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I'd love to see executive-level management sweat the small details again like their predecessors did. Back in the day, both Longhurst & Menzies would roam their respective parks looking for the little inconveniences that inevitably added up if left unresolved - in Longhurst's case he'd sit in the IMAX Theatre and watched throughput when the film finished, he'd jump on the train and listen in on the narration whilst checking how clean the trains were and would be so fastidious about how well kept the gardens were that people would come to Dreamworld just to see the flower-beds. In Menzies' case, it's somewhat well known that he would go to the parks with his wife on Christmas just so he could see the parks without anyone hassling him. Basically it's all about fine-tuning every possible moment of the customer experience. Until you've sat in every seat at Green Bean, you won't know how many table-sets are in the glaring hot sun or which tables are too close to the speakers. Until you've lined up as a guest for Tower of Terror, you won't realise how hot, sweaty and smelly the queue line stairs are. Until you've walked up to the Aquaman Exhibit as a punter, you won't realise how the entrance is very un-inviting etc. etc. etc. etc. It's such a simple thing to do and yet no one does it often enough.

Me when Sky Voyager was announced: Me when Sky Voyager opens:

Thank god we've got someone to Gatekeep on whether something is interesting or not.

Pineapple Soft Serve. Do it, do it now!

The reporters essentially misreported parts of this (surprise surprise). If you look at photos of the incident from the news choppers, you'll see a third raft sitting at the unload platform. That's the raft this family was on. They disembarked the ride and were walking away when shit hit the fan. The husband then essentially told the wife and kids to get out of there as he turned back around to go toward the flipping rafts to try and "assist" Edit: A lot of news companies literally just rip articles off from eachother so if one reports incorrectly, a majority of the other articles will also have incorrect information.

We need better communication between the parks and the public. For example, DW needs to give us some indication as to when we can expect SV (because “the coming weeks” just ain’t cutting it). Similarly, MW have been tight lipped about a lot of their recent projects, a bit more open communication would be great instead of keeping everything secret. We didn’t hear any confirmation of DC rivals until just a few months away from opening (while most parks would announce something that big a year or even two years ahead of time). Similarly the Aquaman exhibit was a big secret until only a few weeks before opening.

I agree 10000% Slick. I know for a fact Sir Billy Butlin did that, and I'd be very surprised if Walt Disney didn't also. It's about basically taking pride in what you're offering your customers, and it makes ALL the difference.

Much friendlier staff! Dreamworld generally has this one pretty much right. The other parks don't!

Me Impatiently waiting for Sky Voyager: https://media.giphy.com/media/wXfW7LDvCjRNC/giphy.gif

That three armed octopus (Super Screw) was indeed a travelling ride and was Australian built (could have been built by Kevin Ferrari in the late 60's/early 70's), and was hired out by the park. Unfortunately it was scrapped years ago when it was sold to an owner that no longer needed it, so it was simply left it out to rot on a showground somewhere.

It is a ghost town. What's interesting to me is how much they're trying with in park entertainment and the like. My view of rides closing early has actually significantly softened after my recent visit. There just isn't anyone there. The problem DW has isn't that the rides are closing early, the problem is no one is there to go on the rides. I'm also of the view that DW desperately needs a new kick ass coaster, both to draw in crowds and to allow 1 or 2 of the old rides to be retired gracefully. I also totally understand why there isn't one in the pipeline. Post accident the idea of adding a new scary ride just seemed unthinkable, and a new family ride 100% seemed the only way to go. Thing is with the long lead in times for a coaster they actually should have signed the contract the first Christmas after the accident. Unfortunately that's something that you can only really see with hindsight. SV when it opens will help the in park experience, and it might do something to help attendance a little, but I think bringing a new coaster to market now rather than a (by all accounts) quite good simulator would do more to change the story of the park. When SV was announced, many people had the idea for Aviation Land on what was Gold Rush. I think Aviation Land with a relocated Tail Spin, Rethemed Buzzsaw, SV, & anchored by a new coaster would do very well. In ocean parade replace Wipeout TailSpin and Trolls with a modern Shoot The Chute ride. DW as is isnt getting people through the door, you need to do something drastic to change the narrative.

@Gold Coast Amusement Force My sincere apologies. My comment was misguided and rude. Tbh I actually had you confused with someone else which is entirely my fault for not paying enough attention, and you didn’t deserve my comment or reaction. I’ve retracted & deleted my comment, it remains in your quote box which is fine, I own the error and will be more careful & considerate moving forward.

Say all you want about coasters but if it wasn't for adding The Great American Scream Machine two years after a death from another coaster we wouldn't have Six Flags Great Adventure. They are a proven way to draw people back to a park after a major incident. Having someone run the park who has a clue as to what the fuck they are doing also helps things.

I say the same thing every time I go up another notch on my belt. 😀

That's true... they're called the minority of the theme park going public though... so there's little merit catering to them if you're trying to improve your attendance, revenue, or popularity.

