Jobe

The park map that has been updated to show the new Velocity Falls precinct is now available on the Jamberoo website. Interestingly, the names of the individual 2 attractions have now been revealed- the Stinger, which is the trap door slides and the imaginatively named Octo, for the new 8 lane racing mat slides. Not yet sure of the timeline for the opening of these new attractions , but hopefully it is by early to mid January.

What? Forever? This doesn’t sound right!! I question this that a brand new ride will not be run to its full potential.

It’s very interesting. I think there is more interest in WHERE this ride will go than the actual ride itself! At the end of the day , we can only trust the info we have received. I have now heard it from 2 sources but until it’s announced officially, there is always going to be that sliver of doubt. Even though the ride is a massive one trick pony, I am glad that it appears to be staying in Australia and the positive implications this has for the industry as a whole. This means that some regional park will be gaining a quantum leap in ride offering. Be it Gumbuya, Funfields, Adventure Park or even LPM, this is a pretty savvy purchase and it’s mere presence at any of these parks will generate positive public perception.

I have just had it confirmed from another source that has always been reliable for me that Buzzsaw is indeed staying in Australia and that the park is not in QLD. I think Gumbuya is looking pretty good at this point!!

Yeah it was unfortunately. It was placed out the back with Space Probe and neither were ever seen again.

It’s not a Huss.

Interestingly, Jags Journeys’s on Facebook are suggesting that Buzzsaw has been bought by a park in Australia. If this is true and 100% legit, care to speculate on exactly where it will be heading? Who wants to lay some bets? If it’s true my money is on Gumbyah World. Dark horse? Luna Park Melbourne!! Bets are now OPEN!! 😂

They do. They have to. There are heritage orders on. It’s and the operators must maintain both rides.

Sorry Gazza I should have clarified. Bridges are the old school name for the theming or facade for a ride. In the above pictures that I posted, the large Tumblebug figure over the Traver ride and the extensive Ghost Train "theming" on top of the building itself are all considered classic bridges. They have nothing to do with actual bridges you cross however simply refer to the thematic elements that "bridge" the experience from the normal and the mundane to the beginning and end of the ride event. I guess this is where immersive theming began and rides such as these from where Walt Disney took his inspiration from ( such as Tivoli Gardens in Denmark) and then broadened and expanded the experience with the examples of the Disney like theming we have today.

The lack of theming and bridges and facades for the new generation of rides is certainly disappointing. Here are a few pictures of scenes from Luna Park highlighting the absolutely brilliant theming that was created circa 1935. No wonder the older generation of visitors always remark on how Luna Park had charm and evoked such strong memories. Below is excellent examples of the Ghost Train facade. If this was built today we would all be marvelling at it!! This provides such an evokative atmosphere and strong impression of the ride before you have even entered the queue area. The Goofy House, an opening day attraction , was transformed over the years into The Hall of Science and .... The Mystic East and was also briefly The Model Electric City before finally settling on its final transformation as Davy Jones Locker. Note that the same building was pretty utilisied for all these attractions over the years, with some additions. A simple windmill as shown here is one of the more remembered and effective pieces of theming to grace Luna Park- this was installed in 1935 and was finally removed in 1981- a testament to its build quality of the time. Several rare shots of the interior of the River Caves scenes!! It highlights the artistry of the day and how effective it was in creating the mood that has given so many people such strong and vivid memories of this ride. Even a simple game stand has been elevated with the use of theming as its backdrop for the Lets Duk Sweetie location. Everything was recycled or reused at Luna Park as the giant fish backdrop from the Lets Duk Sweetie stand also had another life as a photo location and band stop. An elaborate bridge such as this elevates a simple Octopus ride into the fearsome Spider - one of Luna Park's fondly remembered rides. One of my favourite pieces of theming- the original Tumblebug. This was recreated for the 1995 opening and the reimagining of the ride but was sadly removed for the 2004 reopening when the 'Bug was moved onto the Big Dipper site. A rare pic showing the intricate work that went into the Big Dipper and River Caves mountain. What did a giant pelican have to do with a ride called the U drive? Nothing but it sure made it memorable- the beak opened and closed as it sat there daring people to come and drive. And finally here is a picture of @joz and @rappa moaning about the galvanised fence on the new Big Dipper........ In all seriousness though, as can be seen by 6 or so pictures, there is a reason why the Luna Park of yesteryear had so much charm and evoked such strong memories in a generation of people who visited over the years. The park in all likelihood will never have the same level of immersiveness that the original park did, but it must make a far better effort to restore the charm that has been lost. The Volare and the Helter Skelter area are definitely a good start and are wonderful examples of what can be done if mind and method are one and the approach is focused. I am willing to give Luna Park some leeway in allowing them to grow the theming and allow them to finish the job before I pass judgement. Fingers crossed that the execution is far improved from what we have seen so far and that adequate gives way to amazing and brilliant and allows each ride to be remembered for its intial impression and aesthetic in each visitors memorybank. To do so would be the overarching win for the park. I live in hope that this occurs in some way.

