Genting Skyworlds Theme Park brings to life all your favourite animations for a fun-filled family day, writes Hanna Hussein
SINCE its opening last February, I have been wanting to visit Genting Skyworlds Theme Park, the outdoor theme park of Resorts World Genting in Pahang, and see what the hype is all about.
The highland resort has been receiving a lot of visitors with its hotels fully booked on weekends and public holidays.
So, my husband and I decide to go on a weekday instead, and it turns out to be the best move.
The entrance to Genting Skyworlds isn't that crowded, and since we already purchased our tickets through the Genting Skyworlds Mobile App, we begin our day quite smoothly.
After scanning the QR code on our phones at the entrance, we proceed to our day of adventure starting at the Studio Plaza.
HELLO, RIO!
A bright and vibrant zone, the Studio Plaza is a place to celebrate all things cinema. It is also where the main retail stores and exciting restaurants (especially the candy store!) are located.
There are not many rides here, so we head to the "Rio" section on the right side of the park, where a summer party is held all day, every day, with loud, funky Brazilian samba music that gives the place an atmosphere of the carnival.
Rio is one of my favourite animated movies produced by Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox Animation. The movie is about a domesticated macaw named Blu going on an adventure to Rio de Janeiro with a fiercely independent hen named Jewel.
We get to waltz through the bustling neighbourhood of Santa Teresa and marvel at the colourful facades.
There are three rides in the zone and we head to the first one, the thrilling Samba Gliders, which is said to be one of the best in the park.
Two riders are strapped side by side facing front and back on a "hang glider chair" that can accommodate four people. The chair is connected to a rail above as it circles the park section like a roller coaster at a height of almost 20m, providing an adrenaline-charged bird's-eye view of the whole area.
My husband and I choose the front-facing seats so we can enjoy the ride going forward.
Not really a fan of thrilling rides, my sister opts for the Rio Carnaval Chaos, a chaotic spinning ride in a colourful teacup — something that lets her keep her feet on the ground.
Joining her later, I thought I might get dizzy from all the spins, but it is actually quite fun and enjoyable.
Another ride in Rio is the Blue Sky Carousel, a double-decker carousel with stunning details and artistic elements. Unfortunately, the ride is undergoing maintenance.
EPIC WORLD
Next we head to the "Epic" section. At the entrance, visitors will walk through a "machine" that shrinks them into "tiny humans", just like in the 2013 animated movie, and be"teleported" to a woodland kingdom inhabited by talking slugs, flower people and tiny soldiers called Leafmen.
Flowers and bugs are now giants and we, the tiny humans, get a chance to marvel at the secret kingdom up close. Not only that, there are also two rides — Voyage to Moonhaven and Hummingbird Flyers — to better enjoy the "kingdom".
Since Voyage to Moonhaven is a water ride that doesn't promise to keep you dry, it is highly recommended to take it last before you head home.
The boat ride takes us on a whimsical tour around Moonhaven while exploring deep into the macro-world. However, it's not just a leisure cruise, as the ride has its own surprises. Do look out for the scary, unexpected drops that will send you hurtling down the waterfalls!
The Hummingbird Flyers, on the other hand, is a scarier ride that goes round and round, taking you high and low on the back of a "flying hummingbird".
COOL ICE
If you are into roller coasters, you must try the Acorn Adventure at the Ice Age zone.
This amazing ride will take you on a "nutty" journey in search of a mystical acorn with Scrat, the lovable pre-historic squirrel in the famous Ice Age movies.
The ride will take you as high as 20m before making a rush down the spiral tracks around the icy fall.
The zone also features three other attractions: the Ice Age: Expedition Thin Ice, which is still under construction; Sid's Rock N Slide, which is a super-thrilling motion-filled ride; and the Mammoth Fun Zone, which is a frosty playground for little explorers.
Of course, we also make sure we don't miss out on catching the Ice Age: Time Warp shows at Sid's Playhouse, where we get to meet all the Ice Age characters and watch them perform live on stage with a fun dance that you can join in.
