Richard

Just in case my figure earlier causes any trouble, it's actually only 1.83 times taller than Space Probe. It's 119m (390ft) to 65m (213ft). So yes, we are talking significantly higher. They all look the same when they're in a photograph with a bright blue sky backdrop, and it's really quite difficult to realise actually how big Giant Drop is. I assure you if you've not ridden Giant Drop, that it is high, and you most certainly do sense the difference when you're up there. -Richard, looking forward to riding Disney-MGM's Tower of Terror. Awesome theming, multiple drops and seatbelt seats!

I put my vote in for Giant Drop. I can see a lot of bias or fanboyism coming into play here. Hey, Giant Drop's double the height and otherwise the same basic ride. It mightn't be as well themed. I remember the first time I rode Space Probe. I rode it and was freaked, then rode it again and again and it lost its ability to really thrill. Meanwhile, Giant Drop took dozens upon dozens of rides to get used to. Needless to say, riding Giant Drop one day, then two days later being at Wonderland and riding Space Probe, it just didn't exactly do it for me. It's more of a fun and enjoyable ride than an intense ride like Giant Drop.

I don't think the joke has exactly sunk in with some...

They've been saying 1000 pph all along. I'm not sure what system that is that determines that. Whether they've calculated what we in the industry call the "novelty effect" , and based the thoroughput on that, or they're going to let in a few dozen people at a time, and fire up the currents for everyone to drift around for a few minutes then stopping it and letting them all out.

I'd love to see something like that done. It doesn't take an idiot to realise that Dreamworld's original layout was inspired (stolen from) Disneyland, but they did make it significantly smaller. You'd certainly fit an attraction like Disneyland's (Tom Sawyer's Island), but it wouldn't be as big. I'd insist that Dreamworld keep most of the gum trees on the island - not only would it be a total shame to loose the serenity of that area to a cheap steel playground/adventure area, but it'd be a very cool thing to have hidden among the trees. Also, I'm not sure that Dreamworld's got an active enough ride development department that'd really do well with a ride like that. Sure, you'll find plenty of booths at IAAPA selling off-the-shelf, but I'm not sure you'd get anything as good as Disney's without having the internal infrastructure to fully develop the attaction properly and well.

Not exactly what I'd call a surprise, especially given what I've been hinting to over the past few weeks. It's a limited season, so we shouldn't expect anything terribly extravagent, though the sets they've bough do look pretty nice. There's absolutely no reason anyone could have expected any more for this year. Aside from the fact that it's pretty much been public knowledge that they weren't investing this year, they've had a hugely capital intensive past five or six years. Just wait a year and you'll all be happy.

That's the same on all Intamin Giant Drops. They are able to accelerate so freely because they detach from the lifting. The gondola is completely free moving - it is just wheels attached to the rails, with absolutely no connection to anything else. The lift mechanism hooks onto it, tows it up and unhooks at the top letting it fall. After some time the sled makes its way back down and clamps back on. If you're in the station while it clamps back on, it's a distinct, loud metallic clunk. The real reason that I'd suggest Giant Drop doesn't have a hood over the top is because, Space Probe is actually one of the only, it not the only Giant Drops that actually has the hood over the top. I guess I'll go for the open views rather than the hood any day, but it's all personal opinion.

Incidently, the entrance would have been my second choice for the area of the park to fix. I don't think it really works too well, and it certainly isn't the most pretty thing to walk up to first thing in the morning (mmm don't you just love the way the bitumen complements the green concrete and orange bricks). I'd say if it were to be fixed, scrap it and start again. Build something that's both modern and at the same time timeless (Sea World's was probably modern and hip at the time of building, but it's certainly not past its used-by date like Dreamworld's Disneyland entrance). I'm not an architecture student, so I can't give much more insight than that, but give it size and openness (did I mention it's also very small and gloomy under the awnings), and I'm happy. What's next. I know I've got a few ideas (soon it's just going to start sounding picky), but I'll let some others have a go.

