Jobe

To be truthful, I would not be overly concerned if SeaViper WERE pulled down. But in order for me to be entirely comfortable with the idea there would have to be some guarantee that it would be replaced with a coaster of similar or greater height and thrills. This of course would be problematic, given the height restrictions placed upon Seaworld. ( Can anyone give any more background info on why these restrictions are in place?) Of course, I also agree with AlexB's assessment for the decision to retain the ride and administer the repairs instead of replacement. The ride IS an icon of Seaworld, was Australia's first triple looping coaster, and has earnt its place in Australia's themepark history. It does deserve to stay. However, these repairs may only extend the lifespan of the ride by another 10 years. This would give Seaworld time to remove the ride on their terms and in their timeframes and would also allow for timely planning on the eventual replacement.

No. You specifically targeted The Scenic Railway as being an example of bad upkeep for a wooden Roller coaster. You cited that you have seen rotting timbers on the ride. I and RichardWilliamCollins disputed your claim. At NO time did you mention the park as a whole or even the Metropolis , as stated in your last post. The fact is that The Scenic Railway is NOT in the poor condition that you claim. We have both given you many examples of why it isnt in this state and we have our own observations to back this up. Please do not try to backtrack and cloud the issue. You made a statement. It has been refuted. Now if you believe that you are right then so be it. I cannot alter this. But I have put forward my own opinion and arguments backing this up as I firmly believe you are wrong in this instance.

Hmmm Green Lantern is basically a carpark coaster?? I need some clarification here methinks. Are you stating that because of the location of Green Lantern (next to the exisiting carpark) that it is to be downgraded and dismissed as a "cheap" carpark coaster? Does this defintion include Cyclone at Dreamworld, as has been pointed out by Gazza? If Dreamworld were to build a B&M giga coaster that went around the existing carpark would that then by definition, make this a carpark coaster?? I am struggling to understand the point you are trying to make by labelling Green Lantern this way. If you are just seeking to downgrade Green Lantern as a carnival ride then I am afraid you could not be further from the truth. Green Lantern is a great ride by international standards, has garnered a lot of positive attention for MW and is a fantastic addition to MW's ride lineup.

I am not disputing the fact that you may have seen some evidence of weathering in the Scenic Railway.I am still, however, calling this exaggeration on your part. What I dont think you understand is that this IS a 100 year old ride located in a seaside suburb right next to the ocean. It is quite understandable that there would be deterioration observable in some part along the length of the ride. This would be normal in a 20 or 30 year old wooden coaster in this same position, let alone one that is close to celebrating its centenary!!! A Wooden coaster, as has been pointed out many times on these boards, are quite maintenance and labour intensive throughout the course of their lifespan. What I do find distateful, is the fact that you cite this ONE unconfirmed incident as an example of the park letting the Scenic Railway fall into disrepair. This is most certainly NOT the case. As I have pointed out to you on a number of occasions, there are several governing bodies which simply would NOT allow this ride to fall into the state you have described. Dreamland Margate in the UK has asked and been given copies of the original blueprints for the Railways trains to replace their own which were lost in a tragic fire. The Scenic Railway's trains themselves have undergone intensive restoration quite recently and the park itself is committed to continually working on and restoring the the park's historic items. Do these actions sound like a park that would let one of their major historical drawcards fall into a state of disrepair?? I think not. LPM's Scenic Railway will continue to be the vitally important historic icon that it has become for many generations to follow and enjoy. Exactly. I neither saw any evidence of a state of decay or disrepair or general lack of caring...in fact as you state quite the opposite!! The ride was looking excellent, the paintwork was looking quite good, the station I thought looked absolutely exceptional!! Of course this was 6 months ago when I last visted but I hardly think that conditions could have changed to the "reported" sad state of affairs in that short amount of time.

In my experience no Richard. Of course that all depends on your definition of "notable injury". I have never heard of anything like this occuring where there has been a significant injury. Not that I am claiming to have encyclopaedic knowledge of injuries caused by rides but I think that I would remember if it did occur....it would be a fairly notable case.

