Dreamworld - the good and the bad

[zacsta_1997]

Yeh I get that. But DW s prices were for 21 days. Compared to a year. The prices are close 109-99. A $10 difference. But yeh I understand they are there for the tourists. Like, I'd rather buy one of those passes than buy a single admission ticket for $80

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

But VRTP sell a 28 day 3-park pass for $99.99....

and as mentioned previously...

The Ultimate Theme Park Pass which is 21 days for $179.99 (but does include MW, SW, WnW, PC and a night at AOS)...

So really - each park has:

1. A tourist budget offering
2. A tourist premium offering
3. A local budget offering
4. A local premium offering
5. A single day ticket
6. A short-term combo ticket between multiple gates....

I fail to see where the problem, unfairness or imbalance lies - they all provide a similar level product..... why is this such an issue?

[zacsta_1997]

Oh ok. Sorry. I mustn't of looked properly.

[Gary86]

Went to Dreamworld yesterday here's what I found...

Areas/ Rides open late and close early. "Open For Happiness" yeah right! That's bad!

Oh look someone forgot to close the gate...

...so after wondering into the "forbidden zone" I ended up finding out that it's not just Sea World that keep people in captivity!

The Wipeout in its current state.

If you remember the shark that used to swim around he reaaly is a fish out of water in the Reef Diver theming. I hope he gets a new home back in the water where he belongs soon.

Remember the "Coca Cola Imax Theater". Well even though that is long gone and it is now the "Dreamworld Cinema" you can still see a Coca Cola sign on the wall. The movie playing was the same film from last year.

The old paddle steamer may be gone but the wharf and old line area still remains....

... found behind the motorcoaster in the gross, brown polluted waters of Dreamworld once so beautiful river lies the wreak of the paddle boat. For a great view ride the Motor Coaster!

Remember the old Rivertown shark? Found in Ocean Parade looking a bit worn now.

"Rivertown" may no longer exist but signs still point you into that direction.

The gift shop sells Tower of Terror 1 merchandise for full price!

At lunch time it can be very hard to find an open food outlet.

Do you love turbines? Than ride the Tower of Terror 2 to learn all about them!

It would give me lots of happiness if this attraction actually was open!

Don't forget about Nick Central a great place to hire a locker....if it actually existed!

The Simpsons Arcade is still broken as always.

And now what Dreamworld would look like if it closed down and became abandoned...

...Oh wait that is just what Dreamworld looks like when it is still in operation!

Just when you thought they were "high on mushrooms" when they themed the log ride (which now has a "mushroom man in the tunnel!" they have been placing ugly mushroom on Main Street as well!

Edited March 7, 2014 by Gary86

[Gazza]

I only ever got to play that Simpsons arcade game once....Glad I wandered in there to have a go though!

[Brad2912]

Was there today with my little dude for the Wiggles. It was mayhem. As expected

Matt Hollywood doing shows at DW during Easter School holidays

[Gary86]

I saw The Wiggles early on Thursday morning in Wiggles World filming something.

[Brad2912]

Most of the TV is filmed there, though generally out of hours

[coasterdude44]

And now what Dreamworld would look like if it closed down and became abandoned...

Well, youve got to give dreamworld credit where credit is due. They sucedded perfectly at turning Gold Rush Country into a ghost town.

Well done Dreamworld!

[Jobe]

Hey!! Don't knock it!! It's a theme!!!

[zacsta_1997]

These look like posters. What exactly are they?

[Reanimated35]

^ I'd say postcards

[liz.wis]

Did anyone catch Dreamworld on Getaway this afternoon? They had the guy that won (? i assume as I didn't watch) Big Brother go on a number of Dreamworld and White Water World rides, they also looked briefly at Coroboree.

[Gary86]

These look like posters. What exactly are they?

Postcards.

[zacsta_1997]

Postcards.

K thanks.

[lolman123]

Still the best theme park!

[coasterdude44]

Hey!! Don't knock it!! It's a theme!!!

