MaxxTheMonster

Just remembered... DW is having a Star Wars weekend this Saturday and Sunday for May the 4th... There will be a large collection of characters from the Star Wars franchise , light saber duels, etc... Was wanting to head down but working this weekend... Hopefully someone here has nothing better to do and can grab some pics.

But it is themed to the drab plain grey wall of the asylum... In one way I believe what I said... But then again it would have made absolutely no sense to walk through a section of china town from scooby doo to arkham...

So Dreamworld updates: Reef diver has a sign stating it is closed for maintenance, nothing else done so no need for a pic. Wipeout has progressed very little from the painting of the wave (except for the lone mechanic with a electric drill). There is nice signage though which states "After 20 years and 7 million riders Wipeout is undergoing a major refurbishment. We apologise for any inconvenience and look forwar to wiping you out again soon" (or something to that effect.) Log Ride is down for annual maintenance. What was remaining of the Captain Sturt is now gone and the river looks like astroturf it is that green and chunky. Pandemonium had issues with all carriages stopping correctly when the ride was finished. This was pretty ongoing everytime we were in the area. More staff in the Wiggles area so no alternating and families able to get on in a more steady flow. Additional food outlets open as well. Hopefully these are ongoing and not just from holidays having just finished.

Looks like exactly the same but from a different angle... Sorry, I was mistaken... They have put down some plastic sheets...

Tomorrow is my mid week day off and taking Mr to DW. Will have a look and if anything is going on I will get some pics.

I will be at Dreamworld on Tuesday. Will see if we can get some updated pics.

Did our usual park near the nara resort (on the main road) and enter through the back of the park... It seems that unless you are a resort guest they will no longer allow entry through the resort store... Just in case anyone else does the same...

Was at SW on Sunday, no surprise but the Skyway was not operating for guests... It was being run but signage stated "Due to ongoing improvements" it was closed.

Didn't see it... Did it... A couple of months back on a weekday and around 4pm... Frequently have 15-20 minute waits on the weekends when we head down as well... We specifically stay away from the parkz during school holidays...

Part of me wishes they would put an old PASS car and the hero car from HWSD on display near the stunt arena... Even down in that big empty area near the toilets behind Dirty Harry... Celebrate their history... Not sell it off...

Thanks Alex, was on lunch and ran out of time, but yes those examples I was planning to mention. Probably the closest to non movie related attraction would have to be WWF...

While I agree with the comment that the "magic" is almost gone, the idea that there are very little movie related attractions is dependant on your definition of movie related... Take the word related... Being connected; associated. So the Batwing Spaceshot, although based simply on Batman is movie related due to being connected/associated with Batman... Forgetting the fact that the Batwing looks nothing like the graphic on the ride and it only appeared in one movie for about 5 minutes, it is still related... So, keeping that in mind... Green Lantern, Batwing Spaceshot, Superman Escape, Arkham Asylum, Scooby Doo are all movie related... WB Kids area could be movie related but with Looney Tunes being such a big part of WB that needs no discussion... Wild West Falls, when the video played, was based on the old backlots of western movies where the ghosts still reside... The shows and performers in Main Street are all movie related...

I have had same with AA (LW at the time). With Scooby Doo, if it is exceptionally quiet, they will sometimes let you go through the door directly back to the loading area to get straight back on. The only rides (current) that they do not allow this is Superman and JL3D.

Just for the record... I didn't say the 90's pizza hut thing was a bad thing... Or that the food is bad... Hell there is still one near Grand Plaza at Browns Plains we drive to every now and then... I have stated previously that I would rather pay the full price for yearly passes as I did from before 2000 (until the VIP passes came out as they are better value for money) and have the park at the same standard it was (even though yes the standard is lifting in most places again). I think the most obvious place to see the increase in price is the hot dogs... They were $3.50 in 2000, sure that was for just bun and sausage, but only a few years ago it was $7.50 for exactly the same thing. The stated chicken and rolls we take costs us less than $7.50 and it feeds 3 plus enough left over to snack on throughout the day... Doesn't take a rocket scientist...

