(upbeat 1950s music) - [Kevin] In 1957, a 24-year-old Australian
man named John Longhurst visited the newly opened Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California. A regular viewer of the
"Disneyland" television show, Longhurst was interested
not just with the park, but the man who made it. The trip to Disneyland did not disappoint. Longhurst recalled, quote, "It was something different
to anything I'd ever seen. There was something romantic about it." This trip began what would
become a lifelong obsession with both Disneyland and Walt Disney. Longhurst studied Walt
Disney's life and philosophy. He learned the story of Walt's
inspiration for Disneyland in which Walt describes sitting
on a bench at Griffith Park, watching his daughters on a carousel. - I felt that there
should be something built where that the parents and the children could have fun together. - [Kevin] A few years after
he returned to Australia from his first Disneyland trip, Longhurst took his own children
to a local animal park. At one point during their visit, Longhurst's children became
interested in a monkey exhibit. Shortly after arriving to see the monkeys, the animals began to urinate, and the stench was so potent, that one of the kids became ill. In an attempt to turn the day around, Longhurst took the children
to get a milkshake, only to be served by a woman who was constantly scratching herself while making the drinks. Longhurst quickly left with his children, and as he drove away, he had
his own Walt Disney moment. He said to himself, quote, "Somebody's got to do
something about this." After selling a profitable
lawnmower business, Longhurst began to more seriously consider the prospect of building
his own theme park. He set out to find a suitable
site for the project, but after repeated failed attempts, Longhurst, in his own
recollection of the events, spoke with God, asking, quote, "Lord, where am I going to get
this site to build my park?" According to Longhurst,
God responded, quote, "10 miles out, on the Gold Coast." The area was perfect. Not only was it already a
popular holiday destination, but there was land available. However, Longhurst was very selective about the land he needed for his park, requiring that the property
have certain features for ideas he had. In 1974, Longhurst purchased 85
hectares, or 210 acres, of land, 10 miles from the Gold Coast, per God's suggestion. Design and construction
would take multiple years, with Longhurst spending over
two years operating a bulldozer by himself to construct the park's layout. Seven years and around $13 million later, the project was finished, and on December 15th, 1981, Longhurst's dream park,
aptly titled Dreamworld, opened to the public. When guests entered the park, they were introduced to a world of wonder unlike they had ever seen, assuming they had not been to Disneyland. Dreamworld's entrance
was marked by a building that appeared to be a large train station. Beyond this was a quaint main street, with buildings that resembled a turn-of-the-century American town. Guests could also find an area
resembling an Old West town, with a grand river around which a paddle wheeler would travel. The park was described as
Australia's answer to Disneyland, but it might be more fair to say that it was Australia's
knockoff of Disneyland. This is exactly what
Longhurst had hoped for, and even accounting for the similarities, the results were impressive. Dreamworld did have a
few unique attractions, namely a state-of-the-art IMAX
theater that dazzled guests, and even the elements that were directly lifted from Disneyland were given a unique Australian identity. Rather than Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Dreamworld had Kenny
Koala and Belinda Brown. Rather than the steamboat's
river simply being the Rivers of America, Dreamworld's river was
named the Murrissipi River, a hybrid of North America's
Mississippi River, and Australia's Murray River. The river was flanked by Old
West buildings on one side, and Australian buildings on the other. This hybrid of Disneyland entertainment with Australian touches was a
practice that would continue, and just a few months after opening, Dreamworld had another Disney attraction with an Australian twist. In 1982, a new area named Gum Tree Gully debuted on the banks of
the Murrissipi River. The area was home to Gum Tree Gully Hall, where Dreamworld guests could find the Koala Country Jamboree. This was a direct ripoff of
Disney's Country Bear Jamboree, but with koalas. This elaborate animatronic
show saw many scenes of koalas singing both classic Australian and American songs. Just like the Country Bear Jamboree, the show had a host and
multiple musical acts. Despite the koala focus of the attraction, many other animal musicians were featured. There is a number where a rabbit sings "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie
Yellow Polkadot Bikini." There is a number where
an American bear shows up and sings a Confederate Army folk song, and there is even a number where a kangaroo sings
