DaptoFunlandGuy

BattleSTAR Gallactica is working again from what I understand. I saw some shots recently of Madagascar, so I believe it was near completion. As for transformers - no idea.

To clarify my points, I wasn't suggesting WnWS would be an international draw card, just that those already visiting the country could be kept on village property longer \ in more than one state. Having said that, the Wet N Wild brand is gaining recognition around the world (the six flags of water parks?) with their rapid expansions. It may not be THE reason to visit, but it's just one more box to tick when you're here.

Just a quick side note - but I find it interesting that pre-Q150, many long-term posters bemoaned the extremely high gate price charged by village, especially when compared to the gate price of many overseas parks. When Q150 (and subsequently the VIP) was established, it was heralded by many as being "about time" and such a great idea. Now those same people criticise the concept, and take every opportunity to whinge about how detrimental the passes are to the parks. I'm sure i'll see some flames for this, but we all got exactly what we asked for, and now we're upset about it. Personally, many tourists enter Australia via Sydney. Sydney may be not much more than a day or two stopover before moving onto other places across the country, but for most, seeing the harbour bridge, and the opera house (two of the biggest and most iconic landmarks in the country, which most internationals recognise as THE symbol of this country, right beside Kangaroos and Koalas). I'm sure the NSW government is anxious to see this park increase the time spent in the state by many of it's tourists. Increased time in the state equals more money spent. Accomodation, transport, and night-time attractions as well. Wonderland may not have been the best we have to offer, but it was certainly something on the map for overseas tourists to visit. The major reason for the name change from Australia's Wonderland to Wonderland Sydney was because many tourists confused it's location with those on the gold coast, and went looking for it in the wrong state (something that WnWS ahs fixed on day one). I'm glad to hear the possible cooperation between Merlin and VRTP on the Sydney attractions as well. I'd like to see them offer WnWS as part of their goldcoast ticket combo as well - especially for overseas visitors who may tour the east coast. If a (previously three)-park ticket holder wasn't able to visit WnW GC because of poor weather, they'd have the opportunity to visit when they stop in Sydney where the weather might be different. Or if visitors did get all of the GC parks covered, and still had some spare days in sydney, it's yet another day where you've got the guest's wallets inside your gates because the entry ticket is already included - guests feel like they're getting value, when in actual fact VRTP just gets one more day to take a stab at their wallet for food, beverage, merchandise, and unique upcharge experiences.

It's always good to know the background of the person talking GoGoBoy. Wazza has extensive experience with wonderland. You may want to go back over some of his previous posts in wonderland based topics to get a feel for just how extensive. All of us know bits and pieces of the closure, and the reasons behind it. PART of those reasons was a struggle to pull numbers needed. Was the park viable? To an extent, yes... but the continued trading would see further decline of the theme park division without substantial investment which the owners were not prepared to do. VRTP on the otherhand will be able to keep interest in the park alive with ongoing attractions. An "attraction sharing" system would now be viable viz a viz Six Flags, where flagship attractions are installed in premier sites, and rotated around the other properties when they begin to lose their lustre. Second hand slides are as good as second hand rides - just take a look at the new home for twister.

History tells us it's more likely to be intamin.

Not a bug - more of a bug-bear... Where did the "forum front page login section" go? To log in now, you've got to go to a separate page to punch in details, whereas you used to be able to do this on the front page?

The one thing that gets me is they're suggesting an annual attendance of two million people, and in the same breath talking about both parks, golf courses etc... So are they expecting two million people through the theme park gates, or through the entire complex? Either way thats an average of less than 5500 people per day... And they're comparing the project to Walt Disney World? And wait a minute - let me get this straight - in their "downtown" precinct, they're going to have a 'disco'??? Next they'll announce they're calling it "1980's Land". I'm all for new park development anywhere on this continent, be they big or small. As stated previously, we do see these fairly often. As for telling the media before the government, its a good move - it gets public opinion on their side before they have to wade through the application process. If it immediately got shouted down - such as happened with the werribee zoo, then they'd know not to waste their money.

The short answer is it would be worthwhile to get it, but you should still take the time to stop and check out the queuelines in some of the larger attractions as they really spared no expense in theming them all. July is still going to be quite a peak season for them, and the hottest time of the year (though, the temperature doesn't vary too much - its just hot, hot and wet, or fucking hot and wet). Because of the temperature, buy a bottle of anything from inside the park (they won't allow external food and bev) but DON'T throw away the bottle - each and every queueline and frequently along the paths you'll find water fountains to refill it - and refill it OFTEN! Some attractions it isn't worth it - ROTM was one of those. The express pass as I observed it was on a piece of paper that had to be shown to the gate attendant at the start of the queue, they had to read it, make sure it was all correct, and then admit you to the queue. In that time, we'd gotten through half the ROTM queue. We walked PAST them to enter the queue, and they ended up in the gondola behind ours. Having said that a lot of the other attractions will definitely need the express as they aren't quite as scary, and therefore attract the big families. When it rains, head straight for Shrek 4d, Donkey Live! or Revenge of the Mummy and use your express pass to good advantage there. A lot of the outdoor attractions will close down during the storms.