I think its safe to say that what we are ending up with for the expansion insofar as theming can at best be described as barely adequate. What must be remembered here is that the main person for planning this expansion, Brad Loxely, left 12 months before the actual announcement and the final plans. I know for a fact that several designs that he chose , including names for rides had been changed after he left the business. This includes the selection of the Intamin Hot Racer, which i think we can all agree , is not a bad thing, considering that the option chosen was a custom layout Eurofighter. However, having been privy to some of the designs and names that were originally planned, it is frustrating to see a lack of sympathetic theming and nods to the past in what we have ended up with. I am willing to reserve judgment on the Big Dipper, queue, station and wall as it is obviously still being constructed and could well recieve painting or murals more sympathetic to the moorish theming of the entrance. I can add though, that the original planner Brad has expressed frustrations with the final execution and the loss of some of his thematic elements that had planned for each and every ride. The first lost opportunity for mine has been the generic naming for the majority of the rides - some of them are simply uninspiring! and the lack of bridges that hopefully can be added in the near future. We do have to celebrate the fine additions that have been added and the sense of joy and excitement for when they finally open. Fingers crossed that better thematic elements and better assimilation of queues into the Luna Park aesthetic can still occur.

Hmmmm Seaworld- Unfortunately we have had to suspend and significantly defer opening of the final 2 rides in our Atlantis precinct- specifically the Trident Starflyer and Leviathan wooden coaster. This is due to COVID related issues that have contributed to the delay. It has been completely unavoidable. Luna Park Sydney- Hang on. Hold my beer. Gears up to reopen an entirely new ,refurbished precint totalling 9 new rides, 3 new coasters, on time and on budget. 😆

https://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/ny-australia-amusement-park-body-shaming-weight-children-20210929-pcspbvpxezennpvvl7qj2ut4ea-story.html?fbclid=IwAR2m7Hcab594PGTAG1_zwt3n2FoA0AqIybTGn7gMY4RrIYW7RPFiFH2dJyw Adventure World has made the international press now for all the wrong reasons..........

Make it happen!! Whilst we are there let’s combine a new River Caves with a Dark horror shooting ride. No Noise complaints then!!

Firstly, sorry mate IMHO this is a terrible idea. This is an historic ride- one of only 3 surviving Wooden Wild Mouse in the world. As such, this ride is now protected by a heritage order and the owner of Luna Park has to ensure its upkeep, general maintenaince and surety that it will not be moved. It is part of the Luna Park site act and is heritage listed along with Coney Island, the Towers and Face, The Crystal Palace and the Rotor. It is not going anywhere and thats a good thing.

I have been on a *few* coasters 😉 in my time, although (other than SLC's) none that the original poster has stated in his list-either underrated or overrated. I guess that rating a coaster is a uniquely personal thing and is highly subjective with lots of parameters- where you sat, what time of the day the ride occured, what were the weather conditions etc. Everyone can have a different experience and and thats what makes the world tick. However, from what I have seen, there are certainly coasters out there that most people have universally bad experiences or opinions of and there is yet again some that garner almost universal praise. These lists are highly personal and also subject to the natural bias's that can affect us all. In saying that, I have seen very very few reviews that rate Phantoms Revenge at Kennywood or Phoenix at Knoebels as overrated coasters-for mine they are bucket list rides and ones that i cannot wait to have a go at some time in our post pandemic future!

This has been exactly my point all along thanks. The spin that we have been told then that this is official Gerstlauer recommendations seems like it is just that- spin doctor and deflection. It never felt right to me. Cheers for clearing this up.

So just to be clear- it appears that the weight requirements of Abyss that have now been put in place have NOT been there since Day One? Thats quite contrary to what has been espoused as reasons for it being introduced- ie that this requirement has ALWAYS been there. If that was the case then this would have been presented in previous ride info- which this clearly does not show. So we have to ask- is the spin we have been told that this is a requirement from Gerstlauer 100% correct or has something happened to the ride to change that recommendation. I cannot get my head around the fact that this has been stated as a recommendation from Gerstlauer and this is a reflection of their engineering standards. Surely any coaster or manufacturer would ensure their rides are OVER engineered to ensure that it can function safely with well over the stresses that a full loadout of 8 fully grown adults in their cars would be possible. If not then what has occured to make that change? An issue with the ride itself? Or pressure from outside sources? Government agencies? Safety audits? Insurance companies? This action throws up quite a lot of questions about this ride, especially since these have not applied to any other coaster in the world, let alone another Eurofighter.

