Jobe

Ha just beat me to it...I just posted this in another thread!! Hopefully the mods can merge the 2 togther!!! To say i am pumped for this is an understatement!!

Early reports in the media are showing that LPS is closing at the end of January 2021 and will be refurbished with new rides and - a new Big Dipper! More details to follow I guess: Here is the link: https://7news.com.au/entertainment/sydneys-luna-park-getting-30m-facelift-c-1640479

Hey all this has had me thinking for a while. A couple of years back I visited Orlando and went to Universal Studios and rode Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket. I was impressed with the ride but I loved the feature that allowed you to pick your own song and style of music as you rode!! I know that there are several coasters around the world that now has this feature, my question for you all is which song do you believe to be the greatest song to play whilst riding roller coasters? Just for a bit of fun- I will start you all off with what would be my go to coaster riding song and one that is not only entirely appropriate but also gets you pumped and excited to ride! This is "Last Ride Of the Day" by Finish Symphonic Metal band Nightwish. A most stirring tune! Of course everyone will be different and will have choices for different reasons!! Looking forward to seeing the responses!

Here is an update for the newly named Surf 'N "Play Aqua Park in Dingley Village. It has now been announced plans for a second only in the world surf pool installation- with what is being dubbed "Endless Surf" technology. https://www.pellicano.com.au/news/surf-pool-joins-plans-for-dingley-village-water-park-to-become-biggest-in-southern-hemisphere/ Video of the new park and concept art can be seen here: Main points left to bring this project to construction phase: The tweak to the plans comes as the wealthy Pellicano family behind the $100m project reveals their super-sized SurfnPlay Aqua Park is moving closer to reality, with just Kingston City Council to sign off on it after recent green lights from VicRoads and Melbourne Water. After addressing a range of request from government and environmental agencies, the only hurdles remaining are council approval and public consultation. This appears to be progressing ahead well and fingers crossed this gets to become a reality. Will be a huge coup for Melbourne if it gets over the line.

Just found this - "Pico Play was commissioned by the Northern Territory Government to put together a comprehensive business case for a new international water park in the heart of the Darwin CBD. Read more at the link below about our feasibiity process!" https://www.pico-play.com/portfolio-item/darwin-water-park/ This was only published 3 days ago- it appears that this project is not dead in the water just yet. Darwin would be a prome candidate for a good sized water park and the CBD location would be ideal. Hopefully this progresses further to get the green light.

Just saw this Youtube video of this- looks good!! The launch hill looks like heaps of fun- hopefuly this is the version we get!!

Correct. Only bring books to Book club..............

100% my thoughts as well. The ride simply makes no sense at Wet ‘ N ‘ Wild anymore. The pros for moving it to SeaWorld, are getting stronger and are making a far more compelling case.

I am aware of this fact. I also agree it’s doubtful but it does make a lot of sense. This ride has been nothing but problematic at its current location, it would be a far better fit at SeaWorld. It would be well received there and it would be going to a park that is still in need of attractions to balance it out. It also has a small footprint which would be ideal given that land is something that SeaWorld does not have in abundance. It could also be well adapted to fit in well with SeaWorld as an overall theme. Having a roller coaster at a water park was an experiment and gamble that for mine, didn’t really pay off. Moving it to SeaWorld would be a positive change, and allow Surf Rider to also be open to greater ridership and stand as a attraction in its own right, rather than a lame duck at a park it has no real right to be placed in. Just my opinion.

Seriously think that Surfrider's days at Wet and Wild should be done. It has been a troublesome child in its time there. Time to pick it up and move it to Seaworld where it will help round out the attraction offerings at that park. This will leave room for Wet and Wild to have more flexible use of space for new slide installations, IMHO.

The new Vekoma offerings of either their new invert or the new Flying models may make you change your mind......

Yeah see I think that these are a little underwhelming and a one trick pony for mine. Dont get me wrong , they are B&M's and that means quality and it would be a quantum leap over anything we currently have but I think there are far better models in the B & M lineup which i would rather see installed. I rode Shreikra at Busch Gardens Tampa and whilst i enjoyed the ride, for mine, it paled in comparison to Kumba and even Cheetah Hunt. Still, if one was announced, I would take it!! It would make more sense installing one at Dreamworld IMHO.