Okay, Dreamworld in the past several years have: completely rebuilt the wildlife park making it world-class (and one of my favourite areas of Dreamworld now), replaced the sad Kennyland with Nick Central, something that replaces. They've gone over Ocean Parade with a refreshing and pleasant coat of paint and all sorts of fun theming, and removed Thunderbolt, definitely one of their main "trouble areas". Now, what should Dreamworld do next? I don't really mean what new ride or coaster they should get next, but rather what should that look at to give a new life to. I'll get the ball rolling by suggesting that they look at Blue Lagoon a few years down the track, and spend their attraction budget on making it a quality water park. As it is, it's a reasonably attractive place, certainly aging (and that horrendous concrete mountain could do with some looking at) and in need of not only revamping but serious expanding. They have a total of three water slides, one of which is a toboggan. An average "serious" investment by Dreamworld would be up around $16 mil, which really gets you a long long way in terms of water parks. For that price, they could build some really nice pools and expand their slide arsenal to about 6x what they currently have. Drop the train line down a few feet and bridge over it (put seating or gardens or something in that narrow strip), and over the other side, have some larger pools (at the lower ground level - in the swamps near Big Brother), and some real quality slides that give Wet'n'Wild a run for their money. I'd probably look at what Holiday World have done with their Splashin' Safari, and go that route (big tube/mat slides, plus one of those awesome playgrounds with the big tipping bucket at the top). What's everyone elses opinions for Dreamworld? It can be anything as simple as change the food they serve, right up to elaborate plans for new themed areas.

Welcome along Chippy. Good to know that we've got a date. Even better to know that I'll be down that way taking the coast road (very subtle reference to a song by David Lane... doubt we've got many fans of his here though ) for fun and coasters in April. That gives me something else to do in Sydney, which is always good. This is a $72 mil investment by the owners - compare that to the tiny $10 mil that was spent in Melbourne's park, turning a sad old park into a sad old park with a crapload of bitumen and bad rides. I think we might get something decent out of this - even if the majority doesn't go into rides, we're going to get a very pretty little park down by the harbour.

I've removed the Aussie World forum - it had two topics and about three posts, and none since February. The posts have been moved the the General Thrills forum, so there are no losses.

Of course, Johno (and indeed anyone), safety always comes first, and you'd never do anything that compromises the safety of yourself or other riders, right? Don't leave it to your judgement either. I know my judgement has left me with broken ribs, ankles, fingers and plenty of cuts, bruises and windings - just from rock climbing (note: we're not talking recklessness - all but one of them was simply error of judgement and never comprimising safety... the one that wasn't was falling three metres and landing sideways on solid dirt and left me with just a bad headache and a bit of windlessness). Just make sure that whatever you do on a ride constitutes safe riding and doesn't break park rules or rules of common sense. Just a friendly community service announcement.

If SydRider doesn't get anything (we're all counting on you!! ), I'll be there in a month and have something. I'll give the Wet'n'Wild gallery a much needed summer twist - plus I've really got to find time for a Movie World visit to catch up on a few months of missed progress. I've just been so busy all year that I'm having to plan and try to squeeze in visits to parks, whereas it used to just be an impulse thing I'd do any day I'm bored.

I saw the ad for the ride a few hours ago (anyone else thing that that Simpsons Extravaganza was a waste of time? ) - you can clearly see the spa covers in the bottom - they're the green bubbles scattered around under water.

It's called: "Diving Coaster: Vanish" Yep, translation has given us yet another fantastically named ride. It's certainly not a new ride - I remember discussing this several years ago at other sites, and RCDB lists it as 1998, so that makes sense. I'm pretty sure that the "boring" track you see in the background is just a turn out of the station or something. I've seen a few more photos a few years ago, and thought it certainly isn't the most intense, it does look to be a very fun ride with plenty of turns and drops - almost a mini-hypercoaster. Another good, one, Janfusun Fancyworld in Korea has a coaster that's known as G5 by most, but the correct translated name is apparently "Flying Sumarine". It's the same park that opened "Crazy Flying Coaster", ironically a floorless coaster, a few years ago.

If you're looking for somewhere to upload pictures, there's both the Attachment function when you post here, as well as the Album. You're more than welcome to use these features.

Great reports there! I'll admit, once again, I've changed my opinions on the park. I remember during Oblivion's construction and all that hype, it was to me the ultimate park (the interest Chris Sawyer created for the park helped too I think). Even during AIR's construction I was still pretty hooked on what looked to be a magical place. Bad report after bad report from enthusiasts led me to change my regard for the park - numerous reports about being dirty, vandalised and way too over-crowded to me didn't do it. Well, it's great to get a positive report from someone who values much the same things in a park as myself. And of course, well done getting the "oldies" on the ride. I remember explaining Giant Drop and Tower of Terror to my 80+ year old grandmother (whose last coasters were the Scenic Railway and Big Dipper at Luna Park Melbourne in the 1930's as she was growing up) a few years ago. It's fair to say she's not going on any coasters any time soon, but she did sound genuinely interested and even excited by the description of the rides.

