Vidanta World (Cirque du Soleil Theme Park)
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It seems that construction has begun on the Doppelmayr gondola system, as seen in this photo taken earlier this month that appears to show a gondola station:



Based on design portfolios shared by people involved in the Vidanta theme park project we're able to gain insight into the potential plans:

First, in terms of naming/branding, as of right now the plan seems to be naming the entire 830 acre theme park resort destination "The Parks" - this is akin to Disney naming their resort in Orlando as a whole "Walt Disney World Resort" and Universal naming their resort in Orlando as a whole "Universal Orlando Resort". The first theme park to be built at The Parks as part of phase 1, will apparently be named "Vidanta World" - Vidanta World was originally the Cirque du Soleil theme park. I believe Vidanta World also encompasses the under construction hotels including The Cascades and Kingdom of the Sun.

Let's take a look at some of this potential Vidanta World branding:







Now some potential branding for The Parks, which would be the overarching resort destination (most of what is referred to about The Parks is about the first phase - Vidanta World):



















Notice the layout shown in this image - to the southeast of Vidanta World is a large waterpark which would be a part of a later phase of The Parks, also what is the black line going around that area? A monorail path?



Regarding Cirque du Soleil's current involvement or lack thereof, it appears that it has gone from the entire theme park and waterpark revolving around and being themed to Cirque du Soleil to just a dedicated area/land/section within Vidanta World being themed to Cirque du Soleil:

More information is announced regarding the land animated by Cirque du Soleil. This new area will boast a dinner theatrical experience that will be even more spectacular than the incredibly popular JOYÁ with three times the acts and even more seating.

It’s also announced that the Cirque land will include the world’s first Cirque du Soleil Academy, where guests can learn about everything from tumbling and performing from the experts at Cirque.

Every aspect of the Cirque section will be filled with acrobatics and performances leaping to life around every corner. This will be the first time Cirque has staged constant exterior acts.

Here's concept art for a preview center for The Parks:







Interesting lines from the preview center's timeline:

January 2017:

Not satisfied with the current scale of the project [this is when it was the full scale Cirque-themed theme park and waterpark], the executive team discusses how to further evolve the design. Believing in the strength of the tourism market in Mexico, it is decided to draft a new Phase 1 of The Park.

What was first designed as a 22-acre experience park is expanded into what will ultimately be 830 acres of groundbreaking entertainment.

April 2017:

Wing T. Chao, the industry veteran that expanded the imprint of Disney Parks, joins the team designing The Park. Other leaders from major international parks also flock to the project, eager to make history.

May 2017:

Continuing in its iconoclastic approach to designing the project, the team decides to take a nature-first philosophy to The Park. The new plans are revised to include blooming gardens, jungle thickets, mountains, waterfalls, and two enormous lakes at the very center. Digging begins on the lakes.

Construction is completed on the base structure of Kingdom of the Sun Tower 1.

July 2017:

After months of planning, Grupo Vidanta announces that The Park won’t just be a single experience park. It will be a series of immersive experiences and attractions that will span multiple “lands”, each featuring unique themes. The working name of the project is changed from The Park to The Parks.

Some of the areas to open in Phase 1 of The Parks are:
- A frontier-themed land
- A children’s ride land
- An adventure land
- Magical gardens
- Lush temple ruins
- A beautiful boardwalk area
- A Cirque du Soleil land

It is announced that The Parks will include a focus on gourmet dining. Unlike any other popular theme parks. The Park will offer exceptional culinary experiences, from restaurants to street stalls.

August 2017:

It’s announced that Phase 1 of The Parks [Vidanta World] will be inspired by the world’s beauty. From architecture to cuisine to landscaping, the experience will draw from some of the globe’s most beautiful locales in the South Pacific, Mediterranean, and South America.