Showtimes are available on the Genting Skyworlds app and it is mandatory to book a VQ reservation to get a seat!
FUTURISTIC RIDES
At the Andromeda Base, we're transported to a thrilling galactic escapade, but oh... be warned recruits, danger lurks in every shape and form in the deep unknown.
More like a robotic world with futuristic attractions, this zone offers three rides and all of them require a VQ reservation through the app.
There's the Alpha Fighter Pilots ride, where we are strapped up for a thrilling space battle simulation.
And just like pilots in training, this ride serves as a physical and mental test for our mission ahead. Beware, the thrill level is high as it will make you turn and swirl!
Another scary ride is the Terraform Tower Challenge that shoots riders up to the sky on a vertically thrilling ride. If you're brave enough to open your eyes, you will be gifted with a breathtaking view at its best vantage point, all before the extraterrestrial beings strike!
For a more adventurous and energy-consuming experience, you can go on the Boot Camp Training. Here you can put your strength and resilience to the test on an obstacle course that is designed to challenge even the most agile of recruits.
Next to the Andromeda Base is the smallest zone in the park, the Robots Rivet Town that houses two fun rides for young visitors.
There are the Bigweld's Zeppelins that will take them on board the family-friendly Bigweld's fleet and the Rivet Town Roller, a scary ride that goes on a topsy-turvy route!
INTO THE MUSEUM
One of my favourite rides in the park is definitely in the Night at The Museum, which is located at the Central Park zone.
I really love the heart-warming movie of the same name, starring Ben Stiller as the downtrodden protagonist who takes the job of a night watchman at the New York American Museum of Natural History and finds the artefacts coming to life as the clock strikes midnight.
However, the Night at the Museum: Midnight Mayhem ride isn't as I expected.
The tour at the Natural History Museum is an action-packed 3D interactive ride, which tasks you with managing the
unruly exhibits and stopping them from wreaking havoc by shooting them with well, candy!
Oh, and don't miss out the Independence Day: Defiance ride — one of the best attractions in the park by far!
The ride takes you on a journey to the future from Genting Highlands to Kuala Lumpur while defending earth from an alien invasion!
As one of the Earth Space Defence recruits, we're all geared up to be part of an exhilarating space endeavour.
PRE-ARRIVAL TIPS
Now, here's how to make your Genting Skyworld journey fun and easy. Download the Genting Skyworlds Mobile App.
The app contains all the information you need about the park. You can see the park operating hours, schedules, accessibility information and descriptions for attractions, dining and more.
You can also check out upcoming events as well as offers, promotions and purchase selected tickets effortlessly.
With the app, you can also see wait times for must-see shows, rides and attractions wherever you are — at home, on the go, or in the park.
The most important part is that you can plan your itinerary with the VQ reservations — a very important thing to get a chance to ride on the popular attractions where pre-booking is necessary.
You can pre-book preferred time
slots, create and edit boarding groups for multiple-ticket holders and start a recommended itinerary curated from personal preferences to customise your park experience.
On top of that, the Photo+ Experience is super reliable. But, you have to register your selfie to receive and preview all your watermarked images or videos taken by the ride-capture or slow-motion cameras, which are available at selected attractions through the mobile app.
You can download the pictures for free and if you purchase a Photo+ Pass, you are able to download high-resolution digital contents, print them onto any gift products, or share them with your family and friends instantly!
FAST FACTS
GENTING SKYWORLDS THEME PARK
Resorts World Genting, 69000 Genting Highlands, Pahang
WEBSITE www.gentingskyworlds.com
HOURS 11am to 6pm daily
PAY One day tickets Adult (13-59 years): RM151; child (90cm to 110cm) / senior citizen above 60 years old / guest with disabilities: RM128
[email protected]Enjoy extra discounts on Genting Skyworld ticket with Klook Discount Code.
