Easter egg hunting in theme parks
The flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping, and the sweet scent of chocolate fills the air. Yes, it's Easter time again, and while many of us might associate it with colorful eggs and fluffy bunnies, there's a whole other kind of Easter egg waiting to be discovered – the kind you only find in theme park attractions...
Hiding little treasures for theme park fans
We all love sharing (or not sharing) chocolate eggs during Easter. But Easter eggs can also have a whole different meaning! An Easter egg in the context of a theme park attraction refers to a hidden feature, detail, or reference that is intentionally included by the creators for observant visitors to discover. These Easter eggs can take many forms, such as hidden messages, inside jokes, references to other films or attractions, or even nods to popular culture. They add an extra layer of enjoyment for guests who notice them, fostering a sense of discovery and engagement with the attraction beyond its main features. Finding Easter eggs can become a fun challenge for theme park enthusiasts and can enhance the overall park experience.
But why do theme parks go to the trouble of hiding these little treasures for us to find? Well, think of it like this: theme parks are like giant playgrounds for the imagination, where every corner is filled with wonder and surprise. And what better way to add an extra layer of magic than by hiding these delightful Easter eggs for the observant guests to uncover!
A lot of visitors hold sentimental value towards attractions so when they become outdated and need to be replaced, guests are not happy that their favorite attraction will disappear. Easter eggs often hold references to the older previous attraction. Most of the time they are hard to find and sometimes so small that people don't even notice them. But it is still fun to add in these jokes and share them later.
But here's the best part – hunting for Easter eggs isn't just about the thrill of the hunt. It's also about the stories they tell and the connections they forge. You see, each Easter egg is like a tiny piece of a larger puzzle, forming together a web of memories, references, and shared experiences. It's a chance for theme park enthusiasts to come together and celebrate their shared passion.
So, as we gear up for Easter festivities, why not embark on your own Easter egg hunt? Theme parks are opening their doors again, so who knows what hidden messages you might uncover!
Revealing some Easter eggs (spoiler alert!)
You can find these hidden puns in the big parks like Disney's 'Hidden Mickeys', but also regional parks have them hidden in their attractions. It is not only fun for the park visitors to discover them but it also fun for us, the designer of the attraction, to brainstorm and come up with fun details.
Here are some examples of Easter eggs that we have hidden in our attractions at French attraction and animal park Le PAL:
Last spring Champi'Folies, an interactive media dark ride, opened at Le PAL.
- On the caravan you can find stickers of other parks like Walibi, Parc Asterix, Futuroscope,...
- In the last scene, the Mushies have reached the city and players have to freeze them with ice cubes to cool them down. There you can see a poster of Niglo, referencing to the mascot of another French theme park named Nigloland.
- In the industry scene you can find an electricity box with a Banksy-like artwork referencing to the little Mushies saying they don't like Pizza Funghi! I wonder why...
Le PAL's newest water attraction Fjord Explorer is opening April 13. We designed the theming of the queue line and lighthouse, and developed the story around it. The queue line is a perfect place to hide lots of fun jokes.
- The media of the queue line is integrated in 3 windows, making it look like you are watching outside over the astonishing Norwegian fjords. If you look closely you will see a few lost Mushies running around the hills. Maybe they got lost and are trying to return to their own attraction, Champi'Folies.
- Take a closer look at the screen with the radar in the control room. Is that a Mushie that fell into the sea?!
- In the reception room and the Captain's Quarter, there are several posters, showing different periods of time from the Fjord expeditions throughout generations. On the oldest poster the name of the boat is 'Homer II', which is also the name of one of the sea lions present at Le PAL. The design of this poster is based on a similar poster of Titanic, which was around the same time period.
- One of the Barrels has 'Belgian beer' written on them in Norwegian, as a Belgian company we are very proud of our beer!
Now you know a little more about some of the Easter eggs we have 'hidden' in our attractions. But beware because there might be others we didn't mention! Look up the coordinates on the map and see where they take you, or take a closer look at the letter next to the map and discover a hidden message.
Fun just never ends with Easter eggs! These are more than hidden surprises – they're a reflection of the creativity and imagination that goes into crafting these incredible attractions. So time to plan your next trip to a theme park and keep your eyes open! ;)
Author: Ley De Pooter