9 hours ago, DaptoFunlandGuy said:

Curious how you can be so confident?

Zero faith in current management and their ability to operate the theme park effectively. I very well may be wrong, but I just don’t see them outlaying substantial capital to essentially replace the launch on a near 25 year old ride that realistically wouldn’t have a decade left in it without track replacement. The promised queue changes were not forthcoming. I believe they are operating it with the idea of running it until it stops running or they get through the summer holidays, whichever comes first

On 23/10/2026 at 12:35 PM, Brad2912 said:

Seems SE will go the way SDSC went.

Patch fixes until it become apparent patches won’t work, and then one day it will go into maintenance and never return (yes SDSC returned eventually but SE won’t)

The ride itself is mostly fine. There's no real issues with the track or the trains.

The issues are with the launch system, and there are two replacement options that can be done by various manufacturers. A LSM conversion could be done by Intamin, Zamperla, or Premier Rides, or S&S could replace the hydraulic system with a pneumatic system. S&S have already done a retrofit with Powderkeg at Silver Dollar City, and they have designed a faster launch on a shorter track with MaxxForce. So it could be done, if VRTP are willing to work with them again after GL.

Both options are more simple, have fewer moving parts and less maintenance than a hydraulic launch system. A pneumatic launch is clearly the spiritual successor and the better ride experience option, but the LSM option is likely cheaper to install and maintain. A pneumatic launch gives the ride a clear point of difference to ST at Dreamworld, and could be considered an 'upgrade' with more punchy acceleration. It would, however, be very loud and two pneumatic launch rides in the same plaza might be overwhelming - the solution would be to move batwing to a different area of the park but this adds additional cost.

An LSM conversion would therefore be the most likely option. Even if it cost $10M and they did a station upgrade at the same time, it would still cost less than the $30M+ they would need to spend on a brand new custom designed coaster to replace it in that space.

36 minutes ago, wikiverse said:

An LSM conversion would therefore be the most likely option. Even if it cost $10M and they did a station upgrade at the same time, it would still cost less than the $30M+ they would need to spend on a brand new custom designed coaster to replace it in that space.

Spending $10-$15m on a 25 year old coaster doesn’t seem to fit with VTP’s cut-cost, lower overhead model.

To get an upswing in visitation to justify that they’d need to do more then just upgrade the launch and make the station better - that’s not getting interstate visitors to book another trip.

Private equity park owners do like to pump $$$$ in capex while cutting costs on day-to-day operations though. If their asset has lots of shiny new toys it looks good for a sale down the track (might be better at proving a case for a ground up replacement tbf)

Pre-2016 Macquarie/Ardent were still adding new rides to dreamworld on a regular basis despite day-to-day operations being allocated pennies. I see a lot of that in village

To get an upswing in visitation to justify that they’d need to do more then just upgrade the launch and make the station better - that’s not getting interstate visitors to book another trip.

You could say exactly the same thing about Motocoaster, a ride that is nowhere near as much of a crowd favourite as Superman, but Dreamworld still did their due diligence and thought spending 18 months renovating it was a good idea. Renovating the station, the dark ride section and replacing the launch is still a lot cheaper than a new ride

Edited Saturday at 05:21 AM3 days by Baconjack

3 hours ago, Brad2912 said:

Spending $10-$15m on a 25 year old coaster doesn’t seem to fit with VTP’s cut-cost, lower overhead model.

What about spending that on a 21 year old coaster?

3 hours ago, Brad2912 said:

that’s not getting interstate visitors to book another trip.

No, but it will keep one of the parks most important coasters running for another few decades. And if it goes, nothing is replacing it.

1 hour ago, themagician said:

What about spending that on a 21 year old coaster?

No, but it will keep one of the parks most important coasters running for another few decades. And if it goes, nothing is replacing it.

If referencing MDMC, I’m not a fan of the idea. The only thing going for it is that it will be an entirely new experience in that it will be different trains, indoor sections. Proof will be in the final delivered product

a new launch only for SE doesn’t give them anything “new” to market. If they do the launch with a refresh to the internal dark ride section of then I think that could be a credible investment strategy.

Hey I wanna stress I don’t want SE gone. It’s in my top 3 in the country and I love it - I just am not sure management will do right by it

57 minutes ago, Brad2912 said:

If referencing MDMC

I was referencing Superman, it opened in 2005!

58 minutes ago, Brad2912 said:

If they do the launch with a refresh to the internal dark ride section of then I think that could be a credible investment strategy.

I don’t think they necessarily need to do a new indoor section. I personally think they just need to the queue/loading refurb they announced a few years ago and either do a major refurb to the launch system to either retain the hydraulic or the more likely option replace it was a more reliable launch system.

To be fair, none of us even know who management is now...
AND, these sorts of upgrades takes years of planning and ordering in advance, so it's likely anything would already be in play. I don't see anyone wanting to kill it off for more Parade Float storage.

From what I've also heard on the grapevine... I'd get those rides in while you can. Even with the VRTP issues. 👀

On 24/10/2026 at 12:27 AM, Brad2912 said:

Zero faith in current management and their ability to operate the theme park effectively. I very well may be wrong, but I just don’t see them outlaying substantial capital to essentially replace the launch on a near 25 year old ride that realistically wouldn’t have a decade left in it without track replacement. The promised queue changes were not forthcoming. I believe they are operating it with the idea of running it until it stops running or they get through the summer holidays, whichever comes first

I take your points on management

On 24/10/2026 at 2:46 PM, Brad2912 said:

Spending $10-$15m on a 25 year old coaster doesn’t seem to fit with VTP’s cut-cost, lower overhead model.

