Mattel is partnering with a major waterpark builder for new experiences
A new partnership between WhiteWater West Industries and Mattel is set to bring branded indoor waterparks to life, but most guests may not realize just how familiar WhiteWater’s work already is.
The Canada-based company is one of the leading designers and manufacturers of water attractions worldwide, responsible for slides, wave systems, and surf experiences found in major resorts, cruise ships, and destination waterparks.
Mattel Wonder Indoor Waterparks coming soon
Mattel has already begun expanding into location-based entertainment with projects like Mattel Adventure Park, an outdoor attraction featuring brands such as Barbie and Hot Wheels. Building on that momentum, the company is now moving into indoor waterparks, where its most recognizable franchises can be translated into interactive, year-round experiences.
With Mattel’s brands entering the space, WhiteWater will play a key role in translating well-known franchises into fully realized, guest-ready attractions.
Courtesy of Kings Island
Attractions built by WhiteWater you may recognize
While guests may not see the company’s name on signage, WhiteWater’s technology and attractions are present in many well-known destinations around the world.
Examples include:
- FlowRider surf simulators found on ships operated by Royal Caribbean and at resorts worldwide
- Perfect Day at CoCo Cay, Royal Caribbean’s private island destination
- Indoor waterpark attractions at Great Wolf Lodge locations across the United States
- Large-scale waterpark projects such as Soak City Water Park at Kings Island
- International destinations, including Aquarabia Qiddiya City in Saudi Arabia
In many cases, WhiteWater contributes specific attractions, systems, or play structures within these parks, working alongside developers and other vendors to bring the overall experience together.
A note about our featured image at the top of this article. The water slides are at Water Sports Palace in Luzhniki, Russia, a project from WhiteWater West.
Photo from Karisma Hotels
In a press release, executives from WhiteWater, Mattel, and Martin Aquatic shared their vision and thoughts on next steps.
“With a history of successful projects with both Martin Aquatic and American Resort Management, we’re thrilled to be collaborating with them again, together with new partners, to create location-based entertainment that is both familiar and novel,” said Onno Meeter, WhiteWater’s President, Water Parks.
“It is indeed very special to be working with a client to design a never-before-seen slide with new ride experiences exclusive to their parks.”
WhiteWater’s expertise is good news for guests
WhiteWater is known for building entire attraction lineups that balance thrill rides, family play areas, wave pools, and interactive elements so that everyone has something to do without spending the day stuck in lines.
Projects of the scale of Matter Wonder Indoor Waterparks take multiple teams and partnerships. Martin Aquatic is the design firm collaborating on the project. Martin Aquatic will work alongside WhiteWater and developers to integrate Mattel’s brands into the overall layout and storytelling of each park.
While Martin Aquatic focuses on overall design and how the themed experience comes together, WhiteWater West Industries delivers the rides and attractions that bring those concepts to life.
“Having worked with WhiteWater on numerous projects that have set records for waterpark innovation, our team looks forward to the design process with a partner that understands how to deliver the best guest experience,” said Josh Martin, President & Creative Director for Martin Aquatic.
Indoor waterparks are growing in popularity
Indoor waterparks have become one of the fastest-growing segments in the attractions industry. As Mattel expands into indoor waterparks, its partnership with WhiteWater West Industries highlights what makes these destinations work at scale. WhiteWater specializes in designing attractions that maximize guest flow within a controlled indoor environment, from compact slide layouts to multi-level play structures and wave systems that can operate consistently year-round.
For guests, that translates into experiences without overwhelming wait times, even during peak seasons. It’s also a key reason indoor waterparks have grown in popularity, especially at resort-style destinations where families expect a full day of entertainment regardless of the weather.
Photo from WhiteWater West
By combining Mattel’s recognizable brands with WhiteWater’s ability to deliver reliable, high-throughput attractions, these new developments are positioned to be all-day destinations.
WhiteWater has been a major player in this space, helping design attractions that maximize capacity while keeping experiences accessible and repeatable for guests.
For guests, this all adds up to knowing that the brands they already love are in capable hands. Soon, lovable brands like Barbie® and Hot Wheels® will come to life in waterparks designed to keep the fun going all day.
Mattel Wonder Indoor Waterparks, current proposed locations: Orlando, Fla. (on State Road 535, Lake Buena Vista; Bellevue, Neb. (near Omaha); and Bradley, Ill.
No matter where you want to go, our trusted partner MEI-Travel will handle the planning so you can focus on the memories. They offer free vacation-planning services and have nearly 20 years of experience creating memorable vacations. Visit MEI-Travel for a fee-free, no-obligation quote today.
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