On 18/03/2019 at 1:33 PM, Gazza said:

Did Australia even need another Gyro Swing though?

 

I would've taken a GS over Doomsday Destroyer across the road.

Just a quick visit to AW, today. They did halt operations and observed a minute’s silence at 11am. 

I entered the park just before 10 from the members’ entrance. Struggled with a dodgy locker before securing a sun lounge and hitting the pool. It was 29 degrees, today, with warmer temperatures forecast for the weekend. I went on the rapids and the waterslides before any sort of queue formed.

The bumper boats are now working in a similar way to the go-karts, with the red group going out, then the yellow ones getting loaded up, with a brief lap over time in between. There are coloured flags so you know which group has to go back. The Grand Prix had a wait time of approximately 45 minutes. There were long queues for most rides, with Kraken posting a 40 minute wait on its board. 

Visited the Aussie Wildlife Experience and caught up with Keeper Amie for the last time, this season. Dudley and Patrick were being given some treats. She has a theory that one of the heads of department runs Patrick the peacock’s Instagram account.

There was a long, but smooth flowing, line for lunch. The verandah roof for the Kahuna Cafe has been painted bright colours. The barbecue at the Kahuna Bar was busy too, with plenty of people buying alcohol with lunch.

There wasn’t any progress with Mi-4, only the pipes near Kraken have been capped. The grass, especially behind the Tornado funnel, looks very short too. 

I’ll be back for the last day of the season on Sunday. 

 

Edited April 25, 20196 yr by iwerks

Went past the park, today, and noticed no major construction underway. Looks like those doomsayers who predicted the end of the Mi-s might have been right.

Inferno is in pieces at the back of the park and appears to be getting a new paint job.

There are no signs of construction on the hill next to Kraken.

There are a ton of tyres next to the staff entrance, but the rest of the Grand Prix still seems to be in place.

There’s more bunting than a 1970s’ roller coaster movie. For some reason they are using those flag things to block off large areas of the park.

The spray tent is in residence next to the back of house area.

There appears to be a new line of retic behind the bushes at the front.

The rumours we heard before the park closed was along the line of family flats, but we also heard that Kraken cost $17.5 million! It also appears that they’re saving up for something decent.

So, it looks like the water/dry ride cycle might be broken. Congratulations to all who predicted this downturn. 😢

F

how does Kraken cost 17.5 million but Abyss 12 million. Hopefully a new flat ride..not sure what they can add but would be better than another water slide

17 minutes ago, jddc7 said:

how does Kraken cost 17.5 million but Abyss 12 million

Kraken is listed on the park wiki as costing $7million. The Abyss figure you're quoting is likely also the 'ride purchase' cost - so comparing apples with apples, its $7m vs $12m. The $17m figure quoted above is likely total construction and all associated costs right down to path upgrades, fencing, civils and earthworks, pilings and footings etc...

The total construction cost of each is likely a bit higher for Abyss.

I can't remember the figure now, but @Mark Shaw has previously suggested as a rule of thumb that a ratio (30%? 50%?) of the total cost is the ride purchase price? I can't remember but i'm sure @Tim Dasco does...

 

Total project cost for Abyss was 12 million, 7 million for Kraken and 7.5 for Goliath. I was with @iwerks when a ride operator tried to tell me Goliath costed $17.5 million and I know for a fact that ain’t true.

14 hours ago, jddc7 said:

how does Kraken cost 17.5 million but Abyss 12 million. Hopefully a new flat ride..not sure what they can add but would be better than another water slide

Yeah, I’m hoping for a couple of family flats. Some team members were saying junior flats, but we know certain people like family rides. I’m suspecting another Zamperla.

That kid who said Kraken cost $17 mill was full of crap. I think the feeling was the park wasn’t doing as well as they had thought. Not getting another slide like Kraken is a good idea. Anyone who thinks Kraken is too challenging won’t like another slide just like it.

Also, did AW just get a baby emu?

On 14/06/2019 at 11:32 PM, iwerks said:

That kid who said Kraken cost $17 mill was full of crap.

It might have been useful to present that opinion when you stated it in your previous post - that could have avoided the confusion.

On 14/06/2019 at 11:32 PM, iwerks said:

Yeah, I’m hoping for a couple of family flats. Some team members were saying junior flats, but we know certain people like family rides. I’m suspecting another Zamperla.

That kid who said Kraken cost $17 mill was full of crap. I think the feeling was the park wasn’t doing as well as they had thought. Not getting another slide like Kraken is a good idea. Anyone who thinks Kraken is too challenging won’t like another slide just like it.

Also, did AW just get a baby emu?

50% roughly

@Mark Shaw as in 50% meaning one flat ride is coming this year?

15 hours ago, Tim Dasco said:

@Mark Shaw as in 50% meaning one flat ride is coming this year?

I think he meant ride cost is 50% of project cost.

Broadly speaking, the ride/slide component of the project usually turns out to be about 50% of the total project cost. 

2 hours ago, Mark Shaw said:

Broadly speaking, the ride/slide component of the project usually turns out to be about 50% of the total project cost. 

Would that mean the '12 million dollar' price tag associated with the abyss is a rough representation of total project cost (implying a cost of around 6 million for ride infrastructure) or would that figure reference just the price of the ride itself and not the total project.

On 12/07/2019 at 3:23 PM, Aw hype said:

Would that mean the '12 million dollar' price tag associated with the abyss is a rough representation of total project cost (implying a cost of around 6 million for ride infrastructure) or would that figure reference just the price of the ride itself and not the total project.

Total project, rounded up with marketing launch costs/management time costs factored in.  Everything bar the kitchen sink pretty much. 

Just under two months until the new season. Inferno is back up and looking good. The main gate entrance way has been repaired. Absolutely no sign of any new construction.

Inferno was up and testing, today. The new paint job looks good, although they haven’t replaced the scrim and signage down the bottom yet. Unlike, Outback Splash, Kahuna Falls doesn’t appear to be getting a new paint job and looks pretty faded. It looks to be quiet around most of the areas. I could see a cherry picker front and centre (probably work on rail rider) and a ladder up near the kiddie coaster/ yarlii’s barrel spin. 

Edited August 17, 20196 yr by iwerks

Will be at the park on 27 September, two days before the season starts, as part of the physics day (https://www.stawa.net/student-activities/physics-day/). If anybody wants a report on on anything in the park or has any information about the physics day (I'm curious) just reply to this comment and I will do my best to investigate anything people want to be investigated. Excited to ride Abyss with what will be presumably newer wheels and not have to wait in line for the Kraken for half my afternoon

I remember doing Maths in Action at Wonderland whilst at School. I don't know how much maths was actually done but it was a good day.

1 hour ago, AdrianHallam said:

I remember doing Maths in Action at Wonderland whilst at School. I don't know how much maths was actually done but it was a good day.

I can't see anyone doing much school work if I am completely honest

Swear I Just heard on Nova they mentioned a new rollercoaster..anyone heard this?

Thinking may have been royal show sorry

7 hours ago, jddc7 said:

Thinking may have been royal show sorry

Yeah new coaster at the royal show first time to debut in Australia a new spinning coaster from Malaysia.

 

Any word on whether it will reach the Eastern states?

8 minutes ago, Gazza said:

Any word on whether it will reach the Eastern states?

Not at this stage, trying to work out who owns it still. @iwerks and myself will be at the ride preview next Wednesday and hopefully can get some answers.