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I keep getting sponsored ‘articles’ about theme park woes from real estate sites. It’s the same article that has appeared over the last six months.

Just checked - arm fixed.

Not to mention these guys.

@Tim Dasco was really happy about that April Fools’ joke. 😜

Every April Fools’. https://www.theurbanlist.com/perth/a-list/breaking-news-dreams-do-come-true-perths-getting-a-disneyland

^Zero Latency is now open in Brisbane. Tonight, I took the opportunity to visit Perth’s first multiplayer VR gaming centre - Optimus Gaming. It’s in Balcatta, less than a minute off the Freeway. It cost $50 per person for an hour. You can play with up to 8 people per game. None of us had done Virtual Gaming before, but we had experienced VR at the Singapore Science Centre. It didn’t take too long to go through some basic tutorials. We had a go at Smashbox Arena and Skyfront, which were excellent. Smashbox was a multiplayer team game similar to a hyped up version of dodge ball. Skyfront is a shooter where you can fly through various different terrain - like Ancient Egypt - and kill your friends. I got my butt kicked several times, but I’m looking forward to going back. It didn’t make me motion sick, which was a bonus, but there were a couple of times you felt like you were about to fall over. It’s definitely an experience I’d recommend if you can’t afford your own VR console.

Spent most of the day at the park with my good pals @Tim Dasco and @ABYSS. The temperature was in the early 30s yesterday and numerous staff said they had 5000 people there. Today’s maximum was in the late 20s and plenty of people rocked up later. They rode Australia’s tallest gyroswing a number of times. We went on Abyss(the ride) three times, where Boden was one of the ride operators. We spent a little bit of time in the pool, rocky rapids and Kraken. I saw the AW wombat out and about eating grass. We fought it out on Bucanneer Battle, Abyss(the guy) nearly lost it on Inferno as the ride op tricked him that the ride was over and we had a noneventful time on the chairlift.

Great stories - he sounds quite the character. Did he talk about getting the Baldwin and how the Australian Koala Show came about? Those animatronics reminded me so much of the Country Bear Jamboree.

First thing I would do would be to pick up a copy of The Unauthorised Guides to Disneyland and DisneyWorld(they also cover Universal and some other major parks). They’re also connected to Touring Plans, which have their own website for planning your park days and a YouTube channel. Airline wise, a lot of them used to be hub and spoke, so you had to stop off at random places like Detroit and Philadelphia along the way. They’re usually cheap and cheerful, but don’t expect any extras. I suppose you should try and get a domestic airline that codeshares with your international flights. I have stayed on property at DW, but a lot of people use shuttle transfers or stay in Anaheim when visiting DL.

Job well done, @Tim Dasco. I'm glad you did that as there are a few rides I wouldn't touch or I'd be one of those people on Goliath. The only park I've done all the rides on in one day was HK Disneyland shortly after it opened. I hope you avoided the spiders on Yarli's Safaris and @ABYSS didn't get too sick on the barrel spin.🤢

It was great catching up with @Tim Dasco and friends - had an excellent night. So good to ride Inferno at night. Really love this ride and it's combination of shots and drops. Lots more people in attendance, tonight. We stayed until the park closed. Got a share from AW's Facebook Page, too - nice!

Village raised theirs after the completion of two rides. What did Dreamworld build -a kids' Ferris wheel?

Now you can donate as much as I have! It's a public donation. https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/fundraisers/mark-shaw/perth

That they keep investing on a regular basis? I'd be happy if it wasn't a spin and spew. 😀🤢

So, we don't know how much comes from the gate and how much comes from SS's pocket. Let's just say we appreciate his efforts. I have a feeling if it wasn't for him, AW would have long gone the way of Wonderland, and I can only guess how @AlexB feels about that.

