Original

According to the opening line of this article yes there have talks held with VRTP. I too think Merlin and their Lego brand is a up there as a probable idea of a new park in Australia, at the same time VRTP have shown parks are their main business. They probably understand Lego could make an appearance in the future, get a park in Victoria, Merlin would then have competition in all three eastern states if they were to make an appearance. VRTP would then have a monopoly of visitors in the eastern states. However, I think first their focused on getting WnWS off the ground, maybe even their international expeditions first. Personally I want to be greedy and really want to see a fully fledged park join alongside WnWS so I then have a waterpark and theme park not to far away

So finally got to the park, 2 and a half years later, the new ride looks great, from across the broadwater, to outside the park, to once you get into the park and look at from across the ski lake. Once you get under it, yes there are poles everywhere, but it truly is impressive, especially when on the flume ride, my only worry is with how big it looks it may out some families off, but I hope not. We've already seen the boats are on site in the, as well as what looks to some theming with the boats, in the car park, and on site. However, from Jet Rescue, to the flume ride it appears as if some of the larger theming is going up inside the building, looks to be before the walls go up and the larger pieces are too difficult to get in. Looked to archways over the flume sections, looked to be the words "Do not enter" or "caution" can't remember now! Looks like the outline for the entrance path and into the ride appears to be outlined, but seeing as I'm not an expert can't be sure. I do know one thing for sure, I can't wait for this ride to be open and I can't to get back there to ride it!

Well any news is good news. You've got to remember these are only preliminary talks, by the times agreements are made, plans are made, submitted, construction breaks ground to opening, it will be well over 5 years. I agree no movie parks, we're a tiny country, don't give us the same, give us something different! It's interesting I find the article says talks were held with VRTP but we don't know how they went, no word from VRTP and no word from the others on how the meeting went, positive/negative.

But essentially what they're doing is maintenance to the ride, improving guest experience. When ToT went down for its overhaul should they not have advised it because it would mean guests would not come and wait till it was down, or GD shouldn't advise when it goes down for maintenance and its refresh because again guests wouldn't come. If the parks is overhauling these rides, like the train preparing the track for the new locomotive, than that in my eyes is maintenance, and should be posted with some idea of when it will be done (unlike now), and explain its getting an overhaul for continued guest experience, not just closed weekdays with no end date.

Then why don't they just state this in their website, the public would be much more understanding then as to why rides are closing early, to better their overall experience for the future.... but that would mean using logic.

I hope something is done with the Stage Show/Western Area soonish (with a major show taking up residence), but I think and am glad WB Kids is getting some TLC. I'm all for Speedy's Taxi's gone, I don't know how much room the Mini Driving School is taking up of the show building, but I would like to see 1or 2 great themed dark rides (who wouldn't). Then outside maybe 1 or 2 new rides again and have a new purpose built stage for a purpose built Looney Tunes show, the only problem there is fitting all that in... but go on MW prove to me there is enough

Stranger things have happened, ColesMyer completely folded with Myer being sold off and Coles going to Wesfarmers, the company wasn't broke financially, just broke operationally. But their answer was to just sell it. The further it (DW) goes down hill, the more money will be needed to bring it up to scratch, especially VRTP scratch. They may get to a point (if they did ever look at buying it) and go "nah too much money needed, costs outweighs the benefits we would gain", then who knows, Clive Palmer? Mack? In terms of ride operating hours being reduced the way they are is deplorable along with everything else that parks has been doing for so many years I've lost count. NOT counting Dreamworks; however, I get the feeling if Dreamworks weren't so strict who knows how that could have turned out

Well if its going to take up the entire building, then its going to be a big ride. Just as a side note, if it will be in the show building and will in some way involve cars, could Sally be involved again with a dark ride, get a discount to buy two rides in a row from them? Just thought, since they already have experience with that plot of land and LTRR!

I think it really adds to the aesthetics of SW, so I hope they never get rid of it.

That would now mean VRTP have replaced all their SBNO rides

I'd like to point out I didn't have a pass I paid general admission and was from interstate. I also took in a lot very negative comments about the system from the general population in the park about the system and it being unfair, this wasn't just a few. In terms of coming back to the park for these people, they might think twice if they viewed their last visit as negative. Also isn't Disney's system free? You've got to remember Disney opened their first park over 50 years ago, time change, could you imagine them trying to do that today? If you can charge a high price for it where the general riding population won't notice, then hey go for it, but my experience when the fast Track Line is nearly full and the standard line is overflowing, then hey some tweaking is needed. How Fast Track been rolled out to any other VRTP's yet?

