I’m sure a lot of regional parks and parks outside the country would be happy to pick up a unique family coaster that does draw lines and isn’t too old for most likely fairly cheap even with the rides maligned reputation, so I wouldn’t be shocked to see this popping up at some park as their 2027 addition.

2 hours ago, jjuttup said:

Collingwood

This should be at number 1 @DaptoFunlandGuy

Better trains, lower to the ground and some tunnels and good theming and the coaster would do well for families in a regional park.

Since no one has mentioned this, I was looking through Vekoma's website, and they have announced a new Vekoma Wildcat. I may be wrong but it seems to be a size that could maybe just fit in Motorcoaster's plot. It would make sense, seeing as they are loosing one of their "thrill" rides. It would be a good investment if they were planning on also removing the Gold Coaster in the coming years.

1 hour ago, HarryHeHe8 said:

Since no one has mentioned this, I was looking through Vekoma's website, and they have announced a new Vekoma Wildcat. I may be wrong but it seems to be a size that could maybe just fit in Motorcoaster's plot. It would make sense, seeing as they are loosing one of their "thrill" rides. It would be a good investment if they were planning on also removing the Gold Coaster in the coming years.

All the models say this;

It's just a placeholder image that's meant to display the ride models layout

What exactly is wrong with the MC? It’s 18 years old, not a heritage-listed steam engine. Why the sudden urgency to send it to the scrapyard?

If we’re talking about rides that have earned a gold watch and a farewell speech, surely the Gold Coaster deserves a look first. It debuted at Luna Park 30 years ago, ran for about two years spread over five, then packed up, moved north, and has been clocking in at DW for another 24 years.

By my very unscientific but strongly held scientific analysis, if anything’s lining up for retirement drinks, it’s probably the GC, not MC.

1 minute ago, New display name said:

By my very unscientific but strongly held scientific analysis, if anything’s lining up for retirement drinks, it’s probably the GC, not MC.

I agree. But I think the plan is to finish Rivertown first - get one section of the park done and then move on. Both rides need replacing so the order doesn't matter. Extending Rivertown is likely the cheaper option.

Also, if they've found a buyer for the ride, better to take the money now - even if you haven't finalised plans for its replacement. Otherwise that sales opportunity might go away and you end up having to scrap it.

Edited January 21Jan 21 by wikiverse

15 minutes ago, New display name said:

What exactly is wrong with the MC? It’s 18 years old, not a heritage-listed steam engine. Why the sudden urgency to send it to the scrapyard?

It's the awful riding position because you ride on your knees. There is no padding at all, so any vibrations/jolts you feel, you really feel. Intamin got these trains so wrong and swiftly corrected it on Jet Rescue which has extremly comfortable and open trains. The ride is extremely restrictive to riders with larger thighs or calves and tal riders as the restraint squishes you in. As the knees are resting on no padding, and most of the time being compressed into that position, as I mentioned above, resting on the hard plastic you feel everything. The trains effectively boxes the rider in in so tightly it affects the way you sense speed leading to it feeling meandering and that the coaster 'does nothing'. The side cars apparently do help to fix this, I haven't experienced this so I can't comment on how different the ride feels, now that it's closing I try to.

When the coaster opened in 2007, coaster was "narrowly beaten by a 1989 Vekoma ride for the title of world's worst steel roller coaster": the coaster ranked 356th out of the 357 coasters in the Best Steel Roller Coaster Poll. From day dot the ride had issues. The layout is fine on paper, but the trains are just so terrible.

Edited January 21Jan 21 by TV15

2 hours ago, TV15 said:

It's the awful riding position because you ride on your knees. There is no padding at all, so any vibrations/jolts you feel, you really feel. Intamin got these trains so wrong and swiftly corrected it on Jet Rescue which has extremly comfortable and open trains. The ride is extremely restrictive to riders with larger thighs or calves and tal riders as the restraint squishes you in. As the knees are resting on no padding, and most of the time being compressed into that position, as I mentioned above, resting on the hard plastic you feel everything. The trains effectively boxes the rider in in so tightly it affects the way you sense speed leading to it feeling meandering and that the coaster 'does nothing'. The side cars apparently do help to fix this, I haven't experienced this so I can't comment on how different the ride feels, now that it's closing I try to.

When the coaster opened in 2007, coaster was "narrowly beaten by a 1989 Vekoma ride for the title of world's worst steel roller coaster": the coaster ranked 356th out of the 357 coasters in the Best Steel Roller Coaster Poll. From day dot the ride had issues. The layout is fine on paper, but the trains are just so terrible.

I missed going on the Motocoaster due to lightning forcing us to leave DW early this time around, and so i was mourning not ever being able to get the credit for this ride.

However, i have really long legs and couldn't get on Jet Rescue due to my knees pushing into the handle bars - so it is kind of comforting knowing my experience on MC would've been miserable anyway, lol.

4 hours ago, New display name said:

By my very unscientific but strongly held scientific analysis, if anything’s lining up for retirement drinks, it’s probably the GC, not MC.

I agree, and i think 90% of the GP would too.

MC may not be the greatest ride experience, and operationally its a pain in the ass due to the harness system, but i've never personally had any issue with comfort on the ride and often wonder what people complain so much about.

I rode GC last week, it had been 18+ months since my last ride, and they could rename that thing "Concussion: The Ride". It is now so jolty, so just entirely uncomfortable that i don't know why anyone would choose to ride it.

If i was rating the 2 rides, GC would be in the "need" pile when it comes to replacement, whereas MC would be in the "would be nice but not critical".

