ABC Kids World
ABC Kids World was a children’s themed land at Dreamworld on Australia’s Gold Coast, featuring attractions and character experiences based on programs broadcast through ABC Kids.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
ABC Kids World was a children’s themed land at Dreamworld amusement park in Coomera on Queensland’s Gold Coast, Australia. The area was designed around characters and programs associated with ABC Kids, the Australian children’s television programming strand. It combined rides, play attractions, retail, food service, photo opportunities, and scheduled character appearances in a family-oriented environment. The site had previously been occupied by Gum Tree Gully, an earlier children’s area at Dreamworld. Construction of a replacement land began in 2005, and the new area opened on 17 September 2005 under the name Wiggles World. Its initial concept was built around The Wiggles, the Australian children’s music group, and its opening was marked by a performance from the group. Wiggles World was significant as the first of a number of similarly themed areas developed for theme parks in association with The Wiggles. Dreamworld expanded the land during its first decade. Dorothy’s Rosy Tea Cup Ride was added around the first anniversary of the original opening. In 2012, the park introduced the Big Red Boat Ride, which opened on 14 December that year in the presence of members of The Wiggles. These attractions complemented other Wiggles-themed experiences and helped maintain the area as one of Dreamworld’s principal offerings for younger children. In May 2015, Dreamworld announced a major redevelopment following a ten-year partnership with The Wiggles. The expanded concept was renamed ABC Kids World and broadened beyond The Wiggles to include properties such as Giggle and Hoot, Play School, and Bananas in Pyjamas. The Wiggles section remained within the larger land and retained the Wiggles World identity in its signage and theming. The refurbished ABC Kids World opened on 27 June 2015. Alongside its rides, the land offered ABC Kids-themed merchandise, food and beverage services, photography, and opportunities to meet costumed characters. Characters associated with The Wiggles, Bananas in Pyjamas, and Giggle and Hoot appeared at different times, while presenters connected with Play School and the ABC Kids strand could also participate in performances or promotional appearances. ABC Kids World ultimately became a transitional attraction within Dreamworld’s broader redevelopment plans. In November 2022, the park announced that the site would be replaced by the Rivertown themed area, while selected ABC Kids attractions would be moved to a re-themed area called Kenny and Belinda’s Dreamland. ABC Kids World closed on 8 October 2023. The land was subsequently cleared for Rivertown construction. The Bananas in Pyjamas Fun Maze and Play School Wheel were relocated, while the remaining rides were removed and scrapped. The brand therefore survives primarily as a historical name for a former Dreamworld themed land rather than as a currently operating standalone attraction.
History
ABC Kids World occupied a site at Dreamworld that had previously operated as Gum Tree Gully. In July 2005, Gum Tree Gully closed so that Dreamworld could construct a new children’s area. A narrow pedestrian corridor remained available while work progressed. The replacement opened to the public on 17 September 2005 as Wiggles World, a land themed primarily around The Wiggles. The opening included a live appearance by the group. The original Wiggles World formed part of Dreamworld’s strategy of using recognizable children’s entertainment properties to create immersive attractions for younger visitors. It was the first of several Wiggles-themed areas developed for amusement parks internationally. Dreamworld subsequently added attractions and supporting amenities to the land. Dorothy’s Rosy Tea Cup Ride was introduced around the first anniversary of the opening. In 2012, the park announced another ride, later identified as the Big Red Boat Ride. It opened on 14 December 2012, with seven members of The Wiggles attending the event. After a decade-long partnership with The Wiggles, Dreamworld announced in May 2015 that the land would undergo a substantial overhaul and expansion. The redevelopment changed the overall identity from Wiggles World to ABC Kids World while preserving a dedicated Wiggles World section inside the larger area. The broader concept drew on several programs associated with ABC Kids, including Giggle and Hoot, Play School, and Bananas in Pyjamas. The refurbished land opened on 27 June 2015. ABC Kids World combined attractions with commercial and hospitality functions. Its offerings included themed rides, children’s play experiences, a merchandise shop, food outlets, and a photography store. ABC Kids Shop, previously known as The Wiggles Shop, sold merchandise associated with the characters and programs represented in the land. Other facilities included Full of Beans, a café serving snacks and hot drinks, and Ready, Teddy, Go!, a photography outlet that occupied premises formerly associated with the Yummy Yummy food outlet. The operating history of several of these facilities was uneven: the café and photography store were reported as closed for extended periods, while the merchandise shop was listed by Dreamworld despite uncertainty about its operation. The land also provided character interactions. Visitors could encounter B1 and B2 from Bananas in Pyjamas; Giggle and Hoot; and The Wiggles characters Shirley Shawn the Unicorn, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog, Henry the Octopus, and Captain Feathersword. Presenters associated with Play School and the ABC Kids programming strand, as well as The Wiggles, could appear for performances or promotional activities. In November 2022, Dreamworld announced a future change to the site. Rivertown was planned to occupy the area, while selected ABC Kids attractions would be transferred to Kenny and Belinda’s Dreamland, a new ABC Kids-oriented use of the former DreamWorks Experience space. ABC Kids World closed on 8 October 2023. The Bananas in Pyjamas Fun Maze and Play School Wheel were relocated, but the remaining rides were demolished or scrapped as the site was cleared for the next phase of Dreamworld’s development. ABC Kids World is consequently a defunct themed-land brand and historical attraction rather than an active standalone consumer brand.
