[Joyongjun's Travel Miles] "Don't Worry About the Heat" Cool Park is Back

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Yong-jun, Travel Specialist]As social distancing measures ease, theme parks and water parks have returned as summer festivals after three years. With record-breaking heat predicted this summer, parks that were tightly closed due to COVID-19 are now stretching wide open. They are enticing customers with various festivals and events to wash away the midday heat. Lotte World Adventure has transformed the entire park into a photo zone filled with sweet ice cream. In addition, they have prepared a rich and fulfilling festival by adding intense and chilling horror experiences. Everland’s Caribbean Bay is holding a festival for the first time in three years, featuring exotic healing photo spots, a famous DJ pool party, and a spectacular flyboard show. If you feel burdened by traveling far during your vacation, welcome summer at urban theme parks and outdoor water parks full of things to enjoy and see.

◇Lotte World Adventure ? Sweet, Chilling, and Unique Summer Festival

Lotte World Adventure is presenting the sweet and refreshing summer festival ICE World until August 28.

From photo zones filled with sweet ice cream (Icecream) to intense and chilling (Cool) horror experiences, and exciting (Exciting) parades and performances throughout the park, there are plenty of dazzling sights and fun activities.

In line with the summer season concept, ice cream-themed sculptures have been installed throughout the park. The representative photo spot, the Meeting Plaza on the first floor of the indoor Adventure, features a giant 5.2-meter-tall White Bear Ice Factory photo zone.

Following the festival story where Loti and Lori, tired of the heat, make ice cream with their friends, the process of colorful neon-colored ice cream being made in the factory is expressed through moving effects.

Visitors can take fun photos using the pouring ice cream and also take SNS certification shots with Big Loti, who has transformed into an ice cream factory staff member.

At the outdoor Magic Island Magic Castle and Atlantis exit, ice cream photo zones that look as if they have melted from the heat catch the eye. You can take stylish photos with ice cream that seems to have fallen straight from the sky. Additionally, the Dream Castle photo zone inside Adventure, which expresses the texture of cool waves and beaches, is highly recommended as a spot for perfect shots.

The popular self-photo studio Geureolsajin Hall has also been renewed for summer. Not only were the key props in the existing booths enhanced, but new booths with pastel-toned lovely ice cream and cool tropical-colored travel concepts were added.

Photo zones with themes such as giant bead ice cream, soft ice cream with sparkling lights, surfing, and tropical palm trees create a sweet and refreshing atmosphere. Moreover, the entire park is filled with photo zones, including the Overbridge that recreates an ice castle.

To enjoy the summer festival even more, try the products and food and beverages prepared by Lotte World. You can find 19 types of lively and fresh pastel-colored summer season goods such as ice cream hairbands, hairpins, and bags at shops inside the park like Loti’s Emporium.

The performances and parades that keep the excitement going are also worth noting. The Go! Go! Vacation performance, which is enough to feel the summer vacation atmosphere, takes place daily at 5 PM. Enjoy the romantic hula dance by dancers exuding a Hawaiian vibe and the bartenders’ dazzling cocktail show along with lively music.

These days, the hot spot at Lotte World Adventure is undoubtedly Magic Castle. Covered in pure white ice that looks cold just to see, Magic Castle is presented with 3D video media showing it freezing like a crystal, freezing even the heat.

If you want thrilling chills, visit the Lotte World Folk Museum. It features the chilling Joseon ghost story content: Tiger’s Slave, and Chang-gwi.

The breathtaking story of the Korean Peninsula tiger that drove Joseon into terror and the tiger hunter sends chills down your spine.

The winter in summer, Lotte World Ice Garden, is also not to be missed. Renewed as a trendy complex cultural space where you can experience skating and healing, Ice Garden is designed as an ice garden concept with large trees and plants arranged throughout as resting and convenience spaces, adding a refreshing feeling.

The highlight is nighttime. Various colors of light and exotic patterns shine on the ice rink, creating a fantastic and romantic atmosphere.

◇Everland Caribbean Bay ? Summer Means Water Play, Summer Festival Returns After 3 Years

Everland Water Park Caribbean Bay’s summer festival Mega Wave Festival will be held from the 24th to August 15.