an Australian lullaby, and in her pouch is a baby kangaroo who comes out and sings with her. The show also featured a
beast known as the bunyip. The bunyip is an aquatic monster that originates from aboriginal mythology. In the Koala Country Jamboree, though, the bunyip sings a love song, and wears a big cowboy hat. ♪ My baby's pretty from
her head to her feet ♪ - [Kevin] All of the
acts come back in the end to sing Peter Allen's "I
Still Call Australia Home," before the big finale, "Tie
Me Kangaroo Down, Sport," which is the most
Australian song of all time. ♪ Tie me kangaroo down, sport ♪ ♪ Tie me kangaroo down ♪ ♪ All together now ♪ - [Kevin] The Koala Country Jamboree was well-received by guests, and would become a favorite
among Dreamworld fans. As time went on, Dreamworld
continued to grow and expand, receiving many standard
off-the-shelf amusement rides, and some signature attractions. By the late 1980s, Dreamworld was Australia's
number one tourist attraction. Despite Longhurst originally stating that he would like to own the
park for the rest of his life, after consideration, he decided to sell the park
to entrepreneur Bruce Jenkins, and his company, Dreamco. Longhurst believed Jenkins would continue developing his dream, and provide the park
with necessary cash flow. Unfortunately, this was not the case. After purchasing Dreamworld in 1989, Jenkins and Dreamco were
immediately in a dire state, and the park was taken over by
financial firm Ernst & Young. The new management was more successful, increasing visits by 51% to a total of 1.8 million
visitors per year. The park would change hands twice more before the turn of the century. By the early 2000s, Dreamworld was still
struggling with finances, but new attractions gave
hope for the park's future. A variety of wildlife
exhibits had been added, and in 2002, a partnership
with Nickelodeon allowed the park's kiddie land, Kennyland, to transition to Nickelodeon Central. In 2004, another Australian theme
park, Wonderland Sydney, closed for good, and Dreamworld took the crown for the largest theme park in Australia. The success of Nickelodeon
Central led Dreamworld to seek out more partnerships
with recognizable properties, and in 2005, they were able to secure perhaps their most lucrative agreement yet, and just as Longhurst had
done three decades prior, Dreamworld set out to make
a Disney-caliber attraction with a distinct Australian twist. Lucky for them, there was already an Australian
entertainment property that was taking the world by storm. The Wiggles are a children's music group that was founded in 1991. The group was started by Anthony Field, a member of the Australian
pop band, The Cockroaches. At the time, Field was studying
early childhood education at Macquarie University in Sydney, alongside another Cockroaches
collaborator, Greg Page, and a guitarist, Murray Cook. Together the three combined
their musical talent with their interest in
early childhood development, intending to create an album of songs that could act as an educational tool. After recruiting another
Cockroaches band member, keyboardist Jeff Fatt, the
group formed the Wiggles. Over two years, the group wrote and
recorded their first album, repurposing many Cockroaches songs into more child-friendly Wiggles numbers. ♪ Ba dum ba ba ba dum ba dum ♪ ♪ It's Wiggle time ♪ - [Kevin] The band evolved
slowly over the next few years, adding supporting characters such as Captain Feathersword, Henry the Octopus, Wags the Dog, and Dorothy the Dinosaur. The group also began wearing
their iconic outfits, brightly colored skivvies. The Wiggles worked diligently, releasing more albums, performing live, and producing music videos and tapes. In 1994, the band released
the album "Yummy Yummy," featuring two massive hits for the group, "Hot Potato." ♪ Hot potato, hot potato ♪ - [Kevin] And "Fruit Salad." ♪ Fruit salad ♪ ♪ Yummy, yummy ♪ - [Kevin] In 1995, they released
the album "Big Red Car," along with the accompanying
video, "Big Red Car." This was a notable moment in Wiggles lore, as it introduced the
band's iconic vehicle, the titular Big Red Car. At first, the car was represented with a crude cardboard cutout, and the song featured on the
album about the Big Red Car would not be the vehicle's
more iconic number. ♪ Riding in a big red car ♪ ♪ Big red car ♪ - [Kevin] In 1997, the Wiggles' first and
only theatrical film, "The Wiggles Movie," was
released in theaters. This film featured the first
three-dimensional iteration of the Big Red Car, which
was built from a dune buggy. The following year, in 1998, the Wiggles released their ninth
studio album, "Toot, Toot!" which featured the hit track, "Toot Toot, Chugga Chugga, Big Red Car." ♪ Toot toot, chugga chugga, big red car ♪ ♪ We'll travel near and we'll travel far ♪ - [Kevin] This would be
the car's iconic song, and it would take over the world. Around this time, the Wiggles began to expand
into international markets, and found major success
in the United States, initially touring with Barney Live, before embarking on a tour of their own. This is when Wigglemania was at its peak. By 2005, the Wiggles had