Sorry this is not correct. LPS fought long and hard for an amendment to the Luna park act and as long as any ride or attraction falls within their designated zones in the park or comes in under their parameters to the amended Luna Park act, then they can install it. Its spelt out clearly below: AlexB is 100% correct here. But only as long as the legislation allows for it- if for some reason its changed again, then its a whole different ball game. If the park WANTED to build another coaster the size of Sidewinder they could. However, there is no room nor the will on behalf of the park to do so as this would draw critiscm from their neighbours. They are trying to co-exist with them but also have reasonable outcomes for rides and attractions in place, hence the amendment that was passed last year. Hope this clears up any myths or misconceptions regarding LPS's rights to install rides and attractions in the park.

Lets not jump the gun on that. Of course a new steel compact coaster will fit the theme of a habourside boardwalk amusement park. Always has. Always will. Thats why we had the original Big Dipper and the current Wild Mouse. A new compact coaster is no different. The biggest issue , as has always been, will be the space. Where do you put it? Where will it be the most effective? And what type do you decide on to get best bang for yor buck. The biggest challenge is if they DO decide to install another coaster ( and I am one that firmly believes that not only is it a good thing, it is entirely neccessary for the park to do so) is how will they integrate this into the park and action the best possible utilsiation of their available space possible. This means that the park may need to get vitally creative, whilst still adhering to the parameters as laid out in the amended Luna Park act for their ride and attraction installation. That may require them to spend more to achieve this but the outcome could be the best option for what is required. Lets hope that the management of the park understands what is needed and delivers the best outcome not only for the park, but for the future generations to enjoy. This is a unique opportunity for the park to set themselves up for the next decade and they really need to get it right and treat this time as a pivotal moment in their history.

Awesome!! This appears to be only half of the original Grand Gorge Falls project however?

Bit harsh. We know LPS can do better. But these rides were excellent in their time and many have been found in numerous parks around the world- would you offer the same criticism of these parks that have examples of these in their ride roster as you do of LPS? They could have been better presented true, but the LPS Huss collection were in my mind, a step above your average travelling ride. The LPS examples ( Ranger, Troika, UFO and Breakdance) were rare rides and in in some cases, the only example of this type of ride in Australia. having them as attractions made the visit to LPS far more attractive than having common run of the mill traveling rides. An important era of the park and Australian amusement park history is drawing to a close with their removal. They deserve a little more respect. Oh and fixed the sitting on chicks issue you seem to have.

Well it’s official unfortunately!! Tumblebug, the 2nd last Huss ride at LPS, a Huss Troika model, is being dismantled and removed from the park. A unique ride in Australia, hopefully this is replaced with a similar family friendly ride that still delivers a good amount of thrills. RIP Tumblebug

Great review as always Gazza!! After our Florida trip in 2017, Japan had firmed as our next overseas destination. COVID has put those plans back of course but we will wait and see what will occur. My son and I have sketched out a fairly decent park run that was always going to include Tokyo Disney , DisneySea, Universal Studios, Fuji Q and Nagashima Spa land as the must do's. Giving ourselves 3 weeks to start with so that we can take in cultural sites and tourist hot spots, is there anything you would add to the list as a must do?

If you are asking why to that series of pictures, really think you have stumbled onto the wrong site..........

Rainbow perhaps??? Would love that, if it is true!

