Tropical Islands Invasion
The Tropical Islands Invasion is like a flashmob of jugglers but it lasts a week! For about 5 days in the new year jugglers from all over (but mostly from Ireland) shall “invade” the Tropical Islands resort. We arrive, unpack our stuff into lockers and then go juggle, swim, chill on the sun longers by the beach, stroll through the tropical rain forest or take it all in up high in the hot air balloon. When it all gets too much… we hit the saunas, steam rooms, whirlpools, jacuzzi, massage treatments, sunbeds, meditation rooms and so on. For those that feel it’s too peaceful and relaxing there’s a gym to get some excercise in…
Oh and there’s a number of bars one of which stays open 24/7, but you guys wouldn’t be interested in these at all would ya? 
Day and night means little in the dome, and one runs into the other without you realising it a lot of the time
This trip has it’s own discussion forum where the latest information can be found and discussed located here!
Where is it happening?
Tropical Islands Resort is an artificial tropical resort which can accommodate up to 8,000 visitors a day. The resort is located in Briesen/Brand, part of Halbe in Dahme-Spreewald, Brandenburg, Germany, about 60Â km (36 miles) south-southeast of Berlin, off the Staakow exit of the A13 Autobahn.
The Tropical Islands hall is gigantic. In fact, it’s the largest free-standing hall in the world: 360 metres long, 210 metres wide, and an incredible107 metres high. That’s big enough to fit the Statue of Liberty in standing up, and the Eiffel Tower lying on its side! The Tropical Islands Dome covers an area of 66,000 m², the size of eight football fields.
When is it happening?
As we are heading during the quiet season, and are missing mid-term in germany the majoraty of visitors in the dome will be part of the invasion be they jugglers or friends of jugglers along for the ride. there is already a strong interest and it’s looking to be a proper invasion with so many of us we may not all fit in the moody lounge at night, this just means some will have to sleep at the beach, or at the lagoon or in a tent (not recommended, they’re over priced and everyone else will be staying overnight for just €10 when you’ll be paying for the tent on top of the €10)
What do i need to bring?
Money
Expect to spend €150-€300 over the 5 days when in the dome. Entrance costs €30 this gets you a kombi pass that grants access to both the tropical island resort and the wellness area, if you dont get the kombi pass you’ll have to pay and additional €8 per day to use the wellness area. each night at 3am the €10 overnight charge is auto applied to your account/wristband. Slides and Mini Golf are €3.50 each perday, Fitness Club is €5 perday. Everything inside the dome is payed for using a wristband you are issued with when you arrive, more information on this below…
Clothes
On the trip over and the trip back you’ll obviously be outside the pleasent 26° of the dome and out in the freezing -5° to -20° tempratures of Berlin in January so for the trip to and from the dome the advise is warp warm! inside the dome you’ll need t-shirts and very light clothing and 2 swim suits is recommended so you can wear one while the other dries. you wont need much and packing light is highly recommended as locker space is limited.
Toiletries
Shower Gels & Shampoos/Conditioners are the obvious ones here but sun cream is also important, you may be indoors but this place has a massive window that takes up almost an entire wall and it’s southfacing!!! Apart from the obvious use your head and think what you’ll need over the week… Again remember the ultimate goal is pack light there’s no need to bring the entire bathroom with you!
Accessories & Security Lockers
Phones, iPods and other small electronics as well as wallets, tickets and passports can be stored in small security lockers, USE THEM! your main locker will have a number, this number matches the number on your wristband, if you lose your wirstband and someone finds it they can either be honest and hand it in or clear out your locker and run up your account (to a max of €150). The security lockers are open if unused, to take one put your stuff inside and close it with your wristband, this locker is now yours, remember the number! if you forget the number you’ll have to try each locker until you find your one…
Juggling Equipment
Remember what i said about traveling light? it applies here too… balls, poi, diabolo, other small props and a few clubs are the order of the day here, you wont get a staff on the plane unless you check it in at the airport and a unicycle will be a pain to transport if you can fit it in a small backpack bring it along…
What’s all this about wristbands?
When you arrive at Tropical Islands you get a wristband, this is everything inside the dome, it’s your money, your key, your best friend and worst nightmare. It is the true definition of a blessing and a curse in one object…
Money wise you have an account at Tropical Islands, your wristband is like a credit card and you swipe it everytime you want to pay for something, you pay later when you’re leaving or when your account reaches €150. if you are up to €145 and want to spend anything more then €5 you’ll be told the wristband is maxed out and you’ll have to visit the information desk to pay something off your bill before you can continue to spend within the dome. It’s a blessing because you can leave your money in the security locker but a curse because it’s easy to lose track on your spending if you dont keep an eye on it.
