Warner Bros. Movie World

Warner Bros. Movie World
Location	Oxenford, Queensland, Australia
Coordinates	27°54′26.17″S 153°18′45.54″E / 27.9072694°S 153.31265°E / -27.9072694; 153.31265Coordinates: 27°54′26.17″S 153°18′45.54″E / 27.9072694°S 153.31265°E / -27.9072694; 153.31265
Theme	Movie studio
Website	Official website
Owner	Village Roadshow Theme Parks
Opened	3 June 1991 (1991-06-03)
Operating season	All year round
Area	415 acres (168 ha)
Rides	16 total 4 roller coasters 1 water rides
Slogan	"Hollywood on the Gold Coast"

Warner Bros. Movie World (more commonly referred to as Movie World) is a popular movie related theme park on the Gold Coast in Australia. It is owned and operated by Village Roadshow since the take over from Time Warner and is the only movie related park in Australia. It opened on 3 June 1991.^[1]

The park contains various movie-themed rides and attractions ranging from motion simulators to roller coasters and slow river rides. In addition, costumed character performers also patrol the park, allowing visitors the chance to take photos with them. These include Batman, Austin Powers, Marilyn Monroe, Scooby Doo, The Mystery Inc. Gang and various Looney Tunes characters. Minor street shows including skits and singing performances are also present. The All-Star Parade showcases costumed characters alongside vehicles and movie-themed floats.^[2]

There are a number of active film studios within the Movie World complex. House of Wax, the first Scooby Doo film, the 2003 Peter Pan film, Ghost Ship, The Condemned and Fortress are amongst the many films and television series produced at Warner Roadshow Studios, adjoining Warner Bros. Movie World.^{[citation needed]}

On 3 June 2011, Warner Bros. Movie World celebrated 20 years of being a theme park.

History

The former Police Academy Stunt Show, one of Movie World's opening day attractions.

Park history

In 1989, C.V. Wood was employed to design a 415-acre (168 ha) theme park adjacent to the existing Warner Roadshow Studio complex. His portfolio included the design of six theme parks including Six Flags Over Texas and Disneyland.^[3] The park was completed within 16 months, converting swampland into a theme park modelled after similar movie-based theme parks overseas such as Universal Studios Hollywood or Disney's Hollywood Studios.^[4] The park's official opening was held on 3 June 1991.^[1][5] Queensland Premier Wayne Goss marked the occasion by cutting novelty film reel at an opening ceremony which was attended by celebrities such as Clint Eastwood, Mel Gibson, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell.^[5][6]

Initial attractions at the park focused on learning about and getting involved in movie related scenes and behind the scenes action. Opening day attractions included a Movie studio tour, Movie Magic Special Effects Show, Western Action Show, Police Academy Stunt Show, Great Gremlins Adventure, Young Einstein Gravity Homestead, Looney Tunes Musical Review and Looney Tunes River Ride.^[5][7]

In 2001, the park celebrated its tenth anniversary with 1000 invites being given out via radio station B105 in August 2001. Guests were treated to live performances by Human Nature, Invertigo, A Touch of Class and Joanne Accom.^[8]

The roof over Main Street being used for their White Christmas event.

In 2008, Movie World constructed a roof over Main Street, similar to those at Universal Studios Japan and Tokyo Disneyland. The roof measures 4,000 square metres (43,000 sq ft) and provides an all weather venue, whether it be hot or rainy. The permanent structure will also make a substantial difference to after hours scheduled program of events including Fright Nights and White Christmas events. The roof was completed in September 2008.^[9]

Attraction history

The Official Matrix Exhibit existed at the park from 2003 until 2007.

