themagician

Considering last year didn’t ‘sell out’ until the day of each night, I’d expect to see a similar trend again this year. I’d honestly be surprised if any night actually sell out this year considering it’s the same offering as last.

@DaptoFunlandGuy @Narraif the station is going to turn out like the concept art at the top of this image, there's definitely a lot more detail (and effort) going into it than the current vintage cars. @New display nameWhile it obviously won't take a day, I can't imagine it'll take too long considering the foundations are already there. The station/queue for DW Flyer didn't take that long to build either considering its detailing. 93 days... plenty of time.

Carnival only went for three weekends this year, so I doubt it’ll got for two months. I think the dates scheduled are purely just so they can have it open on the busier days (not necessarily Carnivale related).

And I know a lot of families pick WnW over WWW because they have a lazy river to have that relaxing day while their kids/teens are on the larger slides

I suspect with all of the recent activity around the ride, they’ll start extensively testing it soon (and hopefully in various weather conditions), with the plan to reopen in time for Summer.

Sea World have already posted the first few months of maintenance for 2025. And despite Trident having not yet reopened, it’s already got a handful of maintenance already scheduled

Since its debut in 2002, the Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster at Warner Bros. Movie World has been a fan favourite for thrill-seekers and Scooby-Doo enthusiasts alike. With its unique combination of dark ride elements, immersive Scooby-Doo theming, and wild twists, the ride has provided a spooky yet exhilarating experience for over two decades. Following its temporary closure in 2023, our team have been undertaking a major retrofit of the beloved coaster, ensuring it continues to thrill fans for years to come. Let’s dive into the scope of these exciting changes and what it means for our guests. Scooby Doo animatronic. Internal queue of Scooby Doo Spooky Coaster. The Retrofit: Preparing for the Future The current retrofit is an ambitious project that builds on the original design to improve capacity, and the overall ride experience. Improved Capacity and Operation Prior to the refurbishment, the ride operated with 14 vehicles, but the retrofit will increase this to 16. By optimizing vehicle dispatch and removing a train stopper at the final brake zone, the operation will run more efficiently, reducing wait times and ensuring more guests can experience the ride each day. Refurbished Demon to be installed in a new location. Demon hiding within the rock walls. Station Enhancements Guests will notice new higher entrance gates, raised to 1.2 metres which, paired with upgraded handrails, provide a more streamlined loading process. The attraction will also feature a tester seat at the queue’s entrance—similar to the DC Rivals HyperCoaster—allowing guests to check if they meet the rider's requirements before boarding. Concept of the new and improved load gates. The new load gates arrived on site. The Ride Experience: Keeping the Magic Alive While much of the mechanical and structural upgrades won’t be visible to guests, they play a crucial role in ensuring the ride operates smoother and more reliably. Mechanical brakes are being replaced with advanced switchable magnetic brakes, offering better control and a smoother ride. The show doors, which separate sections of the dark ride, will be integrated into the ride’s new control system to enhance the theming and storytelling elements. The reinstallation of the showdoors into the dark ride section. New showdoors within the dark ride section. Ride Vehicle Upgrades Mack Rides has designed entirely new vehicles for the coaster, with reinforced frames and updated safety features. The new seat frames and chassis parts, including axles and wheels, are designed to improve ride quality and durability. Additionally, new restraint systems will feature handle grips on the lap bar to enhance guest experience. The iconic Spooky Jester will remain as the main feature on the ride vehicle. The new vehicles will also feature an RFID system to track cycles, providing more precise monitoring and ensuring that the ride continues to operate safely and efficiently. Mack Rides crates with Scooby Doo Spooky Coaster components. Mack Rides logo and concept of new ride vehicle frame. The Track and Structural Upgrades Key parts of the track will receive upgrades, including new support structures and reinforced sections for the iconic backward dip. The use of larger bolts and additional support structures will extend the life of the ride, reducing vibrations and wear over time. Tech Services working on the Highzone area of Scooby Doo Spooky Coaster. Turntable stripped back to orginal look with new features to be installed. A New Control System Perhaps one of the most significant upgrades is the complete overhaul of the ride’s control system. The new system integrates the latest safety and operational technologies, from magnetic brakes to sensor-based monitoring. Not only will the ride function more efficiently, but it will also trigger show elements more precisely, enhancing the storytelling and immersion throughout the dark ride section. Crate of new magentic brakes to be installed. Magnetic brakes to provide a smoother ride experience. What’s Next? As the Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster undergoes its transformation, fans can look forward to a ride that feels familiar yet new. The spooky mystery-solving theme will remain intact, but with smoother operations, and updated theming elements, this classic will be retrofitted for a new generation of riders. Plus, several new spooks that will await you around the corners! Warner Bros. Movie World’s commitment to preserving the magic while enhancing guest experience ensures that the Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster will continue to delight fans for years to come.

