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It sure would! What shop was this? Surely you don't mean they've already completely demolished this building? I hope not anyway as I like it and I think it has (or at least had) potential to become something really good.

IF (and I really hope we're only being VERY hypothetical here) they ever were to introduce paid parking, I wouldn't mind as much provided there was yet another pass upgrade available which included unlimited parking. That said, if they simply charged reasonable, sensible prices for entry then there would never be any need to consider it, and I sincerely hope we're not giving them ideas they could use against us here! There's a simple solution to that. The year before they put the pass prices up, they open a brand new, really impressive family dark ride. One that is fantastic and at least as good as anything you'd find in any theme park in the world. Then when they do introduce higher priced passes, they can sweeten the deal by promoting it as "Now includes the exciting new ABC ride / experience"!

They'd better not introduce paid parking. I would absolutely hate that.

I wouldn't mind that, but I'd like the option of an upgraded pass which does include peak days.

There is some smoke above the bridge, which gives the effect of the TNT fuse burning. I agree though it's not quite enough to be convincing unless you're 5 years old (and then it's just terrifying judging by the reaction I saw last weekend from one young girl)! Would be nice if it partially collapsed. That said, the whole ride really does feel like it's in very good order and well maintained overall, especially considering its age.

Ok guys well I asked the same questions on facebook and got another answer which adds a bit more useful information. "Gold is not currently available but we have something new and exciting coming very soon that will include the benefits of the Gold Magic Pass, plus much more. To ensure you receive the best price we recommend that you take advantage of the current VIP Magic Pass offer. We will contact you soon with more information about how to get your additional benefits." This seems to contradict what others have said above about Gold being available later as an upgrade to a standard VIP pass. But maybe the "something new and exciting coming very soon" is what was being referred to rather than Gold VIP passes per se. Either way, it now appears safe to say that we SHOULD take advantage of the current offer, and then something will be available later as an upgrade to include night events. Whether they call that "Gold VIP Pass" or something entirely different doesn't really matter. So with that, I'm off to buy mine right now!

Lol! I'd love to be the one to spin that wheel. In fact, they could even make it a new once-a-year attraction and and a guest who wins a competition could get to spin the wheel as a prize! Because I detest call centres. Can't stand them. "Your call is very important to us. Press 1 for this, press 2 for that......". No thanks. If I'm actually at Movie World I expect to be able to just walk up to staff and ask.

I'd say busy enough that it didn't feel "dead", but quiet enough that queues were either very short (less than 2 minutes) or non-existent.

Just comes down to maintenance. If the maintenance budget needs increasing, they simply need to increase the price of VIP passes a little, and stop giving them away, and problem solved!

Good to see it working again now.

I was at Movie World today and noticed some welcome repair work has been done very recently. 1. The campfire in the Indian Reservation within Wild West Falls was smoking. I've never seen that before and at first I wondered whether some guests had somehow managed to get to it and light a fire. I almost thought about reporting it to staff but thought if it was a fire the worst that could happen is the tents get burnt. They would be easy to replace so no big deal. After going on again twice more I realised it was obviously an intentional (and clearly very realistic) effect! 2. Not so exciting, but useful to know that the clock outside Scooby Doo Spooky Coaster now works!

From the horses mouth (well, as close as I could get): - I visited Movie World today and asked about this issue at the place you get your photos taken for passes which is just to the right as you enter the park. Their response was "We just take photos. You'd have to ask at Guest servces" - So I went to Guest services (twice actually because the first time it was chok-a-block full of people wanting to hire strollers). The lady there initially tried to tell me I would have to call the call centre. When I pointed out that I was actually standing right there in the place that the call centre was supposed to be able to tell me about, she called the call centre herself (but of course on a direct line so no messing around). Apparently, the response from the call centre (via Guest Services) was: - Yes, they will have Gold Passes next year, but there is no promotion on them at the moment (well, I wasn't asking for a promotion, just whether the Gold Pass would exist)! - Yes, the Discovery Passport does include Carnivale. - She also suggested that maybe there might be a promotion at some point for those who take advantage of the current offer to be able to upgrade their VIP pass into a Gold Pass. But that sounded like pure conjecture. So I got there in the end, I think. Take what you will from that because the staff in the park don't have a clue. I don't blame them for that, but clearly they need more training and management support. To have guests ask a very simple question about a product the company offers, and for staff to tell the guest to go to another part of the park, and for the staff at the other part of the park to tell them to call a call centre (something I detest doing) is not good enough! This is another reason I want to pay more for my annual pass. So staff can be properly selected, trained, empowered, and supported to do their jobs. ANY member of staff in the park should be able to easily answer such questions, including the cleaners, security, catering, retail, anyone. It's essential training! So rant over, but it sounds like (if the information I was given is correct, which I'm still not sure of) then there will be gold passes, and based on previous experience they probably will be cheaper than the Discovery Passport. I'm going to take a wait and see approach. If Gold VIP passes become available before my current one expires, I'll get one. If not, I'll get a Discovery Passport.

I had my first ever visit to Aussie World today. Been in Queensland just over 2 months now and decided it was time to spread my wings a little from the Gold Coast, just for a change. I can't add much to what's already been said in this thread and on the main site update. I will say that my favourite part by far was Professor Boggleworth Illusionarium. I absolutely LOVE that sort of experience! It was worth the trip, and I will go again. I won't be there anywhere near as often as I go to the Gold Coast parks. There's no annual pass and the journey takes about 90 minutes from where I live (2.5hours today due to roadworks)! Still very glad I went though!

