Since 23 May 2003, DreamWorks Animation, an American animation studio, owned by NBCUniversal since 2016, has had an involvement in the creation and theming of amusement park rides and attractions. This article details the ventures of DreamWorks Animation in amusement parks.
History In 2003, Universal Destinations & Experiences opened the 4D film called Shrek 4-D at Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Japan. The film is chronologically sequenced between the original 2001 film Shrek and Shrek 2 which was released in 2004. In 2005 and 2008, Shrek 4-D was added to Warner Bros. Movie World and Movie Park Germany respectively (the film was later removed from Warner Bros. Movie World and Movie Park Germany in favour of Journey to the Center of the Earth 4-D Adventure and Ice Age: The 4D Experience).
On 18 March 2010, DreamWorks Animation moved further into the theme park industry with the opening of two themed lands at Universal Studios Singapore. The first land is Madagascar which is based upon the 2005 film of the same name. The second land is Far Far Away which is based on the Shrek franchise. Each of the lands featured a variety of attractions themed after the movies. In 2011, Dreamworld announced a $10 million deal with DreamWorks Animation to bring the company's characters to their amusement park. In a 3-stage development beginning on 19 December 2011, Dreamworld will open new shows and newly themed rides and attractions.
In May 2012, the Brazilian theme park Beto Carrero World announced a partnership with DreamWorks Animation, later that year Shrek and other characters began to make meet and greets around the park. The first area with DreamWorks Animation characters opened in February 2014, themed to Madagascar, the area features two attractions, a live show and a river rapids ride. In March 2016, Beto Carrero World and DreamWorks Animation renewed the partnership for more 10 years, and announced three new themed areas featuring Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, and Kung Fu Panda. The construction was scheduled to start in 2017.
In July 2012, DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg announced that the attractions at the American Dream Mall (formerly Meadowland Mills and Meadowland Xanadu) in the Meadowlands Sports Complex at East Rutherford, New Jersey will be themed to DreamWorks' animated productions. In September 2016, the mall's owner Triple Five Group announced that Nickelodeon Universe will also occupy the indoor amusement park space and DreamWorks Animation would work with partnership in creating the park. In November 2018, the mall's vice president of Communications announced the opening date of September 2019 but by that date it was delayed to November 27, 2019, before being delayed again. By October 25, 2019, the Nickelodeon Universe theme park opened at the American Dream. In February 2020, the park announced its opening date of March 19, 2020. However, the onset COVID-19 pandemic caused American Dream to delay the opening again. In September 2020, the park announced that it will finally open on October 1, 2020, along with the rest of the mall. On October 1, 2020, DreamWorks Water Park officially opened to the public.
In February 2013, it was revealed that DreamWorks Animation has partnered with Regions GC to build in Russia Europe's largest indoor theme parks. Set in Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Yekaterinburg, each park would incorporate a movie and concert hall, 4D movie theater, three-star 400-room hotel and retails. The parks, which were expected to be completed in 2015, would feature themes based on Shrek, Madagascar, How to Train Your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda, and Turbo.
In May 2013, DreamWorks signed a licensing agreement with Sands China to bring its cast of animated characters to Sands Cotai Central in Macau. The resorts would present a series of performances, parades, dining experiences, meet-and-greets and photo opportunities highlighting characters such as Po from Kung Fu Panda; Shrek, Fiona and Puss in Boots from Shrek; Alex the Lion, King Julien and the Penguins from Madagascar and Toothless and Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon.
In January 2024, Universal Destinations and Experiences announced How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk as one of the five featured worlds at Universal Epic Universe. The world opened alongside the rest of the park on May 22, 2025.
