2-Color Theme Parks Welcoming the Spring Season in the COVID-19 Era
[Asia Economy Reporter Yongjun Cho] Theme parks have welcomed the spring season. Although it is the biggest season for amusement parks, they are struggling due to a decrease in visitors caused by COVID-19. Even opening feels somewhat cautious. However, theme parks have made various efforts to strictly adhere to quarantine rules more than anywhere else during the COVID-19 pandemic. They strictly control the number of visitors, and thermal imaging cameras and temperature checks are conducted throughout the park. Each ride used by customers is thoroughly disinfected, and routes are adjusted to prevent close contact when boarding attractions. Accordingly, theme parks have cautiously started their spring season events. Each park is carefully decorated according to the spring season theme, waiting for visitors. Although festivals are not held due to the COVID era, Everland has infused retro sensibility with the theme of memories to celebrate its 45th anniversary. Lotte World presents various contents themed around school. Let's take a look at the spring season events of Everland and Lotte World.
◇Everland - Memories Bubbling! Spring Flowers Swaying!
When Jayeon Farm opened, Ryan Safari disappeared into memories, and a new concept of safari bus is scheduled to operate.
Everland is celebrating its 45th anniversary by showcasing various retro-themed contents centered on the theme of 'memories.' Given the circumstances, the term 'festival' has been omitted. However, visitors can calmly enjoy the spring flower atmosphere while exploring nostalgic contents.
Everland’s spring season opens with flowers. The centerpiece of spring flowers is the representative garden, Four Seasons Garden, which spans 10,000 ㎡ (about 3,000 pyeong). This year, the Four Seasons Garden has been transformed into the 'Nature Farm Homage Garden' with a retro sensibility. Using 1.3 million spring flowers of over 100 species including tulips, daffodils, and muscari, it recreates the classic tulip garden pattern from the 1990s Nature Farm era, characterized by colorful embroidered flowerbed patterns.
Notably, this year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and the Netherlands, the country of tulips. Various customer participation events are held in collaboration with the Embassy of the Netherlands in Korea.
A newly installed large LED screen measuring 24m in length and 11m in height in the Four Seasons Garden will display media art, masterpieces, fairy tales, and performance videos. Every hour on the hour, a 10-minute video of the tulip gardens in the Netherlands is shown, arranged so that Everland’s actual flower beds and the tulip gardens in the video appear seamlessly connected.
Starting next month on the 1st, a special exhibition will be held featuring about 10 Dutch masterpieces from the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, supported by the museum, displayed as moving images. Along with the installation of the large LED screen, the spring season performance 'Waltz in Royal Palace,' which tells royal stories through dance and song, will be moved to the viewing deck in front of the screen.
Additionally, annual members who applied in advance helped create a fresh flower path (infiorata) themed around Everland and the Netherlands at the Global Fair Plaza. A special photo zone has been set up at the windmill stage in the Four Seasons Garden, where visitors can take photos that feel like traveling in the Netherlands, and an SNS certification photo event is underway.
In collaboration with students from Seoul National University’s Department of Design, retro photo zones evoking memories such as past rides, CRT TVs, and advertising posters have been created in the Four Seasons Garden. Visitors can feel as if they are stepping back into nostalgic memories while taking commemorative photos.
On one side of the garden, a red 'Slow Mailbox' has been installed, where customers can drop postcards that will be revealed in 2026, the 50th anniversary of Everland’s opening, as part of a time capsule-style customer participation event.
Meanwhile, the iconic 'Safari Bus,' which has represented Everland Zoo for the past 45 years, will disappear into memories, and a new Safari World offering closer and wilder predator observation will be introduced this spring.
Safari World has been part of Everland since it opened as 'Yongin Nature Farm' in 1976, being the first safari in Korea and Asia. Although the appearance of the safari bus has evolved, it started as a form where visitors ride a bus to observe wild animals playing in nature, just as it is now.
◇Lotte World - Spring Blossoms in a School Atmosphere 'Color World School'
Lotte World has been revamped into a hopeful school called 'Color World School' that the whole family can enjoy. This spring, Lotte World presents non-face-to-face content prioritizing safety, with a school concept featuring a fantastic atmosphere not seen in reality, along with photo zones and decorations full of spring vibes.
First, on the first floor of Adventure, at the Meeting Plaza, visitors are greeted by Roti in a school uniform in front of the photo zone 'Roti’s Clubroom,' made of giant books measuring 6.5m.
Standing in front of 'Roti’s Clubroom' can give the illusion of being in a giant kingdom. Especially, a large door equipped with two mirrors facing each other creates an infinite reflection tunnel effect called the 'Infinity Mirror,' stimulating curiosity. When taking selfies, the camera frame overlaps repeatedly, allowing for three-dimensional and unique photos.
Next to it, at the Dream Castle photo zone, a playful photo zone reminiscent of paint mischief during art class in school has been created. Large paint cans in pink and sky blue colors and yellow cabinets with hanging placards catch the eye. The placard phrases were collected through an SNS event, and seven of them were applied to the design.
On the second floor at Barcelona Plaza, a new space called 'Everyone’s Playground: Colorful Playground' combines the popular LED photo zone on SNS with a newtro sensibility experience. Visitors can take unique emotional photos while riding the pink and mint-colored LED seesaws and swings, and also enjoy doodling on a large blackboard measuring 7m wide and 1.8m high.
Lotte World continues to hold performances and parades while observing social distancing rules. The most notable performance is the new Garden Stage show 'School Up,' a musical with a school concept that crosses hip-hop and jazz, depicting the growth stories of youth. The story of 'Roti’s Adventure 2: Cyber Adventure,' where main characters Roti and Lori save Sharon Cat from the cyber overlord, is popular among children. 'School Up' is performed every Saturday, Sunday, and public holiday at 3:30 PM, and 'Roti’s Adventure' at 6:30 PM.
When talking about Lotte World’s spring season, the 3D mapping video 'Pink Blossom' shown at the outdoor Magic Island cannot be missed. Every day from 6 PM, pink flowers bloom and scatter across the outer wall of Magic Castle.
They also offer nostalgic school lunch foods and various spring season menus. Visitors can enjoy 'Old-fashioned Lunchbox' and 'Nostalgic Omurice' reminiscent of school lunch times, as well as unique items like dalgona candy shaped like Roti’s face, 'Cherry Blossom Meringue,' and 'Flower Cotton Candy,' evoking cherry blossoms in full bloom, available throughout the park.
Additionally, until April 30, a 'Magic Ssaksseuri' ticket allowing entry at 6 PM to view only Magic Island is sold for 10,000 won. It is limited to 1,000 people per day on a first-come, first-served basis, so visitors should hurry. Even if you miss purchasing the Magic Ssaksseuri ticket, there is no need to be disappointed. Until the end of this month, when purchasing admission tickets, Samsung Card members and Payco online payments receive discounts of up to 60%.
Yongjun Cho, Travel Specialist jun21@
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