joz

As for extended hours, check out Wet 'n' Wild on a Saturday. There are 'Dive in Movies' played outside where the wavepool. Generally speaking, the movies start at dusk, and the park's slides close at the end of the movie. This is a great way to avoid crowds, as the slides are mostly very crowded during the day, and a walk on at night. Plus riding Terror Canyon at night is an unreal experience, and one definitely worth checking out. Extended hours for the others will most likely commence on Boxing Day. All of the Warner Village Theme Parks sell churros at a cost of $3. Movieworld sell thier's mostly through their vendors, and Sea World at the Top Terrace, Bakery, Donut Shop and through mobile vendors. There's also a special at the moment at Sea World's Donut shop, which is selling 2 for $5. Shark Bay is a Walk Through. Wander through and check it all out at your own pace, same with Polar Bear Shores. There are snorkel and SCUBA tours available at Shark Bay for an extra cost, which from all accounts are really worth the extra cost.

Seems many forum users have been overseas, well I want to know what everyone's favorite parks are. This should be interesting since there aren't any home park fanboys. Also don't count Disney parks, since as we all know, Disney is the best, and daylight is second. I'll go with Alton Towers as my pick of the overseas parks. Great rides, atmosphere, gardens and the like.

I reckon Dr Teeth & Gazza are on the money here, and simply reprogramming the winches would be a good start with GD. I like the wait at the top, but you could probably lop 20 or so seconds or so off without to much detriment to ride experience, particularly on the east side. Having the winch not only lift, but also descend quicker would also help with capacity (as an operator said, often the cars are loaded, waiting for the winch to come back down). Still, I bet there'd be some issue with changing the winch speed (rope wear & tear, the cable separators and the differing weight of the cars) but I can't think of anything that can't really be overcome.

Having got my hands on last years one, I can confidently say that it exceeded my expectations. The pictures are well done, the variety of pictures is great, and its an all round good product. I'd certainty recommend it, and will hopefully get this years.

Since when were you going over there? Anyways, keep us posted on what you get up too.

I know the ride your talking about Gazza, there's one going into Cypress Gardens as well. It was quite a shock to see such a ride exists outside of Roller Coaster Tycoon. As fun as the ride style looks, I don't think it make all that good an addition to Dreamworld. Besides being relatively tacky, and with a questionable capacity, apparently if the rubber dinghies crash, they explode!

At the time of writing, no major rides are scheduled to be down during December, so you should be ok there. As for crowds, weekends are noticeably busier at all the parks, though crowds are, generally speaking, bearable. If your going to go to the parks during the week to avoid crowds, your probably better off making Dreamworld the midweek trip, since that's where you'll notice the difference in crowds the most. With two days at Movieworld, you'll have more then enough time to check everything out, and more then once. At Seaworld, there's many different ways to plan your day and you should be able to fit everything in. Let me know if you'd like a pre-made game plan. The only real tip is to try and watch the afternoon Dolphin and Seal shows rather then the morning shows, since the shows are busier in the morning, and hence there are less people on the rides and in the exhibits at this time. In food & Beverage at Warner Village, there is most certainty a refill deal. Buy a large souvenir drink for $4.50, and keep the cup and you can refill it for $2.95, anywhere around Seaworld, Movieworld or Wet 'n' Wild, with popcorn, soft drink, or frozen coke. I'm told (though I can't confirm) that if you take it to Dreamworld, they'll fill the cups for $2.90. If there's anything else I can help you with, feel free to ask, and enjoy the holiday!

Goboi, on that Zodiac looks quite good, though I love the "Interesting Facts" section on that page. The information on there lists simply: "Once had a serious accident." Thankfully they didn't bore us with all the minor, negligible details, like what happened? Or if it was due to rider misconduct or ride failure.

..... and since we don't care about people who go on Carnie rides, all is good

Or how about not. The difference is minimal, at best.

The sad thing that all this talk about SFMM being crap is compelling me to want to go. Keep us posted good sir, makes for good reading.

Nice update Rob. Really makes me want to take the trip to Tokyo, since everyone else whose been really seems to like it. Glad you had fun out there man.

