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G'day Marty, and welcome. Plan of attack depends a lot on a number of factors: which day of the week how much time you plan to spend in-park what you want to do If you have your ticket prepurchased, and you're happy for a quick once-through, you can get away with carrying minimal stuff with you. If you're planning to be in-park all day and see and do everything, and keep riding until close, you may want to carry a little more with you. Some attractions require hiring a locker (such as superman). If you're going to be hopping all over the park, having an all-day locker in a central location can be a pain, but so can continuously feeding a locker every time you want a ride. Superman is the only main attraction without a 'free' storage system: Green Lantern (small items only) Rivals (on station storage) Justice League (on board) Batwing (on station) Arkham Asylum (on station) Scooby (on board) Doomsday (on station) Wild West Falls (on board) Roxy ("on board") Road Runner (on station *i think*) An All-day locker is about $10-15 (i think there's a couple of sizes) but i do find it painful as they aren't necessarily in convenient spots - either the very front next to GL, or behind the photo shop next to Rick's. If you get a parking spot close to the gates, its almost easier to leave the park to get your stuff than spend $10-15 on a locker all day (just be sure to get a pass-out). You'll invariably purchase a refillable drink, and end up carrying that around, so a backpack is probably best. Superman is your only issue there, so get all your rides in 'in a row', cop the buck for the locker and then spend the rest of the day elsewhere. With the money you save on an all day locker, you can pick up a backwards row seat on rivals for added fun. If you're coming in on a weekday, you'll be done by lunchtime, unless you want to keep re-riding - consider checking out other nearby attractions including topgolf, Wet N Wild, and Game On. If you can expand a little more on what you're looking for, or ask more specific questions, i'm sure you'll find some helpful, (and some not so helpful tongue in cheek) comments to help you on your way. cheers.

Going to have to disagree with you. It's a case of "remove all the animatronics, and replace them with screens" "but what do we do with all these leftover animatronics?" "just shove it in the final scene". The 'water tank' doesn't fit it's surroundings. They give the impression that the Mosasaurus is swimming 'under' you. While the effect is well done, and the imagery is very realistic, the scene prior to and after it just don't blend. In the previous incarnation, the story was a 'tour' of the park, and the intention was to visit the Hadrosaur enclosure, through a 'fake' portal, but a crashed boat, flashing lights and warning announcements sent you to a 'back alley' past the Velociraptors. In the new version, the pretence of the hadrosaur enclosure is gone (but the Hadrosaur out front remains) and the 'predator' path is presented as the intended path. The first thing you see is the Velociraptor cage from Jurassic PARK, which doesn't exist in Jurassic WORLD as the enclosure in JW is very different. The Indominus gates are right beside the Trex gates, despite them being nowhere near each other in the movie, and the gates for indominus are bent, as if they were forced open, but they're bent the wrong way. The next section, a scene of gas tanks, and the car falling down the cliff in the previous iteration is replaced with... well... nothing? A whole lotta blank, made up for by 3 flat screens. This is a huge practical set, and we've blanked the walls and everything else in favour of watching TV? You then enter the Trex enclosure, and immediately go up hill... because ride. There are TVs everywhere in this 'evacuation' because every park in the world ensures they have video uplinks to their evacuation areas, which are of course monitored and featuring our favourite Universal celebrities (i'm surprised they didn't find a way to slip Jimmy Fallon in there), and the 'endless tunnel' with the psych out drop is replaced with... well... nothing. Oh, wait - there's a raptor in there... but its the same, just with added sparks. Now we have dilophasaurus, indominus, and a bunch of stuff going on (why?) followed by Rex coming out of the waterfall (again) except this time he comes out well before you're at the edge, and the scare you get when he's right on top of you is replaced by 'oh, there's a t-rex over there' and of course his programmed movements are pretty well over by the time you get to the precipice. Splash. In summary, I hate what they have done with this one, and ask - why is universal ruining everything just for the sake of new ip, video screens and celebrity appearances?

Hiya, Welcome. I frequently travel solo to theme parks, mainly because I tend to travel solo quite a bit for various reasons. Here are my tops tips for visiting a theme park solo: 1. Shorts/Pants with a zip up pocket are a lifesaver, especially for rides where you can take all your items with you. Bonus is to take a sandwich sized ziplock bag to pop your phone/wallet etc. into for wet rides where you can carry items, but also for quick dumping into storage bins provided at rides. 2. Pockets should have the minimum possible in them. I usually get by with either $20 (Enough usually for lunch) or my Debit card and my car key. Everything else can be left in the car (If I drove). Depending on the park and the facilities offered I may also take my mobile phone to occupy me in lines while I wait otherwise I leave it in the car. 3. Alternatively if I have to carry more that the minimum (Usually the case if you don't drive) I grab an all day locker that can be opened and closed as much as I want throughout the day. Sure it's annoying to have to go back and forth but it makes it easier to dump stuff then go on a ride and grab stuff when you need it. 4. Single rider lines are your friend, usually. Australian parks don't generally do these as well as overseas. What I have done in the past is talked to people heading into rides in odd numbers and asked if I can tag along to make the group even (Like being the 4th person in a B&M row or the 6th person in a raft ride for example). It works more often than not and you may get a better seat than waiting for a single ride spot. 5. Alternatively team up with someone else in the single rider line to form a duo. I've met some really cool people this way, usually they are enthusiasts whose friends aren't as keen on theme parks. Hope those tips help!

NEWSFLASH! Annabelle isn't the only horror movie to have dolls. The dolls in the photo look newborn and Annabelle isn't a newborn baby doll.