Supports rotted through?? This is complete exaggeration!! I was last in the park 6 months ago and I can assure you that the fairly recent restoration of the ride has left it in excellent working order. I most certainly did not see ANY "rotting supports" and would reasonably assume that the Scenic Railway would not be functioning if they were. Safety inspections would deem this as being totally unfit for opening if this were indeed the case. The Scenic Railway is the jewel in LPM's crown and historically, is one of the most important coasters in the world. LPM management, The Victorian Government nor the Friends Of Luna Park would never,ever let the ride fall into the state of decay that you described. Baseless exaggerations like this serve no purpose.

Given the information that BemaniAK has already imparted in this thread about his occupation and his speciality in internet security,has it not occured to you that just maybe he has heard or is intimately familiar with programs like these?? Just asking............ Then again if you did, you may be forced to admit to yourself that MAYBE he has a lot more knowledge in this area than you do.............Just saying.

Congratulations Wycenuros!! Another generation of theme park enthusiasts is born!!

By all accounts a GCI Big Fun are great to ride and a very decent ride. If DW or MW can pick up a decent coaster for $3million why is this seen as a barrier for them to get one?? That's a ridiculous argument. Besides i think you will find that $ 3million would be out of reach for Aussie World at this present time. That represents a very large investment on one attraction for a park of its size and capabability. Maybe in 5 years time... Good wooden coasters provide some of the best experiences going- you obviously have not ridden a world class wooden coaster. When you do I think that you will find that you will change your tune. Bush Beast at Wonderland ( by no means being a world class ride) was the one of the most popular rides in the park. I think your perception of the public and wooden coasters is waaay of the mark. Scenic Railway is not falling apart due to lack of upkeep at all. It is a heritage listed attraction. It has a caveat on it that states it must be kept to a certain standard. LPM are continually doing work on the ride and as you can imagine, it is a upkeep intensive ride ( Name a 1911 original ride that isnt!!). They have done some sterling work on the track and supports and the trains have recently had a face lift. Scenic Railway will continue to thrill the young and old for many years to come- it and the Carousel are the jewel in LPM's crown. Just recently, they gifted copies of the schematics of the trains to Dreamland in Margate , to aid in their restoration and rebuild of the UK's oldest rollercoaster. To say that it is falling apart is entirely innacurate.

As has been stated, there is absolutely zero chance of the Palais theatre being demolished to make extra room for LPM. It is heritage listed and an extremely important part of the fabric of Melbourne. Wouldnt even be contemplated..not a very well thought out suggestion, sorry. I agree with you 100% about Railchase- this SHOULD have been picked up by one of our Luna Parks..it would have been a great addition to either of these parks. Metropolis is old..it really needs to go. There are PLENTY of other compact coasters that would fit well in this footprint. Hell, even a GCI woodie to hearken back to the days of the original Big Dipper would be great- put in a River Caves dark ride under it as well and you have 2 great modern attractions that bring the best of the old in with the new..win win!! I do not think that this is the pervading opinion regarding Cyclone. It is not a bad coaster at all- and as Original has pointed out, is far more effective now that it travels through and around Whitewaterworld. I DO find laughable the queue line- it is ridiculous and absolutely irrelevant. This needs to be changed I believe. Add in another train or better unload/load times ( it was run far better at LPS ) and this would help its reputation immensely!! Great post Keadz!! I am a very vocal and great supporter of both Luna Parks and their place in Australian Theme Park history- I firmly believe that they must be retained and enhanced in order to survive. Neither will ever challenge the Gold Coast parks for sheer thrills or size but they remain extremely precious due to the attachment that people have to them. In regards to LPM I agree- it needs to be gutted bar the heritage listed items. Sure it is not a big park, but as Gazza has pointed out many times, size is really no obstacle to puttting in some world class attractions. Lynsday Fox promised so much when he bought the site and has delivered nothing....a bit of investment and a bit of vision ( See Aussie World) would see LPM rise from the ashes. Hopefully, something will occur soon!!