I assume you mean Whirlpool (without the Springs). Whirlpool Springs is just the spas which is around in winter, which there are photos of here. I'm going to be out there again late next month. I'll do what I can to get a few shots of that ride - it's one I'm interested in too.

I think it's insane that you could get in at 4:55 on your pass, but suddenly when it hits 5pm, you're paying $16.50. Not to mention that there's nothing mentioned in the Wonderpass Terms and Conditions of Use (which could do with a bit of a proofread to get rid of a few typos and awkward phrases- it's just plain terrible in parts) - or anywhere on the Wonderland website. I suppose, it's just something you've got to remember, and get there a few before 5pm if that's the way it's got to be done. There's really not much you can do.

It's only for one day. Given that as you say, it is during the holidays, and it's a single day, I'm guessing it's not necessarily maintenance. Who knows, maybe they're doing some filming for a travel show that day or some sort of Nickelodeon special for the holidays or something. Now, give me some decent wheels on Cyclone and I'll be happy. That ride was fantastically smooth for all of a few months. Those that didn't ride it in its first three months at Dreamworld really don't know what they missed out on.

Well, it's either simulators, or Alan Schilke (inventor of 4D, now with S&S-Arrow) talking about X, but seeing as X has come and well, gone, I'm not sure what new concept that he's come up with he will talk about. Personally, DJKostya, I don't think you're missing much at all. I know some people will disagree with that, but they're generally not shows I enjoy.

Oh boy, the "Dragon Ride", as it was known, was a damn fun ride. I remember they had a daily show where a really great old guy would make balloon animals and he'd have everyone doing the chicken dance at the end (he'd sing these words to it too, "And a little bit of this and a little bit of that and you shake your tail..."), and all the kids would get a showbag type thing, where inside was a free day ticket to come back another time. I'd say those things were pretty close to a season pass for me. I rode that thing hundreds of times, and it was always a damn fun little ride, and it sounded so cool going around the track with this whizzing electric motor sound. I was out at Aussie World this past weekend (more like driving past, and thought it'd be good to pull over and give the place a quick glance over), and I can confirm what I read somewhere that their newly built swinging ship is the same one that operated at Tops (the only ride there I never rode... it always freaked me 8)), so there's at least one ride. Of course, for those that don't know, the whole area has been turned into a cinema (one that tries to look fancy, but just stinks of cheapness and tackiness), with a small arcade area going by the name of Tops keeping the legacy going. Speaking of this, I'm still quite annoyed that when Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu were up there one night for the launch of CA2 I was downstairs eating KFC with mates. Needless to say we were all pretty annoyed when we got up there to see 2 Fast 2 Furious, and they were just ripping up duct tape and packing away tables. Magic Mountain, though I never went there, sounded like a very dodgey park. I'm also going to suggest that if they had a coaster, it probably wasn't the one in question (any idea of the style of coaster we're talking?).

Thanks for letting us know. Whenever I know they're on, I try to watch them. Of course, that doesn't mean I like them. To be honest, I think they're generally pretty terrible and it's a bit of an ordeal for me to actually sit through the whole thing, but it's always interesting to watch and see what names you know, and hear the annoying voice-over repeat the same basic thing over and over for each segment, and then do the cliche "future of thrill rides" section.

G'day SydRider. Welcome along and feel free to contribute in the forums as much as you wish! You're indeed correct that it probably was smoother when you were younger, and it's nothing to do with the ride's age or maintenance. Rather, as you suggested, it's body size. The restraints are so horribly designed that the taller you are, the more they'd clamp you down to enjoy each and every huge imperfection in the trackwork. I remember riding when I was younger, and I know it was to some extent more rideable, because the restraints didn't necessarily hold you down as much, because you're significantly lower than the axis point of the harness, so it's pressing horizontally on you, rather than vertically on your shoulders as with when you're taller. I guess the ride was really designed for an average Japanese physique, which is considerably smaller than your average European.

"Midway Amusements" sounds suspiciously like a carnival ride operating name. The ride itself is a Miler wild mouse, which I believe are transportable. It probably dates back to the 1950's or 1960's, which is a tad before my times, but I know that the Brisbane Ekka did at one stage operate a Wild Mouse, which I'd say could very likely be this ride. There certainly hasn't been anything that resembles an amusement park in Brisbane recently, aside from Expo 88's Space Park and Tops at the Myer Centre (with their custom designed Zamperla powered coaster), and the fact that Midway Amusements sounds more like an operator's name rather than a park's name to me suggests it wasn't a park.