DaptoFunlandGuy

I think this is why some people don't accept that a ride has a theme, or is suited to a theme park - because too many just don't realise what 'theme' is. Everything that is more than the basic mechanical parts needed to make the ride work (including air gates etc) is theming. In green lanterns case you have: An incredibly well sculptured ride sign (as opposed to standard signboard text). Well landscaped queueline with characters from the green lantern universe - including audio effects Fencing detail, including lights giant billboard size green lantern logo that pulses at night stationhouse with GL imagery on the roof GL themed ride vehicles with the GL logo - with lights! On board audio (no "if it works" comments) right down to the green lantern pledge written on the back of each vehicle All these things weren't required. they could have just painted the track green and called it green lantern without anything else. Is it the best, most immersive theme out there? no. It IS better than most coasters i've been on at SFMM, and TBH - for the most part with an outdoor coaster on an Australian budget, this is about as much as you can typically expect - it would be the expectations I have for the new coaster too - something similar, not necessarily identical, and if it has it, it will tick those boxes for me to say 'suitable \ satisfactory theme'. Something like this at MW with the mist - would really help with those riding on a hot day. How long before they turned it off? thats the question - but i'd really like to see them bring back the fogging they used to have in the superman tunnels - flying through a mist tunnel like this would do wonders for guest comfort on a hot day - especially when your water ride\s aren't working.

Should it be up to the parks to educate the public? Yes it should - it is their product being 'tarnished' and they are the ones that stand to lose big if this misinformation campaign continues. Here's a few things they should consider: Have a protocol set in stone that is enacted every. single. time. a ride goes into fault \ e-stop. Operator to spiel using microphone or other method to all guests a short explanation - if it's guest safety related - ie: standing up on the ride \ holding loose object like a phone - then say so "guys we've had to stop the ride because someone is <reason>. We'll have you back underway shortly. If it's ride system related, then as someone said above "guys, the computer system isn't happy with something, we're going to bring you back down and quickly reset the ride - it won't be long". (The thing about Disney is the automated spiel usually isn't specific - eg: Haunted Mansion "Playful spooks have interrupted our tour. Please remain seated in your doom buggy. We will proceed in just a moment. We have been unavoidably detained by pranky spirits. kindly remain seated in your doom buggy please, we will continue our tour momentarily" Which works fine when the operator isn't sure what the cause of the stoppage is (or in the case of haunted mansion - when they're loading a mobility assisted guest) Continuing with the stoppage protocol, if the ride operator isn't able to resolve the issue within a minute (i've seen them restart Tail-Spin 4-5 times without calling for maintenance) then that's really all thats needed - but if you're going to call for assistance - maintenance, security, management etc - then there should be a 'kit' containing vouchers for freebies - a bottle of water, a snack, a meal, a free return pass - put them all in the kit and let the supervising manager on duty decide what is necessary. In that kit it would be helpful for them to have umbrellas to shade stuck riders from sun or rain (where possible). First Aid \ Park Nurse should also be despatched to provide reassurance to anyone feeling ill effects afterwards. Operator should continue to spiel at each step advising what is happening: "guys