DaptoFunlandGuy

From what I understand (I haven't seen it) - the show has a new theme, a new storyline, the set has been updated, and so has the script. Since those are the only things that can change - it's a new show. What in your mind would meet the criteria to be a 'new' show?

Although they are similar behaviors, some elements are 'new' even to the trainers. The paddle boards for instance. Same as the rubber ducky? no - very different. Yes they change things up in each show, but this is based on what animals are 'willing' at the time. Certain behaviors (and "group" behaviors) can only be done by certain animals or groups of animals. Has nothing to do with which trainers are present. The main reason for the metal fences was because out of showtime, one of the dolphins beached themselves on one of the shelves, and was unable to get back off. Severe sunburn and intensive medical care was required. The animals usually have pretty free reign throughout the lagoons outside of showtime, but there isn't any staff in the arena during that time... so thats why there are fences - and there have been for quite some time. As i've said before - marine animals such as dolphins and sea lions etc display "natural" behaviours. Although you can stretch those behaviours to a degree to get something that fits in the script and theme of the show, you can't just decide "the animals have to do something different for this show" so a "new show" for dolphins or whales will always only be the same behaviours with a different theme, story, set, or script. To criticise the park for "only changing" those things, and not the behaviors is ridiculous. Those are the only parts of the show you CAN change.

yes but the quality of the parks, both rides, theme, and service varies widely in the US... From what I understand - the level of quality and service at TDS is hard to beat.

There are far cheaper ways of experiencing Disney Parks Zacsta... Hong Kong Disney for instance... Qantas just advertised specials to HK today for 799 return. Yes it's still pricey - but nowhere near what a US trip would be.

You had me at Looping Starship. Love that ride.

^They'll get Mack in to refurbish it.

So the wife and I are looking around the US to places we'd like to visit. We had a look at Michigan as there are some 'non-park' attractions we're interested in and happened upon Michigan's Adventure. It seems to be the only 'major' park in the state. There are numerous "parks" in Michigan - but only 9 coasters on record - 7 of which are at Michigan's Adventure. I was curious if anyone had visited the park, and whether it would be worth the detour? The park is a combined theme water park, with 4 Steel and 3 Woodies: Corkscrew - An Arrow Corkscrew model built in 1978 - which looks identical to SeaScrewCorkViper. Big Dipper - A Chance Big Dipper built in 1999 Mad Mouse - An Arrow Mad Mouse built in 1999 Thunderhawk - A Vekoma SLC built in 2008 - similar to Arkham Lethal, and formerly of Geauga Lake Shivering Timbers - A 1.6km CCI out-and-back Woodie topping out at 91km/h Wolverine Wildcat - A Dinn double-out-and-back Woodie built in 1988 which looks very similar to Wonderland's Bush Beast Zach's Zoomer - A CCI family woodie built in 1994 Anyone been?

I've never noticed that - but taken out of context, Lube O Rama has a completely different meaning...

I thought pandamonium had a geared drive - i wouldn't have thought rocking the car would do anything...

Ok - so your first statement isn't what you said the first time, and it also directly contradicts the info Jobe got from the same source.... so clearly it could go either way. Your second statement is another assumption and means nothing.

All the sites previously worked off pretty much the same template. The other parks had background imagery relevant to the current promotion etc. Since PC doesn't really have any current promotions like the Magic Pass, it does look a little bare.

^Agreed - but with the sites 'green' theme, the ride fits, and all the parks are well suited to cross promotion... it's necessary.

We all know a new ride is coming. LPS has made it plain that Hair Raiser was the first in a series of attractions - and I believe the next one was due to commence construction late last year. I also believe that it was delayed due to the ruckus caused by the Hair Raiser DA. But your statement, to which Jobe responded, was in response to a question, asking whether the art work at the back of the Flying Saucer site was preparation for a new ride. You answered that it was. At this stage, we don't know where the new ride is going - so whilst all the people you talked to told you 'a new ride is coming' (which we already knew), Jobe specifically asked whether the flying saucer site was being prepared for said ride, and was told no. Nobody is doubting that the folks you know told you a new ride is coming, but I think you've made an assumption that it was going to Flying Saucer. Jobe is quite the source when it comes to our Luna Parks... and i'm quite inclined to take his info as being reliable... and it's your assumption that he's calling you out on.

I think you're bound to get poor service from cast members at some stage or other. Even Disney, although it's rarely tolerated - everyone has bad days.

What's wrong with it?

^Yup. They're hoping they can continue to record low rider numbers in the first 10 hours of opening as a justification for closing it down and allowing it to rot...

Everything Bruce Rowland has done is fantastic, but the Snowy tracks are the best. Whilst i'm sure the guys who work the show might be getting a little sick of the high country fanfare, it evokes the images of the snowy mountains every time. Sorry to see it go. Well... you can't exactly just invent all new behaviors for the dolphins to perform - as just shown in the blackfish thread from Trevor Long's own words - the animals are only exhibiting behaviors shown in the wild. There's only so many ways to open a can. Of course you can do more with a land arena with several different animals - horses, dogs, sheep, cows, camels, as well as quad bikes, choppers, mail wagons carts etc. As for technology - when you've got your own completely enclosed arena, technology is really only limited by imagination (and budget to a degree)... it's very different to an open ampitheatre with shows only performed in the day time.

If it's missing... how will the masses find it?

I'd like to shake the hand of the journalist writing that for actually getting much of it right, and not skewing anything. It's a perfect representation of what our park is.

I think you might have popped this in the wrong thread DisneyDoll...

^So the ghost town has a ghost landscaper now?

I disagree. When you take a look at an itinerary for a TPR trip, it's usually back-to-back parks, usually with just enough time in between for travel, sleep, and for Elissa to get some pasta. It's a mad rush, with everything planned down to the minute. (It needs to be to fit all those little extras in that they arrange with the parks)... I just don't think that many people (mostly TPR Club members) would trek over here on what would be quite an expensive travel cost (not to mention travel time) to visit 4 parks on the GC. It's widely accepted MW is lacking in being a full day park. In previous discussions we've already determined that credit whores are going to walk straight into WnW and back out again after riding surfrider, so you're left with only two parks - SW and DW on the gold coast. DW is at most a two-day park (and then only because of terrible capacity) and SW is a one day park. How you can compare that to the Disney property in Florida alone, which would take weeks to do properly, not to mention Universal... I mean thats like saying your loungeroom TV is a decent alternative to a Gold Class cinema premiere. I'm sorry but I just don't agree. You're touring Australia, you're riding a lot of things at a lot of parks... but after your mammoth trip - how soon are you going to do another one, just to go back and re-do all the same things you just did?

The CotD attraction isn't going where SV was. It is headed for where the Dinosaurs used to be. Two separate spots... A woodie would be a great look on a 'seaside pier' type park, but you need height, and space... and a woodie would probably need more than SW can offer.

Chracters that talk without moving their mouths are creepy? Avoid all parades at all parks or you're gonna be freaked out (except of course the new 'talking' mickey costume). Wedgie always shakes with the force of the rider going around. It's always looked like that.

Robb and Elissa have said they're curtailing their trips this year, after 10 years straight of trip after trip. I hope to see them back in action next year - but as we don't have as much to offer, regular trips 'down under' are unlikely.