If you are travelling to the Gold Coast with kids then I am assuming that you probably have a theme park or two on your itinerary. We have had the luxury of exploring all the theme parks and most attractions in the Gold Coast over a number of trips North over the last few years. I hope to cover all of these for you on the Kid Bucket List over the next few weeks.
Our first trip was to Movie World – movieworld.com.au which is a little north from Surfers Paradise via the Pacific Motorway. We chose to drive, although bus services are also available quite regularly. Probably the most affordable way of seeing Movie World if you are planning to also visit Sea World and Wet ‘n’ Wild is to purchase a VIP pass which will give you unlimited entry to all the parks for your entire trip and beyond.
A few words of caution before we begin: Beware the entry queue! Yes – even with a pre-purchased ticket the line to gain entry to the park can take well over 30 minutes. You will also find that your carefully packed esky will not be permitted in. The park has a clear policy on not permitting visitors to bring in food and drink. Of course, this excludes infant and allergy needs. Water and fruit is also permitted.
My children absolutely adore Movie World. They met numerous stars across the day and watched the Batman Show. We delighted in a viewing of a 4D movie in the theatre and rode more than a handful of rides. The Shadows of Gotham was a lot of fun. We arched Gotham City fall to the villains only to be saved by Batman who arrived in his batmobile and quickly got rid of them. I don’t think the kids spoke a word through the show!
The Hollywood Stunt Driver show is one to catch. The doors open 30 minutes before it starts BUT people start lining up well before that. Don’t panic too much as the venue is fairly large (just don’t wait until the last minute). I found the performance fascinating. Watching cars drive speed around and pass each other without hitting is certainly a skill. They also have a narrative behind the performance which we all enjoyed, laughing throughout the show.
Whilst the rides, superstars and shows were highlights for the kids, it was my first introduction to Ben and Jerry’s ice-cream. A recent new arrival to Australia, this 36-year-old ice-cream label from Vermont in the USA has quickly become one of my favourites after this chance encounter at Movie World. I chose the Chocolate Therapy in a chocolate-coated waffle cone. I would head back to Movie World JUST for that (although my local services station has started selling it!).
There is so much to see and do at Movie World. The main avenue is filled with styled stores that make you feel like you are walking down a a Southern American town. We even found a Harry Potter magic store which we explored for some time. Between the rides, shows, opportunity to meet stars and mini food breaks, the park probably takes a whole day to explore. Of course, with your VIP pass, you could split up your visit over a few days – a couple of hours at a time.
Have you been to Movie World? What did you think?
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