released 21 studio albums, filmed three television series, and toured all over the world. The group was struggling
to meet the demand, and the number of performances
were taking a toll on the health of the group, namely Anthony Field and Greg Page. This level of Wiggling was
simply not sustainable, but Wigglemania was showing
no signs of stopping. The Wiggles made 45 million
Australian dollars in 2004, or nearly 34 million US dollars. This made them the highest-paid
Australian entertainers, beating out Nicole
Kidman and Russell Crowe. The Wiggles empire was an
intoxicating gravy train, the kind that only comes
from singing about potatoes, and dancing with a giant octopus, and it was a machine that
could not be stopped. In an effort to maintain their health and stay closer to home, the Wiggles considered cutting down on their live performances. To supplement the lack of live shows, the group began to explore other ventures. The first was a chain of
Wiggly Play Centers in Sydney. These entertainment centers were similar to those operated by Chuck
E. Cheese and Discovery Zone. The Wiggly Play Centers
featured indoor playgrounds, bouncy houses, and event spaces
to host birthday parties. The Wiggly Play Centers
allowed Wiggles fans to interact with the group without the Wiggles themselves
needing to be present. Shortly after opening, a
similar concept was announced, but this venture would
be far more ambitious than a play center. (bright music) In May of 2005, the Wiggles announced that
they had entered an agreement with Dreamworld theme park. Dreamworld CEO Greg Shaw
told the press, quote, "We will be talking to them about how we can develop
that opportunity." These discussions must have occurred fast, because just two months later, it was announced that a
new Wiggles-themed area was coming to Dreamworld. The expansion would cost 7
million Australian dollars, or around 5.2 million US dollars. The new land would include
shops, an activity center, a playground, an animal nursery, and a brand new ride. The first new dark ride
to be built in Australia in nearly two decades. The new land would take the
place of Gum Tree Gully. By this point, the space was far past its prime. Gum Tree Gully Hall and
the Koala Country Jamboree had already been closed for three years. Any hope for the return of the show was dashed with the announcement of the new Wiggles land, whose flagship dark ride would take the space formally occupied by the singing koalas. The new dark ride would not be unique just for its Wiggly theme, but also for its advanced technology. The planned attraction would
be a trackless dark ride, a style of ride that was
still being introduced to many theme parks in the mid-2000s. Since their inception, dark rides have sent guests along a rigid, and often visible, track. This track was limiting to both the attraction's
range of movement, and its immersive theming. Throughout the late 20th century, ride designers experimented with ways to overcome these obstacles. Disney's Omnimover system
allowed ride cars to pivot, and for the most part hid
the ride path from view, but this system was still on a track. It would not be until October 1st, 1982, that the first trackless ride
system would be introduced, with Epcot Center's Universe of Energy. Large theater seats full
of guests passed throughout the attraction in unison with each other in a slow-moving dance, with
no track perceivable to guests. However, this was not a true
trackless ride system either, as a 1/8-inch guide wire was embedded into the attraction's floor, laying out the ride's path. The guide wire would
transmit a radio signal to each vehicle, the strength of which would communicate the vehicle's position
in relation to the track. This ride system was a
technological marvel in 1982. Each vehicle needed its own computer, which would then communicate with the attraction's master computer. The vehicles would also need to have their own propulsion systems, and most challenging, their own power and charging systems. The Imagineer solution to the latter was to embed charging
plates into the floor, which used a state-of-the-art inductive
power coupling system to charge the ride cars at two points throughout their journey. While Universe of Energy was not technically a trackless dark ride by modern standards, it did introduce multiple
innovations necessary for later systems to succeed. The guide wire system
would be reused in 1989 for The Great Movie Ride, and again in 1994 for the
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, with the system improving
with each iteration. These attractions were all well received, obscuring the ride path, and creating a more surprising
experience for guests. While these systems delivered
the theming benefits of a trackless ride system, the true potential of free range of motion had yet to be achieved. This was until the year 2000, when Tokyo Disneyland
received a new dark ride named Pooh's Hunny Hunt. Pooh's Hunny Hunt was a
breathtaking attraction, with a rumored budget of $130 million. On top of innovative effects