we can't get the ride restarted so we've called for a technician to come and reset the ride - won't be long" - and this should be done every couple of minutes - for a person stuck up high on a ride, a minute can seem like an hour - however the announcement shouldn't be scripted - it should always provide new information - nothing is more infuriating than someone telling you 'won't be long' repeatedly for 20 minutes. Supervising manager, or whomever is the 'senior' person on the ground when guests are released should meet the guests - in a group near the exit, or individually if it takes a few minutes to release each row, and explain in simple terms what happened, what went wrong, why they were never in any danger etc. They should offer an apology, offer the services of the nurse if anyone isn't feeling well, offer some sort of freebie, even if it is just water. Finally, they should provide them with a card that gives them feedback options - phone, email etc. This shouldn't be the generic info line - it should be exclusive to people who have been in this situation, and it should be responded to religiously and without delay. The card should have a 'reference number' or similar written on it, that corresponds with an 'event book' used to record these events. A staff member during the incident should be recording the event with as much detail as possible - ie: '10:47 - ride stoppage on Giant Drop - requested maintenance, security and manager.... 10:55 - all staff on scene. 10:56 - operator spieled to riders about delay 10:57 - maintenance restarted ride 10:59 - all guests evacuated safely. Having someone note each and every detail as it happens helps ensure that details aren't missed, and also helps to refute the claims of riders on facebook who come on and say 'we were up there for an hour and they told us nothing!' "safety videos" as mentioned above are another great idea. Not sure where you'd play them - but perhaps sharing them on social media would help combat the misinformation. you could do general videos for most flats and specific ones for more complex attractions. there are plenty of folk out there today capable of putting together a quick 30-120 second video covering the basics - "green lantern has XX sensors throughout the ride, each pair provides the same information to the computer. if one provides different information to the other then XXXX happens" "xx ride has a failsafe 'deadman' switch that requires the operator to hold it down to operate" "if the air pressure to operate the brakes is lost, all the brakes will close" "your harness \ restraint is secured by XX. it also has YY and ZZ to ensure it cannot be opened whilst the ride is in motion" I have worked for an organisation that in the past had a policy of not responding to baseless media articles. It frustrated us as staff that they wouldn't refute claims made by the media. After a change in management, they changed their policy and now actively refute false claims in the media - it has done alot for staff morale, and has also improved customer perceptions of what we do. Media outlets are required to contact the subject of their article to advise of the claims made and offer them an opportunity to provide a response - if the park responds, the media must provide that response - that's why you see so many articles saying 'media outlet has contacted XX for comment, and at time of publishing, no response was received' - but they should stick to issuing statements to the media for all but the most serious of events, and not put their staff \ spokesperson in front of camera for random questioning. This was a good read: http://www.wdwinfo.com/walt-disney-world/why-rides-stop-at-walt-disney-world/ ...and while this isn't directly related, it's on a similar-enough tangent that i came across whilst googling so i decided to share it too: http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201008/2049/

