Leaderboard

Sorry, it was a Star Tour reference.

I understand Ash, I feel the same way. Its a combination of both unexpected shock (Dreamworld kept this intent fairly under wraps) and witnessing the demise of a 35 year old building which forms many of my childhood memories of Dreamworld. As a kid I recall excitedly pulling up in the carpark in the morning with my parents and seeing that long standing iconic view of the entrance building, stretching all the way over to the familiar green barnhouse exit ❤️ It's sad to know that view will never be the same again. Brad's right though, most of the inside of it has been underutilised for a long time now. From what I remember of late, there was a showbag stand that was always closed, and a Crispy Creme Donuts outlet which was frequently unmanned. I think the fast food outlet and the exit booth were the only two things inside still being fully used. I'm sure I'll get over it eventually, especially as new things emerge in its place. At least I hope I do ? I just need my time to mourn over this loss lol...

I worked it out. Someone obviously died on it.

Shhhhhh!

I think that DW did this so we would start talking about DW instead of all of the amount of MW talk. (That was a joke not being serious)

ok ?

There was some talk that Wanda were considering making an offer to purchase the park from Ardent.

^Point of Sale - it's the system used to enter items sold, produce a receipt, track stock etc.

It's been a couple of weeks since I last went to MW, and progress on SE is coming along quickly. Can't believe how much the ride had faded.

Today's update. The Windows on the rear facades have all been filled in. Not 100% convinced by that smokey grey look they've got, but maybe something will light up behind it to make it more interesting. The gap between the facades and the SDSC exit has been covered.

I think we all knew this coming but it's still sad to see yet another piece of Dreamworld opening history be gutted. It would've been nice for them to atleast attempt to maintain and incorporate some of the original charm into the new design but let's face it, with the amount of changes, hacks and modifications that half of the Dreamworld entrance has gone through it was on its last legs. Instead of getting tied up in nostalgia, I do hope that this project follows in the foot steps of the Green Bean and the Ice Cream Parlour in that it has a real genuine, honest & well thought out aesthetic that brings a sense of quality & value to the guest experience. Shame we haven't seen any renderings or information released about it yet. It's 2016 folks, every large international brand of theme parks, from Merlin, Disney & Busch all know the value in drip-feeding content and generating hype that trumps keeping fans in the dark on projects like this. Do we still have to play the secrets game because of the fear generated by the Village/Ardent rivalry?