The point I was trying to make with collectibles wasn't to try and emulate disney, but just to reinforce the seasonal aspect, and changing it up. Firstly - you don't need google (Just Bing! will do) to know that there are thousands of people who have closet collections. Spoons, thimbles, hat pins and stamps just to start. Belt buckles, baseball caps, pilsener glasses or beer mugs. Most people have some sort of collection, even if they aren't RABID fans of the product type. I know personally that I will seek out the "hat pin" style pins at every tourist destination, holiday, theme park or whatever, and pick up at least one. Disney pins are obviously easy to come by in each park, but the other parks i've been to (USH, USS, SFMM, SWSD, Knott's and more) all have a selection of pins to choose from, some generic, some just the logo, and some bearing the relevant parks licensed characters. These pins don't cost much, so manufacturing wouldn't, and you could carry 10 or so different styles year round for those collectors. Spoons, Thimbles etc are all the same story. Instead of the same 5 t-shirts in 4 stores in the park, spread them around, and make room for diversity. I'm not sprouting a pin-collector's mecca like a disney park is, i'm just saying, offer things that people will buy simply to "add to the collection". And even then, even if you don't buy that, i'm not just saying to bring in these odd little knick knacks. Bring back a more mature offering - i've a number of polo shirts that I bought from WVTP properties back in about 2001-2004. They simply don't do them anymore in favour of the iron-on transfer t-shirt. I can tell you that i'd buy at least 1 shirt per visit (and more if they were good value or in a buy-one-get-one-for-XXXX combo) so long as they weren't the same shit that had been on the rack for the past 4 years! Original said it best though - whether the VIP demographic is your target audience or not, those who visit periodically may buy the first time, but will stop when they keep seeing the same tired stuff in the same tired stores. Before I moved to queensland, my annual queensland trip involved at least two parks, and i'd always come home with something reasonably valuable from each of them. Now that I live here, I don't do that, but it isn't because I visit so often... its just that the crap in the window never changes!

I'll back that up. I have gift cards from MyFun for renewing my VIP pass. I've had them for almost 9 months and haven't used them yet - because theres nothing in the park that interests me. All you have to do is look at the items that disney do. Ok fair enough - during Eisner, a lot of the retail outlets sold identical kit in every park across the world - and the same stuff you could get at Disney stores too... but that is slowly changing. HKDL have special edition stuff featured around each chinese new year. Marketing need to think smarter - Do it as a test case, a one off increase to their budget to source, and supply unique, different items for the parks. Plush seals and dolphins won't cut it at SW. Plastic Oscar statues aren't working at MW. You need plush at a park - especially licensed characters for kids, but not the whole shop. And change it up - every 6-12 months \ change in season \ fit your theme (such as white christmas) and bring out different merchandise for that season... just don't order 10,000 of them... order smaller, and change more often. I tell you what too - Wonderland had the right idea at one point - they sourced THOUSANDS of different items, had a graphic designer make up a custom colour \ sized logo for the item, and they slapped a W on everything. These generics are small, don't cost much, AND they tend to be things people will buy because they collect them... Stamps, Hat-pins, Thimbles, Stubby coolers, bottle openers, teaspoons - these items tend to be things people collect as a hobby. All you need to do is make sure you offer 3 or 4 different designs, and change those designs every 6-12 months or whenever you sell out. Movie World used to have these really classy Polo shirts. These I would buy... now, all you can get are screen printed t-shirts with a slightly more childish print than something an adult would buy. Sure, the kids are going to want it "mummy mummy i want that" but its the adults reaching into their pocket to buy it. Over the years, i've purchased a cooler bag, stubby holder, and a few polo shirts \ boxers. The last purchase was more than a year ago as there hasn't been anything worthwhile in the park - it's all the same stuff, and the things that I used to buy - aren't there anymore.

Well TPGC, as I said, we missed it because we didn't look at the map. You may want to try looking at it too : Universal Singapore Map As I said, we didn't see it - it's more of an effects show than a stunt show - but i always confuse it with LMA for obvious reasons...

Wilko - it's definitely worth the trip. I've been to USH and USS was something completely different and worth the trip. Because they're purely a theme park, and not a working studio, they have been able to devote all their efforts into theming. It depends on what season you're going as to whether you need an express pass. Most attractions have been built with express pass in mind so you'll find it will get you to the front quickly (obviously) but the queues are so well themed that sometimes it's worthwhile queueing just to see it all (in particular, the jurassic rapids). Revenge of the mummy, because it is high thrill, I found it wasn't anywhere near as popular with the locals as the more sedate attractions. I visited the park, two people, no express pass, and we did not arrive spot on opening. It poured rain at about 11am (it tends to do that almost every day) so we got Shrek 4d out of the way. The only attractions we missed were Battlestar and the LMA type stunt show, the first because it wasn't open, and the second because we didn't look at the map. We re-rode ROTM several times, and spent some time just taking photos, so I guess an express pass would only be ABSOLUTELY necessary if you are really intent on just getting as many rides under your belt as you can without taking the time to notice just how nicely done the park is.