Not another bloody A-frame. There are way too many of them in our parks as it is!!! I think there is a need for a cart such as the food vendors have, where they're placed out in the middle of the precinct, selling them. They could then engage with people who are near the experiences, and point out that they are interactive with wristband. Oh, and by the way - did I mention you can buy them directly from me as I stand here right now? The right retail cast member could make their wages back in an hour doing that... and if things are slow you can always redeploy them - sell balloons in WB kids, capes and masks in DC superhero alley... i did see a 'spray fan' barrow making its way down towards scooby at one point - so they do have cast members doing those things - its just a matter of changing the product in the cart...

I wouldn't call it a disappointment. Having taken a ride on it today i had a couple of observations to make - but first in regards to the above video - i'm not against them using UV lighting and UV active paint to accent certain parts of the ghost train (or even the disco room I guess) - Disney use a lot of UV effects in their rides and I think it does well. Sure, the 'original' in the movie doesn't use that, and the ride was themed to be representative of the ride in the movie. I think the movie is still relevant, albeit getting on in years, and i'd love to see a 'similar' experience return, but with 'added' effects utilising UV. Now onto today's experience: Scooby was the first coaster I got my wife to go on (I lied - it worked), and it has always been one of our favourites. Today, scooby was rough. as. guts. jolting, bumping, hitting every brake hard. I'll attribute some of that to having 4 grown adults in the car, and I think 3 teenage girls in the one in front. Nice queue - only JUST spilling into the big 'cinema' room - however the modifications to the queue rails to accommodate fast track are terrible. I'd rather they loaded fast track through the exit (which probably isn't possible with the harness controls i suppose) but the split line up that narrow hallway has resulted in them defeating the purpose of the design of that room - the queue rails were designed down the centre of the hallway to keep bored fingers from damaging the walls. I don't know how long it's been with fast track like this (it doesn't matter really) but it has resulted in waiting guests queueing against the wall - and thats when boredom sets in and assholes take to scratching their names, drawings, rude words and anything else they can think of into the paint of the walls - completely ruining the look. The 'columns' too have suffered, as repeated leaning, bumps, rubbing as you walk past has taken all the paint off the front side of the columns and exposing bare fibreglass (or whatever). I sincerely hope when they take this ride down to reinstall the ride theming that they give some attention to the queue, and try something that is a bit more vandal proof. Ride experience was ok. I was quite happy to see the exposed sections of the ride - it was interesting to see the actual layout spread out in front of you. Shame they hid the exit section. I liked the sneak peak into the disco room as you approached the lift instead of the mirror. I understand why they needed to pull the themeing out, and I understand why the opened it as it is during peak - but since they were just coming out of Fright Nights at the time, i'm wondering whether they could have repurposed some halloween props - spider webs, skeletons, whatever - and just had a few things to look at that they could shine a light on. Sure it was a little extra effort, but 'a little extra effort' is their reputation - and it's sad to see them not live up to it. Its been a while since I rode, so i'm not sure how long that particular laser has been there (it changes so often! jk) but i like it - i'd only have liked it to be brighter, faster moving, and covering more area (or maybe just have 2?). Fantastic amount of smoke coverage in the room made for some excellent beams throughout which really helped - But I still would like to see those fast moving, bright green beams we had striking the mirror panels originally. All up, i'm not upset with it's current state, I know it's only temporary, and I relished the opportunity to see it 'differently'. I look forward to seeing them bring it back all refreshed, and hopefully with a little extra somethin' too.

not a day goes by without at least one of our parks having some sort of downtime. In this case it was all of five minutes. Most people waiting in the queue wouldn't have realised it had stopped for that amount of time (depending on queue length of course). I guarantee that at least one computer in my office building needed to be reset today. Somewhere in the southeast, someone had to reboot their phone. Once a week my Foxtel box needs a hard reset. And just like magic - after a reboot, everything comes back online just as it's meant to, and everyone continues about their business. This is the shit that the media is missing. As Rappa said - they should be encouraging education with these issues now, instead of likening every reset to a tragic accident that killed 4 people. If the parks die, it will be the fault of the media.... and although the gold coast has a lot to offer tourists, it wouldn't be the same drawcard without them - and it would seriously damage the rest of the coast. We have this running joke in our household where the media ties it into Christmas - "blah blah happened 'just six weeks after christmas' - they tend to do it with anything that is family oriented and within a month or so of the date... substitute it for any other holiday or family gathering time and anything that has to do with the holiday itself - for example we've also heard: just XX before Anzac Day - for things relating to diggers, or memorials. shits me to tears. Yeah I feel like they've just taken the opening time from a social media post or similar saying it's open - i've frequently logged onto facebook and found 'old news' presented as 'today' - it quickly refreshes, but I guess it depends on how long you linger on the post for it to update.

I'll be honest, i'm a little miffed at those that are downplaying or otherwise dismissing this as not being 'good' enough. The park themselves have said 'world's best' so it has to be some kinda awesome. Our first hyper, a reliable long-term supplier to our parks is building it - I don't see any excuse to be doing anything except booking a ticket on the hype train non-stop to opening day. It's like saying the new car \ plane \ game console \ smartphone to be released in 9 months time will be a piece of shit. People like that just piss me off.

So having taken on Doomsday twice today, it doesn't change my view. I liked Doomsday, but i think Wipeout still takes it.

Hope you left room for 'Hyper Coaster 1'

Can confirm - it wasn't on the closed rides list at gates open (only Arkham), but staff were turning people back just past the timeshare people. When we went back a little later, they had moved back to the ride entrance, and were advising people it would be closed for the day. I did see a west operator head back to the office next to rick's - not sure if they were heading home, or just reassigned. By the time we left the park (before 12pm) the front gates had updated to state west was closed, but arkham would now be open.... too late FML.