Yes, Adventure World doesn't get a new attraction every year. Except for Abyss, they're all under $10 million. I think it's good the park has invested so much back in year after year - even before the naming of the Mi-s. Nothing worse than when a park doesn't open new rides and gives you no reason to go back. AW has also not been guilty of giving away the gate - charging at least $150 per adult for a 7 month season for sometime now (or more for those of us with the platinum pass). They're trying new things, like AW Nights, without seeming to put themselves at risk. I realise it's not on the same level as the GC parks, but it's steadily plugging away in a fairly monopolistic situation. And Steve Sicerich has no shareholders, but his family to answer to. He is the random factor.

Ben said that he thinks they should get family friendly water rides - I agree. He didn't say the park would wind down its spend every two years. What I was trying to explain to you is that you're making your predictions based on a false premise - that AW is like the GC parks. We're not writing in a vacuum - lots of people read this stuff. So if you're smacking down David Bakas or being condescending to Mark Shaw you damage the reputation of these forums and theme park fans, in general. How old are you, @AlexB? I went to Old Sydney Town and Adventure World in their first year of operation.

You argue that you're being reasonable, I'm arguing that you're not. Everything we've heard points to continued expansion. You're like a d-grade star who complains about snap chat and ends up devaluing the stock of the company. If you post in this thread, this is the response you'll get.

It's almost that time of the year, again. Mark's sleeping out again in June. https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/fundraisers/mark-shaw/perth?ref=ch_1BzlgAA8Lc2dSwJO8stVdL0T Mark has also been in touch to say that he's got an exciting announcement coming up soon. Can't wait to find out what it is!

Not fair, Tim. You're using actual research and a reasonable argument. @AlexB can't reason against that!

Yeah, I think what AW gets next is more up to Steve Sicerich's kids than anyone else.

@AlexB At least I have glasses! I didn't know you knew Steve Sicerich or had been talking to the staff there? Why compare AW with the GC? Steve Sicerich does what he pleases. You don't see me making concrete predictions about what the park is going to do, because like everyone else, I don't know either, but I don't say the MI are going to stop based on no evidence whatsoever. Your arrogance is astounding. Every chance you have to put down any park outside the GC you seem to take it.

Sorry, I didn't realise Hair Raiser was a shot and drop tower of similar capacity. No, @AlexB, I meant all of your dire predictions for the park's future.

Just wondering what you're basing all your predictions on, that's all. There are quite a few choices of drop towers that are similar size and capacity to Inferno. I don't see them downgrading it just to make you happy.

Just a quick report from the inaugural AWNights. Got there about 5.30pm and was at the head of the queue for entry (they were still chasing day patrons out - apparently it had been quite busy). They opened the gates at 5.50 or so for a rope drop of sorts at 6pm. Yarlotte and her minders even showed up. Headed over to the lockers and then the pool, which had lots of flamingo inflatables on it. Went on the mat slides next and had four runs with no one but me on them. Went over to the racing slides, before deciding to dry off. Got on the chairlift, which was operating, and captured some nice shots as the sun went down. After wandering around the park, I decided to take an early dinner on the upper deck of the Kahuna Cafe. I was tucking into a patented Mark Shaw Chicken Caesar Salad, when the lights on Kahuna Falls went out. Kids kept going on it and they eventually fixed it an hour or so later. At first I thought they had hit the lights on purpose in order to emphasise the DJ, who was playing nearby, but then I saw a guy with a torch. Put my camera away after that and then went on the Grand Prix and Abyss with next to no wait. Abyss was awesome, as I was expecting it to be completely dark when we got out - it wasn't. It was like entering an elaborate show building (kinda like the old ET ride), with the forest on the left and the moon overhead. Once we were over the lift hill, it was a little more intense than normal. Abyss' tracks have this bluish/purple lighting, so you could only see a few meters ahead at a time. Did one last lap around the park. It was 9 o'clock. Checked my photos and the Kahuna Falls lights came back on. Overall, the night kinda reminded me of extra magic hours at a Disney park, where you can ride your favourite rides at night with little wait. The DJ was very chilled and didn't really gather a crowd. It was a very mellow, family friendly crowd, with couples picnicking on the lawns. Got in for free since I'm a Platinum member, so not bad value for me. The weather was so much better than Fright Nights and there were tonnes of people in the pool all night long. Looking forward to next week's event.