Everything you ever wanted to know about Wonderland

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

In keeping with the original scope of this forum, here is some more information. When the park was originally set up, the american influence reigned (from King's) in the setting up of the radio system. Call signs, and codes were used, so that anyone capable of picking up wonderland's system (which wasn't too hard - no crystal tone lockouts were used) would not be as easily interpreted. each department had an allocation of radios that it would use, each radio numbered, and each number was delegated a certain task. retail for instance had a radio for their management team, however frequently radios would be given to games or outlet operators in locations without a phone or isolated from assistance. The retail team had 3 digit codes for their radios, which all started with a 4. Im sure Bus could tell us what codes attractions used as well. Security had their codes for a while but later changed it to a simple S1, S2, S3 approach...Attractions management team had one each, and radios were allocated to certain rides that for one reason or another required one - again mainly those without phones (the phone system was a joke there) ok so as far as the codes, firstly was the usual "10" codes, so overused by american police tv shows, and still in frequent use by the american police forces (although the list for the police is somewhat larger in size) such as 10.4 - message received and understood 10.20 - what is your location? 10.21 - please telephone this location 10.8 - ready and in service (mainly for games, outlet and food and beverage locations, to be reported prior to opening to make sure security didnt let guests into merchandise areas until a cast member was attending it.) 10.9 - please repeat last transmission 10.12 - guests can hear this radio, please be discrete 10.17 - a request for coins and change - food and beverage, retail and games, and front gates would make this request of their supervisor, who would relay this request to cash control, who would prepare the change required, and despatch with security or a team of supervisors. 10.22 - Disregard last transmission 10.23 - Standby 10.33 - Alarm Sounding - generally not used, except by security at night 10.53 - Person down - mainly used by security, and meant anything from illness, heatstroke etc to serious injury there was also an 11 code - 11.71 which indicated a fire or fire alarm in the area Then there were the codes which were used early in the park's life, but were later discarded. Code 1 Do so at your convenience. Code 2 Urgent. Code 4 No further assistance is needed. Code 6 Responding from a long distance. (eg, if the person was in HBL, and was needed in Goldrush) Code 7 meant that the person was going to lunch, and their usual radio calls etc should be directed to a different person, which was usually either transmitted in the same message, or prearranged on a list in security. Security also had the following codes Code 3 Emergency/lights and siren. Code 10 Bomb threat Attractions had their own codes, which were reported to Ride Supervisors and Security Six-One-Alpha - the ride is in normal operation - used mainly at the start of the day, but also after the ride has recovered from a downtime mid-operation, or during a ride-rotation Six-One-Bravo - somebody chucked.... basically a guest experiencing an illness on the ride that affected the operation of the ride itself. Six-One-Charlie - the ride is not operating due to mechanical failure. Six-One-Delta - the ride is not operating due to severe weather approachingaffecting the operation of the ride. OperationsRides frequently shortened these to just alpha-bravo-charlie and delta, and in my time at Wonderland, I only ever saw one instance where Delta went parkwide. We had a severe thunderstorm approaching, heaps of lighting, high winds, pouring, driving rain, and one after the other the calls came in from individual rides such as probe and beast that the operator was taking the ride down "Delta" due to winds. Not long after that the winds had gotten higher, and the storm came closer, and over the radio came a call from security to "Six-One-Delta all operating attractions immediately". Man that place was even more of a ghost town during that storm than I had ever seen it before... and thats saying something. Ok guys.. .come on - stop getting sidetracked, and lets get more info on WL - make this the definitive collection on all things WL....

[Bussy]

this is a question,is know it sounds stupid but what rides have been badly damaged or even struck by lighting during wonderlands operation.

As I said before that is the only occurrence of a lightning strike during operating hours that I know of and that caused minor damage because the ride was built to withstand that kind of thing. Yet again Alex has got it wrong.

10.12 - guests can hear this radio, please be discrete

10-12 was stop or standby.

10.22 - Disregard last transmission

10-22 was a lost child. Disregard was said and no code was used for it.

