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Just ask Disney how well the generic cross branding “Disney Parks” went for them... Whist I agree it’s a misstep to not highlight who Clark is to average joe, the image of the parks being owned (I know not technically, but I’m talking the mindset of customers here) but a young Gold Coast family with keeps will surely resonate much better with prospective customers than some rich old businessman from interstate. That’s a good move IMO.

Multiple people around the theme park/construction industry have all said the same thing that the ride is still over there till they have funds. Then the park goes on record to say 60 are still to come. It’s not really a stretch. Especially when you factor shipping is a mess right now

I look forward to NOT reading the rest of this thread when it mysteriously disappears overnight.

Essentially so many people here love to bash DW because then it makes VRTP look so much better. It is called competition. But I gather many don't understand why competition is important. Remember one thing. When you are at the top you can only go one way.

Obligatory "Ooof"

The video is much better when it's sped up:

I'm from Sydney and only visited the parks for a holiday. I have a nostalgic/childhood/real memory of the Parks, not of a video logo. In fact I'd say most people (and so many still think this) Village Roadshow is an American company because that logo was on the front of every American feature they remember watching. So whilst a couple of argumentative experiences in this select forum might have more memory of a VHS tape than a theme park from being a child I WHOLE disagree that's the experience of most people from growing up. Id go so far to say as many kids thought of the Gold Coast as theme parks rather than beaches. I'd say it will be the one of Village Roadshow Theme Parks, and it's CEO Clark Kirby. Given that every statement about the offer states the company is keeping it's name and CEO I have no idea where that sort of snarky comment comes from.

Look, I think the rake promotion is a poor choice, and the parks are definitely a better brand to market. This came across to me as a shareholder presentation for the new buyers than something to encourage people to come back to the parks - BUT - Putting Clark at the front of the campaign is probably the best part of that ad. Sure, Average Joe doesn't know who he is, but if they persist with this marketing strategy (remember, he's fronted the media recently for soundbytes instead of Bikash) he starts to become the human face of the company, which is a far better image than a faceless rake. (I also don't think it's Clark who does the voiceover). The Kirby name founded Movie World and the Village company, and while definitely not of the same calibre, has hints of the days where Roy Disney fronted the cameras on behalf of the Disney company. By all accounts Clark will continue to lead in some capacity with any new owner, and marketing him now (albeit probably a bit later than it should have been) is a great step at showing that it's "business as usual" when the new owners come on board. No doubt the company will take a direction that is different to what we have come to expect from Village (one can hope!) but having Clark at the helm, AND as the face is the kind of thing Eisner did when he rose to the top at Disney. While my personal opinion of Clark isn't that high (an impression taken mostly from his posted antics on social media), it isn't horrible. I'm sure others would hold a negative opinion of him for different (and probably better positioned) reasons than mine - but as you say - quite a lot of people don't know who he is - but perhaps this is the start of Clark's "face of the company" debut, with more to come. If i'm wrong about that, then I wholeheartedly agree, its a poor choice for him to face the campaign, but if i'm right, its a great foundation for them to build him a public image that would well suit a family suite of theme parks.

So the plan is to make people so bored watching the ad that they're going to go the theme parks? Also if you don't know who Clark is, what's the point of him being front and center of the ad? Was the audio recorded in his bedroom via zoom? Are people really going to the parks to pat a Guinea Pig? Really? Who enjoys the slow drawn out speech with slow motion footage? Can we stop pushing Village Roadshow Theme Parks as a brand when the individual park brands are a million times more compelling than the name of the company? Why are they showing ads for something which is meant to be fun and exciting in an ad that's bland and boring? Wow I think I really hate that ad.

Mate, I have the email. I literally have nothing to gain here by sharing the info, I was just passing on information that was sent to all staff. I didnt say anything about the % of track which was on its way. Im losing sleep over here that you're not believing me. Edit to add : the email is from late May. We are now 4th of June. I dont know who the other sources are and honestly cbf caring for internet points. If capital expenditure has been approved to start again since the email and the other sources comments, then I guess Germany are packing a nice little cargoload as we speak and a great voyage is taking place across the majestic seas.

This Covid stain may need something stronger than what old mate Croaker can sell

The whole basis of the ad is to show that they are ready to welcome you back, the tone of his voice, the delivery appeals to the family market who are ready to travel and holiday again. The way its delivered is not in your face, or loud, its a strong but calming voice that is subconsciously telling the market that its all going to be Ok when you come back to the GC and the parks. The shot of him on the roller-coaster with the iconic Surfers Paradise Skyline in the background is clever and used perfectly to let people know that you can come to the GC, do the parks and holiday with plenty of things to do. The beach and water can be seen and that is the Gold Coast major appeal. Take a look at the Destination Gold Coast Video, Gold Coast Airports upcoming campaign, they are all being done the same way and working. If your a brand that wont use an opportunity like this to start pushing a "face" of a theme park, one with history that can be leveraged and a family man, then you need to sack your brand manager. Right now people need gentle reassurance, and this did this in spades. Analyse the video for who its marketed to, family with kids. Not theme park fanatics like us. Its a great video and will capture the market its directed at.

