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Fans who saw the 1st movie in 1995 and dreamed of living the experience in a jungle adventure, as well as new young people who already knew the movies in recent years, can now live it at the Gardaland Resort in Italy; a set of hotel and amusement park that has been inaugurated recently, in April this year: Jumanji, The Adventure. It is the world’s first themed attraction.
Gardaland is a theme park located in Castelnuovo del Garda, next to Lake Garda, specifically in the province of the city of Verona, in the Veneto region, in the northeast of the country. It was inaugurated in 1975 and since then it has been run by Merlin Entertainments; moreover, it has grown in size and, of course, in the number of people who visit it.
Twenty-seven years ago we were introduced to the famous Jumanji game, and since that time we have been hooked, unable to escape that enchanting adventure. So it has proven when the saga was resumed in 2017 with Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and in 2019 with Jumanji: Next Level. All with new characters, but with the same adventure and fun.
Now we can feel like part of this great story, living an authentic experience in this park at Gardaland Resort. It is an area that has been dedicated to the new Jumanji adventure through the jungle, facing creatures and wild animals to recover a jewel in the ruins of an ancient temple and save Jumanji. Most importantly, you can now sleep in a completely themed room.
Let’s recall a bit of the history of the Jumanji game:
In 1981 the American writer Chris Van Allsburg published a 32-page children’s story called Jumanji, which was later taken to the screen in 1995; a movie in which the remembered actor Robin Williams participated. The story is about the son of a famous shoe magnate, who has a son named Alan Parrish.
One day, on his way to his father’s factory, Alan finds a board, a board game with the name Jumanji, something mysterious that catches his attention; once he gets back home he tries to start the game. But then he realizes that he needs another player in order to start the game.
So, he decides to call Sarah White, his inseparable friend, in order to get started. However, at first they realize that the pieces could move by themselves; moreover, the center of the board had a magnifying glass where different messages were displayed, depending on which square they fell on. But what they did not suspect was that these messages had the property of coming true.
Alan was then moved to the jungle and was to be rescued when a new player rolled a number 5 or 8. Eventually, a new family moved into the house and 25 years later Peter and his sister Judy found the board in the attic of the house.
They then decide to start the game, and these new participants will also be moved to the jungle, but they must finish the game so that everyone, including Alan, can return home safe and sound. A story of action, frightening and spooky experiences, suitable for all audiences.
What does Italy’s Gardaland Resort park contain in the new Jumanji: The Adventure?
The fun story of the board game will come to life again. A project that became a reality at the Gardaland Resort amusement park this April 2022 under the name Jumanji: The Adventure. Thanks to the partnership between Merlin Entertainments and Sony Pictures.
We mentioned at the beginning that this theme park and Gardaland Resort form a set in Verona, Italy. Now, Gardaland Hotel has created rooms inspired by the Jumanji story. These are equipped with 2 double beds; perfect for a family of 4 or simply for a group of 4 friends.
Themed rooms whose entrance mimics the ancient ruins of the temple, with patterned walls with lush vegetation and animals such as snakes and giant hippos. Likewise, the lamps in the room imitate a kind of lit torch; that is, they have tried to capture as close as possible to an archaeological expedition camp, but in a comfortable hotel room.
Very ingenious, isn’t it? The idea is that visitors can be guaranteed an authentic experience, so that they can be part of this wonderful fictional story, and be transported to the world of Jumanji but without being afraid of any dangerous creature appearing in that great jungle.
What is the new story of Jumanji: The Adventure at Gardaland Resort Park like?
From having to follow a baboon to recover a lost jewel to having to run away from a stone giant; these are some of the adventures that await them in the new Jumanji attraction. This is the first in the world to be themed within this famous franchise.
This theme park managed by Merlin Entertainments has 35 attractions, including 7 roller coasters and 3 water rides. Gardaland Resort consists of Gardaland Park, the See Gardaland aquarium, the Egoland water park and 3 themed hotels.
Since 1987 Gardaland had an Egyptian themed attraction in its inner part: the famous Valley of the Kings. But in 2009 it was remodeled and became an interactive attraction with the use of laser guns, named Ramses: The Awakening. But it had to close its doors in 2020, after the pandemic.
On October 27, 2021, the park reveals through a video the symbolic laying of the first stone for the new construction of Jumanji: The Adventure. The video shows 3 characters who arrive in a jeep and were the ones who placed the first stone.
For this new experience the external part of the stage was kept, but the internal part was changed with the new budget. For this purpose, sculpted cement rocks were made, which were finally molded and assembled in the new construction area. The vehicles were also built and will travel 287 m through 12 different scenarios.
In these scenarios they will have to face dangers, obstacles and special audio and video effects. For example, spinning the car or rolling to simulate the movements of an all-terrain vehicle. This attraction also has different animatronics; among them, and the most impressive, is the stone giant.
This creature will try its best to block the passage of visitors. Its huge head will appear from a cave, while further on its giant hand will try to block the inhabitants who want to approach.
Sony Picture and Merlin Entertainments already have a contract to create more attractions like this in their parks in America and, of course, on the European continent. The idea is to transport visitors to the world of Jumanji, where they will experience surprises, dangers and thrilling traps just like in the movies.
