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Village seem to have quietly dropped a cheaper locals One Pass recently. The One Pass Lite - priced at $179 - is $40 cheaper than the normal Locals One Pass (and $120 cheaper than the full priced One Pass). The lite version of the pass has: No White Christmas No Carnivale No Spooky Nights BLACKOUT DATES - From Boxing day to January 15th. For me, we rarely do the night events, even though they've been included in our passes for some time. We will go if friends are going, but mainly because we've got them for free. The current 'value' of the night events shown on the locals passes (ie $89 for WC, $69 for Carnivale and Spooky Nights) is not a price i'd pay separately. But considering we rarely use the night passes when we do have them this is an easy way for us to save over $100 on the next renewal (assuming we renew). We tend to avoid the Christmas holiday period entirely. The parks are stupid at that time of year so the blackout dates don't impact us at all. Overall, its a bit of a coin flip for us. If we went to just one night event it would pay off to buy the higher priced pass. If there were a bigger price gap - even marginally more, it might tip the scales for me - but at the very least its nice that they're finally offering locals a product that just gets them into the park regularly without bundling it with night events and resort stays. ETA: as long as they stick by the blackout dates this time. Back in the VIP days, they offered VIP with blackout, and VIP gold without blackout, and the first day of the blackout dates they had a bunch of families try to enter with VIP passes and caused a stink when they weren't allowed in - so the company folded and quietly deleted the blackout dates. Here's hoping the new investment firm have more of a spine.

It's been a while since any rumours or news relating to the Entertainment Precinct and this is what I’ve found out to date. On the 28 February 2017, the Council issued a decision notice agreeing to apply a superseded planning scheme to the carrying out of assessable development that is, exempt development (now ‘accepted) The decision made by the Council relates to a proposed Tourist Facility (Theme Park Associated Restaurant and Dining Precinct). WHERE VILLAGE IS AT: Village is now seeking to extend the approval until 9 February 2027 and the request for extension is based on the following grounds. 1. Turbulence in the local and national theme park sector has resulted in delay or reconsideration of future developments occurring within the Theme Park. The six year extension is considered necessary in order to provide the applicant with enough time to monitor the theme park market recovery and to progress the detailed design and construction of the development. 2. Village lodged a development application seeking approval for an overflow car parking facility on land located at 12 Michigan Drive. An appeal in the Planning and Environment Court was lodged against the deemed refusal of this development application. 3. Village worked with the Council to negotiate an appropriate outcome that allows for the delivery of the necessary overflow car park to support ongoing theme park operations. 4. The appeal was finalised and a development permit for the overflow car park facility granted March 2019. The uncertainty created by these protracted negotiations associated with the approval of the proposed overflow car parking facility has meant the Village has been unable to progress the theme park hotel and associated restaurant and dining precinct. Given the overflow car parking facility was recently approved, Village can recommence its internal business case and delivery considerations associated with the theme park hotel and associated restaurant and dining precinct. The work was placed on hold whilst the overflow car park matter was resolve, a substantial extension to the current period is required, to allow for the internal business case and funding to be progress, detailed design, construction and ultimately commencement of the use. WHAT'S IN THE ENTERTAINMENT PRECINCT: The development involves: A 9-storey theme park hotel with a total of 398 suites, with a total building height of 32 metres. The hotel includes the following guest services and facilities: Ground Level: Reception, lobby, administration office, business centre, bar, function centre, café, kitchen, kids club, amenities, gym and hotel back of house facilities; Level 1: Ramp access and elevated walkway providing guest connection to the adjoining restaurant and dining precinct building and theme park entrance; Levels 1 to 8: Common lounge area on each level for indoor guest recreation; and Extensive outdoor swimming facilities, outdoor guest recreation areas and feature landscaping plantings. A 3-storey restaurant and dining precinct building incorporating a ground level café and upper level restaurant/dining room. Guest access to the restaurant and dining precinct is provided via an elevated walkway above the proposed porte-cochere, which will provide a prominent architectural feature. As I noted already Village are conducting an internal business case so what I have listed could change and probably will but it does give you an idea of the size of the precinct.