MW Mini Driving School - Officially Confirmed

[lolman123]

HAHAHA!!!

[Reanimated35]

Interesting side note - gif files upload fine but only play when you click on them. Richard/Other dude who I'm sorry but I can't remember the name of but I know you helped redesign the site, any way to have embedded gif images?

[pin142]

Side note has reminded me to check for new episodes of Colbert Report on Hulu. Thanks Reanimated!

Getting back on topic I know of people who have been to the park and their kids enjoyed the ride and they are recommending it to other parents so will have to say as far as an addition goes you can't call it a failure and as far as comparison to the previous attraction it is unfair. Also just as unfair to complain about this when you can't come up with another original concept.

Edited September 21, 2014 by pin142

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

I can see I'm one out here, maybe it's the difference between being a theme park fanatic and just being interested in theme parks.

I know people on here see theming etc as vitally important to rides, to me it is just the icing on the cake.

Which one are you then? I'm assuming you're "just being interested" which doesn't correlate with your overly critical viewpoint.

We are talking about a THEME park. And the ride is THEMED to be a mini movie world - in this case it IS vitally important to the ride. If we cast our minds back to LTRR - how important is it that there were animatronics and a storyline? Would the ride have been as good if it were just a boat ride through a big warehouse with industrial fluorescent lighting?

TailSpin didn't need a catchy name, a backstory, or any of the buildings around it - you're right - that ride is definitely 'iced' with a theme... it doesn't need it - it stands alone... just like any other spin-and-spew you see at travelling carnivals and fairs... but theres a reason why carnies spend time and money airbrushing cool designs, people and characters onto their ride to fit the theme - because it makes it more interesting than just a piece of industrial steel.

If you see all the rides stripped bare, without any consideration given to the effect the theme has on the overall attraction - then now it's starting to make sense on why your view is so skewed. You claim to love LTRR and BATRide more than JL3D and JDS... but answer me this - what is more enjoyable out of these 'no theming' attractions:

• Walking down a plain corridor, and sitting in a motion pod (BATRide) with no sound and no video on screen, and just being shaken about by the motion pod
• Walking down a plain corridor, and sitting in a boat (LTRR) whilst you go on a controlled journey through the empty soundstage shed
• Walking down a plain corridor, and sitting in a carriage (JL3D) whilst you go on a controlled journey through the empty showbuilding
• Walking into an empty warehouse, getting in a motorised buggy (JDS) with a bunch of your friends and driving around wherever you want to go, racing them from one side of the building to the other, bumping into them

You know what? When it's all stripped to bare bones without a theme - JDS sounds like the most fun to me...

If this ride was there instead of the Speedy Cars or the Dodge'em rink near Scooby I'd think it was a very good improvement.

My issue is with the quality of the ride, I don't question it is popular now but I question the re-ridability and whether it will hold interest down the track.

For older kids, in that gap between the Looney Tunes Rides and the thrill rides (say 8 - 12 year olds) I think this ride will quickly lose interest and I think that is a shame as it is the demographic MW is weakest at appealing to.

I think thats the closest we're going to get to you admitting JDS is not a bad attraction.

Dodgems is always busy when the park is busy. For all we know - Speedy and the rest of the WB gang in that corner may be earmarked to be removed in the future - we don't know. You repeatedly refer to JDS as a replacement for LTRR. Considering LTRR was removed several years ago and JDS has just opened (and tech services have used the warehouse for storage for quite a while), i think it's a tenuous connection at best to say it 'replaced' LTRR.

A ride that is removed to make way for a new ride has absolutely been replaced- viz a viz Tail Spin was a direct replacement for Reef Diver - they had 'new ride coming soon' signs up before they'd even removed Reef Diver... There was no such signage or announcement when LTRR closed.

As for whether it's popularity holds down the track - I ask you to take a look at Speedy's Taxis - in your eyes a very similar ride - that is still operating, with queues and countless happy parents hovering over the fence with cameras. Not bad for something over 20 years old, eh?

So long as they keep 'mini movieworld' current with changes and developments to the park, I think they'll do alright.

(Side note - I think it would be an AMAZING touch for MW to 'theme' Mini MovieWorld the same way they do for Christmas - snow patches, and lights everywhere, and a big tree in place of the fountain... I wonder how hard that would be?)

As for the age group demographic - MW's website permits riders up to 12 years old to ride with a parent. Just because the 13 year olds you know wouldn't be interested, doesn't mean all of them wouldn't be. I would imagine 'older kids' would enjoy riding with a younger sibling (or riding separately and ramming them)... so I don't think the ride is going to lose popularity as you predict.

[downunder]

So can a solo adult male (albeit normal looking) ride this without everyone looking at them like they're Uncle Fester?

It looks like fun, though the looney tunes ride was an outstanding attraction, but who knows what MW has in store?

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

the rules on the website state adults are allowed to drive their own car, without accompanying a child...

not sure how you'd be viewed though.

