This Theme Park In Asia Is A Must-Visit For Film Buffs

Southeast Asia has become a real go-to destination for lovers of theme parks and water parks over the past few decades, with bigger and more spectacular attractions opening all the time. In Thailand, the granddaddy of them all is Bangkok's Siam Amazing Park, home to the world's largest wave pool. More recently, vacationers on the island of Phuket were given another must-see destination with the opening of Carnival Magic with its 40 million twinkling lights.

Kids are well-catered for in the region with the likes of VinWonders Nha Trang in Vietnam and LEGOLAND in Malaysia, while film buffs also have plenty to get excited about. The Minions and Transformers have taken over at Universal Studios Singapore, and Paramount is currently developing a park in Bali, Indonesia, which is set to become one of the largest theme parks in this part of the world when it opens its doors in 2025.

In the meantime, if you want to combine your love of movies with getting drenched, look no further than Columbia Pictures' Aquaverse in Thailand. Sony Group and Columbia Pictures announced in 2012 that they were taking over the Cartoon Network Amazone Park and have now fully refurbished and rebranded the site to bring a touch of Hollywood to the nation's Gulf Coast. Let's take a look at what the Aquaverse has to offer.

Like many modern theme parks, Columbia Pictures' Aquaverse is divided into several zones, each dedicated to one of the studio's major movies. Fans of the '80s classic "Ghostbusters" can enjoy the highly-publicized Proton Stream with "the world's first water dome" and the Slimer Speed Racer, while jungle adventurers can take on the exciting Jaguar Mountain and speedy Viper slide.

Visitors who can't resist catching a few waves will have plenty of fun with the "Surf's Up" 40-foot-long Flow Rider, which simulates surfing for everyone from beginners to pros. The zone, paying homage to the totally tubular animated family favorite, also has a kid's pool screening movies for little ones who aren't quite ready for the waves.

Elsewhere in the park, children are well catered for. The "Hotel Transylvania" zone has nine kid-friendly slides and plenty of fountains, sprayers, and other stuff to keep youngers occupied; the "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" attraction takes you on a 335-meter river adventure, and visitors of all ages can enjoy the huge wave pool at the Omnitheatre, which also features a jumbo screen showing clips of Columbia movies.

When you want to dry off a little, you can take on "The Emoji Movie" mini golf course to the go-karting track at the "Bad Boys" race club. In between, there are plenty of food options, from Thai dishes to classic American fare.

Thailand enjoys a reputation as the eighth most popular tourist destination in the world; with attractions like Columbia Pictures' Aquaverse, there has arguably never been a better time to take the family. The water park is situated close to the country's eastern Gulf Coast, an easy 20-minute drive south of Pattaya City. The bustling resort is well geared up for visitors with its hotels, bars, restaurants, and miles of sandy beaches and warm waters. The area has become known as the "Hawaii of the East," and the balmy weather makes it ideal for water-based fun, including snorkeling, fishing, parasailing, and underwater sea-walking.

Despite the recent fanfare about its opening, the Aquaverse hasn't totally cornered the water park market. There is another in the city at Pattaya Park Beach Resort and the nearby Ramayana Water Park is the biggest in Thailand, boasting a variety of slides ranging from completely extreme to family-friendly. There are also plenty of other amenities and attractions, such as the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary and Underwater World, with its huge submarine tunnel putting guests right in there with the sharks and other sea creatures. With Columbia Pictures' Aquaverse now playing a starring role in the region, there is plenty for families to enjoy.