Adam

I mentioned before that RCDB are referring to the ride as Superman: The Ride rather than "Superman Escape". RCDB have made the following addition...

Will there be delivery charged on the DVD / Magazine? An easy way to cut down prices for the website is to limit high resolution images to paying customers only. Many other websites do this to keep associated bandwidth costs low. If you don’t want to take away all high resolution photos you could have “free accounts” which provide access to a limited number of high resolution photos per day. Or users don't even need to sign up, it just only allows "guests" or "unknown users" to download a certain number of high resolution images per day. If you’re looking for incentives for users to join, I have a few... -Exclusive members only area, with videos, high resolution pictures, etc. (I think you were already suggesting this) -Members get a “badge” under their name when they post in the forum (e.g. like on the sitepoint.com community forums) -Discounted rate for Roller-Coaster.com.au products (e.g. calendar, hats etc.) -Go into the draw to win a free annual pass for the park of their choice (one could be given out every year) -Google Adsense added to the bottom of every page (to be less intrusive) and disappears once a member logs in (not really much benefit to the members but would generate extra revenue thus keeping membership costs down)

I have an idea. Why not run banner ads on the website (or even better - Google Adsense) but for paying members these ads are gone. What do you think Richard? The ads would provide you with extra money (especially Google advertising) and also offer more of an incentive to sign up.

That would be awesome. Richard, I'm loving the Roller-Coaster.com.au magazine idea, after reading most of your articles on this website it would be great to put together a magazine with a "behind the scenes" look at the Australia theme park industry. If you were producing a magazine then I think it would be easier to get exclusive interviews with theme park staff etc. as a “magazine” sounds better than a “website”. Richard, do you actually think it’s possible to get high quality resolution photos of Scooby Doo inside the building? Or would they never allow this? I would love a DVD on Scooby Doo. How hard is it for a park to allow you to take exclusive photos/interviews? Have you done much of this in the past Richard? Thanks.

I also have a question. Why is Indy not on RCDB? Does it not follow tracks?

Hey Glubbo, It's not just you mate, the whole reason for me joining Roller-coaster.com.au was to find out more about how Scooby works. And I'm not done yet. I am slowly trying to turn every discussion towards Scooby. So you haven't been on Australia's best ride yet... next time your on the coast you should check it out.

I simply named you as a "mentally ill or disturbed person who is mean and disagreeable". I didn't swear at you. I noticed your website was down, moving to a faster server? Anway, I suppose we should keep on topic here, this was my fault... What does everyone else think about the theme park idea?

No need to disrespect this website in a PM and then start a fight with Richard and then stop posting for ages until you have all of a sudden started posted again when infact it was better without you here. "bastard" is not considered a swear word, its slang for "A person, especially one who is held to be mean or disagreeable". ...and back to what I said before, it's an OK idea.

Paul_Hollibone you sick bastard!

RCDB have added more details regarding the new superman attraction to their database. The attraction is still referred to as Superman: The Ride (as opposed to "Superman Escape") but the release date has been pushed forward to 26/12/2005 and the maximum speed has been named as 90km/h. This will make Superman: The Ride the fastest roller coaster at Movie World and the second fastest roller coaster in Australia.

We don't need Disney in Australia We have the next best thing..... Movie World! I have read many posts about Sydney getting a new theme park. I suppose most of these are just rumors?

In some respects it's alright but I also think it’s a little too soon. I don’t think the Dreamworld attraction “Cyclone” was based on the natural disaster that occurred in Darwin. (i.e. it was a coincidence rather than Dreamworld adding the ride since a cyclone hit Darwin). It could help if a percentage of the revenue generated from the park goes toward the victims who have lost. But the theme park may bring back harsh memories and reminders of the tsunami that struck on Boxing Day of 2004 (it has only been three months). Something like this will always reveal mixed reactions but I’m glad to see no one has voted “Good, life goes on” above

I have talked with Clint, and now I think that even though multiple cars are allowed on the lift, they are spaced out by the PLC that controls the conveyor belt at the bottom. How does that sound?

Even if the situation is unlikely I am asking about the lift hill logic system – this situation is if two cars have been loaded onto the lift hill closely together and have not been detected by ride operators. Can everyone (73 people have been on this thread) please tell me what you think would happen if two boats were loaded onto the lift hill very close together. (A) The two boats would continue up the lift hill until the first boat passed the checking sensor half way up the lift, since the next zone, upper lift section, is unoccupied the lift would continue to operate but when the next boat hit the sensor it would signal an emergency stop as a zone rule has been violated. ( The two boats would continue up the lift hill until the first boat passed the checking sensor half way up the lift, since the main drop area / turntable is unoccupied the two boats continue to the top, when the first boat is loaded into the turntable this zone becomes occupied and when the second boat hits the second checking sensor (at the very top), the lift hill is stopped until the drop zone is clear again, and then the ride continues to operate. © There would be two sensors that limit how close each boat can board the lift and if a discrepancy is detected the emergency stop would be signalled. (D) Your own theory (as long as it doesn’t include operators shutting down the ride etc.) The main two differences between A and B is the zone areas. I think B would be the most efficient option but I’m just guessing. I am now waiting for 73 replies… Thanks.

It's a simulator with a big Imax screen I think.

Haha, good point Clint but I don't need someone to tell me that Scooby Doo is the best ride in Australia! I already know that... Just seeing what others think. And I'm pretty disapointed with you Clint, you havn't even voted.

I'm not sure what you look like but if you were operating Scooby, Wild West or Road Runner then I would have Or I might have seen you somewhere around the park...

