DaptoFunlandGuy

This is a fair representation of the park based on my trip a few years ago. I found JP Rapids to be quite soaking - though I guess it would depend on the season, as well as the position in the raft. The finale was definitely the strong point on this ride. I did find ROTM's queue to be incredibly long for what it was (longer than the queues at Grizzly Gulch and Mystic Manor as i've just written about). I do feel one can spend a full day at USS - although this depends on your interest... and whether you 'skip' things you aren't interested in, or experience everything. Shrek 4D is the same film as what was previously at MW - however I feel like USS does a far better job with the '4th dimension' aspect of the film as the effects are far more immersive than those used previously at MW. The best part of resorts world sentosa is if you're done with the park - there is plenty more to do in Sentosa Island - I found USS to be a 1.5 day park to fully experience everything (especially when interrupted by tropical showers), and the other half day can easily be spent on the various Sentosa attractions, including 'Songs of the Sea'.

Absolutely - it's personal taste. Having experienced LA's "new" and "old" Space Mountain - I prefer the 'old'... but when comparing current versions in LA and HK - both Casey and I prefer HK to LA. Mystic and HM are very different, original pieces in the parks - and i'm more a 'traditionalist' when it comes to Disney dark rides. My last ride on HM in LA didn't appear too different... I know they need to upgrade and 'keep with the times' - i just prefer it the way I remember it from my first trip, and i'd rather they didn't have to change or upgrade it - just maintain it how it is. I'm not a big fan of the overlays they do on their various attractions either - although the different soundtracks they do are cool. Of course (as you'll see in my TR on Mystic - just posted) Mystic was great for what it was - but in terms of experience - i preferred HM... it's not to say for a moment that Mystic wasn't a great attraction - just didn't rank as highly as HM in my opinion.

Day 2 - Disneyland (wednesday) Part 5 - Mystic Point Disclaimer here: Whilst many of us are familiar with Disney Dark Rides and their concepts - Mystic Manor is a unique ride-story and theme, unlike any other Disney dark ride attraction. If you haven't experienced Mystic Manor - there are spoilers within the below TR. If you don't want to know what's coming before you get a chance to ride it - i'd suggest skipping over the spoiler section in this part of the TR. So after a bit of time off (and sorry for the delay) we continue with the next instalment – Mystic Point. Like Grizzly Gulch, Mystic Point was part of the major expansion project to HKDL to try and develop a greater offering for the park. Where Grizzly Gulch is a melding of themes from other classic Disney attractions and lands, Mystic Point star (only) attraction – Mystic Manor is intended to take the place of the classic Haunted Mansion. The ride does well to offer something different, which was clearly their intention (otherwise they’d have just built a haunted mansion in it’s place). The rest of Mystic Point offers little more than a gift shop, a few food carts and a nicely themed garden – as well as a newly added stop to the Disneyland Railroad well themed with crates and cartons marked with shipping details indicating they are destined for the Manor. The railroad stop here is well needed, given the Park only offered a ‘Main Street’ and ‘Fantasyland’ stop prior to the expansion. It also offers guests an alternative stop to alight from when Fantasyland closes early for the nightly fireworks, given the only way in and out of Toy Story Land at night is via Mystic Point and Grizzly Gulch – as these three lands do not connect to the Hub like most Disney parks do – clearly demonstrating the ‘ad-hoc’ nature of these additions to the park. This youtube video also gives a great visual representation of the ride control system, along with two individual POV mounted on separate cars within the same ride (as well as a muffled, but still very indicative version of the ride soundtrack: http://youtu.be/YgXLCwSDLmE Toy Story Land is next – and I’ll try not to keep you waiting too long for that.

Very different to the original though. I don't like the 'modernisation' of HM - to me it's classic haunt effects are far better than all this modern stuff they're going with - part of the reason why Mystic Manor didn't rank higher than HM on my recent HK visit (which reminds me I haven't posted my review of that part of the park yet... not enough time lately...). I'm all for them improving their effects, but sometimes they go to far - and I think the HBG in that video is probably a bit too far.