Yes. I know

They turned eviloution into a lazer tag? i thought i was a walkthrough attraction

Edited March 9, 2014 by coasterdude44

[Brad2912]

Yes. I know

They turned eviloution into a lazer tag? i thought i was a walkthrough attraction

Catch up...

It was a walk thru for about 3 weeks for the school holiday period when it launched. It was then converted to laser skirmish, this was always the plan. Not feasible to permanently staff a maze with scare actors in off peak periods, and probably not worth re-config each holiday period

[GoGoBoy]

According to this article about the impact of Wet 'n' Wild Sydney on rivals, Dreamworld has done fairly well over the past year, including a 20% lift in January. I don't get the general public; no new attractions and a deteriorating park leads to an attendance boost: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/wetnwild-rivals-face-dip-in-trade-20140308-34e21.html

Edited March 10, 2014 by GoGoBoy

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

^increased attendance does not equal increased profits though.

If you halve your entry price, of course you're going to increase attendance.

That said - you don't have to improve anything or drop your pricing to increase attendance - sometimes the general sheep mentality increases attendance without doing anything...I remember visiting a council operated swimming pool in sydney many years ago. Among it's pools it had a single water slide tower - all of 3 metres high. It opened only when there was a lifeguard to man it (which was irregular at best) and they accepted tokens made out of plastic with the council logo stamped on it which you could buy from the canteen. (Discounts for buying in bulk). I think from memory they were around 40 cents each. In 5 years, the slide never changed, expanded or improved, yet the prices were increased every year (it ended up being about 80 cents a go)- and you'd still guarantee a queue halfway down the (olympic length) pool the moment the lifeguard unlocked the gate and began his 'safety walk' up the pipe to check for the mythical razor blades...

[westical]

January was less wet than previous years too.

[Richard]

Keep in mind also that the Gold Coast parks have collectively sunk millions into the 'Theme Park Capital' initiative; it's logical that Dreamworld would see a very tangible benefit from this. 20% up in January makes perfect sense.

Also worth pointing out that Sea World has had its best January ever. That's probably the biggest win of the summer on the Gold Coast.

[GoGoBoy]

Keep in mind also that the Gold Coast parks have collectively sunk millions into the 'Theme Park Capital' initiative; it's logical that Dreamworld would see a very tangible benefit from this. 20% up in January makes perfect sense.

Also worth pointing out that Sea World has had its best January ever. That's probably the biggest win of the summer on the Gold Coast.

Thanks for the information Richard. I hadn't realised Sea World had had its best ever January. That makes me feel much better. They certainly deserve it with Storm Coaster

Edited March 10, 2014 by GoGoBoy

[DWP]

Was at Dreamworld today and was surprised that both the Vintage cars and the "steam" train were running as I thought they were weekend only attractions but perhaps with the $30 for 30 days promotion they're keeping everything open.

And it looks like that promotion was doing ok as there was quite a few people for a weekday (certainly more than the last time I was there in September) and from what I saw every ride and section was still open until closing time (apart from Giant Drop which closed as advertised at 4)

Although they really need to have more people serving at the (pretty much only place open) food place as the 2 staff there were painfully slow and several people walking off in anger at the wait

Lastly was sad seeing a few times Reef Diver just sitting there empty waiting for people to ride it while every other ride regularly busy. Guess it was justified in getting rid of it

[MaxxTheMonster]

Was at Dreamworld today and was surprised that both the Vintage cars and the "steam" train were running as I thought they were weekend only attractions but perhaps with the $30 for 30 days promotion they're keeping everything open.

Although they really need to have more people serving at the (pretty much only place open) food place as the 2 staff there were painfully slow and several people walking off in anger at the wait

Lastly was sad seeing a few times Reef Diver just sitting there empty waiting for people to ride it while every other ride regularly busy. Guess it was justified in getting rid of it

Both the train and Vintage cars have been operating each time we have been during the week.