The Off Topic Topic

[JaggedJanine]

On 23/12/2017 at 6:51 PM, themeparkaddict said:

Here in NZ we call "water slides" hydrosldies. You can search up Hydroslide on youtube and the first few results will be NZ based. You learned something new today.

As a Kiwi, i have only ever known for them to be called waterslides. But then again, I'm not from New Plymouth.

[Minions!]

Thought I’d add in my experience of justice league today: 

I’d personally like to thank JL for malfunctioning and providing me with this today

I was very pleased that I was able to skip the long hot line of Rivals for a nice front seat view. Aswell as it was very nice of them to allow us to actually get off the ride very quickly and actually explain to us what happend it’s also neat that we could actually be given a pass to get straight into another ride. 

 

I’ve never heard of this pass before, anyone can clarify on if they’re new or if you’ve received one?

[Spotty]

That is certainly a new thing the Attraction re-admission pass. Previous procedure was never mention anything like it if there was an evacuation / malfunction but if someone complained to Guest Services they would normally be escorted through the exit of the ride once it's reopened. I think it's a great idea that they have done something like this, and will increase guest happiness if they get a sub par experience or are unloaded off a ride mid cycle. As an ex employee, seeing the way the new management seems to be running this is really great to see. 

From a few people I know, they have even been telling me how much better the working environment has become over the last few years so it's really great to see VRTP making all these good changes. It all starts with management, if you have good management that gives a crap about the staff then the staff will give a crap. Guests will be happier and the experience will improve. Here's to seeing what Greg Yong and Clark Kirby do with VRTP over the coming years!

[Park Addict 93]

Not entirely new, but yes a great initiative.

Got this one during FN 2016

[Mc coaster]

First post of the year😛😛

 

Happy New Year Everybody 😀😂🙂

Edited December 31, 2017 by Mc coaster

[JaggedJanine]

16 minutes ago, Mc coaster said:

First post of the year😛😛

 

Happy New Year Everybody 😀😂🙂

You are a bit early for everyone here in SEQ.

[Tim Dasco]

1 minute ago, JaggedJanine said:

You are a bit early for everyone here in SEQ.

Or Perth? 3 hours behind here.

[iwerks]

Or Hong Kong.

[Gold Coast Amusement Force]

Haven’t seen the Dreamworld ride express booth open in a while, was open today 

[T-bone]

I came across my news feeds this morning that Blackpools Wooden Mad Mouse has been demolished. RCDB confirms the coaster closed in 2017.

For those who didn’t know,  this Mouse was similar in design to the Aussie World and Luna Park Sydney Mouse coasters, infact those 3 were the only remaining wooden mouse coasters left in the world.

With it now gone, and the Aussie World Mouse also gone, that leaves the Luna Park mouse as the last remaining wooden Mad mouse style coaster left in the world.

It does make me wonder how much the LPS mouse has got left in her though.

[pushbutton]

2 hours ago, T-bone said:

I came across my news feeds this morning that Blackpools Wooden Mad Mouse has been demolished. RCDB confirms the coaster closed in 2017.

For those who didn’t know,  this Mouse was similar in design to the Aussie World and Luna Park Sydney Mouse coasters, infact those 3 were the only remaining wooden mouse coasters left in the world.

With it now gone, and the Aussie World Mouse also gone, that leaves the Luna Park mouse as the last remaining wooden Mad mouse style coaster left in the world.

It does make me wonder how much the LPS mouse has got left in her though.

I suppose all good things come to an end. Until the late 90s there was also a similar mad mouse at the Adelaide showgrounds, which was one of the few rides that was always there, not just when the royal show was on.

Whilst I understand that timber wears out over time, I did like this ride and it would be nice if at least that last one could be preserved, even if it had to be completely rebuilt with new timber. 

[Theme Park]

3 hours ago, pushbutton said:

I suppose all good things come to an end. Until the late 90s there was also a similar mad mouse at the Adelaide showgrounds, which was one of the few rides that was always there, not just when the royal show was on.

Whilst I understand that timber wears out over time, I did like this ride and it would be nice if at least that last one could be preserved, even if it had to be completely rebuilt with new timber. 

Could it be possible to get this last wooden mouse coaster at LPS heritage listed.

[XxMrYoshixX]

According to this site, Wild Mouse has been heritage listed by the NSW Government along with Crystal Palace.

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=5055827

It is quite sad to think that your local coaster, not to mention the first coaster you have ever ridden, is the last one of its type left in the world. It makes me feel a lot more grateful that I have such a rare coaster on my doorstep. It makes LPS that much more of a special park despite its size - we have one of only a few rotor rides in the world, the only HUSS Ranger and Troika in Australia, and are home to the last operating 1930s funhouse and wooden wild mouse coaster.

LPS management have said Wild Mouse isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

[pin142]

There is still this one in Indonesia operating according to RCDB

https://rcdb.com/10419.htm

[pushbutton]

21 minutes ago, pin142 said:

There is still this one in Indonesia operating according to RCDB

https://rcdb.com/10419.htm

According to that link, it was originally the Mad Mouse at the Melbourne showgrounds!

[pin142]

Yeah, amazing to think at one time we had three in the country. Guess we are lucky to have one still.

