Rocky Hollow Log Ride officially closed

[rappa]

Or maybe just build a good solid family water ride with no gimmicks 

[GoGoBoy]

1 hour ago, wikiverse said:

It looks like Dreamworld are actually planning for the future though.

It's all talk and little action at this stage. How many times can you talk about removing a ride to replace it with new attractions with the latest technology, without actually taking that action, before it just looks like spin? Most of us know it's spin, and judging by comments on DW's social media, the GP is starting to realise that too 

Edited February 8, 2020 by GoGoBoy

[Tim Dasco]

13 minutes ago, GoGoBoy said:

It's all talk and little action at this stage. How many times can you talk about removing a ride to replace it with new attractions with the latest technology, without actually taking that action, before it just looks like spin? Most of us know it's spin, and judging by comments on DW's social media, the GP is starting to realise that too 

But they have built Sky Voyager, Fully 6, The chill out zone, Sidewinders getting love now, ABC kids world is getting a re model, this coaster ground works have started. Plus the whole waterpark got repainted and some love. Along with the park looking a lot fresher in parts. 
 

Plus there is more supposedly coming. The new management team can only build so much at once. Everything being done is clearly long term plans. We just gotta give them some time. I recon by the end of the year the park is gonna look completely different.

[pin142]

19 hours ago, themagician said:

It’s the same when an attraction is down for maintenance, they don’t lower prices because one or more rides are being inspected/repaired.

If parks did this you'd be able to get into Sea World for around $20 at the moment.

[Tim Dasco]

1 minute ago, pin142 said:

If parks did this you'd be able to get into Sea World for around $20 at the moment.

Nah $20 is way too high.

[Gazza]

I just came here to say that the peak and off peak pricing at Disney and universal tends to align with road closures by default, because they tend to have everything open on peak days

[rappa]

1 hour ago, Tim Dasco said:

I recon by the end of the year the park is gonna look completely different

Is that difference going to be 4 major attractions open and running because if not who cares? 

It's easy to fly a "hey we are doing so good" when all of the things are drop in the ocean spend wise and basically the most you can do for the least amount of investment as possible.
Yet to see a single non reactionary move from the park since the accident.

[Gold Coast Amusement Force]

 

Edited February 8, 2020 by Gold Coast Amusement Force

[Jdude95]

Man, I do miss being able to have an opinion without it being wrong because not everyone agrees with it.

[joz]

@Jdude95I disagree with you on this particular thing (on the grounds that the writing has been on the wall for all these attractions for a long time and at the very least Wipeout would've been easy to replace in a short time frame). But I also get your point and where you're coming from, but it doesn't affect my time in the house that your opinion is different to mine.

 

If you want to make the point that new management are doing the best with the shitty hand they were dealt, I think there's a conversation where some common ground may be found. But to say that the direction they're going in is good isn't backed up, and won't be till they open a new family ride, and a new coaster after they've finished building Blue Fire. For now them saying 'We're making the park better' is all talk even if they do make the place better in a few years.

 

Again dont be sad people disagree with you. I've been saying for years that I think a shoot the chutes would be a good attraction for WnW. Exactly zero per cent of the people on this forum agree with me. That's ok, if people weren't allowed the have differing opinions from the mods we'd call the site Theme Parkz Review. We're just as opinionated as anyone though, and what's the point of a forum if it's just an endless circle jerk about how right we all always are?

Edited February 9, 2020 by joz

[Jdude95]

I understand that not everyone will agree with me but I also understand that it takes more than 1 month to undo over 10 years of shitty management and no investments. I'll probably die on this hill and I don't even mind.

Also, I for one, welcome our new chute overlords. It would be a hell of a lot better than Surfrider...

My arguments have been that the reaction to this has been a bit over the top in some cases and that the new management team is doing what they can with what they have been given. I'd imagine it would also probably be hard to finalise a 10 year+ plan when you've got the results of an inquest looming, yet to be delivered at an unknown date. I feel like once that is past and there's less unknowns (now that we at least have the date for the findings) is when we will be able to tell how much they are actually looking to the future.
If we see a lack of investment and future plan then we will definitely know that they don't know how to run a park, nor care about doing so and I will accept that. It'll be a bit of a kick in the teeth but I'd accept that I was wrong putting my faith in the new management team and park as a whole.