I'm about 6 foot flat, and had my first (and second - walkon) rides on Doomsday today. Whilst I didn't notice any varied height limits, my first ride was on the red row west, and I did have to do a little contortion to get under the harness and into the seat. I've also found it to be incredibly difficult to undo one side of the two-button seatbelt at the end of the ride. Anyone else noticed this? I didn't find the ride to be shaky. It was quite an enjoyable ride and I reckon I could re-ride it for quite some time. The harness is comfortable, yet secure. I did find the internal seats to be a little close together in terms of leg space with the person opposite, but the motion of the ride takes care of that most of the time. End seats (brown at least) were far more enjoyable than the middle rows. I'd love to see a longer, or a more intense, or faster (speed, not time) cycle, but i'm happy with it as a mid-level thrill. I think the biggest problem is that the ride appearance is intimidating to some, and probably puts a number of people off riding it.The missus is usually up for trying anything once, and whilst she hates centrifuges (won't ever do a gravitron or enterprise style attraction) or a marble coaster, she usually will try anything once - except this. except today. She's decided she might give it a go next time though - so there's that. Overall the area is fantastic, although i'd like to see more prominent information about the interactive elements, as a lot of people were wandering around, bashing the hammer and posing for photos, but I didn't see anyone actually activate any of those elements. It was only that I knew of the wristbands and where to find them that I even remembered to look for them in the shop. Overall I think they've missed the mark on those wristbands, and aren't marketing them as well as they should. Most of the elements didn't jump out as 'if you spend $15 you can make this thing do stuff', and overall it just appeared as 'here's some nice things to take photos of' - disappointing.

@YLFATEEKS covered this quite well in his explanation that it is a requirement that the ambulant \ assisted \ disabled \ whatever bathroom needs to be screened from general view. In time, it will hopefully be just vinery, but until they grow in, the screening is required.

Would someone at Sea World please go and buy the air conditioners!?!?

I took a trip to the park today, had a bit of a snoop over both TG and coaster sites. The fence work around the coaster continues (seems to be pretty slow progress for something that appears to be ready-made-to-fit fence panels). Nothing different to the pics posted on the previous page, so not much point posting new ones.

I would suggest they're down now since the article actually said ' No fault was discovered and the ride was operating again after successful testing ' and it said they were stuck for about 'five minutes' On the intamin giant drop towers, the gondola is released from a catch in the catch car to freefall. If, for whatever reason the gondola can't be released, there is a manual control for the winch, and the gondola can be lowered slowly, still attached to the cable. It really is no big deal whatsoever. (I should add that they won't release the gondola from the catch car unless it has reached the top, and they won't, if it has gone into e-stop. The only way to bring them down after an e-stop is manual winch lowering - or at least that was the way with Space Probe. I assume the systems are fairly similar)

I would think that they could probably lower the water level in the splashdown - meaning less splash, but since it's the water that is used as a brake run, i'm not so sure they'd want to - meaning same experience all the time.

At the end of the day, with so many other issues in the park, losing what generally amounts to a few cents of soda per customer isn't probably a big loss for them to take, to make up for the shambles that the park currently is. "well we had a shit day and only got 1 ride, we got lost through a myriad of tunnels and pathways, and we missed the seal show because we couldn't find the stadium.... but we got free soda, so the jokes on them!!!"

well worth the $35 saving to go over the holidays, and catch fire machine, i'm sure...?

Good spot @themagician! For those that require spoon feeding: https://www.dreamworld.com.au/park-info/5-day-sale Season Passes - Online only pricing: (valid for use until 24 December 2017) $44 Child (ages 3-13 years) $44 Pensioners (AUS & NZ residents only. ID Required.) $64 Adults I think it's an awesome little offer recognising their 35th year. I'd have liked to have seen them do a very limited time offer for $35 season passes - but thats only because i'm broke, not because they need to drop the price.

nope.

