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I know our parks will never be as cheap as the big chains, but as you said djrappa they should offer good quality. I remember some years ago the food quality was good and prices were high but they weren't rude and they offered options. Now granted I haven't been to the parks for a while, nor ordered food from their in much longer but when I ordered I noticed there wasn't as much on offer as their use to be, drinks were put on as an extra and not part of the meal deal and the only drink size I could get was a Large and when I asked did they have smaller size's they told me they didn't stock them anymore, I'm not sure if they still offer the kiddie size? And prices had gone up significantly, not just a small rise. I haven't seen the new Gotham City Cafe, has the menu or offering changed since its refurb. merchandise doesn't interest me, but for people who make the trek up once a year and would generally buy something, they aren't going to buy the same thing they saw last year and bought last year. I agree no company has been able to replicate the brand loyalty of Disney, but Looney Tunes and Batman has always proven to be popular, instead of Mickey ears, maybe Bugs ears? The whole VIP issue is interesting and I'm interested to see if they offer the pass again come June and if they tweak it or leave it as is.

The majority of our family has the VIP pass, now not one person in that family eats at the park, when they go to WBMW they all get a stamp out, go across the road eat at Macca's or KFC and then come back for the afternoon and they do the same if their at WnW and when their at SW they go to the Macca's at Marina Mirage. We all have a bad taste in our mouth after getting charged too much for food at the park and then eating it and feeling very ripped off at the poor quality. Three people, granted two of them were kids, went to Macca's and spent as much as what one meal at MW cost. We one day went in a big group to the parks and taking friends with us and guess what our family did... don't eat here go across to Macca's its a lot cheaper and so now word spread with them and whole large group left the park, and those people now do the same, my friends don't eat at the park anymore, they go across the road and every time we're getting a stamp out so is a lot of other people and sure enough a couple of minutes later they're ordering across the road with you. What I want is for someone in management to realise this and offer a better tasting, more competitive option at the park and then advertise this heavily to say to customers 'our product has changed, give it another go' Also with merchandise a great example of catering to the crowds was during the DC parade everyone was cramming into the stores to buy superhero merchandise before the parade such as capes and then wearing them during the parade and thats more of what the parks needs to get into to sell more and keep them open. With the parks shorting hours, I've never got it, we've had these hours for how many years and they've never changed, only got shorter, while other parks around the world extend their hours. I've always thought of great marketing campaign it would be to say, hey look we're the only park to open longer than our competition so if you come to us over them then you'll get a longer day and more value for your money. I've always thought it would be a great selling point especially for people who say were undecided between MW and DW, this could be the tipping point and its something I think that WnW haven't pushed enough in summer. Its clear from TPR being here that we really do have excellent parks and that sometimes we can be a little harsh maybe because we're always at them and can notice the small things, but we really I would say we have world class parks and definitely world class attractions, with SE and Dolphin Cove, which i always thought was better than just a tank. But nobody wants to see reductions when its operated as such for so many years, especially when their seeing more people then ever come through the turnstiles.

But isn't that 3 rides? And really with BT gone that only leave Sea Viper, the kids area the monorail and skyway and a adventure playground. I guess they are trying to push the people to see the animals first, but I could see some guests upset that they couldn't get to do what they want when they want, after-all when you pay $70 to get in you expect to be all up and running and I'm guessing this would leave some guests unsatisfied which not good for the park, company or the return rate of these guests.

Another thing, I haven't bothered checking this anywhere else, but according to Wikipedia its Sea Worlds 40th birthday and next year it will be 40 years since they've traded under the name Sea World... so does this mean we could see them getting something as well?? Just checked the MyFun website it is 40 years since they've been at their current location and 39 years since they've operated under the Sea World name and their history page at the beggining still says the Ski Show exists.

I voted for wood, I've never ridden one and I think the Gold Coast has enough Steel, I would really love to try one and see the Gold Coast have one itself! I can't say what my favourite woodie is because I've never ridden one, but you can definitely maintain to a high standard, you only have to look at Busch Gardens and what they did with Gwazi only recently. They re-tracked most of the coaster and gave it new trains and now the feedback I've heard is that its smoother than ever.