I'll just add the park also had staff at the front of line directing the one for one traffic, they also seemed to be taking in how many people were using it and the wait times of the FT lines.

Moving from the WnW Review there's Fast Track. Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't this the same name MW used at their park as a trial some time ago? Well it now has found a home at WnW, don't know if it has resurfaced back at MW, or if they plan to, or if they plan to introduce it at SW too. So WnW Fast Track is pay $20 to skip Tornado, Constrictor, AquaLoop, Kamikaze and (correct me if I'm wrong) Black Hole, only once. Its 20 bucks a ride and boy is it popular. Tip: In the morning if the lines are already full don't do these rides because everyone buys Fast Track in the morning and the line will move painfully slow. So once you have Fast Track, Constrictor and AquaLoop have separate queues. AquaLoop uses the old line for the little AquaLoop slide that used to be there (forget the name) and Constrictor uses the old TC2 entry/line. Black Hole has the Fast Track entry next to the normal entry. As for Kamikaze and Tornado, I can't comment as I didn't ride them. As people turn up with their Fast Track band (much like Splash Cash) the rides logo is crossed out, preventing them from coming back. The system works as a one for one, one lot from the normal queue, one lot for Fast Track queue. Rides like Constrictor which don't have the same through put as others, forces a line that starts at the slides entry to easily become a 90min wait as Fast Track people poor through the line. In fact Constrictor's Fast Track line at one point in the morning was nearly at the entry itself, that's how popular the FT Pass became as people who could afford it snapped it up desperate to skip lines that were moving slow due to FT. People would line up see how slow it was going, leave come back with FT which was only making the solution worse and making for a lot of irate people. Now I could, if I wanted to afford this, but I choose not to, because I hate THIS system. Other systems may work, but from what I saw not this one and it left a sour taste in my mouth after what was a good day. As I pointed out the other day, a lot of people were angry at this "line skipping" and I don't blame them, I was getting very frustrated as well. for families of that's $100, and its $100 most people don't have! After finally seeing a system like this in place, haven't yet properly looked at one in a theme park, I will now say I am leaning towards the side of completely disliking them. I felt for the families who couldn't afford a pass like FT have to stand in a long and slow moving queue. We accepted the park would be busy and we would have to wait, but not have to wait extra long for people to skip the queues! I believe in park, especially when riding rides, everyone should be on an equal footing, not to those who have more money, putting others at a disadvantage of having 30secs of fun down a slide. Just get the operations moving quicker! What is everyone else's opinion and will it be rolled out across other VRTP's???

Just wanted to give a quick review of my day at WnW. I only went to WnW while I was up there, would have liked to have done others parks as well, but hey beggars can't be chooser and I still had a great day. Got the park and got in just after 10, I will say staff at the entry were very efficient and helpful all with a smile, couldn't have asked for more from people working in tourism. They also a lot of staff processing tickets to keep lines moving fast and they had a lot staff just walking the lines to make sure everyone was where they needed to be for quick entry (e.g. groups where they needed to be, what lines for people buying and what lines for people with pre-purchased tickets.) Got in the gate got a locker (again great staff) and made our way through an already packed park. All in all it was a really great day and I accomplished everything I wanted to. Granted I missed out on some slides, but the group I was with didn't want to do them and as 2 or more people slides, didn't really like lining up for them, nor would I have got to them anyway with time. I went in the middle of school holidays, so I knew what I was in for, not one of these people who complain about overcrowding blah blah blah. Most people in the park seemed to realise the same... its the price you pay when going at peak periods. I also really like the up-charge attractions, I think it suits the park and gives it a heap more atmosphere, seeing people fly across the park on zipline, or a whole queue from the other side of the park turn to watch how long it takes the person at the top to pull the cord. My only criticism with the park is it would need some tlc in places, fencing that's had people graffiti it, roofs looking a little worse for wear, the Domino Pizza one comes to mind, BAD with the huts thatching falling off, and the Mammoth Falls roof. The Kamakazi sign, some speakers stopped working, some missing their case and seeing the speakers. Bit of paint and a bit of scrub, I'm sure will do the trick. I will also say that the guy who served me at Domino's couldn't have moved slower in serving guests and I think smiling could have quiet possibly killed him. All other staff in the park were fantastic though Then there's Fast Track but I think that's best left for an entirely different thread.....

