DreamWorks Experience
DreamWorks Experience was a themed land at the Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, centered on characters and stories from DreamWorks Animation films including Shrek, Madagascar, and Kung Fu Panda. Spanning 8,400 square meters, it offered family-friendly rides, interactive play areas, live shows, character meet-and-greets, and retail experiences designed to immerse visitors in the whimsical worlds of these animated franchises. The land operated from 2011 until its closure on 28 January 2023, after which it was rethemed as Kenny & Belinda's Dreamland, a children's area featuring Australian TV characters and family rides.[1][2][3][4] The DreamWorks Experience emerged from a strategic alliance announced on November 11, 2011, between Dreamworld's parent company Ardent Leisure and DreamWorks Animation SKG, aimed at revitalizing the park's family entertainment offerings following previous incidents and competition from other Gold Coast attractions. Phase one launched in late 2011 with the DreamWorks Holiday Shrektacular stage show featuring characters like Shrek and Puss in Boots performing holiday-themed songs. The full precinct debuted at Easter 2012, transforming the former children's area into three interconnected sub-lands: Madagascar Madness, Shrek's Faire Faire Away, and Kung Fu Panda: Land of Awesomeness, complete with custom landscaping using low-maintenance, rust-resistant plants for an immersive, jungle-like atmosphere.[5][1][2] Key attractions highlighted the playful and adventurous spirit of DreamWorks properties, including the spinning Puss in Boots Sword Swing in Shrek's Faire Faire Away, the family coaster Escape from Madagascar amid lush, overgrown sets in Madagascar Madness, and interactive kung fu training zones with Po the Panda in the Kung Fu Panda area. Daily character parades, 4D cinema experiences, and meet-and-greets with favorites like King Julien and the Furious Five drew families, while enhancements over the years—such as the addition of Trolls elements in 2018—kept the offerings fresh. The closure in 2023 marked the end of over a decade of operation, reflecting shifts in theme park trends toward more localized and thrill-oriented content amid Ardent Leisure's broader park investments.[6][7][8]Overview
Location and development
The DreamWorks Experience was situated within the Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, adjacent to the Main Street entrance area and the Corroboree cultural precinct, integrating into the park's dedicated zone for family and child-oriented attractions.[5] This positioning allowed seamless access from the park's main entry while complementing nearby wildlife and educational exhibits in Corroboree, enhancing the overall kid-focused environment.[5] Development of the land represented an AUD $10 million investment by Ardent Leisure, the operator of Dreamworld, undertaken in partnership with DreamWorks Animation to license characters and themes from its popular films.[1] The project was announced on 11 November 2011 as a multi-phase initiative to transform an existing area into an immersive DreamWorks-themed precinct.[5] Construction commenced in December 2011, involving the removal of prior structures such as a photo shop and boat ride to prepare the 8,400 square meter site.[1] Openings occurred in phases, beginning with the DreamWorks Holiday Shrektacular live show on 19 December 2011, which introduced character interactions ahead of the full precinct debut.[5] Subsequent phases rolled out through 2012, progressively adding themed areas. The architectural design emphasized immersive, vibrant theming with colorful, storybook-style buildings and landscapes drawn directly from DreamWorks Animation films, creating a whimsical, narrative-driven environment for visitors.[5]Theming and layout
The DreamWorks Experience at Dreamworld was structured as an 8,400-square-meter precinct divided into three interconnected sub-areas, each drawing from popular DreamWorks Animation franchises to create distinct immersive environments. Shrek’s Faire Faire Away evoked a medieval fairground atmosphere centered on the ogre's fairy-tale world, complete with whimsical structures and family-oriented play spaces. Madagascar Madness captured the chaotic energy of a tropical jungle habitat, filled with vibrant foliage and animal-inspired chaos reflecting the film's escaped zoo animals. Kung Fu Panda: Land of Awesomeness replicated an ancient Chinese village setting, incorporating pagoda-style architecture and martial arts motifs to mirror the Valley of Peace from the movies.[9][10][11] This layout evolved from the park's former Nickelodeon Central, a children's zone that operated from 2002 to 2011 before being rethemed to align with DreamWorks properties. Theming was enhanced through interactive signage with character quotes and directional cues, life-sized character statues for photo opportunities, audio-visual effects like ambient soundscapes and projected animations, and winding pathways designed to replicate key film scenes—such as Shrek's muddy swamp trails and the dense bamboo forests surrounding Po's training grounds. These elements fostered a narrative flow, encouraging visitors to transition seamlessly between sub-areas while immersing them in the stories.[12][13][14] The precinct was engineered to support 15 attractions in total, with central pathways promoting efficient navigation and a relaxed pace suitable for families. Positioned at the heart of Dreamworld, the layout minimized bottlenecks by radiating from a communal hub, allowing easy access to rides, shows, and interactive zones without overwhelming crowds.[15][16] Accessibility was prioritized with wheelchair-friendly paved paths throughout the sub-areas, companion policies for assisted rides, and height restrictions calibrated for young children—typically ranging from 90 cm to 120 cm minimum for most attractions—to balance safety and family participation. These features ensured the space was inclusive for visitors of varying abilities, in line with the park's broader standards.[17][18]History