^^ Didn't Magic Mountain come out and say that both sides WILL be upgraded and BOTH will run backwards, like our TOT2? Not one and then the other.

Wait is Aussie World still owned by WVTP or did they sell it off when they decided not to go through with the water park?

^^ lizt - They were still going to use snow for the event during the day is what it said. GoGoBoy - I'm going to go with my gut here and say its not so much the new American management (but it might be, or at least maybe their idea?) but more so people in entertainment and people like John Menzies, who does all the new attractions for the park (which gives me hope for what will replace BT) because I mean all we have seen from the management is cost cutting exercises with rides and shops being shut, BT, Corkscrew receiving that dreadful makeover, Ski show gone, LW shop closed, shops opening later, Shrek gone and awful food at ridiculous prices!! But people like John Menzies have done rides like Castaway Bay, the Penguins, AquaLoop, new Jet Ski show and have no doubt had a hand in this, and entertainment have put this WC event together to make it what it is, plus the DC event and Halloween and I'm guessing the new Jet Ski show!! I get the feeling management make the decision and people like this have to either fix it, do the best with it or organise it and put it into place. The people that have a real heart and enjoyment where they work.

Thats a shame about SDSC because I went the very next day and had one of the best rides in a long time, it seems to be very hit and miss! Couldn't comment on the food I find it VERY overpriced and crap quality for what you get and that was the last several times I ate their, I got so sick of 18 bucks for food I threw away now for the past 6 months I've been going to Mcdonalds paying half of what I pay at MW and would their quality was A LOT BETTER than what MW was feeding me!!! I forgot to mention that store that was being re-done next to the dancing heads is a frozen coke stall, which from the looks (even though it still has fences around it) the top part seemed to fit with the rest of the park! DJRappa its good to see the red train back though... it was gone for what 18months? I would also agree with you it was a mic problem if it wasn't for the fact that while I was standing in the line when one of the ops announced all clear to the head op they also asked for the music to be turned back on which after the train leaving the station it was... and wasn't like you could hear the radio off in the distance of the mic its sounded like the mic was right in front of the radio!!

I've found Christmas Eve to be pretty dead.

^ I always thought boxing day and New Years Day were their busiest... there you go learn something new!!! And I always thought weekends would be busier!

Well these chairs were definitely the red ones (they had the little red handle bars on the seat, where last time I rode they were blue) But as I said the other train was maintenance and had no seats attached? Maybe it just depends who's operating the ride?

I think it was operators discovered they could turn the radio on over the speakers instead of the rides soundtrack, cause on my first go leaving the station the rides soundtrack was on and coming back Sea Fm was on than later in the day we had to what on ride cycle and the soundtrack was on but when the operator got on the microphone she went "Load dock all clear, turn the music back on" which than the head operator dispatched the ride and on came Sea Fm the third time it was just left on when I got on and left!!!

