Original

Hey, There may still hope for a BT replacement by Christmas! ATM the Village parks don't have anything for the Christmas period and would be a nice finishing touch by always having one up on the other theme park company down the road!! Anyway I'll have my fingers crossed!

I don't think its going to be that all. I'm speculating and it appears most on here are that it will be a shooting dark ride, there is also rumours Sally is involved which specialise in this type of attraction. So if I have to put money on it, mine goes to shooting dark ride.

SkyRush from Hershey park is one coaster that looks really good and there are now videos surfacing of it testing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgPSY658VhI&feature=player_embedded Heres another one, seriously this ride looks really awesome!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkIGfuaASMY&feature=player_embedded I also wanted to include a Verbolten video, but it won't let me embed more than 2 videos so you'll just have to click the link its an offical video from Busch Gardens about the testing of the ride and it looks like a really neat coaster. However, to my surprise its not an Intamin coaster like I had been thinking all along, instead its a Zierer coaster, the same manufacture of Polar X-Plorer at Legoland Billund

^ Its an old film (in black and white) but a classic! When I went to San Fran for a week and lived on campus in the college dorms at the University of California practically everywhere I went gave free re-fills. I remember I first encountered it when we to Hard Rock at Pier 39 and they gave me a drink and I was like "I didn't order this!" and had to be told by the people I was there with this was the norm in America. Last time I went to Food Fantasy at Jupiter's it had unlimited refills; my guess is they make such a killing from post-mix due to its low cost and high mark up and they don't want to loose it!?!?

You know, I have myself thought the exact same thing. We have 3 dark rides all down at once why not kill all 3 with one stone and most likely pick-up a discount on the way. I think that Sally interview at IAAPA really does lend itself to them coming here to do JL since thats a major brand like they mentioned, but they could do something with SW and if it Jurassic themed BT already has much of theming in place and Sally do work with Dinosaurs! But please if the Volcanoes remain, I beg (even though with JR it possibly can't be done now??) bring back the fire!! However, with LT I wouldn't mind seeing (if theres enough space) a rapids ride themed to LT, SF and our sister park in Spain both have rapid rides themed to the Looney Tunes characters and Universal used one for Popeye. Its also exactly what the park needs for the hot summer months another water ride and help take the strain off WWF as the only place to get wet to cool off on a hot day. But maybe Sally could help out with the LT animatronics like Bugs! I just thinking as well opening dates, if this is a major new attraction for SW, my guess is they wouldn't open it the same time as the Batman replacement. This would be for the Christmas/Summer holidays, that way Village have opened something new basically every holiday this year and essentially have gained a monopoly over DW in terms of marketing and attracting people and spreading there guests out between their 2 theme parks.

Maybe they are interested, but probably not until they have finished their other park first and look at its results as well before they go rushing out looking for a second location. I don't remember the deal but when Paramount and the government split was a good parting or was there bad blood. Because, if there was they may not be so interested in coming back to a place where they left pretty unhappy the first time. Australia is only small, so do we really want another movie park?? I mean wouldn't it be nicer to add some diversity to our small range and go for a new theme park with a different theme?

Yep and as Djrappa pointed out Mascot is just about to reach capacity and if you have ever read the newspapers here I think getting a second one here is just about as slim as getting an international park here. Everyone is passing the buck about building one and where it should be built, the premiere here has flat out said NO. Not great for attracting international parks if your airport is at capacity for a growing city and has no plans for a second one is it? You maybe be right but I think Village opening WnW in Sydney is testing the waters for a full on park down the track. In terms of an international brand coming here, as I said before 'not in our lifetime' for the reasons I've stated before. ATM Paramount are busy with their Spain park, SF and CF have too much debt and only appear to be intersted in the American market. For Disney and Universal, currently our population is too small and they have parks in Asia close to us and with a high Aussie dollar its cheap to get there. Australians are also the highest percentage of visitors to LA; hence why Disney are now advertising here for the re-fresh of the Disneyland Resort. Disney are also too busy with China, as are many theme park including Village. Over there the government is willing to spend money and go into partnerships with these parks to get them built, not so much here. As I stated, if you're wanting for a new park somewhere in the near future you should be looking at Village and Merlin, who are here now, to build us something. I wouldn't knock Merlin either, from what I've seen they appear to build pretty good parks. If you want something from Disney or Universal look towards the Aluani Resort in Hawaii from Disney or a Disney Cruise Ship. For that we have unique offerings they could market to the world like our Australian culture, Aboriginal heritage and the Great Barrier Reef. Disney love telling stories and they could do wonders with a resort and our heritage like they did with Aluani and a Cruise ship for the biggest reef in the world... why wound't they?? Fully fledged Disney or Universal park being built here? You can forget it, not for a long time and my guess they only build one when and if the governments put some serious cash up and go into partnerships with them to build it.