That looks pretty much the same as Archam Asylum at Movie World!

It seems not. I'm going to Movie World tomorrow, and I'll ask whether the Discovery pass includes Carnivale. If it does then that's me sorted for 2015-16. If it doesn't I'll be unhappy about that but it would still almost certainly be better value than the VIP pass if they're not going to make the Gold one available for next year. That's obviously not true for people who don't want to go to the night events, or can't because they don't live close enough.

What I meant by everything should be included is I would like to pay more for the VIP pass, but there to be NO attractions in any of the parks which you have to pay per use for. Also (with a Gold pass) the night events should be included. I certainly didn't mean food and drink and souvenirs should be included! Another thing though. At the moment I have a Movie World dining pass, which means whenever I go into Ricks diner I get a free buffet lunch including drinks. That cost me $50 for 6 months. That was too cheap too and I'd happily pay about $200 per year for it. However I can't see any way to renew that either. Things like ride photos I think are a fair enough extra charge. Also anyone who wants fast track passes should have to pay for them (although personally I hate them, but that's for another thread perhaps). ***STOP PRESS!!! I've just found info on the Discovery Passport. It costs $150 and includes unlimited entry to all 3 VRTP parks for a year, and one entry to Fright Nights and White Christmas (but apparently not Carnivale for some reason). It also includes a few other extras and discounts which I might or might not use. Unlike the VIP passes, it's not restricted to July to June (which I've always found odd about VIP passes). You can buy a Discovery Pass whenever you like and it's valid for a year from first use. Now this could be the new Gold VIP pass, perhaps. I'd still like it to include Carnivale too, but maybe it does and they just haven't bothered to update the site to show that. https://themeparks.com.au/box-office/combo-pass/discovery-passport.aspx

I am wondering where the Gold Pass is too, because now that I'm a local that's worth a lot to me. Also, speaking of being a local, I thought there was such a thing as a locals VIP pass, but I see no mention of that on their site. Mind you I certainly wouldn't be expecting it to be cheaper than $75. I have my doubt about the insight and foresight (or rather lack thereof) of the management of all the Gold Coast parks to be honest. Maybe I don't speak for everyone, but personally I think theme parks should involve a one-off price for the year (unless you're only going once because you don't live locally) which includes ALL experiences and rides available at the park. That means evening events too! For all that I'd happily pay around $300 per year for the VIP pass, and my World Pass for Dreamworld etc I'd pay about $200 for. I am concerned about the lack of Gold passes though. I don't know whether that's why those rides closed, but I do know I'd happily pay a lot more for my passes. About $300 would be reasonable, perhaps with a Gold VIP pass including all night events and costing about $450. That, in my opinion would represent outstanding value for money and I'd be only too happy to pay it, especially if it meant they could invest in new dark rides. I noticed a post on Facebook a week or so ago. Someone was complaining that they like to take their grandchildren into the parks and don't go on the rides, so shouldn't have to pay so much. I replied that they could just get a VIP pass, and their answer was something like "Wow. Just wow!. Typical answer". I do hope VRTP aren't taking any notice of that sort of nonsense. People who don't go on any of the rides and think they should be able to get in the parks for next to nothing are obviously not the sort of customers they want. Having said that, if that person bought a VIP pass they actually would be getting in for next to nothing (assuming they visited more than once).

I have had the same thoughts. Still though it does appear they have spent a decent amount of money on it so I'm hoping there will be more to it. If there isn't, and if it does turn out to be just a bunch of stationary sculptures plonked around a lake then it would be a one time only attraction at best. I must admit I'm struggling to imagine how they can make it much more than that. I am assuming the creatures will move (animatronics), but there would still need to be more to it. A story. A walk-through experience of some sort. Interactive elements would be absolutely essential if they want it to be something people will want to do more than once. I will reserve judgement until I see it when it opens, and I'm really hoping it's not a waste of money and land that could have been much better used. Fingers crossed! I think part of it will be indoors too, in the same building which was used for the indoors part of Dinosaur Island.

I couldn't agree more! Let's hope they've really put some thought into this.

I'd like the blue and yellow building to be turned into something fun rather than just a shop. I know shops generate income for the parks, but there's plenty of other shops around Sea World, and this building has potential to be somewhere guests actually go in for fun, rather than just to spend!

No. It's almost like it was with the Sea Viper. The minute it closed they were obliterating it. Still though. Better than leaving it SBNO for ages like they did with poor old Bermuda Triangle (I die a little bit inside whenever I think about what became of that wonderful ride). Just a thought, but there's a mini Movie World in their kids area, and a mini Wet & Wild in it's kids area. So I wonder if the new Sea World Kids area will be a mini version of Sea World?

A few photos from today. Most of the rides have already been dismantled, and it looks as though Creatures of the Deep will adjoin this area as a new path has been constructed which appears to link the two areas. I noticed the ampitheatre is not included in the fenced off area, so it looks like it will be left untouched. I wonder what will become of the blue and yellow building which housed the surf shop.

Thanks. That's as I would have thought.

I was there over the weekend and I could see several "Creatures of the Deep" taking shape where Dinosaur Island previously was. So that's not where Sea Viper was, unless it will be across both these areas (which in my opinion would be far too big for it). Anyway where is the new kids area going to be?

The Charlie and the Chocolate factory ride at Alton Towers is the best ride I've ever been on. This video doesn't quite capture the whole experience, but it gives a basic idea of what it is. I wish there was something like this at one of the Gold Coast parks.