Thanks for the pics mate. Its certainly quite an operation to get the ride from one end of the park to the road! The park has supplied the information also that the Powersurge will be replacing the ride. Just to clarify , this will be only a temporary ride install- the Powersurge is owned by Joylands. After its tenure at LPS has finished , it will return to the show circuit. What will be the permanent replacement for Moon Ranger has yet to be released. Also if you are on Facebook, this is being discussed quite heavily on the group Lost Amusement Parks of Sydney and NSW. If you would like to join then any and all are welcome. https://www.facebook.com/groups/348435523186489/permalink/373056220724419/?comment_id=373244937372214

Look I have a LOT of love and affection for this ride. I agree 100% here- at Luna Park as Big Dipper it certainly seemed to ride far smoother than what it currently has degenerated to. The whole experience at LPS was far superior than at Dreamworld IMHO. The operations of the ride seemed to always be so much faster at LPS and the lines , whilst quite long, always seemed to move consistently. Maybe this is because of a far better queue experience than the godawful current roundhouse experience provides. I rode it at Dreamworld just after it was installed and it rode ok. The last time I rode it was in January of this year , with my kids first ever ride on it. It was also my first experience with the new (ish) replacement trains. My thoughts were at the time that the over the shoulder vest harness was definitely superior to the old Arrow OTSH but the train itself didnt really add anything extra in advantage over the Arrow units. Was it rough? Yes it certainly was. Did it dull my enjoyment of the ride? In reality no it didnt. My wife and daughter commented quite clearly on how rough the ride was ( my wife having ridden the coaster with me in all its incarnations certainly was quite vocal on the subject ) and I do remember thinking that it certainly was rougher than any time I could previously remember. However, the ride remains for me, a coaster that offers good thrills, is quite a substantial coaster in the scheme of Australian coasters and at the moment, it really is an important ride for Dreamworld to retain. Since the advent of Whitewater World, it has integrated into the landscape far better with the slide tower and swooping low over the park, providing excellent kinetic energy from the park and the highway as you pass. Visually it still looks quite impressive , especially passing from the highway and the new paintjob looks like it has brought it up a treat! If Dreamworld fixes the useless and redundant queue area in its current form and replace it with something more simplistic then I feel that this would improve the overall experience of the ride immensely.

Well there is some positivity for you.......do you have insider knowledge on it being ironclad that it WILL not eventuate? I agree that it is unlikely but I also never say never.........

This is really great news! The Sunshine Coast is screaming for this type of facility and I predict that it will do very well indeed once it is fully built and realised. Having holidayed on the Sunshine Coast earlier this year, having this type of attraction would complement the other 2 big attractions of the area - Aussie World and Australia Zoo. This would certainly give Australians a huge boost in wanting to visit the area and having a viable alternative to the hustle and bustle of the Gold Coast for a different , more relaxed experience. Looking at the plans, it seems a decent waterpark with a Lazy river complex that surrounds the park ( what a great idea- I am looking at you Wet 'N"Wild Sydney!!) other attractions such as an Octo Racer, Flatline Loop, Tube slides, possibly a hydrocoaster and a Tornado installation. There is also a Double Fowrider, the obligatory kids slide complex , hot tubs and spa and a swim up bar. This is the most exciting part of the whole complex and plan, for mine. This is to be a Australian first and the website states: It must be noted that this is incorporated into Stage 2 , so there is a bit of work to get through before this becomes a reality - but wow- it certainly looks like fun and something that will definitely drive high interest in the place as a massive point of difference from your run of the mill water park. More power to them and after years of stagnation and promises, lets all hope that this moves along quite quickly- they have stated that work could begin as early as late 2020. This is the shot in the arm that the region needs and its hopefully a very bright spot in anotherwise terrible year for announcements.

Darkhorizons has reported the following terrible news for Disney team members. "Around 28,000 staff members at Walt Disney’s theme parks have been laid off according to Disney’s parks chief Josh D’Amaro. The cuts will come at all levels although two-thirds of the hit will fall on part-time workers. In a memo to employees, D’Amaro called the move painful and said it’s one Disney had hoped to avoid. But as the COVID crisis dragged on becoming more than a short-lived phenomenon, that became unsustainable Disney Parks worldwide shuttered in March. Many are open again now but at reduced capacity, including Disney World in Orlando. Disneyland in Anaheim remains closed. Disney will be scheduling appointments with affected salaried and non-union hourly employees over the next few days. They’re also discussing next steps with unions right now. Parks have traditionally made up one third of Disney’s total revenue – most of which are from U.S. locations." The global pandemic and its impacts are being felt by even the biggest of companies. More than ever, as things hopefully get closer to normal, we need to get out and support our local parks and industry.