I'm sorry, I haven't ridden it yet, but if you have to come up with techniques to stop a ride from hurting you, then that is not enjoyable. I you have to hold you head back firmly for the entire ride remembering this, where has all the fun gone in riding it?? I too use to hold my head firmly against the back and still got horrible rides, while some I faired better than others in the end I was just skipping LW because one day I felt like my ears were bleeding and I had a headache they wouldn't leave for the whole day. I think the issue with harness pressure is the way you position your harness. Who remembers when MDMC opened the amount of people complaining how horrible the harnesses were? Hell, I was one of them, I don't get it anymore because I've learnt how correct use it now without the feeling that my legs needed amputating. I've had the same thing at times with Wipeout, SE and countless other rides. I've found they all tighten during the ride so you work out how to best position the restraint to stop this from happening, you don't always get it right and it can take practice. But from experience I get it on nearly every ride so I sit the harness so its comfortable on me, not tight and then ride, by the end I find its tightened its pressure but not so much that its become uncomfortable. Problem solved. Granted I haven't Arkham yet so I can't comment on its pressure but my guess is the same trial and error until I find where the harness sits best on me so as not to create discomfort by the end.

I wouldn't mind seeing the All Star cafe getting some love, I think its a really nice part of the park, but it has always been on my observations dead, closed or used as a pass processing centre. I wouldn't mind going there and eating there, on hot day inside, or if nice enough go outside and from there I can enjoy the front of the park and also watch the ride doing there thing!

I've noticed SW and MW now say they are open from 9.30 - 5. Have the parks changed their trading hours and extended them by an hour??

Read the last line in the article a SW spokesperson states construction has started on BT.

Just put the same thing in Bat, BT, and Bunny thread, but maybe BT replacement? The article in The Bulletin the other day said they had started construction!

