downunder

I had a mate over from Perth who was keen to go after work, so it was the perfect opportunity to go as his company had provided him with a car and I could get a ride from Blacktown station. It definitely would be challenging on your own. Generally it wouldn't be practical for me to go, because I'd have to take a day off work to go there when the crowds are light, and after work isn't practical normally as it's impossible to get there from Blacktown station without a car, and driving there from home would take too long. I don't go to a lot of water parks so I don't really have a benchmark (I'm usually pressed for time and amusement parks take priority), I've been to Gold Coast and a few American ones. Having the three towers spread out made it seem sparse, I hope they add a lot more stuff.

^The lightning part I was cool with, it was understandable, though the application of the closures was a tad inconsistent - and the timing was positively comical for us, just when e get to the top of the tower LOL. I came with an open mind about the park, hoping for a good time, but I was unimpressed. Maybe it was just a bad day where a lot of things went wrong. I'm hoping VRTP will build a companion amusement park, no idea f that would ever happen.

Even though I'm a Sydney resident I went to Wet and Wild Sydney for the first time yesterday, went after work mainly because an out-of-town friend wanted to go. I rarely make incursions into western Sydney, except to play sport - I just don't live anywhere near there. Didn't want to pay for a locker, so I went barefoot across the parking lot - which was torture, and obviously designed that way to force you to wear shoes, or thongs, and hence need a locker, at least decades of martial arts has made my feet tough. They could have had bitumen like a road, but they made it gravelly to maximise pain on bare feet. Got to the gate with my twilight ticket, which they couldn't scan because the scanner wasn't working. So I had to wait 30 minutes in a queue, while some idiots changed their minds 50 times while getting their season pass processed - it took them that long to process 4 people. Finally in the park, go up to the first slide as soon as we get to loading. Even though it's a perfectly sunny day, there must be lightning somewhere on the continent (it did come much later) so they closed everything. Wet and wild was leaving me dry and disheartened. After waiting a while in the bright sun, I went to guest services to complain about the debacle at the gate, they offered return tickets - I declined because I never want to go back to this little hellhole. We waited and waited, and unexpectedly they opened the slides. We did all the slides in the tower closest to the highway, but when we got to 360 it broke down, so we tossed the back strap mats and grabbed some mats for the other slide down there. We did one slide in the southern corner past the food outlets, then went over to the other tower. Did the slide that gives you are butt raping with a cheese grater like surface, then went for another slide and just as we got to the top, closed due to lightning. We decided to leave - the best part of the day, driving out of there. The slides weren't bad, but the place is a shambles still, even into it's third season. For starters, it's a sparse place, visually discouraging - virtually no shade. So much stuff was broken, poorly run - I'm glad I can say I've been there to say I've tried it, but I never want to go back again. I can only imagine how hellish this place is on a crowded day. All I can say is f*** you very much Dry and Distressful, you've created another voice to warn people away from this hellhole. End rant.

^Yes, I saw the pig's head, so many good sets. We had school kids ahead of us and some were coming back out of the entrance crying LOL. I hope they keep it there long term. I bought a season pass, so I'll be back to the Manor.

I went for a quick visit at lunchtime today. Mystery Manor was very well done and a lot of fun - the scare actors and sets were seriously cool. Hair Raiser kicked a$$ as usual. Nothing in the flying saucer areas, and there "mind our mess" fences just past Tumble Bug and the Bumper Cars.

I've been to Movieland Studios, it's quite quirky. Unfortunately I didn't go to the water park as well.

I'm not a fan of the Intamin ball coasters like Green Lantern at Magic Mountain, though some people love them. I really liked El Loco at Adventuredome, personally I found it preferable to the MW El Loco. They're the only 2 I've been on. I just checked RCDB, GL seems to be the only 4 across El Loco.

^A taller version of Intimidator 305 would be 50,000 shades of win as far as I'm concerned, or a blend of the best bits of Intamin's better hypers. The big rockets like Dragster and Ka are an amazing experience, but lack elements and can be problematic to keep running. I'm definitely not in the know as to what has been considered this time, but I'm looking forward to finding out. Another upside is this might up the ante competitively with DW and they actually add something amazing too, I can hope.

