StingRay

I know this ain't directly park related news. So I understand if it's removed. But, oh boy. What it must be like to be rich and lose money, yet still, be rich. https://www.realestate.com.au/news/luna-parks-new-rides-blamed-for-milsons-point-unit-trading-for-200k-less-than-two-years-ago/

Here is my theory, the old sheds are gone. I know that a set of points got installed near the main station (behind the toilets for ABC world) and assume this would be a siding with maybe a small shed. In the long run, it's easy to install more tracks and make a maintenance facility somewhere else. However, I don't see the return of steam occurring without proper facilities for general servicing and maintenance.

Sorry for the delay in my reply. The flume looked lower in some parts and around the top it was flooding. Needless to keep in mind it had been just under 2 years since I had stepped foot into the park. I understand the level of the lagoon will change throughout the day because essentially this is the main storage/retention pond for the water. However, that also looks to below here. I never took any pictures of this area unfortunately.

Interesting to see the water level looks lower than when I visited in January.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, that was covid times. NYE bringing in 21, from memory.

The park's (estimated) capacity is somewhere around 3,000. It usually gets that busy for the Halloween event. All good, happy to help when and where I can.

How busy honestly depends on the weather. Being a smaller park however it can feel busy but rides can be either a short wait or walk on. The peak for this park ain't as bad as other parks (GC based). Usually what makes them busier, is the staffing arrangements. Running too low attendance (figures, this running lower staff numbers) when the park gets busier and it can't be changed accordingly. The rides that usually have the biggest lineups in peak are, •Wildmouse 30+ minutes •Volarè 20+ minutes •Sledgehammer 30+minutes (this ride has two queue lines much like pandemonium) The only other slight issue that affects high capacity rides at the park is the fact you need to scan a wristband at the turnstiled to gain entry into each attraction. So, even tho would get told to put the band on your right hand many don't (scanners are located on the RHS of the guests at rides). I'm assuming over the winter the numbers might pick up a little. The beauty is the Park is small. Having rides that everyone can ride also means everyone is somewhat spread more than we used to be when visiting before the upgrades.

Happy to report about the new cycle on Sledgehammer. It is indeed much better and longer. I did not time the cycle but its definitely longer than what used to feel like 1 minute. It seems like a solid two minutes now. It still swings only to the 240-degree angle but does not go full power from a standing start. The Gondola seeks to spin a little more also when the ride starts. Great changes, the only slight letdown might be on busier days, now with a longer ride time it will make the whole waiting process longer given how this ride usually operates with one operator and one attendant. On my visit (Saturday) it was just the one ride op.

Well, you could be right. You also could be wrong. If they (VRTP) change the date as fast as they recently did then they don't understand project management. I know delays can occur, this delay tho seems to be getting stretched a little further than most. I recently helped to order machinery from the USA (large warehouse-style machinery) and it still got delivered within the time frame we expected (8 weeks). So unless the containers are lost now thanks to the War or something I have no idea what else the delays could be. Covid and shipping/air freight delays can't be this excuse for much longer. As I said in my previous post so many other projects within Australia have been delivered even during the former pandemic.

So they are already in talks with RMC about a conversion then?

You can't simply say it's “shipping issues. If so, explain the following. •Steel Taipan was Built • WnW got a brand new slide complex (Slides shipped from Canada) •Movieworld got brand new ride vehicles for WWF. • Luna Park Sydney got 9 rides shipped out. I don't buy this shipping excuse at all. Sure, covid doesn't help but it's not the entire reason. Weather, yeah that won't help as well. Won't cause delays like this tho.

So, for someone from NSW still narrow gauge 😉.

Yeah its an odd one. I've heard the tracks, grades and carriages where looked at as a proper railway. But its pulled along via an amusement ride but it's wheels and gauge was to the railway specifications (narrow gauge standards for QLD).

They shouldn't be RFID tags. The railway is interesting. The engine (motive power, non-steam) is operated by a standard ride op who has been signed off. Steam is a different story, you need a boiler certificate. I believe the railway, however (tracks and stations) are built to a Queensland Railways (QR) standard for narrow gauge railways. But for the carriages, they might be a mechanism locked via air seeing the train's carriages need air as per Railway regulations. My bet, they’ll unlock and open unassisted ( unlocked via a simple air tape from driver or guard) but will require the guard or conductor to manually close them.

Why they opened today (any VRTP property) is kinda surreal to me. I would have thought the safety of the workforce then guests was more important than rope drop. I know VRTP use a really good weather software program that predicts forecast rain, storm etc. Maybe I'm just more in the thought of trying to keep the workforce warm and dry.

