It’s the holiday season, and many have set their sights on conquering the new theme park additions during their trips abroad. You’ve got the new Donkey Kong Country over at USJ, while the fan favourite Hong Kong Disneyland just got a Frozen-themed upgrade last year.
But, if you’ve decided to give the crowds a miss at these tourist magnets and would still like to partake in the thrills, consider jetting over to Thailand for a lesser-known attraction – Dream World Bangkok. From its adrenaline-pumping rides to a sub-zero snow town, here’s all you need to know before you head down to the Land of Smiles to have a go at it:
Dream World Bangkok is an amusement park located in the Thanyaburi District of the Pathum Thani Province, which is about an hour’s drive from Bangkok’s city centre. Opened in 1993, it’s by no means the newest theme park the country has to offer, but it’s still packed with almost 30 different attractions for the whole family to have a blast at.
It is recommended that you book your tickets to Dream World Bangkok online to skip the queues at its physical ticket counters, and you can purchase them at various booking platforms such as Trip.com. Admission starts from S$28.54 for a Dream World Super Visa, which gives visitors access to all areas of the park and unlimited rides on most of its attractions.
For a small fee, you can also bundle your Super Visa with a buffet lunch.
As for food, dining options within the park include a KFC restaurant for fast food; a Thai speciality restaurant that whips up tasty tom yum noodles and pad thai; and a food court that serves cuisine from all over the world. There are also several snack stands stationed around the park that sell finger food such as corndogs and popcorn.
There are a total of 29 attractions to hit up when you’ve arrived at Dream World Bangkok, so you’ll want to dedicate an entire day if you’d like to completely explore the park. Do slather on some sunscreen or bust open an umbrella, as the park’s known to get pretty dang hot when the sun’s out, but at least they’ve got a few water-related rides to cool down at.
Here are some of the rides that you can look forward to, whether you’re an adrenaline junkie on the prowl for their next fix, or just looking for some wholesome family fun for the little ones.
Dream World Bangkok has its fair share of scream-inducing rides if you want to kick your heart’s BPM up a notch; one that thrill seekers cannot miss is their infamous Tornado.
After you’ve secured yourself onto your seats, the ride’s yellow arm begins oscillating slowly, like a menacing Grandfather clock. It then starts to pick up speed, and before you know it you’re 7 storeys in the air, swaying at speeds of up to 75km/h. By the way, the ring that your seats are attached to also revolves 360°, so don’t go on this one if you’ve had a heavy meal beforehand.
Should the Tornado not suffice, then hop on the Sky Coaster. Much like USS’ Battlestar Galactica, this roller coaster does away with the carts so riders will be left suspended in their seats, as they navigate the bobs and weaves of the track with their legs dangling helplessly.
Image credit: Ceysaid Holidays
Another ride that you might have reservations strapping in for is the Hurricane. This one’s basically an oversized swing that takes riders 20m aloft, before making a complete turn. The seats are also capable of doing somersaults too, so just like the Tornado, think twice before boarding this ride on a full stomach.
To cool off, look no further than the Super Splash and Grand Canyon rides. The former is a slow ascend up a long ramp which culminates in a giant splash down into a shimmering pool of water, while the latter is a bumpy raft ride in turbulent river rapids.
Thankfully, raincoats are provided on these rides, but no there’s no guarantee you’ll leave dry, so do pack a change of clothes just in case.
If the children aren’t too keen on these gravity-defying rides, Dream World Bangkok has a slew of kid-friendly ones that will be right up their alley.
Image adapted from: Dream World Bangkok
For starters, the Speedy Mouse roller coaster is just the thing for those who’re just breaking into the world of high-octane rides. It’s not terribly fast, but its gentle twists and turns should be enough to elicit a joyful squeal or two.
Image credit: Dream World Bangkok
When the kiddos want a taste of what it feels like to get behind the wheel, take a ride on the Monza. Don’t worry, they won’t have any accidents on these roads, as the cars will chug along the track at a moderate pace. When they’d like to play passenger princess instead, they can jump on the Sightseeing Train which goes around the park, so they can take in the sights.
An adorable ride that the water-loving kids will enjoy is the Indian Boat. They’ll get to control their own vessels, as they tame the tides with their trusty paddle in hand. If that doesn’t satisfy your aspiring captain, then get them on one of the pedal-operated Bicycle Boats in the park’s lake.
If you’ve got the time and energy to spare after going on the many rides at Dream World Bangkok, they’ve still got a couple of themed areas to visit.
Image credit: Dream World Bangkok
These include the Animal Farm, and just like its name suggests, it’s a mini zoo where visitors get to view and even interact with some of its furry and feathered inhabitants. You won’t find the likes of Moo Deng here, but rabbits, ducks, goats, and pigs will be sauntering about for you to pet. If you’re lucky, you can get up close with parrots as they perch on your hand to feed.
Don’t forget to swing by the Snow Town too. It’s an indoor winter wonderland that is kept at sub-zero temperatures, so you’ll want to don the coats provided to stay warm. Here, there are carved-out slopes to go sleighing, as well as other cool installations such as a towering wooly mammoth replica, polar bear sculptures, and igloos to duck into.
Image credit: @myway.w via Instagram
When the weather’s getting unbearably hot, there’s the Water Fun water park within the park for the tots to wade about in. It’s packed with tons of water spouts and slides for a splashing good time, along with a gigantic pail which gradually fills up and eventually rains down bucketfuls of water for a refreshing surprise.
There’ll also be various live performances happening throughout the park at certain timings, so you might want to keep an eye out for them.
Image credit: Dream World Bangkok
At 12.30pm, 2.30pm, and 4.30pm on weekends and 2.30pm on weekdays, the Hollywood Action Show will be taking place right opposite the Tornado ride. Professional stunt actors will take centre stage and perform death-defying stunts, accompanied by pyrotechnics reminiscent of a Michael Bay film.
Image credit: Dream World Bangkok
Meanwhile, the Colours of the World Parade is scheduled at 3.45pm on weekends, where an array of characters donning vibrant costumes will be making their rounds about the park’s lake. The parade will feature performers from different countries dressed in traditional outfits from all over the world, as they strut their stuff while busting out swanky dance moves.
Image credit: Dream World Bangkok
Although Dream World Bangkok is not as well-known as the heavy hitters like Universal Studios and Disneyland, it still warrants a visit when you’re touring Bangkok as it has something for visitors of all ages.
Other than those we’ve mentioned, the park also has attractions such as a haunted house, cable cars, and a 4D theatre. We’d be here all day if we were to give each of them a shout, so it’s better if you head down to experience the thrills for yourself.
For more things to do on your vacation to Bangkok:
Cover image adapted from: Dream World Bangkok
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