^ Or borrow TPRs

I don't think we are ever going to a see a Disney or Universal park built here in Australia in our lifetimes. But please, Disney, Universal, prove me wrong! First of all the biggest, most obvious reason and the one everyone says, POPULATION. We just don't have enough people here to support one. The argument that they would have to build something "unique" I also disagree with because 1. simply the parks won't and 2. I doubt it would attract people anyway. Think, when Disney build something, or even Universal for that matter; do they do the job half-assed? No, they go all out spending millions. When these parks go and build "unique" attractions most of the money is spent on the R&D. I think we can all agree if they ever came here they aren't going to build a park the size of Disneyland, its going to be small. So why would these companies go and spend millions on R&D for only a small park, that the majority of the world won't even experience? Answer: they won't. Not only that if they did build a "unique" attraction they would most certainly build a clone of it in another one of the parks. You can see they do it all throughout the world, due to the high R&D cost, you find they almost always put one in another park, no doubt this makes re-couping their money spent on the attraction come back faster, rather than spending all their budget on the R&D for another ride at the park that builds the clone. So if their major parks do it, what makes you think an Australian investment would be any different. If they built something "unique" here chances are it would end up in another one of their parks around the globe. No longer making it "unique" and no longer a reason for people to visit their park here. Besides, why wouldn't you build said attraction in other part of the world, after all not everyone can afford to travel to some other parks; as some people have been pointing out why we need one. What makes something "unique" though, how is it defined. I mean I would find that Green Lantern is currently unique, so is Arkham and SE for its preshow or Scooby? I think WWF would be up there with some of the worlds best. What about Jet Rescue as a Jet-ski coaster or MDMC as Intamins first motorbike coaster? GD and ToT both at time have held world records making them "unique", I haven't seen too many people around the world visit DW just so they can ride the worlds tallest freefall. My guess is when you say "unique" you mean expensive, look at WWF Australia's most expensive ride, Disney would have still done more to that, like hiding the final lift hill, and making the mountain go the whole way around. Also, look at SE that wasn't cheap and look at 1. how short it is 2. they didn't have to build the show building and 3. left the outside pretty plain, something Disney would not. All these rides would have sot so much more if it was done to the level of Disney and would have cost more. I just don't see them doing it to a whole park in Australia. If you've got any suggestions for any "unique" attractions that would be in a smaller budget, please let me know, (that's not sarcasm) I would actually love to hear your ideas! Secondly, the world is currently in economic hardship, I don't see the parks wanting to, apart from their current commitments, wanting to be investing as something as large as opening a new park. Also the Australian dollar is high, so even if we offered something "unique", why would tourists come here when they could just go to their closer Universal or Disney which would be much cheaper. Whereas, we can go overseas to other Disney and Universal parks cheaper. Also, another reason why at the moment you won't see them is they are too focused on Asia. Look at all your major theme parks players, Disney, Universal, Merlin, hell even Village Roadshow are all interested in the Asian market at the moment. I mean what company wouldn't when you look at their population. I think after Asia the companies are going to move onto to another highly populated area before Australia. Which leads to another reason, flights are now incredibly cheap to Asia and my guess the parks assumptions are well if Aussies want to visit a Universal or Disney they don't have to travel very far now, plus it doesn't cost as much as our LA parks. While our international tourism is mainly from as someone said Japan and China they now have their own parks. Why come here for another Universal and Disney when they already have one, we can just go there. TBH, theres will more than likely be way better than what we would get anyway. Also I remember reading somewhere that Aussies were the highest percentage of visitors to LA. My feeling is the parks feel that at the moment they have Australia covered for the time being, in the future it may change, but I don't see it changing for a long time. I've got other reasons but I think those are enough to see, and it should be pretty obvious Disney and Universal aren't coming here anytime soon anyway. Once again I'll be happy for the two to prove me wrong on this. But I wouldn't imagine we would see anything more than a small copycat, as long as it has Transformers though. Which btw is now in soft opening in LA. I wouldn't expect anything from Paramount as they got out of the theme park business and are now looking at just getting back in with a park in Spain, so their focus is one that. I mean a large entertainment company invested here called Warner Bros. they didn't exactly build a massive park did they? My feeling is the same as Gazza's, your best bet is a franchise from Merlin, or Village Roadshow. Village are opening a water park in Sydney, so this could be a sign of things to come. Maybe even a partnership between Village and Merlin? I've always thought the two companies were very similar; both have water parks, marine theme parks (coincidently both called SW), both have hotels, at one stage merlin was a part owner in a movie park (Universal Orlando) attractions like Madam Tussaud's and Outback Spectacular/Paradise country, Merlin bought attractions off Village (which Village still promote on their website) and Village proposed a park very similar to Busch Gardens Africa in Victoria. The only other thing that you MAY get from Disney is something similar to what they just opened in Hawaii, that is something they could open in Australia, that we have a population that could support I would imagine. I think they even said they would look at putting similar resorts around the world?? So who knows, it could go in the Gold Coast, or maybe in North Queensland, they have the weather for it, maybe even find an island and create a new Hamilton Island for kids and parents, Disney style. In terms of Disney and Universal coming here, I think its the closest you'll get. In terms of a new park in Australia in our lifetime, look towards Merlin and Village. I know its long, but I feel I needed to say it.

Looking at the photo from where it was taken I'm thinking, as I've already said thats where the simulators were housed and then that larger area off to the left in the photo where it appears to be a large floodlight I'm guessing was the Batcave.

Just saw on Seven News they have realised a video to show they never harmed Dirk, it was just a prank gone wrong, it also showed footage that before they stole Dirk they went swimming with the Dolphins

This was posted on the MW Facebook page, I'm guessing its the Batman building, and I'm going with my gut that this was where the simulators were once located?? EDIT: Nevermind I just saw Kujotees posted this in the Arkham thread.

