DaptoFunlandGuy

I think WB Kids can be reinvented without resorting to the loss of the gardens and greenery. There are areas of the park that lack gardens and they are depressing, IMO. Those giant carrots used to have vegetables (or were mock-plantings of vegetables) with signs indicating what was growing once upon a time - but even just some nice hedges, topiary, shady trees, make it a much more pleasant space to be in.

It's a much easier themed marketplace to be in though. Westfield can afford to elaborately theme things because the revenue is pretty much guaranteed - if a tenant moves out, someone else will move in, and the rent just keeps rolling in (not even mentioning anchor tenants that will exist in the location regardless of the environment, so long as they are local enough to people for them to visit). Its a symbiotic relationship - Westfield creates an environment that brings the guests in, the shopkeepers move into those environments to expose their products to the guests, the guests buy from the shopkeepers, the shopkeepers pay rent. if the shopkeeper doesn't sell his product he abandons the location and in comes the next shopkeeper. Neither works well without the other. But in a theme park all of the risk is on the park. they must both build an environment that people not only want to be in, but PAY to enter, selling their environment AS the product.

As long as it operates, and isn't converted into a housing estate or commercial shopping complex, i think any outcome is fine - trade out of it with the long haul, or sell it off to someone more interested (and better equipped) to build the business. I don't know that the state government would take any direct action, but it's in their (and the GCCC's) best interests to keep it as a theme park. Not to mention that Dreamworld is the only direct competitor to village in an already small market - if they were to exit, village could afford to rest more easily on their laurels.

Do we know for sure that that particular clause continued on with the appointment of a new CEO? or are we just assuming that based on the conditions that were applicable to the now-ousted guy?

I suppose we're pushing shit uphill to think anyone might have a MW park map from the early 90s... My first visit was 1994. LT Stage was actually where RRRC sits now as far as I recall. Where Carousel is now used to be an LT merch shop which played (gasp) a laserdisc of LT cartoons on a small tube TV. Shop was absolutely STUFFED full of plush toys and quality LT memorabilia. There was a food outlet to the right of the LT Stage (Sam's Diner?), the front of which I think was boarded up a while ago as it was rarely open tucked away in the back corner of kids land. I think it serves only as an on-ride photo scanning kiosk for Road Runner. Going off the timeline on Wiki - The LT Land only had river ride, Taxis, an 'unknown playground' and the LT stage (open air) on opening and no new additions were made until 1997 - Marvin Rocket, Tweety Cages, Taz Cars and Sam Train. The carrots were where the table and chairs are. Inside they had 90's era touch screens that kids could use to colour in LT related 'digital colouring in' pages. I recall a 'fan page' set up I think by cast members of the park, devoted to trying to save the carrots when MW was beginning to think about removing them. Ultimately unsuccessful, I think there was some mention of them on the forums a hwile back, although I don't have the time to go trawling for it right now, you can clearly see the foundations of the carrots on the park's Google Street View I am really really racking my brain now, but I think the dilapidated shack hidden behind the character wall near the land's entrance (next to first aid) was also once a carrot, now converted and since left to rot - it has the same round shape and garden edging as the others, but I just can't be certain...

I wish the modern litigious society could tolerate Scooby's Silly Stix. Still one of my best memories of a kids theme park attraction when I was growing up. It's amusingly true - that kids might ride 1-2 times and then 'get bored' but can spend literal hours playing in a McDonald's play place, and still complain they aren't finished yet when its time to leave. Don't build things that require them to stand in line for 20-30 minutes to have a 45 second spin on a mechanical device. Sure its fun, but kids like to make their own fun - give them a play structure of epic proportions and make sure its safe and job done.

My take on it is that they will no longer be distracted by two very different businesses operating in two very different markets. Every single person from the cleaner to the CEO will be focussed on the one thing for the first time in almost two decades - making their Gold Coast attractions the best that they can be... There's no parachute, no safety net - if they don't make it work they're unemployed. Yes, more of a risk, but now, less distractions and a helluva lot more motivation.

So long as they don't blow their wad and have nothing left for ongoing maintenance, upkeep and operating costs....

As someone mentioned earlier, the 'horse' motion is driven by a camshaft \ crank - each row is connected to the centre (there are usually gears or friction tyres in the centre that pick up their motion from a centre ring gear or track) and each row's shaft rotates. Here's a better idea of whats above the horses: So there are moving parts up there, but they're relatively slow moving and there isn't much opportunity for entanglement (at least without concerted effort).

Yeah I think there's a little hair splitting here (on my behalf) but see I think a carousel gets a pass because the point of difference is what character the kid is going to sit on. A ferris wheel (not the size of play school wheel) gets a pass because the scenery is the point of difference and you go up to have a look, not because it goes round and round. Honestly I didn't really notice the difference in ride experience between Dorothy's cups and Patrick's Jellyfish. I see it, so I guess, fair enough. I just want to see them offer something unique rather than just duplicating (or at least, very closely resembling) what we already have on the coast... (the ninja turtles ride at sea world is a great example of something different.) Agree, Speedy's appeal was ruined by the change in height, although it never affected us as our little guy was tall enough when it changed - but to see kids line up to ride and be rejected, when they'd clearly been on before is a bit tough to swallow - and I bet operators didn't enjoy those moments (although the flip side being that they didn't have to usher the younger ones around by hand would be a back saver!) I had always thought Sam Train and Tweety Cages were opening day attractions, but now I think about it, I think I remember seeing the Tweety control panel, but it said a different ride name? So I guess yes - Speedy and Roxy are the only two. It'd sure be a sad moment, but I think it's time for him to vamos. Would have been a great idea for MW's 30th and in another universe without Covid, that might have happened... it isn't too late, but I guess we need to wait and see what BGH do - I doubt revamping the kids area is the top of their list...