As a key the wristbant lets you move around the dome passing freely though the various areas and auto charging your account if nessecery (see money above for info on how you can be charged within the dome), it’s also the key for your locker and the key out of the building in that you can’t leave without paying your bill, which is tied to the wristband 
in this case the blessing is you’ll always have your key on you, the curse is if you lose it someone else could have the key to your locker.
Your wristband goes around your wirst (bet ya never guessed that did ya?) like a watch, if you put it on well enough it should never come off unless you want it to, but some people had issues with theirs losing them in the water, most however had no issues and never had to reattach their wristbands because it came off unexpected…
Main attractions at the dome
below text is from the official website www.tropical-islands.de/en
Rainforest
The Tropical Islands Rainforest is a fascinating world to explore and discover. It is home to around 50,000 trees, bushes and groundcover plants. Jungle creepers twist their way up 18-meter-high trees, tree orchids hanging from their branches. Around 600 different types of plants thrive here, including palms, ferns and mangroves. Most stem from the Asia-Pacific region or South America.
A winding path almost a kilometre long takes you through the heart of the world’s largest indoor rainforest, past flesh-eating plants, banana trees and coffee bushes. A bridge over the mangrove swamp offers wonderful views. Guppies, perch and catfish swim in the balmy waters. Particularly interesting are the shark catfish and related species. Recent additions include three exotic arowanas, also known as “bony-tongues”.
There’s other wildlife in the Tropical Islands Rainforest, too. Blue-breasted quail and gold pheasant pick their way through the undergrowth or stop and display their beautiful plumage.
Tropical Village
Authentic buildings from Bali, Borneo, Thailand and Samoa
The Tropical Village is a unique collection of buildings from around the Tropics. It’s also home to our Tropical Islands restaurants and cafés, serving a wide range of delicious meals and snacks. Whether you feel like a quick hamburger meal or an all-you-can-eat Tropical barbecue, you’ll find something to your taste here.
Shopping Boulevard
The Tropical Islands Shopping Boulevard is a colourful shopping street like the ones you see on holiday. Here you’ll find local crafts from around the world, sweets and souvenirs, as well as practical items such as flip-flops, t-shirts, books and newspapers.
Fancy something new? How about a temporary tattoo from the Tropical Islands Tattoo Parlour! Located directly on the Shopping Boulevard, the Tattoo Parlour offers 150 exciting designs for you to choose from.
The Shopping Boulevard also has a Hair & Beauty Salon. So after enjoying your day on the beach you can get the perfect hairdo for the evening show on the Wayang Stage in the Tropical Village!
Water Slide Tower
Germany’s highest water slide tower
The 25-meter high water slide tower at Tropical Islands is terrific fun for all the family. It has four different water slides, ranging from a leisurely family slide to a high-speed turbo slide reaching speeds of up to 70 km/h!
Island Ballooning
At Tropical Islands you can enjoy an amazing bird’s-eye view of the tropical landscape in style. We have a moored helium balloon that takes two people seated comfortably up to 55 metres into the air. We also have a helium airship that takes you on a trip across the largest free-standing hall in the world at a height of around 30 metres.
Tropical Sea
The Tropical Sea has plenty of room for fun and is an inviting 28°C. For our youngest visitors there’s a paddling area, for the grown-ups plenty of sun loungers. And the sandy beach is just perfect for building sandcastles under the palm trees.
In almost all weathers, the sunshine comes through the roof, so you’ll get a healthy suntan here.
You can bring your snorkels, fins, balls and other inflatables to Tropical Islands, too – everything you need for a perfect day on the beach!
Bali Lagoon
Relax in the romantic Bali Lagoon. With water at 32°C and an area of 1,200 m², the Tropical lagoon is perfect for swimming or just letting your worries float away. For those with more energy, there’s also a current canal, submerged water slides and whirlpools.
Sandstone, wood, palm trees, Balinese huts, a kulkut (watchtower) and the authentic Monkey Rock transport you to Bali, the Hindu Island of the Gods. Where the Lagoon meets the Tropical Rainforest, there’s a grotto and a waterfall, for a true jungle adventure. After dark*, the pool is romantically lit up.
Fitness Club
Discover the Tropical Islands Fitness Club, located in our Sauna & Spa Complex. Our air-conditioned rooms feature the most up-to-date equipment to help you get your body in shape, including bicycle ergometers, treadmills and cross-trainers as well as equipment for training your legs, back, abs, biceps and shoulders.
Work out to a backdrop of Asian temples, looking out over the Rainforest in the heart of a superb holiday paradise. And after you’ve worked out, Europe’s largest tropical sauna complex will be waiting for you, offering endless ways to relax.
Miniature Golf
At Tropical Islands we have a unique 18-hole minigolf course, featuring artificial lawns, crazy courses, and even putting greens!
It’s loads of fun for all ages and abilities. Discover miniature golf – Tropical-style!
Wellness Area
Papmer yourself after a long days juggling for more information follow the link below to learn about all the different ways to just relax