Edited February 8, 2020 by Jdude95

[New display name]

7 hours ago, Tim Dasco said:

 Everything being done is clearly long term plans.

Everything DW are doing is clearly luck.   SV was going to Brisbane and coaster was going to China.   

Shading will never replace wipeout.  DW & Hot wheels deal has clearly ended so DW have no choice but to re-theme.  

Watetslides are public pool grade. 

A few kid rides cost nothing for a big theme park.  Out of all areas of the park that need a redo, ABC should be on the bottom of the list.

[themagician]

Does anyone know how much longer the DreamWorks license has got left? 

[GoGoBoy]

1 hour ago, Skeeta said:

Waterslides are public pool grade. 

Totally, as proven by the new Polin waterslides that have just opened at the caravan park next door. As good as, if not better (or at least a bit more interesting) than Fully 6

[Levithian]

How is it luck to be actively looking to replace a ride with a coaster and have one drop in your lap? YES, It's a portion of luck that one was available so easily. It isn't luck in EVEN THE SLIGHTEST that they were actively searching to replace a ride though. That's all on them, park management and the ardent board, you know, the ones who have final say on capital purchases? You can argue they got it easy, they got it cheaply, etc, but they already had to have money put aside with the desire to put into a ride purchase before they even committed to looking. 

Im with Jdude95. The first time it seems like the park is trying to be proactive and claw back some of their apparent mistakes, they are crucified on here because not enough is being done. In what? 2-3 months? hell, even 6 months. How much do you expect to be achieved in a short period of time? The fact they are coming out with these reports shows that capital has been assigned, and yes, I will admit I'm a sceptic until we actually see signs of delivery, but surely this has to be a step in the direction. 

Not too long ago people were begging the park for any announcement at all that was positive, that made it seem like someone cared at all. Hell, prior to the accident people were saying ardent (and the park) had no long term goal for dreamworld and were just floundering. These announcements seem like a pretty good plan for the next 5+ years of developments at the park. Certainly gives them something to build on to turn 5 years into 10 years. 

Maybe people could just stop shitting on them for just a moment until they've had a chance to fuck it all up again. 

2 hours ago, Skeeta said:

A few kid rides cost nothing for a big theme park.  Out of all areas of the park that need a redo, ABC should be on the bottom of the list.

That's where you are wrong. They knock it out of the park for kids, better than seaworld and miles ahead of movieworlds offering. You don't want to take a step back from something you are doing a great job at, you want to maintain it, better it if you can and build up the rest of your developments. 

It's honestly the first time in awhile that either group, vrtp or ardent haven't shown such a narrow focus to their future plans/spending. Movieworld got a hypercoaster, while the rest of the park is suffering visually. They put in an excellent family precinct that has largely been allowed to rot, because, you know, who needs upkeep? what are standards? They are still single minded, focusing on attractions while the rest of their parks are screaming out for a collection of smaller spends to bring facilities and park appearance up to standard. Remember 5 years ago people were laughing that it was such a big deal they were finally replacing toilet blocks? How far did that progress? Extra bathrooms? Why the hell they haven't been crucified to the same extent that dreamworld are held to task because of their poor commitments to announcements, I don't understand it. 

Edited February 8, 2020 by Levithian

[rappa]

Dunno maybe because the people that get on their rides all walk off of them at the end alive?

You kill people because of shoddy park upkeep and people are likely to be more critical of your approach to park upkeep... that’s just how it is. 

[New display name]

2 hours ago, Levithian said:

YES, It's a portion of luck that one was available so easily. It isn't luck in EVEN THE SLIGHTEST

You're contridicting yourself here but for the record its 210% luck.

