Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls is a log flume ride at Islands of Adventure inspired by the Dudley Do-Right character created by cartoonist Jay Ward. Opened on May 28, 1999, it is one of the park's original attractions. It is also one of the steepest log flume rides in America.

Summary

Queue

The attraction's queue line area passes through: Snidely Whiplash's hideout; a theater that spoofs movies such as "Jaws", "Silence of the Lambs", and "Star Wars"; and, a room with two talking beaver heads on a wall. During the theater room of the queue, guests watch as Nell Fenwick is kidnapped from her dressing room, setting up the ride's main story.

Ride

Once the log is loaded it enters the first room where lights shine on forest animals playing instruments as the narrator announces the log entering a twentieth century melodrama. The log proceeds up the first of two lift hills as Dudley makes his first appearance stating "I will save you Nell". Still climbing the lift hill, Snidely is seen riding a mine cart laughing maniacally having captured Nell. The log reaches the top of the hill and is now outdoors, the riders get a quick view of the park before taking a turn and entering Wontabee Mine. After a short sequence riders exit the mine. The ride passes by Snidely tying Nell to train tracks, then passes by Horse and inspector Fenwick also tied to the tracks, then the riders enter a cave. Though Dudley is not seen in the cave. he can be heard saying: "Horse it seems I've lost my train of thought" a giant train light goes on and a loud sound of the engine is heard (this is a parody of the famous scene in Mr. Toad's Wild Ride in Disney parks). Once the light goes out, the log drops a medium size drop. Riders travel to an outdoor sawmill with Dudley stuck in a log. After a drop to ground level riders are shown humorous signs telling them to turn around. The log begins to climb the second lift hill, which the log crests and turns into Snidely's lair.

At this point the track divides in two. on busy days when there are more logs on the track, the logs could take either path to make the ride safer, on slower days when there are fewer guests and logs, the logs always take the right path (left from a spectators view). The ride then makes its climatic drop, plunging 75 feet into a dynamite shack noted Highly Kaboomable. When the log is under the shack it explodes spraying spectators with water. the log then goes back uphill and into the splash down pool while a cartoon boing and pop noise is herd. After getting soaked from head to toe, the ride takes a curve next to nine hoses which spray water if a guest puts a quarter in a machine then pushes a button (the spray lasts the length of one log, the machine is supposed to give one spray per quarter but sometimes accidentally gives the guest two). The log then goes into a building where Snidley is being held in jail trying to get a beaver holding the key in it's mouth to give the keys to him (a parody of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Disney parks). The log passes through one last scene where Dudley is being awarded a medal by Inspector Fenwick for capturing Snidley and saving his daughter Nell who has her attention on admiring Horse (a running gag thought the short on the Rocky and Bullwinkle show as well as his own Dudley do right show). as the log pulls into the unloading station and is greeted by a Mountie, the narrator can be herd one last time saying "so this proves that a Mountie always gets his man, but not always his girl". after the logs are unloaded the two tracks are merged into one again and enters the building where guests get on in which the logs are lined together.

Modifications

Two major renovations have been made to this ride. The first was a modification to the ride's signature drop to make it less intense. The second was the addition of lap bar restraints, making it one of the few attractions of its type to use them. Most recently, an on-ride camera was added.

References