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The Wonderland phone called, someone said something about the kettle being black?

My reply in picture format.

Yeah, I think what AW gets next is more up to Steve Sicerich's kids than anyone else.

I think it's all an illusion to get someone to eventually pay big money for the park, here's why: The prevailing theory (and it hasn't been confirmed which is stranger still) is that the reason why Ardent could afford an i-Ride at all is because Brogent are doing a lease agreement and because of that, they're not paying a lot upfront. They get to look like they're spending big, even though they're not. Another prevailing theory is that they had put a deposit on something before the Brogent deal was struck, and rather then waste the deposit, whatever they had planned for the cinema is just going out the back. Again, probably not going to be a big "dark ride", maybe at best a simulator (and time and time again it's been proven unless you're Universal or Disney the entire industry avoids simulators because they're hard to do well, and yet Dreamworld thinks this is their future, why? Because they've already spent the money and they need a good cover story, that's why.) In the most basic terms, what gets people to do repeat visits over summer is the waterpark, so you could add in a lazy river or some basic slides for next to nothing in comparison to thrill ride capex (hundreds of thousands verse millions) and probably realise better profit numbers all round because people will buy more food, more merch etc. upon each revisit. It's a cheap justifier in raising prices all round when the reality is you're still not spending the same money that everyone else is spending. The fact that they're looking into selling the land is telling - it's ultra clear they have no interest in long term expansion or adding major attractions, but to be fair that's been the case for over two decades. You know what that land could be used for? An on-property hotel and a major coaster. The fact that they're not being open about their master plan despite saying they had one and will share it when Weiss strong-armed the board last year is telling. Sounds to me like they'll be able to sell the land, make huge bank from it, and then when they sell the park they'll get a higher price because they'll be able to justify that "the new land-owners are developing x and y and will bring more value to the park's potential to serve more local tourism blah blah blah." They're being super open about pinching pennies to realise certain numbers. Why? Gee, I wonder.

It’s a shame to hear that the new chairman doesn’t seem too keen on investing decent sums of capital, despite his earlier comments. However, a new flying theatre, waterpark expansion and dark ride are certainly not nothing. They might not be the world class coaster that DW needs, but taken together they will be a really positive step forward... if they all happen. Perhaps not enough credit is being given to these ideas. One issue that concerns me is the way they are speaking about a refresh as if it’s almost a one off thing. The nature of theme parks is that you must continually invest, every few years or so. DW needs to take a number of actions simply to get back to a decent base line, then continue to add strong attractions every few years after that.

Not fair, Tim. You're using actual research and a reasonable argument. @AlexB can't reason against that!

Just gonna post this, these are quotes from Andrew in an article I posted in the MI4 thread. https://www.businessnews.com.au/article/Fun-park-rides-on-40m-investment?destination=node/384958

However there is a lot of major rides the park could still add A log flume, Drop tower, family coaster, another major slide as Kraken is always very popular, a lazy river and so on. I am not gonna say much more as I don't want to post things that were said to me in confidence.

@AlexB At least I have glasses! I didn't know you knew Steve Sicerich or had been talking to the staff there? Why compare AW with the GC? Steve Sicerich does what he pleases. You don't see me making concrete predictions about what the park is going to do, because like everyone else, I don't know either, but I don't say the MI are going to stop based on no evidence whatsoever. Your arrogance is astounding. Every chance you have to put down any park outside the GC you seem to take it.

Very well said GGB - and sadly - in the time it takes them to reach a baseline - the baseline will have moved due to the continual change required.

Just wondering what you're basing all your predictions on, that's all. There are quite a few choices of drop towers that are similar size and capacity to Inferno. I don't see them downgrading it just to make you happy.

An investor asked that very question this morning and Gary Weiss's answer was that it's not a "top priority at the moment". They have a lot of things that aren't a top priority at the moment it seems...

Ardent's half yearly results are up. https://secure.weblink.com.au/Clients/webchartclient/clients/ardentleisure/article.asp?view=21067120 @Richard Didn't Ardent Leisure have a name change? Looking forward for Dreamworld (the bit we really care about)

Dreamworld owners talk modest growth, pricing review and prudent investment As Dreamworld recovery continues, owners Ardent Leisure look to follow competitor's lead with a increased prices while making "reasonably prudent" investment in the theme park. Click here to continue reading

If I was running the show at AW, I would be selling or scrapping the current HUSS Inferno asap. There's nothing particularly special about HUSS towers, so for me I see no point in keeping it. I'd replace it with a new S&S combo tower that performs both the Space Shot and Turbo Drop motions on one tower. Which will set it apart from Batwing, as it only performs the space shot sequence. OR I'd get a double tower from S&S and set tower 1 to perform the space shot motion, and tower 2 to perform the turbo drop motion. The 2 towers would help with capacity, and provides 2 different experiences.

Sorry, I didn't realise Hair Raiser was a shot and drop tower of similar capacity. No, @AlexB, I meant all of your dire predictions for the park's future.

On the note of Inferno, I spoke to guest services while at the park and they said they are waiting for Huss to make a part and send it over. So I personally don't believe it will open until next season going on Huss's previous record.

But surely not before they've completed the currently announced construction? Case in point: I'd say it's probably on the cards they're holding - but not a card they plan to play 'in the near future'... The trouble is (and this is on both sides of the highway) that many angry responses on social media show that they let this run too long. For years, many of us have bemoaned the $99 tickets (in whatever seasonal variation they have) and it's given many a sense of entitlement - that the theme parks are a place to go after school several times a week. I grew up not far from a theme park, but never had an annual pass growing up (until i could work a job to afford my own) - not even as a christmas present. we went there for a single day every couple of years, and it was an amazing treat - a fun filled day, where we raced from one ride to another trying to fit in as much as possible. When I see locals posting on the social pages of the parks complaints that the park has made the fast track too expensive for them to buy 'every time they visit' and getting pissed that 'they're only offering them at prices tourists can afford' it makes me extremely happy. At least in America - you've got to pay hundreds of dollars to be considered a passhole. Down under - you could do that for $79 summer specials (until june 30). Can someone tell Dr Weiss that since they merged WWW back into DW that the use of the plural is probably no longer appropriate?

OK, I accept 1) commercial realities are just that realities. 2) Weiss and partners a no fools, they are tried, tested and very successful investors. They are also, in the big scheme of things, very recent arrivals on the scene, so they deserve an opportunity to deliver. If Ardent really wants to correct a lot of DW's past errors, it needs to set a 5yr plan to sort the basic theming of the park out, doable stuff, like improving many of the colour schemes on buildings, that seems in part to have happened, so fingers crossed. [I have personally not visited DW in some years, my last trip there was not inspiring]. Some BIG decisions need to be made if Dreamworld is to become "beautiful" again and beauty attracts people. Short-term the attractions outlined are where they headed, longer-term, they know DW needs some serious capital investment. Rationalisation/partnerships in surplus land development presents the opportunity to pull in the coin they will need to seriously grow the park. Ardent will need to ask itself first though, is DW really for them? They don't strike me as a particularly keen theme-park investor....never really have and to blunt, their track record is not exactly glowing - I'm simply talking here in the "ordinary course" of park operation and development!

It's a really great ride WHEN it's operating. It did well last season and the first half of this season. But now it seems like there is a major problem again as the tower went back up and down again. Thats what you get with a 30 year old Huss prototype from Germany. Hopfully they can get it running by AW Nights tommorow.

Nothing really new about that. This inane written-by-committee "opinion piece" fails to capture anything resembling actual commitment, let alone excitement or passion about the future of the park.