[downunder]

^Ha, I might give it a miss unless I wind up having other people with me.

[BigKev]

Theming is important, no question, what I am saying though it to me theming comes after ride quality in order of importance.

To flip your example the other way would Superman be such a great ride if it travelled at a slow speed around a flat track? Of course not.

To be a really good ride all the parts have to come together and I think that the drivable cars option is a disappointing one.

(Incidentally it strikes me as strange that Dreamworld cops so much flak about having 'Spin'n'spews' more suited to shows and carnivals but most people are pretty relaxed about Movie World adding another set of dodgems.)

I stand by the replacement call as well. MW got to a point with LTRR where they either refurbished it or replaced it.

After a long break they decided to use the space for JDS. I'm comfortable to call it a replacement.

Yes, there may be other plans not yet released, to change other rides, add new ones etc which will show this is just a piece of the puzzle but right now I think it is reasonable to call it a replacement.

[Zanstabar]

JDS is no way a set of Dodgems, so please stop referring to it as such. This is a unique ride for most kids. Where else can they drive a car with some sense of freedom without being arrested? Sure, Dreamworld has the Model- T's but they are on rails. There is no sense of freedom. Don't compare JDS to Dodgems. That's like comparing the Bermuda Triangle to the WB Kids Splash Zone; it's just not right.

[Tim Dasco]

In my opinion its more a goat carts then dodgems.

[Brad2912]

Not sure what dodgems you have been on or seen BigKev but they generally involve driving around a small arena, in one direction with no theming with the aim of hitting each other, which could not really be any further disconnected from what Junior Driving School is.

[Gazza]

In my opinion its more a goat carts then dodgems.

They are nothing like a goat cart...stop making silly posts please.

[Zanstabar]

^Is that the original Tijuanna Taxi?

[Jay Jay The Jet Plane]

Off Topic- I have heard some rumours that the Taz Bumper Cars are going Is that true? It's been closed for nearly a month.

[Tim Dasco]

Go Karts is what i meant. Sorry.

[BigKev]

JDS is no way a set of Dodgems, so please stop referring to it as such. This is a unique ride for most kids. Where else can they drive a car with some sense of freedom without being arrested? Sure, Dreamworld has the Model- T's but they are on rails. There is no sense of freedom. Don't compare JDS to Dodgems. That's like comparing the Bermuda Triangle to the WB Kids Splash Zone; it's just not right.

Not sure what dodgems you have been on or seen BigKev but they generally involve driving around a small arena, in one direction with no theming with the aim of hitting each other, which could not really be any further disconnected from what Junior Driving School is.

I don't see how anyone could argue they aren't closely related to dodge'ems.

Fancy, well-themed dodge'ems with a much more interesting driving area no doubt, but still very dodge'em like in appearance, track and operation.

[iwerks]

Yup, nothing like them. Where's the big pole thing sticking up out the back? They look to be more like under powered go karts, like they have at Adventure World.

I sure would like to see them do goat carts - now that would be cool.

[Gary86]

Just wondering do adults get a mini drivers licence or is that just for kids. I will give this ride a go but don't really want a souvenir drivers licence.

[Jay Jay The Jet Plane]

Just wondering do adults get a mini drivers licence or is that just for kids. I will give this ride a go but don't really want a souvenir drivers licence.

Anyone can get a licence! I'm 15 and I got my licence yesterday!!

[themagician]

Are the licenses free?

[Jay Jay The Jet Plane]

Yes the licenses are free! @themagician

[Gary86]

But do you have to get a licence if you don't want one?

[Reanimated35]

I don't see how anyone could argue they aren't closely related to dodge'ems.

Fancy, well-themed dodge'ems with a much more interesting driving area no doubt, but still very dodge'em like in appearance, track and operation.

Dogems are designed to be driven around and crashed into each other.

JDS is not designed to be crashing into each other, however they do need to factor in that of course that will happen either via accident or deliberate manoeuvre. They're not just going to leave off a bumper because some idiot would assume they're dodgem cars, they're going to put some kind of bumper around the car to protect their investment.

Yup, nothing like them. Where's the big pole thing sticking up out the back?

You do realise Dodgems don't always need the "big pole thing" right?

[Zanstabar]

But do you have to get a licence if you don't want one?

There are two separate queues. One to get a licence and ride and on to just ride.

[Brad2912]

I don't see how anyone could argue they aren't closely related to dodge'ems.

Fancy, well-themed dodge'ems with a much more interesting driving area no doubt, but still very dodge'em like in appearance, track and operation.

And I don't see how anyone could argue they are. Dodgems are supposed to be crashed into each other, these cars are not, but obviously for safety reasons have the necessary bumper/barrier around the cars. Dodgems are promoted by signage and ride attendants as having the aim go smash the other guests, something that is not mentioned or even alluded to in anyway on this ride