January 2018:

Design begins on … rides and features for The Parks:
- An Illuminated Forest
- Spectacular Water Shows
- Air Acrobatics Performances
- A Parachute Drop
- A Flume Ride
- A Ferris Wheel
- A Carousel
- A Topiary Maze
- Storybook Boat & Train Rides
- Roller Coasters
And Much More

Lastly, here's an ad for The Parks in the latest issue of The Vidanta Traveler magazine, which was published earlier this month:



Sources: https://www.facebook.com/kenneth.ours/posts/10216717340546148 and https://www.behance.net/gallery/87450917/Vidanta-World-Logo?fbclid=IwAR2QmnWhJpxPW_IiJIjBWdANJmwSzzCPhJpbacoYcYQk2Yz8BGrB78JH3sU and http://www.molly-kirwan.com/#/theparks/ and http://www.molly-kirwan.com/#/timeline/ and http://www.molly-kirwan.com/#/theparksroom/ and https://issuu.com/grupovidanta/docs/the_vidanta_traveler_2019

BREAKING:

Grupo Vidanta announces purchase of attractions from Intamin and five-station gondola system from Doppelmayr

Grupo Vidanta announces purchase of attractions from Intamin and five-station gondola system from Doppelmayr
Grupo Vidanta has announced two purchases from Intamin Amusement Rides and one from Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group, in what the company expects will set a new world standard for resorts and entertainment park rides. The company is continuing their plans and construction for its eagerly anticipated Vidanta World, a collection of entertainment parks located on their world-famous Nuevo Vallarta beach resort, voted one of the World´s Top 100 Hotels by Travel and Leisure in 2019.

By Winter 2020, Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta will be the only resort in the world connecting guests to both the beach and to entertainment parks by air. Grupo Vidanta, a leading Latin American resort and luxury vacation experience developer, has partnered with the engineers at Doppelmayr to create The Vidanta SkyDream—a state-of-the-art aerial gondola featuring D-Line technology, The Vidanta SkyDream will be the first of its kind in Latin America and will offer five stations on a four-plus-mile route through which passengers will be whisked throughout Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta in minutes with a VIP experience that reimagines resort transportation. Guests riding the gondola will be able choose between regular and glass-bottom cars, for those who wish to admire the view in its entirety from above.

From Intamin, one of the world’s leading ride development company, Grupo Vidanta also purchased a 45 meter diameter coaster wheel, an iconic cutting edge Ferris wheel featuring a mixture of standing cabins and cabins that can move along a track to provide even more thrills for passengers. This particular configuration will feature a lighting design that will be integrated into a grand lake show.

The second ride purchased from Intamin is a 40 meter parachute drop which will whisk families up and down by the water’s edge, who will be treated to views of the surrounding vistas that include the parks, the resort and the beach.

As The Global Association for the Attractions Industry kicks off its annual IAAPA Expo in Orlando, Florida from November 18 to 22, Grupo Vidanta will be making and announcing a number of further ride purchases.

“Our guests have come to expect only the best from our brands, and their anticipation is high for the new entertainment parks,” said Iván Chávez, Executive Vice President of Grupo Vidanta. “Success has come from our ability to anticipate the needs of our clientele and deliver a vision that others have never done before. The large investments we are making in the latest ride and transportation technology demonstrates our commitment to setting a new global standard for excellence and fun.”

Sources: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/grupo-vidanta-completes-purchase-of-three-world-leading-rides-from-intamin-amusement-rides-and-dopplemayr-300959486.html and http://www.inparkmagazine.com/vidanta-intamin-doppelmayr/

In a new interview with Vidanta's founder, Daniel Chavez Moran, he describes the theme park, which is now being referred to as "The Parks," as follows (paraphrased translation):

The Parks project is of enormous magnitude. In total, there are four parks, occupying an area three times larger than Magic Kingdom. Something we have learned is that a park alone does not generate the synergy that several parks can have together to develop the entire market. We have hired the best park developers in the world, from China, Serbia, and the United States.

The parks are not developed for a hotel, they are made for the destination, as we did with Joyà together with the Cirque du Soleil, to enrich the Riviera Maya. During the first three years of opening of the four parks we calculated to attract between four and five million visitors to the destination.