I'd be happy with a serious ejector time hyper coaster - one thing about them is they seem to be a ride people don't get sick of (the same with airtime woodies), which would be good for repeat business. I base that on anecdotal observations from going to many parks with A-list air time machines and being able to talk to park management on organised tours as well. And I know I never get sick of most Intamin hypers and woodies (like El Toro) and RMCs. I was led to believe at one stage many years ago there was desire for something higher than the tallest ride at Dreamland, now wouldn't that be nice? I can dream on, but I guess we'll know in a month or two.

A narrow footprint hyper might work out the front, maybe do an L-shape around the edge of the carpark. Biggest isn't always best, I mean I love Maverick most at Cedar Point and it's a quarter of the height of Top Thrill Dragster. We'll have to wait and see I guess. If it's amazing, I'll be up there a bit more at Movie World.

^Mack do some good stuff, though I thought the Intamin rockets have a punchier launch than Blue Fire. Helix was great and used the terrain brilliantly. Let months of hopes and speculation begin.

500 foot launched woodie wingrider where the train is on fire and gets put out by the aquatrax at the end. I'd say it's certain now. My preference is for a coaster, so I'm happy, unless it's B & M lol. In seriousness I'm glad they're doing something major after a bit of a hiatus.

^^Not a fan, to be honest, and I stress that is a personal preference. They make fun coasters, but I prefer the ejector air and intensity of RMC and Intamin. Beemer hypers are more floater air and they haven't built a super intense looper of any variety for years (intense ones: Nemesis, Katun, Montu, Kumba, and a few others) IMO. I only qualify my answer as personal preference, I've been on 62 B & Ms, so I've got a good sample to base my preference on. Certainly DJrappa has built up some anticipation, and as observed by others MW can build something amazing when they want to.

RMC or Intamin or even Premier thank you (yes, I left out B & M).

^That's a good one, I'll pay that. A new theme park option won't hurt, hopefully it will have some decent rides.

"World's Best Attraction" I'm dying to know what VRTP thinks that entails. I'll be optimistic, until the announcement.

Sorry to interject, but I've ridden El Loco many times now. It's a great coaster, the custom layout is nice and having no brake before the first drop gives it some bite. Adventuredome always puts on an awesome Halloween event, so it makes my itinerary every October. I went to Orlando and LA last month and did all the parks except the California Disneys. Like other's have said, if you haven't been to LA before well worth it, and less travel. Instead of just going to Scary Farm, I really explored Knotts during the day and had a lot of fun. Universal, Magic Mountain (you can have a good day there if you pick the right day, we did - 15 mins for X2 and 20 for Twisted Colossus). Universal is well worth a visit, and enough said about Disney. Also there's plenty of other cool stuff in LA.

^Agreed the launch is the least striking feature to me, but if gives the train some serious speed going into the drop it will be exciting - that really works well with Maverick. RMCs first woodie (as opposed to their Iron Horse treatments) Outlaw Run was amazing, and this looks even better.

Magic Kingdom closed at midnight (it was a non Halloween event night), AK was 6pm, I think Epcot was 9pm, can't remember what the close was for the studios. ^Lightning Rod looks like it could be my new number one coaster. I mean a launched woodie, wtf. Also the Pigeon Forge / Gatlinburg area around Dollywood has tons of fun stuff.

^That is correct. Primeival Whirl was down so we only did Expedition Everest at AK. Was telling the guy escorting the crowds into the park at the rope drop what we were doing and he slipped us fast passes for AK. Rode Everest twice and were out out of the park 15 minutes after opening. Disney Studios, single rider line for Rock n Roller Coaster, and then Great Movie Ride. Didn't bother with the Tower as I've been on it before and it had a 45min line. Went to Epcot did Test Track with little wait with single rider and Mission Space didn't have much of a line either. Wandered around had lunch there. Went to MK, started working through our fast passes. Got in a few other rides. My mate wanted to see a concert at Epcot so we went back on the monorail. I did Test Track multiple times on single rider line. Went back to MK, did some rides like Haunted Mansion and Big Thunder while waiting for our later fast passes. Finished up with Space Mountain, a few other tomorrowland rides and then Seven Dwarves Mine Train - which was ordinary. Then it took us an hour to get back to the car. It was a long day, got heaps more done than I expected.

