[Editor's note: Each Wednesday, Theme Park Insider invites a leading themed entertainment professional to take over the page and share one of their favorite attractions around the world. I have asked them to go "off the beaten path," if you will, and highlight an attraction outside the familiar favorites at places like Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando. I also have asked participants to steer clear of their own company's work. Today, Rich Hill, Creative Director at Sally Dark Rides, joins us with his pick.]
When it comes to non-Disney/Universal/Sally attractions, I would have to say that Warner Bros. Abu Dhabi's "Scooby-Doo: The Museum of Mysteries" dark ride ranks at the very top of my list. It's a beautiful attraction that hits all the right notes for the Scooby-Doo brand.
Designed by Dave Cobb and his team at Thinkwell Group, they understood the correct format for telling a Scooby-Doo mystery and delivered it perfectly. From the moment you step into line to the "Meddling Kids!" ending, they translated the uber-popular Hanna-Barbera TV show into a compelling ride format that didn't lose any of the charm of the original.
Having worked with the Scooby brand, we know how difficult it can be to tell multiple character story arcs in a linear dark ride format. Splitting the vehicles up so we follow a variety of story lines that came together at the finale was a great decision that fit the IP perfectly. Bravo!
Previously:
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For more on the creation of Scooby Doo: The Museum of Mysteries and the rest of Warner Bros. Abu Dhabi, here is Theme Park Insider's 2018 podcast with Dave Cobb:
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The temptation is real to click on the video and check out the POV but I have a strict self-imposed rule not to check these video outs until I experience these attractions in person! One day I'll make it out to the UAE.
I like this series of "off the beaten path" attractions and learning more about these places.
This looks like a great adaptation of the series...it utilizes everything from the Mystery Machine as ride vehicles to all the classic villains & "splitting up", lol.
This seems like a top tier fun dark ride for fans.
Being a massive Scooby Doo fan - thus ride looks absolutely perfect. They even do the hallway with the doors montage. I believe those are the voice actors from the current iterations of the show (like Scooby Doo and Guess Who?) including the legendary (and original Fred) Frank Welker.
It is very interesting
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This attraction looks REALLY cool. As a person of a certain age, I remembered almost every villain in the attraction from the show.
Literally the ONLY thing that didn't work for me was the shadow silhouette of Scooby. It just didn't look like him to me. But everything else in the attraction WORKED, and worked well.