I think calling for Cyclone's removal is extremely premature and calling it boring is a massive exaggeration!! I agree!! One of these coasters would be a perfect fit for Eurekas footprint, and as you say Gazza, easily themed to a indoor mine cart. This would also be an Australian first and could be a quite decent addition to Dreamworld's lineup. My preference would be a Maurer Sohne model such as Alton Tower's Spinner and I would have really preferred if one of the Luna Parks had picked one of these up first, but I would be extremely content if it replaced Eureka. Great choice.

Dreamworld needs a good solid addition to bring back the attention on itself from Movieworld. The most effective way to do this would be to introduce a "first of its type in Australia" ride. Like DjRappa said, it does not have to be a world record breaker, but a decent FULL circuit coaster. I would favour a flying coaster but a standup , floorless or hyper with great airtime would work just as well!! Of course, the introduction of a large new woodie would also make people sit up and take notice!! A Kingda Ka clone would be too cost prohibitive and I reckon there are far better options for less money! Hopefully they also decide to do something with the Eureka Mine car site and soon. A replacement ride for this section and then a larger coaster addition 12-18 months on would go a long way with restoring Dreamworld's reputation!! Lets hope they do not take Movieworlds's challenge lightly!!! The next 12 months will be a critical time in Dreamworlds life....and this makes it very interesting times for enthusiasts like us!!

I have to agree with this. The idea of a regular "seasonally themed" late night event is quite a good one. These could initially be used to gauge the interest in regular late night Friday or Saturdays like AlexB talked about above. Our parks tend to lag behind overseas parks in this regard- extended hours well into the night is a common event and one that I feel would be welcome by the public at large!!! Imagine starting your day at one of the GC parks and finishing it well into the evening after a big day experiencing all the park has to offer. It works well for both Luna Parks and the ambience to be experienced at night would be brilliant!!! ( I actually prefer to vist LPS in the afternoon and experience it on a hot balmy Saturday evening with the lights and the atmosphere- you cannot beat it!!) I feel that it is just a matter of time before one of our parks goes down this route- and this will change the themepark landscape in Australia dramatically!! The average punter will feel like they are getting bigger bang for their dollar and the value perception will change enormously-if I had to choose between MW that shuts at 5pm or DW that shuts at say 10pm, I know which one I would choose- everytime!! I certainly hope an initiative like this will happen very soon-it will be a winner!!

RichardWilliamCollins I certainly did not forget Ghost Hunters at Segaworld. I think it has already been established that it really bears nothing in common with the Justice League Alien Attack Ride except for the fact that they both have shooting elements. I was really referring to it being an Australian 1st because of the manufacturer and type of ride-.ie this will be the first Sallycorp dark shooter in Australia. Hope that clarifies this for you. I agree that Railchase should have been picked up by either Luna Parks- it would have been perfect fit for either!! I only visited Segaworld once and rode it and found it an enjoyable ride. Its a shame that this ride was removed from the country- is anyone sure of its eventual fate or resting place? AlexB I understand and actually agree with what you are trying to say. I did not , however support your personal attack on Wycenuros and thought it completely over the top. I didnt feel that what he said warranted the vitriol that you spouted. I am sure you could have got your point across without being so personal. To me, it was a transgression of the community guidelines, and I am completely surprised that a moderator didnt pull you up on it. To me, this is far more important than highlighting any "spelling errors" which is usually jumped on at every opportunity and really only serves to add fuel to the concept that there are people on this board more equal than others. I do not have any personal issues with you at all,you are obviously very intelligent and knowledgable, but I do not like seeing anyone getting bullied or receiving unwarranted nastiness. I hope you can see where I am coming in regards to this.

