Gold Coaster

Here's an idea... "MSG-Force"! In the pre-show video, we see Riggs (Mel Gibson) & Murtaugh (Danny Glover) grab some takeaway from the imaginatively-titled 'Special Chinese Food' restaurant. Big mistake as it's loaded with MSG. When a hot tip comes in, they find themselves having to race across town to get to a witness whose life is in danger. 'MSG-Force' captures their stomach activity.

Well, if it is a coin that could penetrate a zip, that would have to be worth many 20% discounts!

And depends on the pocket. A $1 coin in a fully-closed zip pocket isn't about to cause a derailment

They have the cinema because it is a preshow. When the ride was new, it served as an additional waiting area when the queues in the alley area were long. Even though everyone just walks straight through, I don't think they should remove this theming just for making the outdoor queue longer!

I think it's fine as it is. The entry through Chinatown/the garage area/the alley with the cars/graffiti etc is interesting enough (though some filling out with Chinese character actors/spring rolls vendors and whatnot would be good). At least it's a fun ride, doesn't need too many frills.

Oh well, hopefully the additional income will be partly channelled into bigger and better things for us. *cough* Kraken *cough*

Flowrider reopens 14th, Cyclone reopens 31st though you're probably not too fussed about that one. Let me know when you want to go, it would be fun to come meet you for a day out at DW...

Rode Taipan today, three times It was a lot of fun, well-named though - certainly a good deal of whiplash happening and a small amount of airtime which was nice. It broke down while Daniel & I were on the Ali Baba and everyone on the ride mocked them - at the top of one of the hills... It was nice to finally ride this coaster, shame I couldn't have enjoyed it in its former Seaworld environment though (due to large gap since my last visit). Corkscrew is next on the agenda.

Ekka is just short for 'exhibition'. It's not an abbreviation for anything. The full name is 'Royal Queensland Show' but was originally 'the Brisbane Exhibition'.

yep I have been talking to them, they're really nice people who i will be seeing very shortly to get some stuff. Always good to get a new park no matter where it is in Australia too.

yeah she told me that too and was quite confident about it

Was reading the Sunday Mail this morning and there was an Ekka article (page 11) confirming the Taipan, which was known as the Thrillseeker at Sea World, will be one of the rides this year. Here is an excerpt from it: "Also getting the finishing touches is the much-anticipated sideshow alley. Max Laurie, 62, an enduring member of the Australian show circuit, has brought his rollercoaster The Taipan to Brisbane for the first time. The ride, which once wowed crowds at Sea World on the Gold Coast, took a crane, two forklifts and 11 men to assemble on site. "It's fairly demanding work, a bit dirty," laughed the grease-covered Mr Laurie who is part owner of the ride along with Scarborough man Peter Short. But he promised the ride would be ready. "We are just doing some cosmetics and cleaning it up," he said. From Dubbo in central west New South Wales, Mr Laurie has spent his life in the carnival industry and reckons the Ekka is one of the best. "I think it will be a great crowd this year... it will be something not to be missed, I can tell you." http://roller-coaster.com.au/coaster.php?cid=14

Shane, Both parks are great. Disneyland however is small & you may find that you could hit both parks since they're in such close proximity if you pick the right day. I was able to do that February last year. Of course that was in a colder period of the year but if you restricted yourself to the absolute classics - Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain Railway, Space Mountain etc then you would have enough time. Mind you, Disneyland is the Walt-designed park and since you're not doing Disneyworld, perhaps you should just limit yourself to hitting California Adventure for the Twillight Zone Tower of Terror/Paradise Pier/Soaring attractions. Take it from me, if you can, do Universal Orlando instead as the theming is much better & so if you don't care about the backlot tour, you're better off.

And who would pay for this? Macquarie Leisure...

They don't need a coaster for now. Fact is, they're putting down $60 million on a new waterpark & that will give us all some new things to, erm... EXPERIENCE... so if it's another flat ride, who cares, it is sure to be something damn fun. There's more to theme parks then riding coasters.

My pleasure Yeah I also found it disappointing. Oh well.

Last minute TV alert - CH7 News is going to have a story on the new Ekka attractions/rides we can expect to see this year

I am going there, will post pics

It was a very "made for TV"-style couple of docos, that's for sure - but good to see a bunch of parks. I've got to say that Wisconsin Dells place looks amazing - the 'Las Vegas for waterparks' as the show described it. Was good to see things that I know are coming to Australia or are already here - the Flowrider, the Tornado etc. Will have some grabs up here tomorrow, folks.

No worries, man.

Discovery Travel & Living 9.30PM-10.30PM - 'Best of Amusement Parks 2006' - Including Hades 10.30PM-11.30PM - 'Water Parks 2005' - Including a 120-foot Tornado! This was posted earlier by clone_tk422 [i know it was him because he posted the same alert on OzCoaster.net but my cousin deleted the thread and ones on a couple of Yahoo! Groups I run because he had installed a keylogger the other day and was able to work out some of my passwords. Crisis over though as I have reinstalled & changed ALL my passwords. After this and other acts, he has been told by Dad if he ever came to this house again, he would be physically tossed out onto the street. Back on the topic though, I will post some screen grabs and stuff about it for all you guys and gals who can't catch the specials personally.

you know, that's not a bad thought, strop. What better way of setting the theme from the beginning than something like that? and good find, Gazza, well done!

Knew it would be a half-pipe! I agree. I think the park needs another few rides to round itself out. For adults, we have Bermuda Triangle, Pirate Ship, the Viking's Revenge Flume and Corkscrew. Now obviously you can do each of those a couple of times and Corkscrew even several times more again but having the half-pipe but also another ride or two would top things off to make it more rounded. SW does the marine exhibit thing well but the one in Orlando has Journey to Atlantis/Kraken to round out the park. Our one doesn't have a major drawcard ride. I think we SHOULD have one even if they have to take out the castle/theatre area or something to accomodate it. So I'm thinking the halfpipe, a major circuit coaster and a flatride...

Ok. Why don't we lay off criticising other people's spelling? This is the Internet. The odd mistake is nothing to stress over. Also, Drewboy, that IS a valid way of spelling 'realise'. But I reiterate, stay on topic and don't get personal.

yeah I'm guessing it's a half-pipe. Would be awesome.