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Many rapids rides were designed that way originally - with observation towers for staff to watch different parts of the ride course. Then costs happened, and they changed the set up so staff didn't need to be in towers - because they could have cameras instead... Surely, given the fairly small course, some CCTV, and a good loud-hailer system to communicate with dickheads would have worked too?

We cover all manner of stuff on this website that is utterly boring to 99% of the population. At the end of the day this is an article that was thrown together because it is something of minor consequence to talk about in an otherwise quiet week. It's a niche audience within a niche audience that would be into this and it's not a topic we'd make a habit of covering regularly so it was left at a level that would be interesting for anyone that willingly reads beyond the hyperlinks to the two websites. The payoff -- for you, me or this website -- just isn't there if we made this piece web design 101, compared with say roller coaster construction techniques for dummies. Be sure to do up a list of big, confusing words every time we cover something financial because we never explain things like EBITDA, the inner workings of the stock exchange or annual general meetings for the poor mums and dads.

That's true @GoGoBoy if you're talking about theme parks. If I'm on a theme park site I don't believe I should be expected to understand web design to read an article.

I think Parkz prides itself (rightly) on producing articles that are in another league compared to the very downmarket and general Gold Coast Bulletin, with a level of technical information that most people with a genuine interest in the industry appreciate.

you forgot "watch this space, but keep checking our website and facebook accounts to be the first to know!" ... Ok - so can someone explain to grampa what all those fangled things mean?

Sure - here are the major points I took from the article. One question to answer before writing is "who is my audience"? Parkz tends to be the first search result for theme parks in Australia, other than sponsored content, or the actual park's website. So the answer to the question is pretty much everyone who visits the parks. Families, teens, enthusiasts etc. These articles tend to push to social media, and they also feature within the forum too - so keeping in mind that not everyone who visits the park is balls deep in web design and online marketing and so on... We'll pause now to rave about the site being secure. Ok - it's secure... but why is this something to rave about precisely? Your average mum and dad reading the article while planning a trip to the parks has no idea - although i'm sure they can assume it is a good thing - why is it a good thing? I assume this is the cool way to say "User Experience" these days - but what are they? if its so popular, shouldn't I have heard this before? No? Why haven't I heard it? Because i'm not a web designer? Oh, so this is a web design forum now? exactly. I know what a vector image is. Is that what we're talking about? Because Im not quite sure i follow... Ok great - we explained what SiteCore actually is - thats a step up from the previous jargon terms, and more in line with the previous 'style' i keep referring to - but why is this important enough to mention in the article with no other background, detail, or explanation?

I agree with you @AlexB but seeing staff on course and knowing they are around is more likely to keep the bum on the seat. What about dummies with cameras for eyes set up around the course? If DW didn't have the budget for extra staff around the course CCTV would've been fine. The extra staff member now required to unlock the roof would be better monitoring the whole course. The good thing about CCTV is you can tape the guest being an idiot. Have the queue snake past monitoring booth. Build the booth out of glass so guest can see in. Make it clear, somebody is watching you. Have a recording, “If you stand up you will be removed from the park” played in all 6909 living languages if you have to. (Yes I looked it up, 6909 is correct) ((</sarcasm> every language))

Why is everyone so GRUMPY! There is a really good song called dont worry be happy, you folks need a dose of it, with the music video too

Technically this is all off topic as this topic is about MW improvements November 2017. Which has now gone.

Thought I would try this out with my 5yo son who is 118cm tall (so 115cm min height) Results show... But... HSD Experience... All Star Tour...