$80 million after the refinance in April 2019 but down to $58 million as at 31 December 2019.

The snarky comment comes from them trying to bully the government to allow them to open even if it's not safe, so they can meet the higher value sale conditions that's currently on the table.

Fright Nights and White Christmas are being planned still as we speak Park will provide more information closer to the events commencement

Is that the only source of this? your friend told you? no screenshots or anything like that? so we're telling Jay Jay - who also heard it from a friend of reliable repute that he's wrong, based on your friend of reliable repute? Appreciate the info, and keen to see where it all lands, but what we don't have is the park quoted saying 2/3 of the track is still in germany, and two items of hearsay that differ in their detail. I'm still on the fence. Neither has been proven right or wrong.

Yea I posted about it in this thread on the 21st of May. Probably got lost amongst all the speculation.

No Australian debt facilities is correct. May 2016 revenue was only $6 million, so if the park is genuinely losing $5-10 million a month with significantly reduced costs during shutdown and the majority of wages covered by JobKeeper (there's say $1-2 million in costs) then insolvency is what they deserve, pandemic or not. The three options to repair their balance sheet mooted by AFR and echoed by other investment reports suggests they can do three things: sale-and-leaseback (a la VRTP), sell a stake in Main Event or raise equity. We know with certainty that the first two have been on the cards and/or actively pursued by Ardent in recent times.

I wonder what image the park will use when it's sold off in a few months time. Will Clark even still be around?

yeah ok, plus the summer nights at the drive in, or at the workers club, watching 'new' movies like crocodile dundee - that 'whooshing' sound. the village rake. I have far more associations with that logo as a kid than I do the parks. Sure, your associations are with the park directly, but the broader community outside of SEQ would have more association with Village Roadshow from movies, cinemas, and other ventures across the country, than just the parks. I'm not saying your perspective is wrong - just that it's different to mine (and it would seem, some others who have similar associations)

I liked the video

So my take, to me growing up in the 90's, a lot of the VHS I watched, started with the Village Roadshow V's flying in, so to me they are iconic and nostalgic. With time and a good marketing strategy Village Roadshow Themeparks as a common brand could work, but its a bit of a mouthful. The 6 syllables don't really roll off the tongue. Having Clark as the face of the company is a great idea though. Lets not forget generally speaking, Australia (and the world) is racist and hes white. Clark is also objectively speaking, not bad looking, and could speak clearly while still holding onto a strong Aussie accent, which helps international markets. I assume thats his family at the end? Makes sense for an ad like this and could work for other styles / targeted ads but not something I want Village to run into the ground.

You mean an internal email, that someone without a contact at the park could be forgiven for not knowing? Gotcha.

An email sent to all staff mate. Rest of track remaining in Germany until hold on capital expenditure is lifted.

I don’t like they’ve gone with the VRTP name promotion either, but they’ve been doing it for a few year’s now, so it seems like it’s going to stay. It’s the same with the staff uniform. I much preferred when each park had their own uniform, it looked better and was a much better fit for the style/theme of the park. The polos aren’t appealing at it for me

What about Surfrider But yeah that article sounds so garbled and the writer cannot concisely present ideas. Like yeah the "fREIgHt bOxES" (Shipping Containers) go back to the port after they are unloaded. Why would you keep 30 empty containers around paying demurrage/detention charges for no reason?

It does look like “Sea Crete” are doing works on Wet n Wild as well as other Village parks. It’s a bit of a shame that not much is happening with Dreamworld during its closure with the exception of supports arriving. .

The The Australian Financial Review stated two weeks ago that Dreamworld will likely open in August before the September holidays start.

The catchcar platform (the thing with the safety railings at the top of the lift unit) is found on many giant drop units - as seen here on Blue Fall. Some smaller towers didn't have them fitted permanently (Space probe had a separate maintenance basket that could be attached to any of the catchcars). My guess (and I am only guessing) is that the railings on the catchcar platform are probably some OH&S thing as it is a platform at height and has been decreed to require fixed railings. As for the mesh shown over the riders, I assume a 'loose item' protection should something fall from the tower or catchcar. There have been a number of cable snaps over the years on the Intamin drop models (including on Space Probe) and this may also be some form of protection for those sorts of incidents too...

For a lazy river, I want to see something similar to the one in Adventure Cove in Singapore. One where you go pass a massive fish tank...... that’s probably out of Dreamworld budget however.

Generally, aren't those building further away and not something guests can walk right past? In another news, well done SW on this great artwork

TPSN also posted these Sky Flyer is gone Part of the path has been fenced off and the hut has been removed And they have painted one of the buildings around Vortex, I really hope it’s hidden by theming or trees, because I doubt there are many box buildings on Atlantis

Looks like we will be getting that theming