We've got a delay, at least its come along with a reason however. Below us from an email sent to pass holders. As a valued member of the Dreamworld community, we wanted to share an important update about the beloved Dreamworld Express with you. You may be aware that due to the construction of Steel Taipan and interruption to the train’s tracks, we had to temporarily close the Dreamworld Express. We’re incredibly excited to get it back on track, however unfortunately it’ll be late to this station! We know you've been eagerly awaiting its return, so we would like to apologise for the delay and assure you that we're doing everything we can to get it open as soon as possible. Our beautiful new carriages are on the way from the UK, and have been delayed by global shipping challenges, but fret not! We’ll continue to keep you updated as they near our station in the coming months. Here at Dreamworld, we don’t only have a one-track mind, so as part of the train’s re-opening, we’ve undertaken a range of works to improve your Dreamworld Express experience! Keep reading to find out more. Finally, don’t forget that good things come to those who wait! We look forward to getting you back on track soon. - From Conductor Kenny and the Dreamworld team.

Good point, Yes it's unique and had teething trouble but it was a world first. It got some good coverage overseas. Much hype occurred on parkz and no follow-through. An article coming out now would seem a little insensitive. Then again, it's not in Queensland, the entire Parkz admin group is based in Queensland, One admin member I know visited the park. So in a way, it would be hard to cover despite a media release kit going out. Nevertheless, it's still a great little coaster that packs a punch. Just like Jet Rescue at Seaworld Aus.

With the main street station getting it's nice update it makes me wonder if the other stations are getting some TLC also. But what I'm interested in now is the colour of the new carriages and locomotive.

Carriages might still be getting built ( if built-in Aus) or they could be stuck on a boat somewhere. It's a shame the works have stopped. However, it won't be a massive amount of work (like building ST) so in my thoughts nothing to worry about yet. The site will become a hive of activity soon.

I've had the chance to ride the new Big Dipper. So I'll leave some of my thoughts. We all know what the ride looks like at the “Luna Land” section of the park and it's got a nice “dominant” presence. The station/queue area is not presented the best. I just put this down to a serious limitation on space. You have a giant support structure all over the place and a queue that snakes it was through. The bridge could have looked a little nicer but I understand why they picked that option. It's simply been done to ensure you don't throw medium/ large items onto the train as it goes over the first launch. The ride has a presence as it rushes around you. Much like the Wildmouse does when you line up waiting for it. The stations waiting gates are presented much in the same way as Boomerangs and I suffices for what the Park needs. The ride experience is amazing. Once the track and train (I'll come back to the train) have warmed up this thing flies around. The pacing is perfect and someone in the group I was with commented how this coaster has a similar B&M raw to it (I have never seen or heard a B&M in person myself). First launch has a nice little kick to it, that second launch definitely is on par, if not better than Jet Rescue as Seaworld. The ride elements are great, It's amazing to have ridden a proper headline role for the first time also. The non-inverting loop is nothing like Rivals but it still packs a decent whack. Even the moment of” floater” airtime on the return trip behind money island is great. The “Spaghetti bowl” section is great. Everything comes at you at a fast pace and before you know it you are back in the station. But, with all good things you get some bad things. I am an average build and size. The trains I fit into no problem, but the trains are light as hell. As mentioned by @Gazzathey rock when you go to place items into the storage bins. This also means as previously mentioned they feel every tyre and bump. The back of the train is terrible. It “jackhammers” the entire way around the course. This is all due to a lightweight train and small bogey wheels. One noticeable thing was the pacing of a train between a heavy load and a light load. Naturally, if you get adults or heavier people the train close around a little more forceful than a train full of kids. While it can be rough, it's still a great coaster. I'm happy to see this park have such a great ride.

Word I've heard is that BD might be running again already, can anyone confirm this?.

I think it went up before the opening day. I hadn't visited the park since early December. It wasn't installed on my last visit.

Decided to visit the park on Sunday with my son. Big Dipper was not running. The guest services team member sighting “technical issues” that need to be resolved and Maintenace is working on rectifying these issues with the manufacture. We all know new rides have some problems. I just hope they get it fixed within the coming weeks. I feel for the park, covid has hit the big time and they've had a few hiccups with some of the new rides. I know the park has amazing potential. I just hope after summer they can hit the ground running with all these little issues put behind them. Guest services were handing these out to people who asked about the rides current status. Big Dipper sits quietly, while the Wild Mouse is roaring away in the background. The netting that's been installed above the walkway to the Glenn Street stairs and the queue line for SledgeHammer

By not having a swimming pool filled with people shoulder to shoulder more than it would be during the day... It's only a wild theory.

This is most likely an operations reason and maybe, trying to be more Covidsafe.