From The Australian Financial Review (subscriber-only article): 3 key points: According to David Prescott, Managing Director of Sydney-based funds manager Lanyon Asset Management, Village Roadshow's overseas theme park assets are a "distraction", which should be sold to improve shareholder returns. Mittleman Brothers, Village Roadshow's 3rd largest shareholder support assets sales to focus on accelerating better theme park (and cinema) business profits. Chris Mittleman of Mittleman Brothers, Village Roadshow's 3rd largest shareholder, "would be willing to talk and consider proposals from anyone...outside of Village Roadshow who seemed to have reasonable ideas on how to improve the business and thus its returns for shareholders" Regarding the 2nd dot point, if anyone takes up his offer, remember Village Roadshow is not all about theme parks. I'm sure some of you would have "reasonable ideas on how to improve the business", theme park wise, though.

Actually there was a very similar Octopus that came to Luna Park in the late 70's- please see this fabulous home video on Youtube from 1978. It shows the ride in the park at this time. This was a 3 armed version and in the video looks fairly ordinary compared to the unit that arrived with the 1980's incarnation. ( fabulous photo by the way @19Michael96!!) Here is a pic of the ride when it nestled in the cradle of the Big Dipper lift hill , turnaround and first drop from 1995 until 2001. @Wil_i_am_not yeah you are right- its definitely not an Eyerly Aircraft Company unit. You are right in it probably being an Italian model- the plans for this ride have been shared and licensed many times over by different companies. Commonly called a Polyp, they were first made by Schwarzkopf, then have been made under licence by manufacturers such as Sartori, SDC, Soriani and Moser , Gerslauter and finally Anton Schwarzkopf's son's company , Wieland Schwarzkopf. I am unsure what the manufacturer of LPS's unit was, however. LPS's unit was then sold to Aussie World as has been stated, where it stayed until it suffered an incident believed to have been where one of the cars collapsed with riders in it. Aussie World was allegedly slugged a $25,000 fine for this mess!. The ride was then decommissioned with unverified accounts that the park sold the ride to a broker who then sold it to a park in Asia somewhere. Interesting- I have never heard this!! What source did you hear this from? Not that I dont believe you, but the park could have easily have fit this ride in the 2004 opening- there was plenty of room in Maloney's Corner for it or it could even possibly have fit in next to Tumblebug. If that was the official reason then I am calling bullshit on that.

Finally got to ride and HOLY SHITBALLS what an absolute Doggy's breakfast!! Wow seriously MW, way to go with this one! A pile of cash successfully wasted in taking the Park's best themed 'experience' ride and turned into a very poorly constructed joke. Was this Political Revenge of an outgoing Employee left in charge before being shown the door? After all the time closed and the loading area still hasnt been cleaned up. That Jester character has been sitting up there since the ride opened decades ago and shoulders are blackenned from dust. Same with the Chandeliers which are filthy - not "themeing" filthy, there is a difference. The "yikes! Monsters" Scooby at the first turn is back and as terrible animatronic as ever and automatic door into the ride still remains broken. Next, the two screens ahead right corner, other than rubbish animation, contrast is far too bright. The shape of the screens themselves being basic square shape with no attempt to blend with the environment. Seriously, what were they thinking? Lighting around the swinging blade scene (and all throughout the ride) is just too bright which shows everyrhing off too much. The ride should be dark and spooky. Animations throughout the Ghost train part of the ride moving too slowly and generally out of sync from the ride cars. Green screen effect is a good idea but as soon as the monsters appeared, we disappeared, turning into blackened shadows. It was probably too hard to do the Scrappy-doo scene in the lift with projection mapping so monitors were the choice. I get what they are trying to do here but again it was just so poorly done. A 4 year old riding would recognise them as TV screens. Not the case on the Hogwarts Express ride at Universal in Florida, so if executed properly it can be effective. Not sure what my expectations were for the mirror turntable room but my reaction (and all others around me) was... huh? No lights or smoke in the disco room as others have reported - just the runway lights along the 2 drops, which must have been expensive despite offering nothing to enhance the ride's experience! I like how the car stops for the mirror ball finale. Again, 2 square screens and shithouse animation, the ride is left finishing with a whimper rather than a bang. Just before pulling up at unload, howsabout putting the rider's photo up rather than more shithouse animation on a home TV sized monitor? I just don't understand the mess that has been made with this ride. No projection mapping anywhere (As promised) and a senseless over use of TV screens and ineffective lighting throughout. A complete waste of money given the same ride filled with little more than fog and pretty flashing lights would've be Infinitely better.

If car stunts are deemed 'too expensive' due to insurance etc, they could use that arena for a new version of something they used to do in one of the studios or theatres (long time ago and went to various attractions in each, so not sure which). An outdoor show about how various special effects in movies are made.