Definitely “in the coming weeks”

The judge said you can’t do that anymore.

Tracking back to this, I think the “yeah but nah” applies - if they installed the EXACT same model in every park on the coast with different stickers, it’d be extraordinarily disappointing. I agree that the experience needs a point of difference (although similar) so people don’t just see it in the other park and go “look! Wipeout!”

No! This is Patrick! While not identical, the ride experience is as much a 'teacup' style ride, and while drawing on both the Zamperla and SBF Visa catalogs are 'different' they're as close as Wipeout and Vortex that most people would consider them 'the same'

I mean - Coomera is as much of if not more of a shitshow than Oxenford right now, but in terms of the points I made earlier: WWW: Fully Six - manufacturer fault.... anything else i'm not aware of? WNW: New Slide Complex - Manufacturer Fault, Sky Coaster always closed. Zip Line never runs. SurfRider always closed.. don't get me started on the buggy complex either. I think that's the point he was referencing.

I'm only going off whats in publicly accessible media including eyewitness reports in those media reports that say he stood up and hit his head. I've also prefaced my comments with those disclaimers. I'm not part of the invetigative team so your questions are best directed elsewhere.

They have the old Marvin footprint they haven't touched in decades. Likewise the Taz' Taxis that was converted into a Parent's room could be repurposed. Having taken my son to the park when he was at an age that required that facility, I must say it was a really nice facility, but at the same time - its occupying valuable real estate that could be better utilised. A parent's room is definitely needed, but not at the expense of such prime real estate. Sam Train is a popular attraction, but operations are slow and its an awkward ride for adults to accompany kids. Tweety is similarly ancient - and now that parents can't ride, it kills the popularity for the younger kids that don't want to ride by themselves. Speedy also had its restrictions changed - lifting the height requirement for kids to drive. It was originally lower, providing a stepping stone for kids to 'self drive' when they werent big enough for JDS, but now that the heights have been lifted (which is an efficiency issue) there really is no further need for speedy to continue. But if we're really going to complain about a lack of space in WB Kids, there's half a 'sound stage' sat there that used to be part of 'on stage' that hasn't been for some time we could repurpose too. Basically everything but RRRC and Carousel can be bulldozed, with some suitably themed Zamperla off-the-shelf replacements (but please don't just buy the same model everything that already exists on the coast - we have enough tea cups, etc.

I mean I did say I didn't see the need to regurgitate DW, but I guess WWW has been on again off again so I kinda forget its there. Nevertheless my comments (below) should be construed as applying equally to WWW.

I hadn't heard that but I went back through pictures I have of the ride and the hole is quite a large one, you could feasibly put your head in there. All the pictures I have - there doesn't appear to be any brushes, rubbers or guards - just a giant hole...

Yeah all the eyewitness accounts and news reports were that he stood up and got smacked in the head when the 'horse' rose up to the top of the ride. 100% recklessness on his part and as a 12 year old he was probably goofing off. I have nothing to back this up but i'll bet he was in-park with a bunch of mates, let loose by parents who dropped him at the gate, and they were all gee-ing each other up to do stupid shit. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

That's just it though, isn't it - they aren't maintaining and running any of them 'smoothly' - although I guess that depends on what your expectations are... On almost every recent visit i've made to Sea World, Jet Rescue was down for maintenance, or down unscheduled. Storm was literally the only attraction at the park worth my time. Sea World has been death by a thousand cuts, and the fact that their new flagship has been delayed by almost 2 years with little word from the park hasn't helped them. Simultaneously taking things away like Waterpark, Monorail... WnW might have 'new shiny thing' but that's also been up and down like a yoyo since opening for certain issues, plus the white elephant zip lines, and rarely operated sky coaster, or the never opened and two year delayed surf rider. Tell me again how Movie World is the only park in a shambles? (Dreamworld also has had a shit run, I don't see a need to regurgitate it here when the focus is MW, but suffice to say, they're all doing pretty shit right now)

What do you mean? The suggestion was always that once the state had reached a sufficient level of fully-vaccinated residents, the need to 'separate the herd' was lessened. We saw NSW lower restrictions once they had reached 90% double vaxxed. QLD health reported earlier today that we are now at 91.79% double vaxxed. The 90% threshhold has long been understood to be a level where herd immunity is largely effective - and removing this restriction before the Easter weekend (and announcing it more than a week away to enable venues to adjust their arrangements accordingly) is both expected and appropriate.

Solution:

Firstly, I hope the kiddo is patched up and on the mend ASAP. And now for the inevitable 'thoosie analysis'. We do tend to jump to the park's defence in many cases, although a lot less lately in the wake of Thunder River - but we do tend to exhibit a sense of disbelief that such an incident could be the park's fault - the dude who stood up on the Dreamworld Log Flume is a classic example. I try to bear all this in mind, because I can't help but feel that you can't really blame the park for this.... If I recall, the ride requires children below a certain height to be accompanied by a standing adult. Children above that height should have a certain ability to hold on. So either there is some level of negligence on behalf of the parent, or recklessness on behalf of the kid. (Assuming of course that no part of the ride vehicle (character) was defective of course. I feel for the operator working at the time.) I hope the kid is alright. I hope they have no lasting effects from this incident I hope that there was no negligence or other defect on behalf of the park I hope that carousel continues to operate (after appropriate safety inspections are completed to ensure the ride is free from defect).

Just wait for @New display name to attempt a post - it'll explode.