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So it’s been a massive decade for Australian theme parks, with some of the smaller parks around the country really showing that it isn’t just the Gold Coast parks that can have some awesome rides. Focusing on the Gold Coast though, there have definitely been some major highs and all time lows. The industry was beaten down a few times and there were some incidents that were major wake ups. Just want to get peoples thoughts on what they think our parks have done right and where they are still missing the park? What have been some good turn around points? What decisions did managements make that make you think, why? But also you wish to congratulate them on. Here’s a quick list of what new attractions have opened this decade: 2010 - Wet ’n’ Wild: Aqualoop and Flowrider - Sea World: Castaway Bay - WWW: Wedgie 2011 - Dreamworld: Shockwave and BuzzSaw, - Movie World: Green Lantern Coaster. 2012 - Movie World: Justice League - Wet ’n’ Wild: Constrictor - Dreamworld: DreamWorks Experience 2013 - Sea World: Storm Coaster 2014 - Dreamworld: Tailspin - WWW: Triple Vortex 2015 - Dreamworld: ABC Kids World - Sea World: Nickelodeon Land 2016 - Movie World: Super-Villains Unleashed - Dreamworld: Tiger Island 2017 - Movie World: DC Rivals Hypercoaster 2018 - Movie World: WB Studio Showcase 2019 - Dreamworld: SkyVoyager - WWW: Fully 6

I’ll never understand the open early rather than close later thing.

Rivals and SkyVoyager are by far the highlights of the decade. Nick Land at SW in third for its fantastic family offerings, the best on the coast. The improvements in DW over the last 18 months are also a shining light, in terms of cosmetic and additions (Halloween, holiday entertainment options etc). the lowlights for me being SDSC 2.0, the lack of upkeep on some cherished attractions (TOT2 and WWF of note), log roofs, and lack of any quality shows at our parks (stunt driver has long run its course, as has any show SW seem to produce, the DW Madagascar show hasn’t changed in near a decade). VTPs evening programs have dipped in the past 3-4 year. FN’s needs reinvigorating, Carnivales move to SW was poor decision making (made up slightly by the Aquacolour program, which hopefully lifts again in 2020). i think the landscape will be far different in our parks in another 10 years with many notable rides having been retired (HWSW, AA, RHLR, the entirety of MWs kids area apart from RR and JDS, possibly GD, WWF even may be gone if they don’t give it some love soon). Atlantis will be in full swing, DW will have added 2 coasters, I think 2020-30 will be the biggest decade of change for our parks in their histories, should be a fun ride. The potential ownership change for VTP could impact plans, and who knows what Ardent has planned long term for DW...

"My best friend".™️

They indicated TOT was being upgraded before it was closed.

Hopefully it is because Greg realised how ridiculous those boats were and new ones have been ordered

The statement that might be "true" is that Superman might be undergoing a more extensive train rebuild, hence one train. I think the pic is just to illustrate the harness design for those unfamiliar with it. Ive been on a few Intamins that have been refitted with the soft type harnesses, would be good if it did happen with this refurb.

He hasnt been in the job long enough to have ordered new boats and have them ready for delivery. I doubt its a simple, slap together in a few months deal to have them arrive even if they did shell out for new ones to get rid of the canopies. I wouldnt be surprised if its getting another upgrade. Building shit changes pretty drastic in 12 months sometimes. Cant imagine what an industry like this one being driven by deaths and safety investigations with a coroners report casting shadow over everything is like. Could literally have a standard or control change within months and render lots of previously coded stuff obsolete. Hell, even insurance could change and make it difficult to find coverage if you dont have a manufacturer to fall back on, given what happened with their other inhouse ride. Lots of risk to assume even if you think everything is safe.

WWF has had an unexpected stoppage this afternoon. Entered the queue at about 3:45pm and the line was through the outdoor switchbacks, within 10mins an announcement went over the ride that it would be stopping temporarily and to stay seated. Stoppage lasted about 40mins whilst people were taken off and then for testing. Has just reopened. in other news, people are f**king pigs...

A new delivery/site entry gate for the construction of New Atlantis has been added along Sea World Drive

Greg

MW and SW have slightly longer trading hours

Wow 🤦‍♂️ it’s a smoke machine powered by a mixture of glycol and water. Fire restrictions don’t affect it.

I was just thinking that Greg could've placed a order for custom made boats that fit the course which are currently in the process of being shipped hence the long closure which is all part of the upgrades of existing attractions at Dreamworld but most likely not.

Yes, they will. And this is the point option B is not actually an option. They won’t replace it. They will simply shutter it.

@Tim Dasco yes a new one with a mountain would be awesome and what would make the experience even better would be animatronics throughout its course. 👍

Evie also was the first individual to break the news on Fully6 before the park even had the chance to announce it as well

Was long in the AM and most of the day, I was speaking post 3pm that it had stopped being down the ramp

I mean they could have laid everything out in a more convenient and logical way.

The Rocky Hollow removal rumour has been kicking around since mid last year but it's starting to gain more weight since it's extended downtime and various sources all saying the same thing.

