Gian Steinbusch
A brand-new 4D attraction has opened just a few days ago at Phantasialand in Brühl near Cologne, officially revealing the long-anticipated world premiere in the Berlin themed area. The park has transformed the former Schauspielhaus, which had been home to the Pirates 4D film since 1999, into the new “Residenz Theater.”
Renovation and Design
Early signs of the redesign appeared at the end of the last winter season. At the start of the current season, the building was fully scaffolded, and a banner announced a new attraction. Following extensive renovation work, the theater has now reopened to guests.
The exterior has been completely repainted, and the entrance area redesigned to match the new name. A small outdoor queue area has also been added on the side of the building. Admission is organized in 15-minute intervals, matching the runtime of the new film. Instead of entering the theater directly, visitors first pass through one of two themed pre-show rooms—left or right “parquet.” These rooms feature numerous decorative details and Easter eggs, including original film reels and props from the former Pirates 4D attraction.
New Technology
Inside, the theater has been fully modernized with new technical equipment. The previous cinema seats have been replaced with multisensory SFX motion seats. According to the park, these are the first seats of their kind in Europe. The seats are arranged in blocks of four and move synchronously during the show. In addition to motion, special effects such as water sprays, air bursts, scents, lighting effects, and a gentle “poke” in the back create an immersive 4D experience.
The original projection system has also been completely replaced. Instead of a traditional cinema screen, the theater now features a high-resolution LED display. Audio is transmitted directly through the screen and merges with 360° surround sound, which the park says creates an especially dense and realistic soundscape. Another technological highlight is the use of the world’s first Panoview 3D glasses with curved wide-angle lenses and a frameless design, providing a particularly wide field of vision. The soundtrack was specially composed for the attraction and recorded by the Filmorchester Babelsberg.
New Film: “Die 3 Mausketiere” (The Three Mouseketeers)
With the reopening of the theater, the park officially retired the classic Pirates 4D after nearly three decades. Its successor is the new animated film “Die 3 Mausketiere.”
The story follows Otto, Lottie, and Herbert, who are magically transported into the secret world of mice by the mayor of Mausville. There, they are transformed into mice themselves and must team up as the Three Mouseketeers to save the town from a rat boss and his mischievous henchmen.
The production is designed as a family-friendly 4D experience.
More New Additions at Phantasialand
Earlier in July, the park unveiled two additional novelties: the new pancake restaurant “Phenie’s Shakes & Pancakes” and the “Winni Splash” water playground, featuring the interactive attraction “Wavy Battle”. Both additions are located in the Fantasy themed area and are particularly aimed at families with children.
You can read the full article on these summer openings here.
Images: Glenn Gonderinger, Phantasialand
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