Gazza

Just wanted to say I agree with what AlexB said about more evenings. Year round, mabye not, but what about an event called "Summer Sunsets" or something. They would be perfect for that period of the year with the regular insane 12000-14000 attendance days. Doesn't even have to have too much in terms of special things as you would for Christmas/Haloween...maybe just a bit of summery live music under the big screen? Just something to spread the load on the park a little bit and a chance to visit when the sun isn't beating down.

Have you been on Forbidden Journey though?

Harry Potter (And Spiderman) are more than ‘just a dark ride’. You seem to be lumping all dark rides in the same category, a bit like saying a B&M is no different to a kiddy coaster. Potter is far and away the best ride I’ve ever been on. Really unique the way it moves, great theming, and its got that feel to it like Pirates of the Carribean where you forget about the outside world whilst in the darkness of the ride. Dunno why Cedar Fair and Six Flags get so much love either. People make it sound as if its wall to wall awesome coasters. No, depending on the park it’s more like say 4-5 really good coasters . ...The rest of the parks are rides they inherited from the early years of the 1970s/80s, other crap coasters that you ride once and forget about, and tons of flats and fairly generic water rides that you see everywhere. Cedar Point/SFMM are probably special cases, because they’ve got so damn many that its inevitable there will be a few good ones in there. But it’s not as if having either company setting up shop in Aus would result in a park with 16 coasters would it? Valleyfair, CGA, Knotts are just as representative of Cedar Fair too. In response to the topic....A Busch park would be wonderful.

^I don’t recall ever seeing an amateur Jet Rescue POV . And I think only 2 to 3 of Superman ever made it onto Youtube, and they were all crappy because whoever did them obviously knew about the risk so was half trying to hide it the whole time. For Jet Rescue There’s TPRs, and there was one done by the GC Bulletin when the ride first opened that was on their website temporarily. No one is gonna get away with it on GL. Its the same situation as Jet Rescue, the station is too exposed for people to get away with it. And besides, no one could have done it yet, since the ride has been open an hour or so a day max for around 5 days, so I think everyone is personally focused on simply managing to get on the ride in the first place.

Yes they is. How else do the trains sit on the transfer/ brake run overnight? I like the way the logo sits perfectly within the curve of the hump and first drop.

^Not gonna happen with the loose item policy. It's the same as Jet Rescue and Superman.

Only a dissapointment in the context of their own marketing ambitions. For us, there is no percievable difference between 120 and 122 degrees, and the drop is mad anyway.

^Agreed, the entrance to Lethal is just too anti-Semitic for my liking these days.

Thing is, I don't think there are any movie parks that stay purely within the films of the parks namesake. And Im certainly not going to call Universal or Disney "wrong" for doing so. Thing is, I don't think there are any movie parks that stay purely within the films of the parks namesake. And Im certainly not going to call Universal or Disney "wrong" for doing so.

^It wasn't ice skating last year. It was the exact same plastic rink wrapped around that small green fountain.

You've forgotten about Shrek 4D and the Saw horror maze already?

I personally would visit SFMM over Universal.... But Disney is awesome and is the #1 pick in LA. Stuff like Indiana Jones, Space Mountain and TOT are as good as any thrill ride in terms of experience. Alex1, when did you visit Disneyland?

They should sell it to WVTP, who could then turn it into a water park.

Smallish? GCI big fun Perhaps not in the next couple of years, but they are one of the cheapest 'good' options out there.

Don't most/all Accelerators do 2 cable changes per year anyway?

Pics http://www.parkz.com.au/photos/AU/Gold_Coast/Warner_Bros_Movie_World/1478-Green_Lantern/page14.html Plus two stragglers at the bottom of this page: http://www.parkz.com.au/photos/AU/Gold_Coast/Warner_Bros_Movie_World/1478-Green_Lantern/page13.html Agreed. It's one of the most compact coasters in the country, but it bloody doesn't feel it

It was top of this page anyway, and a little bit of the bottom of the previous Not that far to scroll is it Should be yeah, it loads how you described. Having 7 cars will kind of force their hand in terms of having to load quickly.

I though that discussion had been well and truly had?

Hmmm tough one. I'll need more rides to decide ...Best looper anyway.

Some pics of that courtyard bit from outside the actual area. Kind of frustrating because you can only see the back of what is at the end. Its bigger than i thought it would be anyway. Enlarge the 2nd pic, and you can see how the path zig zags a bit through the scenes for a fair way back.

