DaptoFunlandGuy

What the hell have I been doing? For the record, i'm happy to provide updated images of specific things if requested (feel free to send me a PM if there's something specific you want to chat about to make sure I capture it right) but I generally try to update the images in threads like this whenever I notice there has been an update. 28th December is the most recent shot for all the GC parks due to the 'disaster flyover' after the storms.

Well in that case...

When did the plunge move on to SWR? I know its pedantic but since its been brought up, i'm curious whether both mammoth are older than the rest or if only one is? And yes, I still feel really old.

it most certainly is\was a loop. it just wasn't a vertical one.

I'm glad the green is gone, but honestly have they learned nothing? stop throwing up plain boring hoarding (black mesh is just as bad, IMO). You know you're shutting something down, either have a custom wrap for it (if its an attraction that requires it annually to keep the theme) or get some nice 'generic' themed stuff like WB characters in a scene (see the old WB Kids hut) with characters saying (or holding a sign saying) "pardon our mess while we.... etc etc" Generic ones are also handy for times when things go down unplanned, and they should always have 20-30 metres of this generic style for unexpected or generic attractions and outlets. Movie World would benefit from: A western town themed wrap to block WWF when needed. They've already got the forced perspective matte painting to copy from as a sample. This attraction and its entire land is blocked off whenever the ride is under maintenance so would get used regularly (and would have the added bonus of themed walkways towards fright night sheds, or even around the Santa install) A DC themed wrap to block Rivals, or Justice League, or Batwing, or Green Lantern, or any combination of these A WB character wrap for Kids attractions AND \ OR generic in park maintenance like food outlets or main street stores. An Oz wrap... for when the time comes (and if they're smart they could work with PICO while they're on the project to ensure it is thematically consistent with the rest of the artwork)

The mammoth slides are vintage now? shit I feel old.

The only thing that makes that the worst part of the current show is that there aren't any actual stunts that they film. just driving. The original HWSD kept to this theme very well, and while it wasn't perfect, it was a damn sight better than the current show. It actually stopped, the director - ahem - directed and then they reshot the take, etc. The current version tries to tell a story and make it seem like it's behind the scenes of a movie set and it achieves neither.

For anyone unaware, The Showstage (main show shooting location) is currently the WB Showcase. The floor area of Showcase is where the stage used to be, and the black drapes that surround the movie props (on the right side as you enter) are all hiding the grandstand seating behind. Showstage used to be open air at the rear, but was enclosed later in the park's life and "fully" climate controlled.

Not even green wall wrap. what an ugly fucking look.

I mean, the World's Smallest Microphone made many appearances throughout the build, but it was a lot more restricted back then. It is entirely possible however that the rumour of a suicide squad theme was cancelled post-TRRR, and they were quite tight about theme and such because they hadn't yet nailed down what they were going to do instead. DC Rivals is, IMO, a poor theme. I think we'll see a mix. Everything we've seen so far has indicated a blended look that will have an appearance more akin to 'train' track (think Big Thunder) than coaster track - i'm hopeful that means it'll be well themed and not just a standard, bright track.

I do believe we have pre-recorded announcements for some attractions - i've heard it on Scoob and Superman. These are both only played within the ride envelope though, so not sure its audible outside for non riders. I even believe Superman has two different announcements - male and female, and one is used for temporary stoppage, the other is used for evac only... @Spotty might be able to confirm?

Quoting this for posterity - Skeet says something nice about dreamworld. I know, I know - it's not impossible... but its definitely rare! Yes I truly think people don't understand what projection mapping is. First of all, it is not a flat, white wall\screen, with something projected on it. That's a projection. See Justice League, or many rides in Universal. Secondly, its not through the use of digital screens - such as Leviathan's LED screens cleverly built into the station cave, nor is it screens installed 'wrap around' inside the scooby lift (fuck I hope they get rid of those). I'm not an expert in this, so i'm sure there's an industry professional here who would correct any errors, but in my opinion, projection mapping should involve inherently NON flat surfaces. See the christmas show on Brisbane City Hall - or Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway. The objects projected onto can appear to be one thing, and with a simple change in the projection, you can make it look completely different. Check out the Volcano \ Underwater scene from 12:32 here:

There's a lesson in there not to wait. I had heard a rumour that someone was injured on it, and there were liability issues. Entirely rumour though - interesting that wedgie and Aqualoop both close 'permanently' within such a short space of time though. See also: Fully Six Four. No more Polin please. Tee Hee! Shhh! Don't tell Dreamworld's 2010 marketing team!