Well instead of bumping a new thread or a starting one I'll just right in here about my trip to MW today. Today we got there about 10.30 and left at 4, we were planning on going to White Christmas again but we were so wet and had done everything we just found it to be unpleasant so we thought it would be better to just go home and warm up! So some new things happening on LW... FINALLY the red train has returned from its mysteriously long departure, which there goes my hope of new trains, (btw the ride is in no way smoother and in fact felt rougher and is just me or do the red trains restraints seem smaller, because I swear there as much room between my head and restraint as there is on the blue train, if that makes sense) the blue train was sitting in maintenance however had been taken apart and seats for the ride were no where to be seen obviously just getting a thorough check, but its good to see that hopefully by boxing day the ride will be back to FULL capacity, in terms of trains not waiting at holding breaks which today as guests were exiting the rides gates would open to let people on instead of waiting everybody leaves them open them... I'm hoping this wasn't just done because it was raining and not many people were in the line, also the ride station now plays the Sea Fm radio station instead of hearing police chatter over the speakers. The smoke was finally working on Scooby Doo today which made the ride go from the good standard its been at lately to making the ride amazing due to being able to see ALL the laser and having that haze in the room. Other than that all the rides were going pretty good especially for a wet day and everything was working properly, the park seemed to have full capacity staff on, expecting to be busy for holiday periods without the rain. We managed Batwing 3 times, SE 8 because it opened in the morning in the rain and literally there was no line it was walk on, it later closed and then re-opened again to large crowds and shut again in the afternoon (if anyone was at the GC today they would know it rained ALL day, so yes SE was running in the rain even when it was fairly heavy which surprised me!) LW 3 times, Scooby twice (larger line for being indoors) WWF once, River Ride once, Batman Adventure once. So overall a very good day to do so much was stoked at SE especially since we did 6 times in a row in the morning, kicking myself we didn't do it more. The Roxy Theatre was ridiculous with lines for the film all the way back to screen in mainstreet even at 4pm! Also went to the Ben & Jerrys and found possibly the best flavour which was Cookie Dough and Peanut Butter! When I was leaving I noticed Police EVERYWHERE and temporary fencing all around the park which was something the park didn't have when I did the event last Friday, so glad I did it earlier its just a mess at the moment! That was about all to mention, I'm really tired so at the moment that's all I can think of. Cheers.

Plus VRTP have more at them which new... SW Castaway Bay and Penguins and new Jet Ski show, WnW Aqua Loop, Zipline, flowrider, sky coaster and Dive'n'Movies back against the Wedegie and MW has White Christmas and Journey to the Center of the Earth, while DW has TOTII and 10 new shows.... for me I saw more value with VRTP because they had 3 parks and many new additions to try when I bought mine over the competition.

Im surprised with Merlin just buying the Sea World brand in America they don't want ours, heck the way VRTP are running it Merlin could do a better job, a mind getting Manta ... and don't they own part of the Universal Resort in Orlando which would mean they own that Wet'n'Wild and they would have experience with Movie related parks! And Joz, VRTP are back looking at buildings parks again in Asia???

"The reason for this is that I assume Warner Bros have the rights to the brand, and it seems a HUGE waste not to utilise it." - ihatemisssly I think that's a great idea, I've always wanted to see a Harry Potter show in there with the whole area around being HP themed to something like Diagon Alley and having Hogwarts Express and a ride themed to the Womping Willow - As well as a kids rides. However unfortunately the author of the books J.K Rowling has the rights to the franchise and lets Warner Bros. make the movies. You use to have a HP themed attraction here but its now for so many years now I can't remember and rumour is its because J.K Rowling made it go or to keep was way out of MW budget (hence way huge parks like Universal now have the HP themed area, I would hate to see what they have to pay in rights) So unless the rights are now cheaper or its within MW budget I don't think we'll see it return, however they still have the HP store in mainstreet, so who knows? I love the idea though and isn't that what this comp is about being able to dream!!!

Joz we were standing not far away from you! Can I say what an amazing night... I went with family which meant I had 2 10yr old cousins with me and it really was amazing a lot better sitting in a crowded park waiting for carols or driving around streets at night looking for home it up, it was the best Christmas event our family had ever done and it wasn't me saying that it was the rest of the family! We got their just before 6 and got inside just before the rope drop, when they did do the rope drop they turned on all the snow machines and wow, it was slow moving getting into mainstreet and when we did the snow was really going and was filling mainstreet and really did look beautiful it was one of those moments when you had to be there, with everyone taking photos. We stayed in mainstreet for most of the night and got a good viewing spot for ALL of the shows, we decided shows first, rides later. I also had my cousins go ice skating for $5 for 15mins and they loved it. Looney Tunes on Ice was also a great show especially for the young ones (tip: the show is suppose to be secret, its not in the program but starts at 7.30) The parade was fantastic and IMO was a good as the DC comic's one and the floats looked spectacular and Santa to be the last thing to come down the street and it gave the park to turn the snow machines on fall ball again! The park was packed but yet didn't seen to busy, it seemed as if there were a LOT of little kids with their families and so after the parade most of them seemed to go home after being tired, with so many little kids I guess lines for rides like SE would be short? After the parade we did the River Ride which can I say the crew running that were amazing! I know kids were still on a high after the parade but they really got everyone into it, and they were pumping people through, the minute the first room was cleared they begun putting people into again! When we came out we did Scooby which we were only in line for 15mins for, the park really seemed to have cleared out by this stage and the big rides had already closed for the night (no smoke on Scooby again) Finally we did Polar Express which was another great addition for the Christmas nights and I really enjoyed and again they were pumping people through on this... a show every 20mins! Overall we loved the night and are thinking of going back the lights in mainstreet looked amazing and the snow at the beginning was amazing... there will be a lot of impressed people at the moment with what the park pulled off especially for their first time, you can hear it in people on Joz's video when the lights get turned on and it was the same reaction at the beginning of the night with the snow! I hope they bring it back next year.

