What would you do if 'you' owned or managed DW?

[stardust]

I love themeparks that have a fun atmosphere with lots of theming aka Disneyland LA.. scary rides.. exciting rides.. kids rides.. a few shows and stuff, stuff like the Tombraider one they had! Why I don;t like Movieworld is too many boring shows eg Shrek 4d, not enough rides!

[Gazza]

^Its not Tomb Raider at DL, its Indiana jones.

Why I don;t like Movieworld is too many boring shows eg Shrek 4d, not enough rides!

Yeah, but DW has IMAX, which is undoubtedly more boring than Shrek (I quite enjoy Shrek, but I'm digressing a bit) Thing is, you shouldn't really run a theme park IMO without at least 1 or 2 major shows because the simple fact is people do like them, the problem is that pass holders, frequent visitors etc are probably more likely to get sick of them. The problem is that MW doesn't have enough rides in general, not the balance of attractions they currently have, I mean police academy and Shrek, thats like 2 major shows, is that really too many? As for what I would do If I managed DW...well if I were managing DW therefore Stephen Gregg wouldn't be managing DW, which is automatically an improvement. Seriously, the guy just seems to have lost the plot, at least Peet is on the right track...at the end of the day people go to theme parks to ride roller coasters, no two ways about it. If these 'interactive experiences' are so great then clearly places like Adrenaline park or those leech attractions like what you see on International Drive in Orlando would be hugely popular. The point about Sega World was very pertinent...that place was a flop. To me it doesn't make sense to deviate too much from the traditional theme park formula...they can harp on about how they have to compete with new age media, but i dont think this is true at all, people will never tire of visiting a good theme park. Nor will there be a stage where people will stop finding rides fun Marketing might change, but the product shouldn't really. Something Richo has said in the past is how interesting it is there are classic coasters that entertain people as much as they did 80 years ago despite all the changes in the world, and this pretty much backs up what i am saying.

^^ hmm.. The most disturbing piece from that article : QUOTE 'But Mr Peet said local thrillseekers won't see a giant ride open on the Gold Coast for some time yet.' Not good.

No news there really, DW of course wouldn't be willing to invest that much, and WVTP typically don't build giant rides.

[MickeyD]

gazza said: Seriously, the guy just seems to have lost the plot, Hey I don't think he had it in the first place! A fundamental difference between how the two groups are ran: WVTP's Management have decades of experience in the Theme park Industry that goes back years before even Seaworld was born. Some of the Park's senior Management (and indeed the CEO himself) have owed bucket loads of experience and a life of passion to the Industry - something that DW's Management couldn't dream of coming close to. The best thing they could do is give the big man on campus the flick and source bringing someone in who has true experience and a dedicated passion for the Industry. Gregg hasn't lost touch with the market, he was never truly in it to begin with!! As beneficial as getting a great new CEO for DW may sound though, I don't think this will happen until macquarie start noticing their investment losing serious ground to the competitors. If Village play their cards right, 2008 could be just the year for this tp happen

Edited January 17, 2008 by MickeyD

[rosscoe]

^^ hmm.. The most disturbing piece from that article : Not good.

I think that's the most crazy thing I've read in a LONG time. It's basically admitting they don't want to spend big bucks to build something thrilling. I think Movie World would be LOVING this, and good on them. I'm glad someone still cares about building something big and thrilling. Sorry, but this is another nail in Dreamworld's coffin. They've dug their grave in the past, and I think they just jumped into it.

You guys need to make sure who and what you are quoting, "Warner Village Theme Parks has spent more than $80 million, adding the Australian Outback Spectacular as well as several new rides, slides and attractions to its trio of parks Sea World, Warner Bros Movie World and Wet 'n' Wild Water World. The group's chief operating officer Steve Peet " "But Mr Peet said local thrillseekers won't see a giant ride open on the Gold Coast for some time yet." So as you can see above Mr Steve Peet works for Village Roadshow, Movieworld, he is saying that Movieworld won't, WONT be opening a gaint thrill ride for sometime yet. So out of all of that Movieworld are the ones saying they will not be building anything big soon!!!

