December 2012: Resorts World Sentosa Celebrates Grand Opening

SINGAPORE, 7 December 2012 – Singapore’s first integrated resort Resorts World Sentosa marked its Grand Opening today with a forecast of 17 million visitors for 2013.

The S$7 billion resort has welcomed more than 45 million guests since opening in January 2010. It opened the second of its two anchor attractions a fortnight ago; The Marine Life Park, which is also the world’s largest oceanarium with 100,000 fishes from 800 species, is expected to draw at least 1 million more visitors to the resort in 2013. The resort’s other major key attraction is Universal Studios Singapore.

Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Chairman of the Genting Group which owns Resorts World Sentosa, said: “In 2006, we began with a vision to build a destination resort like no other. Six years on, we have taken our vision into reality, and turned the page for Singapore’s tourism story. The resort has built itself into one of the most desired destinations for families in Asia. Even as the global economy teeters on uncertainty, we remain confident of surpassing our 2012 attendance of 16 million visitors for next year. ”

RWS’s Grand Opening begins with a ceremony officiated by the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong. Mr Lee will unveil an 8-meter sculpture commissioned for the event, Infinity, at a center spot of the Resort, symbolising the Resort’s infinite moments of family fun and excitement.

A gala dinner follows where 1,600 guests will dine on a banquet prepared by 28 Michelin-star chef Joël Robuchon and Singapore’s own celebrity chef Sam Leong. Entertainment for the evening includes performances by soprano Sarah Brightman and China artist Sun Nan at the Resorts World Convention Centre’s Compass Ballroom.

Among the guests will be beneficiaries from the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled (MINDS), who are also the craftsmen behind the evening’s souvenirs.

Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS) aims to provide employment training and development opportunities for Persons with Intellectual Disability (PWIDs).

For public guests, the highlight for the evening is a 12-minute firework display synchronised with the world’s largest animatronics performance – Crane Dance – at the Resort’s waterfront. Public performances by local bands and a capella groups will take place across the Resort over the weekend.

Image courtesy of Resorts World Sentosa

Tan Sri Lim added: “Today’s Grand Opening marks a momentous chapter in our journey. We stay committed in ensuring that Resorts World Sentosa continues to be an exceptional destination.” Over the next three months, Universal Studios Singapore will launch a new attraction, the Sesame Street Spaghetti Space Chase. This will be the world’s first Sesame Street indoor theme park ride specifically designed for the entire family.

At Marine Life Park, new immersive experiences such as ray-feeding, shark and dolphin interaction programmes, as well as sea trek diving and new education and conservation programmes will be progressively rolled out. New entertainment, including a new resident show at its Festive Grand theatre, will be introduced in 2013.From today onwards, RWS will introduce discounted bundled day passes to its anchor attractions – Universal Studios Singapore and Marine Life Park (Refer to Annex B).

Pictures from Press Conference:

ABOUT RESORTS WORLD SENTOSA
Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), Singapore’s first integrated resort is located on the resort island of Sentosa. Spanning 49 hectares, the resort opened in January 2010 and welcomed over 30 million visitors in its first two years of opening. RWS is home to the region’s first-and-only Universal Studios theme park, the world’s largest oceanarium – Marine Life Park, the Maritime Experiential Museum, a casino, luxurious accommodation in six unique hotels, the Resorts World Convention Centre, celebrity chef restaurants, a world-class spa as well as specialty retail outlets. The resort also offers entertainment including a resident magical spectacular – Incanto, and public attractions such as the Crane Dance and the Lake of Dreams. Resorts World Sentosa is wholly owned by Genting Singapore, a company of the Genting Group. For more information, please visit www.rwsentosa.com.

Hollywood Dreams Parade at Universal Studios Singapore

Universal Studios Singapore® presents Hollywood Dreams Parade – its first-ever full-scale street parade and moving homage to movie-making and the celebrated movies we love and remember. 14 magnificent and intricately detailed floats laden with special effects, a custom musical overture and a myriad of fan-favourite movie characters along with a cast of over 100 extravagantly costumed performers enchanting every spectator as it winds through streets of Universal Studios Singapore – the region’s first movie theme park.

Six electrifying scenes

Rolling Marquee & Stars in Car

Fronted by a moving marquee bearing the logo of Hollywood Dreams Parade, the procession kicks off its first scene with a vintage Cadillac ferrying famous Hollywood Monsters like Dracula and the Bride of Frankenstein, together with Woody Woodpecker at the back in a custom-made rumble seat donning a special director outfit directing the parade. They are accompanied by a wave of paparazzi and ribbon dancers performing around the car as it proceeds through the park.