10.23 - Standby

See 10-12.

10.53 - Person down - mainly used by security, and meant anything from illness, heatstroke etc to serious injury there was also an 11 code - 11.71 which indicated a fire or fire alarm in the area

The code for first aid required was a signal 51. 53 was Fire Brigade required.

Security also had the following codes Code 3 Emergency/lights and siren. Code 10 Bomb threat

What lights and sirens? They were security not emergency services. A bomb threat was a signal 1000 not code 10.

Six-One-Alpha - the ride is in normal operation - used mainly at the start of the day, but also after the ride has recovered from a downtime mid-operation, or during a ride-rotation

61 Alpha was a call given to indicate a ride required maintenance to check it due to a problem. The ride had no guests on it. Example, a harness on Bounty's won't lock. The guests have been asked to get off and told there will be a delay.

Six-One-Charlie - the ride is not operating due to mechanical failure.

61 Charlie was a call given to indicate a ride required maintenance to check it due to a problem. The ride had guests on it and may require evacuation. Example, Bush Beast stops on the lift and it cannot be started. "The Bus is now leaving for Codeys Mount, NSW"

[Wonderbuzz]

- Just on radio calls, I think the following was also used: 10.19, come to location 10.21, phone/call - I also believe that when a guest throws up/vomits it's referred to as a "protien spill" - In the early planning stages, the Space Probe was named "Alien Encounter", "Probe 7", then "Space Probe 7" upon opening. Then eventually just "Space Probe".

[joz]

I always enjoy the huge amount of code parks use. I always wonder, for what reason would you need to hide the fact that a supervisor had to call the operator, or simply asking for your location in the park had to be in code. At Seaworld all the staff with a radio have a number, I'm guessing, because information like a staff members name may be used by international terrorists :confused: . Fair enough stuff like "Rides stuffed" or "Someone spewed at Bounty" is coded, but stuff like lost child needed/needs to be in code? Keep going guys, most fasinating stuff this...

[SeanM]

Joz, so some consultant at $350.00 and hour can come in a create a complex system of numbers. and buy a new merc. umm wonder the title "Progressive Security Code Senior Manager" .

[Wonderbuzz]

Whilst some codes were for masking information, they were also there for clarification and abbreviation to minimise talk time. Radios aren't the clearest of quality, so using codes were better than trying to say a long sentence, especially in an emergency.

[Mickazee]

My questions: What year did Transylvania open? What year did International Village rename? What year did Medieval Faire rename? What year was sea demon renamed HMS Endeavour? What year was the pirate stuntact finished? (the one with soldiers and pirates fart assing around on the ship in botany bay) ^^ These are things I need clarifying in the WL history site Now some further questions: Steven Galbraith? Good guy or bad? From my googling I've found that WL seems to have treated its employees with contempt. The industrial relations commission has a whole set of instances where WL managment have been asshats to the employees and correct me if I'm wrong but the majority of WL staff were employeed as casual workers although some were working full time rostered shifts. This was so management didn't have to pay entitlements and could dismiss staff easily. How was pay like? What was employee turnover like? I read in an article (although havn't got a reference atm) that during the meeting with Galbraith to announce the parks closure police were present to escort people out the door if necessary. Confirm/deny? Now, how was WL structured? How many departments were there? How big was the maintainance crew for instance? Who made the "big" decisions affecting the managment of the park? Board of directors? Galbraith? (CEO 1) How well were the rides kept? From what I understand they were kept in "barely working order" ? Anyway, that's enough questions for now...although any stories of cool "behind the scenes" stuff would be good reading... Surely there's plenty of them!

[ScReAMmachine!]

In response to your questions... Steven Galbraith? Good guy or bad? - Consider the Park's closure and the parks 'effort' to help employees find alternative employment. That should answer that one. majority of WL staff were employeed as casual workers although some were working full time rostered shifts. This was so management didn't have to pay entitlements and could dismiss staff easily - Employment at Wonderland was seasonal, so a casual (flexible) workforce was easier to maintain in terms of $$$ What was employee turnover like? - Very high, always new staff joining the company How was pay like? - Very much a reason for the high turnover. Oh, and overtime was a sin! But when u enjoy work, it somewhat doesnt matter.