and elaborate environments, the attraction's most impressive element was its true trackless ride system. Rather than using guidewires, Pooh's Hunny Hunt used a
local positioning system, in which a sensor array
communicated with the ride cars, and the attraction's main computer. Unlike with a guide wire, this allowed for the ride
paths to be completely virtual. Disney made great use of this technology, sending cars on different
paths at the same time, and synchronizing movements, resulting in fun choreography. This trackless ride system would be implemented and innovated in more Disney parks throughout the world, with the notable additions
of motion simulation in Ratatouille: The Adventure, and an elevator and drop shaft in Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Other companies have developed their own trackless ride
systems using local positioning, leading to a trackless ride renaissance in the theme park industry
that is still ongoing. However, back in 2005, when the Wiggles ride was being developed, local positioning systems
for trackless rides were both new and prohibitively expensive. So while it would be widely promoted as a trackless dark ride, the attraction would rely on
a guide wire system developed by a little known company named Simtech. Simtech was a New-Zealand-based
entertainment company founded by set designer
Frank Marquette in 1984. Marquette primarily worked on films such as "The Lord of the Rings," and small entertainment projects
such as mini golf courses. In 2001, the company formed a team to develop an automated
wire-guided vehicle system, or AGV, for themed entertainment rides, as Marquette believed that this ride type was the future of the industry. By 2003, the company had
developed their system, reportedly piquing the interest of both Disney Parks
and Universal Studios. To prove their ability to develop a full-scale
theme park attraction, Simtech built a proof of
concept standalone ride named The Emperor's Tomb. This shooting dark ride was built near the company's headquarters in Christchurch, New Zealand. The ride used the new AGV system, and also showcased Simtech's ability to produce animatronics
and detailed show scenes. It would not be long after
debuting this proof of concept that Dreamworld would contract Simtech to design and construct
the Wiggles dark ride. Simtech would provide the
ride system, animatronics, and show scenes. Arvus, a sound technology company, was also contracted to
provide a unique audio system to each ride car. This included a microphone, a push button, and a speaker system. According to Arvus, this was, quote, "The world's first onboard karaoke system for an amusement ride vehicle," and that, quote, "Special
microphones had to be developed so that there was no feedback from the speakers directly next to them." Gum Tree Gully was transformed quickly, with the new Wiggles area ready to open after just four months of construction. The new land, named Wiggles World, had its opening ceremonies
on September 13th, 2005, with the Wiggles themselves appearing and taking a ride on the
land's signature dark ride, the Big Red Car ride. The ride and the land would
officially open four days later, and on September 17th, 2005, the children of Australia
were welcomed inside a brand new Wiggly world. (upbeat music) (jaunty music) Guests entered Wiggles World under a whimsical arch
featuring illustrations of all four Wiggles, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Henry the Octopus, Wags the Dog, and Captain Feathersword. Inside, families could visit
the Fun Spot activity center for Wiggles-themed games, or visit the banks of the Murrissipi River to play on the S.S.
Feathersword playground. Throughout the land, guests could meet Henry the Octopus, Wags the Dog, Dorothy the Dinosaur, and even Captain Feathersword himself. The Gum Tree Gully Farmyard petting zoo was re-themed to the
Wiggles Farmyard Friends. The land also had a gift shop marketed as the first Wiggles merchandise store, as well as a cafe with healthy foods, appropriately named, Yummy Yummy. There was even a
recreation of the exterior of the Wigglehouse, which allowed guests to
get up close and personal with Flora Door, the Wigglehouse's sentient door. (jaunty music continues) Wiggles World's main
attraction was of course the Big Red Car. The exterior featured a prominent
marquee beckoning guests into their Wiggles Adventure. Guests entered the ride's short queue with the boarding area
just a few feet ahead. A television mounted to the
wall displayed Wiggles videos as guests waited in line. Guests watched as their own Big Red Car pulled into the loading station. The ride vehicle was perfectly themed, appearing identical to
the Wiggles' iconic car, with the notable additions of
room for three riders per row, and the unique karaoke system. Guests waited patiently for the ride car to
reach the loading area, which depending on how
many cars were operating on the track, could take a while. The ride had an advertised top speed of 2 kilometers per hour, or about 1.25 miles per hour. This is slow. For comparison, The Formula Rossa rollercoaster
at Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi, tops out at a speed of
240 kilometers per hour, or 149 miles per hour. That's over 100 times faster
than the Big Red Car ride. Even compared to other dark rides, the Big Red Car ride was slow. For instance, the Haunted Mansion and similar Omnimovers move twice as fast, and newer trackless dark
rides are even faster. Speed was not an advertised
element of the Big Red Car ride, but it would definitely play a
role in the energy and pacing of the attraction. Once the car arrived
to the loading station, guests board the Big Red
Car ride and buckle up. The doors to the first show scene open, and it is officially time to Wiggle. As the Wiggles begin singing "Toot Toot, Chugga Chugga, Big Red Car," the ride vehicles slowly move
into the Wiggles' garden. ♪ Toot toot, chugga chugga, big red car ♪ - [Kevin] Lights illuminate the space as the car turns to face a
small TV mounted to the wall. The Wiggles appear on the
screen welcoming guests to the ride, and suggesting that they
use their microphones to sing along. They then inform riders
that they will be entering the Wigglehouse next. - Why don't we go into the house, and we can sing some songs together. - [Kevin] "Toot Toot,
Chugga Chugga, Big Red Car" begins to play again, as the vehicles slowly move
into the Wiggles' kitchen. ♪ Toot toot, chugga chugga, big red car ♪ - [Kevin] The car turns
to face another TV screen, this time featuring just Anthony, who instructs riders to sing "Hot Potato." As the song begins, the
cabinets, refrigerator, and oven, open and close to the music. ♪ Potato, potato, potato ♪ - [Kevin] Next up is the
Wiggles' lounge room. "Toot Toot, Chugga Chugga,
Big Red Car" plays again as the cars slowly move into the scene. ♪ Toot toot, chugga chugga, big red car ♪ - [Kevin] On the wall, the doors to all of the
Wiggles' bedrooms can be seen, an iconic set to those
familiar with Wiggles lore. After entering this room, the car turns to face a third TV screen. In this video, Jeff is sleeping, and the Wiggles are
attempting to wake him up. They ask that you use
your microphone to shout, "Wake up Jeff." - One, two, three, wake up, Jeff.
- Wake up, Jeff. - Thanks for waking me up, everyone. - [Kevin] This wakes Jeff up, and the Wiggles then sing, "Wake Up Jeff!" The vehicles again play "Toot toot, Chugga Chugga, Big Red Car," as they move into the
next room, Wags' kennel. ♪ Toot toot, chugga chugga ♪ - [Kevin] The cars then turn
to face a fourth TV screen. In this video, Greg explains that if we
all sing "Wave to Wags," Wags the Dog might slide down his slide. After singing the song, Wags
slides down, very slowly. (no audio) ♪ Toot toot, chugga ♪ - [Kevin] The next scene is
by far the most elaborate. Now underwater, guests
encounter Henry the Octopus, and a variety of sea creatures, including a fish playing a saxophone, and a crab playing a guitar. The room is filled with
detailed scene work, immersive lighting, and a fifth TV screen on which Murray suggests riders
move their arms like Henry, and sing, "Move your Arms Like Henry." In response, Henry
rocks from side to side, not technically moving his arms at all, but the saxophone fish
does move back and forth, which is great. ♪ Toot toot ♪ - [Kevin] The final scene
is in Dorothy's garden. Dorothy is seen rocking
back and forth on her swing, as the car enters the room. Dorothy greets guests, and
as the car begins to exit, riders encounter their sixth
and final television screen. The Wiggles express how
fun the ride has been, and remind guests to wave to the camera. After snapping a photo, guests return to the
loading area very slowly. (jaunty music) (jaunty music continues) The Big Red Car ride at Dreamworld initially received
fairly positive reviews. For Wiggles fans,
especially small children, the ride allowed them
the unique opportunity to drive in the Big Red Car, and visit iconic Wiggles locations. The karaoke microphones added
a unique interactive element, and the more elaborate show scenes toward the end of the ride were
particularly well received. In many ways, the dark
ride was impressive, especially for a small
park like Dreamworld. However, there were
many aspects of the ride that were less than great. The attraction relied heavily
on its television screens, some of which were sloppily
mounted with visible wires. The walls of each room did not extend to the show building ceiling, which detracted from the theming, and looked a bit dark and unsettling. Another odd and often frightening
aspect of the attraction was the lighting design and timings. There seemed to be a lack of
consistent show scene lighting, as each ride through from the
first few years of operation appears to have different
lighting patterns. For instance, when the Big
Red Car exits the first room and enters the Wiggles' kitchen, sometimes the lights are already on, sometimes the lights are
off and turn on immediately, and sometimes the lights
stay off in the kitchen until just before the video plays. This results in long stretches of guests entering a dark room with only the light of the other show scenes