We used to eat at the Dirty Harry Bar each time and get the nachos... Then they went from a delicious tortilla shell to something resembling cardboard. As someone else stated, Ricks now feels like a 90's pizza hut. Haven't tried the food at the Wild West eatery since the change of menu as we don't go past Scooby Doo anyways, but I do remember it being great then so still high hopes for it now. Since we now go with our son who has multiple food allergies and intolerences we simply take a cooked chicken, some bread rolls, chips and fruit. Much cheaper and a lot more to eat. The park food used to be great, now the effort just doesn't seem to be put in. Have to wonder if with the VIP pass changing the normal park guest that the standard of food doesn't need to be that high to be acceptable anymore...

Both the train and Vintage cars have been operating each time we have been during the week.

We used to go with friends and 6 of us would put in for an all day locker. As previously stated you can easily pop back to get stuff when required, no late fee if you are away for more than an hour, you can wander off and not have to worry about being back there at a certain time. If you know you are going to have someone not go on each ride then use the non-riding friend option. Sure you may not use the short term lockers enough to equal the all day cost, but then you also don;t have to carry stuff around all day and are not confined to having to be at the locker at a certain time.

Popped in for an hour on the way to MW... Reef Diver was busy today... More that the Claw, Cyclone and Giant Drop... There was actually a queue!!! And not sure how long it has been there, but the shark from WipeOut was in amongst the theming for Reef Diver.

If I was a bit more detailed... The kids rides were full in Wiggles Area, and the kids rides in the DreamWorks areas where busier than the Big 8/7/6 seemed to be hence my comment about put the staff there instead. I agree shops make more money than the rides... But if your rides are not going, people wont attend, and hence the shops don't make money. Guess it is a catch 22. If I went on rides my posts would be about them and how interesting they are... But with a back condition that prevents me from doing most rides, that is not something I can do. Most people here are ride enthusiasts and as such that is what I see more presented hence I reflect on the other side, not hyped up from rides and so on. Just a person wandering around noticing, as has been pointed out, the small things.