- 2023
ABC Kids World closes
[1]The themed land closed on 8 October 2023 for redevelopment.
- 2022
Replacement by Rivertown announced
[1]Dreamworld announced plans to replace the land with Rivertown and move selected ABC Kids attractions elsewhere in the park.
- 2015
Land renamed ABC Kids World
[1]Following a major expansion, the former Wiggles World reopened as ABC Kids World on 27 June.
- 2012
Big Red Boat Ride opens
[1]The Big Red Boat Ride officially opened on 14 December 2012.
- 2006
Dorothy’s Rosy Tea Cup Ride added
[1]Dreamworld added Dorothy’s Rosy Tea Cup Ride around the first anniversary of Wiggles World.
- 2005
Wiggles World opens
[1]The former Gum Tree Gully site reopened as Wiggles World on 17 September, with an opening performance by The Wiggles.
Products and positioning
A preschool and early-childhood themed land combining Australian children’s television brands with rides, play activities, retail, dining, and live character experiences at Dreamworld.
Themed land · 2005
Wiggles World
The original themed land opened at Dreamworld in 2005 and centered on The Wiggles. It included children’s rides, character theming, merchandise, and live entertainment. After the 2015 redevelopment, Wiggles World continued as a defined section within the larger ABC Kids World area.
Children’s ride · 2012
Big Red Boat Ride
A Wiggles-themed attraction introduced to the land in 2012. It officially opened on 14 December 2012 and was associated with the group’s nautical Big Red Boat imagery.
Children’s ride · 2006
Dorothy’s Rosy Tea Cup Ride
A tea-cup-style attraction themed around Dorothy the Dinosaur from The Wiggles. It was added around the first anniversary of the original Wiggles World opening.
Play attraction
Bananas in Pyjamas Fun Maze
An ABC Kids play attraction themed around the Bananas in Pyjamas television characters. Unlike most of the former land, the maze was identified for relocation to the later Kenny and Belinda’s Dreamland area.
Children’s ride
Play School Wheel
A Play School-themed attraction within ABC Kids World. It was among the attractions planned for relocation after the closure of the original themed land.
Brand decisions
2022
Replace ABC Kids World with RivertownStrategyBackground
Dreamworld planned a new Rivertown themed area for the site occupied by ABC Kids World as part of a wider park redevelopment.
Action taken
The park announced the closure and demolition of ABC Kids World, with selected attractions to be transferred to Kenny and Belinda’s Dreamland.
Aftermath
ABC Kids World closed on 8 October 2023. The Bananas in Pyjamas Fun Maze and Play School Wheel were relocated, while the remaining rides were removed.
2015
Expand and reposition Wiggles World as ABC Kids WorldStrategyBackground
Dreamworld’s ten-year partnership with The Wiggles provided the basis for a broader children’s area, but the park chose to add several other ABC Kids properties rather than retain an exclusively Wiggles-focused identity.
Action taken
Dreamworld refurbished and expanded the land, renamed the overall area ABC Kids World, and retained Wiggles World as an internal section.
Aftermath
The expanded land opened on 27 June 2015 and incorporated The Wiggles, Giggle and Hoot, Play School, and Bananas in Pyjamas theming.
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