WRUP: That totally safe theme park we're working on

Earlier this week, we reported on World Joyland, the counterfeit Blizzard theme park that recently opened in China. It's got not just one cheap knock-off Arthas, but two cheap knock-off Arthases. You can visit Silvermoon City or even get your picture taken in front of a half-draenei, half-dwarf who is allied with the Horde. It looks super confusing.
That got us here at WoW Insider thinking about a real, non-counterfeit World of Warcraft theme park with actual safety standards. A delicious lunch at The Mage Table. People dressed in boomkin costumes earning minimum wage. A fun swim in Thousand Needles! (Too soon?)
So this week, in addition to the usual "what are you playing" question, I had our intrepid columnists help design our own WoW theme park. Petting zoos! Fire! It's all there!
Care to sign a waiver before following me after the break? Totally routine, I assure you.
Adam Holisky (@adamholisky) (gplus.to/adamholisky) Katie's family is having a reunion of sorts down in the Twin Cities, so I'll be going to that this weekend. Last year her father mixed some good drinks, and this year there's a Twins game in it, so I'm looking forward to it. When I do have time play WoW, which I'm hoping to at night, I'll be on just long enough to do my dailies. Maybe I'll punish a PUG or two and run something ZA/ZG on my laptop. Tons of DPS that way, guaranteed! /nod /nod
Chase Christian (@madsushi) (gplus.to/madsushi) I will be working mostly; I have a lot of overtime scheduled. In my free time, I'll be playing Mass Effect 1. I'm starting a new character and playing through both games (and DLC) so that I have a character ready for ME3. Also, I'll be slaying Alliance at the Molten Front.
Bonus answer: I would love to have a coaster that simulates riding a Wind Rider and get to check out some recreated zone from the air!
Daniel Whitcomb (@danielwhitcomb) (gplus.to/danielwhitcomb) This weekend I really need to finish unpacking the last of my stuff from the move if I can. I'm also on track to unlock a second vendor for the Firelands dailies, so I'll make sure to get that done. I'll think I'll unlock the armorer so I can make critter launchers for all my hunter friends.
For me, the WoW Theme park should have massive a Pirates of the Caribbean-style water ride that leads you through the idyllic city of Stormwind, before plunging into the Chaos of the Orcish invasion, ending with the assassination of Llane by Garona while Varian looks on -- then to the events of Warcraft 2, including the death of Lothar to Doomhammer and the triumph of the Alliance and destruction of the Dark Portal.
Fox Van Allen (@foxvanallen) (gplus.to/foxvanallen) An exciting weekend of being way too hot. It's like, 5 million degrees out. Literally. Also, I'm sick. Sick of Tyler's face! Ohhhhh, burn! Hahah! I got him! I got him good! His face! His face! (Also, it's very wrinkly and he's old-looking.)
As for the theme park, I'm envisioning a weird, underwater Throne of Tides exhibit like that restaurant they have at Epcot that's totally underwater. Except instead of food, you'll get a story that just kind of drops off and winds up going unresolved.
Joe Perez (@Lodurzj) Bastion and Cthulhu Saves the World are my plans for this weekend. After that, preparing for Rag attempts on Monday. Also reading the new Thrall book. Also seeing Captain America and probably a few other movies.
Josh Myers (@Elamqt) Working and hopefully seeing Captain America. As for games, the BF and I have been spending some time on the side playing Rift, me tanking on a riftstalker and him healing on a chloromancer. It's actually been pretty fun.
As for a WoW theme park ride, I think a ferris wheel named "State of DPS."
Kelly Aarons (@Cadistra) More WoW, and sniffing the XBLA store for some neat titles. I'm going kayaking for the first time on Sunday, so if I die, Sacco gets my stuff.
Bonus answer: the Cenarion Circle Petting Zoo. All animals are sacred, and you should treat them as such. Oh, you're only petting a grizzly bear! Don't look so scared.
Anne Stickney (@shadesogrey) Family's in town for the weekend, so I'm going to be occupied with that, mostly.
Bonus answer: It wouldn't really be a Blizzard park if there weren't a Nesingwary camp just over the hill from the Cenarion Circle Petting Zoo. Plotting. Also, I'm thinking that Gamon needs to be somewhere inconspicuous, having a drink. If you talk to him, he punches you.
Kelly Aarons D:< Then I'd have no choice but to hire D.E.H.T.A. to keep watch. :x
Lisa Poisso (@emused) (gplus.to/lpoisso) No computers this weekend, unless I'm working -- we're redoing our shower grouting. Doesn't that sound like fun?!
Bonus question: There's no losing me in a WoW-themed amusement park; I'll be riding the water flume log ride from Grizzly Hills, over and over and over and over and over ...
Mat McCurley (@gomatgo) (gplus.to/gomatgo) League of Legends mega-weekend continues. WoW archaeology will happen as well.
If I could make an attraction at the WoW Theme Park, it would be the Yogg Saron Madness Machine. You go in sane; you come out the worst player in your raid.
Matt Low (@Matticus) Going on a massive recruiting and rebuilding spree over the weekend. Oh, World of Warcraft, you can be a pain sometimes. Not sure what to do in the games department. I've run out of stuff to play! I beat Black Ops last week!
Matt Rossi (@MatthewWRossi) Friday and Saturday, I hope to be drawing stuff, working on an idea. Sunday, probably Ragnaros.
