I've got to say I much prefer Sea World's upgrade/re-theme and subsequent re-marketing of an attraction as a 'filler' (smaller less expensive attractions added in a year where no major ride is being built) as opposed to Dreamworld's standard fillers like Flowrider, AVPX, Redline etc. I think the park will get better long term benefits out of upgrading an exiting ride as opposed to adding crappy side show style 'interactive attractions'

Has the opening date for the re-theme been announced or is "Christmas" all the detail available? I wonder if they might be a little late...

Well according to the website its just Christmas:

Survive Sea Viper at Sea World this summer! Opening Christmas 2009.

http://seaworld.myfun.com.au/Attractions/Rides/Sea-Viper.htm Hopefully a makeover is a little more than a new train and a coat of paint.

Christmas would actually be a few weeks behind the original planned date... perhaps there are some issues. These photos are a few weeks old so apologies for that, I keep forgetting to post them.

Good shots there Rappa. It's been a while since I paid close attention to the corkscrew station - that metal work (cross beams etc) looks like it's new.... is it?

Good shots there Rappa. It's been a while since I paid close attention to the corkscrew station - that metal work (cross beams etc) looks like it's new.... is it?

must be the lighting, but yea it does look new. However, it is not.... http://www.parkz.com.au/photo/AU/Gold_Coas..._lift_hill.html

just thinking along with the water effect light, the use of a bubble machine would look quite nice too. i like the idea of enclosed ques the could be like the ones for the Simpson ride (below) and also going with the fish tank idea these bubble panels would look really cool

How is this for timing? An aerial image has captured both the new and old trains in the same shot: http://www.nearmap.com/?ll=-27.956949,153....mp;nmd=20091113

Edited December 8, 200916 yr by Gazza

That must have been REALLY early in the morning - there's barely a person in sight, theres 50 or less cars in the carpark, and the shadows on everything are so long. Thats a nice website Gazza, and by the looks of it - updated more frequently that google maps.

Thats a nice website Gazza, and by the looks of it - updated more frequently that google maps.

It's quite interesting to see WWF and MW without the water too Also, would anyone be up for a meet & greet at Seaworld once the ride re-opens?

Edited December 8, 200916 yr by reanimated35

That aerial shot Gazza posted reminds me what a superior ride Jet Rescue is compared to Motocoaster at Dreamworld. The length of the track and the layout is just so much better than Dreamworld's effort

^I cant help but think that from the air, the landscaping around the last part of the ride looks like something you'd find in a petri dish.

Sea Viper section on sea world website on rider requirements saids: Please note that persons who cannot be held tight and safely by the existing harness (eg: because of a condition, height or shape)may be unable to ride. Even though no one has used the new trains yet, could this be one of those tight squeze restrainsts? or just modern restraints which lock safely at a certain point?? Im just curious because of my own size and would want to ride it next time i head up to qld.

I'm guessing these restraints will work in a similar way to the ones on Superman (No clicks, infinitley variable) Check out this pic, and you can see the cylinders and fluid reservoir: http://www.rcdb.com/897.htm?p=13383

Late notice I know but Sunrise is filming at Sea World this morning. Just showed a teaser of Sea Viper & Jet Rescue etc. That bit should be on within the next hour or you may have already seen it if you're in NSW

They only showed Sea Viper and Jet Rescue. Jet Rescue looked somewhat interesting (for someone who hasn't ridden it), but Sea Viper looked mediocre. On the vision they recorded, it appeared that there was quite a bit of head banging, Fifi and Simon commented on how it roughed you up the wrong way (or something along those lines), and Fifi also said that it's advisable not to wear Earings on that ride. Stationwise, I know we are all wanting to know what they have done with it. It appears as though the inside walls have been given a new coat of paint, a dark grey (not sure though if it has been recently painted this colour, or if it was given that colour when the track was repainted), there is some orange also present (same orange as the track colour).

They only showed Sea Viper and Jet Rescue. Jet Rescue looked somewhat interesting (for someone who hasn't ridden it), but Sea Viper looked mediocre. On the vision they recorded, it appeared that there was quite a bit of head banging, Fifi and Simon commented on how it roughed you up the wrong way (or something along those lines), and Fifi also said that it's advisable not to wear Earings on that ride.

That would be very disappointing considering the fact that Corkscrew was previously a very smooth coaster. One of the few smooth coasters in Australia. Nobody likes having their ears/head banged around. It wouldn't make for a very good 'upgrade'

The video of Sea Viper and Jet Rescue is now online on the Sunrise Website. There are also a collection of videos showcasing the marine animals at SW.

Kind of ironic that the selling point of this was the open, low profile carriages, but they've had to go and add those extra bits to the train (Do they remind anyone else of what is on a GCI millennium flyer?)....I guess the monorail and the turn around the station probably had clearance issues that necessitated this.

The video of Sea Viper and Jet Rescue is now online on the Sunrise Website. There are also a collection of videos showcasing the marine animals at SW.

Wow, Sea Viper looks terrible. No extra themeing in the station or around the track, and it looks way more rough than the Corkscrew was...

Wow, Sea Viper looks terrible. No extra themeing in the station or around the track, and it looks way more rough than the Corkscrew was...

Looks much much smoother to me now that they've replaced the old trains!

Fifi said she stabbed herself with her earring on Sea Viper and drew blood! Not a good sign!

Opens Boxing Day As does the Narnia Backlot tours

Has anyone been yet?

They probably have, but they are deliberatley keeping it a secret from you.

For what it's worth, if the trains ride anything like the ones at De Efteling then it's not going to be the new best coaster in Australia. Though I'm happy to be proved wrong. Twenty-one hours of flight await...