All the more reason for them to sort the situation out Reanimated!! You would like to think that given the situation you described being as bad as it is, that with the strategic planning for Justice League Alien Attack that SOME consideration would be given to queue placement and the potential impacts on nearby attractions.

Thanks for this guys....the only info I have is what I have read rather than real life experiences..Good stuff!!! VERY excited now!! Should be a blast!!

Joz I totally agree. I was a pretty vocal opponent of MW closing LTRR and BTR together without replacement. It is indeed gratifying to see the superb plans that they now have with the Justice League dark ride. This will be a family friendly, totally re-rideable and overall excellent addition to the park. I am sure that whatever plans are in store for the LTRR site that they will be well considered and will equally blow our minds. In short I have had my faith renewed and its great to see MW come back with an Australian first. Not having been on any ride such as this, can anyone who has give us some insight as to how they stack up as an attraction?? I am pretty sure that they will sort this situation out- lets wait and see the finished product and queue placement before we jump the gun!!

Anyway back on topic and back to serious matters!! This is a brilliant announcement from Movieworld and one that will be a welcome addition to its attraction lineup!! It will be interesting to see what Dreamworld will come up with to combat this new ride!! Whatever it is , it means that the bar has been raised yet again for the Gold Coast theme parks, and that can only be a good thing!! Excellent!!

Wow!! I am sorry but I have to say this.... The arrogant, self important twat tag could EASILY be pointed at you!! Who the fuck do you think you are!! Honestly!!

Its strange. I havent been on Arkham yet ( and probably wont for quite a while) but I never had that many issues riding it when it was Lethal. I never experienced headaches or even bad head banging. However, people I have rode with at the time complained of those very symptoms!! I am not an overly tall person , so you can definitely say it was not due to height!! My interest is piqued to ride Arkham to experience these issues for myself!! And for the record, I reckon Wipeout is much more constricting than Bounty's Revenge ever was--hell the Moon Ranger at LPS also rates higher on the squeezometer!!!

*head slap*

I have a feeling that this will be similar to the Dinosaurs Alive exibition( It could even be by the same company) that was at LPS in the Big Top over the Xmas holidays. There were 11 animatronic dinosaurs with their own display area and themeing. They were actually pretty good!! It was very popular with families and entry to the exhibition was free with a full ride pass!! I expect the Seaworld one to be expanded on the one shown at LPS. I think this will be a good interim attraction for the park. The Lighthouse area is severely underutilised and as most people with kids will tell you- Dinosaurs are insanely popular!!! Well done Seaworld!!!

Great find!! I didnt know this existed!! Its rare to see a video of the park from the '95 incarnation!! Brilliant!! Its a shame that it was not left to develop because of the complaints from the residents- this would NOT happen now as the laws for this type of complaint have been changed under State law- in essence LPS COULD have another coaster in the park and it would be their perfect legal right to do so!! Unfortunately, the park shut again after all the bad publicity from the residents after only one short year!! Given LPS popularity now, this incarnation of the park would have been well recieved and well patroned- they had plans to build a River Caves ride under the Big Dipper slab itself.....*sigh* now that would have been a welcome return!!! Oh what could have been....

Agreed that LPM (and LPS for that matter!!) could be a whole LOT better that in their current states!! However I find it surprising that Scenic Railway was in the condition that you described. She has just recently finished a fairly intensive refit ( to fit in with Heritage conditions) and has been reported to be in good running order. The Power Surge was a temporary holiday ride and is a travelling unit and therefore not LPM's responsibilty.

Thanks Joz. Whilst they aren't huge obstacles for the re-opening of the Train as a ride, it DOES seem to point to the park not having any real intention of ever doing so. The question to ask, I suppose is why? These obstacles (The fencing, the small areas of concreting, the shed) are all brought about by the Park. If they were ever serious about keeping the Train as an attraction, surely the Park would have ensured that its route was free to continue in this role?? As an aside Joz, do we also know of the fate of the train itself?? Is it still in Seaworld?? Perhaps under the Seaviper station??