Madagascar

The beloved cast from “Madagascar” goes on full swing in this scene to create bursts of living colour against island-themed floats bearing the iconic Baobab tree and costumed characters like Alex, Melman, Marty and King Julien, who will be speaking and interacting with guests along the way in the company of dancing Lemurs and drummers. Tailing closely behind the main float is an elaborate crate trailer with the lovable penguins on board, mischievously squirting away at guests with their water guns.

Far Far Away

A fairy-tale atmosphere will overwhelm spectators as the “Far Far Away” scene commences with the main float carrying a life-sized Dragon, who is seen sharing an intimate love moment with Donkey and housing a saddle on her back carrying Shrek, while the Three Little Pigs and Gingy are hanging for their dear lives on her tail. Puss In Boots, Pinocchio and the Three Blind Mice will be riding closely behind on the float of the Dragon’s lair. The astonishing level of detail is conveyed through the vibrant colours on the floats as well as the smoke, water and sound effects.

Lost World

A jeep escaping with a baby T-Rex and animated Dino eggs kick off the “Lost World” scene as it braces spectators for a gigantic mother T-Rex hot on pursuit dangerously close behind. With its ferociously loud and nerve-wrecking roars, spectators feel chills down their spines throughout this terrifying yet immersive experience. Adding to the atmosphere are water-spitting dinosaurs on each side of the float and walking Raptors with baby dinosaur keepers accompanying this Jurassic entourage.

Mummy

Led by the fearsome Scorpion King and his pack of marching Anubis Warriors and Scarab Beetles, the main float transports guests right into the “Mummy” to witness the horror of Imhotep resurrecting his dead warriors, only to have Rick and Evelyn O’Connell foil his plans for terror through a series of aggressive fight scenes and eventually, by reading a passage from the Book of Amun-Ra to destroy the evil high priest.

 That’s a Wrap

The Hollywood Dreams Parade brings on its grand finale with “That’s a Wrap”, with a touch of class in the atmosphere complementing the grandeur of the main float, which is set in a form of a stage-structure with two large champagne glasses where spectators will marvel at superstars Marilyn Monroe and Betty Boop. Accompanying them are elegant ballroom dancers and stilt walking ushers alongside the float, topped off with a walking clapper board and large bubble shooting champagne bottles to end the procession off on a most celebratory note.

 Parade Fun Facts

- Hollywood Dreams Parade will be the 22nd attraction unveiled in Universal Studios Singapore, on New Year’s Eve 2011, hot on the heels of the world’s first TRANSFORMERS The Ride, which premièred on 3 December 2011.

• The length of the parade route is 688 metres from start to end (stretching through five out of the park’s seven themed zones).
• Approximately 400 litres of paint and more than 5,000kg of fibreglass were used in the production of the floats.
• 4.6 meters (about two storeys high) is the height of the tallest float from the scene “It’s a Wrap”.
• Guests can enjoy a total of seven different soundtracks during the procession; one for each scene and the signature Hollywood Dreams Parade overture, across 54 speakers on board the floats.

Running through five of the park’s seven zones, the parade route is approximately 30 minutes long and gives each guest about a 10-minute viewing experience of the procession. Hollywood Dreams Parade will run once a day at 6pm on Saturdays, Sundays and selected holidays, and will be included with regular theme park admission. For tickets and information, visit www.rwsentosa.com.

TRANSFORMERS The Ultimate 3D Battle Premiers at Universal Studios Singapore | Universal Studios Singapore Grand Opening Day 2011 | PAULA ABDUL PRESS CONFERENCE – UNIVERSAL STUDIOS SINGAPORE | DANCE TOWN CHAOS PERFORMS AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS SINGAPORE GALA NIGHT

TRANSFORMERS The Ultimate 3D Battle Premiers at Universal Studios Singapore

Universal Studios Singapore on 3rd December launched the world’s first theme park attraction based on Hasbro’s iconic TRANSFORMERS brand. Taking the Transformers movie franchise from reel to reality, this motion thrill ride showcases the most advanced evolution of immersive theme park entertainment. The breakthrough attraction features 12 scenes, comprising sets blended seamlessly with hyper-realistic 3D digital media and special effects to bring tactile realism to every moment; the inability to discern illusion from reality as guests get transported on-board advanced motion-based ride vehicles into the Transformers universe, and partake in the ultimate 3D battle against the Decepticons right alongside the Autobots.

For more info and updates: visit blog dedicated to everything Transformers The Ride

Guests are placed in the very centre of the TRANSFORMERS universe right from the pre-show queue, where they become recruits of NEST — a military command and control bunker created by humans and AUTOBOTS to protect Earth from the DECEPTICONS. As the new recruits are getting their orientation, Decepticons attack NEST to steal the ultimate power source: the ALLSPARK.

