# DreamWorks Animation in amusement parks

Since 23 May 2003, DreamWorks Animation, an American animation studio, owned by NBCUniversal since 2016, has had an involvement in the creation and theming of amusement park rides and attractions. This article details the ventures of DreamWorks Animation in amusement parks.

## History

In 2003, Universal Destinations & Experiences opened the 4D film called Shrek 4-D at Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Japan. The film is chronologically sequenced between the original 2001 film Shrek and Shrek 2 which was released in 2004. In 2005 and 2008, Shrek 4-D was added to Warner Bros. Movie World and Movie Park Germany respectively (the film was later removed from Warner Bros. Movie World and Movie Park Germany in favour of Journey to the Center of the Earth 4-D Adventure and Ice Age: The 4D Experience).
On 18 March 2010, DreamWorks Animation moved further into the theme park industry with the opening of two themed lands at Universal Studios Singapore. The first land is Madagascar which is based upon the 2005 film of the same name. The second land is Far Far Away which is based on the Shrek franchise. Each of the lands featured a variety of attractions themed after the movies. In 2011, Dreamworld announced a $10 million deal with DreamWorks Animation to bring the company's characters to their amusement park. In a 3-stage development beginning on 19 December 2011, Dreamworld will open new shows and newly themed rides and attractions.
In May 2012, the Brazilian theme park Beto Carrero World announced a partnership with DreamWorks Animation, later that year Shrek and other characters began to make meet and greets around the park. The first area with DreamWorks Animation characters opened in February 2014, themed to Madagascar, the area features two attractions, a live show and a river rapids ride. In March 2016, Beto Carrero World and DreamWorks Animation renewed the partnership for more 10 years, and announced three new themed areas featuring Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, and Kung Fu Panda. The construction was scheduled to start in 2017.
In July 2012, DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg announced that the attractions at the American Dream Mall (formerly Meadowland Mills and Meadowland Xanadu) in the Meadowlands Sports Complex at East Rutherford, New Jersey will be themed to DreamWorks' animated productions. In September 2016, the mall's owner Triple Five Group announced that Nickelodeon Universe will also occupy the indoor amusement park space and DreamWorks Animation would work with partnership in creating the park. In November 2018, the mall's vice president of Communications announced the opening date of September 2019 but by that date it was delayed to November 27, 2019, before being delayed again. By October 25, 2019, the Nickelodeon Universe theme park opened at the American Dream. In February 2020, the park announced its opening date of March 19, 2020. However, the onset COVID-19 pandemic caused American Dream to delay the opening again. In September 2020, the park announced that it will finally open on October 1, 2020, along with the rest of the mall. On October 1, 2020, DreamWorks Water Park officially opened to the public.
In February 2013, it was revealed that DreamWorks Animation has partnered with Regions GC to build in Russia Europe's largest indoor theme parks. Set in Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Yekaterinburg, each park would incorporate a movie and concert hall, 4D movie theater, three-star 400-room hotel and retails. The parks, which were expected to be completed in 2015, would feature themes based on Shrek, Madagascar, How to Train Your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda, and Turbo.
In May 2013, DreamWorks signed a licensing agreement with Sands China to bring its cast of animated characters to Sands Cotai Central in Macau. The resorts would present a series of performances, parades, dining experiences, meet-and-greets and photo opportunities highlighting characters such as Po from Kung Fu Panda; Shrek, Fiona and Puss in Boots from Shrek; Alex the Lion, King Julien and the Penguins from Madagascar and Toothless and Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon.

