to the all-new Happy Hauntings event and the entire 2025 season.
ALTOONA, Iowa — Iowa’s largest drone show will take over the skies above Adventureland theme park in honor of its 50th Celebration for the first time ever. The Altoona theme park will host a three-night event August 16-18, while kicking off its fall season of events. The massive 3D drone show will incorporate more than 300 drones and will include iconic park images representing the Home of Iowa’s Best Thrills as Iowa’s largest drone show takes the skies.
The three-night show will kick off exactly 50 years to the day that the rides originally opened at Adventureland on August 16, 1974. Each show will start at about 9:10 p.m., extending the park’s hours later into the night with rides closing at 9 p.m. The drone show is included with admission to Adventureland. In addition to the later closing times each night of the drone show, the park will be opening one hour earlier at 10 a.m., every single day from August 8 through 18.
Right now, Adventureland is looking for the public’s help to finalize the designs of its first-ever drone show. A link to vote on which ride will be included in the show can be found on Adventureland’s Facebook page now through Thursday, August 8. Rides that can be voted on include Monster, Underground, Tornado, Outlaw and Draken Falls.
“This drone show is the first in Adventureland’s history and shows the evolution of entertainment offerings the park has become known for over the last five decades,” Adventureland General Manager Mike Lusky said. “As we continue to celebrate our 50th season, we wanted to create an unforgettable experience that highlights our commitment to providing thrilling and unique entertainment.”
Event Details:
- Dates: August 16-18, 2024
- Extended Ride Hours: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. each day
- Drone Launch Time: 9:10 p.m.
The show marks the launch of the park’s busy fall lineup with the popular 21-plus Oktoberfest event on September 14 and the return of Phantom Fall Fest, Iowa’s Largest Halloween Event, starting September 21.
SYDNEY, Australia — Prepare to embark on a captivating cinematic journey that blends nostalgia with cutting-edge immersive technology. Visitors at Luna Park Sydney will now be able to take on a magical journey inside LITE-BRITE: Worlds of Wonder. Enchanting audiences in Toronto, Las Vegas and now Sydney, LITE-BRITE: Worlds of Wonder is set to launch at Luna Park Sydney on 17th August and tickets are available to purchase now.
Hosted within Sydney’s Immersive Big Top, a sprawling 3,000 sqm multi-purpose entertainment venue, this 40-minute cinematic experience is designed to inspire creativity and fun for both kids and adults. This unique experience has been created by Secret Location, a Toronto-based Emmy® award-winning content company, in collaboration with Hasbro, a leading toy and game company.
Diving into a world illuminated by thousands of colourful lights, guests will immerse themselves in three themed worlds, rekindling a sense of childlike wonder and the real-life magic of LITE- BRITE. From exploring the depths of a magical ocean, to lush forests where dinosaurs roam, to a futuristic sci-fi city, guests can let the light of their imaginations shine.
Staying true to the original toy created by Hasbro, the visuals are entirely driven by the distinctive hexagonal peg pattern and only use shades of colours from the six original pegs: orange, pink, green, blue, yellow and clear.
“Audiences today crave immersive adventures and experiences that ignite their imagination and offer escapism. LITE-BRITE: Worlds of Wonder delivers exactly that,” said John Hughes, CEO at Luna Park Sydney. “As a world-class amusement park, we’re excited to continually offer more than just rides, bringing captivating experiences to Sydneysiders and visitors all year-round. We want to be known as the best experience destination in Australia.”
“LITE-BRITE has captured imaginations for decades, allowing kids of all ages to dream, create and discover,” said Ryan Andal, President and CEO at Secret Location. “When we developed LITE-BRITE: Worlds of Wonder, we aimed to create the feeling of stepping into the beloved magical toy. We hope that audiences feel wonder, excitement, anticipation and endless joy from this new immersive experience.”
“For more than 50 years, LITE-BRITE has sparked creativity, lit up imagination and inspired countless works of art,” said Matt Proulx, Senior Vice President, Global Experiences, Partnerships and Music at Hasbro. “LITE-BRITE: Worlds of Wonder is a perfect example of how the spirit of LITE-BRITE can be translated into a new and truly immersive experience for fans of all generations.” LITE-BRITE: Worlds of Wonder is designed to captivate visitors of all ages, from children seeking shared moments of wonder to adults rediscovering the joy of imagination.