More photographs from TRANSFORMERS The Ride at Universal Studios Singapore

"Cowards run, heroes fight!" ~ Transformers The Ride @ Universal Studios #Singapore @rwsentosa #shimworld—
JAN SHIM (@JanShim) November 30, 2011

You're greeted by a 4.88 metres tall Bumblebee at the entrance of The Ride. In human terms, Bumblebee is older than most current civilizations, but the other Autobots consider him young. He is a fine soldier and totally devoted to Optimus Prime.

What luck! Brand new Transformers The Ride @ Universal Studios Singapore open to public for 'Technical Rehearsal' in the queue now. #fb—
JAN SHIM (@JanShim) November 29, 2011

Enlisted as NEST recruits, guests are tasked to help the Autobots protect a remaining shard of the ALLSPARK — a powerful energy cube that gives life to the Transformers. As the Decepticons attack the facility in a bid to obtain the shard, guests are introduced to a new Autobot — EVAC — created exclusively for this ride.

[ TRANSFORMERS The Ride: Scene-by-scene preview by Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times ]

The queue winds through the NEST military base, with video screens explaining the ride's back story, and past an AllSpark containment chamber that houses a glowing module containing the source of life for all Transformers.

AllSpark containment chamber that houses a glowing module containing the source of life for all Transformers.

Very cool studded Transformers 100% cotton tee shirt featuring Autobots and Decepticons. Jewel picked the purple item I suspect mainly due to the colour than a dark side preference.

Lunch at Transformers Starbot Cafe compliments of Universal Studios #Singapore. Thank you @rwsentosa for the hospitality! #shimworld #fb—
JAN SHIM (@JanShim) November 29, 2011

Anyone familiar with IKEA cafeteria concept will immediately warm up to how food and beverage is served here right through to the check-out.

Michael Bay said, "I am very excited about the debut of this attraction at Universal Studios Singapore. Finally, Transformers fans will not only have a chance to watch the Autobots battle the Decepticons on screen; they will actually be part of the action."

MICHAEL BAY is one of the world's boldest and most successful filmmakers. His films have grossed over $5 billion worldwide and redefined the action genre. A graduate of Wesleyan University and Art Center College of Design, Bay began his career as a commercial and music director. He has won virtually every major award in the commercial industry. His "Got Milk?" campaign resides in the permanent collection of New York's Museum of Modern Art.

Thierry Coup is the Senior Vice President of Universal Creative — the creative studio of Universal Parks and Resorts. One of Thierry's current responsibilities is leading the development of Transformers The Ride at both Universal Studios Singapore and Hollywood.

More photographs from TRANSFORMERS The Ride at Universal Studios Singapore

We were very fortunate to have been one of the early visitors to have experienced The Ride before the official opening. There was no massive crowd normally associated with the launch of a new attraction so here's a clean group photo with EVAC, a new recruit to the Autobot team stationed on Earth.

Anyone who has been on Universal Studio's Spiderman will love Transformers The Ride. It's awesome!—
JAN SHIM (@JanShim) November 29, 2011

TRANSFORMERS, the first in the film’s trilogy, debuted in 2007 and garnered three Academy Award nominations. The first sequel, TRANSFORMERS: Revenge of the Fallen, opened in 2009 and earned an Academy Award nomination. The third in the franchise, TRANSFORMERS: Dark of the Moon, opened on 29th June 2011 with stellar box office results worldwide. The three TRANSFORMERS films were directed and jointly executive produced by Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg, and released by Paramount Pictures. Spielberg also serves as creative consultant to Universal Studios Singapore.

Fun Facts:

• TRANSFORMERS The Ride has been installed in a two-storey building within Sci-Fi City. The Sci-Fi City zone is also home to another thrilling attraction, Battlestar Galactica — the world’s tallest duelling roller coasters.
• The TRANSFORMERS ride vehicle is a roving motion simulator that transports guests past huge photo-realistic projection screens, theatrical scenery, physical special effects and a dynamic sound track to create the ultimate virtual reality experience.
• The ride experience lasts approximately four minutes, but the intensity of the experience makes it seem MUCH longer.
• The ride took nearly four years to design, engineer and produce.
• EVAC can transform into three modes: street vehicle, hybrid battle vehicle, and robot.
• The ride vehicle is a new AUTOBOT stationed on Earth, and his specialty is transporting personnel and classified materials at hyper speeds.
• There are 12 scenes in the main show (for a review of each of the scenes by Los Angeles Times).
• The show features a total of eleven Transformers characters — four Autobots and seven Decepticons. They are: Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Sideswipe and Wheelie as well as Megatron, Ravage, Sideways, Grindor, Devaastator, Bonecrusher and Starscream.