INTEGRATED resorts developer Melco Crown Philippines will launch DreamPlay by DreamWorks by 3Q2014 at City of Dreams Manila, with a focus on the theme park’s educational and interactive qualities.
Created in collaboration with DreamWorks Animation, the theme park combines real-life and digital features, starring characters from DreamWorks movies including Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar, Shrek, and How to Train your Dragon.
The 6.2ha property required some US$1.3 billion in investment.
“City of Dreams Manila’s DreamPlay concept is unique in that, unlike a theme park which is purely entertainment, it delivers an ‘educational play’ experience through spontaneous and sensory play,” said Clarence Chung, Melco Crown Philippines chairman and president.
Chung said the DreamPlay product is an industry first and “an offering that stands uniquely alone in Asia”.
The project will square off against KidZania Manila, an 8,000m2 education theme park to open in Bonifacio Global City in 2015 that focuses on role-playing activities.
The announcement for DreamPlay comes within days of Melco’s disclosure of the third hotel project for City of Dreams Manila. The two-tower, 365-room Hyatt City of Dreams Manila will open in 2014, and come with a family entertainment centre, live performance lounge, nightclub, two F&B areas and a VIP lounge.
It joins two other hotel projects under construction, a 321-room luxury Nobu hotel, announced in January 2014, and a 260-key six-star Crown Towers, announced last October (TTG Asia e-Daily, October 10, 2014).
