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Jora Vision designs walk-through, pirate-themed attraction for Mexico’s Amikoo theme park

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aerial view of Jora Vision design for pirate attraction at amikoo theme park mexico

Leading design and production company for themed attractions, Jora Vision, is currently hard at work designing a new, walk-through, pirate-themed experience for Mexico’s Amikoo theme park.

Los Piratas de Bacalar will be a standalone attraction located in Amikoo theme park’s retail, dining and entertainment district.

Jora Vision has been tasked with designing a 50-minute walk-through attraction, a fully-themed buffet restaurant and a merchandise store. Each will reflect the colourful history of the Mexican Riviera Maya.

The region’s dramatic fortress, the Fuerte de San Felipe, built by the Spanish Navy in the 18th Century, is providing plenty of inspiration for the multi-million dollar attraction.

Los Piratas de Bacalar attraction at Amikoo theme park mexico

“Currently, Jora Vision is in the detailed design stage of the project, developing not only theming design, but also coordinating other disciplines such as lighting, audio, video hardware and content, special effects and operations,” notes Robin van der Want, Project Development Director at Jora Vision.

Designed for high throughput, the walk-through attraction includes a number of rooms and features live actors, animatronics, special effects and a ride system. The storytelling draws on the region’s Mayan culture as well as real historical events.

The climax of Los Piratas de Bacalar is an Immersive Tunnel ride

Guests are transported back 300 years to discover the fortress in full operation. They will be guided through the building in groups of 60 where they will meet Capitán Nicolas Pacheco and his crew preparing for a spectacular pirate battle on the Caribbean Sea.

The climax is a next-generation Immersive Tunnel developed by ride specialist, Simworx. Guests board a 60-seater vehicle themed as a ship where state-of-the-art projection technology immerses them in an action-packed maritime adventure.

restaurant amikoo theme park Los Piratas de Bacalar

According to van der Want, the key with pay-to-enter standalone attractions is to ensure value for money:

“A short experience will result in unsatisfied guests,” he warns. “Therefore, attractions found in theme parks, such as 4D theatres, roller coasters, or flying theatres cannot simply be implemented without adding pre-shows, exhibits or other types of experiences to increase length and add experience value. In Los Piratas de Bacalar, we have integrated 8 pre-shows as well as the Immersive Tunnel, all telling a single coherent story to create an immersive experience.”

Immersion is also carried through to the restaurant where unsuspecting diners will find themselves ‘under attack’ by the Spanish Navy.

Los Piratas de Bacalar is slated to open in 2019.

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Charles Read

Charles is managing director at blooloop. He attends numerous trade shows around the world and frequently speaks about trends and social media for the attractions industry at conferences. Outside of blooloop, his passions are diving, trees and cricket.

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