Latest news with #PigThemePark

USA Today
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
New Peppa Pig Theme Park ready to make a big (muddy) splash
New Peppa Pig Theme Park ready to make a big (muddy) splash Show Caption Hide Caption New Peppa Pig Theme Park in North Texas opens Saturday A popular pig amongst the young ones has a new amusement park opening in North Richland Hills this weekend. Fox - 4 News Peppa Pig Theme Park Dallas / Fort Worth is designed to be a first theme park experience for preschoolers. The park features five rides, nine play areas, live shows, and a cinema playing episodes of Peppa Pig. Single-day admission starts at $27.99, and annual passes cost $99.99. Everybody is welcome at America's newest theme park, but Peppa Pig Theme Park Dallas / Fort Worth wasn't built for everybody. 'It's really designed to be like a first theme park for kids,' Merlin Entertainments spokesperson Julie Estrada told USA TODAY ahead of the park's grand opening on Saturday. Merlin is the parent company of Peppa Pig Theme Parks, LEGOLAND resorts, Madame Tussauds and many other attractions around the world. Like its sister parks in Central Florida and Günzburg, Germany, this new Peppa Pig Theme Park is aimed at families with preschoolers. 'We are hoping families will create memories of a lifetime here,' Merlin's CEO Fiona Eastwood said in a statement. Here's what guests can expect at the Texas park. Pint-sized play The park features five rides and nine different plays areas, all designed for kids ages six and younger. "There really aren't theme parks for those that want to experience their first theme park experience, that have those pink-knuckle roller coasters where you're just excited enough, you're not scared, you're not terrified,' Estrada said. 'It's a gentle ride experience where you are experiencing it for the first time with your family.' Grown-ups are welcome to ride alongside their kids. Families can also meet Peppa Pig and watch live shows in Mr. Potato's Showtime Arena or episodes of Peppa Pig's namesake TV show in the park's indoor Cinema. A familiar feel Stepping into the park will feel like stepping into the beloved show with readily recognizable characters and scenes. It will also feel like Peppa Pig Theme Park Florida, since the parks share the same attractions and entertainment offerings. But there are a few differences. For instance, in Texas, the bicycle and tricycle riding area, Peppa's Pedal Bike Tour and Georgia's Tricycle Trail, is indoors. 'Which is great because it can be cold sometimes, and it can be hot at some points, so if you want to get in and enjoy the air conditioning, if you want to get out of the elements from outside, then you can go there,' Estrada said. The Texas park also has a standalone Mrs. Cow's Milkshake Shack serving Muddy Puddle Milkshakes, which are very popular in Florida. Fun for everyone Guests with disabilities and/or sensory sensitivity can find the right experiences for them by referring to the park's online accessibility and sensory guide and sensory placards at each attraction. They are also quiet spaces for sensory breaks. Like all Peppa Pig Theme Park Florida and all three U.S. LEGOLAND resorts, the park has been certified by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards as a Certified Autism Center. 'Merlin Entertainments is dedicated to providing safe, inclusive and engaging experiences for all families,' the park's General Manager Jeremy Aguillen said in a statement. Traveling with disabilities: What fellow travelers should know Where is the Peppa Pig Theme Park? Peppa Pig Theme Park Dallas / Fort Worth is located at 8851 26 Blvd. in North Richland Hills, Texas. That's northeast of Fort Worth. Merlin has three other properties in nearby Grapevine, Texas: a LEGOLAND Discovery Center, a Sea Life Aquarium and an indoor Peppa Pig World of Play, which Estrada likened to an appetizer for the theme park. The company previously told USA TODAY, "North Texas is growing and vibrant – Merlin Entertainments is excited to have the opportunity to add a world-class entertainment experience to residents and visitors alike." Universal is also building a family-focused Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas. How much are tickets? Single-day admission to Peppa Pig Theme Park Dallas / Fort Worth starts at $27.99. Annual passes cost $99.99 per person and cover both the theme park and Peppa Pig World of Play Dallas.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Legoland Florida set to lay off 234 workers
Legoland Florida Resort has announced it will lay off more than 200 employees in the coming weeks. The bulk of those affected are entertainers at the Winter Haven theme park. According to a notice filed with Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, 234 Legoland workers will be permanently let go between March 25 and April 7. 'At Legoland Florida Resort we are making operational changes to help us elevate the guest experience in 2025 and beyond,' spokesperson Julie Estrada said. 'The decision to reduce the size of our entertainment team was undoubtedly difficult, but these changes will allow the resort to operate more flexibly and responsively in a competitive market.' The company did not provide details or additional reasons for the staff reduction. The notice, done in compliance with the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, indicates that 174 of the positions are 'entertainment performers,' although stage managers, technicians and production workers are listed, too. Among the non-entertainment positions on the list are a director, sustainability manager, retail supervisor, resort operations manager and head of resort quality. Polk County's Central Florida Development Council listed the resort as having more than 1,500 employees as of October. In December, Legoland announced it was ending its water-ski show on Lake Eloise. Its final production was Dec. 30. The attraction was a nod to Cypress Gardens — once called the 'water ski capital of the world' — which operated on the property from 1936 to 2009. The Florida cuts come as the Winter Haven resort plans to add a Sea Life aquarium attraction this spring. It's under construction adjacent to the Legoland park and near its Peppa Pig Theme Park, which opened in 2022. Legoland Florida also operates three on-site hotels. Legoland is owned by Merlin Entertainments Group, which purchased Cypress Gardens for $22 million in 2010. Legoland Florida opened on the site in 2011. The attraction was retooled and refurbished, keeping some rides with new theming. Hundreds of Lego-based figures were added to the park. The original, historic gardens area has been maintained. Merlin, based in Britain, also operates the Orlando Eye, Madame Tussauds Orlando and Sea Life Orlando Aquarium on International Drive. Merlin runs dozens of attractions in Europe, Asia, Australia and the U.S., including Legoland parks in California and New York. Disney World sets closing date for MuppetVision 3D show In November, Merlin announced a deal with Mojang Studios to create real-life Minecraft-based attractions, although the locations were not identified. Later in November, Merlin CEO Scott O'Neil announced his resignation, and Chief Operating Officer Fiona Eastwood was chosen as interim CEO. In mid-January, O'Neil became CEO of LIV Golf, the Saudi-based tour, replacing former professional golfer Greg Norman. dbevil@