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Home , Disneyland Paris

THEME PARKS & ATTRACTIONS ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATIONS

here’s something magical about Tstepping into a theme park – entering a fantasy world where cartoon characters roam the streets, joyful songs blare from the speakers and fairy- tale souvenirs fill the shops, so that childhood dreams come flooding back and reality gets left at the gate. And as important as the rollercoasters are, there’s magic in every element of the theme park experience – the extravagant stage shows, the impromptu street performances and the glittering float Show parades, to name but a few. We’ve rounded up some of the best to get you feeling inspired and help you sell these parks to anyone wanting to be business enchanted for a few days. w CARO Laura French picks out the Where: Why: The Netherlands’ biggest theme best parades and shows from park isn’t just about the rides, with a across the theme park world plethora of shows on hand to entertain those less keen on adrenaline-seeking. Carnival-style performances, water @laurafrench121 fountain displays and stunt shows are all on offer across its nature- themed grounds, but the newest and biggest attraction is Caro, a visually led production inspired by Efteling’s 100-year-old steam carousel. Taking place at the park’s theatre, it features acrobats, dancers, music and various interactive elements to get the kids involved, with a visual approach that does away with language in favour of luring a more international audience. Book it: DFDS offers a five-night break at Efteling from £221 per person, for travel with a car from Newcastle to , based on four people sharing an en suite cabin, and including entrance to the park. dfdsseaways.co.uk/holidays/family- holidays/efteling

42 travelweekly.co.uk 28 March 2019 28 March 2019 travelweekly.co.uk 43 DESTINATIONS ENTERTAINMENT THEME PARKS & ATTRACTIONS

w CINEMATIC CELEBRATION Where: Universal Studios Florida Why: Picture 120 dancing fountains Picture 120 fountains shooting up beside explosive pyrotechnics, cinematic projections and shooting up beside panoramic water screens and you have explosive pyrotechnics a glimpse into Universal Orlando’s latest and cinematic projections creation – the Cinematic Celebration. Taking place at the lagoon on select nights, the new show brings iconic moments from films into one impressive spectacle – think Harry Potter spells, Jurassic World dinosaurs lanterns, a trick or treat trail and and Despicable Me characters coming Boo-to-You parade featuring all the together in vivid projections, as the key characters and villains combine in whole waterfront turns into a giant, its Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween immersive cinema under the stars. Party, which takes place on certain It’s not the only one to look out for nights between August and November here though: there’s also a new Dark (separate ticket required). Arts at Hogwarts Castle illumination “It’s my favourite Disney show,”

show taking place from April 13-28 and says Ross Sinclair, Gold Medal’s senior STROSHANE/DISNEY MATT PICTURES: UNIVERSAL ORANDO 2018 RESORT; May 25-27, bringing Lord Voldemort, product manager for the US. “I was Death Eaters and other dark figures fortunate enough to go last year and to life in a dramatic music, light and was completely swept up in the magic w GRAND PARADE special-effects display. of the whole evening. I was soon Where: Bollywood Parks Dubai Book it: Attraction World offers a feeling like a kid all over again.” Why: For those in the mood for three-park explorer ticket from £295 Those arriving out of season will find something a little different, look to for adults and £287 for children, valid plenty more to be getting on with, not Dubai Parks and Resorts’ Bollywood- for up to 14 days. least the Parade, during themed playground. attractionworld.com which more than 100 performers ABOVE: Visitors will find cultural meander through the park in a flash Universal performances on every corner here, Orlando’s w MICKEY’S NOT-SO-SCARY of colour, music and joy. from Rajasthani folk dances to Indian Cinematic HALLOWEEN PARTY Book it: Funway Holidays offers a Celebration flute players, street circus acts to Where: , week in a Disney Area three-bed Bhangra routines. But the culmination World Resort villa with private pool from £910 per BELOW: is the daily parade. This sparkling, Why: If anyone knows how to pull off person, including Virgin Atlantic flights Mickey’s Not-So- energetic display involves all the Scary Halloween a show, it’s Disney, and its Halloween from Gatwick on October 27, based on troupes shimmying on down the Party, Walt celebrations are every bit as out-there two adults and two children sharing. Disney World runway, with vibrant music, colourful as you’d expect. Fireworks, pumpkin funway4agents.co.uk Resort costumes and impressive dance routines adding an extra dose of life to the already-buzzing park. Book it: Emirates Holidays is offering three nights’ half-board at the four- Lapita Hotel from £619 per person, based on two adults sharing a room. The price includes return Emirates flights from Heathrow on April 1 and complimentary tickets to Dubai Parks and Resorts. emiratesholidays.com

w PARC ASTERIX: GAULOIS, ROMAINS, LE MATCH! Where: Parc Asterix Why: If clients have already done the bigger parks and want to try somewhere new, suggest Parc Asterix. Located just outside and themed around French comic book characters, it features attractions inspired by the Vikings, ancient

44 travelweekly.co.uk 28 March 2019 THEME PARKS & ATTRACTIONS ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATIONS

LEFT: Greece, the Roman Empire and beyond, as well as various Paris’s new interactive displays and shows. The Lion The best of the bunch is the King show Gaulois, Romains, Le Match! RIGHT: display, which sees the Gauls and Turn it Up!, Romans go head to head with Busch dance, acrobatics and Segway Gardens challenges, before the audience Tampa Bay votes for its winner. It’s not the only attraction to watch here. There’s a new parade that sees characters dance and wave at visitors as they glide by

on a Viking-style drakkar boat, PICTURES: YANN PIRIOU; ROBERT AARTS making it a good suggestion for those wanting to mix it up a little. and dancing around the stage in w ILLUMINATIONS themes changing regularly – so Book it: A one-night stay at a vibrant, 22-minute spectacle Where: there’s always an excuse to see the new on-site hotel, La Cité that promises all the elegance Why: Is there anything more it again. Suspendue, and a day ticket you’d expect from a full-blown, revered among Disney fans It’s not the only show visitors to the park costs from €86.50 globally acclaimed ice show. than that iconic pink castle will find at Disneyland Paris, per person (commissionable It’s not the only hook for and its pointed, blue turrets? of course. From June 30 to to agents). visitors here, as SeaWorld Possibly not, and it gets all the September 22, a new The Lion parcasterix.fr/en Orlando has also launched its more enchanting come night- King show will descend on the first-ever parade, featuring Elmo time, when the mesmerising park with classic ballads such as w TURN IT UP! ICE SHOW and friends dancing around in the Illuminations show has it Circle of Life and Can You Feel Where: Busch Gardens just-opened Sesame Street land. glowing in shots of blue, pink the Love Tonight. The Jungle Tampa Bay Book it: Do Something Different and purple. Colourful projections, Book Jive will also be taking Why: Theme park shows aren’t offers a three-park ticket from lasers, fireworks, mist screens place, with guests invited to only about quirky characters and £119 for adults and £115 for and powerful Disney songs all dance along to the likes of The float parades. For something a children, valid for up to 14 days. feature in this 20-minute display Bare Necessities in various areas little different, SeaWorld has the dosomethingdifferent.com of pure, tear-jerking magic, with of the park. answer – its Turn it Up! ice show, Book it: Super Break packages an award-winning display of start at £514 for a family of four, sheer skill that takes place twice including two nights’ room- a day at Busch Gardens Tampa only at the Holiday Inn Bay. Featuring chart-topping Paris – Marne la Vallée hits, colourful costumes and and a one-day ticket a 50-foot-wide LED screen, to Disneyland Paris. it involves 12 professional superbreak.com/ skaters spinning, twirling agents