joz

I prefer to be called by name, though I know some people don't like it. One women I know gets offended by it (though she gets offended by anything) so yeah, just depends on the person.

Fair review I think there. WnW in the last few years has had an attendance explosion, which unfortunately is putting huge strain on the parks infrastructure. They're at the rather unfortunate stage now where if they add anything else, the extra capacity gained will be out weighed by the increase in attendance. To give you some idea the gates out the front were replaced about 5 or 6 years ago, and already can't cope. The toilets were upgraded a year or two back, and more lockers and chairs seem to be added every year. Now, if anyone's reading all this thinking "Holy crap, I'm not going there if that's what the crowds going to be like!" then don't fear, there is a very good way to avoid the crowds. Simply visit the park any day there is a 'Dive in movie'. The movies begin at around 7pm, and rides normally operate until 9pm, allowing you (more or less) 2 hours of ERT. During the day check out the wavepool and Calypso beach (which by design never have a queue) and the Aqua racer, which has a pretty good capacity for a slide. Or just do as I do and don't turn up too the park until 3pm, which is also good for avoiding the big crush to get in.

While I agree about adding some decent themeing to the queue, whats the point of having fog in Cyclone's queue house? Does that have anything to do with the theme of the ride? The lights are also a bit of a waste of time with how bright it is in there. Better communication between the operators would help with the current set-up, though it would probably work better just bringing the front of the queue right up too the station. You could also build up some story in the dark sections as well. You know, something along the lines of the Cyclone hitting the park while you are in the tunnel. That would also require less staff then the idea of having one staff member to do the job of counting, organising and whatnot. Opening up the station area could probably help as well. Also, not too sound picky, but asking people to rush through is a very bad idea. Not only is it a wasted effort (Dreamworld's target audience could care less for the story) but the day someone trips and gets injured, the park could be in pretty big trouble. IMO there's many ways to improve the ride experience and effienciy. Re-configering the brakes in the station, redesign the way the queue works, add that second train (how much do rolling stock arrow trains cost anyway?) and some stairs on the back half of the building (I mean, why have stairs but only use them for emergency? Why not just have stairs? Its not as if seeing the backstage areas of Dreamworld are part of the experience) and as Slick says, improve the themeing in the queue. Not that I'm putting to many demands on the park or anything.

IMO, Cyclone isn't a bad ride. The fan turns, the helix, the inversions, all great. Not the best, but still not bad. The problem for me comes in the form of the queue house design and capacity issues. The ride itself isn't bad. It was much better suited to Luna Park, but its still a good coaster design. For me, an extra train, redesigned queue and steps down to the shop would go along way to bettering the ride.

Well, we applied to do Dallas, but there's an over supply of 'Doing' going on there. So the logical next step was to do Dreamworld.

Bingo, we have a winner Don't get me wrong, I do want too see new rides at the park. I, just like everyone else on here, have ideas on what rides would work best at the park, and where they should be. The thing is that animal attractions are in at the moment, and this new Seal Enclosure is something that the park needs anyway. Really, the current exhibit is too Animal Exhibits what Thunderbolt was too RollerCoasters. Something that was very good in its day, but now really outdated past its use by date. Plus it will more then likely allow Cartoon Beach that little bit of extra space to grow. That has been a popular addition to the park and expanding that will be of great benefit too the park. I think both these projects are more important then building the next big ride.

What makes you think its off topic?

Thunderbolt in its day really was an excellent ride. Very forceful, long and fast ride. Didn't have many up and downs, and had allot of straight track, but was still very fun. Sadly it got a bit neglected, and the ride became rough and uncomfortable. It probably could have gone a year or two earlier and no one would have made much noise about out.

Seaworld Orlando (Generally considered the best) has all of two rides (not counting Wild Artic, since the ride portion sucks so much). Kraken, which according to some is the best coaster in the world, if not the best floorless. Journey to Atlantis is a well respected Water Ride. Seaworld Australia has a good (by Aussie standards) Roller Coaster, not one but 2 decent water rides, 3 transport rides & kids rides. Seaworld Orlando has no transport, flat, or kiddie rides. To me that sounds like we've got more rides here. Strangely the area that the American Seaworld's rule is the animal exhibits area. There's no animal display we have which doesn't have an equivalent displayed at a US Seaworld. They've got Bulga Whales, Killer Whales, Manatees, Birds, and even cats and dogs. Then your trying to tell us that we should be more like the American Seaworld's by building more rides? Riiiight. I'm all for this new attraction. The reality is folks that this isn't another Seal enclosure, its a replacement Seal enclosure. Exhibit design has come along way in the 20 something years since the current exhibit was built. The current exhibit is also very old, and I can tell you is not looking the best on the inside. Also the space inside is not very well designed. From a health and safety perspective, there's Confined Space, not much ventilation, and low roofs. There's also a sizeable area that is not accessible but is prone to having small objects (Balls, Sunglasses) fall down. Also moving Seals in and out can be an ordeal, since between the two different sides there is a narrow, dark hallway, which Seals don't always want to go into. This new one gives the park an opportunity to do some very important things. This new exhibit will have better environmental enrichment, making life for the Seals better. It'll also have better viewing for guests. The argument against this is like being against Dolphin Cove since there was already somewhere to do a Dolphin show. There's no way this is anything other then a good thing. The added bonus is that if its being built somewhere other then its current site (as is my understanding) then there will be room to expand Cartoon Beach, which could really do with the extra space. Seaworld will build a new ride eventually, in the meantime just sit back and enjoy the new attractions we're building for next year.