Road Runner Roller Coaster

Superman Escape

See also: List of former Warner Bros. Movie World attractions

• 1991: Police Academy Stunt Show, Looney Tunes River Ride, Looney Tunes Musical Review, Movie Magic Special Effects Show, Young Einstein Gravity Homestead, The Gremlins Adventure and Western Action Show opened with the park.^[7]
• 1992: Batman Adventure - The Ride opened.^[10]
• 1995: Western Action Show was replaced with The Maverick Show. Lethal Weapon - The Ride also opened.^[7][11]
• 1996: Riddler's Lair opened as part of the Movie Magic Special Effects Show. It has since closed.
• 1997: Looney Tunes Village opened.^[12] Marvin the Martian in 3D opened in the Roxy Theatre.^[13]
• 1998: Wild West Falls opened.^[14]
• 2000: Young Einstein Gravity Homestead was closed. Road Runner Roller Coaster opened.^[15]
• 2001: The Maverick Show and The Gremlins Adventure closed. Batman Adventure - The Ride was modified into Batman Adventure – The Ride 2.^[16] Harry Potter Movie Magic Experience opened where Young Einstein Gravity Homestead once stood.^[7] Looney Tunes Splash Zone was added to Looney Tunes Village.^[16]
• 2002: Scooby Doo Spooky Coaster opened where The Gremlins Adventure once stood.^[7][17]
• 2003: Harry Potter Movie Magic Experience was replaced by The Official Matrix Exhibit.^[7][18]
• 2005: Movie Magic Special Effects Show was replaced by Superman Escape. Marvin the Martian in 3D was replaced by Shrek 4D Adventure.^{[7][13][19][20]}
• 2006: Annual Halloween events began. Batwing Spaceshot opened.^[21]
• 2007: The Official Matrix Exhibit was replaced by Intencity, County Fair Fun 'n' Games and Bumper Cars. Looney Tunes Village was re-named to Kids WB Fun Zone with the addition of two new rides.^[22]
• 2008: Hollywood Stunt Driver replaced the Police Academy Stunt Show.^[23] Looney Tunes: What's Up Rock? opened.^[24]
• 2009: Halloween Family Fun became Halloween Fright Nights.
• 2010: DC Comics 75th Anniversary Heroes vs. Villains Parade was run in the June / July school holidays.^[25] Shrek 4D Adventure closed on 29 August.^[26] It has been replaced by Journey to the Center of the Earth 4-D Adventure.^[27] Annual White Christmas events began.^[28]
• 2011: Looney Tunes River Ride was closed on 1 February 2011. Showtime FMX's MotoMonster Xtreme show replaced Hollywood Stunt Driver from 26 June 2011 through to 18 July 2011 as winter holiday entertainment.^[29] Halloween Fright Nights became Fright Nights. A new roller coaster, Green Lantern Coaster, will open by the end of the year.^[30][31][32] Batman Adventure - The Ride 2 closed to make way of a new yet unnamed attraction.

Attractions

Batwing Spaceshot

Wild West Falls log flume

Rides

• Batwing Spaceshot^[33]
• Bumper Cars
• Green Lantern Coaster (December 2011)^[32]
• Kids WB Fun Zone^[34]
  • Road Runner Roller Coaster^[35]
  • Sylvester's Bounce'n'Pounce
  • Looney Tunes Carousel
  • Tweety and Sylvester Cages
  • Taz's Hollywood Cars
  • Speedy Gonzales Taxis
  • Yosemite Sam's Railroad
  • Looney Tunes Splash Zone
• Lethal Weapon - The Ride^[36]
• Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster^[37]
• Superman Escape^[38]
• Wild West Falls^[39]

Shows

• Hollywood Stunt Driver^[40]
• Journey to the Center of the Earth 4-D Adventure^[27]
• Looney Tunes - What's Up Rock?^[41]
• All Star Parade
• Marilyn tribute
• Batman - Shadows of Gotham^[42]
• Western Town Show Down
• Scooby-Doo Disco Detectives

Events

Main article: List of events held at Warner Bros. Movie World

• Fright Nights
• White Christmas^[28]

Gallery

• 

  The park's entrance gate.

• 

  Scooby Doo Spooky Coaster

• 

  Superman Escape over Movie World's Entrance

• 

  Lethal Weapon - The Ride's Entrance

• 

  The All-Star Parade in progress

See also

• List of films shot in Queensland
• Parque Warner Madrid in Madrid, Spain (Also known as Warner Bros. Movie World Madrid)
• Movie Park Germany in Bottrop, Germany (formerly known as Warner Bros. Movie World Germany)
• Dubailand in Dubai, United Arab Emirates - set to be the home of a new Warner Bros. Movie World theme park