[Wonderbuzz]

Some of the catch lines used over years included: "The greatest fun you'll ever have" "Too much fun to have in one day" "You gotta do it" (said in a pirate voice) "Wouldn't it be wonderful if the world was Wonderland" "No wonder they call it Wonderland" "Get out of everyday" "You'll always remember"

[T-bone]

Don't forget "For a Day you'll always remember".

[Wonderbuzz]

They all came under the "You always remember" style, I only mentioned that one because it was part of the logo. "For a day you'll always remember" "For a year you'll always remember" (for Wonderpasses) "Improve your kids memories" "Give your kids the best memories"

[PattieBoi]

"Get out of everyday"

Wasn't it "Get out of everyday land and get into Wonderland"? By the way I like your avatar Wonderbuzz, its soo cool!

[Mickazee]

I've updated www.----URL removed for non-compliance with Community Guidelines----.com with a 'Did you Know' section based off of this thread. I'll keep adding to it as people post more info

[Wonderbuzz]

Wasn't it "Get out of everyday land and get into Wonderland"?

Yeah, I guess that was the longer version. I think they used the shorter line whenever the logo was present.

[dr_teeth]

Steven Galbraith? Good guy or bad? - Consider the Park's closure and the parks 'effort' to help employees find alternative employment. That should answer that one.

Dude no company goes to any trouble to find alternative employment for their current workforce. I was an apprentice when the place i was working closed due to financial trouble. As an indentured apprentice (as i was in this case) it is actually the current employers legal obligation to attempt to find you alternative work if they cant keep you on for whatever reason. Even more so with apprentices then full time staff because as an apprentice if your indentured your basicly under a mutual contract to: work at the place to which your indentured and for that employer to keep you employed for that time also Basicly when it comes to a closure this means all they in reality have to do (for any employee) is ring 2 of the nearest labour hire places tell them they have x-amount of workers needing jobs and problem solved. Basicly they can wipe their hands clean of the problem. There are a great many things that should be done which never happen in the real world. If it was a fair world in which we live, employers would make a real effort to find their good workers future employment...however its not an ideal world in which we live. Wonderland is no different to any of the hundreds of other business closures that would have happend in 2004, so its probably an unfair to lay blame on management saying they didnt make decent effort in this case.

[ScReAMmachine!]

Hello 'Dude',

I was an apprentice when the place i was working closed due to financial trouble. As an indentured apprentice (as i was in this case) it is actually the current employers legal obligation to attempt to find you alternative work if they cant keep you on for whatever reason. Even more so with apprentices then full time staff because as an apprentice if your indentured your basicly under a mutual contract to: work at the place to which your indentured and for that employer to keep you employed for that time also

Yes legal obligations apply to apprenticeships and although I am sorry to hear about the closure of your company, it has absolutely nothing to do with Wonderland's obligations, considering its staff base was largely casual. Wonderland felt it was a 'moral' responsibility as it was one of the largest employers in Western Sydney. Indeed they made the effort, in negotiating with Luna Park for staff interviews and so forth.

Wonderland is no different to any of the hundreds of other business closures that would have happend in 2004, so its probably an unfair to lay blame on management saying they didnt make decent effort in this case.

Wonderland is different. I have no doubts that Wonderland HR were making attempts to seek employment for its staff, but its own survival (as any company would) was its priority. It wanted their staff to remain until its closing date, but many companies (again using Luna Park as an example) wanted staff to commence work prior to Wonderland's closure. Hence the hesitation to relocate staff.