Was there as well today, looks like the zip line is going up, just a structure near the wavepool entrance, The fly coaster looks like it still has a few supports to go and they appear to be out the back near the staff car park, but I can't wait for it to go because it is something I really want to try and should be a good view for the people sitting around the wavepool. Also Sunrise had all their equipment behind the Aqualoop getting ready to do the show live from their tomorrow for the pool party! Did the Aqualoop last week as well and really was an amazing ride, I did come off the ride with a huge scratch, I didn't feel it though until someone pointed it out, felt smooth and it ain't stopping me from riding it again!!

Same here, when the roof first went in I hated it... I mean sure it ain't the prettiest thing but when you see the events they can now pull off under it, it is certainly a HUGE asset to the park!

That event looks amazing, couple of questions... Where is the best place to see both shows? This looks like a really cool event, I hope it comes back next year and comes back bigger and better! These events are great for the parks, they get more profit for opening at night plus great word of mouth advertising for putting on amazing events, I imagine kids will love this! Did they use snow machines or anything?? Also just from the pictures that Ben & Jerrys really seems to fit in with the Main Street, VRTP have really turned a corner again in offering some really polished and themed events and attractions, I just hope next time on SDSC the smoke is going last 3 times I've been to the park its been nothing. But anyway I'm looking forward going there next Friday, hoping its not too busy!

Neither had Bermuda, until they went all cheapo on it, its like they actually wanted it to fall apart, use it as an excuse and say "Oh look, we can't fix it anymore, we'll put a new one in" I mean up the road if they did same things to Looney Tunes as they did with BT we would all be saying that it was so bad that it needs to go.... but they maintained that one and not BT so all I can think is that it was an excuse and a poor one at that!

Maybe I missed something by skimming over it... but are all the rides going to be operating during these nights? I hope this event goes really well for them, unfortunately due to lack of planning I missed the Fright Night but I've promised myself not to miss this event. But anyway I hope its successful and they bring this event back next year and can grow on it even further from here, it sounds like a good start! Other parks in US like Busch Gardens Europe have just started doing events like this in the last couple of years, so here's hoping its successful and it continues to grow like Fright Night, at least I can be hopeful it will!!

^ But didn't MW announce their White Christmas event at the beginning of the year, a long time before DW announced their Winter Wonderland?

Maybe I only skimmed over it, but I swear when I looked at their maintenance page before I went to the park last week their was re-open date for the ride of about 2 weeks, because after that 2 weeks or so another ride after it was going down, not until further notice, because I went on it Sunday, day before it closed and the week before and there were parts where animatronics were not working? (rock fall) Maybe its going down to replace these before opening to Summer crowds?? I really hope it doesn't disappear for 20th anniversary both times I went it had a huge line and both days park was relatively quite (SE had 1 train taken off) its icon and should definitely remain to celebrate their birthday! Bugs to Movieworld is like Mickey to Disneyland! Also it appeared Roadrunner was getting a paint job? Either that or just a high pressure clean. While on the subject of paint, anyone else think SE needs a paint job, its clearly looking faded to the point it looks bad!!