Scooby Doo has little chances of rating well purely because of the fact its in Australia. The sort of people who vote on those polls are more likely to have been on that back yard coaster then they are to have been on Scooby Doo. In terms of rides which have the "complete package" I say Scooby Doo is really the best of the best in Australia. Well themed, long ride with a nice thrill section, as well as being not too intense for youngsters. There's very little one can fault the ride for. The next closest IMO is Wild West at Movieworld. Though even Wild West has a couple of points taken off in my book (one for the lack of themeing on the backwards drop, and another for view of the back half of the mountain). Even so, that's very minor stuff, and its for good reason that both rides are so highly regarded.

Good to hear your having a good time up here Alex! Keep us posted on how you get on tomorrow.

The Double drop thing isn't there, and they both go to the same height on the tower.

Just watching it, you almost get the impression that the 'lock' on the Gondala is worn out. The thing just slides all over the place, and more then once last week I noticed the Gondala didn't even get upside down on the last part of the cycle. Still a good ride, she just rattles a bit in her old age. Though I guess it is a Vekoma ride, so you get that.

I dunno if they'd buy the slides from Wonderland. Afterall, Seaworld's slide tower must be on the market now, and is probably in better condition. Plus the last thing we sold was Thrillseeker which had its asking price cut in half after a couple of weeks and was sold not long after that. Unlike Wonderland, we know how to get rid of unwanted rides ;-) Still Dreamworld would be bloody insane to buy second hand stuff. Besides, if what I've heard about Dreamworld's new CEO is true, then there's no way he'll look buying old stuff. You'd think somewhere like Aussie World, Adventure World or one of the Luna Parks would be the most likley home to anything from Wonderland, and I can't see them going after the slides either.

Nothing out of the ordinary here. There's always some boats being worked on, except for when there's big crowds expected. Same with every ride at the park. Currently one of the monorails is in a million peices and is having all new computer systems installed. Just like to throw an opinion into the ring as well: Pirate Ship is very re-rideable so long as your into that sort of thing. Almost never a queue, and you don't have to walk too far. Also, in terms of how it compares to other thrill rides at Seaworld, think about this, there is only one other "Thrill" ride at Seaworld. Of course its going to be one of the best. Its like saying "Dreamworld's Train is one of the best transportation rides in the park". Goboi: Now I know who you are, didn't you help design Paradise Peir at DCA?

You really are an example to everyone in the industry. Glad you enjoyed your moment.

Stranger things have happened, and it was rumoured for a very breif period. Still can't go past this being for the old thrill seeker site though, since that is what has been on the cards for about 3 or 4 years now.

Probably not the whole answer, but before the day Richard went they were spending allot of time looking at the restraints as well as having the ride not rotate. Probably just the sort of restraint testing you'd expect to see on a new ride.

Tell ya what, if the rest of the park is as good as the way you've done the entrance then I'll be very much looking forward to this. Keep it up man!

Or like the cars on an Intamin half pipe..

Nothing special, just small slides in the middle of the kids pool. Maybe a meter or two tall.

With a 10% rise in attendance and per capita spending up? Good call Slick.

The water park is open. Its now two water slides, the pool and kiddies pool (with kiddie slides). Its just the public liability insurance unfriendly Tower which is closed.

Well, last I heard was a plan to mix water park with an animal (Seal) exhibat. I've honestly not heard anything else, though I haven't been paying all that much attention either.

Ok, entering via SW nara, here's a rundown of what the operations department charges are:Monorail transfers from Dolphin cove to Broadwater Cafe Dolphin Cove show $3,500 Bermuda $3,000 per hour Corkscrew $1,500 per hour Monorail Transfers from Mid-station too Broadwater Cafe $400 Thats not even going into the cost of the venue or food or drinks. There's quite a bit of money in it if you get a few of them.