[First Successful Funding Campaign] Lotte World Achieved 4,387% of Its Goal by Turning Parade Characters into Merchandise
Update 2026.11.09
Have you ever wanted to keep the character you met at the performance as goods? Lotte World introduced a new character named Vesper, Candra, and Roselle at the Dark Fantasy Parade in 2026. As the parade video and fan art gathered attention on social media, the first official goods that fans have been waiting for were introduced with Wadiz funding.
The project, which stimulated fans' desire to keep it, raised W21.93 million for about two weeks, achieving 4,387 percent of the target amount. In this first funding success period, I will look at how Lotte World has connected fans' attention to funding success, and I will tell you three things that even makers who prepare alone can follow.
First funding performance of the full set of Dark Fantasy Goods
| funding period | the amount of money offered | Number of supporters | Number of notification applicants |
| 13th day | 21,935,300 won | 865 people | 1,134 people (11th scheduled to open) |
Success Strategy 1.
Tells the character's world view into a story to make you want to keep it
Lotte World showed the story before the goods. He introduced the role and character of the character against the backdrop of the Night Festival, and showed the value of goods that can be preserved for a long time by pointing out that we can no longer meet after the parade. In fact, even in the supporters' comments, fans who came to see the parade from afar to those who couldn't get goods on the spot, responded that it was nice to meet them again online.
If you already have a character or IP with a fan, show them why they want to keep it first. If you connect the character's worldview with the moments that fans liked, you can approach goods with special meanings, not just products. At Wadiz, you can put these stories on the detailed page and link the fans' interest to participation in funding. In fact, half of the projects with the title "official" in the Wadiz Character/Goods category raised more than 10 million won. (As of October 2025 to September 2026)
What if I apply it to my first project? When introducing goods, please first show the experience or story that the customer wants to keep.
Introduce the background of the character or product so that customers who are new to it can be interested, and inform them in advance of any questions they may be curious about. |
Success Strategy 2.
Show Wadiz limited benefits clearly
Lotte World emphasized 'Wadiz's exclusive launch', and showed off the composition of acrylic dioramas and key rings with ID cards and card stickers, and the perks of collecting all three characters at a glance. If you're preparing for your first round of funding, highlight the benefits that supporters can only enjoy in Wadiz. If you show them in detail the benefits you can't get anywhere else, such as a solo release, special composition, or limited perks, it makes it even clearer why you should participate in funding now.
What if I apply it to my first project? Please summarize 'what's the difference if you participate in Wadiz'. If you share the exclusive disclosure, Wadiz-only composition, and the perks you receive only when you collect them, you can see them at a glance.
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Success strategy 3.
Create a reason to participate within 48 hours of opening
Lotte World held an "Open Run Event" during the scheduled opening period. If you participate in funding within 48 hours of opening after applying for notification, you will be given a chance to draw a popular item, Maple Popcorn Bucket, and if you leave a support signature, you will increase your chances of winning. The day after the opening, we encouraged them to participate once more with the new news of 'Event Closing D-1'.
If you are preparing for your first funding, make a reason to participate immediately after opening. By clearly guiding the benefits, terms of participation, and closing time, you can connect the attention of the notification applicant to quick funding participation.
What if I apply it to my first project? Please inform the notification applicant of the 'Open Benefit' in advance, and let me know one more time with the new news a day before the deadline.
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Dark Fantasy Goods Full Set Says First Funding Success Tips
If you already have a favorite fan,
Let's turn that interest into a first funding opportunity
Lotte World introduced characters that could only be met in the parade as goods, and led fans to participate with Wadiz limited benefits and open events. It clearly showed why you want to keep the goods and why you need to participate in the funding now. Have you ever wanted to make your favorite character or work into goods? Then, show it as your first project at Wadiz. If you prepare your fans' favorite stories and special benefits together, you can lead to funding participation.
Wadiz TIP+
If you are thinking about what type of goods to add, please proceed with the supporters vote during the scheduled opening period. You can choose the type or design of goods you want, such as key rings, acrylic stands, and dolls. Check the customer's preferences before production and reflect the results in the reward configuration.
Why Lotte World Started Funding At Wadiz
We chose Wadiz Funding so that you can meet the attractive characters and worldviews of the Dark Fantasy Festival outside the park.
Through this funding, we will directly check the fans' interest and opinions on the character, and based on this, we will continue to introduce new character products and contents.
— Detailed Page
| Making my first project |
| What if you're already getting ready? Register to open |
Questions frequently asked by makers preparing for first funding
Q. How should I divide the character goods rewards into single and set products?
Organize a set of single and all types of characters together so that both supporters who want only one and supporters who want to gather all can choose. Add to the set the perks you only get when you collect them, and check for yourself before opening to see if the single character option is chosen properly. Lotte World divided each character into a single product and a full set of three types, and added a special sticker if you collect three different characters.
Q. What should I show you first on the detail page to fund character goods for the first time?
Show the world and personality of the character so that even the first person to see the character can fall in love right away. Please organize any information you are curious about before receiving it, such as size or assembly method. Lotte World started the detailed page with the story of 'Festival of the Night' and answered the question "I didn't see the parade, would it be okay?" in the FAQ. I also included the Vesper diorama size (about 70x145mm) and assembly time (about 5 minutes) in the FAQ.