^I did most of it in the last two weeks. We clocked up 15 miles walking doing all 4 Disney Parks in Orlando in one day. 12 miles doing Busch Gardens Tampa and Howl O Scream. 14 miles doing Universal with light-on maze tours and HHN. I must say Mission Space was a lot better than I expected and Test Track was very good, it had some intensity. Escape from Gringotts was enjoyable, even if we were stuck at the end for 40 minutes and had to be evac'd. Cheetah Hunt is a really fun ride. Twisted Colossus was a good airtime machine.

Just got back from LA this morning, did a lot of halloween events, including getting much more than I wanted done at 4 Disney parks in one day, this trip for starters: Fun Spot Orlando (nice little GCI woodie there) Busch Gardens Tampa (including Howl O Scream) Disney Magic Kingdom Epcot Disney Studios Animal Kingdom Sea World Orlando Fun Spot Kissimmee Universal Orlando (including Halloween Horror Nights & lights on tour of the mazes) Knott's Berry Farm (including several nights at Scary Farm) Six Flags Magic Mountain Zombie Joe's Urban Death Tour (a haunt in a theatre space in North Hollywood) Queen Mary Dark Harbor Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood Other parks in 2015: Adventuredome Movie World (incl. Fright Nights) Sea World Gold Coast Both Luna Parks 2016 Wish List: Dollywood Knoebels Six Flags New England Lake Compounce Kentucky Kingdom Hersheypark

Maybe this is a good coaster for a new star wars land. Imagine it being in a space mountain type environment, perhaps with star wars projections in the dark, and maybe you're in a fighter dodging stuff.

I went on Saturday night. The lounge for the ultimate terror tour was great, though you don't get as much stuff as last year - just a hat rather than a whole bag of stuff. Though that's not really important to me. As observed previously the 4D movie was a bit average, very abrupt and it used the remake I think. Which is a shame, because some of the kills in the original series especially number one are impressive (including Kevin Bacon pre-fame meeting a grisly end) - though Jason wasn't the killer in the 1st of the original series, but his kills in part 2 especially were insane. The opening was pretty cool, very well presented. Loved walking straight onto the front row of superman with the Ultimate Terror Tour pass, also a free locker for the night was a nice perk - they changed it from the Green Lantern area from the first night. The ultimate terror tour was spooky and fun, a very well performed presentation. The mazes I found were a bit disappointing. The Friday the 13th maze had some nice atmosphere in places, but it was strange not having scenes of Jason actually killing people. I guess I'm used to HHN where Jason is in every room doing the nasty on someone. Wyrmwood had some nice parts, but seemed a little barren and neither of the hero mazes seemed that cohesive in terms of story telling. Wolf Creek was like last year except all the gory scenes were gone if I recollect correctly. Evil Within was good, but I guess familiarity from last year lessened it's impact. I'm no violence fan, but the mazes seemed toned down from last year. Good atmosphere in the streets though scare actors seemed a bit thin on the ground. The night seemed rushed because everything seemed to shut down at 10pm. Unfortunately, I missed the closing ceremony because I was in a panic room, it sounded impressive though. The general entertainment stuff was good, like the band, though I'm not sure about the midget stripper. Did the cirque panic room which I thought was ordinary, no actors in it, and impossible to solve with out phoning them. Really unimpressed not worth the money. Happy to give anyone tips on how to beat the clock if they want it. Not worth the money IMO. On the whole, still a heaps fun night, though there were some shortcomings as I mentioned.

^I hear you, the funny thing is I know people who love this stuff, but are terrified. I guess it's the same appeal as horror movies, except it's more like your in the movie. So who's going when? I'm going Saturday.