Caribbean Bay, which has been sequentially operating outdoor thrill slides such as Mega Storm, Tower Boomerango, and Aqua Loop, will open the Water Bobsleigh on the 25th, operating most of its facilities.

This summer festival, held for the first time in three years due to COVID-19 prevention measures, features exotic healing photo spots, a DJ pool party, and a flyboard show.

With the start of the festival, healing photo spots have been installed throughout Caribbean Bay, centered around the outdoor wave pool. First, from the 24th, Caribbean Bay has installed colorful Caribbean Bay lettering sculptures in the outdoor wave pool and presents various photo spots reminiscent of overseas beach resorts such as palm trees, surfboards, beach chairs, and parasols.

The Wild River Pool is transformed into a studio pool concept photo zone filled with emotional props like large tubes and beach balls floating on the water, with enhanced night lighting to capture perfect photos.

Additionally, a 150-meter-long hydrangea road, featuring hydrangeas, the representative flower of summer, is set up along the outdoor lazy river pool, allowing visitors to relax and enjoy water play while admiring the hydrangeas while floating on tubes.

From August 8 to August 14, every evening, the Mega DJ Pool Party featuring EDM, hip-hop, and more will be held at the outdoor wave pool.

The pool party takes place on the special stage at the Giant Cracket in the outdoor wave pool and consists of dazzling DJ performances by famous club DJs, as well as a relay super stage by special DJs such as Park Myung-soo, Koo Jun-yup (DJ KOO), and JUNCOCO.

This summer at Caribbean Bay, in addition to the intense Mega Pool Party, there are plenty of contents suitable for the whole family to enjoy together. From the 25th of next month, the Mega Flyboard Show, which sprays cool water jets and flies through the sky, will be held at the outdoor wave pool.

Flyboarding is a water leisure sport that uses the propulsion of a jet ski and the water pressure from the board to freely fly over the water surface and in the air.

Top-level flyboarders, including world champion Park Jin-min, will perform refreshing water performances.

Additionally, circus performances such as crystal ball juggling and unicycling, as well as busking performances featuring cool summer songs, will be held at the outdoor wave pool.

To celebrate the summer vacation season, the 'Mega Barbecue & Beer Festival,' where you can enjoy barbecue menus such as pork ribs, sausages, and haxen along with cold beer, is scheduled to take place from mid-July.

◇Lotte Water Park ? Let’s Play at the Giant Water Park

Lotte Water Park has also begun welcoming guests by sequentially opening outdoor facilities.

Following the previously opened outdoor wave pool Giant Wave, 10 large outdoor water play facilities including the Water Coaster, the tallest water slide in Korea that will make you forget the heat with thrills, and a music dance festival full of passion that will excite the MZ generation have been abundantly prepared.

The representative adjective for Lotte Water Park is undoubtedly “the largest.” The giant wave pool Giant Wave, which is 135 meters long and 35 to 120 meters wide, boasting the largest scale in Korea and equivalent to 17 soccer fields in size, gives the illusion of being in the South Pacific. The thrilling 2.4-meter-high waves that sweep away even the heat are an indispensable fun feature unique to Giant Wave.

The best thrill is also at Lotte Water Park. The Water Coaster, where you can ride a two-person tube from a height of 22 meters and descend a 300-meter track, offers a thrilling speed sensation that even spectators can feel refreshing.

If you are looking for fun that the whole family can enjoy with children, we recommend the comprehensive water play facility Giant Aqua Plex. With a maximum height of 21 meters and Korea’s first three water buckets, Giant Aqua Plex offers six body slides and large water buckets that pour refreshing water bombs, leaving no moment dull.

Flow Rider and Wild Surfing, where you can safely enjoy waves on a surfboard more safely than the sea, are also in operation. Basic lessons for surfing beginners are provided free of charge, and reservations and rentals can be made through Naver Smart Place Kimhae Lotte Water Park Wild Surfing.

Exciting performances are also prepared. Starting with the DJ’s pre-show performance announcing the festival, dazzling performances by dancers and an EDM party will be held at the outdoor Hawaiian stage from the 23rd to August 21.

Reporter Cho Yong-jun, Travel Specialist jun21