In the last week alone... Corroboree: Looks wonderful. 　 The new auditorium looks fantastic. 　 HWSD2: I did love that they have made this as a filming of the teaser trailer for their next big budget movie. Ally, Dave and Morgan Ross all make a return as well. The green screen component currently places the female in front of a shot of the painted alleyway at the back of the set, but that is also going to be changed down the track. This show has great potential and I feel this will be a bigger hit for the park than HSD was. So your comment of " It doesn't matter which park you go to, all you ever come back with is negative experiences, and nitpicky little flaws." is incorrect. Claw has only one staff member operating it. They walk around and check harnesses, step into the opposite booth then walk back to the main booth. Despite that, the comment I posted of "They could have run one staff for claw and reef diver and there would have been less people waiting." was a point to the fact they are not cutting in the places that should be given the rides they have cut staffing to were always busy and the ones they hadn't had less than half capacity loads... My wife got on Pandamonium 3 times, twice she was the only rider (11am and 2:00pm) and the other time one of 4 riders (3:30pm). The Claw twice where she was 1 of 6 and 1 of 11. Reef diver (when I saw it) seemed to never have more than 5 people on it. As far as "smart business sense suggests you're not going to be in business long if you keep pouring money down a wages black hole", I agree, however as I stated they are not putting on the ride ops but having 3 people working in one store standing around, 2 people attending to one character costume and then a photographer as well. If they are that worried about wages then get rid of the 2 additionals in the store and 1 at the characters and put on another 1 or 2 ride ops. "You're saying it seems like Wonderland, but where all rides are dispatching half full or with no wait times, how many staff should they have on?" At least one operator for a ride instead of 3 ops for 6 rides... Especially when there are people queuing or actively complaining about the situation... Hell even opening one from 10am to 1:30pm and the other from 1:30pm to 5pm would be better. I have been to SW twice in the last 3 weeks... Can't think of any negatives posted there... Or WnW... Or WWW... You want positives... okay... Dreamworld today... Was a lovely quiet day today with not many guests to have to try and get around to attractions. Choosing a place to eat lunch was exceptionally easy as was deciding what to eat with the park opening 2 food outlets. Staff were efficient at their jobs serving people and although there were long lines the queues moved through at a pace. Wiggles World had a more personalised experience with one operator alternating between Tea Cups and Big Red Boat ride meaning the one operator that looked after you on one was also available to do the same on the neighbouring ride. As did DreamWorks between Ogre Go Round and Dronkey Flyers, and again between Puss In Boots Swings and Gingy's Glider. It was nice having additional staff in the Dreamworks store to assist with selecting merchandise with 3 staff in the shop. The character appearances were well under control with 2 staff escorting the characters and at least 3 in character suits. They also had a photographer on hand to take your happy snaps. A lot of parents were commenting on this. Every ride was easy to get onto as they were launching less than half full except MDMC and Giant Drop which were full everytime. Log Ride had a 5 minute tops queue, Pandamonium was often starting with less than 4 people loaded, as was Buzzsaw. Being a hot day was surprised River Rapids was walk on. At 1pm the music across the park cut out and we were left with a loud buzz noise. This however only took an hour to fix. Was also surprised to see them selling chips a month past best before date in the Candy Store, and Tower of Terror (1), Big Brother 2012, and Stingray merchandise in The Emporium. Talk about nostalgia. Every shop was open, every on ride photo location was staffed, the hair wrap place was open, the sketches were open... Hate to say it but the current state and the offers currently available ($30 for 30 days)... Smells like Australia's Wonderland... Better???

Kids areas were busy which is why I was shocked and people seemed annoyed about them using 1 staff member alternating between 2 rides. They could have run one staff for claw and reef diver and there would have been less people waiting.

Dreamworld today... Guests were few and far between, as were places to get lunch. Choices all day were the Main Street Café (one register) or the Market Place (2 staff). Nothing else opened at all. Wiggles World had one operator alternating between Tea Cups and Big Red Boat ride, as did DreamWorks between Ogre Go Round and Dronkey Flyers, and again between Puss In Boots Swings and Gingy's Glider. However they had 3 people in the shop, 2 escorting the characters and at least 3 in character suits as well as a photographer. A lot of parents complaining due to this. Every ride was launching less than half full except MDMC and Giant Drop which were full everytime. Log Ride had a 5 minute tops queue, Pandamonium was often starting with less than 4 people loaded, as was Buzzsaw. Being a hot day was surprised River Rapids was walk on. At 1pm the music across the park cut out and we were left with a lovely loud buzz noise for almost an hour until it was fixed. Was also surprised to see them selling chips a month past best before date in the Candy Store, and Tower of Terror (1), Big Brother 2012, and Stingray merchandise in The Emporium. Every shop was open, every on ride photo location was staffed, the hair wrap place was open, the sketches were open... Hate to say it but the current state and the offers currently available ($30 for 30 days)... Smells like Australia's Wonderland...

No that pretty much covered it. Can't say I saw any others. On a similar note saw maintenance workers (4) standing looking at Shockwave for about 5 minutes before turning and looking at The Claw for 5 minutes... I think I heard one of them say "I think the additional turbines would look better with The Claw if we rip out the old Kingswood, that way it will match in with the new gondola theme on Wipeout."

There is temporary signage at the ride stating that due to a change in manufacturer requirements the height minimum is now 110cm... Not sure how long that had been there but thought it interesting to note...

Yeah I did see that on the weekend... Can't for the life of me remember what was there but will do... Oooohhh... March 7... Yay Wiggles performance!!!