Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls®
Universal's Islands of Adventure · Toon Lagoon
Overview
Toon Lagoon runs two different water rides side by side, and this is the flume half — log boats moving through a linear story about Dudley's ongoing attempts to rescue Nell from Snidely Whiplash, building to a genuinely large final drop rather than the circular raft chaos of Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges nearby. It opened in 1999 as one of the first major flume rides to carry story-driven theming across its entire course instead of treating the story as decoration around a purely mechanical ride.
ParksLog Verdict
Use the lockers — this soaks riders thoroughly, not just the front row. Best saved for a hot day when getting drenched is a relief rather than a nuisance. If you're doing a full Toon Lagoon water-ride circuit, pair it with Bilge-Rat Barges, but on its own this is the stronger of the two.
About this experience
Part roller coaster, part water flume, this ride combines the fun of the classic cartoons with edge-of-your-seat action. As you approach the nail-biting final drop, get ready to whoosh down the track for the biggest splash of your life.
Best For
- Toon Lagoon visitors prepared to get thoroughly wet
- Water ride enthusiasts
- Fans of classic cartoon humor
- Solo riders (single rider line available)
Tips
- This ride will thoroughly soak you — plan it for a hot day or bring a dry change of clothes; ponchos from park shops provide partial protection.
- Single rider line is available — a practical option for guests flexible about seating.
- Lockers near the ride entrance let you store items before boarding — use them for phones, wallets, and anything you want to keep dry.
Details
History
Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls opened with Islands of Adventure on May 28, 1999, as one of the park's founding water rides. It was among the first major flume rides to incorporate story-driven theming across the full course rather than purely functional flume mechanics, with each scene advancing the Dudley Do-Right narrative as riders progress.
Fun Facts
- Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls is themed to the Dudley Do-Right animated cartoon, which originally aired as a segment of The Bullwinkle Show in the early 1960s.
- The ride's final drop is one of the largest water flume drops at any Universal park, generating a splash significant enough to wet spectators watching from the pedestrian bridge above.
- Toon Lagoon, where the ride operates, is themed around classic newspaper comic strip characters — the area shares Dudley Do-Right with Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges as its two water ride anchors.