Jungle Rush Coaster

[casey96]

Does anyone else get the feeling that the Rivertown store is a temporary solution? They’ve spent so much on attention to detail in every aspect, and this just feels like it’s there to fit the bill.
 

I have a feeling that motocoaster and the Rivertown store’s days are numbered and this solution is supposed to tie it over until those plans come to fruition. It wouldn’t make sense for them to invest in making it super detailed and nice if the plan is to remove motocoaster in the near future. 

[Park Addict 93]

I think everyone keen for them to remove motocoaster for something else or even get new trains at this point needs to be a bit more realistic. It's worth remembering Motocoaster got new trains not that long ago.

I would love to see a cosmetic update to make the ride fit Rivertown but I don't see a huge capital expenditure anytime soon.

[Narra]

17 minutes ago, Park Addict 93 said:

I think everyone keen for them to remove motocoaster for something else or even get new trains at this point needs to be a bit more realistic. It's worth remembering Motocoaster got new trains not that long ago.

I would love to see a cosmetic update to make the ride fit Rivertown but I don't see a huge capital expenditure anytime soon.

Exactly, Dreamworld has so much space available and we don't need more knocking down of one attraction to build another. Just give it a retheme to fit better if Rivertown ends up being a hit for them

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

On 22/12/2024 at 7:35 PM, New display name said:

The only complants I've seen is people what more seating in the area.  

I saw a lot of cargo boxes stacked around that were clearly intended to be seating as well as theming - or are they too well themed nobody realised they were allowed to sit in them?

On 23/12/2024 at 8:29 AM, casey96 said:

Two train operations and super fast 2-3 minute tops dispatches

The sound effects are fantastic and create an awesome atmosphere. Although I did see it scaring a lot of kids. Probably creating some core memories I’m sure. 
 

The indoor sections are a little underwhelming. Lots of black panel walls and the daylight comes right in lighting up things that are probably supposed to be hidden. Will definitely make for a great night ride. 

Yep can back this up - we were timing 2:15 dispatches (without Greg operating it), and also saw a number of younger kids looking scared being led out of the gem room where all the booming sound effects were. Indoor sections definitely could have used more dressing - but not sure how much they can do when the turntable moves across most of the space. Rather than a cavern, perhaps if the turntable was enclosed, so you couldn't really perceive the switch movement? i don't know.

On 23/12/2024 at 8:43 AM, New display name said:

The gaps of doom are still there?  I thought they fixed them up.

the gaps are gone, the light is from the portals to the outside track. Night rides will be pretty cool I reckon.

 

 

So for our experience:

Gates didn't open until exactly 10am. Those who headed to rivertown were held at the rivertown archway for a further 10 or so minutes. The rail track that was removed behind rivertown has been mulched over. Likely temporary, but it shows they aren't planning on restoring the train track there in any hurry.

The VIPs were allowed to proceed through rivertown, and then a minute later guests were rope-walked down to follow. A small stage had been set up at the base of Jungle RUsh with small pyro boxes on poles wrapped in vines. 

Then ensues probably 30 minutes of speeches and officialdom that started with greg's welcome, then a welcome to country by an indigenous representative. The 'acting' mayor then got a say and waffled on for far too long - especially since she started out with an acknowledgement to country immediately after the indigenous welcome to country. The state minister for tourism also got a few words in though was mercifully a little shorter than the councillor (and was also smart enough to thank the indigenous representative for their welcome to country rather than waffling on with another acknowledgement of country.

Gary weiss then said a few quick words, and finally Greg had a few people to thank too. They had their official "vine cutting" with the novelty oversized scissors, and then 'welcome to the jungle' played along with quick bursts from the pyro. A few photos and then a few minutes while the event team broke down the pyro units and sound equipment before we were permitted into the ride. 

We probably only queued for 15 minutes, but were near the front of the 'general' group, and the ride was showing 45 minutes immediately after we got off, so one ride was enough for us today. We departed backwards. the queue was really immersive, and nice that it was so cool, especially immediately after the baking we got at the hand of the execs. there were wall mounted fans hidden discreetly in the shadows of the queue, and it was great to enjoy that respite. 

There were some details I noted while walking through that jarred - The final queue divider - a section of 'bamboo' scaffolding, were wrapped with rope details at guest level, but left bare overhead - the unwrapped details revealed the bamboo was fake, whereas if all the joiners were wrapped, it would have preserved the illusion. Another bamboo structure earlier on in the queue (where the T O T skull is) had poles held together with shiny new zinc plated bolts - which further stood out and broke the illusion. 

The place is nicely themed, cleverly lit, and has loads of details I look forward to exploring when the queues quieten down later in the year. Load procedures were easy (and as noted, the depart backwards queue moved a lot quicker than the forwards one). loose items procedure could be improved if they went with a loose items box like the Wipeout - accessible from the rear - rather than the sliding doors that they weren't really using. 

Disappointed that the crew working the attraction were in generic dreamworld polos. I would have liked to have seen those guys in the same (or at least thematically similar) shirts as the execs who were wearing rivertown button down shirts. 

Ride experience was fun, not too forceful, and I look forward to the re-rideability of it. The second exit from the turntable had a quick snappy turn that caught us reverse riders by surprise - it was a little uncomfortable but i think riding forwards wouldn't have the same issue through there. I did find the turntable room a little bare - and while I hope its true that there are more pieces to come to flesh out the room, I also hope they didn't have an 'official opening' if it wasn't truly finished - so on the fence about that. Would definitely like to see more in that room, or perhaps some lighting effects to give more kinetics to the space (lighting triggers can be built separately depending on if you're facing forwards or backwards so you could again offer a different experience each time)

If they could cure the light bleed from the tunnels that would be good too. Not sure how easy it would be but it would be worth it.

Ride photo system worked perfectly, and we were able to get our photo immediately.

We had planned to visit DW well before the opening date was announced, and had a different plan for our day, so ultimately we tried to get JR in first to tick it off before getting on with our day - so we just got lucky with the ride opening in time. The downside of being in the inital crowd was we got rushed through the first stage of the queue and not enough time to really explore all of the details. I look forward to spending more time in the area when it quietens down. 

 

We didn't bother with MM given it's full queue by the time we got out so we left Rivertown at that point. We'll be back in a few weeks and we'll give it another go then.

I don't begrudge them a little opening ceremony. And I know the big wigs all want to have their time at the podium to speak of how great their contribution to the project was (especially politicians) but I really feel like this could have been handled better. Guests were baking in the sun for over 45 minutes and were audibly complaining with each new speech-giver. They should have opened the park gates say - 15 minutes early (they clearly had the staff there to handle guests in park as the VIPs were already in-park by 9:30), mustered people down to Rivertown and had their speeches before official park opening so that guests could be welcomed onto the ride at or at least close to 10am. While the sun baking wouldn't be much different (though more shadows earlier in the day may have provided some relief) you wouldn't have cost people an hour of their day to give some politician their 5 minutes of chest beating. JMO.

[Michelangelo]

5 hours ago, Narra said:

Exactly, Dreamworld has so much space available and we don't need more knocking down of one attraction to build another. Just give it a retheme to fit better if Rivertown ends up being a hit for them

I was honestly expecting MC to stick out like dogs balls especially walking back towards Main Street from Jungle Rush. The little they’ve done to the store has ensured it fits in as nice as possible with spending as minimal as possible. You hardly notice there’s a motorbike racing ride right next to all this jungle theming.

Definitely will tie it over for 24 or so months until they can fund a replacement or returns