Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls

Description And Comments

Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls features characters spun off from the old Rocky and Bullwinkle television show. Dudley is a cheerfully incompetent Canadian Mountie who pursues Snidely Whiplash, his nemesis, throughout the Great White North. Snidely inevitably tries to kidnap Nell, the girl of Dudley's dreams, and Dudley (with trusted horse, Horse) rescues her, usually in spite of himself. The original cartoons parodied everything from the implausible plots of early silent movie melodramas to the "friendly Canadian" trope, complete with really bad Quebecois accents. Being fans of the show, we think this attraction may have been inspired by Dudley's "Saw Mill" cartoon circa 1970.

Storyline aside, IOA's tribute to the cartoon is a flume ride similar to the Magic Kingdom's Splash Mountain. Riders sit single-file in log-like boats and bob along a man-made river, floating past mostly static scenes telling the story of Snidley kidnapping Nell, with Dudley's eventual rescuing.

As far as log flume rides go, Ripsaw Falls is pretty darn good. There are several medium-size drops during the 5-minute ride, and a heart-stopping 75-foot one near the end. Universal claims this is the first flume ride to “send riders plummeting 15 feet below the surface of the water”; you’re just plummeting into a tunnel but it's a nifty effect. The ride queue and loading area have some visual gags that would make the original show's writers proud, and the on-board ride audio is also good.

That being said, the theming and visuals of Ripsaw Falls aren't in the same league as Disney's Splash Mountain attraction, to which everyone inevitably compares it. Most of Ripsaw Falls' effects are non-moving statues, whereas Splash Mountain is loaded with moving animatronics, water effects and gorgeous scenery. Dudley's defects are partly intentional, in keeping with the cartoon's satirical spirit, like an exposed view of backstage following the "scenic overlook" that is cheekily labeled "overlooked scenery." But the flaws are mostly due to the ride's rushed completion (it opened a year earlier than originally scheduled), resulting in a potential classic that was never quite finished.

Touring Tips

• This attraction offers Universal Express.

Riders will get wet, though not as soaked as on Bilge-Rat Barges or, say, the worst of Disney's Kali River Rapids. If you want to stay dry, however, arrive prepared with a poncho. If you're going to ride both Ripsaw Falls and Bilge-Rat Barges, see them one after another during the morning (if it's sunny enough to dry you off) or at the end of the day before slogging back to your hotel. After riding, take a moment to gauge the timing of the water cannons that go off along the exit walk. This is where you can really get drenched. Ride this after experiencing all of the Marvel Super Hero rides and Reign of Kong.

This is one of the few single-file log flues that uses lap bar restraints, and it makes for a mighty tight fit. Make sure you try the test seat outside the queue before waiting in line. If you don't want to ride, you can pump quarters into the water sprayers along the bridge leading to Skull Island, and amuse yourself dousing guests who just survived the big drop.

Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls Wait Times

This chart shows you roughly how long you'll wait for Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls when you visit on a day with a given Universal's Islands of Adventure Crowd Level. The blue bars represent the average "peak" wait time (that is, how long the line will be at its busiest). The bottom and top black lines represent the range of peak wait times to expect (for you fellow nerds out there: it's the 5th percentile and 95th percentile of peak wait times). Please note that these are estimates, and for a better forecast for your travel dates, see Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls Wait Times.

Attraction Photos

Special Comments

• This attraction has a minimum-height requirement of 44 inches.
• This attraction offers rider swap.

Must be 44" tall to ride.

Special Needs

• Must Transfer From Wheelchair/ECV

Disney Dish with Jim Hill

RIPPING ON A RIVAL

Universal Creative has always enjoyed poking fun at Disney—for instance, tossing a pair of Mickey ears into the floating wreckage in the now-closed JAWS ride. But for the finale of Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls, the team outdid itself, lifting an entire scene from Pirates of the Caribbean: A jailed Snidely Whiplash tries to persuade a not-so-eager beaver to hand over the keys to his cell.

Other Attractions in Toon Lagoon

• Me Ship, The Olive
• Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges

Touring Plans with Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls

• Islands of Adventure One Day Touring Plan for Tweens
• Islands of Adventure One-Day Plan (without Early Entry)
• Universal Orlando Two-Day/Two-Park Plan WITH Early Entry DAY 2/PART 1
• Universal Orlando Two-Day/Two-Park Plan (without Early Entry) DAY 2/PART 1
• Islands of Adventure One-Day Plan WITH Early Entry
Universal Orlando Highlights One-Day/Two-Park Plan (Starting in IOA) WITH Early Entry PART 1
• See all Touring Plans...

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