GoGoBoy

Yep it looks like you're right based on these earlier pics I found. Looks like they just didn't do a crash hot job of the bottom half - not that it would be easy painting a giant funnel. They moved away from the original colour scheme with the different coloured circles too. Also, can't believe how much it deteriorated in recent years.

You sure about that? Doesn't look like it. You can still see the years of water wear on the bottom half. Plus the darker paint from the top half bleeds down in an awkward way, suggesting they were planning to repaint the rest of it later. I do remember the slide always had two tones though.

Interesting they chose that photo to reference WWW's repainting. From what I can see the top half of the inner section of Green Room was repainted but the bottom half, where the raft travels, wasn't?

I watched some videos of the opening recently and I was really impressed but also surprised by how quickly they come into the stations and move right up onto the gondola in front.

Was anyone else surprised by the $7mil spend for WhiteWater World? I assumed those Polin body slides were super budget. Maybe $2mil? Then there's the repaint. Surely not more than a few hundred thousand??

Looks like the slide complex at Big Banana Coffs Harbour.

It is so great to see Universal investing so heavily into their theme parks business, and also to see it paying off. They clearly see the division as a major driver going forward. It's awesome for the industry in general and this level of confidence suggests a bright future for all well-run theme park companies.

I understand the cityscape was updated to include some iconic Sydney buildings and also clouds were added at the base to suggest that Volare is flying above the clouds. So you can expect that there won’t be any further changes to the backdrop in the near term.

It looks so intense! What an amazing job they’ve done for such a small park. It has such a dramatic visual impact but at the same time fits in to the park’s theme perfectly. Luna Park Melbourne take note - please!!

Total revenue or EBITDA?

It’s a pity Ardent don’t look at Dreamworld’s own history books to realise that each major turning point for DW in terms of a positive trajectory for profits and attendance came about with the introduction of major new attractions... Wipeout, Tower of Terror, Nickelodeon Land. The answer does not lie in retreat.

It truly was something special. I remember talking to my school buddies around the time it opened and everyone was raving about it.

Or DW?

Ahh, gotcha. Doesn’t come up well in photos then, might look better in person. Agreed. As long as it’s done eventually and not just left as good enough. Always my fear.

Seems really strange to me that the sides are just plain concrete. And agree they need way more palms running along the sides. Maybe they are still to come? The concept art looked great.

Brilliant article.

Well, luckily for you the ride is filled with physical sets too - obviously lovingly restored from the original plans (and with more details added). Regarding downtime - I struggle to think of any international park that has opened a new (or newly re-worked) attraction without intermittent closures due to technical difficulties during opening weeks.

I’m honestly surprised how little love some of the new effects are getting from you guys. A few things that standout to me as good additions- The ‘reflection’ of your car with the monsters chasing after it is awesome, very Haunted Mansion-esque; I like that they’ve added more interest to the lift with the inclusion of Scrappy Doo, rather than just having the car sitting there waiting for the next car to join it; and I’m a fan of the final tropical/Spooky Island scene just before the exit platform — glad they put that back in but re-worked it.

Maybe that’s because the film is from the early 2000’s and they are replicating the animation in that? I think you guys are being way too harsh. Looks pretty good to me. I like that they’ve actually tried to do something different and not just rebuild it exactly as it was, or even worse left it empty. Assuming there is more work to come to fix up some of the little details mentioned too? These rides rarely open without a few little bugs, especially with the amount of new effects installed.

Is it just me or does anyone else see the awning as a giant white spider at the moment?

^ Funnily enough where you have located The Rotor Nimble I'm pretty sure is its original location from way back in the day. But I can't remember why you guys are trying to move the rides around? Don't forget it is an expensive process, so probably not worthwhile.

Ok great I’ll look out for those. I’m a big fan of In The Loop. Especially The Legend’s park tours and reviews. What’s up with TPR not doing interviews or any extended videos anymore? What’s the point of TPR anymore? Just offering a hard-to-follow forum?

I’m looking for the best coverage but not much has been released yet. Theme Park Review did a tiny little highlight video on IAAPA 2018 but I thought they normally spent ages going around and interviewing all the exhibitors??

That’s what I’m wondering. How much money did they actually save by retaining a few bits of the original building? It looks like they might have even put in new roof slats? And if they did demolish so much of the building, why not re-build it entirely so that the capacity issue is no longer an issue?

Hot Wheels is the most painful coaster I have ever ridden, well perhaps apart from the former Thunderbolt on that same site. I remember on one of the transitions actually feeling my neck crack badly and being in pain for some time afterwards. It was plain scary. I would rip that thing out if I was DW and put in something cheap (because it’s Ardent we’re talking about) but appealing and rideable.