MickeyD

^Awesome?!?! Sorry but I tried using my imagination to picture how it would look but there is just still so much work to do! It's not like MW to be leaving things this late but perhaps they are trying some new construction models this time around and doing everything (including facades and features) pre-fabricated off-site? I have to say i'm getting really impatient to see the final product of Batwing! Everything about the project seems all too relaxed. No advertising or marketing programs have kicked off (other than one competition on the MW website) Usually by now we are seeing "teaser" ads on the box, hearing about it in the Paper on the radio etc... Most people out there don't even know MW is opening a new ride at Xmas! My hunch is they are waiting for WWW to open with all it's fan fare and then when the party calms down for the DW Parks, Village will fire it's Marketing cannon but not specifically for MW, I'd say the focus this year for WVTP's is to equally promote ALL PARKS whilst packaging them up with the new multi-park pass system. Sounds like a winning combination to me?

^^^With all due respect Djsupersleuth, my comment wasn't absurd. The fact that parks DO NOT necessarily have spare chains for the lifts is absurd and in my experience of working 10 years in Theme Park Operations, this was always the case. If the chain breaks, then generally it needs to be FULLY replaced. This is an indication that the entire chain is fatigued and patching it up would lead to further problems. Large Coaster chains are HUGE and weigh TONNES! Imagine say LW's chain is what 200 metres long and each link ways about 15kg. Not an easy job to fix! I recall speaking with Fitters on several occasions as to why the Park didn't carry a spare, no one seem to be able to give a clear answer. Anyway, I was merely suggesting that a Chain Breakage could be a possible reason why the ride is down. Side note; I enjoy sharing interesting and informative stories from my experiences in the Industry. Afterall, there aren't too many places where Theme Park freaks can go to be with their rare kind!! No offence Djsupersleuth but I didn't appreciate the tone of your response. It's not appropriate to downput other member's views especially without adequate background information to support your argument. Please maintain an example and be respectful toward others using the boards

I agree. Perhaps MW should have won but hey, they can't win it EVERY YEAR and they have won a lot of times before. It's a nice award for the Theme parks to imbelish their product but really at the end of the day, the real winners are the park's shattering attendance records and constantly building world class new rides and attractions. Not to say that DW isn't doing this but...

It doesn't suprise me to hear the Mine Ride is down. Eureka has had a number of unexpected closures in the past. This time, it wouldn't suprise me if the issue was a Lift Chain breakage - something that often happens to coasters once every ten years or so due to Metal fatigue. When it does occur, a new lift chain needs to be ordered, leaving a ride down indefinantly as VERY RARELY do theme parks have spares *just in case* Now here's a story that I guess shows my age: I recall visiting Gold Rush Country at DW when it first opened and had a great time. This coincided with the opening of "Lassiters Lost Mine ride" at SW (which of course later became Bermuda) It was a world class addition when it opened and the the attractions were far more impressive than they are today. The Thunder River Rapids ride had better animations and lighting as well as some "Mountain Goats" atop the ledge under the mine ride as the last scene and the Mine ride itself had a completely different Coaster configuration. Back then, passsengers sat one behind the other with two in each car (like Matterhorn bobsleds) The ride WAS EXTREMELY ROUGH!! The cars also "tipped" slightly as they turned in and out of the Mountain. It was also a considerably longer ride too. With far too many complaints to mention (not to mention poor capacity) the ride closed and reopened some time later with new four seater oar cars and an almost totally revised track. The new track offered a more "subdued" ride however still had a vicous ending of "helter-skelter" style dodges in the track causing whip lash and unhappy patrons. Again, around the mid 90's the ride went down again to straighten out the final "Bad bend". Eureka has always been a bit of a wild ride and to this day, remains as one of my DW favourites. I also think it is one of the few rides there that has much potential to be improved upon in the future. Lets hope one of the reasons why it is currently down indefinantly is to do just that!

