BNErider

Here's some things that would cost Village almost nothing. - Performance manage and support GOOD staff. Yes, they don't pay a lot. But you do have good people there. Managers need to do their job. That even includes greeting and saying goodbye to guests at the entrance. Be a leader! - Get some people in that know how to be creative. The Wizard of Oz alley could easily be made to look like a backlot leading to the Wizard of Oz area, or something generic. It doesn't have to be the way it is. Plant some greenery between GL and the carpark, we don't want to see the carpark as we're lining up. Have some shows or meet and greets AROUND the park, even though Main Street is your money maker. - Back on the staffing point of view, have ride supervisors talk to guests over a microphone. No-one wants to be shouted at in line. I would argue the staff don't enjoy that either. - Focus on safely pushing throughput. Have managers trained like Greg Yong was who were trained ride operators, to SUPPORT and LEAD staff. - Shade and water FFS. Guests need to feel respected. Turn on the mist fans in lines. It is not hard! - Stop pretending your shit don't stink and listen to all complaints. Dreamworld has respect for the guest. Village on the other hand seems to forget that. It comes from the top. - Don't bring in brands that cheapen the experience. Or at the very least, make sure they theme their food vans (I'm looking at you, Boost Juice). - The whole comms team need a kick up the ass. Scooby Doo isn't closed for maintenance, so why it is listed as such. Remove it from the ride closures page and create a dedicated website to its new 2025/2026 launch. In park, share some teasers to make it look like it's worth coming back for. That castle should be fenced up or covered in new artwork. Hollywood Stunt Show not showing any more shows that day? I don't remember the wording, but it it's very much along the lines of 'CLOSED'. Say something like "All shows for today have taken place". You need the place feeling ALIVE, not barely alive. Villains Unleashed... you can do SOMETHING there to make it not feel like a ghost town. It is not good enough to leave it barely alive. Key points: - Guest experience - Energy and excitement - Presentation standards that don't cost $$$$ - Leading from the top to keep GOOD staff, and remove poor performers - Listen to all feedback - Improve your comms to build that energy and excitement

Fwiw, Movie World's Google ranking now is 4 out of 5. Lowest of all major parks in the country. Also, I have let my annual pass lapse for VRTP - first time in about 9 years. Movie World is no longer a positive place to be. It's a shopping mall with rides.

Everytime I walk through the Wizard of Oz courtyard and Precinct, I notice new areas where they decided to save money. It is very interesting compared to Rivertown, where I find new themed details that I didn't realise where they were last time. It is just striking the difference between the two theme parks.

In here now and I retract any doubt. This looks incredible.

Yeah, Rivertown looks much nicer. Perhaps the queue makes up for it?

Exciting weekend, but I can't help but think Movie World is going to get some flack when the coasters inevitably go tech this weekend.

@DaptoFunlandGuy - I think you misread or I am using the terminology wrong. Let me rephrase... Do you guys think the dark ride portion of this ride good or bad, or is it too early too tell?

Do we feel the 'dark ride' portion of JR is a hit or a miss? That's probably the only thing so far that seems a bit meh. But like most of us, I am yet to actually see what is in there.

I don't think this has been shared. Not sure if it breaks any laws but an interesting look nonetheless.

Looks like I got my wish regarding landscaping. The only thing so far I don't love is the restaurant. Feels a bit RSL like but I am happy to give them the benefit of the doubt until all theming in. Are there any effects in the tunnel? And is the queue air conditioned?

The issue Movie World has to deal with is the awful surrounds. Gone of the days of showstages, people want immersion. I don't think they can overcome the massive buildings shadowing the forecourt of the new land. Happy to be corrected, of course. And where the roller coasters are, they seem to have done little to block the outside from creeping in. They don't seem to understand sightlights. However, if this is our biggest complaint then great! Also the inside of Jungle Rush gives me Mummy vibes. Will they have a rope to pull?

It is amazing to have true competition back between the parks. However, in my non-expert opinion of someone who hasn't step foot in either new land, Dreamworld takes the prize for the best themed land.

I'm no horticultural expert, but I hope we see some greenery that is not the same low maintenance, boring plants we see planted at any new commercial development. I want it to feel like I'm in the jungle.

To be honest, I thought most chains had a similar ruling up until Japan. As I said, unless there is a breakfast or perk provided per person, I thought it was basically an allowance for a spouse. Which I still think for the most case, as I haven't had this issue in any country other than Japan. Same reason I book hotels with a AAA discount. Because, technically, local motoring agencies are affiliated with the AAA. I'm sure if I did that in Japan, they'd check my AAA membership. I didn't book under a AAA rate, but when I have through Singapore, HK, US, Germany, Netherlands, Italy (you get the gist) and other countries, I wasn't ever asked. No, the other person staying with me was not hiding but rather standing right next to me. Hence why Japan hotels asked, we answered and they charged accordingly. FWIW, I was given an extension on dates with a ticketing "misunderstanding" in Universal Orlando without issue. It happens, we miss stuff. Guest relations usually help if you ask nicely. All I was pointing out was: a big take away from my trip was that in Japan, as friendly as they all are, every T&C will be followed. No matter the circumstance. That's fine, hence why I amended my bookings and enjoyed the holiday. No sleep lost.

I'm not sure how my tip of "make sure you specify how many in your room" has caused so much debate, lol. It doesn't change the fact in Japan, it is the first and only time I've ever been stopped and charged more for a second person. I'm fairly well traveled so I have quite large sample base to go off. It wasn't a bitch, and again, merely an observation. Also, not sure if a on site hotel perk, but some express passes were available the morning of second visit. We were almost going to, hesitated again at the cost, and decided to not proceed. In the end, we achieved everything we needed to in the 1.5 days, albeit minus one Halloween attraction.