joz

Don't forget that B&M do Exceptional Zero G Rolls on Floorless coasters that are well regarded by just about everyone who rides them. I don't really have a preference as too what I want the park too get, so long as they theme it well) which will be difficult with a coaster since its just about guaranteed that the ride will provide panoramic views of the Tin Sheds (and don't anyone even think about telling me all about what the sheds are really made of, because I simply don't care) which are the studios and rest of the park.

For the true 'Water Coaster' check out these pics of Mack's Version at their showcase park, Europa Park. http://rcdb.com/installationgallery1891.htm?Picture=13 http://rcdb.com/installationgallery1891.htm?Picture=17 http://rcdb.com/installationgallery1891.htm?Picture=19 I think this is one ride system that really hasn't reached its obvious potential. This version (and most versions from the looks of things) look poorly themed, while SW Orlando's version if from most accounts is a well themed ride, which has very little in terms of thrill value. If someone could get it together and build a well themed coaster portion as well as a well themed (and for the record, I regard well a themed coaster as little more then a coaster with no or little exposed supports and with little or no view of the rest of the park) , boat ride then they'd certainty be on a winner.

I beg too differ, cranes are used quite often on rehabs on different rides, wether it be for painting or component replacement. A few years ago SW replaced the entire drop chute in an overhaul of their flume ride. Indeed if your the park between 6 and 8am you'll likely see a crane in action doing mundane tasks like moving storage containers or providing a good painting cleaning platform. DW could well be doing some really exciting stuff, but is more likley to be replacing the lift motor or replacing some of the wood on the structure. I'd be extremely surprised if DW did any more then replacing components, and adding new theme elements. Maybe they'll do some work to the cave, but I doubt there'd be much more done then that in 3 weeks.

There's a water coaster being installed at Seaworld Cali, and I've seen some good pictures on westcoaster. Just think of a ride system which has boats like those on Looney Tunes or Bermuda, which is capable of basic roller coaster manoeuvres.

I reckon Alan Jones would be proud of an ad like that one.

No, you don't get it. The park (ie management, GR) should have compensated those guests who, through no fault of their own, queued 45mins for a ride and were without warning refused entry. We know about having to turn guests away at 10, you keep going on about it as if we've missed the point. What me, Rich and everyone else is saying is that: 1 Guests should have been told that they may not get a ride even if they queue. 2 Failing that they should have been compensated for their wasted time. A guest has better things to be doing then standing in a queue. The fact that they didn't do either really doesn't even cut it as poor customer service. In fact its a total disregard for paying guests, simple as that. I don't care if the staff had to estimate the queue, I don't care about what restrictions the park have, what my gripe here is that the people who were adversely affected were shunned, and were given nothing in return.

Not a bad story, plus Natalie (whose exceptional appearance makes even the most docile TV must see) was one of the hosts so its a winner in my book.

Ok a few more things that haven't been commented on: 1. Nowhere was he blaming DW for closing ToT when it rained. 2. While he did complain about the queues, his major gripe was with queuing then not getting a ride. Also, since when was the fact that someone queued for a ride for 45 mins then getting turned away not a "Valid reason" for a free ticket? A paying customer got screwed pretty hardcore by DW policy. What's the difference if its day or night? 3. I know many people who get one free ticket to go to a park and go halves in another ticket with someone else. Free tickets do attract paying people, without even considering things like F&B or those crappy carnie games that people of Dreamworld's target demographic seem to delight in playing. 4. Again, why should queuing out of the rides allocated area 'not work'? A queue is a queue, and sometimes do go out their allocated area. Sucks when it happens, it doesn't make people any more likely to think "Maybe they won't let me on". 5. I can't believe no ones mentioned word of mouth. Let me tell you, when something bad happens at a park, the right thing to do is move heaven and Earth to make sure that the customer is happy, and nothing bad about the park gets said in the public domain. People left DW with a sour taste in their mouth, and rest assured that all their friends know how poorly DW treated its customers. DW could have kept their reputation intact if they just bit the bullet and gave away a couple of hundred free tickets (which would've cost - without taking into account the extra revenue these guests bring - all of $11,600. When gate taking on a normal day is somewhere around $150,000 ) The park didn't do that and now the parks customer service reputation (which is very important for a park) is getting quite a healthy bashing on here. Also, how would the park be loosing money by giving free return tickets? I can't imagine the people turned away from rides after queuing are keen to come back and pay full price any time soon. About the free pass thing: Remember when DW used to advertise $5 return passes? Well for one or two crazy holiday periods, they gave away free return passes to anyone who presented themselves at guest services asking for one. Question: Why did they rope Tomb Raider's queue off early, I mean its not as if that thing must be closed by 10pm (its not a ride after all). I'm guessing the reason for having to close the rides early is due to its neighbours and noise concerns. If that's the case (which I am 99% sure it is since SW's lack of neighbours have allowed it too run rides till well after 10pm as well as having fireworks after 11) then I don't understand why they also felt that they needed to close the bumper cars queue early. Also a point on the line jumping: It may have been a problem for one night, and maybe the park didn't expect it too be so bad, so didn't staff accordingly. Fair enough. Easy mistake too make, that's one of those things you can only learn from hosting the nights. If these nights become a regular thing, then yes, I would expect the park to staff the queue. When it comes to adding more staff, you've answered your question "What do you propose they do?" Well let me ask you, do you think the 1 ride op (who you've told us too go see when someone cuts the queue) has time too bring the guests to the air gates, load, close restraints, check restraints, dispatch, unload and check for lost property AND deal with trouble makers in the queue? I know it hurts, but you'll just have to face the fact that the park handled the situation wrong.