When you look at what is scheduled at the top of the article you can see its one ride at a time generally and none during peak periods, unless something unexpected happens, which forces the closure, i.e. Sea Viper! I personally feel SW is one of the prettiest parks on the GC and one of the most enjoyable and relaxing for the fact you really can forget about everything else and just 'chill out', and its a shame to have seen it in decline as Joz said for 4 years. Although we have seen some good from the park, the new parade, the jet-ski show getting back to some resemblance of what first started SW in the form of the Ski Show, Penguin Encounter and the battle boats in the former water park section, which for some reason the name now escapes me. However, for guests the bad is outweighing the good with as Joz said visibly rides SBNO and ones where people go I remember something here last time but where did it go. AKA Pirate Ship stands out to me, on the edge of the lake it was one of the first things guests saw, revisiting guests would surely notice the vacant grassy spot. I understand BT was closed as the website states to "make way for a new attraction" and I understand that because we get something new and I have faith it will be excellent, but it has been a long time in between drinks. The same goes for other things in the park such as the train and a monorail train that has been decommissioned but not replaced. I've said it about other parks and I'll say it again, these places aren't getting smaller or less busy, every year they are seeing more people go through their gates, taking out rides, with obvious visibility an attraction used to stand on that site is not helping spread crowds around. I know we've seen new additions, but new additions don't take the strain off the park in peak times when others shut down or loose their capacity with no replacement. ^^^The article said work had started on BT, you said there was talk Joz, has anyone seen anything, is it just getting gutted, or was that just what SW said to The Bulletin so they wouldn't look too bad. I for one, hope the park really does see a beautiful turnaround, and can be returned to my favourite simply for the beauty. I don't know what it is but it was our first theme park and it just has something magical to it I can't explain or put my finger, but everything is going it just "works" and I hope to see this returned. I remember going there when I was young and they had out the front while you stood in the ticket queue line some guys playing these drums, I think they are called, Trinidadian, but it just gave it this special holiday feel and for me that is really what SW is all about. Another thing from the article I noticed was some comments seemed to say how frustrated people were with the time it takes to load guests at our parks; I feel the same way sometime I just look at the loading process and think 'surely there has to be a quicker way?' Sometimes urgency wouldn't be a bad place to start.

Well I was thinking it could tie that area nicely together (if their was enough room) with the new ride and the theme of the Joker... Their sister park in Madrid has one and it would add more activity into that courtyard where the old entrance used to be.

The breakfast programs might also send their weather presenters to cover this as well?? Just a thought on the old queue rails and cinema, perhaps one day they will put a new ride or attraction in their something, maybe like Vekoma's Madhouse or a walk-through?!?! Could also make that area around the back a little busier; hence the reason for the move of the entrance between SE and something new.

Apart from arguing about the POV's just looking at the 2 videos the magnetic breaks really do seem to slow down the ride nice and slow and comfortably!!!! Big plus there for everyone riding; BTW is there an actual video out there yet officially from MW? One Day Holiday, I'm probably asking a question I already have before but did you say at the media event they said there would be (or the possibility) of a second train?

^ That is what I said, I could see this ride being very popular again and needing 2 trains. I mean it opened with 2 so I think now with an even more enjoyable ride experience it could see large numbers, I mean its not like the park has gotten smaller and is seeing more visitors all the time so I would assume 2 is needed; I've seen days when it was LW with large lines. Plus then it could take the strain off some of their other thrill attractions and help spread the people out, I'm guessing they would only use it during the holiday period, but that is what they use the 2nd SE train for. I'm hoping I can enjoy/try this new experience some time mid year (finger crossed), until then I will wait until I see anything in person before I make any comments or judgements on the new re-theme.

^ Wow you guys are quick. Yesterday when I read this my guess it was some kind of late April Fools joke or something (can't trust anything you read on that day ) but it appears to be true!! My guess is that they will only make a limited amount of these available so everyone isn't trying to grab one??

Yea I've got to agree... by just looking at these photos the new area is looking great!!! Hats off to DW and I hope they realise how much positive feedback they're getting from something so simple in theming that all the little things are what make the big difference. It creates a great atmosphere. Can't wait to check the new area out, hopefully I can get there around June!

I know it wasn't that popular before LW closed, but I have seen peak times with huge lines before it closed and MW have other coasters with more than one train just the peak season. With it being a re-theme I was really hoping of seeing 2 trains, I mean it opened with 2 trains. With the area now being DC and Batman themed and new trains that won't hurt your head, I would think the ride will see a boost of popularity and the ride could take some pressure of other rides like SE. I was hoping that with a good ride op team running it we could avoid stacking, I mean I've seen RR avoid it and it doesn't have a big layout and the American parks seem to have some really fast load times. Oh well, time will tell when it opens, fingers crossed.