joz

Dugong Photos The building he's going into (Previously known as the 'World of the Sea Theatre') was once home to Shark Encounter. It was a live dive show (ie there were real divers, not automated), telling audiences about the history of diving going back to the days of Alexander the Great. A later incarnation of the show also included a 5 minute slide show about sharks before the screen was lifted up to reveal the tank complete with stingrays and sharks. The whole thing had a rather interesting educational voice over, with elevator music and lighting effects. Reef Discovery was more or less Shark Encounter's sequel, same format for both shows (Short film, followed by the screen being lifted to reveal the tank). It opened in winter of either 2001/2002. It was popular enough, and I can remember only a handful of times when there were less then 6 shows a day. Over the just gone holidays it was playing 8 times a day, and closer to 12 shows at Xmas time. The problem is that what made Shark Encounter work so well (the big sharks) was absent from Reef Discovery. Even the improved lighting effects and the exceptional looking fake coral in the tank couldn't offset the loss of the sharks and divers from the show. Also the narrative was slow paced, unmemorable and still sported the same sort of elevator music. Its original opening was delayed by a couple of weeks in a vain attempt to make it more entertaining. With Shark Bay opening, it was well and truly obsolete, and Pig just happened to be in the market for a new pool.

Your telling me. I've had 2 people over the holidays complain to me about how long the lines are at Dreamworld. The thing about that is I didn't ask anyone. People just felt compelled to tell me.

Well done, the Dugong affectionately known as 'Pig' will be calling the old Reef Discovery building home. Pig was found stranded as a baby, weighing all of 19kgs, in November of 1998. He was released in mid march 2002, and cruised the open waters of Moreton Bay for 8 months, before being spotted, grossly underweight and sporting deep scratches all over his body. Since he has been back at Seaworld, his health has stabilised to the point where vets are cautiously optimistic about his future. Although he has now put on 30kgs since he's been back, he is still about 20kgs lighter then when he was first returned to the wild. Moving Pig into the Reef Discovery theatre and telling his story will hopefully help to raise public awareness of Dungons, and of their plight in the wild. It will also be of direct benefit to Pig, as the Reef Discovery pool is bigger then his current pool in the park, and will consist of a sandy bottom and more enriching textures. On the attraction side of things, the fake coral will be removed from the tank, and the bottom will be raised to be level with the bottom of the glass, so guests will be able to see him eating. The theatre will be gutted, and will have displays about Pig, with a strong conservation theme. All in all, it will be much better then Reef Discovery could ever hoped to have been.

Or perhaps people should answer the original question.

Not currently on public Display.

Nope, not a walrus.

The animal is currently somewhere around the 160Kg mark. Has that helped?

With Nick Central in the background, it will have come from the roof of the gift shop. (You can see it in the bottom pic here).

Goboi, didn't you read, theres a 108% chance of it happening :-p

So between Cyclone, Corkscrew and Lethal, its one vote a peice to Corkscrew, Lethal, Demon, and Big Dipper. Excellant work there.

We are getting a new Seal Exhibat in June next year (all things going well), but that has nothing to do with this. Like I say, the animal is in the park, but is not on Public Display (so is therfor not penguins).

Like I say, Adjack is VERY close. He's just not quite right. He gave too much information.

Your very close, but I don't think I can give it to you on that Another clue, the animal is already in the park.

Allright, here's some clues, its not crocs, its a new animal exhibat (ie not a show or ride), and its an animal which is currently not on public display anywhere in the park.

That's an interesting one there. I think its a potentially really good idea (Hey, if it works for Wet 'n' Wild), especially when a new Nick film comes out. One or two showings a day would probably be enough (maybe even start one showing at 5pm and vend it?). Still, using the theatre as an attraction again rather then a pacifier? Go with it.

Good on Luna Park. God knows you poor bastards in Sydney need some good news following everything thats happened in the last few years.

Not sure how we did against projections, but at Seaworld we had a pretty solid holiday season, driven mostly - as attendance has been all year so far - by Shark Bay and Planet SOS. Not sure how trade has been out at Movieworld & Wet 'n' Wild, though I will see what I can find out for you.

Don't know how it was at Dreamworld, but I do know it wasn't a public holiday in QLD today, and NSW are still on school holidays anyway. I wish it was a public holiday though, cause I did a 9 hour day today

How about in the Big Brother house? Seriously I'm surprisingly stumped by that one (I know, the guy who has an opinion on everything ). I'm still stuck on a dark ride for the Jamboree building, but I guess there would be an ok fit there. Perhaps they could go where the shooting gallery and print shops are. Personally I'm not a big fan of those, since Print Shop is more like a Granny May's then a theme park souvenir shop, and shooting galleries are a dime a dozen.

Hence putting it in the Arcade/bumper car building. Not only does it fit Nick Central, it also fits Ocean Parade :cool:

I don't think a Vekoma 10 inversion would be the best idea. As much as I like inversions, I think a ride system thats so similar to Cyclone would be less marketable compared with something completly different. Also I'd like to check out Vekoma's new trains in a few years to see if they still get crap over time. I mean, if it requires a Disney Orlando budget to keep the ride smooth then steer clear.

Some serial numbers have been disabled now since they are illegal.

Yeah, though I've changed my mind somewhat. Dark ride for the country jamboree building, and SpongeBob 3D as a replacement for the Bumper Cars/Arcade.

I reckon if you include the land in behind the Bumper Cars and out the front towards the carpark then you've got heaps of land. I realised on my last visit that Thunderbolt's site isn't as big as I originally thought, but it is smack bang in between two other vacant areas. A smart design and you'd be able to fit a few obligatory flat rides in as well.

Its been done, probably many times, though the only one that comes instantly into mind is Wild One at Six Flags America.