Asia

Tokyo's DisneySea has announced plans to build an Aladdin-themed ride called Jasmine's Flying Carpets.

This new attraction will give guests the opportunity to soar over Jasmine's garden on a flying carpet.

Guests will be able to control their flying carpet's every move, including the ability to climb up to 5 metres high and tilt forward and backwards.

An elevated viewing deck will also be built to allow guests to view their family and friends on the ride.

The ride will cost approximately ¥2 billion and is to open by summer 2011.

Photo: Disney

Universal Studios Singapore has officially opened to the public today, giving the general public the opportunity to experience the park's rides and attractions for the very first time.

The park has confirmed that all of the rides and attractions are expected to be operational during the soft opening phase.

However, riders should be aware that some rides may experience delays during this period.

Singapore's version of Universal Studios includes many rides and attractions that differ somewhat from the chain's other parks, including some that are totally unique to Singapore.

This includes a never-before-seen redesign of Vekoma's popular Suspended Looping Coaster (SLC) and sit-down models, featuring an improved track and train design.

The Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure ride is also different from Universal's other parks' versions, with Singapore's adaptation using a River Rapids ride system.

The Revenge of the Mummy ride also features numerous changes.

Universal Studios Singapore is also preparing to open the Transformers ride in 2011, with the company's Hollywood park in line to receive the ride in 2012.

The park is open daily from 9:00am until 6:00pm. Tickets can be purchased through the park's official website.

Photo: Resorts World at Sentosa

Incheon Robotland is a unique and one-of-a-kind theme park project that will allow guests to experience fun and fantasy with robots as soon as 2013.

Robotland will include more than 26 rides and attractions, including roller coasters, a river rapids adventure ride, a drop shot and a 4D cinema. Various informative and non-informative shows and pavilions are also planned. A robot parade and cabaret is an example of some of the entertaining ways that robots will be added to replace traditional theme park shows.

Robotland will be split up into four sections, or "lands", designed to cater for everyone from keen robot fanatics to serious thrill seekers and everybody else in between.

The first zone will be called Robot Kingdom, and will include a Tomorrow Today experience that is designed to introduce society to the future of robots.

Kidbot Village will cater for children and pre-teens, focusing on smaller attractions such as a family coaster and Robot Tune Town.

The third zone is to be called Robotopia, which will include an exhibit that allows guests to experience high-tech robotic engineering while they ride the Robo Coaster and stroll through Silver Robot Town.

The last zone to make up the park will be named Fun City, mainly focusing on entertainment facilities. A large Robot Taekwon V Tower will be the centrepiece of Fun City.

A robot education centre, games arena and convention centre is also planned for the park.

Park representatives believe that Robotland will be a "fourth generation" theme park, explaining that theme parks have evolved and developed in their thematic focuses over time. Disneyland, for example, is a first generation park focusing on a dream and fantasy world, while Sea World is a second generation park, focusing on animals and nature. Epcot, with its high-tech and space focus, is a third generation park.

Robotland's unique design is expected to attract approximately 2.8 million visitors per year.

The company is now in the process of trying to find sponsors and investors in order to partially fund the park's construction, which is due to begin in November. An opening is planned for April 2013.

Photo: Incheon Robotland

S&S have announced that Dinosaur Park in China will receive a 4-D roller coaster in 2011.

"This amazing coaster takes riders on a journey to an unchartered dimension of extreme that only the Fourth Dimension can deliver", said Kevin Rohwer, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for S&S.

Only two 4-D coasters currently exist, one being X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain and the other, Eejanaika at Fuji-Q Highland.

It is not known whether Dinosaur Park's version will feature the same track design as the other models.

Although an exact opening date has not been announced, an opening in 2011 has been confirmed.

Photo: S&S

Plans to build a Universal Studio theme park in South Korea have once again surfaced after developers announced that the park is expected to open by early 2014.

When originally announced back in May 2007, the park was to be operational by 2012. Those plans, however, were pushed back by the global economic crisis.

The complex will include a Universal Studios theme park, water park, CityWalk, convention centre and various themed hotels and shops.

Once built, Universal Studios South Korea will become Universal's third Asian theme park, after Japan and Singapore.

Photo: USK Property Holdings