Source: https://expansion.mx/empresas/2019/07/15/expansion500-vidanta-navega-viento-en-popa

Statement from Vidanta given to Aimfair.com earlier this month:

Cirque du Soleil has always been—and remains—a very important part of The Parks.

Since we first announced this project, we have decided to greatly expand its size and scale in order to include other mesmerizing, first-of-their-kind developments and immersive experiences to complement the Cirque du Soleil zone. We pride ourselves on delivering far beyond expectations on every new project and initiative we announce, and The Parks is certainly no exception.

The Parks now spans over 830 acres and includes a vast array of 100% original concepts. The goal is to transform Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta into a new kind of destination where guests can experience every possible variation of the perfect vacation—from high-end tropical relaxation to gravity-defying attractions and everything in between—in one extraordinary location. Many of these new experiences are already under construction at the resort. In one section of The Parks, 25 acres of underground tunnels are currently being installed to ensure impeccable park operations and almost 1.3 million square feet of concrete foundations and structures have already been built, including portions of the new resort hotels. Two enormous lakes at the center of The Parks, totaling over 150 acres in size, have already been created with more on the way. And thus far, 1,500 trees have been planted, though once the project is complete, the total is estimated to be over 50,000.

The wonder-filled region of The Parks dedicated to the creative genius of Cirque du Soleil will include a first-of-its-kind thrilling new production—a dazzling, large-scale extravaganza involving acrobatics, theatrics, water performances, music, and even a spectacular dining experience. This monumental new show will be housed in a gorgeous custom theater that will be an awe-inspiring sight in and of itself. Next door, there will be a Cirque Training Studio where guests will get the chance to grab the spotlight, learning tumbling, aerial arts, clowning, and so much more from the modern masters of the circus arts. While in the Cirque du Soleil plaza surrounding the theater and studio, guests should keep an eye open for spontaneous performances as they explore. We’re proud to continue our amazing partnership with Cirque du Soleil and work together on this highly anticipated collaboration so that we can give the world a breathtaking new type of experience unlike anything seen before.

Members will be the first to learn all new updates about The Parks—including more exciting details on the Cirque du Soleil zone—as soon as they are available. For more information, contact your member services representative.

Sources: https://www.aimfair.com/NFV+2019June11+Cirque+du+Soleil+In+The+Parks and https://www.vidanta.com/en/web/nuevo-vallarta/entertainment and and https://tugbbs.com/forums/index.php?threads/vidanta-nv-celebrate-park-merged.268760/page-2#post-2240059 and https://www.aimfair.com/NFV+2019April16+The+Park+Renderings

I was there last Dec 2017 and it does not look like anything has changed. I am pretty skeptical if this will ever be done. We took a tour and saw a number of earth movers pushing dirt. From the looks of the most recent pics, NOT MUCH has been done. I seriously doubt it will open in 2020. We are REQUIRED by contract to buy a week in out kingdom of the Sun in 2020 the girl said it will be extended to 2025 if need be!

Very glad to share. We have a production company (Aircam.mx) and produced these images only 3 weeks ago. It is indeed an amazing construction site. On the north of the artificial lake at your left is the main site for the park. The artificial lake on the right of the bridge apparently will also have other different attractions and obviously will be part of some kind venetian water tours of sorts.
Cheers! Everyone

Great picture. Thank you so much for sharing. I had not previously seen the lake on the east side of the highway. It is massive and seems to take up a lot of the possible park land that could otherwise have been used for attractions, rides, hotels, or other. Still looks like a tremendous amount of work to do.

Thank you so much for the update. Sounds like there has been very little progress in the last several months. Worth keeping a close eye on the development. Although it is not theme park related, the other important project underway at Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta is the Estates. Construction on this development has been very slow as well recently. Hopefully things will pic up now that it is the offseason in Mexico (although I am not sure that would have really had an impact).

We are here now and the park is still partnered with cirque du Soleil. They said will be finished in 2 years but I’m guessing that’s only phase one. The prior post with photos of the construction is accurate as of today.