Last weekend while staying in the city we visited Madame Tussauds Sydney. It has been a few years since our last visit so we were keen to see the new figures and attractions. It’s a place I’ve always enjoyed taking the kids because there are new celebrities being added regularly and access is a dream. Not one hill in sight. This is something I’ve always appreciated in school holidays when I’ve been solo parenting.
Madame Tussauds has a mix of celebrities and personalities which cover a good time period so the saying, “There’s something for everyone” really does apply here. There are sports stars, movie stars, TV personalities and medical heroes on display. Although our kids are not familiar with Alfred Hitchcock or Audrey Hepburn, they are certainly keen to see the likes of Katy Perry and Pink.
To me a good family outing is one where everyone gets involved and a few inhibitions are lost. Something about Madame Tussauds brings that out in people. We saw a grandma pulling up a seat beside Audrey Hepburn to pose for a photo and in another corner a little girl about 3 or 4 years old, putting on a Marilyn Monroe replica dress and wig from the movie, Seven Year Itch.
The Madame Tussauds experience spans decades and is an international affair. AJ suggested this may be the closest I’ll come to my wish of meeting Barrack Obama. She of little faith.
BJ was certainly happy to roll on in to the Oval Office and it was nice to see the desk is even wheelchair height.
If Oprah ever wanted an enthusiastic audience member she would certainly get that with BJ.
The music section was popular with all ages with the likes of Katy Perry, Michael Jackson, Michael Hutchence and Keith Urban all on display. The figures have a remarkable likeness to the real celebrities and the enthusiasm of some visitors was similar to what you’d expect if they met the real person.
INTERACTIVE FUN
Museums and attractions now work hard to provide interactive experiences for guests. Kids pretty much expect it, and parents depend on it to engage their kids so no-one is heard saying those dreaded words, “I’m bored.” Although I remember being fascinated with Madame Tussauds in London when I was a kid, my face kind of says I would have benefited from the interactive displays that are part of Madame Tussauds Sydney.
Visitors enthusiastically embrace the interactive opportunities at Madame Tussauds which include dress ups, photo opportunities and more.
BJ happily lined up to be part of the Australian cricket team but Shane Warne (bowler pictured) didn’t look too pleased with his form.
BJ has certainly faced a few hurdles but took this one in his stride and had a big smile while doing it.
WAX ON, WAX OFF
On a previous visit to Madame Tussauds, AJ took advantage of getting a wax hand cast made. You choose the pose, colours and by the time you leave the attraction your wax hand is ready to go with you.
At $20 (price at time of our visit January 2016) it makes a unique souvenir and very popular with the tweens, teens and love birds (think two hands entwined. Let’s hope they don’t break up)
Along with all the fun of seeing the finished figures there is the opportunity to learn more about the process of making a figure. It takes 140 hours to insert the hair into the average wax figure and 15 hours to make a pair of eyes.
This is definitely not a job for an impatient person like myself.
ACCESS
As I mentioned earlier, access at Madame Tussauds is excellent. Some of the figures, like Taylor Swift and Pink, even have ramp access so wheelchair users can get up close.
Not all of the interactive experiences are wheelchair accessible. Note the step up to have a photo opportunity with the Iron Man armour.
BJ certainly enjoyed hanging out with all the celebrities and found enough to keep him entertained for the time we were there.
ACCESSIBLE BATHROOM
There is a wheelchair accessible unisex bathroom at the entrance to Madame Tussauds. Anyone that has been following along for a while will know that I love a quirky sign so of course I had to share the one above.
The Australian Companion Card is accepted at this attraction.
If you’d like to read more about Madame Tussauds head to their website here.
We’d like to thank Madame Tussauds for hosting our visit so we could review it for the website.
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