I don't think i've seen anyone expect this kind of offering to Parkz members for free, although the one potential from STGDragon just seemed way too expensive. I'm curious as to what kind of deal was negotiated with TPR (I don't ever expect to find out, but i'm still curious). Obviously Robb and Elissa have immense street-cred and have built their reputation over more than 15 years too, it's no wonder that they are taken just that little more seriously. My original point was that a "group of professional enthusiasts" recognised that the park had great potential if only for a few new rides, and I hoped management was listening. My comment about the ERT etc was simply in defence of the parks against the "they don't listen" comment - to say that perhaps they would listen to someone they obviously hold some value for, given the perks they received on their trip... if that makes sense...?

Ahhh - but they've never offered ERT or behind the scenes \ lights on \ loose articled POV filming to us either... Since TPR is so special - perhaps they'll listen to them more than us?

VRTP MANAGEMENT ARE YOU LISTENING??????

Fail. Aqualoop before the viewing section was removed As you can see here - the green slide shows it best - there is a connection at the bottom of the viewing window, and therefore presumably, one at the top. The "sprayers" are in the same position on the new panel as they are the old, so the change cannot possibly have been for extra lubrication. Having said that, I never thought all those little connections were sprayers. I know theres a huge spout of water at the top of the loop, and obviously one in the launch bay, but i've not seen water coming out of those sections halfway down the drop. What other slides need additional water jets halfway down a drop that is more vertical than horizontal? Does the Wedgie have these? I always thought they were sensors to detect the passage of the rider as a safety mechanism.

Does anyone have any info as to why those viewing windows were removed on AquaLoop? Is it a concern that someone may stick their leg out on the way down and get hooked or something? It was great to be able to watch people drop through the windows.... i'm interested to know the reason why - but I guess that also answers the questions raised by others about why Aqualoop went down for maintenance so soon after it opened - it was obviously to remove the viewing window sections.

This really isn't acceptable, but it's a sign of the VIP epidemic. We all knew something had to give at some point, and, just like the shops on Main St @ MW, i'm sure this is a temporary low season measure. I agree with Joz that all potential riders are paying guests and all should be open, but we can't have cheap-as annual passes, and a fully stocked, staffed and serviced park for a full day, when the attendance peaks somewhere around the patronage of a best & less store in november.

Didn't realise they were in that much financial distress, but if I'd realised that - i'd have given em $200 for it....

I certainly hope they do a bit more to theme the front of it - other attractions there are obviously travelling versions that still have the cheaply painted vinyl sidings. I'm not expecting a cordon bleu product for a sausage sanga pricetag, but there are so many little things they could do to make all of their attractions look so much better.

...because the pirate theme is just totally trademarked by Sea World! I don't think they'd get sued for theming it the same - otherwise someone would whinge about the whole "loop" tag between wedgie and aqualoop. I doubt we'll see a return of blue lagoon, but as a battleboat style attraction, it's not a bad idea - and who cares if Sea World has one - if they have one too, then the people who wanted to go to a theme park for rides, but really liked the idea of a battle boat style ride - don't have to choose! No offence Reanimated, but having never seen a woodie up close is why you can't understand it, while all those who have seen one up close are all for it. Even without riding on them, you can sit and watch the whole structure sway and bend as the train goes around it (it's meant to do that), and just seeing such a large structure moving does freak people out. The woodies are designed to throw you around a little, they make great use of airtime and banked curves... don't get me wrong, it IS possible to have inversions, but thats not what the woodie is all about. High speed, out of control (as gazza said earlier) and just a little on edge about how safe the whole thing is - all of that make up the thrill of a woodie. In days gone past, woodies didn't have OTSR's. You don't need them because you don't invert, more and more, this just adds to the thrill and "risk" of riding such a great attraction, or as Casey says, it adds to the "holy shit" factor. EDIT: As an aside, I'm not trying to upset anyone here, but I just tried to read the article posted on the zendorphin site - are those guys just in love with punctuation or what? I just found it really difficult to read it fluently - It was quite disjointed. I also expected there to be more photos - perhaps a picture of what they actually spotted - eg: if it were such a groundbreaking discovery in the search for Dreamworld's next attraction, perhaps they'd have taken the train around again and this time lined up for a photo?

Not sure why - but when you say it like that, it just seems... like it isn't a great selling point of the forums...? Now i don't wish to backseat moderate here - but can we take the last 10 or so replies, and move them into a chit chat thread - because there is nothing on topic here...

/me likes this post

5399.... So I farted last week - so that must mean that Dreamworld have just hired a new manager who will totally revolutionise the processes for removing bird shit from their food and beverage areas... In totally unrelated news, Movie World to hire 1800 security guards to prevent home video cameras from shooting hygiene exposee's in Rick's Cafe.

I may be wrong on timelines, but i'm sure a lot of the Extreme H2O zone was built prior to WWW?