Pre-DreamWorks period
The area now occupied by the DreamWorks Experience at Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast, Australia, began as the Village Green, a basic playground and open space that opened in 1983 as part of the park's initial expansions following its 1981 debut. In 1998, the space was renamed Village Oval to reflect minor updates to its layout and amenities. By 1999, the northern portion was rethemed as Kennyland, a dedicated children's playground with simple rides and animal-inspired play features aimed at younger visitors. In early 2002, much of the Village Oval and Kennyland was fenced off for a major redevelopment, transforming the site into Nickelodeon Central, which launched on 26 December 2002 as Australia's first licensed character-themed land in a theme park. This kid-oriented zone featured 16 attractions inspired by popular Nickelodeon properties, emphasizing family-friendly experiences with characters from shows like SpongeBob SquarePants, Rugrats, and Dora the Explorer. Notable additions included the Dora the Explorer Seaplanes, a Zamperla Mini Jet ride that was rethemed in 2003 from its original 1982 opening as Red Planes and provided gentle aerial spins for children, though it closed on 27 April 2010 amid ongoing maintenance and operational shifts. Another highlight was the SpongeBob FlyPants, a Zamperla Kite Flyer ride that debuted on 20 June 2008, allowing riders to swing up to 15 meters high in vehicles themed to the character's jellyfishing adventures. Additionally, the SpongeBob Water Play area, an interactive fountain and splash zone, operated from the land's opening but closed in 2006 due to local water restrictions. Nickelodeon Central remained operational until the end of 2011, when Dreamworld's licensing agreement with Nickelodeon expired, prompting the park to part ways with the brand in favor of a retheming to DreamWorks Animation properties for broader family appeal across multiple film franchises.Introduction and opening
The DreamWorks Experience was publicly announced on 10 November 2011 as a multi-phase development project at Dreamworld theme park on Australia's Gold Coast, aimed at bolstering the park's family-friendly attractions through a licensing alliance with DreamWorks Animation SKG.[5] This initiative replaced the existing Nickelodeon Central area, transforming it into an immersive zone featuring characters from DreamWorks' acclaimed animated films such as Shrek and Madagascar.[9] The announcement highlighted a three-stage rollout, with construction commencing immediately to deliver new theming, rides, and interactive elements designed to appeal to younger visitors and their families. The rollout began with the first phase on 19 December 2011, introducing the DreamWorks Holiday Shrektacular Show—a live stage production starring eight DreamWorks characters in a festive holiday-themed performance that ran through the summer season.[5] The second phase, encompassing the core precinct, officially debuted on 31 March 2012, coinciding with the Easter school holidays to maximize family attendance.[19] This opening marked the completion of the initial 8,400-square-meter area, divided into themed sub-zones that brought cinematic worlds to life through detailed landscaping and character integrations. Key initial attractions at the 2012 launch included Shrek’s Ogre-Go-Round, a family carousel in the Shrek's Faire Faire Away section, and the Escape from Madagascar suspended roller coaster in the Madagascar Madness area, both rethemed from prior rides to fit the new DreamWorks motif.[9] Additional features comprised interactive play zones, photo opportunities like Shrek's House, and character encounters, all constructed to foster immersive storytelling. The launch was marketed via cross-promotions with DreamWorks Animation's film portfolio, leveraging the popularity of releases like Kung Fu Panda 2 to drive visitor interest and position the experience as a must-visit extension of the studio's animated universe.[5]Operations and expansions
