Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster is an
enclosed
Enclosure or Inclosure is a term, used in English landownership, that refers to the appropriation of "waste" or "common land" enclosing it and by doing so depriving commoners of their rights of access and privilege. Agreements to enclose land ...
steel
Steel is an alloy made up of iron with added carbon to improve its strength and fracture resistance compared to other forms of iron. Many other elements may be present or added. Stainless steels that are corrosion- and oxidation-resistant ty ...
wild mouse roller coaster
A wild mouse is a type of roller coaster consisting of single or spinning cars traversing a tight-winding track with an emphasis on sharp, unbanked turns. The upper portion of the track usually features multiple 180-degree turns, known as flat ...
located at
Warner Bros. Movie World on the
Gold Coast
Gold Coast may refer to:
Places Africa
* Gold Coast (region), in West Africa, which was made up of the following colonies, before being established as the independent nation of Ghana:
** Portuguese Gold Coast (Portuguese, 1482–1642)
** Dutch G ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
. It is based on the 2002 live action film ''
Scooby-Doo
''Scooby-Doo'' is an American animation, animated media franchise based on an animated television series launched in 1969 and continued through several derivative List of Scooby-Doo media, media. Writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears created the orig ...
'', which was filmed at the studio adjacent to the park at the same time the ride was being constructed.
In 2018 the ride underwent a significant theming overhaul and reopened in December under the name Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster: Next Generation with a new ride storyline, new theming (still based on the 2002 film) and new special effects. It closed for refurbishment in January 2023 and is set to reopen in 2025.
History
On 3 June 1991, Warner Bros. Movie World opened to the public with ''
Warner Bros. Classics & Great Gremlins Adventure'' as one of its original attractions.
In late 2001, Warner Bros. Movie World decided that they would be closing the attraction to make way for a new attraction set to open in 2002.
On 17 June 2002, the ''Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster'' opened to the public. ''Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster'' is one of the park's first attractions still standing today. In 2002 when the ride was initially released, it utilised the space it had for an interesting ride experience. In 2018, Warner Bros. Movie World closed the attraction for several months. The ride re-opened in late 2018, now advertised as ''Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster: Next Generation''.
Characteristics
Overview
Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster is a Wild Mouse roller coaster manufactured by Mack Rides.
Warner Bros. Movie World collaborated with Mack Rides to develop a Wild Mouse roller coaster that was unlike the previous models (such as
The Fly,
Technic Coaster and
Mulholland Madness). The ride is enclosed in a
show building
Show building is the name often given to various enclosed structures at theme parks that contain attractions such as rides and entertainment shows. The exteriors of such buildings may be themed on some or all sides, but their hidden "backstage" a ...
making it a
dark ride
A dark ride or ghost train is an indoor amusement ride on which passengers aboard guided vehicles travel through specially lit scenes that typically contain Animatronics, animation, sound, music and Special effect#Live special effects, special e ...
.
Statistics
Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster features of track. The highest point, , is reached through the use of an
elevator lift. The largest drop is and is performed in reverse. At this point, riders reach the top speed of . One cycle of the ride takes approximately 4 minutes and 13 seconds. The ride caters for approximately 1000 guests per hour.
Theme
The Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster is themed around the 2002 live action film, ''
Scooby-Doo
''Scooby-Doo'' is an American animation, animated media franchise based on an animated television series launched in 1969 and continued through several derivative List of Scooby-Doo media, media. Writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears created the orig ...
''. The main entrance facade is modelled after the Spooky Island Castle that is featured in the film. Additionally, the ride's eighteen vehicles are modelled on that used in the film. These vehicles seat four people, in two rows of two.
New theming was installed in late 2018 and the ride's name was slightly altered with "Next Generation" to reflect the update as well as the storyline changes.
On Ride Photo
The Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster has an on ride photo in the first dark ride section on the ride. The photo is taken as riders drop in front of the swinging axes. This photo is available as part of the Fast Photo digital pass and viewable on screens in the exit retail store.
Experience
Queue
The entrance to the Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster is a replica of the Spooky Island Castle seen in the
2002 film. This façade hides a large sound stage where the actual ride exists. On most days, guests must walk up a few steps enter the castle and the ride's queue line. On busier days, the ride's outdoor overflow queue is utilised. It is located on the right hand side of the entrance and leads into the side of the castle façade. Once inside the castle riders are treated to the sight of a monster fountain and a ''making of'' video of the 2002 film.
A series of queue switchbacks are located closer to the load
station.
Ride
Original Version
Once the ride begins, the first part is like a typical
dark ride
A dark ride or ghost train is an indoor amusement ride on which passengers aboard guided vehicles travel through specially lit scenes that typically contain Animatronics, animation, sound, music and Special effect#Live special effects, special e ...
, embellished with effects including a swinging axe and various other spooky-themed audio-animatronics displays. Along the way, an animatronic
Scooby-Doo
''Scooby-Doo'' is an American animation, animated media franchise based on an animated television series launched in 1969 and continued through several derivative List of Scooby-Doo media, media. Writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears created the orig ...
will tell the rider which way the carriage will go next until it reaches a platform.