Hi all, Firstly let me try and give some responses to the questions I have missed over the last week or so. @ClassyDaedra Yes,last Halloween we played with a lot more themeing and added ghosts to windows, more atmosphere and a few nice family style activities like a Trick or Treat for children across the park. It is not a space we want to dive heavily into as the parents of smaller children often check that we don't have "scary" characters wondering around and we can answer that in a positive as our Zombies are contained. So, we will continue to play with a more family friendly version of Night Events such as Screamworld Halloween. You mention challenging Movieworld, but I would question why when they do a great job and it is their appeal so we would most likely be the difference not the same. @T-bone You had a few questions so here we go. 1) No plans to have Baldwin run more regularly. The old girl doesn't like it like she used to but she enjoys the first Saturday of each month and we love seeing her out, so that keep everyone happy for now. Staffing is not the major factor here. 2) The Fire Engine has gone for a make-over and will return. You will see many of our stationary props go out for some love and come home again now. We've already done the hearse from Gold Rush and many more, and they come back restored and shining. 3) I'm not sure anyone has considered a Steam Train Tour, but I am happy to float that idea around. Great suggestion. 4) Ah - well, yes it (train ride entertainment coming back) has been considered. First we have some track cleanup to do but that is not out of the question for the future. 5) Hit Music in Gold Rush...hmm. It should be more themed and I will pass that along to the music gods. 6) There was a 6th :-) Lighting doesn't exist in that area of the park so that would be a longer term plan for night events. 7) Yes, there was a 7th too! Have we received feedback on the music, absolutely. Most love it and if comments are to be made it is usually around volume not content. Or letting us know if an inappropriate song sneaks in to the playlist somewhere (which we are very grateful to be told). I am not surprised that the Disney songs in Main Street are hit and miss for the opinions on here, the staff who listen all day would agree with the "miss", but for me, as an ex-Disney employee it is the best and I have a great time. So this is personal opinion for which most feedback so far has been really positive. @Santa07 We collected that many comments and requests for screens to be added to this queue-line that we listened to the majority, sorry. @Theme Park Girl You mentioned a few things that were themes touched on by the above so I hope I have your comments and questions covered up there too. @Theme Park Ninja Yes, Billabong is getting another refresh in a few weeks but that will be it for a while. And, don't be concerned, I didn't get scared. To the contrary... this has been fun. To my knowledge we haven't had a Dreamworld endorsed person on here before? However, after some lengthy discussions I may have to stop participating in this forum and out of respect for the site managers I have been quiet for a while while we chatted. I don't think he would mind my sharing the conundrum, so I will explain. By posting as Belinda Brown it seems I fall into a Commercial Category, which comes with a sponsorship fee. This thread was changed (not by me) to be called a Dreamworld Q&A and this also had an impact on how my engagement appeared. My idea and objection was to have some fun, provide some clarity, and answer some questions, not to be on here as a commercial opportunity (that is not my role within the park either). So, since I am not able to be here representing Dreamworld without being a paid sponsor of the site, and being here as me personally would be a conflict of interest, we are at a bit of a stalemate. I can also fully appreciate where Parkz.com is coming from, the last thing I have wanted to do was cause any fraction to a relationship we've been working to foster, so I am treading carefully. I am sure we will continue to talk to find a happy medium.

I like my job. :-)

Now what if you "accidentally" left this "project list" on a table, and just happened to "accidentally" take a photo of it, then by some amazing coincidence just happened to "accidentally" send me said photo.......

Morning, Just popped in quickly before heading out to greet our guests today, so I will answer a few questions left overnight that other forum users have not already answered for me :-) @reanimated35 - We wanted used a different coating which should be a higher grade of the non-slip varnish originally on the stage. @AlexB - Much of your query has been answered already. 7 years is a long time for anything tech-based. There are also many components to running a themed attraction such as licensing, visitation, and staffing- all needs to be considered when choosing new directions. @Jamberoo Fan - 1. Contrary to popular belief, our industry is as supportive of each other as it is competitive. We all have interests in each other on a multitude of levels. Ideas, technology (not just rides but POS systems etc), tourism, of course some competition however all Theme parks strive to have a slice of the market appropriate to their style of park. We often talk and share. 2. This is a completely subjective response, you see each group is different. Young families enter and head straight, Teens often turn right, groups of mixed ages tend to negotiate or split. AS you would imagine the back of the park i.e. Corroboree is the last to fill as guests stop along the way to experience what they come across, and it is the first to empty as guests naturally migrate back towards the exit. If we have a major ride down then the whole pattern of the guests changes, as does having a certain promotion in park. Thus the reason to move away from suggested itineraries and move more towards build your own experience itinerary. A, because guests get to structure their experience around their personal interests, and this would allow us to collect better data on the who, how and when. 3. I will let the forum guys get that for you, because again the experience is subjective i.e. I prefer Giant Drop at night west side, but I am sure this will be wildly contested. 4. We've kept 1 or 2 of them all and we do hope to have the time to go through our archives at some point to display some of the really fun items. It is a task though, we've had a long time to hoard. 5. I have no idea. I will ask around. 5.a See @reanimated35 reply. 7. No, as it would be seen to be commercial content for which we are not allowed to provide within this forum. Good rule, as I also would not have time :-) Of course we consider WhiteWater World part of Dreamworld, but it is WhiteWater World. Just as I would consider SkyPoint as part of Dreamworld but it is most definitely standing alone. A water park is its own entity during hotter months and during the winter months it is a bonus. Around the world many water parks only open for a portion of the year, we keep our guy going. But Ibis Island... well that is not its name, it was what I called it. My apologies if it seemed "official".

