GoGoBoy

Yeah I tend to agree with your thoughts joz. I also think pin and Bmull are on the right track. But I definitely disagree with qldtaw. He implies that there has to be a choice between either thrills or good theming... that one has to be sacrificed for the other. Move World have shown us time and time again that this is not the case. The majority of their rides (with the excepting of Batwing) are a perfect blend of thrills and excellent theming. The difference between Dreamworld and Movie World is that MW are happy to spend that extra few million per attraction to really make it top notch. Just look at Superman Escape - while the station and external areas are not much, it has a very effective dark ride sequence that the train travels through before the main launch. And you couldn't say any thrills were sacrificed! I just came back from the US (Orlando in particular) and while the parks were impressive, I can honestly say that many of Movie World's (and Village Parks in general) individual attractions are comparable and in some cases better than the offerings at Disney and Universal. Looney Tunes River Ride and Bermuda Triangle were both world class family dark rides. The theming levels and various elements were absolutely up to standard and in some cases better than the best dark rides at Disney. Then look at something like Wild West Falls - a perfect blend of thrilling elements with a nice amount of theming thrown in (especially when all the effects were working). So as you can see, Village Roadshow have demonstrated to us many times that they are able to build world class attractions with the budget they have. As long as they continue to do this, I'll be happy. They don't need to do more - just maintain the standard. I was a little nervous when Batwing opened and it didn't even have the level of theming joz referred to above. I pray that this is not the new direction... I'm quietly confident it won't be. We don't need $300 million dollar attractions considering what MW can achieve on much smaller budgets. I do agree that Movie World needs MORE attractions however. They have a tendency of replacing attractions rather than keeping what is there and building new ones. I believe the park needs expansion, not just updating. They should have left Gremlins and Looney Tunes operating. I think if they can manage to keep adding these very high quality attractions without removing what is already there, the park would be leaps and bounds ahead of the competition

I don't understand why Aussie parks always seem to give themselves such a tight time frame these days. How about, you know, starting work on the ride sooner so that it can open in time and all the finishing touches can be completed. PS If anyone can get some pics of the entry area to the ride including the main signage and how it all fits in with Goldrush, that would be much appreciated. Also, would be interested in seeing what the updated Goldrush sign looks like. Thanks!

Newspaper clippings... exactly what I was thinking. Too bad there isn't a big headchopper saw as you depart and go through the station that actually moves. Are there even any sound effects during the launch?

Thanks for the theming round-up Gazza. Glad to hear there is SOME theming but disappointed there is little reference to the very cool backstory. They really should have played up the Jack ghost and the incident that occurred. Maybe they could have had the story posted in the queue line so people could get to know it. And does anything actually happen during the ride launch sequence? In my mind this would be the perfect spot to have Jack make his appearance just as a giant sawmill starts up and then the train leaves the station....

I just wanted to say this is one of the best updates I've read to date. Funny AND informative. Who wrote it? Richard? Anyway, I just wanted to point out some of my highlights from the captions. I either strongly agree with these sentiments or they were just plain funny... "Dreamworld, though you're in our good books for doing something vaguely resembling proper theming this time around, it would probably be better if the major elements were facing so people inside the park could admire it, and have it add to the ambience of the park." "Lets hope Dreamworld sees the errors of past ways, and understands the value of neatly incorporating attractions into the surroundings, rather than using unrelated themes." "A healthy juice is probably just the thing to wash down your hot dog and Krispy Kremes" "Direct from Roller Coaster Tycoon, this thing has popped up." "The "famous" (?) Nick sphere is now more like an olive." Brilliant!

Hahaha very true Richard. But at least they're doing something! And even though we all have a good idea what it is (although the details to be confirmed) - I'm still finding it slightly exciting - yes I am a big kid trapped in a 29 year olds body!

Geez there better be SOMETHING. Considering they've put all this effort into building a backstory... and it is a good/scary backstory at that. My concern is that the queue house looks fairly small. I was hoping there would be a series of buildings and sheds leading up to the ride that might have some good theming in them to really build the story

^ Yes, great question and I would also like this asked. Even though we won't get a real answer I think it's important to let anyone involved with Sea World know we are disappointed it closed and are hoping for an equal or better replacement. SBNO is not good enough, especially for such a small park!