[katestar]

Here is what I would do and I guess it is very similar to what most of you guys have said. How come we can see it but they can't? *Fix or replace the mine ride *Revamp the rapid ride the theme doesn't really make sense and its been that way for years. *Put a show on the river boat like they used to. * fix up/get rid of everything that is broken (e.g. sky way) *Introduce a new thrill ride as it has been quite a few years since a decent ride has been put in the place. *If a ride is getting old and run down remove it and replace it with a ride of better or equal quality -the thunderbolt and mine ride were two of my favourite rides and what have they been replaced with that was decent? And prices still go up. The main thing they need to do is bring back the magic of the place like how I remember it as a kid with Kenny the Koala and how everything wasn't so commercialised. Dreamworld is really slipping last year was the first year I went to Qld and didn't go, it used to be my favourite park but Movieworld now is.

[Richard]

So as you can see above Mr Steve Peet works for Village Roadshow, Movieworld, he is saying that Movieworld won't, WONT be opening a gaint thrill ride for sometime yet. So out of all of that Movieworld are the ones saying they will not be building anything big soon!!!

WVTP have in the past few years added Superman Escape, Batwing and Surf Rider. Of course they're going to take a break from adding thrill rides for a while so they can focus on other important markets their parks cater to. They've also already announced their major attractions for this year so it's really nothing new that there won't be any "giant thrill rides" in the immediate future. There is a trend at one park towards cheaper (often money-driven) attractions while at another they continue to add world-class traditional theme park attractions. You might have had a better argument if you at least paid some notice of the fact that the first company also said they're no longer interested in innovation nor thrill rides. I think most people who have been critical here have been so based on the information that was available in the article and I don't think anyone has been deliberately omitting that WVTP said there are no thrill rides on the cards to present a biased argument so much as they have been simply because this is a topic in the Dreamworld forum about Dreamworld.

[rosscoe]

I was not planning on having argument with anyone, all i was doing was pointing that Movieworld where not planning on adding anything huge in the near future. Ash's quote was "I think Movie World would be LOVING this, and good on them. I'm glad someone still cares about building something big and thrilling." And from the story posted, it would seem at this stage they do not. Also if you notice, i said nothing about the rest of the story, nor did i bring up Dreamworld. The thing i pointed out was the miss quoting of the story.

[ads086]

Something I thought of, which I forgot to mention in my original post, is to replace the Wipeout with a new version of itself. It's great to rebuild the motors and gearboxes constantly, but sometimes a brand new one is the way to go.

[stardust]

^Its not Tomb Raider at DL, its Indiana jones.

Ooh I know I meant DW's tombraider, though I love Indiana jones as well!

[rappa]

See to me I think Steve was meaning GIANT as in a kinda ka kind of massive 30 million dollar investment. In the context it was used I don't think Superman would be considered to be one of these GIANT rides he's saying the gold coast won't be getting. I took it to mean he was saying WVTP will continue to build thrill rides but we might not be looking at world record holders in size just yet.

[kainaussie]

i would go to the big brother house kick every 1 out lock the doors and i would live in there that would be so fun (ganna apply wen im older ) and then i would have a contest and 12 ppl would be able to come in the house for a week and we have a fnl and bree mike and fitzy host it from the house

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

Shhhhhhhh! nobody tell him it got cancelled.

[kainaussie]

Shhhhhhhh! nobody tell him it got cancelled.

LOL u arnt serious are u u no nothing about big brother 1 channel 9 or 7 are buying it for next year and it isnt ganna be cancelled so get ur facts right bfore writing posts

[revolutionx]

You dont know for sure if channel 7 or 9 is going to get it, so maybe i think the saying 'you need to get your facts straight' applies to you as well. And it was actually axed, so yes it is cancelled.

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

I heard 1.... i'm still waiting for 2... Thanks Rev, I think I can handle him though. What i'd do would depend on how much money was at my disposal. If I owned or managed dreamworld, AND had unlimited resources, my main focus would be to not make the mistakes of the current management. Maintenance would be done - well - and on everything, not just the stuff that makes money like Rides. Buildings would be restored and themed - appropriately - no bright colours in gold rush country. No faded colours in Ocean Parade. That is one thing Wonderland did well - most of what they painted was done in very lastable colours - all these bright "ice cream" colours just don't last. I'd redesign the cyclone queueing and station system - and make the land fit the ride, not the other way around. Replace wipeout Apologise for MDMC - and Replace it bring the word THEME back to THEME PARK and overall to concentrate more on the visitor experience, rather than the bottom dollar. like almost everything, once the entrepreneur who started it all disappears, things change - To quote from one of the mailing lists I receive: When companies grow beyond the loving attention of the entrepreneur, words like efficiency start to creep in. We saw it with Disney, and we have seen it with Dreamworld.