^Actually rabid has added a new Spaceshot update - you can see the structure has been painted black and work seems to be speeding along now to get it ready on time. As for confusion on how the queue will be set up for the ride, I wonder if it's possible, the ride's queue may be toward the back as opposed to the front where the Batride is? Either way it will be VERY clear which ride is which and which queue is which I'm sure. With Batride down for an extended period of time, I am getting a feeling we will be seeing quite a change to the landscape of the whole area when it opens but we'll have to wait and see..

cool!! I'm going WOOHOO

I've ridden plenty of woodies over the years and hands down, I have to say Steel is the only way for DW to go. I don't believe DW would maintain a woody as good as it needs to be kept up. Wood coasters are lots of fun but are limited by what they can achieve. With steel coasters, the sky really is the limit!! I would like to think that this time around DW will raise the bar providing a true white knuckle experience that is Crazy high & Mad fast. Sadly, a woody would be no competition to what MW's next move would be - another good reason why they simply won't do it.

She really is a beauty and in my opinion, belongs in SeaWorld for good. I hope this fabulous new addition to the Park does well enough to tell WVTP's they really need to keep this ride (or at least develop somthing similar of their own)

I'm thinking the same myself. Is there more than just one section in place now? According to staff who have seen the artwork, the Theming looks pretty extensive. Now that it is what 6 weeks away from opening, it's time for them to get a wriggle on

Seriously? This sounds pathetic if you ask me. What a waste of land. The area could be utilised well for a decent Haunted shack/Ghost Train attraction, water coaster or roller-coaster. The closer we get to the end of the year, the more my greatest fears become realised: DW is doing something LAME AGAIN. As someone already said, that's what you get when you leave the place up to a bank to run.

Interesting, Wild West has always had a bit of a problem with unsuspecting guests leaping from the boat. Nowadays you see those terrible (unthemed) "remain seated signs" throughout -which certainly distract from the environment. NOW HERE'S A STORY FOR YA!! I was looking after Wild West years ago when someone leaped from the boat at the bottom of the second big lift. I saw him on screen land in the drink before pulling himself back out of the water to the edge. If I was to hit the E stop and shut the ride down it would drain all the water from the back part of the ride into the resovoir (the mouth of which where he was) and hence sucking him under water. Not a good idea. Instead, I sent some attendants around the back to go look for him but he was nowhere to be found. Ok, by this stage I started to panic!! He later strolled in to the Gremlin ride control room soaking wet, looking for his family. PHEW! I guess you can't have your eyes on everything out the back of that ride ALL the time, it's just too big an area. People also need to accept responsibility for themselves - those lap bars are placed there for a reason! Back on topic, I think WW could comfortably operate in the evening with a bit of supervision out the back

perhaps they will reconsider opening Wild West now that so many tickets are sold? On any normal operating day, MW can EASILY swallow up a crowd of 6k (it's hit more than twice that figure over Summer periods before) however over an operating evening with fewer hours and fewer attractions on board, lets just hope they have all trains operating on the coasters and all Motion bases going in the Batride

Now that's one hell of a Wheel!! Nice one SW!!! Hey I thought SW was restricted on how high it can build it's attractions (ppl on these boards have said countless times before) Maybe if that is true, they can only lease it for short periods at a time till they can convince the GC city council otherwise (which shouldnt be hard if it does well, i'm sure it will!!)

^It's way too early to tell. Expect another thrill ride of some description going into the area that will leed from the current LW entrance to behind Superman

^ another good reason why a Half pipe could wind up at MW instead? Given the Park has invested so much in the paste few years, I'm not expecting the 07 one will be a HUGE investment for MW(not that 5 million isn't pretty good!) Mind you I'm also not expecting there to be just one new ride at MW next year (not that I'm expecting two rides as such either;) Anyway it is simply not practical to put a rollercoaster in WnW (besides a proslide rocket coaster perhaps?) MW management are very strict on attire when riding their attractions for safety & comfort reasons - Shirts and footwear must be worn at all times.