The waterpark had different entry requirements, but was still open to park guests for a fee... became an upcharge if you will, so i don't consider 2008 as being relevant. It occurred much more recently. Green I can agree with, red I don't. Remember, my post (that you accused me of being too harsh on) was discussing rides: MW have two new rides to open within 12 months of each other, in addition to improvements around the park. Sea World has improvements around the park, but no attractions (I reiterate i'm not counting children's area), and lost several non-children's area attractions. In your timeline (in which you describe BT's closure) You failed to include the closure of SeaScrewCorkViper, closure of Vikings Revenge, closure of Skyway, and you disagree with me on the appropriate place in the timeline for the waterpark, for which I shall agree to disagree - the fact remains that the park closed a coaster and two flumes, and only put in a new coaster. I take this point here with it's appropriate effect, but they'd have to be at least somewhat familiar with theme park 'types' to refer to it as 'backstage'. Nothing turns on this and their point is still appropriate and valid... just an observation.

I think you're grossly overestimating the amount most passholders pay per visit. See the thing about local passholders is they can drop by for an hour, ride a ride or two, and leave - no food, no drink, no locker if they're smart about it - hardly covers the cost of the full priced entry ticket. Even when I visit for a full day I will only drop about $15 on food and drink which again - hardly covers the GA ticket. Your disney comparison is always going to fail. Few people outside South East Queensland are passholders to our parks. In the US - many disneyphiles across the states will hold a pass - and the price they charge for their passes is actually intended to be a bit of a barrier - they're limiting the amount of passholders they get by making them super unaffordable - and people are still paying it... because disney is a world unto itself.

Not really. (1979)

With regard to using Rick's courtyard, i'd like to see it used as an *gasp* actual marketplace that it is themed after - think a souk, or similar. I'm sure there's enough vendors out there at places like carrara markets that would relish the opportunity to be involved. Obviously there needs to be a level of quality, but imagine going in there for unique items to personalise and buy to take back home and remember your holiday? I'm thinking things like those 'name' brooches made out of wire, with beads and such. I'm thinking perhaps a 'drink vendor' (even if it's served out of the existing bar) that serves UNIQUE drinks to the theme. Imagine turkish coffee? or even just ice blended tropical drinks and fruit smoothies or something. If mainstreet can host an 'airbrushed hat' stall (ugh) surely we could see the courtyard utilised a little better 'in theme'....

We have to remember though that we have been saying for ages that another 'family level' ride that isn't too intense, and can accommodate the less thrilling guest in the park is what was needed - this is exactly what we asked for... that said an extreme cycle option would have been nice. Then why make the theming part of the conversation at all? in the 'market value' argument - none of the flat rides in any of the parks have more than 'a few bones and a bit of paint' on them - including wipeout's fibreglass waves. What you're trying to say is the physical ride experience - but in trying to say that you involved a lack of theme, which - when you work on 'market value' - they're all on the same level.

I think this is taking the point a little too analytical. By that nature - i could argue that Wild West Falls isn't very well themed, as the ride itself is simply a bare concrete channel, with rubber conveyor belts, and some 'wooden' themed boats. EVERYTHING ELSE that makes that ride is just part of the themed area. Space Mountain, without the lights, wouldn't be very spacey. Sure - there is an area around doomsday that isn't 'the ride itself' but separate experiences - but come on, how much do you expect to be 'part of the ride itself' when its a stock flat ride? For me, i think they've done a fantastic job of theming 'the ride itself' as much as they can - every inch of that ride is tied into the overall look. Every other flat ride in our parks pretty well meets the same definitions - you can't count wipeout's surfboards, the giant wave, the pool underneath it, the sand around it - all you can count is a bit of fibreglass waves above your head...