I actually not long went to WnW and I would suggest a different strategy... rides that were slow moving like WWM and Constrictor got REALLY busy REALLY quick, and we got in just as the park was opening, headed to Constrictor first, the line was already huge and it took as 90minutes to get on, WWM was out of the queue house and down the mountain side. I found do the high capacity rides first with the park crowded and as the afternoon goes on and people start to leave for the day the lines get shorter and then do the low capacity rides... that is if when you get in the lines are already full! But hey, everyone has their own opinion on how to get the rides done. Next I want to touch on Fast Track as that thing was rubbing A LOT and when I say a lot I mean whole queues of people accepting the park was busy and having a good time, saying "Wow this line moves slow" to then realising people were paying to skip lines and becoming really angry, many comments I heard "This is ridiculous!" and "its not fair, we don't have that kind of money, why should the well off get to skip?" and "I'm doing the right thing, why can't they?". Doesn't look good for the park, upsets a lot of customers and creates this line in the park for people who can afford and those who can't, which parks shouldn't be about. But that isn't for this topic but I want to touch on it again when I have more time.

What I like about Cyclone is works well as step up for people getting into coasters and those sorts of rides... for people who feel ToT2 is too thrilling, but the Reptar, (or Madagascar I believe its now themed?) is too boring. Plus it works well now with WWW, I agree with Joz IMO it needs a refresh and second train for better operation. I'm firm believer and I don't think its a secret in really focusing on a parks operations and having lines moving as quick as possibly, with staff working a ride efficiently. I also disagree with putting a coaster around Thunderbolt. 1. The station now works as the entry to WW from DW. 2. The land is mostly taken up by WWW where Thunderbolt once was. 3. The small area left we are hoping will be used for a WWW expansion. I'd like to see DW's next coaster be something like a spinning coaster, Euro Fighter, or Mini Hyper. For MW, I think LT needs some work before they look at another coaster, and I would like to see the park also add a second water ride for the hot months... But when it come time for a coaster, I would love to see a wooden coaster.

Can I just ask, we have 2 discussions going on about locker fees and SE lockers. I think its a valid topic, but its doing my head going from one thread to the next where we are essentially discussing the same thing, is there anyway we can just talk about it in one topic?

I think SW have already answered this question for you. . .

I've said it before, IMO if we see anything Disney in the near future your looking at maybe a cruise ship or a resort similar to the one they just opened in Hawaii

I hope when they re-paint the main entrance buildings they get a coat of paint that reflects their theme and era... not overly bright colours that fade quickly... sigh. However, I am greatly impressed to see them addressing a lot of the areas in the park that needed work done.

Speaking, not sarcastically, when Mack stated they were working on a water coaster here in Australia, we all pretty much just assumed, yep, SW, since they had plans a while ago for one. . . . . SW, realising not long after stating that a new ride would replace BT and would have a storm theme, that just fuelled it!

Wow, this Melbourne Theme Park thread gets off topic A LOT.

But look at how much food prices have increased at the parks themselves

When you look at it Disney Universal work in the way that they have one east coast park and one west coast park and tourists, are suppose to travel to the park that is closest to them, so if VRTP and Ardent are both established already on the east coast, then why build again on the east coast that just eats into their healthy tourist numbers on the Gold Coast and I don't ever see them expanding to the west coast. Best chance of another theme park IMO in Australia is in Sydney, VRTP may have had a plan to build in Melbourne but thats gone now and looking at Sydney with WnW. Plus, Melbourne weather is way too ridiculous, 40 degrees one day, 0 the next! The Gold Coast climate is much better suited for a theme park and Sydney is okay, hence them building a water park that can close in winter.

Wouldn't you also need to pay for the licensing to Hasbro, owners of the Transformers brand? And really, as Gazza said Movie parks don't have to specifically use their movies as rides, they can use other studios rides, as is seen in both Universal and Disney.