DaptoFunlandGuy

It certainly hangs on the first drop for a fraction longer, and the lift hill was slower also. the timing of the segments from first drop to last shouldn't vary much, because the magnetic trim should behave relatively the same each time - but after that, only the trim brakes will change the overall timing of each segment. just my theory anyway.

As promised - i didn't have my good camera, only a little point and shoot - so i had to pick spots where i could rest it against a solid object to get a good shot without a flash... I left the Christmas Tree and front entrance too late - they'd already turned most of the lights off by then. There is certainly more lights we couldn't see - WB kids had lights down the bottom end as well that we couldn't see from Main Street. We did buy a couple of the 'pro' photos from the park photographers, but their equipment didn't bring out the right colours - made everything we were wearing look black and white... I did notice that night that green lantern had the station house built, but couldn't get close enough for a photo in the pitch black - thankfully the latest GL video shows it in daylight...

Having just been to the 'corporate christmas party' version of white christmas, let me say the crew have done an incredible job. Kudos to the guys who rigged the lights on the buildings - better than last year, and overall just a great atmosphere (perhaps a little more snow would have been great). I took a few photos - but i will get to them when i'm sober.

True. obviously, they were getting concerned over a lack of numbers, but in reality, devaluing their premium product just serves to piss off those people who bought it. Next time they offer a premium product, people will be less likely to buy as they will wait to see if the park prostitutes it's product when they get close to deadline. The events were an absolute sellout last year, but the overcrowding mainly came from the 'free' VIP entries. I'm not sure if they've overestimated it's worth. When you are comparing the values of the two though, just remember that Hallowe'en didn't offer cheaper entry to standard VIP, whereas Gold VIP did get in free...

It's all pretty much been said. Disneyland is usually a must - they combine thrills in their storylines, their theming is right at the top, and the overall experience is just magical. As for the other two choices - you really need to decide whether you just want thrills (SFMM) or more of an experience. Personally, i'd try and get in SFMM, DL Cali, Knotts and Universal - and california adventure if you have the time.

I thought Sesame Street was sticking around?

My 'Point' Jobe is fairly simple, and completely in line with your next sentence - Just because things are heritage listed, it doesn't necessarily mean the park is restricted from development - if they need to build, and something is in the way, the CAN move it.

Judging by the angle, i'd say the photo is taken from the southern cafe deck, which justs out beyond the counterweight's anchor point, and not a rock climber. It's kind of difficult to climb (legally) around scenic world's attractions - they get a little upset about things like that.

Spencer, Gazza's reaction is most likely in relation to your previous incarnations on this site - the last time you argued for the return of an attraction, you WERE serious, and there was nothing in your most recent post to indicate otherwise. Given your history, a little disclaimer at the end might have been appropriate.

However much the rotor building is "heritage" (and i'm not disputing it's listing status), it has been moved twice in it's life, the most recent one somewhere between 99 and 2005 (it used to be much closer to coney island, now it's right at the entrance)

Ive said it before, and i'll say it again, a Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters concept will go well in any abandoned "stage" building. Fit the theme to the existing area.... Batman would suit any DC Comics hero\villain duo, whereas tunes would have to be more kid-friendly, without them killing potential "heroes" such as Marvin or Yosemite. There isn't really a villain in the world of LT - they're all heroes in their own right.

Demon at wonderland was the same as the old Corkscrew locking system also - i know that Demon's footpedals had a small reflector on them, and as it was pulled up the lift hill the reflectors would pass a beam at the rear of the station. If the beam didn't count the right number of reflectors, it would E-stop automatically.

on a slightly unrelated note - the seatbelt systems on rides like Superman and Batwing have a small yellow line sewn into it. If that line doesn't clear the tensioner, you're too big to ride.

Even lithium batteries will suffer in a year or so. Hate to be the pessimist, but while i love that movieworld have gone to these efforts in initial design to put this sort of thing in, i can't help but think that when the batteries stop holding charge, that it may not be replaced... you'll get halfway up the lift hill and the battery dies.... I'm sure similar things are in play in our favourite disney attractions as well - but a 9 minute battery? It's like an RC car... (although 90 second charge time sounds insane... usually batteries charge for an hour to deliver 10 minutes....?)

No actually - you put a toll on something that will see a lot of use, and allow each user to repay a small part of the construction cost. In this case, the pay-per-play attractions have pathetic capacity - handling 1-2 people every 5 minutes or so each. If it were included in the cost of entry, the queue would never drop below 5 hours. You'd be in line all day... By charging extra, you drop out the people who would just do it because it's there, and restrict it's patronage to those who seriously want to have a go. Can I ask what you'd classify Happy Feet 3D as? It sure as hell isn't a ride, so - a show?... That yet, you have no interest in. So what you're really saying is you want the parks to build more shows that YOU'RE interested in?

Not to mention.... who cares? (if you can't see the LEDs in daylight) If it can't be seen during general operation, it'll be a great effect for fright nights and white christmas. The trains will have on board power to run the audio, so why not plug in some low-powered LEDs?

So very glad I booked the later dates for white christmas... if they stay on schedule, i'll be on it in it's first week.

A whole new generation of kids is being exposed to Hanna Barbera characters, thanks to Foxtel... As for the comments about the lastability of Dreamworks characters - i don't agree. Kung Fu Panda has some "recency" to it, and despite some people's views, Shrek still has pull - i mean for crying out loud - Universal Studios Singapore has an entire land themed to Shrek, with 3 MAJOR attractions (4d movie, roller coaster, and Donkey! Live) that aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Why is Shrek such a bad move for Dreamworld, when USS built a whole land around the concept less only 2 or so years ago?

Suddenly that VIP gold pass seems very worthwhile.

According to Seven News last night, the old Nick Central will be divided into THREE new lands (assumably Shrek, Kung Fu Panda... and maybe madagascar (considering they had the lemur at the media call). They did say that the carousel would be themed to shrek. not sure on the rest.

^^ Might see a return visit of TPR though.

but i farted first so that makes me better than you.

I'd have thought that too... perhaps the dates available to VIP gold aren't the full dates... and that's why they're available to gold now, without releasing to the public? perhaps they couldn't get the necessary equipment \ contractors for those dates? perhaps the lighting guy is going away for christmas and they need him to bump out before he goes? Maybe they want to have the park back to 'normal' before the major interstate crowds hit?

which are conveniently commencing the first day of QLD school holidays... NSW will miss out however as their holidays don't start until the 20th. I've booked the 15th, in the hope that a thursday won't be as busy, and also that its more likely that we'll see Green Lantern open by then.

The dates are 10-18 December as shown on the VIP Gold booking site.