Exactly. Does anyone know how extensively boats are monitored through the floating section of the ride? And what happens if a boat enters an occupied zone? What if, for example, two boats were right behind each other going up the lift hill. Do you think the lift logic controller would be able to successfully send one car down the drop, then load the next once its safe, or do you not think the sensors are not positioned close enough to be able to sense two cars close together? When I have been on the ride, the lift hill has never stopped at the top just before the turntable, it usually stops about halfway up, would it be able to handle to cars right behind each other? Or would it signal the emergency stop? (in order for it two send two cars right behind each other at safe intervals the lift would need to stop at the top - can it do this?)

Yea, I agree Alex. At first I thought that they wouldn't remove the attraction, but when your dealing with animals, it is very different to a static attraction or ride. But anyway, it is most likely just a rumor.

Something is really wrong with that poll, seven people have voted 'above average' yet it only has a count of three, and no one has selected 'average' yet it has a count of four.

Sea World could do with a water coaster! Let's hope its true then.

I went to Movie World for a quick visit on Sunday 6th March 2005 Scooby Doo Spooky Coaster The ride was looking really good. Not all the lasers were operating which made the main roller coaster section seem darker. Having the ride darker was actually really fun. Also, at the loading station, I noticed a voice over instructing guests on ride safety (such as how to board, that cameras and video recorders are prohibited etc.). I can’t remember that being there last time. Wild West Falls I think the final lift hill is looking great, the lanterns on each side flicker when you’re going up and the audio system is awesome. At the top it was pretty average but the timing on both doors was perfect (it was reported earlier on the forums that both doors weren’t operating). I think Wild West is a great themed ride. The best outdoor themed ride in Australia. I have two questions relating to Wild West as well, 1. If the emergency stop is initiated, is there anything that would stop the boats other than the fact that the pumps would be off (on the floating sections of the ride)? 2. If for some reason a boat got suck, and then remained stuck until the boat behind it bumped into it, and then the two boats were really close, would it stop the second boat at the top of the lift hill and only release the first onto the turntable? Or would the ride be shut down? Is there anything in place to prevent the boats bumping into each other on the floating section of the ride? (e.g. pumps turn off if a boat hits a sensor and the next boat hasn’t cleared the next zone) Superman Escape The area has now been fenced off and half of the que area for the Movie Magic Special Effects Show / Looney Tunes concert has been taken down (e.g. the roof). The rest I think will remain where it is and the new themeing will go around it. I didn’t notice any signs relating to the new attraction. Twenty four days until construction begins... Lethal Weapon The ride is currently down for annual maintenance. Thanks for taking the time to read my report and if you can answer my questions then please do so.

My entire argument was on the basis of it being Disney’s fault because Alex keeps claiming Disney had nothing to do with it. Maybe I got side tracked on the whole operator stuff but I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks Disney is, at least, partially to blame. Joz and wonderbus, very nicely put. I definitely agree joz about you can't place all the blame on the operators, I am just saying that it could maybe have been prevented if the operators were instructed to remove the train immediately. Alex does, that’s what this whole debate is about, whether Disney is to blame or not. Alex, at no point have I been angry at anyone whose opinion actually counts on these forums. You make up so much s*** Alex and you have been wrong on heaps of stuff. I come onto these forums to talk roller coaster stuff, while you seem to come to make friends and insult people, Alex I don’t give a s*** okay? Get over it. Get over yourself. Alex, you have been wrong about Scooby’s wheels, you have been wrong about LIM’s never being used on flumes, you have been wrong about metal expansion, you have been wrong about a ride having to have two turntables, you have been wrong about wonderland maintenance routines, you have been wrong about heaps of stuff, yet do I continue to go out about it? Do I even care? Get over it… seriously. This is my last post relating to Big Thunder Mountain as everyone has seemed to have formed their own opinions on this, if you don’t want to think Disney is to blame, or at least partially to blame, then its up to you. I repeat… “Disney have taken the blame. If Disney were doing everything correctly, how could this man have died? Disney chooses who performs maintenance on this attraction, therefore, Disney were not following the correct procedures in hiring suitable maintenance staff. ”

I don’t think Richard is looking for a miracle banning solution, he simply wants everyone to play by the rules.

Here is your proof Alex. I know, I got mixed up between them. But if a new policy is drafted, operators would need to be trained on the new procedure so you could call it retraining. If I am misleading you I am sorry but it's common sense that the new policy wouldn't be to load a car making an unusual noise with passengers and cycle it around the track once more, as the accident could occur again, this is a new procedure. So what other options do they have for a new policy? Removing a train immediately or shutting it down seems the only logical responses to this situation. Does anyone else know what they would do? I suppose it doesn’t really matter what they do (for the sake of my argument) as long as it doesn’t result in loading a carriage that has been making an unusual sound with passengers. I came onto the forums to find proof that Scooby either had motors or didn't have motors and I am confident I have gotten the proof I was looking for. That proof is that Scooby doesn’t have onboard motors, many of the other forum members were happy to explain why they wouldn’t have motors. If I had known the cars had motors, why would I have posted? This discussion is different. Many articles put the incident down to two reasons, one of them is maintenance, and one of them is operator negligence. Also the DOSH report states there was no procedure in place. So could it also be the fault of Disneyland? If Disney had the correct procedures in place relating to trains making unusual or irregular sounds the accident would not have occurred. Disney have implemented new procedures to prevent the death of an innocent man occurring again, if Disney had procedures for ride operators to either unload a train making an unusual sound or tag it and remove it immediately, the accident would not have occurred. If the sound was heard when the train was coming into the station, which it was, and the ride shut down or train removed immediately, the accident would not have occurred. Wonderbus, joz, Alex, Richard… Do you believe it was no fault of Disney whatsoever and there was no way at all this accident could have been prevented and that all their procedures were correct and didn’t need changing?