When my friend asked me and the gang if we wanna go to the Genting SkyWorlds soft opening, of course I agree, after all the park had been closed since 2013! Previously known as Genting Outdoor theme park, Genting had been a special place to me, having been there when it was first open in 1994, when I was 5 years old.
Genting SkyWorlds is an amusement park at Resorts World Genting, Genting Highlands, Malaysia. It was formerly known as 20th Century Fox World Malaysia, a movie inspired theme park project by 20th Century Fox, but had pulled out its licensing deal. The theme park was renamed after reaching a settlement with 21st Century Fox and The Walt Disney Company.
20th Century Fox World was first announced on 26 July 2013 and commenced its construction on 17 December 2013 with a cost of estimated RM1 billion. The project was part of a major ten-year masterplan the refurbishment of infrastructure at Resorts World Genting. It replaced the previous Genting Outdoor theme park which was closed on 1 September 2013.
Once expected to open in 2016, the opening was delayed to 2019 and subsequently to 2022. However, in 2018, Fox Entertainment terminated its agreement with Genting. Genting Group still planned to open the park in the future, but the opening date was postponed while the operator considerered various options, including rebranding the theme park. The theme park would only open on 8 February 2022 but as a soft opening.
As we reaching SkyWorlds with cable car, the fog was getting thicker and we thought we were not be able to see the park. Much to our (pleasant) surprise upon arriving we actually have a clear view of the park.
The park currently has nine themed worlds: Andromeda Base, Central Park, Eagle Mountain, Epic, Ice Age, Liberty Lane, Rio, Robots Rivet Town, and Studio Plaza.
Showtimes timetable. Only Concert Park and Samba Orbana are at open space, the rest indoors and required to queue to enter the venue, which also have limited seats.
RIO
The area is modeled after Rio de Janeiro and themed to the Rio animated films. My favourite site and also the first site we went.
Rio site also have some amazing foods and we actually enjoyed some tacos while seeking refuge from the (heavy) rain. The tacos are nice but we admit can't beat Taco Bell haha.
As you can see on the left side is the site of Samba Orbana live show but we unfortunately weren't able to watch any of the performances. In my opinion, Rio site is the liveliest with amazing soundtrack playing, giving the site a very happening vibe.
You can see people enjoying the Samba Glider throughout the site.
Samba Gliders
The Samba Glider is a suspender roller coaster and also the first ride we got into.
Gotta admit the reason why we all head to this ride is all thanks to the video we saw in IG.
I actually wanna record the whole ride - only to find out we all required to put away all our loose items, and that includes our handphone :') So I have no video to share my pov of the ride apart of the video we saw in IG.
Rio Carnaval Chaos!
The ever popular teacup ride. The second ride we went. I found out one us never been to a teacup ride and my god he went overboard with the spinning!
I mean he really went overboard! We both ended up having vertigo after the ride.
Totally fit the chaos title lol. He even said he would like to ride this again lmaoooo - and later would even claimed he experienced the most G force with this ride than any other rides in the whole park (what the heck lol).
Blue Sky Carousel
The traditional carousel ride and the only one we all skipped lmao. One of us even joked that all the adults in the ride looks dead bored XD
I low key wanna ride it tho. Maybe next time. Maybe with Domagoj hehe (poor fella).
ANDROMEDA BASE
Was once set to be themed to Alien vs. Predator. The coaster's exterior has been completed with construction still underway on the indoor portion. The ride is expected to debut as a Phase 2 addition in 2023.
The path to Andromeda Base facing the SKyWorlds main entrance and located next to Rio.
I love how the fantasy setting transition to sci-fiction setting. I initially thought the Andromeda Base is based on the Andromeda tv series - I was wrong - but rather it was a revamp of Alien franchise - but again maybe the revamp is based on the tv series 🤷
One site I forgot to take both photos and videos is the Boot Camp Training.
But you can see small part of the Boot Camp Training at the end of the video.
Terraform Tower Challenge
The ride is a drop tower type attraction that uses compressed air to rapidly propel riders up the tower then gently lower them with a series of air-cushioned bounces back to the loading platform.
