Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness: Perfect Indoor Play For Kids
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Jingkids
brings you the inside scoop on Universal Studios Beijing, before it’s
open to the general public. Here’s a look at each of the lands inside
the park and tips to make the most of your visit to Universal’s largest
theme park ever! Check out our WeChat official account to see them all!
Tip 1: Universal
Beijing Resort has announced its grand opening will be Sep 20! That
means it’s just a few short weeks until Beijingers and folks from all
over China descend on the park, plus its two resident hotels – Universal
Studios Grand Hotel and NUO Resort Hotel – as well as CityWalk which
will require no admission ticket.
Download their app from either the
iPhone or Android app store by searching 北京环球度假区 Běijīng huánqiú dùjià
qū, or access their mini program via WeChat (ID: gh_51d217a531b6) to
purchase tickets.
Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness
It’s definitely a sight to behold when you first enter Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness, which is entirely indoors, and one of the most immersively-decorated lands within the park. The sheer array of colourfully lit lanterns hanging against the “ancient” Chinese villages (shops and restaurants) made the kids’ jaws drop with wonder. I overheard several visitors saying, “Now that I’m here, I’m not leaving this place.” This was in large part because Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness (KFPLA) is the only fully air-conditioned, sheltered land within the park. Store that away for next summer.
There are 4 rides in KFPLA; all meant to satisfy a younger audience (we would say below-10s would have the most fun). The one with the longest queue would definitely be Kung Fu Panda Journey of the Dragon Warrior, which is a boat ride that will likely leave you a little bit damp if you sit on the sides of the boat.
The Carousel of Kung Fu Heroes is well, a carousel (fancy name for merry-go-round).
The Lanterns of Legendary Legends is one of the octopus-looking rides (technically called a 12-arm) that bring you up and down as you go around in a circle.
Prepare to spend some time at Po’s Kung Fu Training Camp, a super cool-looking indoor playground with a maze and triple spiral slide (though this was not yet open during internal pressure testing). Kids can also “train” their kung fu with the cute character punching bags that are weighted. There’s also a live motion-capture show next to the playground area, but it’s entirely in Chinese.
To further emphasise the carnival-like nature of KFPLA, there are Kung Fu Games littered throughout the land like Tigress Tossing Test (where you toss balls into netted hoops) and Po’s Tower of Strength (where you try to set the record for holding on to the pull up bar) where you can walk away with prizes like character plushies.
Speaking of plushies, you can pick up one of those oh-so-squeezable stuffed toys at Mr Ping’s Dragon Warrior Emporium and Panda Village Provisions. Aside from its eponymous hero, there are lots of Mei Mei (the girl panda from KFP 3) merchandise, but the silky pink bathrobe was singing my name.
For eats, there are three - Kung Fu Snacks (mostly standing tables), Grandma Panda’s Kitchen and the movie-famous Mr Ping’s Noodle House. If you have to eat here, we would recommend the last, but stay away from its rather lackluster baos and go for the pan stickers instead.
KFPLA is definitely a must-visit for all families with young kids. Be prepared to spend a couple of hours in there, especially once that indoor playground is open…
Pro Tips:
Souvenirs can get really expensive really fast. If you’re looking for some Universal Studios Beijing swag for cheap, there are super adorable Minion pop boxes, Universal Studios Beijing bottles, and Butterbeer mugs that can be purchased from carts throughout the park. They’re less than RMB 100 each and come with snacks.
Stroller rental is available at the park. From the looks of the blue rentals, they’re pretty comfortable for the kids to take a quick nap in and can also help carry the many, many bags that you need to bring along with you. RMB 100/day for single. RMB 130/day for double.
Wheelchair rental, lock service, and luffa storage are available on CityWalk. Wheelchairs are RMB 100/day.
All the bathrooms are kid-friendly and clean. However, since we went before the park officially opens, we don’t know if they’ll be selling feminine products and diapers in the dispensing machines in the bathrooms. If your kid still wears diapers, it’s best to bring a few extras. There might not be a place available to purchase them in the park.
Bring a water bottle (or buy a reusable souvenir one). There are water fountains throughout the park and even in the queue lines of popular attractions. Stay hydrated!
Like in high school, a bathroom pass is a thing. If you’re in the queue and need to use the facilities, be sure to get a bathroom pass from a staff member before you hop out of line. They’re big on not letting people cut the queue, so if you leave without one, there’s a chance you’ll lose your spot even if you have people waiting in line with you.
Outside food is allowed in the park. Having some cookies in your backpack is a great idea for those long queues.
If you’re visiting with young kids, a micro luggage scooter is a good idea for long queues. Strollers are not allowed to be taken into the queues since they snake over and over again. But a small suitcase that doubles as a seat for your child is allowed.
If you’re a Potter fan, you’re going to want to buy everything in Hogsmeade, especially the sweets at Honeydukes. But before you get carried away and load your bag with chocolate, remember that keeping chocolate in your bag all day will probably get gross. We heard some people complain about their chocolate frogs melting in the bags. Instead, wait till you’re on your way out and hit up the shops in Hollywood. They’ve got the same candies and you won’t have to worry about them getting squished or melting.
Every night there’s a parade in Hollywood. If you don’t care much for parades, this is a good time to hit up the super popular rides. Since the parade itself is a recommended must-see attraction, most park-goers will be in Hollywood watching that, leaving you with short queues in the rest of the park.
Get connected to the free WiFi.
Images: Vivienne Tseng-Rush, Uni You
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