This is exactly the idea and vibe I was going for when thinking this proposal through. The HVG is already a succesful attraction in its own right- it attracts families and tourists alike. Now my scenario as a hypothetical is unrealistic and they would never install that many coasters and attractions all at once. However, HVG already has a small ride element and have dipped their toe in the water for this type of attraction. Its not inconceivable that this could grow organically , with the park adding 2 or three attractions every 18 months as it grows and expands. The aesthetic I was thinking of is definitely Efteling , Tivli Gardens or even Alton Towers, which are all succesful amusement parks that grew out of an existing attraction. I have also given thought to the pricing structure as well. I feel that since the Gardens are already on a gated pricing structure, once more attractions are added then a wristband fee for the rides would be the best option. This way you can still have people pay to enjoy the Gardens without having a price increase to enjoy rides that they may or may not want to particpate in.

The railway sidings are Crown land and for any land to be given to Luna Park would take a change of the land usage in order to do so. The life of the sidings is still an issue as well- they are integrated into the Sydney network and are utilised regularly for overflow capacity etc. They still have a life of at least 10 years according to Sydney .Also a public interest gropu has designs on the corridor and has garnered a lot of interest and support for what is called the Sydney Highline project. Its conceivable that Luna Park could be gifted a parcel of the land and still have the Highline project in place but this would be years away before it could be really looked at. I am guessing that there would also be opposition from nearby residents as well who mostly desire to keep the green corridor intact and not see it eaten up by amusement attractions and additions to Luna Park- which will also cause aesthetic , noise and light complaints, not to mention issues with line of sight interrupting views. North Sydney Pool is an icon and will always remain so. Luna Park and the pool have a close relationship. There is no way that Luna Park will ever own North Sydney Pool.

Luna Park is not allowed to put any rides there under the Luna Park Site act. Its not designated as an area for rides and amusements. Luna Park did look at a DA for changing this to a mixed use of small non permanent rides , however this was met with fierce resident opposition and the desire for it to remain a green space was very strong. Because of this, Luna Park withdrew the DA for this and it will remain as a green space with a Marquee as an outdoor space for picnics, and coporate space. Buzzsaw is not a ride that is conducive for the Luna Park site. Even if it was a new build, it would not be considered due to its height, aesthetic and noise.

Well. I just want to re-emphasise this very cogent point. I don’t really have much to add. I just wanted to quote you here because I want your extreme levels of imbalance, immaturity and plain whack job nastiness to be preserved for all prosperity You sir have won the internet for me today. Thank you for actually making me laugh out loud after reading your reply. Classic. Now can we get back on topic? Cheers!!