Boy, 10, dies in accident on world’s biggest water slide AFP, AP and staff writers, News Corp Australia Network 37 minutes ago WARNING: Story contains graphic content that may upset some readers THE world’s tallest water slide has claimed the life of a 10-year-old boy, prompting US officials to shut down the 17-storey ride and open an investigation. And now witnesses have described the horrific moment Caleb Schwab, the son of a Kansas state legislator, was ‘decapitated’ as he was flung from the ride known as the Verruckt. Esteban Castaneda, who was at the Kansas City waterpark said he heard loud booms coming from the ride before he saw a body wash down the slide after a raft reported ABC7. Castaneda said a lifeguard was trying to keep the crowd back and as he tried to help the lifeguard told him there was nothing he could do — that’s when he realised the boy appeared to have been decapitated. The front seat of the raft was empty, suggesting that is where Schwab was sitting, and the two other women who were also on the ride suffered facial injuries. One of them reportedly described it as the “worst day of her life”. Caleb Thomas Schwab (left) pictured with his father Scott Schwab, a Kansas state politician from Olathe. Picture: David Strickland/David Strickland via AP Castaneda’s wife Leslie said that she had seen the blood-streaked ride shortly after the gruesome incident along with the distraught family of Schwab reported the Kansas City Star. “I saw his (Schwab’s) brother. He was screaming,” she said. “I’m really having a tough time with it. I really am.” She said the brother — who had witnessed Schwab die — told a theme-park worker, ‘I just saw my little brother die because of one of your attractions’. “The boy looked skinny. He shouldn’t have been on that ride,” she said. The first hand accounts of what happened on the day come as it was revealed by the Kansas City Star that the slide had not been inspected by the state since it opened two years ago. By law, responsibility of the slide’s safety rests with the park owners who said all rides are inspected daily before opening. The family have since released a statement. “Since the day he was born, he brought abundant joy to our family and all those who he came into contact with,” his family said in a statement. “As we try to mend our home with him no longer with us, we are comforted knowing he believed in his Saviour, Jesus, and they are forever together now. We will see him another day.” The park has given no specific details on what happened to Schwab except to say the slide was closed after his death. A police spokesman said investigators were treating the death as a “civil matter” rather than a criminal incident. The Verruckt at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City is billed as the world’s largest, according to officials. Picture: Charlie Riedel/AP A park website says two to three people are typically strapped to a raft and then sent down a “jaw-dropping” 51.4 metres. They are then “blasted back up a second massive hill and then sent down yet another gut wrenching 15-metre drop for the ultimate in water slide thrills.” Riders are supposed to be at least 137cm tall. “Given that safety is our first priority, we have closed the Kansas City park today and Monday and have closed the ride pending a full investigation,” the park said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time.” The Kansas City Star said the park was teeming with children of legislators and their parents enjoying free passes when the tragedy occurred. The Verruckt, which means “insane” in German, opened in July 2014 and was certified as the world’s tallest water slide by Guinness World Records. The slide’s opening was delayed a few times, though the operators did not provide reasons for the delays. Two media sneak preview days in 2014 were cancelled because of problems with a conveyor system that hauls 45kg rafts to the top of the slide. Prosapio said in 2014 that park officials would not hesitate to delay operation again for however long it takes to make sure the slide is safe. Schlitterbahn's Verruckt waterside is the tallest in the world. Picture: Jill Toyoshiba/The Kansas City Star via AP, File In a news article linked to the news release announcing a 2014 delay, Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeff Henry told USA Today that he and senior designer John Schooley had based their calculations when designing the slide on roller coasters, but that didn’t translate well to a water slide like Verruckt. In early tests, rafts carrying sandbags flew off the slide, prompting engineers to tear down half of the ride and reconfigure some angles at a cost of $US1 million, Henry said. A promotional video for a show about building the slide includes footage of two men riding a raft down a half-size test model and going slightly airborne as it crests the top of the first big hill. absolutely tragic... Has anyone here ridden the slide?