1. It's lucky a coaster fell into DW lap otherwise DW could be waiting for years.

Yes DW became active in looking for a coaster but only after all their other ideas turned out to be shit and DW pulled the plug on them.

2. It's lucky this was the coaster that fell into DW's lap and it wasn't another MDMC.

I don't know about you but if I was buying a new car for myself I would have an I idea what car I wanted and not leave it to the gods. 

 

2 hours ago, Levithian said:

 

That's where you are wrong. They knock it out of the park for kids, better than seaworld and miles ahead of movieworlds offering. 

Sorry but Skeeta is not wrong here.

 

DW do 5-12 better than SW & MW but ABC isn't 5-12.  Heck when my daughter was 2 or 3 she could ride a coaster at SW.  

When I decide what park my family visits it doesn't come down to what themed carosoul my 3 year old prefers.

 

 

[Levithian]

All coasters are available. You sign the deal, spend the money and get a delivery date.

They would have announced a purchase, you just wouldnt be getting it so soon. 

Thats the only element of luck, that they could get one on such short delivery. 

Capex had to have already been approved for a spend to even look at buying more rides. This money is generated/planned for years in advance,  It isnt an overnight process, especially given the feeling ardent dont want to spend money. This means a plan was already in place and they were putting together funding for these capital investments when they got lucky with the coaster.  

You talk about it like it was available so it was an automatic purchase without any prior planning. Why would they go and drop 20 million+ on a coaster if they werent already planning a large capital spend? Its not a small step. 

Were they planning on spending as much? Who knows. The option to buy a world class ride when faced with closures of more rides could have added more to the budget. But even if the initial spend was only intended to be half the purchase price of the coaster, they still had to approve the coaster purchase. Where does it say they had to buy it? If past actions are to go by, they could have passed on the opportunity and continued with killing the park.

How is that luck and not down to the management team and board? On top of the coaster purchase they approved more spending elsewhere in the park. Doesnt that show some action? Isnt it the opposite of what weve seen from ardent, even before the accident? If you look at things objectively like tim posted, seems like a plan is in place to do something other than just stick their heads in the sand. You might pick faults at it, want money spent elsewhere, but it wasnt long ago they were doing nothing and everyone was screaming for them to do SOMETHING. Tough crowd. 

Wrong again on the kids. At 2 she might have been tall enough (bullshit) to ride a coaster, and she might have been brave enough, but she is in the minority. Theres plenty of tweeners too scared to go on thrill rides. Parks like movieworld have virtually nothing between young kids and teenagers. Its why they are slaughtered by dreamworld. Road runner is basically it, as noise, darkness, speed is still way too much for some kids to ride scooby doo and a sbf hopper is hardly a thrill is it? 

2 hours ago, djrappa said:

Dunno maybe because the people that get on their rides all walk off of them at the end alive?

You kill people because of shoddy park upkeep and people are likely to be more critical of your approach to park upkeep... that’s just how it is. 

Ohh how quickly people forget that movieworld were lucky to escape killing guests on the ride AND on the ground with the green lantern accident though. Want to talk luck? THAT was luck. It could have been an even greater and more public disaster than the dream world incident, sparked the same industry changes and the dreamwold incident might never have happend.

I see your point though, but vrtp get away with some absolutely shit decisions people villify dreamworld for having done, and get away with it largely scott free. It's like all you need to do is dangle a big shiny thing in front of us to deflect the focus from all the things wrong with their business and people lap it up. 

Look how many pages were devoted to the delays and the ineptitude of the park surrounding sky voyager? Seaworld are well behind and people were intially making excuses for them, forgiving them for things being out of their control with weather and construction company issues. Even now people joke about their delays more than they reach for their pitchforks.

Thats all i was meaning when theres a bit of a double standard here. 

Edited February 8, 2020 by Levithian

[New display name]

Your right @Levithian the amount of luck  DW had, has now gone off the Richter scale., probably more like 300%.   

Finally putting some money aside isn't great planning it's we're f$%cked if we don't finally spend some seriously money into DW people might never come back.  

DW's have had at least 5 plans to get people back in the park and we are now finally at the point where DW are willing to spend money.   

