DaptoFunlandGuy

13 years on - it's getting on in years. This should be the location of the next major installation at WnW - which has been quite neglected of late - it's time for whirlpool springs to go and be replaced by something better.

the forces were more intense than a lazy river - you did go a bit faster, but I agree - it's current usage as a set of spas is wasted.

Considering that is the bulk of the ride cost - it's a very expensive exercise. When you produce 1000 Ferraris, you can afford to build 4 or 5 of them for impact and crash tests. When you produce 6 El Locos, a tester isn't really in the budget. Efficiency of their operations is lacking, I totally agree - however I feel like the double-wide cars are worth it - and i'm not even considering capacity when I say that. Purely for the 'floorless' \ 'wingrider' aspect - not having track under you when you sit on the outside edges is the best, plus (as has been noted) the forces on the edges are also elevated. I'd like to see them pull off a 6-wide or 8-wide car - but no way they could do that with the current track design - it would have to go bigger.

^based on assumption and deduction, not fact. I'm not suggesting it is or is not the cause, but in the absence of an official finding of fact, we can only speculate that it is a design flaw, and not a lack of maintenance or other similar issue.

Like with anything these days - engineers are able to design and simulate almost every stress the component will be exposed to before it is physically built. I have no doubt such a large company who has pulled of so many different ride designs would have determined that the bogey design was within limits of the stresses placed on it. So either - we had a poorly manufactured bogey assembly that should have failed QA, or a poorly maintained one. These companies don't work with 'theory' alone, and you can hardly call the computer aided design process 'theory'. I don't think there is anything wrong with the track... so I didn't expect them to do much with that. The wheel assemblies is where the problem lies, i should think - and in that scenario - we've had numerous reports of 'trains are gone' 'trains are back' 'trains are on the track' 'trains have water dummies' - so i think we can safely assume the wheel assemblies have had some work done - offsite - and been thoroughly tested. What we need is a really good quality close up photo of both old and new assemblies to see if anything is noticeably different.

TBH i enjoyed the whirlpool far more than the spas, and yes, it looks horrible as a collection of spas. They stopped converting it well over 5 years ago, but i think it was quite a bit longer than that. the green shapes in the ring are where the spas are - the entire area would be covered in what i'll call playground grip padding, with jets similar to Calypso. it's older than you might think.

Dead topic is now Zombie.

I really like what theyve done with those translucent sections. looks like it will be a great on-ride effect!

i can visualise it, and i don't mind the idea. Not sure I can see Disney doing it unless they build a new park and implemented it right from the start. I'd love to see it done though.

The exit only sign is the only thing you've raised that I take issue with. the Eureka sign isn't an issue - there is quite a lot of signs on buildings in all theme parks that are just there 'for show'. the mountain - likewise is just a bit of theming. We're in gold rush country, and the last thing we want to see is the bare back wall of the concrete cinema over in the next land - so it's cleverly hidden behind a mountain in the mountainous gold rush country... yes - everything else fits... except the track... hmmmm... see - the track itself fits the gold rush theme - mine carts need track to go in and out of the mine, don't they? And when a mine is abandoned, they don't usually remove the track do they? The Eureka structure actually fits the gold rush theme better than you give it credit for. The Exit sign is the only thing in my opinion that looks 'out of place' - and it's painted on - it wouldn't be hard to paint over it if it was that big of an issue.

Disneyland People Mover \ Rocket Rods (SBNO since 2000)EPCOT Body Wars (SBNO since 2007)Disney's River Country (WDW - SBNO since 2001)EPCOT ImageWorks (SBNO since 1999)These are just some examples, and source is here, but the main point made in the article itself, says this: If DW do not have a direct alternate use for the space (which, let's face it - is hampered by the cinema on one side, and the rapids below), why would they demolish it? Likewise - the Skylink chairlift also remains. there is no reason to spend money removing it if you don't need the space it occupies. i'd rather they kept that money for new attractions than unnecessary demolition.

In the US, responsibility for theme park and amusement park rides (both fixed and travelling) generally falls to either OSHA or the state department of agriculture. It's not as odd as you'd think - as the state dept of agriculture is usually the body responsible for the state (agricultural) fair - like Ekka as an example. The fair is (traditionally) an agricultural affair - which is why the RNA showgrounds (home of the Ekka) is short for 'Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association Queensland'. Rides first appeared at these shows, and so (in the US) the responsibility for administration and compliance fell to these state agriculture bodies. When theme parks kept the trend going, the similarities led to them keeping responsibility for it.

Whilst I strongly disagree with younger children being part of the event, i think it should be left up to the parent as to whether they bring their children along. I can't see the park enforcing an age restriction as it's all revenue for them. I don't think anyone can say the park is being irresponsible - they are very clear of the content of the night and any parent who takes a younger child along who is ultimately affected by what they are exposed to only has themselves to blame. No doubt guest relations would get people whinging about how their poor little poppet was upset, but hopefully they deal with it as they should - by pointing out the warnings they have already posted. Just last night a friend of mine mentioned on facebook that they were going to take their kids (under 10) to FN. I pointed out the inappropriate content, to which she responded by telling me the kids favourite films including some of the popular mazes featured this year. She did mention she wouldn't take them into the mazes though.

^Says "Good Guy". Technically it isn't, due to international copyright laws, since Chucky's overalls say "Good Guys" but i think we're close enough to say yes - it's pretending to be a chucky doll clown... (In case you missed that reference.... https://i.chzbgr.com/full/1861344000/h0A0FFAB5/ )

The gold coast council website is very slim on actual detail - it discusses noise pollution broadly without stating specific time limits on activities. I think each matter woul dhave to be considered on a case by case basis. Simple fact of the matter is that if MW can run rides at night until 9, WnW has no excuse for not trading up until 7... and possibly 9 as well. The attractions at WnW run a lot quieter than MW (and for the most part the screams are less too) so I don't see any problems with them trading late - (and the former Dive'N'Movies are further evidence of this)

I've seen this really awesome concept on another site - i think it would work well... Have a look

^really trying hard to figure out where in the hell this is...

I've gone through mazes in previous years, and noted several 'blank' scenes (as mentioned earlier, above) - however I don't see them as detracting from the experience. IMO - if mazes were wall-to-wall scares, the effect would be somewhat lost. I find the 'blank' scenes only adds to the anxiety, and anticipation - will there be a scare here or won't there - maybe there wo-OH JEESUS! i think they're very cleverly used throughout all the mazes like that.

not unique though - Titan > Demon > Zoomerang > Unknown Wonderla Name...

I love the additional detail! I wonder if they know the difference between throws, and throes?

IMHO - in summer break \ holiday periods - the water parks AND rides should open at 9, and go until at least 7pm. I have absolutely no doubt the parks would be busy. In the last few weeks of november \ first weeks of december before school breaks, perhaps they could open at 12, and stay open until 7 - all one needs to do is take a look at the successes of WnWS in attracting the "fuck me, its so hot after school, lets take the kids for WnWS for a couple of hours" crowd.

If you want to know what happens in the UTT,

You're right. very weird.

Well (and i'm just assuming here) being that it isn't a slide, the wave pool would still be open, as would be the wiggles \ kids area and the water playground with the tipping bucket... so there would still be things to do... and I would imagine outside peak season that you'd get through all the slides in an hour or so anyway - so not really something you need all day for. it does seem a bit silly to open an hour before the slides - could be an error, could be legit.

Yeah people want to visit closer to Halloween - so the price goes up.