Merlin to open SIX Shrek attractions

[Ian]

Merlin Entertainments CEO Nick Varney said the firm is considering Orlando as a location of "Shrek's Far Far Away Adventure."

Merlin and DreamWorks Animation expect to open six Shrek attractions worldwide within nine years. "We will do an initial six from a list of target cities. The scope is global, but Orlando is certainly a strong contender," Varney said.

Source - Orlando Sentinel

Surely they won't open six of the same attractions. there are plenty of other Dreamworks films to pick from.

 

[LiveForTheLaunch]

I don'ttttttt even get this, like is Shrek really that popular these days for them to put faith in opening six Shrek attractions? I guess we'll have to see what they are.

 

[marc]

Will be shocked if they can open in Orlando seeing Universal have it, unless they are getting rid of it.

 

[Lofty]

Yeah. Orlando is NOT the best of choices but seen as they're opening one their clusters this year in Orlando it wouldn't surprise me. Also, expect an announcement of another Dungeon attraction in the same cluster for the next few years.

 

[Mysterious Sue]

Will be shocked if they can open in Orlando seeing Universal have it, unless they are getting rid of it.

This exactly. What on earth would be the point of opening one in Orlando? Who's going to pay to go to a separate attraction when there's already one at Universal? Shrek is a crap idea for London, it's a ridiculous idea for Orlando.

 

[nadroJ]

I'm just pulling my hair out over this, it completely boggles me how a group of apparently knowledgable individuals have sat down at a table somewhere, considered their options and have gone 'Shrek. Shrek is what we will go with. Yes.'

Even if there IS a 5th film coming out, it's a dying franchise. I've gotten on my soapbox about IPs before,but something like this just doesn't have the longevity to make it a viable option in my opinion. So in 10 years or whatever when the thing is actually dead and buried are they just going to rip it out and start again or watch it slowly curl up and die?

I'd really like some reasoning behind all this because it's driving me mad.

 

[marc]

^its cheap probably and they have to do very little themselves.

From what's been said people don't bother with it at Universal anymore

 

[Jared]

Why not do something more recent with sequels coming out. How to train your dragon springs to mind.

 

[Lofty]

I can't agree with Jordan's post more.

The only reason they've done it is to gain a better tie-in with Dreamworks. It's not the best or ideas.

 

[Screaming Coasters]

They should build a London History attraction. The longevity would far out-way that of Shrek. I was happy to hear about Shrek, but upon looking deeper into the project, its a completely dumb move.

Yep, Merlin have done it again. And this is something we can plant directly on Merlin and not their parks management.

 

[insanecoastervids]

Saw this, and I can't believe they are doing this, as the last Shrek movie came out a few years ago.

 

[Robbie]

Website live, London opens in July.

https://www.shreksadventure.com/london/

Basically just seems a Dungeons attraction with a Shrek in it. Shocked to discover it includes a mirror maze. Shocked, I tell you.

 

[Darren B]

I think it's fab they're going to be introducing 6 attractions based on me <3

 

[PeskyTrimBrake]

The internet [strike]ruined[/strike] Shrek for me.

In my opinion, this is just really awful decision. Out of all the amazing movies Dreamworks Animation have made such as The Croods and How to Train Your Dragon, Merlin choose Shrek...

 

[Gavin]

^ Shrek is much better known than either of those, even if they may be better.

Shrek is the best choice for this kind of thing.

 

[GuyWithAStick]

The internet [strike]ruined[/strike] Shrek for me.

Same. If Merlin thought Shrek was popular from it being 'Love and Life', then they're REALLY misinterpreting the use of it.

Sent from my VS840 4G using Tapatalk

 

[cjbrandy]

How much will admission cost for these attractions? I bet its like £20 per person and the food is super expensive.

 

[Martyn B]

Plus an awfully forced tacky photo with a ceramic Shrek.

 

[Robbie]

How much will admission cost for these attractions? I bet its like £20 per person and the food is super expensive.

The link I put on the previous page says door prices are £26/£20.80 (adult/child) or £23.40/£18.72 online in advance.

No mention of food places, but there is of course the obligatory (and unavoidable) 'photo opportunity'

 

[SaiyanHajime]

The gate price is irrelevant, no one pays those. People either buy combo deals with the other London attractions, or get bogofs.

On the one hand I don't understand why anyone thought this IP is relevant or substantial enough to make an entire attraction out of, but on the other... Was this simply a cheapish relevantish IP to force into a concept they already had? I bet they just wanted another city based midway to further take over the 3 hour tourist attraction market.

People laughed at Merlin coming to Orlando, but the reality is their attractions are a bargain. Just like Funspot benefits from just offering a different product to the rest of Orlando, with sensible opening hours. Merlin take over their niche markets with combo deals and people think they're getting a good deal, visiting several attractions for less than a day at Disney costs.