DW's like a cat on a hot tin roof jumping from one plan to another.

That's not great planning .  That's DW treading water.  

SV didn't bring the people back so now they're placing all bets on a coaster.  

That's not great planning.

Replacing wipeout with shaded seating and not provide shading isn't great planning it's embarrassing..

Plonking a concrete path down isn't great planning it's a cheap fix.

 

5 hours ago, Levithian said:

 

Wrong again on the kids. At 2 she might have been tall enough (bullshit) to ride a coaster, and she might have been brave enough, but she is in the minority. 

At this point you should probably go to SW and check out what they have on offer for toddlers before you say anymore.  I wouldn't want you to be that person jumping up and down for something you are clueless about.

Oh yea that great planned concrete path now leads you to a closed ride.

[T-bone]

I’d disagree that Sky Voyager isn’t bringing people back. It’s one of those rides where the popularity is rising as word of mouth gets around. Sure it’s no major spike in attendance, but as time goes on, the park and attraction is getting busier and busier, and so it should, it’s a fantastic attraction we are lucky to have on our shores. 

Same thing happened with Soarin. A hard attraction to market, but with word of mouth, the attraction gained popularity and continues to remain a guest favourite. 

Now back to your regular programming..

[Levithian]

Skeet...

Do you understand that spending money on new rides and attractions, along with within your park is a plan, requires planning, and is an action? 

No?

Planning

Spending money

Building rides

All things weve complained about dreamworld not doing, showing no signs of doing, and going backwards so fast its like nobody was running the ship. 

And none of their plans included actually doing something. Certainly not a new megacoaster. 

They arent placing all bets on a coaster. You just finished bagged them for daring to plan other things with the park. Youre everything I said is wrong with vrtp, focused purely on attractions while everything around you suffers. 

Yes, and those kinds of decisions is what they were crucified over and what they are trying to counteract. Can you not see this is something positive instead of just focusing on the negatives of the past?

Ive been to seaworld and dreamworld in the past month with Mr 3 and Ms 6. I didnt say seaworld were bad, I said dreamworld has a leading kids area that is better than seaworld (it is), and miles better than anything movieworld offers. 

You were the one actually suggesting that dreamworld was so good it didnt need money spent there, while I differed and said thats exactly why it needs a spend, to keep it up to that standard as its one part of the park they are getting right. 

Blame them for poor maintenance and upkeep in the past, then blame them for being proactive. You cant have it both ways. 

Edited February 8, 2020 by Levithian

[New display name]

8 minutes ago, T-bone said:

Sure it’s no major spike in 

Thank you for proving my point.  SV was never going to be the major spike DW was chasing to pull themselves out of the poop hole.  In fact since SV opening DW have closed 3 major rides and replaced with 0.

@Levithian  you said SW had no coaster a 3 year-old can go on.  We are just going to go around in circles so I can't be bothered. 

[red dragin]

8 hours ago, Levithian said:

That's all i was meaning when theres a bit of a double standard here. 

Always been like that on this forum. It's a bit like Holden vs Ford, people are passionate about their preferred brand (and some have been/are on the payroll for one or the other). 

[New display name]

9 minutes ago, red dragin said:

Always been like that on this forum. It's a bit like Holden vs Ford, people are passionate about their preferred brand (and some have been/are on the payroll for one or the other). 

Has nothing to do with your Holden vs Ford.   Every time Richard did a report on DW people would jump up and down and tell him he was only being negative because he prefered MW.  Looks like DW proved him right when they started killing guest I would say.

 

[red dragin]

Green Lantern nearly killed people. The manufacturer got their engineering wrong, and MW didn't pick up on the fatigue during regular checking. 

RHRR was engineered/re-engineered wrong, and DM didn't identify/ignored the risks. And it did kill people. 

@Levithian has a preference for DM kids, you don't. There's your Holden v Ford similarity.

People are entitled to their opinions, wrong or right. Unless it's TPR apparently (not on there). Let's not turn into the Australian version of that.