The only reason i feel they are moving on MC first is due to immediate plans for the space, or an immediate buyer for the ride at a price they don't feel they would be able to get again in the future. Or alternatively they've uncovered a critical issue that cannot be fixed without major investment they do not wish to partake in, and its simply being scrapped.

10 minutes ago, Brad2912 said:

Or alternatively they've uncovered a critical issue that cannot be fixed without major investment they do not wish to partake in, and its simply being scrapped.

I feel if it was a critical issue, they'd close it immediately not give it a retirement tour

interestingly IF DW did end up getting a package deal with Intamin there are apparently two yet to be announced roller coasters from Intamin yet to be announces.... If DW is getting something from Intamin I would be more inclined to believe it would be the "Family LSM Coaster" over the Ultra Surf

47 minutes ago, TomWilliams said:

I feel if it was a critical issue, they'd close it immediately not give it a retirement tour

Critical may not have been the right word for me to use. I mean they’ve uncovered something “essential” to the operation of the ride that will soon need replacement/upgrade, not that there is some danger present they are ignoring for 2 more weeks

22 hours ago, Brad2912 said:

i don't know why anyone would choose to ride it.

I adore Gold Coaster. Whilst it does bang your head around, the forces are the best in the park imo. Not to mention its got such an interesting history. I'll personally be devastated when it goes, but that's just my opinion :)

Resident gold coaster enjoyer here (hence the profile picture ive had for a number of years)

The ride is very easy and cheap to maintain like all arrows. The components are simple enough to be reproduced by a third party and is still well supported for parts by S&S. The layout being how it is, means there's limited stress on the track, but if need be, more crossties can easily be added to the inversions as bracing (a lot of boomerangs and older arrows are getting these). The control system and electronics are quite new and were replaced in 2023 so the park have financially committed to keeping the ride going for a while.

Rider comfort is a bigger concern than financial commitment though. Don't get me wrong, Cyclone is special for me - but it's too rough, and it's only getting worse. If they don't do something to fix the comfort issue, it won't be worth continuing to operate it regardless of how much they've spent upgrading it... the ridership just won't be there to warrant it.

7 hours ago, DaptoFunlandGuy said:

the ridership just won't be there to warrant it.

Looks like me and @Baconjack will have to just go and ride it multiple times everyday then lol!

(I do agree that they have to improve comfort, at least the vest restraints, since they pin you down a lot imo)

It is quite interesting that dreamworld is keeping Gold coaster around longer then Motocoaster considering how unpopular the ride currently is and how much older it is then Motocoaster but I won’t complain as I unironically love Gold Coaster and hope it stays for as long as it possibly can.

There's too many people that think they like Gold Coaster, when they actually just have brain damage from the ride smashing their brains against the inside of their skulls.

Please stop riding before it's too late. You have so much to live for.

8 minutes ago, wikiverse said:

There's too many people that think they like Gold Coaster, when they actually just have brain damage from the ride smashing their brains against the inside of their skulls.

Please stop riding before it's too late. You have so much to live for.

Never!!! :)

The issue with Gold Coaster is its location. They close Gold Coaster and they aren’t replacing it, therefore the parks attraction count goes down. They close Motocoaster, they can replace it quickly and with almost anything because that site is a blank canvas.

27 minutes ago, themagician said:

The issue with Gold Coaster is its location. They close Gold Coaster and they aren’t replacing it, therefore the parks attraction count goes down. They close Motocoaster, they can replace it quickly and with almost anything because that site is a blank canvas.

Also, Loops=Money.

MC is just a launch with nothing special and it feels like you hit a brake run the moment you leave the launch. Its better other sibling has 2 launches, hugs the ground and the dodging section. Meanwhile Aunty and Uncle have a swing launch, or a launch with bite, theming and a tophat.

GC is a ride that at this point, i don't think anything alse in the area has- a lift hill and inversions in 1 package

16 minutes ago, jjuttup said:

GC is a ride that at this point, i don't think anything alse in the area has- a lift hill and inversions in 1 package

Green Lantern would like a word with you.

14 hours ago, DaptoFunlandGuy said:

Rider comfort is a bigger concern than financial commitment though. Don't get me wrong, Cyclone is special for me - but it's too rough, and it's only getting worse. If they don't do something to fix the comfort issue, it won't be worth continuing to operate it regardless of how much they've spent upgrading it... the ridership just won't be there to warrant it.

Control systems are not a cheap upgrade (from what I understand Movie World didn't see the value in replacing Arkham's one that was life expired and opted to pull the whole thing down instead, among a whole bunch of other issues).

Gold coaster's been rough for 20 years (and by accounts was also rough when it was in Sydney). A few of the transitions kind of stink. It was so much worse with the old trains though, I've never had a problem with the vests and find them superior in every way.

This is a convo worth having in 2030 in my view. At the end of the day Dreamworld needs to keep the ride count up and there's no other roller coaster between Jungle Rush and Steel Taipan, so its in their best interest to keep it around until they're ready to replace it or some major operational issue with the ride forces their hand. The fact day-to-day upkeep for it is as simple as it is, is the reason it's stuck around as long as it has.

Edited January 23Jan 23 by Baconjack

12 minutes ago, Baconjack said:

so its in their best interest to keep it around until they're ready to replace it

This will be when they're ready to redevelop the entire end of Ocean Parade.

Coincidentally, if they're developing commercial spaces at the northern end of the car park (like a hotel), they should definitely move their offices into that building. That space behind the Wipeout plot could absolutely be used for expansion. You could fit an enormous dark-ride show building in that and the GC space - perhaps even two.