Original

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.

One Day Holiday, since you went to the media event can you tell me if the ride is going to run two train operation?

The Monorail in Sydney is being closed down: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-23/last-stop3a-sydney27s-monorail-to-be-scrapped/3908166 could Village possibly buy it and have a connection between MW and WnW so people could hop between the parks like DW/WWW, where they previously did not have the option and not have to walk/drive if they wanted to do so? Or is it past its use by date/too hard? Or could they at least buy the trains and use them at SW, at least the Sydney trains are air-conditioned or once again are the trains too old/too hard?

Yes, but the Looney Tunes have staying power. Its the same as Mickey Mouse, Mickey was created in 1928 and is older than all of the other Disney characters but out all of them he is the most famous and continues to headline their parks, I don't see them re-theming their park to based around Kim Possible do you? Because, while that character may have been popular it doesn't have the appeal that will make it stick around for years. Look at Nick at DW or Cartoon Network at SW, they may have been good characters but people moved on from them, they became irrelevant and hence had to be re-themed. The only one that seems to be sticking is Spongbob. The Looney Tunes were created in the 1930's and while Hanna Barbera cartoons were good (I loved them myself) they just don't have that same kind of appeal that LT carries with it, they are famous with the WB name.

Well I'm really looking forward to seeing how 'Verbolten' turns out at Busch Gardens Europe.

Well I think that Universal they bought the HP theme park franchise license, whereas WB bought the film franchise license. Universal, however don't seem to tie themselves to only building attractions in their park from movies they made. They have 'The Simpsons' and thats FOX. A couple that could work with the WB franchise is 'Sherlock Holmes' and the other is I think Village might have something to do with the distribution of the film here and that is Mirror Mirror, it is advertised on the MW site alongside The Dark Knight. The other one, I have no idea about the story and if you could do a ride or attraction with it but its a WB movie and thats the 'Hunger games'.

^ I was just going to say that... Bane is in the next Batman movie so people will know who he is then! On the WB Facebook page they state "It’s time to get to know who you just may came across" by stating this could there still be more characters to come?? Are they just slowly teasing everyone in the lead up to the opening?

I don't get why they would build a ride where the guests unlock the harnesses themselves. As Gazza said it goes against nearly every coaster out there. I can't imagine making guests unlock their harnesses rather then a computer system doing it speeding up the unload/load process which Aussie parks struggle at to begin with, only slowing it down and LW was never quick at dispatching to begin with. I've watched people on Batwing and Superman who seriously struggle with their harnesses and its a computer doing it; especially on the exit with SE it goes up automatically and still people have no idea.

Maybe something unexpected broke with that effect and its going to take a while to get the part into fix it?? My hope is with a re-fresh of the park, particularly on that side with the new DC area SE can get some love and yes a fresh coat of paint is needed.

I remember during IAAPA when TPR had that interview with Sally Corp and they talked about a big attraction with a major license opening around Christmas I said on here could it have something to do with one of our dark ride replacements. Could my guess way back then been correct??

looking at it I think it is Wonder Woman, Superman and Batman in the photo as a teaser for a DC Comics Justice League themed ride replacing the Batman simulator. I'm also thinking if Matt is right in hinting it being similar to Buzz and Toy Story we are going to see a shooting style dark ride and my guess is we could see it form Sally Corp which are excellent at these rides and at IAAPA said they were working with a major park to bring a major brand into one of their rides and would open around Christmas time. All that info seems to fit perfectly with the pieces I'm putting together; because what park builds a major ride and opens it at Christmas anywhere else in the world? They are all usually in the middle of winter, and there is no doubt that the DC brand is a major brand.

Yea, does the dark ride have to be Batman themed? Could it be another character from the DC universe, or just go for the whole Justice League theme?? Otherwise the area just seems to have an overkill of Batman in it being three batman themed rides.

My question is with the re-theme and plans to obviously make this part of the park popular again will we see a reopening of the gift and photo shop at the exit. If it is batman themed could this be where the new Bat Store gets moved to. My feeling is we will also see a new dark ride take Batman's place to complete the DC area and no doubt something for the whole family and then as has been discussed before move onto the Looney Tunes area and replace the river ride and give the that whole area a refresh which is needed. My personal hope is that they then move onto the back of the park open it up and refresh it. It would no doubt take some time but would give the whole park a new shiny look, great atmosphere and surely keep everyone happy!!

Yes but thats done on a Disney scale. We wouldn't need something so large. From memory didn't Vekoma bring out a similar system that could be made smaller?? If SW's theatre wasn't big enough either then maybe if they could somewhere with more room (not there is much left) and put it there. Just my feel is that if Village were to purchase such a ride it would be better suited to a park such as SW.

^ No I think they realise how much of a cash grab that space is. Charge large amounts of money to play or race in a game and the end result is either nothing or small toy that cost almost nothing. Whereas Matrix and HP didn't have something like that for them to make money off. There is a reason why DW had one to begin with and why we have seen similar things now appear at both WnW and SW. I'm sure it also helps getting their other brand Intencity out there. I just wish that if their going to have, it could be better integrated in to the Wild West area better and not shut some games down to have the area look like a deserted ghost town!

Man that really is cool. I forgot the majority of this ride due to me being completely freaked out by it as I was only really young when I first went on it. As Wyncenuros said I too wish Scooby and Gremlins could have co-existed, they both excellent rides; I really like as well how the ride ops really get into their role and play along with the guests, they do more than just stand there and push a button. I'm really hoping we can something like this return for LT and Batman.