Wonderland Eurasia ( as Anka Park opened as) failed not because of the ride choices. It failed due to a number of reasons- political unrest over the massive cost blowouts of the park ( reputed to have cost $750 million at conservative estimates), due to the unrest over this there was a change in political leadership which tried to reign in the costs before the park had even opened, poor construction values which left many attractions simply not available to be ready for opening day and lack of support from the local population against the cost of the project, when all most of them wanted was funds directed towards basic infrastructure like water and sewage than an overblown expensive theme park. Comparing this failure to a plan for a medium sized regional park in Australia is simply not like for like and quite silly to even begin to go down tht route. Here is an example of your inconsistency. Here you are claiming that the ride choices in the hypotheticals are not name brands. In other words, manufacturers that people have heard of. Or rides that other parks would purchase. Yes? However, several posters (including myself) have already pointed out to you that the manufacturers selected are indeed well known and are very succesful in the industry. Yes the coasters selected are not top tier, but that was deliberate and explained in the original post. All of these rides, especially the flat rides selected, have multiple installations across the world in many and varied amusement/theme parks across the globe. Again , something that simply cannot be refuted. And yet here you are trying to defend your previous assertion. Once again this is not fact but your own opinion. An opinion that I happend to believe is wrong. And I am not alone in that feeling. I am really not sure what you are trying to say here. Its very convoluted and smacks of backpedaling. I think you need to have a bex and a lie down, to be honest. Especially at your age. Once again. If you had prefaced your post with an "in my opinion" and toned down the arrogance a notch , then we wouldnt be having an issue. I explained that the coasters chosen WERE not from Top Tier manufacturers for a reason. Everyone seemed to be able to absorb that fact and accept it. And I refute your opinions that the coasters are terrible choices. Yes they are not RMC or B&M's. Deliberate and stated in the discussion. Whats your problem with the new Vekoma Inverts? By all accounts they are excellent rides and would form the centrepiece and signature ride of the park. If it opened tomorrow, it would immediately become a top tier coaster for Australia. The Zamperla Lightning has had its issues, I accept that. By all accounts they can be rough. Opinion is mixed on these. However, they are a good layout ( you as much admitted that ) and the new gen trains should make the experience a far better one. It would still be a compelling coaster for the Australian market if installed. There have been several installtions of this type in parks around the world, so its hard to call the model a failure. Similarly , the Zamperla Motocoaster also has several installations around the world. Yes , once again , its not the most well regarded coaster model out there, but it does have its fans and it offers a launch coaster that families can all ride at an economical price. The general public I think would find this a fun coaster. The P&B is selected as family coaster. Nothing more. Its interest lies in the fact that it is a moebius duelling coaster and the install that has been placed at the park in Italy looks great. The Technical Park water coaster I selected as the park needed a water flume ride and this was different than just a bog standard log flume. The example shown has excellent theming and is located in a smaller regional park in Italy , very similar in scope to what its purpose would be here. The Zierer ESC have proven very successful and are excellent mid sized family coasters. @Noxegon has already attested to their excellent rideability and his opinion is far more respected and definitely one I would put above yours. Once again, I think that these rides present well. Ha yeah I only included it as it looked interesting . Fair call lets remove this one from the list! The Cance Hyper GTX does look like a good ride and by all accounts it has a lot of fans amongst enthusiasts. I had toyed with the idea of selecting this and I will give you this one. My only concern is that it has been available for a number of years and in all that time, only ONE park has selected it for an install. Thats despite it getting excellent reviews. For my hypothetical situation,lets select this one instead of the Reverchon Drifting Coaster. In regards to the flat rides I selected ( of which you only had criticism, sweeping statements and no real constructive feedback, they are my personal choices on what I would select if i had the decision. I have selected them deliberately and in my mind they offer an excellent balance of thrills, family rideability and enough uniqueness in the Australian theme park landscape as to make the HVG a sought after destination for these rides. Happy to hear other ideas from anyone but to say they are crap without any real analysis or expansive thinking just highlights the arrogance you came swinging in with. To this end I stand by my choices. Your opinion. Nothing more. The rudeness , as has been amply pointed out by several respected posters in this thread, started when you entered the conversation. I have been measured and calm in my response as I do not believe in histronics on a forum board. You say you are nearly 50, however your responses so far have been at the maturity level of someone far below that lofty age claim. I am no giddy , unexperienced 16 year old , nor am I as old as you , however I recognise arrogance and rudeness when it is presented and I will not let it go without calling it out. If you wish to dial back the arrogance, the sweeping statements and the overall shitposting, then I am happy to interact with you on the boards, as I am with anyone. I feel you do have good knowledge and some great life experiences to relate if only you could access more social ettiquette. Amen to that! So if we replaced the Reverchon Drifting Coaster with a Chance Hyper GTX this would then give the HVG a total of 7 coasters (admittedly not Top Tier) but would give it arguably behind Movie World the best 3, 2 1 coaster punch in all of Australia currently. The Vekoma Invert is a class attraction followed by an enthusiast favourite in the Chance Hyper GTX and the Zamperla Lightning with the next gen trains. The other coasters provide a good backup to these 3 coasters, arguably the best supporting coaster lineup in Australia currently. If the HVG was to open this park with this hypothetical coaster and flat ride lineup, would this be enough for any of you to immediately want to come and visit it? Curious to see if this would be a compelling park line up as to make Australian want to travel to visit it?

Mate if you are going to post rubbish or opinions that contradict other posts you have made expect to be called out on it. If this is your reaction then its a really immature one, given your years. As for calling me a troll, well that couldnt be further from the truth. I have been on these boards for a long time, longer than you in fact and my reputation speaks for itself. I am happy to listen to anyones opinion and always treat it with respect unless it is just plain incorrect. Most posters get my respect straight away and there are others who have been here for some time and who I know are quite knowledgeable and can communicate easily without resorting to plain arrogance.You have already been called out by several of these respected posters quite eloquently so I think that the term troll really sits comfortably with you at this point in time. Happy to just leave it at that.

Really?? Zamperla? After you trashed them in another thread??