Record-Breaking Luxury Theme Park Announces Opening

The record-breaking BON theme park at VidantaWorld is due to open in 2026.

VidantaWorld

The operator of a theme park which merges record-breaking rides, immersive attractions and lavish grounds in a gamechanging way has announced that it will swing open its doors in fall next year.

Called BON (Beauty of Nature), the theme park is part of VidantaWorld, a 2,500 acre resort set next to a spectacular sandy beach on Mexico’s Riviera Maya. It is designed to be the world’s first luxury theme park which appeals to adults as much as children.

The resort looks more like a desert island retreat than a theme park with wooden walkways weaving past verdant grass verges dotted with palm trees. Nestled inside it are tennis and pickleball courts, spas and several championship golf courses, including one designed by Greg Norman which hosts the PGA TOUR Mexico Open.

An on-site concert venue will be christened with a performance from music legend Lionel Richie on December 11 with Michael Bublé kicking off the 2026 VidantaWorld Concert Series in May next year.

Debuting alongside the venue next month is a $200 million, custom-built 696-seat theater with a wrap-around aquarium and 360-degree aquatic stage where a water-themed Cirque du Soleil show will play. Called LUDÕ, it will be Cirque du Soleil’s first aquatic production since the iconic O in Las Vegas and will offer guests fine dining while they watch the troupe’s avant-garde acrobatics, immersed in cutting-edge effects.

The neighboring BON theme park will also be home to a land themed to the circus giant along with others called Fantasy Gardens, Empire of Light and Land of Legends. The park will have 23 attractions, 16 shops and 25 restaurants set in an Aztec-style environment with some attractions housed inside artificial ruins nestled amongst lush tropical landscapes. The structures of other rides have been designed to resemble tropical plants both to appeal to adults and Instagrammers.

“In fall 2026, VidantaWorld’s BON Luxury Theme Park will open as a destination that stands alongside the world’s most iconic entertainment experiences – while offering something entirely new: immersive worlds, signature attractions, and refined culinary spaces delivered with luxe,” says Michel Beuffe, Chief Operations Officer for VidantaWorld.

“Set within VidantaWorld’s larger canvas of luxury hospitality, permanent Cirque du Soleil residencies, championship golf, and breathtaking natural surroundings, it is, quite simply, the best of all possible worlds. We’re not trying to copy what others have done. We’re establishing something entirely new.”

BON has been developed by former Disney and Universal Studios designers and is true to Walt Disney’s original ethos for creating Disneyland in 1955. He realized that the amusement parks of his generation were aimed at children with fairground rides which were of little interest to adults. Disney’s aim was to create a place where parents and their kids could be entertained by the immersive environment and Disneyland was born.

Over the years, the preponderance of cuddly characters, crowds and kiddie coasters at Disney parks has made them more appealing to young ‘uns than their parents while arch-rival Universal’s parks have become more of an attraction for adults. BON fills this gap as it offers world-class wellness and sport in a breathtaking natural setting which inspires the theme of the park. No expense has been spared.

The headliner is the record-breaking Tecuani Beast, which will be the only double-launch roller coaster in Latin America. It will be joined by a mix of more coasters, water rides, dark rides and immersive exploration-based attractions.

The lineup includes Toca Tambo, a story-driven river ride where guests trigger show effects and compete for points. Ashara: Goddess of Fire is a family-friendly coaster with surprise direction changes and near-miss elements designed to offer an adrenaline rush without putting people off. Similarly, the nippy SOL: Speed of Light suspended family coaster thrills with its near misses but has a low height requirement.

The Enchanted River and Eternity boat rides are designed to wow with layered sets, practical effects and original scores while the Vista Wheel towers over the park with its swinging and fixed cabins. The wizards who make the attractions include industry experts P&P Projects, Intamin, Zamperla, Vekoma, Mack Rides and Brogent. However, the main event is the setting itself.

A defining element of BON is how deeply nature is woven into the experience. The park isn’t built on top of the landscape, it has been designed with in it in mind. Lush landscapes, shaded walkways, impressive water features and open garden courtyards create a sense of calm and exploration rather than constant stimulation common in most theme parks.

At the heart of the entrance way is a vast, open-air crater where rock formations, mist and terraced pathways frame gathering spaces and attractions making it feel like BON rises from the earth. The crater comes alive with synchonized fountains and choreographed water-and-fire shows, similar to those at the Bellagio, letting guests know they’ve arrived somewhere extraordinary.

The closest comparison is the mighty Aquaventure at Atlantis Dubai, which is widely acknowledged to be the world’s most luxurious themed resort.

There is no noise or pollution from buses or cars ferrying guests around VidantaWorld. Instead, they get a bird’s eye view of the resort from a gondola system and elevated walkways which immerse them in the canopy of the lavish landscape.

Adding to the exclusivity, access to BON will be reserved exclusively through 2027 for guests of several on-site hotels including the park’s all-suite Grand BON Hotel, which also opens next month. Capacity is being intentionally limited to keep waits short and service attentive. As anyone who has visited a theme park recently knows, that really is the magic formula for improving the experience.