There are many examples of new government legislation and regulations that have transition phases. I think that's all Strop was advocating.

Fixed it...?

Old Sydney Town heritage listed by National Trust Catherine Stubbs, Central Coast Express Advocate July 8, 2019 11:25am The saga of Old Sydney Town has taken a surprising new twist after it was revealed that the long defunct heritage theme park site has been listed by the National Trust. National Trust (NSW) conservation director Graham Quint confirmed the listing this month and said it was “in recognition of the living museum’s cultural significance and historic interpretation of Colonial history prior to the arrival of Governor Macquarie”. Old Sydney Town was renown for its depictions of colonial life. “It was highly regarded by families and provided a fantastic site for education and particularly popular at the time of Australia’s Bicentennial celebrations in 1988,” Mr Quint said. Mr Quint added The National Trust (NSW) Register lists places that were cultural components of the natural or cultural environment of Australia, that have aesthetic, historic, architectural, archaeological, scientific or social significance or other special value for future generations, as well as for the present community. National Trust conservation director, Graham Quin said the Old Sydney Town site was rare and unique. Picture: Justin Sanson “Old Sydney Town is rare and unique in its portrayal of Sydney and its environs as they existed at a time when the tiny town was still a strict convict settlement, struggling to survive,” he said. “Its genesis was based on a small but intensive body of interest that was brought to life in the historical research of scholars including the Old Sydney Town founder Frank Fox.” Mr Quint said Central Coast Council had been notified of the listing. People queuedg up to see visit Old Sydney Town beforein closed on January 27, 2003. Picture: Elenor Tedenborg The listing may come as a surprise to the new owners of the Old Sydney Town site who bought it from French hotel tycoon Richard Chieu in 2018 for $20 million. Just eight weeks ago the group, calling itself World Culture Tourism Village, unveiled new plans for the 120 hectare site including resurrecting parts of Old Sydney Town and building a global tourism village and leisure precinct. The plans also included building community indoor and outdoor spaces, a boutique retail shopping village, a food and bar precinct, water activities, hotels, exhibition spaces, retail spaces and residential development. Old windmill at Old Sydney Town. How the National Trust listing will impact on those plans is uncertain. Graham Quint said listing on the National Trust Register did not have “legal force”. “It is however, recognised as an authoritative statement of historical, architectural importance or other value of a building, site, item, or area, and by listing such items on its register, the National Trust hopes to advise the public of the value of Australia’s national heritage,” Mr Quint said. Old Sydney Town waterfront area with potters hut and bottle kiln at right. Picture: @switchy3 / Mitchell Hubbard “The National Trust does not advocate rigid and unnecessarily restrictive development controls with regard to listed items or places. “However, it recommends that their significance as part of the national, state or local heritage should be conserved through controls that allow, where necessary, for new and compatible development and associated works, all of which respect the character of the place or item through enhancement rather than conflict.” One of the dwellings in Old Sydney Town in a state of disrepair. Central Coast Mayor Jane Smith said she was unsure if council had received official notification of heritage listing. “But I recognise the memories that many Central Coast residents will have of Old Sydney Town and welcome any recognition of its significance,” Cr Smith said. “I would expect that these factors will need to be taken into consideration with any proposal for the future of the site.” You're welcome @StingRay

Unfortunately it seems as though the water flows slower in Jurassic World, so they don’t stay in sync for long, but this should help with comparisons. worth noting - I’ve seen several videos of the new version now, and I don’t think the boat is supposed to stop in the final room - nor is it supposed to show the TREX twice, but you get the idea...

Were those issues also present before the refurbishment then? If not, it's a downgrade!

Be warned that Superman Escape is not compatible with this option. The greeter at the entrance to the queue will ask, and many of them are pretty good at spotting 'something heavy' swinging in cargo pockets and the like. A zipper is not good enough for the Superman loose item policy and you will be required to leave the queue and get a locker. I've seen it happen - even when the guy was already seated and harnessed. For superman you'll definitely need the locker. If you get through the queue quick enough, Green Lantern can also been piggy backed off the same locker hire. The GL policy has changed several times over the years from mandatory (like superman) to 'small items only' permitted in the pigeonholes, but i have also seen small bags left on the station (exit side) so i guess it varies. On a quiet weekday, you might be fine - but you can always try GL first off with minimal queue, and if you get rejected, then you know for the rest of the day.

Hold me down and cover me in tomato sauce, you might be onto something here.

Could they not be moving House of Kain into this area and placing one of the 3 new mazes in the Show Stage area? They did something similar with Friday the 13th. Most of the props look like those used in House of Kain last year.

I've never been on the old one or this one, but if I had I'd hate this one too. In fact, it sounds like they've done a similar job with it to what Movie World has with Scooby!

To be honest, that's a better look there, than in a turn of the century main street.

Despite those small issues (which are expected because the park doesn't do these often), it did look like a great event and really good atmosphere. Well done to DW and glad there wasn't crazy queues like previous times.

Better shots during the night

First POV from soft opening of Jurassic World at Universal Studios Looks great, the original JP ride was on of my favourites, but looking forward to giving this is a crack next year

That is very funny for soooo many reasons. It also appears that this post has been removed from the page as well. Interesting!! Thanks for posting!!

I visited the park today for the first time since Shaun was introduced. And I was very impressed with how it was all intergrated into the park and I love all the figures throughout the park

Construction fencing has been put in place around the entire site

Not even close. This refurb was actually done well.

It certainly does look like Annabelle. If you look closely, you'll see baby dolls in one of the boxes - a prop which was heavily featured in 'Annabelle: Creation'. I believe the old Grandfather Clock is also featured in that same movie.