It was once going to be named Alien Terrorforma and be themed to the Weyland-Yutani Corporation from the Alien franchise.
I have ride this type of ride several times, in fact the first time I did was in Genting, and later at Sunway Lagoon, both at the time were sponsored by Solero Shot ice-cream, thus why I keep (incorrectly) referring this ride as "solero shot". Due to the rapid propeling and later free fall, you're required to remove loose items including glasses.
However Terraform Tower Challenge offered a gimmick I didn't expect (nor expected), a collapsed floor. All the rides I had taken just simply shot straight from the ground so I truly enjoy this one a lot.
Alpha Fighter Pilots
Immediate to the Terraform Tower Challenge is the Alpha Fighter Pilots, a "hybrid aerospace fighter jet" ride. It really looks interesting and we immediately queue for it.
Why I didn't expect tho is the ride is long and repetitive so over time rather than being thrill I ended up being extremely dizzy.....Again, important note, you're required to remove loose items including glasses (unsurprisingly).
LIBERTY LANE
An alleyway modeled after (older times) San Francisco, which connects Central Park to Andromeda Base. The alley kinda give me The Great Gatsby vibe.
It is also location for an immersive 3D indoor dark rides based on Invasion of the Planet of the Apes, which is not yet operational.
CENTRAL PARK GARDENS
I genuinely believe the Central Park Gardens in based on Madagascar franchise series but I could be wrong. It most likely just based on the park in New York City.
We managed to watch the park live concert. The singers do have amazing voices.
The park is located between 3 paths that leads to Eagle Mountain, Independence Day area and the Night at the Museum. It also leads to food court and some restaurants.
The Central Park pathway also home to the famous Harry Ramsden fish & chips shack. Harry Ramsden's is a fast food restaurant chain based in the United Kingdom which offers fish and chips and assorted themed dishes. The business has 35 owned and franchised outlets throughout the UK and Ireland.
Facing Night at the Museum is the The Great Lake Show which not yet open.
Now I know why the lake (water fountain) facing the Genting Center window, that way the center visitors can too enjoy the water show.
NIGHT IN THE MUSUEM
An area themed to the Night at the Museum franchise.
Pose in front of the museum is a must hehe.
Night at the Museum: Midnight Mayhem
Initially we think the ride is gentle and meant for kids. Maybe it is not far-fetched but we gotta admit this ride is actually fun for adults! In fact we might enjoyed it the most 😂
Turned out it's actually a shooting game ride! However I was annoying to find out the mechanism to shoot is to pull a level instead of typical pressing button. My hand got tired!
Bah! I scored less coz I took several times to record videos instead of shooting! 😤
ROBOTS RIVET TOWN
A secluded area themed to the Robots 2005 animated film. The area's two attractions, Bigweld's Zeppelins and Rivet Town Roller, are both stacked on top of one another in order to save space. Entry to the area is gained through the Liberty Lane pathway.
The smallest area and appears to cater for children but is my fav site after Rio. I guess I'm just sucker for colorful theme - not to mentioned I'm obsessed with steampunk theme.
Bigweld's Zeppelins
One of the gentle rides which obviously for kids. But I enjoyed it regardless.
I thought we were allowed to take photos or record videos during the ride - until we heard the announcement as the ride starts (ooops - but since I already recording might as well).
It's quite fun that we are able to control the ride altitudes hehe.
Rivet Town Roller
Probably the most problematic ride of all; it took us four times to be able to ride this, our first three visits we been told the ride temporarily closed due to maintenance. Even when we finally managed to ride it, two sets of seats are not available.
However it was worth the wait and attempts, the ride is one of the most fun we had of the day. Important note, you're required to remove loose items including glasses.
EPIC
A area wedged into the park's corner themed to the Epic 2013 computer-animated film.
I really love the fantasy and colorful setting of Epic and the soundtrack airing did gives the epic fantasy vibe. Everything about this site is lovely.
Epic Hummingbird Flyers
Similar to Bigweld's Zeppelins, you can control the ride altitudes.