A WoW theme park needs an actual 100-foot-tall column of fire screaming at everyone that it was too soon. TOO SOON. Bonus points if it hits random people with a gigantic burning hammer.
Matt Walsh (@Rhidach) (gplus.to/rhidach) Trying out League of Legends for the first time tonight, then I need to run a few troll heroics to cap my VP for the week. I'll probably finish up my latest playthrough of Fallout: New Vegas, too.
As for an amusement ride, how about a room where random spouts of fire pop up and people have to try not to stand in them. If you succeed, you get a T-shirt.
Michael Gray (@writegray) (gplus.to/writegray/) I have family coming in from out of town, so I'm working today and then cleaning for a day or two. Then, probably going to play with the dog and nephew a bunch. I'm a simple guy that way.
Robin Torres (@cosmiclaurel) (gplus.to/cosmiclaurel) My daddy is coming to visit, and it's time that he discovers Beatles Rock Band, since he is such a huge Beatles fan and yet has never seen the game. The Spawn has also requested multiple games of Uno with him, so not sure if I'll have much time for WoW. If I do, I'll be farming more heavy leather on Roblinator. Grumble mumble leatherworking.
Bonus: After the heat and excitement of the rest of the park, I would like to take the peaceful gondola ride through the Undercity, where the inhabitants sing "If you were dead" to the tune of "If you had wings."
Filed under: WoW Insider Business






Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Gobuywow Jul 23rd 2011 10:10PM
Okay, I just want to take all the animals and plants in WOW to the park.
cartmensfoe Jul 23rd 2011 10:13PM
Going to try and get through season 1 and 2 of Doctor Who. Started watching last week and have been loving it ever since. Also got some Calculus stuff i have to finish up (How is despise summer classes) and maybe some WoW and Minecraft with friends. As far as the Theme Park goes, you have to have a Tauren reference. Maybe have them in the petting zoo, too.
Andrew Jul 23rd 2011 10:16PM
I don't know what's more disturbing, that it's Pride in Boston (and I didn't know), or that Tyler's getting unelaborated 'offers' at said Pride and Tyler's resolve is beginning to crack.
Fox Van Allen Jul 23rd 2011 10:45PM
Whoops. Old WRUP snuck in there. :|
Andrew Jul 23rd 2011 11:10PM
Wait, you mean I wasted my (half)wit on outdated material. This IS a new low...
Tfish92 Jul 23rd 2011 10:19PM
Sweet baby Jesus...
That statue of illidan...
http://shanghaiist.com/2011/07/15/joyland_the_blizzard_bits.php?gallery0Pic=22#gallery
liam.sm Jul 24th 2011 3:57AM
i was not prepared...
dj.clayden Jul 23rd 2011 10:37PM
"Also I'm thinking that Gamon needs to be somewhere inconspicuous, having a drink. If you talk to him, he punches you."
To be honest, you could offer that "job" as a voluntary thing, and you'd still have more applications that you can physically sift through.
terph Jul 23rd 2011 11:11PM
Yay Beatles Rock Band! I found the whole collector's edition brand new at K-Mart for less than 50 bucks a couple of weeks ago. The sig other found a keyboard on clearance, and gave me the extra copy of RB3. So I've been in plastic instrument heaven the past couple of weeks. :)
Phoenix Psaltery Jul 23rd 2011 11:57PM
It's spelled "waiver."
Sergel Jul 24th 2011 12:50AM
Is it strange I always read the ladies' first?
Harvoc Jul 24th 2011 1:48AM
I doubt you're alone. That in no way means that I do that because I just read it top to bottom like normal, I mean, some people...
ElrithCC Jul 24th 2011 12:32AM
I used to say eventually Blizzard would grow in the coming decades to become a company similar to Disney, producing all manner of interactive media and entertainment.
If done right, a simulated Azeroth with all the budget of a Disney World attraction would be an amazing immersive experience.
Harvoc Jul 24th 2011 1:50AM
I just saw Captain America today and it was awesome! Really sad and heartbreaking at the end though, even though I'm a guy and if I told you what I usually cry at, then I'd be doing people watching it later a major disservice. As for the theme park, it has to have a part for the Darkmoon Faire. With the cannon.
Harvoc Jul 24th 2011 12:27PM
I didn't actually cry though. It just sounded a whole lot better than saying "what I usually get sad at".
Velleekwitay Jul 24th 2011 2:09AM
In this theme park, I'd like to see a forest of some type with bears, wolves, big cats, and genetically engineered devilsaurs that aspiring RL hunters could try their luck at taming.
StClair Jul 24th 2011 3:13AM
"Yes, but John, when the Pirates of the Caribbean breaks down, the pirates don't eat the tourists."
hadokens Jul 24th 2011 2:11AM
About the theme park, I would have raids that people could walk through and look at the various places, there would also be a simulation room where people could do stuff wow characters could, like mages throwing fireballs, and warlocks shadowbolts etc etc
Alebeard Jul 24th 2011 10:57AM
Just no "Standing in the fire", right? I swear, a theme park would be fricking epic! Who doesn't want to see a RL Iron Forge or Undercity? Rides themed with the different zones or even dungeons/raids....
nevwyn Jul 24th 2011 1:55PM
There would have to be a naxx section with ooze frogger, and a certain slime infested dance studio.