Theme Park Girl

Not only that, but why replace it anyway, when they have so much park space at hand? Much better to add than to replace On topic, I thought the TOTII was Dreamworld's signature coaster

But in comparison to some of these other ride manufacturers, some whom have been around since as early as the 1700's? They are very new to the market. That's the only reason I wonder...

Forgive me for sounding naive, but exactly how reputable is this S&S Worldwide coaster company? I was just reading about them on wikipedia, and they sound relatively new - founded in 1994. Their "oldest" El Loco coaster currently operating is one in the US, built in 2008? I have a friend who is studying engineering, and we were discussing this yesterday... he suspects that having a wide car on such a narrow track would create up to 4 times the amount of force stress, and in his opinion, the "cheap arse ride" carts aren't designed properly to continually withstand such pressure. As opposed to being a MW maintenance or up-keeping issue, is it possible that there is a major S&S coaster design flaw here that could be present in all the El Loco coasters but hasn't been an issue up until now? This is all pure speculation on my part obviously, but I also find it odd that Village Roadshow has previously bought its coasters from older, reputable companies who make high quality designs (Intamin, Vekoma, Mack etc.) and are the main thrill ride suppliers for the other GC theme parks... but yet this time round, they have purchased this one through someone completely different, and a lot newer to the market. My suspicion is whether they made the mistake of buying a cheaper coaster through a possibly more inferior manufacturer in order to save on park costs? Could this incident be the consequence of that? Thoughts? PS. As I have said, this is my speculation/theory and not intending to make any accusations here toward anyone, so please correct me if I am wrong

Lmfao.

Dreamworld would be the next most logical choice IMO... plenty of rides on offer, and the Buzzsaw is due to reopen at the end of this week

I know its not an Australian example, but the whole 'wheel falling off' issue immediately reminded me of the famous Canadian Mindbender incident back in 1986 in which 3 people were killed... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindbender_%28Galaxyland%29#1986_accident Thank God our rollercoaster and thrill ride safety standards have improved since those days. This could have ended a far lot worse, if that tragedy was anything to go by

Gotta love the media.... this is what was broadcast live on the news tonight: https://au.news.yahoo.com/video/watch/26667907/rollercoaster-goes-off-track/ They also threw around the words "accident" and "victims" a lot throughout the story.... sensationalizing what was a pretty well contained situation where nobody was actually injured or killed. Way to go, Channel 7. Anything for ratings, eh? Bet Village Roadshow is not amused.

Pretty sure I read somewhere (maybe earlier on in this thread) that a loud bang was reported to have been heard moments before the car derailed. So yeah, that alone was probably enough for any ride attendant to consider hitting the E-stop ETA: ^^^ lolman just reconfirmed this as well.

Wow, we drove past MW around 12pm on our way to DW, and saw the Green Lantern operating normally. Sounds like we just missed out on seeing all this action... will be looking out again on the way home soon XD ETA: seems to be a running theme for me, "just missing out" on important theme park happenings. D'oh!!! >.<

Despite apparently not being counted as a "Big" ride back in it's first lifetime, I don't believe there is there is anything stopping Eureka from being given the title if/when it is reopened. Especially if they do any new work on it, or upgrade it from its original state. I mean sheesh.... they count the Tailspin as a thrill ride. So I think that proves that anything is possible lol

Was the track like this before? Don't remember the left side being on that angle before, like it's lifted up vertically for maintenance or something. But I could be wrong. My husband thinks I am XD

I think it's sounds a lot more optimistic as well. We know they have been doing test runs and valuating the ride's condition and future potential. Obviously there is more exciting news on the way, assumably sooner than later, otherwise why would they be already telling peeps to "stay tuned"? This latest response by DW has me even more excited about what's currently going on behind the scenes

Def weekdays, for the exact reasons you've suggested. Its the best time to visit the park in general anyway if you want to get the most out of your visit, as lineups for rides are minimal Here, let me help you with that. I took more than one pic at the time lol, was mucking around with the zoom on my iphone