However what we didn't expect that from time to time the four Boggans would shot water to us 😂 A dialogue played throughout the ride which works as hint when the Boggans going to shoot water to us.
Epic Voyage to Moonhaven
The one and the only log flumes ride. Log flumes (colloquially known as log rides) are amusement rides consisting of a water flume and artificial hollow logs or boats. Passengers sit in the logs, which are propelled along the flume by the flow of water.
Again, similar to Bigweld's Zeppelins, we were actually not allowed to take photos or record videos but...me being the rulebreaker decided to record several short videos 😂
It took us several times to be able to ride this. The ride temporarily closed few times during the day due to the heavy rain and we thought we might not be able to ride it.
I'm glad we managed to. I think the ride is very beautiful and lovely. I really enjoy this one.
I didn't record last part of the ride but enjoy the POV video I found in IG haha.
ICE AGE
An area themed to the Ice Age franchise. Confession - I never watch any Ice Age films 😂
My friend really make sure to take Scart in the photo haha.
I think the Ice Age site have the most films references in it - probably because the franchise is super popular in Malaysia - but it is also the site with the most attractions that are not yet operational.
Three out of the four of the Ice Age attractions, Acorn Adventure and Mine TrainIce Age: Expedition Thin Ice, and Mammoth Fun Zone are not yet operational. Only Sid's Rock 'N' Slide is available at the moment.
Sid's Rock 'N' Slide
We initially decided to cancel the queue and skip the ride but after thinking we had spent Rm151, might as well we go for it.
While the ride looks tame and maybe even boring, but once you ride on it, it's actually fun! In fact the ride is really fun among big group of friends. Highly recommended with friends.
Independence Day: Defiance
Themed to the Independence Day: Resurgence film.
This attractions be able to cater large group of people and thus why it didn't have queue.
The ride is also serve as an immersive interaction experience. Basically we all played the role as one of the newly recruited Earth Space Defense (ESD) soldier.
Before we begin our ride aka mission, we were given briefing of the alien technology as well as live display of a captured alien. However the briefing was interrupted when the alien suddenly woken up and trying to escape. We were informed we had been receiving signals from the ring of Saturn which may cause the alien's reaction.
This is where we all being sent to our first mission; to investigate the ring of Saturn.
While we were being told to keep loose items below our seats, they never specifically say we can't take photo or videos so I took video of the whole ride. You know what? The ride is freaking amazing! Apparently it is a 4D ride as one time we were splashed with water.
Post ride; taking photo with Earth Space Defense (ESD) emblem.
ESD Global Defender
Immediately outside the Defiance ride is the Global Defender ride, another "hybrid aerospace fighter jet" type ride. This is the only ride where there's only have one seat.
Apparently this is one of the most popular ride. By the (almost) end of the day the ride is only available for those who made bookings. This ride also required you to remove loose items including glasses.
EAGLE MOUNTAIN
An area of Mad Ramp Peak - Full Throttle Racing attraction which not yet open.
Based on the merchandises at the gift shop, I have a feeling this area is based on Son of Anarchy tv series. I admit I wasn't expecting that.
The burger truck made me think and missing Domagoj 😭 Took this photo so send to him
Random bubble fun moment at the Eagle Mountain area.
Overall I had a wonderful experience even tho the heavy rain kinda spoil and we nearly miss some rides as they had to temporarily close. We actually amazed we managed to ride 12 out of 13 rides available (with one purposely skipping). We actually amazed we managed to ride 12 out of 13 rides available (with one purposely skipping).
The only attractions we missed was the Andromeda Base Boot Camp - apparently everyone (except me) thought the boot camp meant for kids (it;s not - it's actually for adults, I dunno why the rest assumed likewise - apparently when we first arrived to Andromeda Base they saw kids in the boot camp).
A summary of the experience. The park open at 11am and we arrived at 10.30am and stayed until 7pm. We could had stay longer but unfortunately the latest bus ride back to KL Sentral is at 8pm so we have no choice but to leave.
Can't wait for all the attractions and rides to open and I'm looking forward to come again and hopefully this time with Domagoj!