To get an upswing in visitation to justify that they’d need to do more then just upgrade the launch and make the station better - that’s not getting interstate visitors to book another trip.

I see the comments have already said almost everything I was going to say - however just to recap \ add onto the pile-on:

On 24/10/2026 at 8:12 PM, themagician said:

I was referencing Superman, it opened in 2005!

• It opened on Boxing day 2005 to be precise - so as far as i'm concerned, it's a 2006 baby as far as age goes. It's not even 21 yet.

• Based on Brad's estimates, If it only had 10 years left when it was 25, that means it's got closer to 15 now making it far more worthwhile of an investment to keep running

• Adding to this, this 20 year old ride consistently gets the longest or second longest queues in the park behind Rivals. They would be stupid to get rid of it without a plan to fill the gap

• They don't need an upswing in visitation, but they do need to maintain their current levels - losing what was for many years the park's flagship, that still pulls crowds as big as the hypercoaster next door, as well as the 720pph theoretical capacity loss to the park.

• BGH are certainly tightening the belts, it's what private equity does, so isn't a surprise - but that rule doesn't apply to capital improvements. They need to maintain or improve the valuation of the asset before they sell - they're not here to make money and so far the investments that have occurred haven't paid off - though possibly because part of the money for that went on someone's pergola or kitchen.

• If the new launch can potentially hit a higher launch speed on the hat, even if they trim it off afterwards, the new top speed would be something marketable.

• As for the queue changes - I haven't heard anything recently about it - but I believe they had intended to do them during downtime, but pulled it when the park had capacity issues in order to get the ride back online. These things are scheduled a ways in advance so they may not have had another 'slot' to do the work in until the next cycle - it could happen sooner than we think

I'm curious why you think Superman would require a track replacement in the next 10 years? Even with your incorrect age assessment that would only put it at 35 years, and meanwhile there are old arrow coasters built in the early 70's that still operate today, almost 60 years later. Revolution at SFMM turned 50 this year as did Cedar Point's Corkscrew.

20 hours ago, rappa said:

I don't see anyone wanting to kill it off for more Parade Float storage.

To be fair, if they keep axing entertainment, they won't need the parade float storage they've already got.

On 24/10/2026 at 9:12 PM, themagician said:

I don’t think they necessarily need to do a new indoor section. I personally think they just need to the queue/loading refurb they announced a few years ago and either do a major refurb to the launch system to either retain the hydraulic or the more likely option replace it was a more reliable launch system.

Nah for any renovation the dark ride section at a minimum needs a restoration to opening day condition. Lots of the sensors for audio are not calibrated properly and so many effects are either running in B mode or are just not working at all. Scooby is the blueprint for this sort of stuff

Edited yesterday at 12:34 AM1 day by Baconjack

22 hours ago, rappa said:

To be fair, none of us even know who management is now...
AND, these sorts of upgrades takes years of planning and ordering in advance, so it's likely anything would already be in play. I don't see anyone wanting to kill it off for more Parade Float storage.

Keeping Super-Villains Unleashed open, is all I need to know about the current management. ☹️

4 hours ago, New display name said:

Keeping Super-Villains Unleashed open, is all I need to know about the current management. ☹️

Doomsday was an attraction the park needed. we all said it when it was announced. It was just unfortunate it was a lemon, and then it was further nerfed.

The area itself is still a great area for people to take photos of theming, and it is a theme park. for DC fans out there, having some of those set pieces available is better than nothing.

38 minutes ago, DaptoFunlandGuy said:

having some of those set pieces available is better than nothing

But only if the park looks after it and it feels like an area you’re allowed to be in.

7 hours ago, DaptoFunlandGuy said:

I'm curious why you think Superman would require a track replacement in the next 10 years? Even with your incorrect age assessment that would only put it at 35 years, and meanwhile there are old arrow coasters built in the early 70's that still operate today, almost 60 years later. Revolution at SFMM turned 50 this year as did Cedar Point's Corkscrew.

Not based on any technician knowledge of the design lifespan but based purely on the basis of us not seeing any real examples of Gold Coast rollercoasters cracking 30 years without being torn down or had track replacement.

Gold Coaster is the closest to 30, albeit some of that spent in Sydney, but none of us wouldn’t overtly complain were they to pull that brain damage inflictor down as long as a replacement was lined up.

41 minutes ago, DaptoFunlandGuy said:

The area itself is still a great area for people to take photos of theming, and it is a theme park. for DC fans out there, having some of those set pieces available is better than nothing.

Were the statues re-instated after being removed and relocated to the front of the park during the heroes v villains event? I forgot to stick my head in at fright nights to look

2 hours ago, Brad2912 said:

Were the statues re-instated after being removed and relocated to the front of the park during the heroes v villains event? I forgot to stick my head in at fright nights to look

I think it's been closed off since with no guest access any more

Edited yesterday at 09:56 AM1 day by TV15

20 hours ago, Ogre said:

From what I've also heard on the grapevine... I'd get those rides in while you can. Even with the VRTP issues. 👀

That’s what I heard as well with February 2027 slated to be the potential month of closure.

13 hours ago, TV15 said:

I think it's been closed off since with no guest access any more

You can only hope MW have finally done what they should’ve done a long time ago.