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Great news, and will help keep Funfields and Adventure Park on their toes. What a great time for Victoria's 3 regional theme parks! Also found this image of the new slides from this article https://www.ausleisure.com.au/news/gumbuya-world-expands-to-include-new-gigantic-slides-and-family-wave-pool/:

The $3.50 flowers I buy the wifey from woolies seem to be ok without the sun. DW are still trying to work out how to get the ladder out.

That slide went to a small waterpark in Canberra called Big Splash,. The former Speed Slide from WNWGC also wound up here as well Yeah you are right- its definitely a bit misleading. You would think of that as one slide not 4 replicated slides. I think this is the first racer slide of this type in Victoria with the enclosed looping elements....hardly anything to write home about. Absolutely its great to see the confidence in Victoria's parks translate into this type of investment. Mark my words, this could have an impact on Victorians travelling to the Gold Coast for theme park experiences if Victorian's have 3 strong and growing options on their doorstep. Didnt Gumbaya World also purchase the Plunge slide that was in the Seaworld Park ( and before that at WNWGC)? Can anyone confirm that rumour? Great find also on the ausleisure site- this shows clearly that they are calling the racers "4" slides.

They're too busy renovating stadiums that don't need it.

Gumbaya World has updated their Facebook page and have revealed their new expansion plans. In summary, the park will add Victoria's most impressive Wave Pool 6 brand new slides including: 2 new "monster Twister slides Four lane racer slides. Gumbaya World has certainly arrived with this announcement. This is fantastic and exactly what the park needs. How good is the theme park industry in Victoria going with 3 excellent medium sized parks to choose from? Why cannot NSW replicate this sort of success and investment in this state?? Its mind boggling.......

Which is pretty ironic considering it's a flying attraction..

It's structural defects, scarily enough.

Perfectly done MickeyD! To add: Yosemite Sam's Diner used to be right next to the Looney Tunes stage \ theatre. It was a covered, but open air ampitheatre, and used to host a LT stage show. Naturally, it made way for RRRC, at which point the food outlet kind of lost most of it's audience. As for sundowners - where Intencity \ Matrix \ Harry Potter was is where the Young Einstein Gravity Homestead used to reside, (from memory)...

Yosemite Sam's was another fast food diner originally with Hotdogs being the main focus. Later in it's life it promoted healthy food choices, salad rolls and juices. The Studio Commissary was original the other main Dining room at the Park. The building replicates the original Studio Commissary at the WBs studios in Burbank. In better days it was popular for "Breakfast with the Stars". The 3rd building at the rear is Sundowners which was a retail outlet to the right, specialising in Western themed souvenirs. The food outlet next door was also referred to as Sundowners and in the early days was the better choice over Gotham City because it had a big outdoor sitting area. It was also always open The Games buildings were originally Garden beds.

Today’s update

This isn’t me providing the lesson, but asking questions about Movie World’s history about current buildings and areas original usages. Was this building actually a diner and when did it close? Has this building ever had a real purpose because I have never seen it be used for a decent amount of time And this area that has all the games in it, what was originally here or the space used for? (I do know the dodgems building was HP and then the Matrix)

Sorry for the thread bump, the price was right We built this as our first major theme park installation and it has been extremely successful. Turned a really marginal business into something that works well and has a great future

From dreamworld’s Facebook replying to a comment questioning why it wasn’t open this summer. Hi Deb, We know the anticipation is building for the Sky Voyager opening. We can’t wait to open this state-of-the-art flying theatre, but we also need to make sure we’ve ticked all the boxes because our commitment to safety is our priority. The ride is currently going through the final approval processes necessary to begin operating. Hang tight, the opening is not far away, and we can assure all our guests that this Australian-first attraction will be well worth the wait.

Don't worry @AlexBI won't. I know how jealous you get. If SV isn't opening this summer how hard is it to change a web site? DW not removing it from it's web site proves that DW doesn't give 1 flying f$%k's about it's customers.

Artificial ones don't need sunlight.

Isn't that precisely the point? Non-students have more money and therefore can afford to visit at more appropriate times rather than on a Wednesday night.