## Locations

| Park | Area | Opening date | Closing date | Previous attraction | Replaced by |
| American Dream Meadowlands | DreamWorks Water Park | 19 March 2020 | — | — | — |
| Beto Carrero World | Madagascar | 10 October 2013 (2013-10-10) | — | — | — |
| Dreamworld | DreamWorks Experience | 1 April 2012 (2012-04-01) | 2023 (2023) | Kid's World Nickelodeon Central | Kenny and Belinda's Dreamland |
| Gardaland | Kung Fu Panda Academy | 14 May 2016 (2016-05-14) | — | — | — |
| Heide Park Resort | Drachenzähmen - Die Insel | 14 May 2016 (2016-05-14) | — | — | — |
| Motiongate Dubai | DreamWorks Shrek Madagascar Kung Fu Panda How to Train Your Dragon | 16 December 2016 (2016-12-16) | — | — | — |
| Movie Park Germany | Standalone attraction | 27 May 2008 (2008-05-27) | 2011 (2011) | SpongeBob SquarePants 4-D | Ice Age Dawn of the Dinosaurs: The 4-D Experience |
| Universal Studios Florida | Standalone attractions | 12 June 2003 (2003-06-12) 28 May 2021 (2021-05-28) | 10 January 2022 (2022-01-10) 15 January 2023 (2023-01-15) | Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies Stage 54 A Day in the Park with Barney | Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast |
| Universal Studios Florida | DreamWorks Land | 14 June 2024 (2024-06-14) | — | Woody Woodpecker's KidZone | — |
| Universal Studios Hollywood | Standalone attractions | 23 May 2003 (2003-05-23) 15 June 2018 (2018-06-15) | 14 August 2017 (2017-08-14) | Rugrats Magic Adventure 3-D | DreamWorks Theatre |
| Universal Studios Japan | Standalone attraction | 20 June 2003 (2003-06-20) | — | — | — |
| Universal Studios Singapore | Far Far Away Madagascar | 18 March 2010 (2010-03-18) | 27 March 2022 (2022-03-27) (Madagascar) | — | Despicable Me Minion Mayhem (Madagascar) Minion Land (Madagascar) Super Nintendo World (Madagascar) |
| Warner Bros. Movie World | Standalone attractions | 17 September 2005 (2005-09-17) | 29 August 2010 (2010-08-29) | Marvin the Martian in 3D | Journey to the Center of the Earth 4-D Adventure |