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "History and Development". MyFun. http://movieworld.myfun.com.au/en/Excursions/Project-Information/History-And-Development.aspx. Retrieved 5 December 2010. 
2. ^ Main Street Entertainment: Warner Bros. Movie World
3. ^ Dobbin, Windsor (28 May 1991). "Hollywood 'down under' in new park". Kentucky New Era. http://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=XtwrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=imQFAAAAIBAJ&dq=warner%20bros%20movie-world&pg=3464%2C2879719. Retrieved 15 December 2010. 
4. ^ "Our History: 1991 Construction". Warner Bros. Movie World. Archived from the original on 3 June 2004. http://web.archive.org/web/20040603231534/www.movieworld.com.au/about_us/our_history.cfm?history_id=1. Retrieved 5 December 2010. 
5. ^ ^{a b c} Hong, Tan Bee (26 January 1992). "Australia's Hollywood". New Straits Times. http://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=HLsTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fpADAAAAIBAJ&dq=warner%20bros%20movie-world&pg=4472%2C2306780. Retrieved 15 December 2010. 
6. ^ "Our History: 1991 Grand Opening". Warner Bros. Movie World. Archived from the original on 21 July 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080721213618/http://korean.movieworld.com.au/about_us/our_history.cfm?history_id=8. Retrieved 5 December 2010. 
7. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} "Warner Bros. Movie World". Database Entry. Parkz. http://www.parkz.com.au/parks/AU/Gold_Coast/Warner_Bros_Movie_World/. Retrieved 5 December 2010. 
8. ^ "Our History: 2001 10th Birthday Celebrations". Warner Bros. Movie World. Archived from the original on 21 July 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080721212040/korean.movieworld.com.au/about_us/our_history.cfm?history_id=17. Retrieved 5 December 2010. 
9. ^ "Warner Bros. Movie World has the Gold Coast covered". MyFun. http://movieworld.myfun.com.au/Visitor-Information/News/WARNER-BROS-MOVIE-WORLD-HAS-THE-GOLD-COAST-COVERED.aspx. Retrieved 5 December 2010. 
10. ^ Our History: Batman Adventure - The Ride
11. ^ Our History: Lethal Weapon
12. ^ Our History: Looney Tunes Village
13. ^ ^{a b} Our History: Marvin the Martian in 3D
14. ^ Our History: Wild West Falls
15. ^ Our History: Road Runner Roller Coaster
16. ^ ^{a b} Our History: Batman 2 and Looney Tunes Splash Zone
17. ^ Our History: Scooby Doo Spooky Coaster
18. ^ Our History: The Official Matrix Exhibit
19. ^ Our History: Shrek 4D Adventure
20. ^ Our History: Superman Escape
21. ^ Our History: Batwing Spaceshot
22. ^ Kids WB Fun Zone - Warner Bros. Movie World
23. ^ "Meet the Hollywood Stunt Driver 'Hell Drivers' - now performing at Warner Bros. Movie World". MyFun. http://movieworld.myfun.com.au/Visitor-Information/News/MEET-THE-HOLLYWOOD-STUNT-DRIVER-HELL-DRIVERS-NOW-PERFORMING-AT-MOVIE-WORLD.aspx. Retrieved 5 December 2010. 
24. ^ All New Looney Tunes Live Show at Warner Bros. Movie World
25. ^ Warner Bros. Movie World. "Warner Bros. Movie World Celebrates DC Comics 75th Anniversary". MyFun. http://movieworld.myfun.com.au/Park-Info/News/WARNER-BROS-MOVIE-WORLD-CELEBRATES-DC-COMICS-75TH-ANNIVERSARY.htm. Retrieved 7 July 2010. 
26. ^ "Attractions Maintenance". MyFun. http://movieworld.myfun.com.au/Attractions-Maintenance.htm. Retrieved 3 August 2010. 
27. ^ ^{a b} "Journey to the Center of the Earth 4-D Adventure". MyFun. http://movieworld.myfun.com.au/Attractions/Shows/Journey-to-the-Center-of-the-Earth-4-D-Experience.htm. Retrieved 19 September 2010. 
28. ^ ^{a b} Ardern, Lucy; Westthorp, Tanya (30 December 2009). "Gold Coast theme parks in ride war". Gold Coast Bulletin. http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/12/30/174191_gold-coast-news.html. Retrieved 7 July 2010. 
29. ^ Ravn, Mackenzie (24 June 2011). "Monster motocross thrills at Movie World". Gold Coast Bulletin. http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2011/06/24/326701_gold-coast-theme-parks.html. Retrieved 26 June 2011. 
30. ^ "Roller-coaster ride will shock". Gold Coast Bulletin: p. 11. 25 June 2011. 
31. ^ Warner Bros. Movie World (4 September 2011). "Just heard theres a...". Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/movieworldgoldcoast/posts/10150289117047182. Retrieved 5 September 2011. 
32. ^ ^{a b} Warner Bros. Movie World (17 September 2011). "Green Lantern Coaster". MyFun. Archived from the original on 17 September 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/61lFtgazT. Retrieved 17 September 2011. 
33. ^ Batwing Spaceshot
34. ^ Kids WB Fun Zone
35. ^ Road Runner Roller Coaster
36. ^ Lethal Weapon
37. ^ Scooby Doo Spooky Coaster
38. ^ Superman Escape
39. ^ Wild West Falls
40. ^ Hollywood Stunt Driver
41. ^ What's Up Rock?
42. ^ See More of Your Favourite Stars

External links

• Official website