[Wonderbuzz]

Hmmm, this threads been a bit quite. Let me think: - The popstar group Scandalus performed thier first live concert at the Action Arena, and it was packed. The group sang live on stage, however they dubbed the concert when it went to air. - The next winner of popstars (what ever his name was) performed at the Galaxy Theatre, and the crowd bearly filled the middle section.... - The TV commercial to promote the opening of the Space Probe 7 was filmed in a studio with a replica carriage and tunnels as the ride itself was not yet built. The tagline for the comercial was "Live the news. Ride the movies. Space Probe 7 The ride". And if I recall correctly, there was a Ch7 TV special on its first launch which included Ch7 celebrities from Home & Away and I think one of the Gladiators taking the "first" ride. - The stage set at Galaxy Theatre for the magic show had two doors at the back of the set. The two doors weren't automatic or mechanical as they would lead you to believe during the show, they were operated by hand on a set of ropes and pulleys which worked similiar to window curtains. - One of the first TV commercials for The Australian Wildlife Park featured two talking Galas.

[Bussy]

- The popstar group Scandalus performed thier first live concert at the Action Arena, and it was packed. The group sang live on stage, however they dubbed the concert when it went to air.

In addition to that they came in by helicopter and landed in the car park just outside the security post. More than half the crowd that was gathered around the fence 'greeting' them were staff. "The Bus is now leaving for Helicopter Spur, Victoria"

[Wonderbuzz]

In addition to that they came in by helicopter and landed in the car park just outside the security post.  More than half the crowd that was gathered around the fence 'greeting' them were staff.

I wouldn't say more than half, there was still a fair amount of fans compared to staff. I know there was about 8-9 of the marketing people dressed in Wonderland vests and buckets hats and a few other staff members in coloured wigs to try and get the cameras attention, but I think they avoided them if anything. None of them were seen when the show went to air. They were greeted by Scooby and Mutley, and the group started thier helicopter trip from the helipad in Goldrush, did a big circle round trip so it looked like that they were really just arriving.

[rappa]

Are you sure that concert wasn't in the Sundown theatre? I could have swarn that was the stage and the area was too big to be Action Arena (aka Gold Nugget)...

[Bussy]

Scandlus 'performed' in the Action Arena which was a very different place to Gold Nugget. "The Bus is now leaving for Nugget Bore, Western Australia"

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

Sorry Rappa, but bus is right on this one. Scandal'us took off from the Helitours pad in goldrush after park closure, they circled out and around to come in on the car-park helipad at an angle that gave the cameras a good shot. The show was held in Action Arena, in the shadow of Demon, and the stage was actually built at the level of the bottom row of seating in the ampitheatre. the stunt floor was about a metre or so below the stage, which hid some of the more ghastly props of the Action Man Set. if you go and watch this concert, you will see the X industries logo, and the building facade of lime green cracked concrete and brick. very little was done to action arena to make way for this performance, and Action Man was back and performing either the next day, or the day after that. ok, time for another tidbit hmmmm *thinks hard* Over the years, Wonderland has had 5 helipads. One in the staff area car park near security post, one in hanna barbera land, one in goldrush, one in the upper car park and one where Action Arena stood. Action Arena used to be a basketball court, where the sydney kings did demonstration games and the like, however, prior to its construction, it was a helipad. When the park opened, most of the bush and trees were newly planted, and were only saplings. it was possible to see bounty from beastie, and it was possible to see the rainbow from the bush beast. over the years, the trees, predominantly from the goldrush entrance to the bush beast grew so tall, it hid all but the tallest of the rides from view. as IVBotany Bay were predominantly a concrete jungle, there were very few trees to grow, however the strip up behind dodgems also created a natural barrier between botany bay and HBL.

[Daniel]

I remember watching the Harlem Globetrotters on that court too. Still got the signed photo around somewhere...

[Wonderbuzz]

Not my proudest moment but I was there! Scandalus performed at Action Arena. Bardot once performed at Sundown Theatre (behind Antique Autos) for I think it was Wonderlands 15th Birthday celebration.

[rappa]

WOW Bus you're right, it really never twigged till now that the two performance spaces are actualy different. What ever happend to Gold Nugget anyway? For that matter when do you think the last performance/even was held in Sundown (besides that dodgy stunt thing that is)?