joz

It truly is a small world....

See I'm the opposite of you (and probably everyone else) Richard; the 3 domestic flights (no longer then 4 hours compared to the 13.75 hour international flights) we had on out last holiday were easily the worst on the whole trip. Maybe its the lack of in-flight entertainment? Nice plans for the trip stdragon03, sure you'll have heaps of fun! Although I do notice no Orlando parks on the list?

Maybe not Toy Story or Nemo as the characters are owned by Disney. The only hope for that is if Warner Brothers team up with Pixar for future films (after 'The Incredibles' and 'Cars') which is looking surprisingly likely. If they team up, then you might start seeing Pixar characters around the park, although it wouldn't be any that you already know.

...Or it could be a small coaster going into a different park?

Well, everyone mocks them for moving next to a theme park so they have no right to complain. Now they're building a big high-rise (that wasn't there when they moved in) so I can understand why they'd be pissed. However, DJ said it perfectly, so screw 'em.

I reckon an Intamin launched coaster with inversions (Think of what you'd get if Cali' Screamin' mated with the new ride going to Hershey Park). Even though they've already got a launched ride, its hard to compare the two rides. Its like in 1982 saying they shouldn't get a rapids ride because they've already got a log ride. Still, I suppose I can live with a B&M coaster if that's all there is on offer.

Well I can't see why not. It's only 5 mins from the centre of Surfers, and doesn't have any neighbours to worry about (except SW Nara). Although the only time they didn't have animals (about 6 months in 1971) they nearly went bankrupt. It's hard to imagine since the animals are such an important part of what the park is.

It sounds like a really good idea puting it there. I just hope Dreamworld agree with us (you know what we're on about don't you Tony?)

Well, Bush Beast is a clone of Grizzley. Look at its ranking (last). Now lets assume that Bush Beast is as rough as Grizzley (which it probably is judging by Wonderland's lack of care for the ride), then you have a ride which is quite possibly the worst Wooden Roller Coaster on Earth. Complain all you want I say.

Seriously GoBoi, you should take over Wonderland. Perhaps a siege or a coup?

Kinda off topic (This has been on my mind for a few days now): Warner Village is advertising for a performer to play the roles of both Batman and Mr. Freeze. Both of them??? Thats ganna make the fight scenes really weird. (yes Rabid, I know there's other actors)

In a word: No. The park needs more normal rides before it can go upcharge.

Six Flags doesn't have the money to build big new rides in its current parks, I don't like the chances of the company building a big new park with heaps of them.

Just a joke. John Menzies, Steve Peet and Tony Braxton Smith are connected to the Gold Coast parks (John Menzies and Steve Peet are with Warner Village and Tony Braxton Smith is Dreamworld CEO). The joke implied that the Gold Coast parks are doing well because people are coming to the Gold Coast instead of going to Wonderland. Anyone get it first time??

Give me a few days and I should be able to get a black and white version. Most stuff we get delivered is delivered to Main Beach, but we still get enough Southport and Surfers addressees to make you a bit blase on the whole 'which suburb are we in' thing. The whole Gold Coast is like that. Chevron Island is its own suburb and always gets called Surfers. Back in the old days of the Albert Shire (a council separate from Gold Coast City Council that controlled everything west of the Gold Coast Highway) Dreamworld wasn't even really on the Gold Coast.

Its not been sold, but I'm told Steve Peet, Tony Braxton Smith and John Menzies are driving the parks future development. So far all 3 are really happy with how the park has performed since attendance at the Gold Coast parks is at close to all time highs.

Well, don't forget had the rights for Nick characters long before Nick Central. Can't remember the details, but I do seem to recall a "Rugrats in Paris" promotion at Dreamworld at the same time as a Blues Clues attraction a year or two before Nick Central opened. Even SW had Nick characters for a brief period (About 3 weeks if memory serves correctly) before Cartoon Beach. To expect a big attraction straight away is probably asking a bit much, as the park will probably want to get a feel for how popular the characters are. Having said that I do think something (and something major) should have been done by now. Goboi is spot on with his comments (again. Ever considered working in theme park management?) about Wonderland abusing the contract. Attracting people to a mediocre product isn't going to inspire them to come back for more when they eventually build something.

Richard - I'll have to dig up that old picture of the Flume Ride boats with 'Surfers Paradise' proudly branded across the front.

Its worth pointing out that in the parks history, it has claimed to be in 3 different suburbs (Surfers Paradise, Southport and Main Beach) so Southport is kinda correct. Main Beach (is that a suburb these days?) would probably be right, but stuff that gets sent to the park is sent to either Southport, Main Beach or Surfers, so take a pick which suburb you want to say its in.

Cheers Andy Sadly I didn't get to do anything after work. Didn't end up finishing 10.30pm. Going out tonight though so its all good.

.... and if you would like some killer (not literally. Well not often anyway) airtime when your flying, I'd recommend Air New Zealand, Air United and Easy Jet. Singapore Airlines really disappointed me with how little air time they provide. Actually, I like Singapore Airlines, the only airline I've flown with in recent times where the pilots didn't have some form of Parkinson's Disease.

Thanks Jaggie! Yeah, it was my birthday on the 23rd. I celebrated by working 10 hours

Don't worry Rabid, as we both knew (hehe) Dreamworld has extended the promotion through till the end of the Easter break, so all those lazy people still have the chance to see it without having to fight through the peak crowd.

I think you did the right thing by going by car. I don't care how safe plane travel is compared to going by car, but I hate flying. Something not fundamentally right about being 11km up & hurtling through the stratosphere at 900km/h. Doesn't matter how much you hate the family, going by car is the way to go. Plus as Flea said, much better to have a car then rely on the Gold Coast busses. Looking forward to reading the next chapter Andy! Off topic as well: How good is that feeling of getting up on one ski!? It took me ages to get up on one ski. Since I kept crashing when I was first started (and injuring myself in more ways then one can imagine) I found letting go just before that moment where you know you're about to crash made it less painful. After about an hour of doing that someone said "Why don't you just hang on?" and I got up no worries. You going to try a bit of Sky Ski/Air Chair action next Flea?

Hey, glad to hear you had a good day at SW Andy! I've seen SOS myself, and I really like it. The film may not have a narration, but as Richard said, what is on the screen is more effective then any words could be. Its a fun movie, has heaps of special effects squeezed in with an underlying environmental message (I think I'll have to start writing press releases soon ).