Deborah Thomas demoted amid Dreamworld sale rumours

Embattled Ardent Leisure CEO Deborah Thomas's brief period in the CEO position comes to an end as talk of a Dreamworld sale rears its head once again.

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This photo scares me the most with the button labels on the suspended loop coaster.

When I think of Ardent & DW I think of 3 things.

1.       Since Ardent acquired Dreamworld it has been a Robin Hood venture. 

2.       Ardents investments into DW has always taken the minimalist approach.     

3.       You can only squeeze so much juice from one orange.

As an enthusiast, I’m always wanting the most out of our parks and after a few years of Ardent controlling Dreamworld I came to the realisation, Dreamworld would never deliver me a decent coaster.  For this reason, for many years I have wanted Ardent to sell DW.

I might now finally get my wish but looking at the current buyers I am very apprehensive for this to happen.

I would be okay if Ardent sold Dreamworld, as long as they sold it to the right person. Although someone like Wanda could easily make it the best park on the Gold Coast by adding a B&M or two, I don't know if selling it to an Asian company is the best idea, seeing that Dreamworld has been the most "Australian" of the parks and having it run by an Australian-based company would probably continue this. Plus Songcheng isn't exactly famous for high-quality rollercoasters.

We have seen Ardent make some good changes at DW. Like giving a lot of attractions and areas a much needed face lift. They have spent money but not in the areas we want to see it. DW spent 7 million I think on TI. They have fixed a lot of areas but there are more areas that need fixing with new major attractions not flat rides. I still think they at one stage considered a Eurofighter weather that plan is still there or not remains a mystery but just before the accident Craig Davidson was at AW. I believe to look at Abyss.

3 hours ago, Tim Dasco said:

We have seen Ardent make some good changes at DW. Like giving a lot of attractions and areas a much needed face lift. They have spent money but not in the areas we want to see it. DW spent 7 million I think on TI. They have fixed a lot of areas but there are more areas that need fixing with new major attractions not flat rides. I still think they at one stage considered a Eurofighter weather that plan is still there or not remains a mystery but just before the accident Craig Davidson was at AW. I believe to look at Abyss.

Craig Davidson has made good changes at Dreamworld, like giving a lot of attractions and areas a much needed face lift.

He's worthy of some serious recognition in my mind given what he's achieved and what he's endured in his tenure.