[GoGoBoy]

Apologise for MDMC - and Replace it

Haha I love that! I agree and would also make removing the Mick Doohan Motocoaster a first priority if I managed the park. And as Alex suggested, a public appology would certainly be required. I would also enjoy tearing down the terrible cheap 2D theming that is associated with that ride. I would love nothing more than to burn the Mick Doohan racing facts signage and all of those hideous banners etc. Such cheap and pathetic themeing has no place in a permanent THEME park. Then ofcourse I would steer the park away from Stephen Gregg's idea of introducing sports related or non-ride attractions and bring back what people really go to these parks for - rides... and they'd be good ones!

[cadboy]

Replace wipeout

Noooooooooo! Only if it was being replaced with a Huss Jump 2 or another Giant ride.

[BNErider]

Replace Wipeout!?!?! That's one of my favourite rides at DW. Repair it yes. Re-theme it, Why not? But why would you replace it?

[MickeyD]

Put in some Cinemas, an Olympic Lap Pool, Basketball & Tennis courts.. ... or is that already planned?!?!

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

Noooooooooo! Only if it was being replaced with a Huss Jump 2 or another Giant ride.

Replace Wipeout!?!?! That's one of my favourite rides at DW. Repair it yes. Re-theme it, Why not? But why would you replace it?

I think I should clarify - since I did say that I would also replace MDMC. When I said replace wipeout, I simply meant to purchase another of the same attraction brand new, and install it to give another 10 years life without the moaning and groaning it is subjected to - ....it's kind of already been said somewhere as far as replacing it with a new one, rather than just overhauling the motors all the time. That was all I meant.

[cadboy]

Ah yes that makes sense unfortunately we are talking about dreamworld here and I am sure that they would not buy another wipeout stlye ride replacement because the current one makes to much noise. But we can dream can't we.......

[Spotty]

The wipeout makes too much noise? What about that big thing that goes 38 storeys high and 156kph a tiny bit down the road? However... I'd be wanting to get a new maintenance team... First Eureka... then FlowRider going down for extended periods and now this... The following rides and attractions will be closed for scheduled maintenance: The Claw, currently closed until further advised.

[Dylaan]

Ha I love the sound of the Wipeout! Tower of Terror is annoying at the worst... The Claw was undergoing what I thought was annual maintenance when I went a week ago. The enclosure on one of the motors was removed and it looked damaged but I wouldn't know. They had a crane hanging over the fence, but I guess that's part of any work they do... Flowrider looked like crap, the mat had been ripped back exposing the framework underneath, although again probably regular stuff. A friend said he was told it wouldn't be back 'til Christmas. With Movie World passes at $99 I'm so tempted to grab one!

[Gazza]

To be honest, pulling out MDMC would be a bit drastic given you'd lose so much money trying to sell it second hand, and would spend a lot of money actually de constructing it. Plus the space that it takes up is a bit useless anyway for anything more than a small coaster. I personally would just give it a more family friendly (and higher quality) re theme, and actually aim the ride at a group likely to enjoy it, instead of this lost cause of trying to sell it to thrill seekers.

[Spotty]

I agree about the TOT noise... I like it but it's nothing graceful like the noise of the Wipeout. The sound of the Wipeout's motors whirring gives it character, and its not a earsplitting noise to say the least. In regards to Flowrider maintenance, having the mat removed would have been a regular practice as it would have given mechanics better access to the rides internal workings. With The Claw I was told about a month ago that it started its maintenance period earlier than originally planned. Apparently there was some technical problems which I am not going to go into due to not knowing exactly what it was. Lets just hope that the problem is sorted out soon as the lines were pretty nasty when I was there on the weekend. The tower's line was out the door. Motocoaster was running with a VERY efficient crew of 2 people with 1 train loading. The line was down to the switchbacks and I only waited 20 - 30 mins max.