^Spited! I got on The joy of soft openings. It ran about 4 or so cars through, before breaking down. Anyway, my roundup: -Ride is really good, the drop looks steeper when you are on it, and you will have only your harness will hold you from falling. -From there, a quick incline, and a turn that feels like a wild mouse. -On the outside turn is best in a right hand seat because you'd get tipped more. I was on front left for my only ride. -Dive loop...again, you'll really hang. -And same again for the barrel roll, i chose left because on the barrel roll it means you'll revolve in the reverse direcition, with the seat pulling away from beneath you...really nifty. -Ride is smooth and comfortable, which is funny because it looks like the cars judder a bit when negotiating the course, but you dont feel it. -Only one small jolt..when you hit the brakes. -Harnesses are better than any other lap bar, including the Maurer version, lots of freedom and ergonomic. -One of things that makes you go "Oh snap"...The harness wont pull down at all until the lap seat belt has been done up. This avoids cedar fair type situations where, at their parks, they insist lap bars stay up until ops check belts are done up, before lowering the harness for you. Smart. -The first bit of the queue is Batmans old exit. There are three panels explaining Hal Jordans origins and childhool, prior to becoming Green Lantern. They are spaced such, and large enough that you can read them at walking pace. -In the queue, at the far end, you walk through a courtyard type area with gardens, and large comic book frames, with fibreglass characters popping out, mist, sound/music etc. A highlight is a large paralax that sneers "Give in to your fears!" that you wall under before heading up the main queue ramp. This is where the bulk of the theming is, and to be fair, it looks decent...I'm guessing that was the whole mindset...a living comic book. kind of rushed past a bit, so ill have to return to check it out. Photos are hard, especially today, because of the loose items being in the lockers. -Main queue ramp will have cantilevered shade structures. Not finished yet. I think this is a bit bare still, I'd put more palms etc on the creek side to make it feel less open, and provide more natural shade. The coaster side can stay unobstructed, because it provides great views of the dive loop and people coming into the brakes. -The station...The whole roof has a comic book scene of asteroids on it. The ops booth has one comic frame with the the words "Paralax is attacking earth, join the green lanterns in battle!" The other side has "Join the corps, recite the oath...In Brightest day blah blah ......" -Onboard audio...needs to be a bit louder, especially on the lift...nice anticipation music on the lift,,,the main bit is sort of action music meets 70s porno music lol. Alright actually. Anyway, its a bit of luck if you get a ride before Boxing day.

On park.... Checks can be seen still taking place. Not open yet. Framework for shading over that long queue ramp is partly done. Ops booth and underside of station roof is a huge comic book panel wrap.

The danger is that yeah, they do that, then everyone rages at them because it didn't open till late afternoon, and you have people waiting 6 hours for 1 hour of operation time. It doesn't matter in the end, all the 13 year olds complaining will come to the park tommorow via their orange go card/mum dropping them off, they will ride the new coaster, and their complaints will be lost in a sea of praise of how awesome the new ride is. Also, i find it hilarious that there have been some that have ridden it, and are more than happy to brag about doing so, but seem to keep quiet when actually asked what it was like.

So, how many people thought they'd stay at home today, and got spited because it opened? Fanboy rage explosion in 3...2..1..

BMull, it’s a standard practice worldwide. It’s no different to rehearsing a play, or a film studio playing a movie to test audiences before the full theatrical release. In fact, parks should factor in a soft opening regardless, it’s just good management to do so. The bungled openings of Shockwave and Buzzsaw should be a lesson as to why it’s bad not to leave a buffer period between practical completion and opening day. With an official opening date, it’s crucial that it actually is ready, and you need to be sure of hitting that target. People may plan holidays etc, so you don’t want to ruin those. Issues of false advertising can arise if it’s not ready. And of course as Pin said, you want staff efficiently loading guests, and any technical glitches to be identified and ironed out before the masses arrive. On the other hand, opening a ride early is often a pleasant surprise for those guests on the day who weren’t expecting it, and they can have signage stating “This ride is in technical rehearsal and may close at any time”, as a sort of get out of jail free card. It reduces the risk for the park. Opening a bit over a week early is nothing anyway, when you consider some attractions at Disney and Universal have had soft opening periods of a month or two. BMull, it’s a standard practice worldwide. It’s no different to rehearsing a play, or a film studio playing a movie to test audiences before the full theatrical release. In fact, parks should factor in a soft opening regardless, it’s just good management to do so. The bungled openings of Shockwave and Buzzsaw should be a lesson as to why it’s bad not to leave a buffer period between practical completion and opening day. With an official opening date, it’s crucial that it actually is ready, and you need to be sure of hitting that target. People may plan holidays etc, so you don’t want to ruin those. Issues of false advertising can arise if it’s not ready. And of course as Pin said, you want staff efficiently loading guests, and any technical glitches to be identified and ironed out before the masses arrive. On the other hand, opening a ride early is often a pleasant surprise for those guests on the day who weren’t expecting it, and they can have signage stating “This ride is in technical rehearsal and may close at any time”, as a sort of get out of jail free card. It reduces the risk for the park. Opening a bit over a week early is nothing anyway, when you consider some attractions at Disney and Universal have had soft opening periods of a month or two.