illuminating the space. The reverse of this problem is also eerie. There are times when the
kitchen lights are on, but the lounge room lights are not, so guests can see a very darkly lit lounge
room ahead of them as they ride through the kitchen scene. This is even more off-putting in the more elaborate
show scenes at the end. For example, sometimes guests
will make it all the way into Dorothy's garden
before the lights turn on. The other negatives of
the Big Red Car ride are not a fault of the Dreamworld
attraction specifically, but are issues found in
many trackless dark rides. Both wire-guided and local
positioning system dark rides have an issue with scene layouts that traditional dark rides do not, because there's a possibility that a trackless dark ride car will divert from its intended path in a way that a tracked dark ride cannot. The show elements need
to be placed further away from the planned route to account for this extra margin of error. This can make rooms feel empty, and show scenes seem distant. Another downside of trackless dark rides is that the designers are encouraged to illuminate the floor, either to create more natural
lighting for an environment, or to showcase the lack
of track to riders, so the unpredictability is more thrilling. The negative to this lighting technique is that it draws more attention
to the extra floor space, making some show scenes
feel like big empty rooms. One thing that the Big
Red Car ride did better than many trackless dark rides
was its unique floor designs. Many show scenes featured
fun floor patterns to account for the excessive space. One of the most glaring downsides to trackless dark ride floors was not present when the ride opened, but as with many trackless rides, it would not be long before
the issue presented itself. Overall, the ride that Simtech delivered was impressive given the
budget and time restraints. The Big Red Car ride, as
it opened, was not awful, but changes were coming sooner than anyone could have anticipated. In September of 2006, a year
after the land's opening, the Wiggles returned to
their home at Dreamworld for a special concert celebrating
the group's 15th birthday. The group also dedicated a
new Wiggles World attraction, Dorothy's Rosy Teacup Ride. Fans flocked to Dreamworld
to see the Wiggles return, but many longtime fans noticed
that something was different. Greg Page, the Yellow Wiggle,
was nowhere to be found. Instead, his understudy, Sam Moran, was performing as the Yellow Wiggle. Moran had been subbing for Page for years, but Page's absences had
become more frequent, with compounding health
issues cited as the reason. Just one month after the
Wiggles visit to Dreamworld, it was announced that Moran
would be replacing Page for the rest of the Wiggles' 2006 tour, due to bouts of fainting that
Page had been experiencing. Page's illness had still
yet to be diagnosed, but he expressed his determination to join the Wiggles on future tours. However, just one month
later in November of 2006, Page released a video message to fans to deliver some shocking news. - For some time now, I've been suffering from a condition called orthostatic intolerance, which basically means
that when I stand up, my heart doesn't pump
enough blood around my body. It means that I'll no longer
be able to sing and dance the way that I want to, and as a result, I've decided to stop
performing with the Wiggles. - [Kevin] Moran replaced Page as the Yellow Wiggle completely, in songs, on tour, in videos, and in no time at all, in Dreamworld. In 2007, Moran replaced
Page throughout the park, including on the land's entrance arch in the Big Red Car ride's marquee. The Wiggles also shot new
footage for the Big Red Car ride with Moran. These changes meant that the
original Big Red Car ride operated for less than two years before receiving this significant change. While the new footage used the
same script as the original, even the slight adjustment
in timing and delivery began to alter the
original design intentions of the attraction. On top of this, effects were
consistently breaking down, and maintenance seemed to struggle to keep the ride experience consistent. The door that opens in
the first show scene, separating the loading area
from the rest of the ride, did not work reliably, and other times it flew open abruptly. As aforementioned, the
lighting was inconsistent, but at certain times, they were more obviously malfunctioning. In just a few years after opening, the Big Red Car ride was
experiencing the same issue that even the most expensive
trackless dark rides struggle with, visible tire
marks throughout the attraction. It was impressive that Dreamworld received a trackless dark ride
with multiple show scenes and animatronics, but maintaining show quality
was a huge challenge, and only a few years into
the attraction's lifespan, the ride experience was already suffering. In December of 2006, Dreamworld opened a neighboring
waterpark, Whitewater World, that featured an area dedicated
to the Wiggles, Wiggle Bay, featuring four slides
representing each Wiggle. In 2007, Wiggles World
