Phuket Fantasea
Phuket FantaSea, celebrated as Thailand’s top attraction for four consecutive years, is an evening cultural theme park that presents the rich heritage of Thailand in a fun and engaging manner. Phuket FantaSea holds the distinction of being among Asia’s most enduring shows. It is Thailand’s biggest theatrical project of this nature and the first to seamlessly blend Thai cultural elements with advanced show technology. Since its inauguration in 1998, this 140-acre park has been captivating visitors with its array of attractions and arcades, centered around the magnificent Palace of the Elephants. This 3,000-seat theater is renowned for its Las Vegas-style shows that have won numerous awards. The theater is a tribute to the 999 elephants that are said to have guarded a mythical kingdom, making it a centerpiece of the park’s celebration of Thailand’s diverse culture. This massive caricature plays on the grounds of this enormous theater in Kamala beach. It is been more than 20 years, still the place is as intact and the show is running strong as it was the day it started with an ample amount of visitors coming in from the whole world.
FantaSea park is a vast entertainment hub where you can easily spend several hours before the main show starts. It is filled with a plethora of shops and a variety of coffee shops for your enjoyment. To keep the children entertained, there are a couple of amusement parks where they can try their luck at winning stuffed animals. Although do remember that playing these games requires an additional fee on top of the entrance cost, and the prizes are likely less valuable than the cost of the game. This FantaSea park is beautifully crafted in a theme of Thai mythology and legends which is so intriguing and knowledgeable for the tourists. Also, there are a lot of picturesque and selfie locations to get indulged in before the show starts.Crossing by more than twelve vivid and ornately decorated traditional Thai boats, there is a way to the Golden Kinaree restaurant, which is architecturally akin to a massive golden temple.
As you step through the grand doors, we will be momentarily spellbound: as it is a never seen before dining hall which is of such a massive size in all our travels. A dining area that can accommodate 4,000 seats is bigger than a football pitch! The Golden Kinaree boasts stunning décor and an adequate buffet, yet it lacks the coziness of a small-scale eatery. It’s advisable to have dinner at Kamala Beach prior to attending the FantaSea Phuket show. As the showtime nears, guests quickly head towards the theater, eager to enter despite having pre-booked their seats.There is a noticeable haste among the crowd to be among the first to get inside.
Here visitors are not allowed to take pictures or shoot inside the theater as they have been quite strict with this thought and all the electronic equipment must be submitted on the dedicated counters. No influencer, celebrities or any named personalities are ever been authorized for this request yet. The spacious theater has a capacity for 3,000 spectators. In case you’re unfortunate to find yourself seated at the back or on the second floor, the elephants might appear no larger than frogs. It’s a good idea to opt for a ‘gold seat’ which, for a slight additional cost, offers the advantage of being much closer to the action. Well there are other options as well for the the FantaSea packages like show with a magnificent buffet and with pick up and drop services. Also, prices might differ from adults to kids from 2000 baht to 2500 baht.
The show here commences with a massive bundle of elephants walking through the audience, who are accompanied by the show runners dressed in Thai attire. The sight of this is remarkable and surreal in experience. Well this might be unsettling for the few attendees as going controversies on performing elephants. Further, this show officially starts when all arrives on the stage, marking there impressive entry with sound and light effects. The fantasea show starts with the narration of Kamala’s history, though the story is not really followed after a few minutes as the actors, dancers, acrobats flawlessly execute a well rehearsed play. While the flying Thai angels and stunt person spinning above the audience captivate everyone’s attention as the show starts.
The show culminates in grandiose battle scenes and traditional dances, concluding with the reappearance of the elephants, which admittedly gives off a slightly unsettling ‘circus-like’ vibe. In the climactic scene, the heroes save the princess, leading to a grand finale that delights and draws cheers from the audience. A humorous addition to the spectacle is a group of zany chickens that amusingly scoot in a straight line across the stage. Well there are some scary looking clowns on the stage which are of no relevance though they divert the audience’s mind till the performers get ready and change the set behind the curtains. Phuket FantaSea offers an entertaining show and a satisfactory theme park experience. It may seem overly geared towards mass tourism for some people. Children are likely to be delighted by the vibrant gaming areas and the vividly illuminated structures, while the grand temples may awe adults. However, the use of elephants in the show has become increasingly controversial. Some elephants are positioned near the restaurant for photo opportunities or brief rides. Recently, the ethics of elephant riding have been called into question, leading to a rise in the popularity of Elephant Sanctuaries.
The CEO of Phuket FantaSea recently unveiled another intriguing park called Carnival Magic, situated on Kamala Beach in Phuket, associated with FantaSea. Carnival Magic stands out as one of the largest nighttime theme parks ever built in Asia, offering a magical experience. Drawing inspiration from the numerous traditional festivals, carnivals, and market fairs found throughout the Kingdom, Carnival Magic is set to become the premier Thai Carnival Theme Park. Celebrating Thailand’s vibrant cultural legacy, it promises a unique experience unlike any other theme park globally. The park is divided into four primary zones. The Carnival Fun Fair zone, designed like a carnival-themed street fair, features themed shopping arcades, boutique eateries, and bars. It also includes street dancing, parade performers, entertaining games, rides for children, and a variety of activities for visitors. Exclusive, high-quality products from all over Thailand will be showcased in uniquely themed souvenir shops, ornately adorned with carnival lights and Thai-inspired architectural elements.
Visitors can conveniently explore Carnival Magic right after experiencing Phuket FantaSea since both offer nighttime experiences. Positioned adjacent to each other, Phuket FantaSea’s show, lasting just about 1-2 hours, makes it feasible to stroll over to Carnival Magic thereafter. It’s an ideal next stop on the agenda. Both the theme park and theater begin their operations post 5 pm. The Kingdom of Lights stands as a mesmerizing illumination park, featuring an incredible array of over 40 million lights that create a stunning visual wonderland, sparking the imaginations of its visitors. The centerpiece of this attraction is the River of Lights, where a multitude of lights are intricately arranged on specially crafted steel structures known as “luminaries.” Within the park, there are nine attractions that have set Guinness World Records. These record-breaking sights include the largest popcorn machine in the world, the biggest LED sculpture ever created, and the largest paper-mache sculpture on the planet. This extraordinary park promises to enchant visitors of all ages with its spectacular displays.