Vidgamer

There has been a bit of discussion in another thread about Dreamworld and future plans and I thought considering we are spitballing ideas for Movieworld it would be a good idea to hypothesise about what Dreamworld could do with the significant amount of money they now have ($150 million) after selling the US assets which would bring the park back to fruition. I am a very keen believer that Dreamworld has essentially now refurbished most of their rides they are keeping and they are moving in a very positive trajectory but I think I would suggest the following (in this time frame) October 2022 - Announce ABC World Refurbishment with bluey licensing, 2 new rides, full area redo. Opening December 2023. Feb 2023 - Announce new family thrill ride (water coaster of some kind, family heavy in the area near Giant Drop & Steel Taipan. Opening June 2024. March 2024 - Announce new White Water World Slide Tower of Some Kind. Opening September 2024. (All this would essentially 'beat' Wizard of Oz land at Movieworld) March 2025 - Small further investment in wildlife area, (Not quite a future lab but smaller exhibits to then connect Wildlife closer in to the 'family thrill ride' I mentioned. Jan 2026 - Announce new form of thrill ride for opening in December 2026. Jan 2026 - Announce some new 'family splash pad' for White Water World to fill in the gap where the lazy river was going to go. Minor capex spend. I think this would be a pretty fiscally responsible plan and would expand the park and add to the offering, while also trying to balance family and thrill.

The DC Rivals brake run building looked to me like it had a queue line built into it, my speculation was that it was a Fright Nights maze.

The height restriction is very odd, Movieworld already increased the height requirement for Tijuana Taxis which seemed like a massive overexaggeration. I don't feel Road Runner is in for too much decrease though, the other 2 coasters will round out the day nicely for young kids (+ the new Marvin the Martian ride) so it really is just increasing the options for families.

Thank you! I can only access the article on my phone. Definitely looks like a suspended coaster.

Just getting article now - Opening 2024 - Two new rides (but really 3) - Wizard of Oz Precinct - "like nothing we've ever done before'" - new Marvin the Martian ride in Kids WB coming in 2023 "Gold Coast Theme Park Movieworld is taking a journey over the rainbow with plans for the world's first Wizard of Oz Roller-Coasters. Featuring two new rides, the Wizard of Oz Precinct is the theme park's first major addition in more than 5 years and comes with sister park Seaworld in the midst of a multi million dollar revamp for the New Artlantis Project. It will feature two family-friendly rides, including a multi launch coaster, capable of reaching speeds of almost 70 Km/h around a 454m track and a racing coaster where thrillseekers will travel simultaneously on two 220m tracks reaching speeds of up to 58KM/h. Height restrictions will apply but the rides are geared towards families and kids as young as five. Clark Kirby Quote "This precinct is going to be like nothing we have ever done at Movieworld and we are working closely with our partners to make this one of the most beautifully themed precincts in Australian theme parks. Crews have spent the last few weeks hauling away track and equipment to make way for the new Oz Precinct. Movieworld is also building a brand new kids ride in the Kids WB! Fun Zone in April 2023 featuring theming inspired by Marvin the Martian. Credit: Gold Coast Bulletin

I still think we'll find out about 11:00pm tonight when the Bulletin updates.

Generally the Gold Coast Bulletin gets the exclusive announcements for these so we could get more information tomorrow evening.

I am not 100% sure the coasters are confirmed, Gumbuya could have purchased the one destined for Movieworld.

I think we'll see what the announcements are, much has been made public of the new coasters but I would really like Movieworld to go down the route of turning that area into a new "precinct" (I am mindful of the danger in using this wording !!) If we look at Dreamworld they have the younger kids area, tween area (Madagascar) and then further thrill rides, Movieworld certainly has the young kids area but the Tween demographic isn't as well catered for, 3 coasters (and perhaps a public road map for a flat ride in 24/25 similar to Atlantis) would turn that whole area into a 4/5 ride space and would be a good idea. Two / Three coasters in isolation, not so much.

I felt it was a little smoother, but not a dramatic improvement. It was good to see all of the seats in action though.

I went to Movieworld today which is traditionally a bit of a 'no go' zone for our family during the holiday period but thought I would offer my reflections on how the day went. Firstly, Hypercoaster was running 2 trains and dispatches were quick, the operators were ready to go and the loaders grouped people quickly, cars were out to the overflow car park and yet wait times didn't exceed 60 minutes, except Scooby Doo at 75 minutes. In fact, rides like Looney Tunes and Green Lantern were running so quickly the wait times 'peaked' and then went down, which was really wonderful to see. Movieworld has made small changes to manage the crowds, the first 4D Movie Shows at 9:45am so when you walk in you aren't greeted with a crowd of people who are on Main St waiting to be let in, the characters were out in force, every where you looked there was characters and due to the 'not overly hot' weather the characters stayed out a long time, you could easily get photos with all of the characters you wanted to. The food store staff were quick, the rides were all operational (except Tweety and the Carousel) and it was actually one of the best days we've had at Movieworld since the last Hooray for Hollywood Event. The only thing I do miss from that event last year is the 'Hollywood' Stars on Main St as you walk up. I also did look back on Hypercoaster and Arkham is being dissembled, it is approximately 1/4 dismantled and they have started with the lift hill. As you come in from Hypercoaster it looked like they were building a queue area (Perhaps for a Fright Nights maze?)