came to the United States, thanks to a partnership with Six Flags. - We can't help but love you all when you make us so wiggly giggly. - [Kevin] Six Flags Great America, Six Flags Great Adventure, and Six Flags New England
received Wiggles Worlds of their own, with many identical
features to Dreamworld's, with similar furnishings and signage. One feature that was
not identical, though, was the appearance of Flora Door. (whimsical music) Why is she looking at me like that? The Great Escape and
Six Flags Fiesta Texas would also receive Wiggles Worlds in 2008 and 2009 respectively. Some of these lands had
their own Big Red Car rides, but these were outdoor driving
tracks, not dark rides. As with Dreamworld, the
Wiggles made appearances at the Six Flags Wiggles Worlds. However, while guests can
meet Dorothy the Dinosaur, Henry the Octopus, Wags the Dog, and even Captain Feathersword, no actors ever filled in
for the Wiggles at the park, likely because if they did, children would be able to tell that they were not the real Wiggles. This went against the
expectations of theme park guests, who are used to seeing and interacting with beloved characters. Most of the time, though, guests could not meet the
Wiggles at Wiggles World, and without allowing local
actors to portray the band, the only way to allow guests
to interact with the Wiggles without the Wiggles themselves present, would be to create mascot
costumes of the four that park employees could wear. This really only works with
animals and cartoon characters. A theme park would never
create mascot costumes to represent four human men. ♪ Toot toot, toot toot,
toot toot, toot toot ♪ ♪ Chugga chugga, big red ♪ - [Kevin] The Six Flags Wiggles Worlds would only last until 2010, when Six Flags ended
its licensing agreements with multiple intellectual properties, including the Wiggles. The Six Flags lands were all
re-themed for the 2011 season. This left only one Wiggles World, the original in Dreamworld, and more changes were coming to both the land and
the Wiggles themselves. In January, 2012, the Wiggles announced that
Greg Page would be returning to don the yellow skivvy once more, replacing his replacement, Sam Moran. This made headlines around the world. It had been five years
since Page had performed with the group, and for many children,
Moran was the Yellow Wiggle. Rumors circulated about the switch, speculating that Page's bad investments and financial troubles
since leaving the group had necessitated his return,
a claim that Page denied. Many speculated of bad blood between Moran and the rest of the group, which was all but
confirmed over the course of the next couple of years. The band's manager, Paul
Field, defended the decision, saying, quote, "If the Stones lost Mick
Jagger due to illness, and he came back a few years later, there wouldn't be a question." Page's return sparked controversy for the otherwise wholesome musical group, with parents especially not
happy with the sudden change. The Wiggles assured fans that
they would pay Moran royalties on all of the songs that he
had written for the group, and the band had offered him full access to the Wiggles' Hot Potato Studios. Moran would go on to have
a successful solo career, creating his own show on Nick Jr., named "Play Along with Sam." Shortly after the switch, the Wiggles again re-shot footage for the Big Red Car ride with Page, which either means they lost
the original files with him, or the band was so obsessed with the dark ride's continuity that the difference in their age would've kept them up at night. They also updated the
signage around Wiggles World a third time, with old Greg, which was illustrated slightly different than young Greg was years prior. The drama over Page's return
to the band was short-lived, and practically all for
nought, as in May of 2012, just a few months after the switch, the Wiggles announced that
Jeff, Murray, and Greg would be leaving the band. This was in large part due to exhaustion, and various health issues that
the three were experiencing, as apparently nothing makes
one face their own mortality more than being a Wiggle. Anthony would be the only
Wiggle to remain in the band, and three backup performers would be handed the iconic skivvies, Lachlan Gillespie, Simon Pryce, and the first female Wiggle, Emma Watkins. Later in 2012, Dreamworld added another
Wiggles kiddie ride, the Big Red Boat ride, with the Wiggles once again present to dedicate the attraction. The new group's first performance together was at Dreamworld in 2013. That same year, the
signage was again updated, and the Big Red Car ride went
under a fourth refurbishment, the most significant in its history. Not only was a fourth round of video shot to account for the new members, but the first room was changed
entirely to Emma's room, with music, equipment, and wallpaper featuring her soon-to-be
iconic yellow bow. These changes only
worsened the ride's pacing, and technical issues continued
to plague the experience. The door to the first room
was left permanently open, leaving no barrier
between the loading area and the rest of the ride. The cabinets in the kitchen scene continued to open and close