Looked like a flammable gas ignition from the videos I saw. Chlorine is not in itself flammable, but can cause explosions when reacting with other chemicals. That was my initial reaction.

its an annual event in it's fourth year and by all accounts this was the first with problems. A single reported case of harassment, with several other alleged to be unreported. Everyone saying the park just doing it for money, but they're damned if they do or don't. If they'd refused the booking, the illawarra mercury would have run a story about how Jamberoo discriminates against muslims. Unwinnable in the media... But let's pare it back a bit - It was a non-opening day. Private hire. Staff were, according to the article, able to choose whether to work that day or not. The organisers requested male only staff, but this could not be accommodated logistically. The organisers requested modest attire for staff, and provided garments that would achieve the purpose. The staff wore these garments voluntarily - as has been the practice in previous years. A handful of people out of the approximately 800 attendees caused trouble. The organisers and the park are working together to resolve these issues The park has a responsibility to provide a safe workplace, and will be liable under their workers compensation for any physical or mental injuries suffered in the course of employment. The decision to host this event is up to the park, but as noted, 3 incident free events have run previously, so this could not have been foreseen. I've no doubt they will review carefully before agreeing to host another event for this group. Take the religion out of it - I've seen non muslim teens and young adults behave poorly towards women in public, and especially where there is a client \ employee relationship putting the woman at a disadvantage. It is not restricted to one culture or religion. (And let's be fair - i've seen young women behave poorly in the same dynamic reversed). Had this been a private hire for a group of private catholic school boys, i've no doubt of the possibility that some bad apples would have behaved similarly - however people would be less up in arms because "boys will be boys". The religion has very little to do with the behaviour. By all accounts, approximately 795 of the attendees did not harass or degrade the female employees - but that doesn't make good news.

The Hey Hey YouTube channel just uploaded their 1992 show recorded in the Showstage at Movie World. https://youtu.be/NGv60ERN75A?si=MTcdWqKRWNlKZgO3

How will they milk every cent of out each visitor then?

nek minnit all the crew at Pico Play are headed to hammer barn for some sledge hammers to rough it up a bit more.

wait until monday...

If only someone said this when they were talking about removing police academy. (oh wait, they did). Nobody who saw Seal Guardians, Thunder Lake or Hollywood Stunt Driver would say that. (I'm not a fan of Affinity, either - I preferred the original Imagine, but the animal activism has caused a shift in the animal enrichment programs away from "stunts" and I can't say its a bad thing)

Anyone who has ever seen their 'wet weather' version of the show knows just how bad it (the "drifting") can be. I'd like to see a return to non-vehicular stunts. high fall. human torch. The split car was both cool, and funny. the big finale building jump rig was an ACTUAL finale. it is well past time for the show to be renewed. not just the same set being used for a badly written new story (italian village meets city vs country? wut?) As soon as Wizard and Scoob are on deck, gut the arena, and do something new. I'm sure the bones are good - the skeleton of the screen, the jump rig are all still good reusable elements (kind of like how AOS always finds an excuse to use the helicopter rig) but reinvent everything else. AOS has shown it can be done without being dumb and cheesy. anyone who thinks HSD in its current form is in any way good needs their heads examined.

Are you starting with a hangover? or you wanna start from tomorrow and get on it tonight?

I've personally argued this point a lot in the past. the pushed back opening dates make it harder to plan for people who visit out of peak periods, so I can't put them down if this is the case for the longer maintenance periods. It still doesn't explain taking down so many of their majors in one go, and for the same period. I can only assume Batwing and Superman being down at the same time have to be flash related - but their crossover is minimal, so unsure what the impact could be. The point isn't one ride, it's four. They've now known for more than a year that Scooby would be offline. So when you're planning your annual maintenance, why do them all at that same time? Yeah by all rumours and accounts it took them by surprise - they'd planned it, but not so soon. Regardless, it's been closed a year now, they've had plenty of time to consider the impacts and instead of trying to shuffle things around they've gone "fuck it, we'll do it all at once, to hell with the guests paying single day prices outside of school holidays!" and and That's the bottom line.

we've seen maintenance periods and downtimes far more in recent years than we ever have before. Regardless of the reason why, it leaves a hole in the park's lineup. When you take down attractions for massive overhauls, it highlights the park's capacity constraints and everyone can feel it. Dreamworld could feel the loss of Giant Drop while it was closed for refurb (especially having lost so many others permanently in recent years too) - but with Batwing, Superman, Doomsday and Scooby all down simultaneously, we're left with Green Lemon, Wild West Flaws and Dc Rivals to prop up the park for almost two entire months. Now, I understand there are new requirements on machinery maintenance that must be adhered to, but come on - stop taking the piss - there had to be another solution than to take down those three major attractions at the exact same time, and FOR the exact same time.

Careful with those words. If I remember correctly, Doomsday's current neutered operations and the removal of The Wipeout were both because that's what guests wanted. I can't recall prices, but i'll bet you hot chips and hot dogs were a damn sight cheaper than po' boys and chowder bowls, and likely that's why the cheaper options were favoured. It's less about what guests want, and more about how the options are structured and marketed. Ahem. Take a gander over at Dreamworld's tasting trails (or Epcot's food and wine festival, or California Adventure's food and wine festival) to see the popularity of the 'tasting passports' \ "sip and savor pass" (and similar) which shows it can work. (i've personally bought both the DCA and Dreamworld options, and felt they were great value). You sell a ticket that gets a guest a small sampling from all of the vendors - this guides them to each stall in turn, ensuring they're all kept reasonably busy and productive, and well patronised. Guests given the opportunity to 'try' everything are more likely to spend more money on something that they like - even if it is more expensive. (Also, more guests walking around with a unique product from a particular stall, the more "i'll have what they're having" effect you have) A hot dog and chips is safe if you aren't sure what a "po'boy" is, but if you like what you sample, you can bet you're going back for more!