100% honest, dude. My husband is my alibi, he saw the empty station before we went on the TRR and then was just as shocked and surprised as I was when we came back out and - lo and behold - there is now mine cart sitting there lol. So I definitely wasn't seeing things! We became so excited when we remembered the two mechanics entering the building earlier and put two and two together. I had actually first spotted the cart from the rapids ride when I looked up before going under the final bridge, my initial thought was that it had been there the entire time, just out of view from the bridge. However after we went back out to the bridge, the cart could be seen clear as day, as per the photo I posted. So it definitely had *not* been there beforehand in any shape or form! Either the mechanics had wheeled it out, or it went through a test run - and in light of recent events, I am guessing the latter We were even asked a guest who was parked on the bridge with a pram if they happened to have seen it in action, alas, they didn't as they hadn't been there long. I did notice a few people poking around the mine ride area, though... one couple went up to that exit alleyway and was trying to peek inside. I'm just so gutted I missed the opportunity of seeing it in action, I never would have thought that was going to happen then and there. Wasn't even gone for all that long, maybe 5-10 mins as the TRR was practically a walk-on at the time. Grrrr I went back to check it again before leaving the park at 5, but nothing had changed, the cart was still sitting in the same spot. Believe me, I'm just as excited about seeing this thing come back as much as you guys are Which is funny given I actually disliked it back in the day, but it did form part of my childhood and I have emotional attachment to it... that and I really think Dreamworld needs more coasters Awesome, BTTF. Please do And good luck to you with your timing, you never know! Seems the maintenance team have been fairly active inside the ride lately, nearly every time we visit (which is 1-2 times a week at least) things are in different spots. Just keep a close eye out for those mechanics wandering around lol... if you see them anywhere near the theatre or gold rush area, it's time to go into stickybeak mode

Oh... Worth noting that the test cart definitely had 4 water dummies in it this arvo. Can't see it very well in above pic as they were side by side, but I counted them first hand

Lmfao!!! Aww. Believe me, I am just as gutted!!! I would have loved to have seen it in action, nearly fell over in shock when I saw that cart sitting there afterwards. I can't believe my bad luck. Please don't expel me XD (On the other hand, it's further proof they are still currently testing!!! Yay )

Man, I JUST missed a test run of the Mine Ride!!! I watched two mechanics walk into the exit between the theatre and the cafe, but didn't think anything more of it. Noted on my way to the river rapids that the mine cart from the other day was gone. Station was empty. Went on the TRR, then walked past the Mine Ride again.... and all of a sudden there was a dummy filled mine cart sitting there, different spot to last time round!!! The two mechanics reappeared not long afterwards and I asked them if they had just tested the mine ride. Their response? "What mine ride???" LOL!! Totally gutted I didn't stick around whilst it was in action... I could have filmed it D: Here's a post pic, you'll note the cart is in a diff spot to last time round. Sorry I couldn't do better lol!

Well why not, eh?

This.

Yeah I don't remember either tbh, it was such a long time ago when I rode it last. Unless he meant something to do with it being intertwined with the TRR. Maybe when the mine ride was in operation, it caused water to leak from the river? Who knows. He just mentioned there used to be a known flooding issue between the icecream shop and the mine ride. Once again it's a shame there is very little video footage of it around so we could confirm anything

Pepsi Max FPR car lol.

Yeah I know, but it's meant to be Dreamworld, not petrolhead world lol Personally I feel the park has enough racing related attractions. Hopefully they don't go too overboard :/

But they already have a V8 attraction and shop? That simulator thingy opposite the Flowrider that has the FPR car parked outside the front? o_O

Sorry just thought I would add... I posted in the other DW thread about a discussion with a employee today, they said that (after eavesdropping on a discussion between managers) the icecream parlour which backs onto the mine ride mountain is apparently scheduled to be removed. I mentioned this later on to an older friend of mine,,who reckons that back when Eureka used to be functional, he knew about a problem with the 'flooding' part of the ride - whilst the flood part of the ride was intentional, water used to unintentionally leak and into the icecream parlour and regularly cause flooding issues. Can anyone confirm this? If it is true, and with this new speculation that the icecream shop is (allegedly) being demolished, is it just me who is now thinking this may be another major sign that the Eureka is most certainly on it's way back to us? Pretty sure it was only 2 dummies I saw in the cart. It was hard to see from a distance! That darned sideshow out the front was running, so was hard to sticky beak properly around that area at the time lol. I think I remember the carts holding 4 people at a time as well.

I dunno, Richard... my automatic conclusion is that they are messing with us, because it seemed too obvious. I mean that's exactly what all of us *want* to see, in broad daylight, right in the public's view. A mine cart full of water dummies at the ride station. And heaven knows they are very aware that all of us are watching their every move with that ride with baited breath lol. They know of they move anything, we are certainly gonna notice! It would seem like a good opportunity to muck with our heads a bit and give us something new to talk about (which it has, as this topic has been dead with no replies for the past week) BUT in saying that, even if they are playing with us, I think it's still a good sign. I don't think Dreamworld are cold enough to stuff around with our hope and excitement like that if they have no intention of doing anything with the Eureka. And I don't think they would waste their time doing something like that, dragging a mine cart all the way out of storage. So I still see it as them teasing us with a "spoiler" of such? I'm certainly not disheartened in any way, but it did make me laugh either way :-p