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Many Disney Fanatics think of the sassy people running Universal Studios’ social media accounts when they think of Disney’s biggest competitors within the theme park industry, but Walt Disney World Resort now has another theme park competitor to worry about!
A travel journalist named Carly Caramanna has just shed some light on a Caribbean theme park that entices its visitors with a gorgeous setting and a lot of appealing offerings that seem extremely similar to the offerings being presented to Disney World Guests.
Parallels in Punta Cana
Caramanna reportedly has extensive experience when it comes to theme parks, and the travel journalist explored this intriguing theme park recently for Insider. The theme park in question is Katmandu Park, which is located in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.
According to Caramanna, “the micro park has the same immersive atmospheres and top-level attractions as major theme parks but on a smaller scale. Katmandu is also centered around immersive dark rides that tell its original stories.”
Concept art for Katmandu Park in Punta Cana. Photo Credit: puntacana.katmanduparks.com
Dark rides, attractions, and “immersive atmospheres”? This certainly sounds like Disney — especially because Katmandu Park is expanding to include multiple locations on a global scale, just like Disney has expanded to include locations like Disneyland Paris Resort and Tokyo Disneyland Resort!
The hotel that is affiliated with Katmandu Park, Falcon’s Resort By Meliã, actually gives its guests admission to the theme park as part of their hotel stay.
The tickets generally cost a minimum of $85, and there is also a shuttle taking hotel guests to the theme park just like Disney World Resorts transport their Guests to Disney Parks like the Magic Kingdom!
Those Wristbands Look Familiar…
Katmandu Park seems to trump Disney World with another feature for visitors, as well: BeyondME, which is “an accompanying digital footprint” that seems to outpace the MagicBand+ from Disney.
The BeyondMe wristbands at Katmandu Park in Punta Cana bear a striking resemblance to the MagicBands from Disney Parks. Photo Credits: Carly Caramanna (left), Disney (right)
“This cutting-edge technology was unlike anything I’ve experienced at a theme park,” Caramanna declared. “It allowed me to customize a virtual persona and throughout the park I could earn experience points similar to an online gaming platform. Everything was connected via a complimentary smart wristband that also functioned as my admission to attractions.”
A Whole New World of Steampunk
A fur character posing by a hotel shuttle at Katmandu Park in Punta Cana. Photo Credit: Carly Caramanna
An Adult “Play” Area
One of Katmandu Park’s biggest draws seems to be the inclusion of exhilarating activities like rope courses, mini-golfing, and an “indoor multi-level play course for adults” called The Quadagon, “which houses four indoor obstacle courses with rope swings and spider walls.”
“This part of the park felt like it’d be welcome in a high-tech Chuck E. Cheese that happened to be for adults,” the writer explained. These fun bonus experiences are automatically included in the cost of admission!
The Quadagon Photo Credit: Carly Caramanna
As for the final piece of the theme park puzzle (i.e., the food)? Caramanna confirmed that Katmandu Park serves “outstanding” meals!
Caramanna reportedly left Katmandu Park feeling pleased with the high-tech features in the theme park, “the use of its own original intellectual properties,” and the opportunity “to experience the entire park without feeling overwhelmed, in part because of its smaller footprint.”
Since we have seen complaints about the crowds and logistical burdens that come with planning a Disney vacation more and more recently — including from travel professionals — it seems likely that some Disney fans will consider forgoing their usual Walt Disney World Resort vacation for a trip to Punta Cana instead!
Have you heard of this Caribbean theme park? Do you still enjoy your Disney Park days as much as you used to?