I think one of the advantages of the El loco is that it has a very small footprint allowing it to be squeezed into a tight space. Just looking at those Eurofighter layouts I think they'd be way too big - but that's only my guess

I have to say I do find it strange that they are building this ride outside the park gates. There is also such a big clustering of rides around this entry area now. Most parks normally have rides set back from the main entry areas. I guess in some ways it makes sense because they will be wanting to compete with Buzzsaw which can also be seen from the highway. At some stage I do hope they go back to building rides well inside the park proper again and expand the boundaries in other directions if possible

The good thing about Movie World is that they pretty much do everything well. We all know it's the quality park, not the quantity park (although a bit more quantity would be good - just don't lower the standards to do it!). This gives me great faith that this ride will be an excellent addition. At the very least it is a full circuit coaster with some nice steep drops - something DW seems incapable of building. I am far more excited for this than Buzzsaw, even though Buzzsaw's back story and concept is well done. Village Roadshow just seem like they understand theme parks better and know how to deliver international standard attractions

Green Lantern has been around a lot longer than this latest movie attempt. It makes sense to put in something different, afterall they've already got Superman. Makes it more of a superhero land rather than just Batman & Superman land

Well this ride is being built at the front of the park in an area where there is nothing currently. However, we have still lost a major ride with Looney Tunes closing. So indirectly you could say this replaces Looney Tunes. Yes, Movie World seems to be very adverse to truly expanding their park. Strange, considering a genuine expansion is much needed

Fantastic! Thanks joz. Looking forward to a real roller coaster

Welcome Jade! Great to hear from you. Yes, the more active the better!

Thanks for the update! In regards to Wild West Falls, are they actually re-painting the mountain too? Also, is it unusual to fully replace the lift hill and drop of a ride that is only 13 years old? Can't be cheap

Really? I thought they were all gone. Replaced with nothing. Probably the worst part is in the splashdown room where the expanding barrel has been replaced by a mirror. Ooooh a mirror! Very frustrating... it was a US/Disney standard ride when it first opened

Wouldn't it be nice if during this refurbishment they brought back the big exploding barrel and wind/smoke effect in the splashdown room. I'd say it's highly unlikely unfortunately (as in no chance!). Such a shame - when the ride first opened it had smoke erupting from the geysers, sparks going up the lift hill, 'ghost' cowboys throughout the ride and the aforementioned effects before the final drop. Now it has... nothing

I certainly hope the theming and presentation doesn't suffer as a result

Thanks troy and flea. I'm very pleased to see that it looks like the ride will travel through the haunted sawmill at the base. It just really helps add that much needed extra element. Here's hoping for some great theming!!

Haha exactly Gazza, well said!

I love what Dreamworld are doing with the theming concept surrounding this ride. Whether or not it is appropriate for this ride I don't know, but I'm glad they are finally giving us what we have been asking for in terms of backstory etc. The scary/ghost concept kind of reminds me of what Alton Towers did with the Thirteen rollercoaster. It had a great haunted woods backstory. Very menacing and atmospheric. I just wish there was more to this ride itself or perhaps they could have saved the haunted theme for a revamp/complete rebuild of a dark attraction like the Eureka Mountain Mine Train. Anyway, overall they get points from me for the marketing so far. Oh, and the fact that they are sticking somewhat to the mining theme and making it appropriate for the area the ride is located in

Movie World/Village have certainly been very slow on the social networking uptake. Compare MW's 5000 or so fans to DW's 300,000 facebook fans. The Village parks used to have a brilliant marketing department - I remember the new attractions were always really well promoted and presented. Seems to have died off a bit and dropped in quality in recent years

Stuff that! They should be out their promoting it now... taking the shine of Dreamworld's average addition. It would give people more reason to consider purchasing a Village VIP pass as opposed to Dreamworlds too. Really surprised they are not doing it

Temporary fencing? Is that as far as we've got? DW is leaps and bounds ahead