Which is quite allright in this case, because we all agree that Bush Beast, if it doesn't re-open on its current site (which it won't) then it should be torn down.

Thing is our one isn't nearly as painful, allows more freedom, better views and quicker loading times (higher capacity). Also did I mention our one doesn't set out to destroy people's rib cages?

Superman themed ride, yes. As a tribute to Christopher Reeve, no. Maybe something a bit more tasteful, like a tribute somewhere in the queue, but beyond that it runs the huge risk of being tacky. Besides that, where do you draw the line? I mean, why don't we make Rick's Cafe into a huge tribute to Humphrey Bogart?

Nice idea there...... No. Not Bounty. Not ever. Move along please

I just wanted to add this in, because I think its unfair that I'm the only one who gets is One of your best mate

Scott, I'm about 80% sure the 8 seat carriages were used on a smaller indoor ride I believe in Europe before Giant Drop (correct me if I'm wrong and I'll take it back). Dreamworld only claims "The dual 8-seat gondolas were used for the first time on a ride of this height and design." which is a pretty redundant thing to say given its the tallest Freefall and a unique design. Wipeout is pretty much a standard design these days, and installations of the ride number in the double digits now. Dreamworld's was the third, but that was a while ago. It'd be a bit like saying "Lethal Weapon is the only ride of its type in the world!" (since it was the first Vekoma SLC (765m Extended w/Helix). Can I remind everyone to actually put some thought into what they're saying rather then just repeating marketing dribble? I'd 'quote of the week' it but its waaaay to long. Besides the fact you've just made one of the most stupid points in a while, you've really done yourself proud in the punctuation. Do they teach kids how to spell, or even where the space bar on a keyboard is at school any more? You can do a bit better then that Ultimately Dreamworld will get rid of Tower of Terror. It'll be a bloody long time before they do, but to say they won't is a bit of a stretch. You don't think that in 1.5million years even if the park exists, they'll give Intamin a call and say "Hey, we need to buy some replacement Magnets!"

Since the topic is back from the dead, just wanted to let you guys know that on the back of Shopa Dockets are discounts to both Sea World and Movie World, which will run until early December.

Maybe the retail managers at DW are better at their jobs then the Operations managers? Seriosuly, if Dreamworld add a new ride, then attendance should go up, and good on them for doing well. I'm with Slick on some of his points. Though I've not been in Tower of Terror's queue for 12+ months I agree that themeing in the queue should be kept up best it can. Don't think for a second that they can't afford it. They could probably even afford to make a Star Tours (Best queue Ever!) style queue, and even afford to maintain it!

Scott: Alton Towers have a flyer and an Invert, and when I was there it didn't cross my mind that the rides were similar. I'll assume its the same at other parks with flyers. With regards to Movieworld's new attraction, I have it on good authority that the park is looking (and has the budget) to add a new "Teen Market" ride for next year. Not sure what exactly it is, but I can say that what you might have read on a different forum is wrong.

Well, its not as much Saturday as it is Weekends. Like I say though, I'll keep you posted. Though its been months since my last Weekend off.

I've honestly not heard anything about the Outback Experience in a long time. It was always most assureadly two projects which were supposed to complement each other. Wether or not they are going ahead with the Outback Experience remains to be seen, though its been at varying stages in the pipeline for at least 10 years now. Goboi: If attendance at Movieworld is down, it is offset by an increase in attendance at Seaworld and Wet 'n' WIld.

Its been a while since I've got a Saturday off. If I get one I'll let you know.

Without really knowing what you saw, I'd say it'd be one of 3 things: Its most likley related to the relocation of Paradise Country. Warner Village tool over Paradise Country a year or two back. Warner Village got all the facilites, Animal Stock, Permits and trade marks. What they didn't get was the land. The land is owned by the church, and will be sold to make way for sub division (last I heard). Paradise Country was relocated to behind Movieworld in June. It also could have been the reconstruction of the Studio, that burnt down a few months back. The third (and by far the least likley) is that it was the early work for the Outback Experience, a new $20million dinner show. I don't think they're anywhere near starting building that, though I have been wrong in the past.