Demolishing and rebuilding the control booth and queue will also be quick in the grand scheme of the job. I’d imagine considering the ride is a completely different scale, it might not just be as simple as widening the lowered floor. I think the entire area will be demolished and cleared before ground works begin (which is generally the longest process because of all of the electrical systems required, footings, concrete, etc).

This is the first construction photo that was uploaded to Parkz, which was at the end of April. That doesn’t necessarily mean it was taken then, but I’d say construction did at least start early 2004, and it opened September 2004. So there is a chance that King Claw could open by the September school holidays if there aren’t any unexpected or weather delays

Makes sense. Not to get peoples hopes up, but I’m thinking that during the current ‘maintenance’ they’ll retheme it and give it a new name. And then next year they’ll get new trains, which Intamin will commission while they’re over here for King Claw. Dreamworld have created a page on their website for King Claw: https://www.dreamworld.com.au/rides-attractions/dreamworld/thrill-rides/king-claw/ Diverting the topic here, but when they were doing this campaign, can anyone remember if this code was figured out before it was confirmed by the park?

Now that it’s been confirmed, I wonder if your overlay is right? I’d imagine it’ll swing the same way it currently does?

I think you need to adjust your expectations for the Australian industry. While not impossible, it is very unlikely we’ll ever see either of those in the country. Therefore, ‘you won’t care’ about anything ever announced and it’s going to get very tiring very quickly if you share that opinion every single time. Don’t get me wrong, you’re more than welcome to share your opinion and I’m not saying it’s the wrong opinion, but just be mindful of if it’s necessary to publicly share it every time.

It could be related to it being school holidays

Technically you can, the disco room show building is on the left

Maybe it can? The reopening has been pushed back significantly.

Motocoaster is now closed for the next five weeks. It was already scheduled to close for a couple of weeks next months (which I presumed was Rivertown related). But with this maintenance extended and the store recently receiving a repaint, could this be due to a refurb or generally is maintenance? I’m not expecting a track repaint, but a new theme overlay in the station, new signage and updating the stores fit out. Maybe Intamins Dreamworld announcement next week includes new trains? This is likely overthinking this, but one can hope (or be delusional)!

That would be amazing and would make the event an instant sellout. Unfortunately it won’t happen.

I mean, we can judge the Magic Kingdom version because it’s open. It is, but I suspect it’ll get the same overlay. And if it’s different/better, then we can say Disneyland has a superior version and the MK version isn’t as good.

Pretty much! Obviously the way the info around the map is presented has changed many times, but the map style has remained relatively the same

I’m sure a digital version will be more vibrant, because obviously a photo of a printed image with ambient natural lighting isn’t going to help that. The less colourful style of map is what the park used to do (not saying it’s better necessarily, but it aligns with the parks currently strategy to reintroduce the old style again). Here are some examples of those older maps for comparison.

It looks like we’ll soon be getting a new park map. @Ogre shared this image showing part of a new style of park map (it’s on a sign in the wildlife area stating the path ahead is closed) Obviously this is still in progress as some rides have numbers and some done, but from this ‘draft’, it looks great!

@New display name so you’re telling me, the Village Roadshow theme parks aren’t ’world class’ like we’ve been told countless times over the last decade?

That would be awesome!

Because they say ‘new ride’, I don’t think it will be just that, I have a feeling (or maybe it’s just hope) that it’s something a lot more.