It's a classic move out of the Australian Hospo Playbook. The next one is hospo night.

Plus that's a big fuck you to anyone who isn't a student. Don't they realise that non-students tend to have more money?

I wouldn't expect a pom to understand what makes something "Aussie" but.. well, apart from the pub, which isn't inside the park, let's take a look - There's the Disk'o, themed to a Giant Redback (spider in case you weren't sure), and other rides such as the Mozzie Musta, the Bombora Bounce, and the Tin Lids tea party - arguably all quite "Aussie" (as well as the Platypus Ponds mini golf!). Then there's other rides which, while they aren't all 'strictly' Aussie, make a better connection to the park's overall theme than a motorbike coaster in Rivertown - especially since much of the theme in that area is an aussie 'fairground' which does allow for a hodge podge of random rides - don't you remember an old fairground looking exactly like that? Don't forget the plunge... nothing says Australia like rusty corrugated iron and log flumes! And what about dunny races? I mean really - what makes something "aussie" anyway? What is "aussie cuisine" for example? Just like Russell Crowe, Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger and Pavlova - its Aussie if we say its Aussie.

So they have taken their usual land based shows and swapped bikes for whatever water craft they have been trained on? Cool, cool, cool, cool, cool.

What a great photo!! Luna Park are gearing themselves up for a Volare announcement!! Its definitely building towards official!! Most excellent!

Former VP of Park Operations for Hong Kong Disneyland, and current leader of Apex Parks and Entertainment Services, Noble Coker was good enough to give me an hour and half of his busy schedule to discuss all things customer experience on Friday. Noble spent 16 years with Disney, learning from Senior Managers who could still recall Walt Disney walking around the Parks. Noble had some fantastic insights to share that I shall be posting soon on my YouTube channel and from which some nuggets of Disney magic will be incorporated into my new book. Look out for Noble's response to my question, "tell us about your favourite Disney memory" I will post here next week. It was really quite a moving response. Thanks Noble, you are a true industry star and friend.

I think as soon as you sit down at TG people feel like the clock is ticking and people dont want to chill and buy food. An offer like '3rd hour free' would help to that end. I think a lot of people would take it up and if know upfront you'll be there for 3 hours you'd be more happy to order food.

I reckon the Unicorn Vomit Express looks pretty cool to be honest.... reminds me of that technicolour T-shirt my Nan bought me in 1996... that shirt was a great dusting rag...

Dreamworld engineering and projects departments both knew as early as the 3rd week of October last year that there was a extremely high chance that the Sky Voyager wouldn’t be ready to open before January 15th. They were planning alternative temporary Christmas holiday attractions that they were happy to spend $100,000 + on. One of the ideas was to have a flower display show similar to Toowoomba’s annual display. Then days later the 2nd part of the inquest started with very damaging new evidence from Dreamworld engineers and management. The planning on alternative temporary attractions was quickly stopped. At least part of the reason why the ride is not yet open is clearly due to the initial poor projects planning. Also what may have contributed is that with such an initial small timeframe, more than 3 technicians/ mechanics from the ride supplier needed to come to Australia to help assist work on the ride. Theme park attractions over the previous years have been delayed before, but not at the same time as the theme park is on it’s knees.

I don't recall the bands ever being free. ???????????????????????????????????????? If you're not feeling well @pushbuttonas a friend I would like to suggest a tablet right up your ally -

Good news, MW have got rid of the Topgolf sign outside the entrance and have gone to these efforts

Poison Ivy has returned And look what else is back

I can confidently say that Paw Patrol is really suited to the 2-7 year old audiences it is targeted at. I find it laughable that Push constantly whines when a park introduces a coaster because 'not everyone likes coasters' but then he'll go and bash them when they introduce literally ANYTHING else that isn't perfectly suited to him. It's not about special assistance. it's about pointing everyone to what you're actually talking about to save the inevitable to-and-fro of: "i don't see it - where on the website was it?" "it was on the front page banner" "i don't see a banner on the front page, should i try the news tab?" "no it was just on the front page for me - are you using firefox?" "no, im using safari" "oh, are you using an ipad?" "no, an iphone" "oh ok, it doesn't come up on my iphone but it worked on desktop" "i don't have desktop" "ok, try this" Besides - i've seen how you carry on on social media - going and answering the questions people ask the park social teams before the social teams respond - why are you so "helpful" there, but you have to be such a pratt here? Didn't you get banned from VRTP parks for a while? Its in much the similar vein as:

TRIGGER WARNING - The following contains an opinion, viewer descretion is advised. I enjoy MDMC and a lot of the general public enjoy it aswell. It is mostly in part to enthusists that is has a terrible wrap. Most people I know that are just general visitors really enjoy it, especially families. And Movie World already have AA which in my opinion is more uncomforable than MDMC.

I know we all hate MDMC, but one of the issues Dreamworld had was it was all off the ground. Cut all the supports and drop it low to the ground, and it could be something.... more if you can find a spot to drop a second set of launch wheels too... and replace the trains - or at least the restraints.... You have to understand that, even before we knew about the lack of maintenance, and the care-free attitude towards killing people, everyone hated MDMC. It wouldn't matter what park it was in. As a matter of fact it ranked in dead last on some coaster polls a while ago. Everything about it sucks.

For Paw Patrol they removed the bar completely as it had become extremely rusty. So that show is just an environmental lesson they found in primary school science textbooks. I think the bar has had the worst of the rust scraped off now and it will be reused for this new stunt show. As the centre of it is still 99% rust, it can't be set high as it is likely to snap in half soon and could hurt someone when it falls.

Bikash said it’s amazing, you can take his word for it...

At least they’ve gone to the effort of have detailed signage and prints rather than an A frame or something printed and laminated

News Flash! I have just been informed by the Park that they will double the size of the Water Park this winter ready for next Summer re-opening of the Water Park. Trading has been very strong this summer. GW is a work in progress, the guys know it but they are making great strides. At the rate they are going they will eclipse the others in time.

Honestly it’s no wonder the park is dead, they haven’t done anything since TRR to bring the guests back. Sure a lot of have returned to support the park, but that support wears thin when it’s clear Ardent don’t give a rats. It is incredibly sad to see the park as it is right now, and Ardent only have themselves to blame. Here’s what they need to do in my mind to help pull themselves out of this hole they have dug for themselves (ardent you are free to use any of these ideas Royalty Free). Open Skyvoyager pronto, and explain why the delay has occurred, get out there and really sell the experience. Tell the public what your plans are for the old Goldrush sure, be upfront about what’s going on in the park right now, and be as graphic as possible. Spend a bit of money and get an artist to draw up some plans. Commit to building a kick arse Rollercoaster, something Dreamworld has been lacking since Superman Escape came to town. People love and miss the old Dreamworld, so bring back the little and cheap but important experiences like the steam train, barbershop quartet, but hey how about you go full hog here and do a little Dreamworld history museum, they would have enough stuff in their archives to show some stuff off in a small room, or heck a big room like the old brock museum. Last but not least, they should be doing everything they can to keep attractions open. The train closure is a stupid one, because the attraction is closed for the first 5 months of the year due to the tractor being a pos, the park should be doing everything they can to keep it running, get the Baldwin back in steam, or worst case use the simplex diesel. The train is an important attraction for the park, yet also an easy one to run and problem solve, if they can’t keep it running then there is no hope. For the park to survive any further, they need to stop playing the “feel sorry for us” game and actually give people a reason to visit. People aren’t visiting because the Dreamworld today isn’t any better than what Dreamworld was like in 2016, infact with all the ride closures it is a much worse park right now than just before TRR.

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.

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.

Sorry push but you are very wrong. Apart from the climax of the peak period, Dreamworld has been dead. This weekend, all lines were walk on including tower of terror. On Australia Day the park was the quietest I’ve ever seen it and over the many times I’ve been during summer, only one day was the park ‘busy’.

Did anyone else see the "Thunder Lake" name as being a little too close to "Thunder River"? I know it's a show and not a ride, but I couldn't help but think with a stunt show, if something goes wrong, there would be comparisons to the DW incident.

Sorry, did not realise you were in need of special assistance. Here you go!