I drove past the Parks today and WnW was very busy given it's not holidays - I could see big queues for Speed slide, H20 Zone and a pretty huge queue for Tornado (looked like at least 50pax waiting) The car Park was pretty full - only a couple of rows in the Outback car Park were available. I could see the new Car Park laid across to the right. That's going to be very handy this Xmas!! Over at DW, WWW is coming along nicely but really looks like a half day park to me right now. I guess with the crowds there this Xmas, patrons will be spending a good half of their days AT LEAST waiting in queue. This is when I think DW's new two park tickets will do well - I guess on a much bigger scale it's a similar thing to what happens in Disneyland. When it's too busy there, people head to DCA. No doubt in my mind, DW is going to face big problems with Car Parking it's guests this Xmas. Staff will no doubt use the old Thunderbolt site but that's only going to be a small help. There is little more room between the Carpark boundary and the Highway

Hey thanx for the pics!! It's good to see some movement. I really hope that area undergoes a bit of a transformation to accommodate it's new addition. Those trees over the Batride Queue really need cut back or just plain rip em out!

Last time I went that effect wasn't working which is a bit of a shame really.. I was really disappointed with how they have "DeFurbished" the final lift scene with the Sparkers (now there is nothing) and no explosion at the top. MW is obviously ensured for such things as Fire, so I can't understand why the money wasn't spent on restoring the show to at least it's original Quality?

^ I can assure you it was being planned in fact they did pull it off for the LW Pursuit ride in Germany when it opened.. Would have been a waste of time though. As Richard said, a preshow that made sense (like what was planned) would have been sufficient.

The only way it could fit I'd say would be side on so you can view it from the GC highway across the Broadwater

^second hand? ewww.. that seems a little dodgy to me. I mean, a big kick arse brand new ferris wheel is what 5 million bucks at the most? Especially coming from a group that almost always buys things brand new. I hope it is atleast a decent second hand and gets a bit of refreshing before installing so it doesn't look temporary. As for setting it up, I'd say that would only take a month tops

The LW pre-show was doomed from the day it first opened. I was in the original LW opening crew & remember on opening day, I had to get up in front of a bunch of Aussie media and celebs and deliver this dreadful speech about being a stuntman at it being an artform.. Was pretty embarressing Now the original idea (prior to the budget cuts) was you entered the LAPD and Riggs (Gibson) would appear up on screen telling his new recruits (the guests) the baddies had ecaped down town and needed the new recruits to come on a car chase with him. The film that plays was the original that was meant to be cut on a seperate screen and the very last scene was meant to see the BMW come flying through the wall of the LAPD (which later some how turned into a theatre??) With smoke and other effects, you would escape through the wall of the theatre where you would board your squad car to go chase the bad guys (hence why the trains are mainly Black & white to resemble a police car) The ride itself was originally said to feature plumes of smoke and fire as well as a Car that would flip over the coaster in flames at the end of the ride. The LW pursuit ride at MW Germany managed to pull off some of these fx but ironically that ride is now planned to be torn down! I guess it was a little disappointing to see how LW turn out the way it did given there was so much more planned however I think they also realised adding show scenes to a ride that goes so fast had little point. Who would notice all of these fx going on as you wizzed around the track (other than the guests watching below?)

Ah but does such a Car Park have to be built where the current one stands?? Anyway back on topic I don't think WnW has anything to worry about it's future, but the new Proslide mentioned would be a most welcome addition to the line up. Not to mention it would easily fit in the HT0 Zone area

They sure have! In recent years after adding a new attraction, the existing car Park has spilled over on to the grass - and even on Xmas Hols when there's been nothing majorly new. Now that a section of the old Car Park is gone, the only way to improve the existing one is to do a multi-stack car Park. Too late for this year but I'm sure they have a contingency

I think it would add to the Park's image for a few good reasons 1. Provides an unbeatable view over the GC's waters and surrounds 2. Acts as a beacon and a Landmark to attract visitors 3. Provides another good solid Attraction to the Park that appeals to all ages But your right, advertising it alone on TV would be pretty lame.. maybe it could be wrapped up in a big bow with a few other draws for the season (such as a re-hashed Serpant Slayers night show on the ski lake?)