DaptoFunlandGuy

Make sure it doesn't expire on you!

^You've set a precedent now, and it is our expectation that you will continue to provide daily updates on Dreamworld maintenance and ride uptime...

I'm pretty sure, so long as the purchase is processed through the MyFun website, that it'd be fine.

Holy crap. Will someone please get the VRTP CEOs on here. Mark - your commitment and connection to your fans and your guests is amazing. They speak - you hear AND acknowledge. I mean yeah theres clearly profit in there for you to do something like that... but still... just wow.

It does make sense, and it is the most likely place - i guess Reanimated's point is just there's nothing CONCRETE saying thats DEFINITELY where it's going...

^he frequently does.

Since they've announced they're building a water slide... and it's pretty pointless building two of the same damn ride in the same park.... i think your info is a little off.

If you're staying in or around Anaheim, Disney is doable - but it depends on what you're after. Most people will tell you that Disneyland and DCA need at least 3 days (with park hop) to see and do most of what you want to do. Knott's isn't far, so if you're local to Disney, you might consider just taking a taxi, or working something out with the ART (Anaheim Resort Transit) shuttle buses. Most resorts and hotels in and around Anaheim have an ART bus arrangement, so this also works for Disney. Universal is another one - but a bit of a hike from Anaheim - and Magic Mountain is MUCH further. To really get a full day out of SFMM, you probably want to drive there, so you can get there early and stay until close (you still won't get everything in in a day though...). I did SFMM in 2013 with a platinum flash pass which is quite expensive, and can safely say I still missed out on several key attractions. Many bus-tour deals with SFMM arrive on, or after opening time, and usually depart several hours before the park closes. If I had only 5 days, although SFMM does have the most coasters, I'd probably spend three days with Disney and 1 at Knott's. If I was still raring to go after 4 days straight at the parks (you will have a jetlag-crash day 1-2 days after arrival) then Universal would be my fifth day. SFMM is a great park for it's attractions, but it's capacity, queue management - and the overall "feel" of the park (slightly different demographic based on location) knock it down the list IMO. If you stick with Disney and Knotts, you won't need a car, but SFMM would definitely require it.

This IS getting very interesting - did you manage any photos Luke? This might get the record for the longest 'maintenance' downtime at an Aus park (Orphan Rocker doesn't count as it never opened)

That's a very interesting theory OceanGirl... there may be some merit to that...

It is good news, but at the expense of such a 'full size attraction' sized space, it is a bit disappointing.

Of course - where it's feasible. Parks around the world take many efforts to maintain the theme, and hide their 'backstage' areas from guests visiting at ground level. But to be asking for them to somehow hide a backstage area visible from a high point on a ride is much tougher. It's just not reasonable to ask that - otherwise every theme park in the world with a free fall tower will need to build a wall similar to the one the luna park sydney residents want built around Hair Raiser... In my view where it's unreasonable or not feasible for them to hide such areas from the view of a ride (where you can only see it for a few moments if you look in that direction, instead of the drop - which is where most would be focussed). We either need a wall similar to the scream shield built around every lift hill and drop (result: ruins the ride) or we need them to raise the backstage fence by the smoking area up there by about 100 feet... The cost vs benefit of either of those moves makes it ridiculous to even suggest.

Absolutely they did - at Walt's insistence... but there are other ways around that... but that is in a park where the costumes vary based on land, attraction, and role. When cast members wear pretty much the same thing no matter what part of the park in - its not that important.

...and the thousands of guests who ride it every day probably don't even notice. EVERY ride out there has things that will 'ruin the magic' if you care to look - the point is to not look... to see past it, and live the experience that it is.

A similar view would be had off Arkham Asylum and Batwing. Disneyland was originally designed so that you could not see anything outside of the park whilst you were there - but even they struggle to keep the rest of LA invisible these days. It's like many things - take a movie like Harry Potter. We know magic doesn't exist - but if you suspend reality and just focus on the story - what does it matter if you're watching it on an iPad on a packed train in peak hour... Small World is well known for it's bare ceiling tiled roof. Ariel's Grotto has been critiqued for the poor theming on the roofline... you just need to look past it and not let something so small detract from what is a great attraction. Sounds like you're just having a whinge for the sake of picking on something.