And exactly why is that? Can you tell me why 100s of parks around the world manage to operate (and build new) flume rides (and rapids for that matter) safely every single day yet Dreamworld can only say “nup it must close”. How about the park actually spend the money to fix up whatever seems to be unsatisfactory and keep the ride running? The lifts are new, the tunnels are gone. It’s a very basic control system and some water pumps. If the boats are past their use-by date then buy new ones. the continuous bullshit cop out Dreamworld keep making that’s it’s ok to close rides for safety is exactly that. In reality it’s just their unwillingness to spend money to make them safe and instead continue to water down their product offering. The park is in a hot climate and has ZERO water attractions to offer their guests. That’s pathetic I’m sorry.

Comes back to other parks being able to handle crowds better than Movie World does. Park layout can't be used as an excuse for entry gate speed especially when bag checks are involved. Most US parks you pass through a metal detector and bag check then move on to ticket/pass scan. Two separate checkpoints with security being the slowest. Some parks have even looked at speeding it up by x-ray scanning bags.

Sorry T-Bone I am going to have to disagree with you here.I have been on these boards since nearly inception and most know that my main points of interest are the Luna Park's of Australia and the smaller Australian theme parks such as Jamberoo, Aussie World , Adventure World and the Victorian parks such as Fun Fields and Adventure Park. Sure I have a huge interest in the GC parks as well and recognise rightly that they are are the pinnacle of the amusement park industry in Australia, but I always gravitate to any threads regarding our smaller burgeoning parks in the other states. My point is that I have shared my opinions and views on these parks over these many years and I have had (mostly) well rounded, intelligent discussions from members and posters that have certainly taken a fervent interest in these parks. This site is CALLED Parkz and as such encompasses ALL Australian amusement parks in the country as a whole. Its not called Gold Coast Parkz for a reason. Yeah sure the main thrust of the industry and the sheer scale of the parks on the GC mean that they attract the lion share of the focus on these boards but that is not meant to detract at all from the smaller parks within the Australian amusement park landscape. To say that no one seems to really care about the other parks is just a massive incorrect statement , IMHO. @iwerks, @Tim Dasco , @19Michael96 and myself are certainly examples of regular and respected posters who's main point of focus are not solely aligned with the GC parks.

Yeah, I suspect the mods will cut this part of the thread. My point is: why should we contribute to Parkz if AlexB is going to be antagonistic every time (even in the Adventure World threads - despite the fact that even he admits he’s never been there)? Why should I be a paid up member of Parkz if I get treated like a joke? I thought we were about intelligent discussion.

The problem with having a ‘sense of humour’ is that you can come across as a bullying dick. Maybe why people don’t post about parks outside the Gold Coast is that you come on and belittle them (even if you’re just trying to be funny).

Aviation is more than a small interest group. The tie-ins are vast. For starters, many of the people visiting the park will have been on a plane to get there. Aviation themes work in other parks - and Soarin is just one example of that. Although in Grizzly Peak, the area around Soarin is loaded with airport markings on the ground, shops made to look like hangars - and to be honest its a cheap and easy way to build a 'shed' and make it fit in. If the 'airports and travelling' concept wouldn't interest most people, then Tailspin should be a walk-on. So should Soarin, and so should i-ride when it opens. But it won't be - because only a "small amount of people" really care too much about theming, and the majority of park visitors just want to ride rides. Buzzsaw as mentioned could be 'red baron'. These planes still fly at airshows and joy flights and the like - and the theme means very little about the ride needs to change - perhaps change the train colours. The building can be easily rethemed to an old aircraft hangar, and the sawblades easily changed to propellers. As for what other rides, there's a plethora of rides out there themed to aviation related topics. The following list isn't necessarily advocating that the park get these rides (some are quite old), but just an example that there's plenty out there that has proven successful: Kid's ride - a "red baron" ride - see 'Dick Dastardly's Flying Circus' at Wonderland Paratrooper ride (i think Dreamworld used to have one of these) Parachute Jump ride (think Green Army men Parachute Drop at Disney) A B&M Flyer could find a home here too Centrifugal motion sim (think Mission Space) - there used to be one in Parramatta Intencity Think 'peter pan's flight' as a dark ride opportunity (themed differently), suitable for the whole family Theming is easy too. You could construct a wide body jet, with first class or business class seats as a dining experience. And remember - modern jet aircraft have Turbines - it's like the theme was made for Dreamworld! Plus - you could partner up with Qantas, or Virgin, and have items from their history of aviation as a walkthrough to fill additional space until you're ready to build the next big attraction (like Brock) Check out Aviodrome theme park in the netherlands for some of what they do too.

I really need to proof read.. I just don’t understand if you’re going to go to retheme, why an airport. Okay it will interest the small amount of people who love airports and travelling but the rest (families) are going to think it’s nothing to care too much about because why would the kids want to go to an airport. Just really confused especially considering the whole buzzsaw is going to be rethemed to fit the theme? That’s going to be very intresting aswell.. two completely different themes. One modern, one old. However if it is because of the IRide, surely they can keep that as it’s own standalone precinct

In the dark*

They open earlier AND close later at movieworld though. Park opens at 9am, closes at 6pm*. 6pm is a loose figure as we all know, because they run out the queues, so it's more like 6:30 or maybe even later depending on how busy it is. I havent been during these holidays, but last christmas ones there was a 45 min queue just to get off the highway, let alone through the gates. So the earlier opening at both parks might help with the traffic, even if it sucks that you still get stuck at the ticket booths. Why does it take so long to process ticket purchases. 😫