Charlie's Chocolate Factory

Exterior Facade

In bringing the world of Willy Wonka to Universal Studios, the facility that housed Jimmy Neutron Nicktoon Blast was razed and replaced with a similarly sized, yet more iconic looking structure. The attraction can be seen from near the entrance of the park on account of the tall factory chimneys and exterior glass elevator.

The attraction building, inspired by many different buildings from the 1971 film, brings each of these architectural influences to life, as well as injects a new bit of fun and humor into the design. The exterior has it all, from the main gate and red carpet, to the exterior wall and factory windows, not to mention the large tubes running down the side of the factory structure. The building is a popular photo-op for guests thanks to the large guest path and corner placement of the entrance. Misaligned windows, chimney stacks, a second floor glass atrium, clock tower, giant Wonka billboards, and a street level gift and candy shop complete the appearance of the building.

Ride System

The attraction utilizes suspended dark ride technology to transport guests throughout the attraction with the ride vehicle itself modeled after the Wonkavator from the film. The more open feel (compared to the movie version Wonkavator) promotes sight lines and immersion, which allows the vehicles to provide near 360 degree viewing during the attraction while attached to the track overhead. Built within the gilded top corner pieces of the Wonkavator are the supports needed to carry the vehicle while in ride.

Guests enter the vehicles from one side along a slow moving omnimover-style ramp. Each can comfortably seat two adults and a small child, or three younger-age children if of appropriate height and age. Inside the vehicle, numerous gauges, meters, and buttons complete the overall look and immersion. A simple lap bar lowers down once guests are seated as the vehicle approaches the end of the loading platform.

Guests enter the factory courtyard and approach the entrance. Framed on the wall is a copy of the contract seen in the film that guests were required to sign to enter the factory. From the front entrance, guests are guided to the left into the inside portion of the queue. (The queue is extended to the outside of the show building on busier days.) The queue winds back and forth through a long themed corridor. On the left of the room are three large windows, and on the right wall are various signs, posters, and advertisements. These hangings explain how Charlie won the Golden Ticket competition and is now in charge of the Wonka factory, advertise Wonka candies (all of which can be purchased in the post-ride shop), and add some humor to the area for guests to enjoy while in line.

Charlie's Chocolate Factory - Virtual Ride-Through

Scene 1 - Happily Ever After

As we begin our journey, guests see Charlie hugging Mr. Wonka through their own Wonkavator. Grandpa Joe ecstatically looks on as Mr. Wonka has just told Charlie that he needed a child to run his factory for him. A child (rather than an adult) would be able to manage the factory as Mr. Wonka prefers and not meddle with his vision. In the scene, guests can hear audio and a silhouette of Grandpa Joe with Mr. Wonka and Charlie in their elevator hovering above the factory as he asks if the whole family can come to live at the factory with them. Guests can also notably hear a faint and tranquil version of Pure Imagination on the piano as they meander through this aerial scene, a soundtrack that will have a prominent role in various formats throughout the entirety of the experience. The suspended elevator then swoops through the clocktower transitioning to black and to the new scene.

Scene 2 - Oompa Loompa Interlude

In this dimly lit transition scene, you hear an audio repeat of a new Oompa Loompa song advising Charlie on what to do when taking control of the factory. This lighthearted but informative message portrays to the rider that while managing the factory may seem like fun and games, there is a high standard to uphold. The song also ensures that Mr. Wonka (along with the Oompa Loompas) will assist Charlie and help prepare him for the challenge.

Oompa loompa doompety doo

I've got a perfect puzzle for you

Oompa loompa doompety dee

If you are wise you'll listen to me

What do you do when you get all the keys

Running a factory is not a breeze

Listen to us, and take down what we say

You'll want to be here each long day

I think you are up for this

Oompa loompa doompety da

If you're kind-hearted, you will go far

You will live in happiness too

Like the Oompa Loompa Doompety do

...

Doompety do

Scene 3 - The Chocolate Room

As animatronic figures of Mr. Wonka, Charlie, and Grandpa Joe stand at the foot of the chocolate river, the Wonkavators glide into a large atrium that represents the Chocolate Room, completely fitted to represent the exact dynamics seen in the 1971 film. Keen-eyed guests can notice the attention to detail along the Gummy Bear trees, the mushrooms with cream toppings, the licorice lining the lawn, and the decadent Chocolate River with an ornate floating vessel waiting to be docked. Audio can be heard telling Charlie that the Chocolate Room is one of the most sophisticated engineering designs in the entire factory, and that he will need to "taste-test" at least twice a day to ensure that the quality of the chocolate and other inventories are sufficient. Charlie replies "Oh gee, I get to try these every day!" And Grandpa Joe can be heard saying "Gosh, I might not have any teeth by the end of this Wonka."

Guests continue to peacefully soar towards the Chocolate Waterfall, before making a swooping curve and ascending to the 2nd level. Pure Imagination continues to play throughout, now with lyrics as well, courtesy of old Gene Wilder audio.