long after the segment ended, and the ride cars were
consistently too early or too late in arriving to the next show scene. Audio tracks consistently clashed, with "Toot Toot, Chugga
Chugga, Big Red Car" sometimes playing at the
same time as the video, causing pure audio chaos. ♪ Chugga chugga, big red car ♪ ♪ Toot toot, chugga chugga ♪ - [Kevin] The lighting
issues were as bad as ever, and somehow, almost impressively, the cars moved even slower
throughout the ride, and every year the ride
continued to operate, the experience only worsened. In less than a decade,
the Big Red Car ride had devolved into a truly
awful ride experience. In 2015, Dreamworld announced that Wiggles World would be no more, but the Wiggles would
not be going anywhere. The land would be re-themed
to ABC Kids World, to incorporate more properties from the Australian Broadcasting Company's popular children's franchises, including "Play School,"
"Giggle and Hoot," and those bananas that wear pajamas. Dorothy's Rosy Teacup Ride, the Big Red Boat ride, and the Big Red Car ride would remain, and retain their Wiggles theming. The S.S. Feathersword would be re-themed to the Giggle and Hoot pirate ship, and the Fun Spot activity center would be re-themed to the
ABC Kids World Fun Spot. Two new attractions, the
Play School Art Room, and the Bananas in Pajamas Fun Maze would be added to the area as well. The iconic Wiggles arch
remained in the new land, and was relocated closer
to the Wigglehouse. ABC Kids World added more
relevance to the area, but the excitement
surrounding the additions would be short-lived. On October 25th, 2016,
tragedy struck Dreamworld when the park's Thunder River
Rapids ride malfunctioned, leading to a major
accident between two rafts, resulting in the death of four riders. The incident became worldwide news, and an investigation was launched into the cause of the accident. In the following years, poor maintenance would be cited
as a cause of the incident, and Dreamworld would pay out millions in fines and compensation
to the victims' families. Three years after the incident, in 2019, Dreamworld announced a $70
million expansion project, including the addition of
a new triple launch coaster to replace the Thunder River Rapids ride. As part of the
transformation, ABC Kids World would also receive a multimillion
dollar refurbishment. However, in March of 2020, Dreamworld closed due to
the COVID-19 pandemic, putting the expansion project on hold. In August of 2020, it was announced that the park
would reopen in September. Before the park's reopening
on September 16th, it was revealed that two Dreamworld rides would not reopen with the park. These were Flowrider in
the Ocean Parade section, and the Big Red Car
ride in ABC Kids World. The attraction received no
big sendoff, no final rides, not even a true goodbye, which is a shame, because the Wiggles have
four different songs about saying goodbye. One of the ride cars was placed
outside of the attraction for photos, and the loading area was boarded up. The pandemic delayed
Dreamworld's expansion plan significantly. ABC Kids World continued to operate throughout 2020, 2021, and 2022, with the Big Red Car
ride sitting in the dark, closed off to guests. Dreamworld eventually announced
a new renovation schedule, a children's area named Kenny
and Belinda's Dreamland, would open in 2023. The kiddie land will replace
Dreamworld's Dreamworks area, and will feature many ABC Kids properties, including the Wiggles. The Wiggles will receive
two new attractions, a Big Red Plane spinner, and a Big Red Boat coaster, but no plans for a new Big
Red Car ride have been made. Once Kenny and Belinda's
Dreamland fully opens, Dreamworld will finally
close ABC Kids World to make room for a new
area called Rivertown. Rivertown will be an homage
to the original Rivertown area that Longhurst built for Dreamworld all the way back in 1981, and the land will feature a new
family coaster, Jungle Rush. While the Wiggles will
live on at Dreamworld, the sudden closure of the Big Red Car ride was disappointing to
Dreamworld and Wiggles fans that would've preferred
to give the attraction a proper sendoff. The ride was not the most impressive, and its deterioration over the years had left it in an abysmal state. Still, it had allowed children to take a trip in the
Wiggles' Big Red Car, sing along to classic Wiggles songs, and visit iconic Wiggles locations, even if it did all of
those things very slowly. The Wiggles have continued to evolve over the past few years, and the current band continues
to spend time at Dreamworld. While the group is still popular, their presence in the
park, and the band itself, might never again reach the prevalence they experienced at the
time Wiggles World opened. For those lucky enough to experience the Wiggles' home on the
Gold Coast in its heyday, there was never a better time to Wiggle. (jaunty music) (jaunty music continues) (jaunty music continues) (jaunty music continues) (jaunty music continues) (whimsical music) (whimsical music continues) (no audio)