The DreamWorks Experience operated at Dreamworld from its opening on March 31, 2012, until its closure in January 2023, spanning over a decade of family-oriented entertainment themed around DreamWorks Animation properties.[20][8] During this period, the land incorporated seasonal events aligned with major DreamWorks film releases to maintain visitor engagement. A notable example was the Trolls Village pop-up attraction, a world-first interactive precinct featuring character meet-and-greets, a play area, and live shows based on the 2016 film Trolls, which debuted in June 2018 and operated for 12 months until mid-2019.[21][22][23] Expansions enhanced the land's offerings mid-operation, with the most significant being the introduction of Kung Fu Panda: Land of Awesomeness in late 2012. This area added immersive theming, interactive elements like the Kung Fu Academy, and thrill rides such as Pandamonium, expanding the precinct's footprint and diversifying attractions for broader age groups.[11][24] Additional temporary overlays, including How to Train Your Dragon-themed experiences in 2019 tied to The Hidden World, provided promotional tie-ins with new releases through walkthroughs and character interactions. Operations faced notable challenges following the October 2016 Thunder River Rapids Ride incident, which resulted in four fatalities and prompted widespread safety reviews across the park. Experts attributed the accident primarily to maintenance lapses rather than the ride's age, leading to stricter compliance measures, temporary closures of other attractions, and ongoing scrutiny that affected daily management and resource allocation park-wide.[25][26] The tragedy also contributed to a significant drop in overall attendance, with projections indicating sustained impacts on visitor confidence through at least 2018.[27][28] Visitor traffic to the DreamWorks Experience peaked during school holiday periods, such as Queensland's summer break in December-January, which accounted for a substantial portion of annual attendance and underscored the land's role in attracting families.[29] These surges reinforced the precinct's contribution to Dreamworld's family demographic, with the park reporting total annual visitors exceeding 2 million in peak pre-incident years, bolstered by the themed area's appeal to parents and children.[30]Closure and replacement
In November 2022, Ardent Leisure, the owner of Dreamworld, announced a A$50 million investment in park enhancements, including the closure of the DreamWorks Experience area to redevelop it into a new family-oriented land called Kenny and Belinda's Dreamland. This decision was framed as part of a broader refresh to update attractions and better align with contemporary family entertainment preferences by incorporating Australian-themed characters and content from local broadcasters.[31] The DreamWorks Experience ceased operations in early 2023, with the final attractions shutting down by late January and site removal commencing shortly thereafter, allowing construction to begin on the successor area. Contributing factors included the high costs associated with maintaining the DreamWorks licensing agreement and a strategic shift toward integrating partnerships with Australian media properties, such as ABC Kids, to feature characters like those from The Wiggles and Bananas in Pyjamas. Final wind-down activities, including the relocation or retheming of select elements, concluded by March 2023 to facilitate the new development.[8][32] Kenny and Belinda's Dreamland opened in phases starting mid-2023, with the initial section debuting on March 31, 2023, and the area fully opening on 23 December 2023, featuring rethemed rides such as the former Escape from Madagascar roller coaster, now operating as Kenny's Forest Flyer since August 2023. The new land emphasizes homegrown Australian mascots like Kenny the Koala and Belinda the Panda alongside ABC Kids integrations, providing a refreshed space for young visitors without the international IP dependencies of the prior era.[33]Attractions
Shrek’s Faire Faire Away
Shrek’s Faire Faire Away was a themed sub-area within the DreamWorks Experience at Dreamworld on Australia's Gold Coast, evoking a medieval fairground atmosphere drawn from the Shrek film franchise. Opened in 2012 as part of the broader DreamWorks Animation licensing agreement, the zone emphasized whimsical, fairy-tale elements like thatched cottages and ogre-inspired architecture to immerse visitors in the world of Shrek and his companions.[5] The area catered primarily to families with young children, featuring gentle rides and play elements that highlighted the humorous and adventurous spirit of the series. The sub-area housed four family-oriented attractions, all rethemed and relaunched in 2012 to align with Shrek characters and storylines. These rides were designed for accessibility, with most having height requirements under 1.2 meters (47 inches) to accommodate toddlers and preteens, often requiring adult supervision for younger riders. Key attractions included:- Dronkey Flyers: A Zierer wave swinger ride where guests board Dronkey-inspired vehicles (hybrids of donkeys and dragons from the films) for a swinging, airborne experience simulating flight over the ogre's swamp.[34]
- Gingy's Glider: A Bertazzon flying chairs ride themed to Gingy, the gingerbread man, offering a light, rotating ascent that evokes the character's speedy escapes.[34]
- Puss in Boots Sword Swing: A Zierer swing ride featuring sword-shaped gondolas based on the feline swordsman Puss in Boots, providing circular swings with mild thrills.[34]
- Shrek's Ogre-Go-Round: A Bertazzon carousel with onion carriage seats nodding to Shrek's iconic home, delivering a classic spinning ride suitable for all ages in the group.[35]