Ancol Dreamland opened in 1966 and is currently the largest integrated tourism area in Southeast Asia, boasting an international championship golf course, a theme park, hotels and other recreational facilities.

The idea to convert the marshy area of Ancol into Jakarta's largest entertainment center, with housing and industrial estates adjoining it, was proposed by President Sukarno in the early 1960s.

The first facility was the Bina Ria Ancol beach, best known for its drive-in theater especially during the 1970s, then followed with a golf course, swimming pool, oceanarium, Putri Duyung cottage, Hotel Horison and its casino.

Today, the 552 hectare recreation area is known as the Ancol Jakarta Bay City, contains hotels, cottages, beaches, a theme park, traditional market places, an oceanarium, a golf field and marina.

According to the Jakarta Tourism & Culture Office website, other attractions within include the Art Market, an Eco-Park and an Ocean Park.

In the district of Ancol where Dunia Fantasi is located, it is a common getaway for tourists and locals alike, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Other attractions include Bianglala (ferris wheel), Kora-Kora (swinging ship), Poci-Poci (spinning cups ride), Kereta Misteri, (an indoor roller coaster manufactured by Intamin), and the Hysteria (drop tower).

Then in 2014 is reimagined into Indoor Dufan Section that contain Ice Age: Sid's Tour, Kontiki, Hello Kitty Adventure (Rumored will be replaced).

[7] In March 2019 the park has announced a new area set to open mid to late 2019 with 9 new attractions: Baling Baling (a Zierer Star Shape, also the first in Asia), Paralayang (an SBF Visa Group Airborne Shot), Turbo Drop (an SBF Visa Group Drop'n Twist), Fantastique 2.0 (Delay until further notice), Kereta Misteri (a werewolf themed indoor tracked ride from an Intamin Manufacter), Karavel, Kolibri, Zig Zag and Ontang Anting.

The 4D theater projects 3D image movies with sensations such as cool breezes and water sprays located inside a large building with Mesoamerican pyramid theme.

British band Iron Maiden has played for the first time in Indonesia on 17 February 2011 at the Carnival Beach site, to over 25,000 strong crowd.

Faunaland is a mini zoo located inside Allianz Ecopark and stands on an area of approximately 5 hectares consisting of land and water.

It contains a Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, Beach City International Stadium concert hall with a maximum capacity of 22.000, 77 culinary centre, 42 shops, etc.

Some transportation methods around Ancol Dreamland include becak (rickshaw) and other vehicles such as train ride from the east entrance to Carnaval beach, and gondola to help tourists navigate around the area to their next destination.

Passengers from Kampung Melayu and Pusat Grosir Cililitan in East Jakarta can use Transjakarta Corridor 5 and 5D respectively to go to Ancol Dreamland.

The Jakarta Construction Supervision and Regulation Agency said, "There will be an audit by a consultant before the management is allowed to rebuild the collapsed structure."

Less than 3 months previously, there was another cement structure that collapsed and in July 2011, fifteen passengers panicked when they were stuck on their seats when the Tornado thrill ride stalled.