Wet n Wild actually cycles the kids slides into 30 minute blocks during Winter and has done so for several years. It's certainly not the impact of Steel Taipan not opening until midday but it's definitely something that the parks have done before, sometimes i'm convinced VRTP just shuts rides for the day to save staffing it. I think shutting it down until 12 is quite reasonable for a week day, clearly they don't have the traffic to justify it being open and it extends the life of the ride, so it's actually quite strategic. By the time you get into the park during the week it's probably already 10:45am and grab a coffee, go on Shockwave/TheC Claw/ Dodgems and it's ready to open. Ardent have the upcoming sale of Main Event to prepare for as well, so I feel they are really 'gearing up' for that sale to occur and for the next investment in the park to be announced.

Does anyone knows the costs of the rides?

Dreamworld appears to have made a small change to their website to indicate the ride is now called the 'Motocoaster', dropping the Mick Doohan branding.

Personally I am a little skeptical that this isn't just the legacy building permit from when they redid the Lego Store at the end of last year. I also don't think there are any 'Lego Worlds' in any theme parks around the world, I believe they are all stand alone parks. Having said that, if this is true it's a home run for Dreamworld + Indoor attraction in the Big Red Car + Rebrand the wheel + Open a Lego cafe + Add some more toddler rides in (there are some really good toddler rides out now and a toddler sized rollercoaster similar to Spongebob at Seaworld) At the time the refurb was announced (I believe it was in a conference call in 2019) It was heavily rumoured that Bluey was part of the refurb.

We are locals and have annual passes to Movieworld and Dreamworld. I have just noticed that Dreamworld and Movieworld have both updated their terms and conditions to prohibit outside food being taken into the parks (sandwiches etc..), which makes the parks a lot more expensive for families. I am wondering if anyone else has noticed this subtle (but large) change and if it's something they can see Movieworld and Dreamworld continuing.

Movieworld has really stuffed this holiday period up, the Google reviews are scathing.

I feel they just forgot the NSW/VIC holidays only started this week. Originally the park was also going to close at 4 Monday to Friday next week which would have been a bad look for interstate visitors.

I thought I would add my thoughts on the event as I went last night with my family. Firstly, yesterday afternoon was very rainy on the Gold Coast and so we weren't sure if it was worth going but decided to proceed. We arrived at 5:00pm and there was no line and we seemed to have caught the closing the park crowd and arriving crowd so did well at timing. I had pre purchased the Street Food Festival and so I went to Main Street and redeemed my Tasting Trail pass ($35 for the 5 + 2). When we first walked in the park the Cubano and Smokehouse was replenishing food so we walked up and down main street for the first 20 minutes while food was restocked. My wife got an Ice Tea ($7.50 and you couldn't use your annual pass discount) and I got a Strawberry Daquiri (with the tasting trail) which was actually very nice. I used the first 2 of my Tasting Trail options for the Cubanos and they could be tasted, they were actually really nice and the 'sample' size is very generous, both my wife and I loved the cubanos. Next I got the brisket slider and my wife got the french cheesy fries, the slider was delicious, the meat was so tender, however the fries were nothing special. At this point I had used 4 of the 'dishes' and we had some of the poffertjes from the food truck, these were very nice and i think quite well priced ($15 for 20). I finished my drink selection off with a Mango Daquiri and my kids had a Kenny and Belinda Waffle. The tasting trail is a bargain, 5 food and 2 alcoholic drink options is a very good deal and so getting such a bargain was a highlight. As to the evening itself I felt it was lacking in atmosphere. It was very quiet and by 6:30pm the park was a ghost town. The Mexican food truck didn't open at all and the Calamari Bros were shut by 6:00pm, which I think is pretty average when you consider they were only open late over 2 nights. Dreamworld had some live music on the stage but Kenny and Belinda didn't come out at all, which I thought was poor considering we weren't at the park during the day. I wouldn't say it was much of a success really, despite the fact that the park looks absolutely beautiful at night, especially Kickback Cove (I know there are mixed feelings about replacing Wipeout with a seating area, but for events like this Kickback Cove is just beautiful).

For our Theme Parks in Australia this can only be a good thing. A debt free Ardent with surplus funds doubling down on Dreamworld really makes it seems that Ardent are highly highly confident of the position they find themselves in. This should mean continued investment in the park and the surplus land being used (or sold). over $150 million in surplus funds should allow for decent new rides but also possibly indicates Ardent is highly confident of their future plans and the park under Greg Yong.

To add a little intrigue to the occasion, on Friday last week they had an after hours event with the carpet out and props from the parade on Main Street. Smokey barrels were also outside the Scooby Doo castle. I would like to think they were filming for a commercial but it looks more to be a corporate event. Not bringing this event back from Easter continues my thoughts that Movieworld just isn't even trying anymore.

Movieworld seriously needs to invest in Teen Titans. A new tween area focused on Teen Titans would be a huge hit, the series has just been renewed again and lots of kids love it.

I think if I paid $100 to go to Movieworld and Looney Tunes was the 'draw card' I would ask for a refund. Movieworld is in such a sorry state at the moment, it's embarassing. Considering the DC Rivals Superhero Night time event didn't return in January this year i am interested to see if they run Hooray for Hollywood this year. It was all locked in before the new owners came in, since then they have invested almost nothing into the park. If Covid is the issue then Movieworld should have done what Dreamworld did and had a recruitment drive. This weekend: Dreamworld: Waitangi Event Movieworld: 3 Rides shut (at least) 4 Days Later: Batwing Shut.

So three coasters in the current ride envelope?

Sorry mate, they just refurbished the second gondola and told the stock market there were no ride retirements coming. It isn’t happening.