VRTP Response To Recent Media Reports About Ride Stoppages/Breakdowns

[Jamberoo Fan]

From The Courier-Mail:

Quote

CEO says Sea World, Movie World, Wet n Wild unfairly tainted by Dreamworld disaster

THE boss of Village Roadshow claims its theme parks have been wrongly tainted by the Dreamworld disaster, telling guests it is more dangerous driving on the M1 than riding a rollercoaster.

Park attendances at Movie World, Wet ’n’ Wild and Sea World have dropped by about 12 per cent since the October accident, in which four tourists were killed at Dreamworld when the Thunder River Rapids ride ­malfunctioned.

But Village Roadshow Theme Parks chief executive officer Tim Fisher has passionately defended ride safety in the wake of the disaster.

Photograph: Village Roadshow Theme Park chief executive Tim Fisher.

This came despite patrons being left stranded atop ­rollercoasters in stifling conditions and some having to be evacuated after a spate of stoppages on major rides at the parks in recent weeks.

Mr Fisher said the shutdowns were proof the safety systems were working to prevent another Dreamworld-style disaster – and insisted Village Roadshow’s rides were safer than driving your car down the M1 to get to Movie World, Sea World or Wet ’n’ Wild.

“The chances of anything (like the Dreamworld tragedy) happening … are minute,’’ he said. “We put our own families on these rides without any hesitation.

‘‘There’s nothing more important to us than the safety of your children.’’

His comments came as passengers enjoying the Storm Coaster ride at Sea World on Saturday were stuck for about 15 minutes in what the theme park called a “routine ride stoppage”.

The incident occurred at about 11.30am at the base of the ride’s incline and about 15 minutes later, staff members removed the passengers from the eight-seater carriage, offering them bottles of water and umbrellas.

Mr Fisher and Village Roadshow Theme Parks chief operating officer Bob White said recent breakdowns had been unfairly portrayed in the context of the tragedy at the rival theme park, owned by Ardent Leisure.

“We have a good relationship with our friends at Dreamworld,” Mr Fisher said. “What happened there was a terrible, terrible tragedy and our hearts are broken for everybody involved.

‘‘It’s certainly had an impact on the (theme park) industry, there’s no getting around that. But we believed deeply that our parks were safe before the tragedy and we believe just as deeply today that our parks are safe.”

Mr White said regular ride stoppages “are essential to running a safe park’’.

Rides were fitted with hundreds of sophisticated sensors designed to trigger alerts and shutdowns when any risk was detected.

Edited January 22, 2017 by Jamberoo Fan

[Reanimated35]

They just need to come out and get technical. Explain in detail how and why the safety systems activate and what's involved in resetting a ride which would explain why it's easier to evac guests instead. 

[Santa07]

I'd like to see an extra question in the poll

Does Jamberoo need to create a poll every time he creates a new topic?
[x] No
[x] No

[Jay Jay The Jet Plane]

1 hour ago, Santa07 said:

Does Jamberoo need to create a poll every time he creates a new topic?
[1] Yes
[x] No

here's my vote

Edited January 23, 2017 by Theme Park Ninja

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

8 minutes ago, Theme Park Ninja said:

fixed

I don't think you fixed it TPN.

[Cactus_Matt]

It must be so frustrating for them to have to deal with the ridiculous media, it'd be like going to your job doing it exactly as you're supposed to and then getting yelled at anyway... oh wait that's retail life anyway.

[Levithian]

channel 7 seem to be worse than 9 and abc in hounding them?

[liz.wis]

While I think Dreamworld would have some impact on attendance, I don't think it's the sole contributor.

We currently don't have tickets mostly due to there being limited options that our whole family would enjoy - the kids are past kiddie rides, but not tall enough for most of the big coasters and thrill rides.  Also, just general cost of living has made annual tickets something of a luxury - and while I agree they're great value, it's not really a priority of spending right now.  

ETA:  I kind of skipped the main point - yes I think the media is not helping.  

Edited January 23, 2017 by liz.wis

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

4 minutes ago, Levithian said:

channel 7 seem to be worse than 9 and abc in hounding them?

 I really don't think so. although i've seen the Ch7 social media posts circulated more than others, they're all as bad as each other. Ch9 has run stories on their nightly news the same as 7 - i think they all draw their stories from GCB or CM anyway, who do tend to be the front runners with these stories too.

bottom line they're all as bad as each other.

[pushbutton]

I certainly agree that theme park rides are safer than driving on the M1. It's absolutely horrific! 

There's nothing wrong with the road.  It's the way most of the drivers drive. I hold my breath in anticipation of disaster every time I have to drive on it. 

[jjuttp]

Ive been in Queensland for the past 9 days and i've forgotton what a blinker looks like.

[New display name]

Don't hold your breath too long otherwise you will die while driving and cause a crash @pushbutton

Edited January 23, 2017 by YLFATEEKS

[djmcbell]

The media is doing what the media does best - sensationalise a story to get themselves more money. Don't get me wrong, the incident at Dreamworld was a tragedy, but it was also a fluke event. If a bus crashes, should we all immediately become nervous every time a bus breaks down?

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

Yes. Yes we should. but only if the media tells us we should.

[bladex]

anyone think tim looks like a younger bill Murray?

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

Not really.

(1979)

[pushbutton]

2 hours ago, bladex said:

anyone think tim looks like a younger bill Murray?

100%!

[bladex]

1 hour ago, AlexB said:

Not really.

but look!

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

nope.

[Jay Jay The Jet Plane]

he looks more like a fridge than Bill Muarry

*in all seriousness I can't see any similarities*

[joz]

How about Bill Murry's Younger brother then?