Locations Park Area Opening date Closing date Previous attraction Replaced byAmerican Dream Meadowlands DreamWorks Water Park19 March 2020 Beto Carrero World Madagascar Dreamworld DreamWorks Experience Kid's WorldNickelodeon Central Kenny and Belinda's Dreamland Gardaland Kung Fu Panda Academy Dragon Empire Heide Park Resort Drachenzähmen - Die Insel Motiongate Dubai DreamWorks Shrek Madagascar Kung Fu Panda How to Train Your Dragon Movie Park Germany SpongeBob SquarePants 4-D Ice Age Dawn of the Dinosaurs: The 4-D ExperienceUniversal Epic Universe How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk22 May 2025 Universal Kids Resort Isle of Curiosity TrollsFest Shrek's Swamp Puss in Boots Del Mar1 July 2026 Universal Studios Florida Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making MoviesStage 54A Day in the Park with Barney Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast DreamWorks Land Woody Woodpecker's KidZone Universal Studios Hollywood Rugrats Magic Adventure 3-D DreamWorks Theatre Universal Studios Japan Universal Studios Singapore Far Far Away Madagascar (Madagascar) Despicable Me Minion Mayhem (Madagascar) Minion Land (Madagascar) Super Nintendo World (Madagascar) Warner Bros. Movie World Marvin the Martian in 3D Journey to the Center of the Earth 4-D Adventure
Attractions Below is a list of all of the attractions at DreamWorks Animation themed areas around the world. The dates shown in the columns refer to the opening and closing dates for the ride under that name. It does not mean that the ride was closed and/or removed. Attraction Type ADM DW MGD MPG UEU USF USH USJ USS WBMW BCWBubbly Lazy RiverLazy river2020-Camp VikingPlay area2017-The CarnivortexDrop Launch capsule slide2020- Donkey Live Interactive live show 2010– Donkey's Photo Finish Meet and greet 2003–2022, 2022–2023 Dragon GlidersMack Rides Inverted power coaster2017-Dragon And Donkey's FlightFamily raft ride2020-Dragon Racer's RallyGerstlauer Sky Fly2025– DreamWorks Holiday Shrektacular Show Live show 2011–2012 DreamWorks Destination Interactive live show / Meet and greet 2021–2023 DreamWorks Imagination CelebrationLive show2024– DreamWorks Theatre 4-D film/Motion simulator 2018– Dronkey Flyers Children's rotating flat ride 2012–2023 Enchanted Airways Junior roller coaster 2010– Escape from Madagascar Suspended Family Coaster 2012–2023 Far Far A Bay Wave PoolWave pool2020-Fountain of DreamsInteractive fountain2017-Fyre DrillMack Rides interactive boat ride2025– Gingy's Glider Kite Flyer 2012–2023 Hiccup's Wing GlidersIntamin launch coaster2025–Jungle JammerDrop Launch capsule slide2020- King Julien's Beach Party-Go-Round Carousel 2010–2022 King Julien's Side Show StompLive show2017- King Julien's Theatre in the Wild Show stage 2012–2023 Kung Fu Academy Play area 2012–2023 Kung Fu Panda AcademyInteractive live show2017-Kung Fu Panda Temple of Awesomeness Play StructureWater play area2020-Kung Fu Panda: Unstoppable Awesomeness4-D film/Motion simulator2017-Lemur LeapTube bowl slide2020- MAD Jungle Jam Ball play area 2012–2023 Mad FlushBody bowl slide2020- Madagascar: A Crate Adventure Water ride 2011–2022 Madagascar Mad PursuitGerstlauer Infinity coaster2017- Magic Potion Spin Children's Ferris wheel 2010– Majunga JumpBody slide2020-Mama Luna Feline FiestaPlay area Meet Shrek and Donkey Meet and greet 2003–2017, 2018– Melman-Go-RoundCarousel2017-Mr. Ping's Noodle FlingTeacups2017-Operation Penguin ShakeLive show2017- Pandamonium Zamperla Air Race 2012–2023 Penguin AirZamprela Magic Bike2017-Penguin PlummetBody slide2020-The Penguins Frozen Fun ZoneWater play area2020-Po Live!Interactive live show2024–Po's Kung Fu Training CampPlay area2024–Poppy's PlaygroundPlay area2024– Puss in Boots Sword Swing Swing ride 2012–2023 Puss in Boots' Giant Journey Inverted roller coaster 2015– Shrek 4-D 4D film 2008–2011 2003–2022 2003–2017 2003– 2010– 2005–2010 Shrek's Merry Fairy Tale JourneyDark ride2017-Shrek's Sinkhole SlammerProSlide Tornado2020-Shrek's Swamp for Little OgresPlay area2024–Shrek's Swamp MeetMeet and greet2024– Shrek Live Live show ????–???? Shrek's Ogre-Go-Round Carousel 2012–2023 Skadoosh Bumper cars 2012–2023 Speeding FrenzyTube slide2020-Surfari SliderDrop Launch capsule slide2020-Swamp CelebrationDisk'O2017-Swamp N' SplashTriple funnel slideThe Swinging VikingPirate ship2017-ThrillagascarDrop Launch capsule slide2020-Trolls Rainbow RacerMat Racer2020-Trolls TrollercoasterJunior roller coaster2024–Tube It!Tube slide2020-The Untrainable DragonLive Show2025–Viking Training CampKids play area2025–Zany ZigzagBody slide2020-Zanier ZigzagBody slide2020- Madagascar Crazy River Adventure! River rapids ride 2014– Madagascar Circus Show! Live Show 2014–
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