DaptoFunlandGuy

There's a lot to consider here. My thinking is they will perhaps take over the top carpark outside BB studios. It'd make sense for them to utilise the driveway access behind Buzzsaw and over the train line into the old studio entrance. The entrance driveway can be diverted down the side road used for exiting with some small modifications, diverting all traffic around that top section of carpark and allowing unfettered access from the carpark to the construction site without needing traffic control. But right now, we're still expecting earthworks, and like with Rivals, the first objects to arrive were the mounting plates \ bolts \ miscellaneous stuff for the footerings* I'd suggest until we see large scale track arrival, they don't need to be walling off large areas of prime carpark, and storing down the bottom of WWW puts them out of the way of most guests, for objects easily moved about with forklifts.

I'm not even engaging in that conversation. It is my belief and opinion that that theme should be left alone, and I think Dreamworld recognises that well enough too, otherwise there would have been no reason to pull down the goldrush arch and signage.

...ummm... wat

Only if you stand up before the lift hill!

I don't want to see a rebirthed goldrush theme. let that theme alone. As for extravagant themeing, Anything elaborate will require upkeep which ultimately isn't within the budget of Australian parks. I think nicely landscaped is pretty much the best we can hope for, with a token name, and some station-based pieces to fit. I'd like to see them try and fit Buzzsaw into that landscaped concept, and tied together to create a new land. Whatever that theme is, i don't care - but goldrush shouldn't come back, and corroborree is too far away to tie it together, so it can't be that either. Giant Drop and Rocky Hollow are also in need of a tie-in, so those four could anchor the new space... somehow..?

...and don't forget the Australia tax on top of that - everything is more expensive - sending your techs out to oversee provisioning is a higher cost flight from most places around the world. Literally EVERYTHING is more expensive. AND our dollar back in around 2012 was on parity with the USD, and today it's in the .60s.

Disagree. For years we shot the park to pieces because everything they built was being put into Ocean Parade and the rest of the park was ignored. Buzz and MDMC were the exceptions until SV came along. On busy days, Ocean Parade is always clustered with people, while you can sometimes walk down other pathways around the park and not pass a single person on your way from one place to another. What they need to do is balance the park out - and spread the crowds wider than just Ocean Parade. I do like the idea of joining Dreamworks to ABC Kids, but with the ABC kids building facades, the train line, and the majority of Dreamworks fronting up to the bare ToT wall, I don't see it happening too quickly.

It is laughable to think that the ToT track in any way provided stability to the tower. The tower, as constructed, was built to support the track, not the other way around. All anyone has to do is take a look at the many intamin second generation drop rides to see that these towers stand on their own.

I know there are little-to-no similarities, but how many people would "too soon" any sort of new water ride at Dreamworld?

All the info I have says the park is trying to do what they can to reopen, but that doesn't mean it will. Like we saw with Sea Viper, Wipeout and ToT, if the issues that require resolving are more expensive than they think it is worth, then it won't reopen.

the parks are doing it tough too. Does anyone want to start a gofundme for Bikash?

Out of all the GC parks, Dreamworld is 100% where you wanna be taking a two year old. (And WWW is the better waterpark for kids too) Sea World's kids area and attractions are probably the next best option if you're looking to do a second day at a different park, but with the construction and closures it will be more about kiddie rides and animal attractions for you (which are still quite appealing to a two year old). If you end up with VRTP tickets - bear in mind that Paradise Country also exists, and is a great little half day visit for toddlers too.

Agree. With Dreamworld's current situation, they can't afford to be philanthropists when they're trying to save the business. Many of the things Dreamworld are doing is cost minimal or neutral to their finances (like the auction items for example) but will still raise money - and anything raised is a good thing. But since they HAVE chosen to do something, the sausage sizzle is a bit puzzling. I assume they're pulling out actual BBQs, so that's extra equipment, staff, gas, etc, and they'd still have the health and safety obligations of any of their food outlets, but without the safety equipment already existing in their food service areas. It'd probably make a similar contribution if they'd just said 'all profits from our food and beverage outlets on Australia day will go to the bushfire relief efforts' - and then no extra effort is required, apart from some accounting work to determine the profits. It's like Pizza Hut or McDonalds having a sausage sizzle out front - just donate proceeds?

Having a 14 month old in tow will pad that out for you too - all of the unplanned, unexpected stops - find a parent's room (or you know, change a nappy and leave it on the ride vehicle for the cast to sort out.... IM KIDDING don't do this), cranky bub will probably insist on naptime during the day - if you're lucky, they'll sleep in the stroller and you can keep enjoying the park, but otherwise - mandatory returns to the hotel room for naptime will drag things out a bit. I've always regarded california as a 3 day minimum, but i've never done it with kids. As Joz says, 4 days there would probably be enough - devoting two full days to each park - do DL first, then DCA on day 3, and if you feel you got everything done at DCA on day 3 you can park hop for day 4 to tick off missed opportunities and re-rides. No clue for Orlando, but if it were me, i'd work out how many days i thought i'd need playing it safe (TBH, Joz's suggestion of 6 doesn't seem like it would be enough for me) but add one more day on top. If you don't need it, its a good chill out day by the pool, exploring a waterpark, doing some shopping or taking in some other experiences, but if you do need it, you'll be grateful its there.

I think that is implied by the term 'sausage sizzle'. It'd be just un-australian to not offer some type of bread or roll and sauce. Onions are of course a luxury option, but at $5 a sausage i hope there are onions too.

I know its a fundraiser, but they'd better be bloody good snags at $5 a pop.

^As you say, it's a double edged sword... the park doesn't have a snake of a queue running around the entire park. No massively choked pathways. No fights between guests who claim someone cut the line who just went for a bathroom break after queueing for 10 hours, but on the flip side, someone who only has one day in park is deprived the opportunity to say 'i'm going straight to that line, lining up and riding that thing, and if i do nothing else today i'm doing that' simply because the computer didn't assign them a group

It's not a new story to me - although after 6 years, it's difficult for me to recall which source supplied that information...

@Gazza it is my understanding that Sea Viper suffered a pretty spectacular lightning strike, and it was this that ultimately lead to the closure of the ride. It may or may not have been the reason for the closure, but it was definitely the reason for the NDT that identified the microcracks. As such, I don't believe the Kumbak trains had anything to do with the closure, and I was attempting (with humor - as Sea Viper obviously became a lightning rod at one point) to point out that it would be coincidence if Arkham was to close, rather than any fault of Kumbak as (presumably jokingly) suggested by Pin. Since we're getting into it, the bogeys and hangers for Arkham are the original Vekoma "purple" train stock, so unlikely that Kumbak's work with Arkham has caused any issues either. #coincidence

Do they use Kumbak trains on Lightning Rod? if not, I don't think that can be attributed as to the cause...

December is summer, isn't it?

F's out for Joz.

Ooooooooo

Nah, those things are rigged.

You sure it was HKDL you liked and not DLP? (Phantom Manor is in Paris. You're probably thinking of Mystic Manor... which is, in my opinion and agreeably hands down, the best dark ride i've been on.