[Jobe]

As has been stated , LPS Wild Mouse is a heritage listed ride along with Coney Island, The Crystal Palace, and the Towers at LPS' face.

It is absolutely amazing that Australia had at one time 3 operating Wild Mouse rides- now we are down to the one unit at LPS.

The travelling unit  went to Indonesia  as been reported and this originally stood for many years at the Melbourne Showgrounds.

The Aussie World unit came from the Perth Showgrounds and was sourced from the USA . It had a different seating configuration and different cars to LPS' unit. It was an absolute travesty that this unit was demolished in the manner it was.

Brad Loxley, the Operations Manager at LPS, has categorically stated that the Wild Mouse and other heritage attractions such as Coney Island and Rotor are not going anywhere. Wild Mouse is a fairly simple ride and should be easy to maintain to a good riding standard and should be around for many years to come.

LPS have ruled out newer compact coasters with their revitalisation at this stage due to lack of room around their current and proposed attractions. The new 64 seat Wave Swinger will be installed by the end of March and their new theming around the park has begun, with the first example at the Light house cafe. What is exciting is that each new ride will receive new thematic bridges to really give back its old time charm and feel. There will be a new take on the Tumble Bug sculpture that will be incorporated into a new ride.

The revitalisation of the park has a tabulated time line of 5 years so should be completed by 2021 at the latest.

The Wild Mouse Unit at BPB was a unique unit and its layout was very different to our Mouse. It was found nowhere else in the world. When i rode this back in 2004, i would actually say that it was a superior layout to our unit. This unit and the former King Solomons Mine Ride from Southport were the last operating wooden Wild Mice left in the UK. King Solomon's Mines was originally going to be installed at Dreamland Margate as part of their heritage ride roster but it has rotted to the point that it can no longer be installed. The removal of BPB Wiuld Mouse unit could have left it open to being relocated to this park but it has since been dismantled and destroyed, ending any hopes for a resurrection in this fashion.

LPS's unit was built by Ted Hopkins after he bought the designs from Germany and they built locally 3 versions of the ride One each went Melbourne and Adelaide showgrounds and the other is the existing unit at LPS. 

Given that for all intents and purposes, LPS's Wild Mouse is the last man standing, its historical significance is even more exemplified now given this status. It is good to know that this ride is protected by legislation and will be there for future generations to enjoy. It will certainly make LPS a must stop on any coaster enthusiast's itinerary who is travelling through Sydney to get the credit.

[djmcbell]

The demolition of Blackpool's Wild Mouse is a huge shame. I was born and bred around Blackpool and, whilst the ride wasn't my favourite, you had to give it props for squeezing so much into space the same size as a small cafe.

Many was the time my wife and I would be skidding around in the tiny little mouse car as it lurched off, duck under some track which passed over the lift hill (hoping nobody was going over that bit of track at the time as it would bend quite visibly), hold on for dear life around 90 and 180 degree turns which were so severe the car took them on two wheels, and take the drops which had the airtime of a madman and the pain of a very bad chiropractor.

Screw all the psychological things Alton Towers tries to build around its rides - on Blackpool's Wild Mouse you always experienced some amount of mortal fear. Letting go to put your arms in the air would result in broken ribs.

I haven't been on Sydney's and hope it's a good substitute. Annoyed at Blackpool for not announcing the demolition beforehand (some people think they never intended to announce it yet but leaked pictures forced their hand). They'll have issues finding anything to take its place, such was the tiny amount it took up.

[pushbutton]

On 08/01/2018 at 10:43 AM, Jobe said:

As has been stated , LPS Wild Mouse is a heritage listed ride along with Coney Island, The Crystal Palace, and the Towers at LPS' face.

It is absolutely amazing that Australia had at one time 3 operating Wild Mouse rides- now we are down to the one unit at 

There were actually 4 in Australia. 

Adelaide showgrounds

Melbourne showgrounds 

Luna park Sydney 

Aussie World 

[diesal11]

5 hours ago, pushbutton said:

There were actually 4 in Australia. 

Adelaide showgrounds

Melbourne showgrounds 

Luna park Sydney 

Aussie World 

The Adelaide Mad Mouse was a death trap from memory. I was only young when it was removed. My dad took me on a ride in it's final year of operation. I still remember seeing the track lift off while waiting in line. Scary to think it lives on overseas.

Edited January 10, 2018 by diesal11

[jjuttp]

Speaking of Wild Mice, does anyone have the total SBNO days for DW until the track was demolished?

[Gary86]

The Mine Ride was SBNO for 11 years, 1 month and 12 days.

Edited January 10, 2018 by Gary86

[pushbutton]

So, depending on your point of view on what constitutes a Mad Mouse, there have been potentially 6 Mad Mouse style rides in Australia at one time or another :

1. Adelaide showgrounds

2. Melbourne showgrounds 

3. Luna park Sydney 

4. Aussie World

5. Eureka Mountain Mine Ride at Dreamworld 

6. Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster at Movie World 

I wouldn't mind betting there's no other countryin the world that's had that many! 

Having just seen photos of numerous Mad Mouse rides in Britain, I take back my earlier bet on Australia having the most.

The UK had loads of them!

[Minions!]

Park After Dark back Feb!

[Jay Jay The Jet Plane]

I’m really hoping the event is called 

Park After Dark Cageworld 

All the rides have cages all installed for one night