Entertainment Episodes

This theme park is part of the impressive Resorts World Sentosa leisure destination since 2011. The Singaporean location finds itself amidst an impressive offering of attractions in a wealthy region. Still it is rarely cited to be at the top of the lists regarding theme parks. Why is that exactly? The cinematic worlds of Universal Studios are often brought to life through themed lands around a lake. Also Singapore follows this blueprint, but this time with much less space to work with. Has Unive...

Hong Kong is home to a world class Disneyland since 2005, but already since 1977 a sizeable themed park with a much more unique character can be visited on Hong Kong Island. Ocean Park is an intriguing mix of questionable beginnings, absolute glory years in performance and growing financial struggles that almost lead to foreclosure. Still, until this day, the park sits proudly on the slopes of the mountains. Multiple capital injections have transformed the park over time and big plans are aga...

In our previous episode we discussed why Disney chose the Middle East and Abu Dhabi in particular. Now we’ll discuss if this announcement is even realistic and what it would mean for the region. The UAE isn’t shy of big announcements; Universal Studios, Six Flags, 20th Century Fox and several other themed parks never saw the light of day. So what makes this time different? There are also real-world challenges not to be overlooked: the heat, the sun, and the speculation around whether a full-s...

Big news has dropped, Disneyland is coming to Abu Dhabi’s YAS Island, enforced by an agreement between Miral and Disney. The often rumoured 7th Disney resort has finally found its place in the desert. Why did Disney choose the Middle East now, and what do they see in the region that has convinced them to develop a new resort and continue their legacy in the United Arab Emirates? Above all, what is Miral? What is YAS Island? Does this signal a business decision or something bigger? Could it si...

To wrap up our series about the United Arab Emirates based parks, we have discussed a Face Off for the theme parks. For 20 categories in total, we choose our individual top 3 favourites across the 5 theme parks that compete. Even though we are often on the same page, there are also some interesting differences between us. You’re able to see the winners for each category in images on our instagram or on www.triponpodcast.com. Hopefully this will also clear things up regarding the different theme ...

Even though modelled largely to the Anaheim original, this is not just a Disneyland-copy. There are aspect that make the Hong Kong park truly unique. Enough to go a bit into ‘nerd-mode’ and to go deeper into the analysis of this impressive place. Masterplanning; IP’s; Mini-lands; animatronics; perspective-shift and many more industry terms will be discussed in this episode. We dive into the very details of theme park development, because there is so much to talk about. This park has some i...

It opened as the smallest Disney park, using the original Anaheim park as the main inspiration. Often criticised for its modest setup a lack of major rides and an overall lack of originality and minimised risk. How did the park evolve to surpass that reputation? It was an attempt to seamlessly blend tradition, innovation and the Disney magic through the use of feng shui principles in its design. All uniquely set in a subtropical climate adorned by green mountains. Hong Kong Disneyland often p...

SeaWorld is a name that carries a lot of history, but also its fair share of controversy. There are SeaWorlds in the United States that have gone through highs and lows. This latest SeaWorld location was presented to be entirely different; fully indoor and keeping the wellbeing of the animals in high regard. From all the parks we visited in the Middle East, this one was by far the hardest to form an image of beforehand. It is far from being a regular theme park or an amusement park for that m...

Is Warner Bros. back in the theme park game? They have proven with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter lands, in Universal Studios parks all around the world, that they are capable of delivering word class themed lands. So what about an entire park full of WB's legacy? When we were planning to visit Abu Dhabi, this park was always on the top of our list. I (Lee) got especially familiar with it when speaking to someone who worked on the project just before opening. He was so proud of what was ...

Ferrari World boasts the premium Italian brandname and is widely known for its record breaking fastest rollercoaster in the world; Formula Rossa. But does it have more going for it? The iconic roof structure, the record breaking Formula Rossa and the famous car brand connected to it all ensure a worldwide reputation for this park. So much so, that we have the feeling more people know about this park than any of the Dubai based parks. We went here because we wanted to add a short visit to our b...

By far the most visited park in Dubai. Many millions of visitors find their way to Global Village. What makes this park so approachable and above all so successful? First of all, it is hard to compare it to any other theme park. You really have to experience it to understand what is actually on offer. The entrance fee is quite cheap and it even opens late in the afternoon, until 2AM (!). So you can extend a day in Dubai by roaming around here the whole night. This place is very crowded, full ...

A theme park resort project that was headed by the Sheikh and ruler of Dubai. It could be considered a spiritual successor to the controversial Dubailand project, but heavily slimmed down and more focused. Yet, it is still ambitious and maybe a bit too imposing for its own sake. Built with the entire world in mind as audience, ready to invite many millions of visitors annually. Did it actually live up to these business expectations? But more importantly, how do the famous (and some less famou...

Our very first TripOn Entertainment episode, in which we discuss our visit to indoor theme park IMG Worlds of Adventure in Dubai. An anticipated visit, because we are aware of this location already for years. It is a project with quite the reputation, so it was time for us to experience if it can really live up to its massive ambitions. ▻ Check www.triponpodcast.com ▻ Follow us on Instagram ▻ Listen to us on Apple Podcasts ▻ Listen to us on Spotify ▻ Listen to us on Audible