I'd suggest most rubbish in the river hasn't been deliberately thrown - most likely blown rolled in from various vantage points. it doesn't make it better, but ol' Walt's concept of a trash can within reach at all times certainly rings true.

Awwwwwwwww....

Rappa - you say Golden Seal to Fish Detectives is 'all new' - but don't the animals continue to do similar behaviors in Fish Detectives? Didn't they just change the script, set, storyline and theme? Wouldn't that make it on level with Affinity? Agree with you - it is personal opinion... I just feel that if you don't think what they've done with Affinity meets the criteria to say it's a 'new' show, then nothing they do will ever meet that criteria. Hell they could spend millions creating an entirely new habitat, dredging the broadwater and creating a new arena twice the size of dolphin beach - the animals would still exhibit the same behaviors, so would everyone still be saying "it's not new - its just the same old stuff" ?

From what I understand (I haven't seen it) - the show has a new theme, a new storyline, the set has been updated, and so has the script. Since those are the only things that can change - it's a new show. What in your mind would meet the criteria to be a 'new' show?

Although they are similar behaviors, some elements are 'new' even to the trainers. The paddle boards for instance. Same as the rubber ducky? no - very different. Yes they change things up in each show, but this is based on what animals are 'willing' at the time. Certain behaviors (and "group" behaviors) can only be done by certain animals or groups of animals. Has nothing to do with which trainers are present. The main reason for the metal fences was because out of showtime, one of the dolphins beached themselves on one of the shelves, and was unable to get back off. Severe sunburn and intensive medical care was required. The animals usually have pretty free reign throughout the lagoons outside of showtime, but there isn't any staff in the arena during that time... so thats why there are fences - and there have been for quite some time. As i've said before - marine animals such as dolphins and sea lions etc display "natural" behaviours. Although you can stretch those behaviours to a degree to get something that fits in the script and theme of the show, you can't just decide "the animals have to do something different for this show" so a "new show" for dolphins or whales will always only be the same behaviours with a different theme, story, set, or script. To criticise the park for "only changing" those things, and not the behaviors is ridiculous. Those are the only parts of the show you CAN change.

yes but the quality of the parks, both rides, theme, and service varies widely in the US... From what I understand - the level of quality and service at TDS is hard to beat.

There are far cheaper ways of experiencing Disney Parks Zacsta... Hong Kong Disney for instance... Qantas just advertised specials to HK today for 799 return. Yes it's still pricey - but nowhere near what a US trip would be.

You had me at Looping Starship. Love that ride.

^They'll get Mack in to refurbish it.

So the wife and I are looking around the US to places we'd like to visit. We had a look at Michigan as there are some 'non-park' attractions we're interested in and happened upon Michigan's Adventure. It seems to be the only 'major' park in the state. There are numerous "parks" in Michigan - but only 9 coasters on record - 7 of which are at Michigan's Adventure. I was curious if anyone had visited the park, and whether it would be worth the detour? The park is a combined theme water park, with 4 Steel and 3 Woodies: Corkscrew - An Arrow Corkscrew model built in 1978 - which looks identical to SeaScrewCorkViper. Big Dipper - A Chance Big Dipper built in 1999 Mad Mouse - An Arrow Mad Mouse built in 1999 Thunderhawk - A Vekoma SLC built in 2008 - similar to Arkham Lethal, and formerly of Geauga Lake Shivering Timbers - A 1.6km CCI out-and-back Woodie topping out at 91km/h Wolverine Wildcat - A Dinn double-out-and-back Woodie built in 1988 which looks very similar to Wonderland's Bush Beast Zach's Zoomer - A CCI family woodie built in 1994 Anyone been?