Dang, I feel like Disco bowling now, good on ya.

I had work commitments to sleep through

Cheers Goboi, I love that the comment got taken seriously

Well, I did contact blacktown council, and got an answer rather quickly. I won't post the whole e-mail, however I will post this peice, which I beleive is relevant in this conversation: Futile perhaps, but thats your best plan of attack. Balls in your court guys (esp. you guys in NSW, just don't tell them your under voting age if you are).

1. If DW knew that not everyone was going to get a ride, the people should have been told. 2. I didn't know there were 3,500 people in line for GD when it closed. In any case, the answers yes. Don't you remember when they used to give free return passes to who ever wanted them? 500-1000 people lodging a complaint, well wouldn't that tell you that people aren't happy and there's a good reason for it? This isn't the one off crazy guy having a cry over something that only they could possibly care about, this is half the people in the park dissatisfied. Having that many people go out into the world to spread bad press can't be beneficial. 3. What do you mean that more staff won't make the rides (queue) go faster? Have you seen the difference in load times between Cyclone (not well staffed) and Lethal Weapon (well staffed)? Again, this isn't bashing staff, its about staffing levels and how management makes life difficult when it could be much easier. Making similar events in the future 6-9 sounds like a fair enough idea. Having that many people in the park (of the thrill ride demographic) its a bit of a laugh to think that they'd get everyone on by 10 since they don't get everyone on till 5.20 on a normal day (I'm sure even DW is thinking "What were we thinking with having it going till 10?"). Seriously, nearly every ride's queue must have been closed off by 9.30 -9.45 anyway?

Andy, he doesn't mean that. He actually means a 3rd of a glass of milk.

Good to hear everyone had a good day at the park. Almost made me wish I'd taken another flight down there to check it out one last time. Just one thing, the staff would have been paid double time and a half because of the public holiday wouldn't they? EDIT: Just wanted too point out that I was the last one to make a post about Wonderland on the last day it was open :cool:

Do they have a website? (Council?)

No foolon, I was on the last Demon Cycle ever.

No surly you'd think "I'm in line, and am going to get on" why would you not think that? I've been in a line after its been cut off, and never doubted getting a ride. This isn't mechanical failure, this is the park saying "You know what, we've changed our mind, you've just wasted 45mins, go away and don't expect anything out of it". How you can seriously justify that is a mystery. They could have easily said, "We've been told to close the ride, but hang around here and we'll get you some tickets too come back". You'd still be a bit pissed, but nothing like what it must have been. Dreamworld (and yourself) seriously don't know much about customer service. Free return tickets would cost the park nothing, but would have kept its customers happy. I don't know what your other thing you'd give them is. I'll tell you a story, Warner Village closed the parks for safety reasons due to really bad weather earlier in the year, and despite the announcements at the gates of the parks that there is no compensation available for bad weather, everyone in the parks got a free return ticket. The parks didn't even close till mid afternoon, but everyone got a full day back at the park. Not a 'come back this time a different day' pass, another full day in the parks. Its customer service, and its what this industry is all about.

You've never been to Senic World have you Andy?

No, that's not good enough. Simple as that. Its not up to the guest to think "well, the park is not allowed to run the park after 10 so I probably won't get on." Nearly a third of the night spent queuing for nothing, which is nothing short of disgraceful. Free return passes for all those rejected is the very least the park should have done. BTW, you'll notice that Seaboi's last comment was, "I have lost allot of respect for DW management" so I don't really know what your going on about Obstructure

60m or there abouts if I'm not mistaken?

Now where would we be without golden comments like that though Rich? That'd make the best marketing campaign ever. Come ride... This!

Its a sad time for everyone at the park, especially for those who work with the bears (some may require counseling such is level of dedication of the staff). The park has stated that it will not allow Kanook (Nookie, the grand duchess) to suffer.

Cyclone 2!!! I got it I win!!

Not a worry dude. Let us know if there's anything else we can do, and keep us posted on how your holiday goes.