I prefer Skeet's version of events at all times and this is how I won't the article re-written. "In the past WBMW website could easily be compared to or mistaken for MDMC. Guest would be excited with anticipation as the page loaded. As per MDMC the excitement quickly ended once the restraints locked in. WBMW website & MDMC the ride never delivered what they promised and left you confused and a bit dumber once you got off. Movie World (https://movieworld.com.au –have taken their dated (MDMC) website out of the past and relaunched with a clean, modern look that carries through the entire website. You could say it’s night and day or as we like to say MDMC and Rivals. The design is heavily inspired by the current crop of advertisements from Village Roadshow Theme Parks that use vivid imagery and bold statements to sell a decidedly physical theme park experience. On a gloomier note Parkz wishes to inform you MDMC remains”. By Skeeta Fly 1/02/2018 </sarcasm>

You should know @AlexB you have go much higher than Joz. @joz is the suggestion box cleaner. Once you have washed your hands can you send my suggestion up the chain of command. I'm having very deep "feelings" with this article. I couldn't really tell you wants in it article because I haven't read it. But I know if I read it I wouldn't like it. Please do better next time making want to read it.

Such as @AlexB?

I dont understand how the soloution wasn't just 'more staff observing the ride' because really that was the problem, the one staff member had too much stuff to focus on so when idiot number 1 does a dumb thing and falls out a boat, no one noticed. 2 or 3 observers and a staff member on the load platform would have been my preferred fix (which is also inline with industry trends), rather than adding a half baked perspex roof.

A Moron still can very much fall from one of the Logs -now probably even more so than ever. Picture some foolish twats sitting on alternate sides of the logs, holding the cage bars and rocking the boat side to side until..... How does DW prevent something like this from ever happening? Add more bars?? Completely enclose the Logs in Perspex? Ugh.. Wouldn't surprise me if they come up with a 'Safety noose' to hang around People's necks at the new Flying Theatre.

HOLY SHIT I NEVER THOUGHT THIS DAY WOULD ACTUALLY COME. Bloody great job to the folks who made the new Movie World site - all the things I bitched & moaned about years ago are all addressed. It's mobile friendly, the imagery is large and punchy, the UX is very focussed and gets you to key information very efficiently (the mega menus are way, way more concise than Dreamworld's) and the UI is very modern (which is to say like everyone else in 2018 and thus super large and boring, it could be honestly made a few points smaller but in terms of being "boring" realistically that's totally fine because the content should ultimately do the talking, which it does very well here). There's still some bugs that need to be ironed out (like showing local's prices in Melbourne) but i'm sure they'll whack in some code to fix that in due course as not to alienate or tick off interstate customers. I still hate the park map because it's actually not at all useful but that's not digital's fault. What they need to do now is hop on getting their e-commerce portal up to snuff (it's missing lots of core features like affiliates etc.) and go the extra effort of having something solid like a rolling newsfeed on park updates & a PR portal that actually has up to date artwork and imagery. This is all pretty basic blog stuff in 2018 - the less time they spend trying to implement the world's most elegant solution and going between departments to achieve that and just go hard on keeping it simple and putting it out there will go a long way. Lastly - a lot of their video content needs improving and will play as the core of strengthening their digital comms. That's all i'll say there - not giving away concepts for free here. Definitely looking forward to seeing this rolled out across the board. Also, it's worth noting that Dreamworld have rolled out a new front page. I'm also a fan, but the biggest pet peeve as it stands as that their "learn more" button (which is the first thing people will undoubtedly see from a UX perspective) no longer goes to the pure imagination page but rather a dreary what's on page. I'm sure their heat maps will corroborate my thoughts and they'll go to work on fixing that up quick smart. (You're welcome in advance, i'll send you an invoice soon.) Do like the rolling park updates and a few other things, it's definitely a step in the right direction.

Nah I'm saying stop trying to prove whose pianist is bigger as you are both talking about different parts of the same damn thing... @Skeeta - You are correct the DD did not open with carpet... @AlexB - Is correct that coloured squares have always been on the carpet... Can we get back onto the topic? Heard today that a few of the changes that came into place back in November have reverted back as we are now outside a peak (school holiday) period. Unsure if this means we will see returns next holidays and unsure exactly what changes they are talking about as I only spent 90 mins in park earlier today.

Doomsday Destroyer temporarily stopped upside down A brief stoppage on Movie World's Doomsday Destroyer thrill ride saw riders temporarily held upside down in an event that the Gold Coast theme park described as ride safety operating systems automatically engaging. Click here to continue reading

So the Sky Lift, Barnacle and Rampage have all reopened at AW. Leaving just Inferno still closed.