As the platform ascends vertically it tilts from side to side giving riders the illusion that they will fall out. As it rises a short conversation between
Scooby-Doo
''Scooby-Doo'' is an American animation, animated media franchise based on an animated television series launched in 1969 and continued through several derivative List of Scooby-Doo media, media. Writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears created the orig ...
and
Daphne
Daphne (; ; el, Δάφνη, , ), a minor figure in Greek mythology, is a naiad, a variety of female nymph associated with fountains, wells, springs, streams, brooks and other bodies of freshwater.
There are several versions of the myth in whi ...
can be heard. Once the carriage has reached the top of the elevator, and the top of the
show building
Show building is the name often given to various enclosed structures at theme parks that contain attractions such as rides and entertainment shows. The exteriors of such buildings may be themed on some or all sides, but their hidden "backstage" a ...
, it drops backwards towards to turntable which spins the carriage around before continuing along the roller coaster track. This is where the true wild mouse section of the roller coaster begins. This section features various smoke, lighting and
laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. The word "laser" is an acronym for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation". The fir ...
effects
as well as a giant spider previously used in the
Harry Potter Movie Magic Experience
The Harry Potter Movie Magic Experience at Warner Bros. Movie World in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia was a walk-through attraction which featured several recreations of sets from the Harry Potter movies. The original attraction opened on ...
and
Halloween Family Fun Nights. It is also musically accompanied by U.S.
punk
Punk or punks may refer to:
Genres, subculture, and related aspects
* Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres
* Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...
band
MXPX
MxPx () is an American pop punk band from Bremerton, Washington, founded in 1992 as Magnified Plaid. As of 2016, current members include Mike Herrera on lead vocals and bass guitar, Yuri Ruley on drums and percussion, Tom Wisniewski on lead gui ...
playing a cover of the Scooby-Doo theme song. The ride ends with a final
animatronic
Animatronics refers to mechatronic puppets. They are a modern variant of the automaton and are often used for the portrayal of characters in films and in theme park attractions.
It is a multidisciplinary field integrating puppetry, anatomy a ...
Scooby showing riders the way out of the wild mouse section, followed by one very small drop to get to the exit platform.
Next Generation (2018 update)
Although the ride's rollercoaster track is unaltered and its ghost train elements are still present, the ride's storyline has been significantly changed, although it is still themed to the 2002 film. Scooby-Doo now no longer appears in the ride until the very end in the exit queue. However, his initial voice over and disembarkment audio remains in use.
The creatures from the movie have escaped their enclosures and are attacking the riders. After the ride exits the station, using projection mapping effects, the train is attacked by two of the monsters breaking down the right-side wall, but the train gets away in time. Following the usual Ghost Train section, Riders are greeted with the mirror scene which now uses more projection effects to display the two monsters attacking the vehicle.
The ride then passes by several voodoo statues before coming to the Platform lift.
Daphne
Daphne (; ; el, Δάφνη, , ), a minor figure in Greek mythology, is a naiad, a variety of female nymph associated with fountains, wells, springs, streams, brooks and other bodies of freshwater.
There are several versions of the myth in whi ...
and
Shaggy
Shaggy may refer to:
People
*Shaggy (musician) (born 1968), Jamaican American reggae rapper and singer
* Shaggy 2 Dope, half of the hip hop, horrorcore band Insane Clown Posse
* Shaggy Flores (born 1973), Nuyorican poet, writer and African diaspor ...
both spot and talk to
Scrappy Doo
Scrappy is a cartoon character created by Dick Huemer for Charles Mintz's Screen Gems Studio (distributed by Columbia Pictures). A little round-headed boy, Scrappy often found himself involved in off-beat neighborhood adventures. Usually paire ...
who, as the lift rises, appears on screens surrounding the riders and changes into his own monster form, then roars at the riders. Shaggy then says his iconic quote from the battle with Scrappy, which is, ''"You're a bad puppy!"'', followed by the claw used in the first movie pulling out the Daemon Ritus from Scrappy's chest. The train then drops backwards to the turntable as before, however the turntable is now surrounded by a disco like box with mirrors and neon lights.
The traditional wild mouse section remains relatively unaltered, however, the vat carrying the souls from the movie now sits in the center of the room.
As riders leave this section they are now greeted by two projection mapped screens on either side of the train, but as the disco skull on the ceiling shines, the creatures become afraid. The train then makes its final small drop, however this small section is now incorporated into the ride's storyline and a screen above it shows one of the creatures screaming in the "Tiki Doll Lounge". As riders disembark and pass through the lounge, Scooby-Doo is seen hiding in a hut saying "I'm scared!" This scene uses the same animatronic and audio previously used at the beginning of the ride.
[Archived a]
Ghostarchive
and th
Wayback Machine
Riders exit through a gift shop to buy various articles of Scooby-Doo merchandise, as well as on-ride photos.
See also
*
Warner Bros. Classics & Great Gremlins Adventure
References
External links
*
*
*
{{Laservision
Roller coasters in Australia
Roller coasters introduced in 2002
Warner Bros. Movie World
Roller coasters operated by Village Roadshow Theme Parks
Amusement rides based on works by James Gunn
Animatronic attractions
2002 establishments in Australia
Warner Bros. Global Brands and Experiences attractions
Hanna-Barbera in amusement parks
Scooby-Doo (film series)
Scooby-Doo in amusement parks