## Attractions

Below is a list of all of the attractions at DreamWorks Animation themed areas around the world. The dates shown in the columns refer to the opening and closing dates for the ride under that name. It does not mean that the ride was closed and/or removed.
| Attraction | Type | ADM | DW | MGD | MPG | USF | USH | USJ | USS | WBMW | BCW |
| Bubbly Lazy River | Lazy river | 2020- | | | | | | | | | |
| Camp Viking | Play area | | | 2017- | | | | | | | |
| The Carnivortex | Drop Launch capsule slide | 2020- | | | | | | | | | |
| Donkey Live | Interactive live show | | | | | | | | 2010– | | |
| Donkey's Photo Finish | Meet and greet | | | | | 2003–2022, 2022–2023 | | | | | |
| Dragon Gliders | Mack Rides Inverted power coaster | | | 2017- | | | | | | | |
| Dragon And Donkey's Flight | Family raft ride | 2020- | | | | | | | | | |
| DreamWorks Holiday Shrektacular Show | Live show | | 2011–2012 | | | | | | | | |
| DreamWorks Destination | Interactive live show / Meet and greet | | | | | 2021–2023 | | | | | |
| DreamWorks Imagination Celebration | Live show | | | | | 2024– | | | | | |
| DreamWorks Theatre | 4-D film/Motion simulator | | | | | | 2018– | | | | |
| Dronkey Flyers | Children's rotating flat ride | | 2012–2023 | | | | | | | | |
| Enchanted Airways | Junior roller coaster | | | | | | | | 2010– | | |
| Escape from Madagascar | Suspended Family Coaster | | 2012–2023 | | | | | | | | |
| Far Far A Bay Wave Pool | Wave pool | 2020- | | | | | | | | | |
| Fountain of Dreams | Interactive fountain | | | 2017- | | | | | | | |
| Gingy's Glider | Kite Flyer | | 2012–2023 | | | | | | | | |
| Jungle Jammer | Drop Launch capsule slide | 2020- | | | | | | | | | |
| King Julien's Beach Party-Go-Round | Carousel | | | | | | | | 2010–2022 | | |
| King Julien's Side Show Stomp | Live show | | | 2017- | | | | | | | |
| King Julien's Theatre in the Wild | Show stage | | 2012–2023 | | | | | | | | |
| Kung Fu Academy | Play area | | 2012–2023 | | | | | | | | |
| Kung Fu Panda Academy | Interactive live show | | | 2017- | | | | | | | |
| Kung Fu Panda Temple of Awesomeness Play Structure | Water play area | 2020- | | | | | | | | | |
| Kung Fu Panda: Unstoppable Awesomeness | 4-D film/Motion simulator | | | 2017- | | | | | | | |
| Lemur Leap | Tube bowl slide | 2020- | | | | | | | | | |
| MAD Jungle Jam | Ball play area | | 2012–2023 | | | | | | | | |
| Mad Flush | Body bowl slide | 2020- | | | | | | | | | |
| Madagascar: A Crate Adventure | Water ride | | | | | | | | 2011–2022 | | |
| Madagascar Mad Pursuit | Gerstlauer Infinity coaster | | | 2017- | | | | | | | |
| Magic Potion Spin | Children's Ferris wheel | | | | | | | | 2010– | | |
| Majunga Jump | Body slide | 2020- | | | | | | | | | |
| Mama Luna Feline Fiesta | Play area | | | | | | | | | | |
| Meet Shrek and Donkey | Meet and greet | | | | | | 2003–2017, 2018– | | | | |
| Melman-Go-Round | Carousel | | | 2017- | | | | | | | |
| Mr. Ping's Noodle Fling | Teacups | | | 2017- | | | | | | | |
| Operation Penguin Shake | Live show | | | 2017- | | | | | | | |
| Pandamonium | Zamperla Air Race | | 2012–2023 | | | | | | | | |
| Penguin Air | Zamprela Magic Bike | | | 2017- | | | | | | | |
| Penguin Plummet | Body slide | 2020- | | | | | | | | | |
| The Penguins Frozen Fun Zone | Water play area | 2020- | | | | | | | | | |
| Po Live! | Interactive live show | | | | | 2024– | | | | | |
| Po's Kung Fu Training Camp | Play area | | | | | 2024– | | | | | |
| Poppy's Playground | Play area | | | | | 2024– | | | | | |
| Puss in Boots Sword Swing | Swing ride | | 2012–2023 | | | | | | | | |
| Puss in Boots' Giant Journey | Inverted roller coaster | | | | | | | | 2015– | | |
| Shrek 4-D | 4D film | | | | 2008–2011 | 2003–2022 | 2003–2017 | 2003– | 2010– | 2005–2010 | |
| Shrek's Merry Fairy Tale Journey | Dark ride | | | 2017- | | | | | | | |
| Shrek's Sinkhole Slammer | ProSlide Tornado | 2020- | | | | | | | | | |
| Shrek's Swamp for Little Ogres | Play area | | | | | 2024– | | | | | |
| Shrek's Swamp Meet | Meet and greet | | | | | 2024– | | | | | |
| Shrek Live | Live show | | | | | | | | | ????–???? | |
| Shrek's Ogre-Go-Round | Carousel | | 2012–2023 | | | | | | | | |
| Skadoosh | Bumper cars | | 2012–2023 | | | | | | | | |
| Speeding Frenzy | Tube slide | 2020- | | | | | | | | | |
| Surfari Slider | Drop Launch capsule slide | 2020- | | | | | | | | | |
| Swamp Celebration | Disk'O | | | 2017- | | | | | | | |
| Swamp N' Splash | Triple funnel slide | | | | | | | | | | |
| The Swinging Viking | Pirate ship | | | 2017- | | | | | | | |
| Thrillagascar | Drop Launch capsule slide | 2020- | | | | | | | | | |
| Trolls Rainbow Racer | Mat Racer | 2020- | | | | | | | | | |
| Trolls Trollercoaster | Junior roller coaster | | | | | 2024– | | | | | |
| Tube It! | Tube slide | 2020- | | | | | | | | | |
| Zany Zigzag | Body slide | 2020- | | | | | | | | | |
| Zanier Zigzag | Body slide | 2020- | | | | | | | | | |
| Madagascar Crazy River Adventure! | River rapids ride | | | | | | | | | | 2014– |
| Madagascar Circus Show! | Live Show | | | | | | | | | | 2014– |

## Gallery

* Enchanted Airways at Universal Studios Singapore
* Far Far Away at Universal Studios Singapore
* Far Far Away Castle at Universal Studios Singapore
* King Julien's Beach Party-Go-Round at Universal Studios Singapore
* King Julien's Beach Party-Go-Round at Universal Studios Singapore
* Madagascar at Universal Studios Singapore
* Madagascar: A Crate Adventure at Universal Studios Singapore
* Marty's Casa Del Wild at Universal Studios Singapore
* Puss in Boots Sword Swing at Dreamworld
* Shrek 4-D at Universal Studios Japan
* Shrek's Swamp at Universal Studios Singapore