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To be fair, there's a lot more competition out there that they have to compete hard to convince people to choose their park over the hundreds of others they could go to - so the extra marketing is needed. The GC parks have long learned the arrogance of being the only "real" option for Aussies (yes, other regional parks are out there but rarely are they the 'reason' for the trip - just a 'do while we're there' in most cases), so they don't have to compete as much - Honestly I think the only reason we got the Rivals video we did was because an enthusiast did a hell of a job and village went - "WOW - we should pay him" otherwise I doubt we'd have gotten the rivals one either.

Which opens the door. You're flat out wrong. The park isn't suggesting it. The family isn't suggesting it. Park fans who know the history aren't suggesting it. You've ignored every well reasoned argument to bang on about a statue that everyone else agrees he wouldn't want, but you think it's ok, because he's dead and wouldn't know? That's hardly honoring his memory.

The market is also different. In America, those early renderings/POVs are there to get you to renew your season pass as early as possible. The same isn't applicable in Australia in the same way. Back when it was VIP passes which all expired on June 30, it would have made sense to release an announcement/POV late May, early June for something opening in December to get renewals happening. In Australia, I don't think it makes much sense to announce something more than 1 holiday season out. I know the passes are still a big part of the ticketing mix, but marketing should be about why you should visit NOW, not why you should visit in 6 months.

And we’re saying he wouldn’t be interested in having his likeness out the front of the current Dreamworld. Multiple people now have explained their ideas and articulated them with a fair bit of reasoning and detail, and you’ve been pretty rude and disrespectful to those not aligned with your view.

and they should sue them too for making such a terrible sequel! 😏

Tbf, Village said nothing about Rivals layout wise until 3 months out from opening, and that wasn’t even a rendered POV, just an edited video. Until then we had people guessing off track, supports and footings (which were generally pretty accurate). But surely you’d have something up by now, especially when the layout is sitting there completed? Nearly every major coaster build in America gets an animated POV six months to even a year out from opening.

Underpromise and overdeliver. The thing that baffles me is that I swear our parks have this backwards because constantly they overpromise and underdeliver. Honestly I would much prefer them to take their time and make it right by saying 'Coming 2022' and then they could easily drop it mid-year with no hassle but it also gives them the option to drop it later without annoying everybody. I do get the idea that if they keep on pushing it back in increments then there are people who will book a holiday for each season in hopes of experiencing the attraction but I'd imagine that's not a great way to keep your guests happy.

I think they've probably backed themselves into a corner committing to Easter. It's a shame the themeing isn't further along because it just doesn't have the 'it'll all be completed vibe'. Does make you wonder if there's a bit of major work to happen before some stuff goes in? It'll be a shame if it opens late, or it opens unfinished, but tbh as a betting man you'd think one of those two outcomes will be the way it goes.

Surprised for such a major coaster opening in a couple of months time that they haven't even released the rendered POV.

Are you referring to Corroboree that was initially funded by the govt and now that the funding has ceased has recently been removed from the park with no references to it present anywhere anymore? If DW was truly interested in First Nations matters, it wouldn’t have rebadged Corroboree as “Wildlife”. If they want to make a stand on the Aus Day issue - don’t do it silently - explain why you are ignoring it and state your corporate support for #changethedate.

Why would you be assuming that? Seems quite strange that, to my knowledge, they didn’t offer any Australia Day events or activities but are putting on a Waitangi Day event.

After John sold Dreamworld, he went back less than a few times - a few weeks after the sale and a few years ago. On his last visit, he remarked to me personally that he hadn't slept for days after witnessing the state of the park, noting that while Main Street (pre Sky Voyager) looked nice enough, everything beyond there was largely unkempt and not to the calibre or standard he would wish for. That's not to say John was always right about Dreamworld's future or how parks as a whole had evolved in the decades since the sale of Dreamworld - his hatred for any large "un-Disney-like" thrill ride was, at times, almost amusing - he was well known to hold his hand up to cover his face and the view of Dreamworld as he drove past, and we debated on more then one occasion about the merits of Rivals, large rides as a whole and how the industry in Australia had evolved and changed over the years. Having said all that, my point is this - despite some of his industry perspectives not evolving with the times, I can guarantee you John would hate having his face forever plastered out the front of that park that doesn't understand his fundamental legacy in the same way he would hate having a roped-off, un-operational steam train engine plonked out the front of a closed train line, seemingly taunting guests about a memory that once was and is no longer.

Some days - I wonder if that's even a consideration for them.