Scene 4 - The Inventing Room

As the guest elevators ascend beyond the Chocolate Room and enter the Inventing Room, they are met with a myriad of doors that lead to various places throughout the factory labyrinth. The room is reminiscent to the scenery from the film, with bright colors and white linings on machines throughout the room. Pink smokestacks chug along. Working wheels spin barrels of new inventions. Chemistry sets are mixing together while alarm clocks are being added to buckets of flour. An Animatronic of Mr. Wonka can be seen riding a bike churning butterscotch behind him.

Audio of Mr. Wonka telling Charlie to "think with his heart, and love what he thinks" when coming up with ideas for new chocolate inventions. Distant audio-animatronic Oompa Loompas can be seen working on different aspects of machinery in the room. Mr. Wonka can be heard telling Charlie that "we have so much time and so little to see...wait...reverse that" harkening back to his line from the beginning of the tour from the 1971 film.

Scene 5 - The Ames Room

Transitioning from the Inventing Room, the elevators glide through a hallway that represents the Ames Illusion, a sensory trick where the room gets "smaller" to the observer, briefly alluded to in the 1971 film.

Scene 6 - Second Oompa Loompa Interlude

The Oompa Loompa's appear through the doors with another riddle this time asking for Charlie to take care to not fret about outside competition and instead follow his heart.

Oompa loompa doompety doo

I've got another puzzle for you

Oompa loompa doompety dee

If you are wise you'll listen to me

What do you get when you work all too much

A big throbbing headache and things of the such

I don't like the look of it

Oompa loompa doompety da

If you're not greedy, you will go far

You will live in happiness too

Like the Oompa Loompa Doompety do

Doompety do

Scene 7 - The Maze Room

The elevators glide towards a candy maze as binaural audio of Mr. Wonka can be heard telling Charlie and the guests now that in order to make the best chocolate and run the best factory, one must keep their days unique and varied. Doing the same thing each day will lead to boredom and complacency, you must always be inventing new things. As guests continue through the maze it changes colors and shapes veering towards another turn into a brightly-lit room titled "The Juicing Room."

Scene 8 - The Juicing Room

Painted with yellow, blue, and a white color pattern, in this room guests are exposed to a wide variety of Wonka sweets and fillings that complete candies and other delectable made at the factory. Mr. Wonka states that what is inside the candy is just as important as what it looks like on the outside. And sometimes, what's on the inside matters a lot more than the design on the outside. It's at this point where the elevator begins to glide "up and out" through the glass ceiling and out overlooking the factory.

Scene 9 - The Factory

In this multi-level scene, guests are soaring above the small town surrounding the Wonka Factory in a similar manner to the London scene from Peter Pan's Flight at Disney parks. Pure Imagination continues to play in the background as more vocals begin to come into the fray once again. Mr. Wonka tells Charlie that he believes in him and that if he ever needs him, he'll just be a wish away.

Scene 10 - Family Move-In

As guests descend back to the unload area, you see a silhouette of Mr. Wonka walking into the sunset. Charlie and Grandpa Joe are seen waving good-bye to him from the front steps with Charlie's family getting set up to move into the factory.

Wonka Test Kitchen is a gift shop/candy store that serves as an attraction exit shop. The test kitchen is comprised of two sections.

The first section of the test kitchen is themed to the candy store in the movie, an old-fashioned wood-shelved apothecary. This section has imports from all over the world, from Hi-Chews (from China) to Turkish Delights. Imports often debut in this store. The main emphasis of the candy section is on the creations of Willy Wonka himself (who has been awarded “The World's Best Confectioner”). The Wonka Test Kitchen is the exclusive distributor of classic Wonka treats. Guests can try to win their own Golden Ticket by purchasing a Wonka Bar. Oompas are chewy, round candies that are found in both fruity and peanut butter varieties. Wonka’s Daredevils are a mango flavored candy that feature a lot of “heat.” Other popular Wonka candies produced by the Ferrara Candy Company are also found in the Test Kitchen, including Bottle Caps, Everlasting Gobstopper, Fun Dip, Laffy Taffy, Pixy Stix, Runts, Spree, SweeTarts, SweeTarts Chewy Sours, SweeTarts Soft & Chewy Ropes, Wonka Ice Cream (Peel-A-Pops and Push Ups), Mixups (variety packs), and Randoms (jellies).

There are also some candy varieties cooked up by the heir to the throne, Charlie Bucket. These range from Violet Bites (chewy cookies with blueberry jam) to Three Course gum (the defect that occurred in the movie has been fixed) and Fizzy Lifting Gummies (lemon soda flavored with popping insides). The shop sells “catches” from the fish tanks of the Factory’s Inventing Lab - Willy Wonka’s Squids and Guppies.

The Wonka Test Kitchen’s top-selling and relatively new candy creation is Nerds. Each Nerd has a flavor and a corresponding color. Flavors include Cherry, Orange, Grape, Green Apple, Lemon, Blue Snozzberry, and Strawberry. Guests can choose a color that does not match up with the flavor (for example, a red color with a Grape flavor). In addition to the candies, there are Nerds Pets (for those who would rather bond with their food than eat it). Although Nerds Pets are inedible, they release a fruity scent when hugged. There are also Nerds Bars, the fusion of classic Wonka chocolate with crunchy fruity Nerds bits, and Nerds Cereal for those who want dessert for breakfast.