Dream World is located in Patumthani, Thailand, about 45 minutes or so outside of Bangkok. The bus can be reached by car, bus, train, or on a package tour.
At this park's conception, somebody must have visited the US theme parks and brought home an idea or two.
The attractions in Dream World include:
*A clock where dancing dolls emerge every hour (It's A Small World)
*Replicas of world landmarks (Epcot's World Showcase)
*A hanging shark photo spot (Universal Studios)
*Sleeping Beauty's Castle (you know)
*A parade with a dragon and Peter Pan's ship (Disneyesque)
Perhaps the most unique attraction at this park is "Snow Town". Guests are given heavy coats and rubber boots (and the possibility of contracting SARS) before entering a world of manufactured winter. Fake snow fails from the sky, as a population from the tropics shiver and gasp their way through a warehouse-sized refridgerator. The best part is the sledding hill! Guests climb a ramp to the top, dragging a plastic sled behind them ... then WHOOSH! they fly down the slope. How does one stop at the bottom, you might ask? The obvious way - a couple of employees crouch at the base of the hill holding innertubes for protection, and the guest careen straight into them. Once you've untangled yourself from the mess of sprawled bodies, you can run back up and do it again!
(I visited a similar attraction in Taipei, Taiwan)
Another neat thing about Dream World is your variety of options for transportation around the park. There is a standard train & monorail, but also a really cool sky ride in cable cars. Or, if you don't mind the smell, you can travel from one land to another on elephant back!
Speaking of animals, Dream World boasts a nicely kept petting zoo with a very cute animal show - mostly dog tricks, and some other trained critters who do well with domestication. (unlike the oppressed elephants)
The GOOD rides are "Hurricane" (flips guests upside down) in Fantasy Land, and in Adventure Land:
*Hanging Coaster (the creative name says it all!)
*Space Mountain (similar to Disney, with a greater chance of death or dismemberment)
*Vikings (large swinging ship)
*Super Splash (wet ride like the one at Magic Mountain)
*Grand Canyon (very decent circular raft ride)
*Haunted Mansion (dark ride. Something dropped from the ceiling and conked my husband on the head. Hard!)
The park is quite lax about enforcing height restrictions. Our five-year-old was allowed on everything but "Vikings". The way she cried about missing that ride, it was a good thing her clothes were already soaked!
There are "kiddie" rides and play areas in abundance, and the self-guided bumper boats and racing cars are a blast for all ages.
According to the website, Dream World now has a Hollywood Action Show. I don't think that one was operating when I visited in 2003.
All in all, not a half bad amusement park experience!
Another character encounter
A more cultural parade float.
Mickey's gonna sue!
Elliot?
A fake old man to climb on!
In front of the fountain in the "Love Garden".
After standing on the bridge over "Super Splash".
The "Vikings" ride
Old MacDonald's Farm has got your goat.
Another photo spot
Hmm ... seem familiar?
Plenty of places to take pictures looking like an idiot!
Oh, no! More bears!
Watch out for bears!
Brr! It's chilly in Snow Town!
On our way!
Jumbo waits for his turn to transport park guests.
Love the pics of Ocean Park! Very nostalgic. I remember a grueling bus ride to the park. I was 17 and my grandma was 65, so we were both eligiable for reduced entrance fees ... but we hadn't brought our passports with us. The ticket lady wouldn't believe that I was a child and Grandma was a senior! We got back on the bus, and returned the next day with passports in hand, 'cause my grandma was too cheap to pay full price.