Having just been to Ocean Park - i've seen what a park can do with their 'entrance fountain'. I missed the show but the infrastructure was clear... it'd be a nice addition to their laser and light show if they had a dancing fountain... they could even 'end' the day with a show in winter months. Was the signage updated when the 'new' wiggles took over? Maybe they're doing that if not...

^Bingo!

Given the time SDSC spent as a 'new' attraction on a billboard on the M1... i think we can forgive Aussie World for not immediately updating a ride installed in the last 12 months.

No parks are listed in the filming location credits on IMDB... but clearly it shows in still imagery that they're entering 'walley world' - http://www.imdb.com/media/rm383120896/tt1524930?ref_=ttmd_md_nxt It doesn't look anything like SFMM's entry plaza (but the metal detectors are there so that's one positive! LOL) I think Gazza is the best one to ask to spot the entrance pic (linked above) and tell us which park it appears to be. Of course - it could just be facade courthouse style film location and the rides were shot elsewhere again... have to wait an see when more info is released - it's premiering in the US in July so it's not far off.

...I'm not an avid follower of the Nintendo universe, but i'm familiar with it's stalwarts. I'd have to say Star Fox wouldn't mean anything to me, whereas Zelda or Bowser would make much more sense. I guess thats the same as Starro in JL3D... but it's the heroes, not the villains that matter in that story... and stars are easy to spot, and shoot.

Nintendo wants this as much as Universal. Mario and friends will all be there.

I'm assuming he meant Starro

https://youtu.be/pP5CdRiY8Ak

Yep. I think Scenic World is ripe for 'a coaster' but sadly I don't think Orphan's current track or structure is up to today's standards. Rip it out, and put something else in that wasn't built in a backyard.

^Whilst totally suitable to Aussie world - a park that by most accounts is 'rarely busy', the illusionarium having 'terrible capacity' would be an atrocious fit for SW.

Wow - so the 'garage' looks as though they've knocked out the front facade of the building and set up the inside of it to look like a mechanic type shop... interesting twist. Of course, it'd look better if the old 'jewellry display case' on the left wall wasn't still there, but cut in half... Then again it'd also look better (in line with the apparent 'brisbane' based smash repairer next door) if the entire set wasn't italian themed. Is it really that hard to hit the buildings with some cement render to do away with the now fatigued italian buildings and make them look more believeable? Heck - the 'bridge' in the middle could easily be themed to look like a local rail bridge instead of the current 'cobblestone' look they've got. I guess we have to be thankful the park is at least TRYING to make things look a bit better instead of those giant motorcycle jumps with the fake brick wall wraps.

Absolutely agree re: the night events. Originally - they were only available on the Gold pass which made it worth the upgrade... then they cheapened the gold pass and began giving it away. I share Richard's sentiments regarding their previous failed attempt at lockout days. As far as I was concerned, the lockout period was clearly spelled out for me when I purchased a pass that year. I couldn't believe it when they backflipped on it in the middle of peak season. Disney has 'tiered' lockouts - different days are available to you depending on what pass you purchase - pay more, get more - simple as that. I do... when an annual pass costs the same or less than a single day ticket, and they also give you a single day ticket when you renew, who in their right mind would buy a single day pass? (obvious tourist exceptions). If it's going to be a similar price to a day ticket, it needs to be restricted by postcode or something. I recently went to Ocean Park and inadvertently bought 'HK Resident' tickets from a 7/Eleven. I realised my mistake before I got to the gate and had the tickets exchanged at the ticket window - it only cost about HK$25 more (+/- A$5) and I was fine with it. I didn't attempt to use them at the gate so I have no idea whether I would have been asked to prove residency or not. The way I see it - Regular day ticket price remains the same Short term passes (the 14 day combo tickets etc) remain the same Standard VIP should be around $100, but limited to SE QLD postcodes and subject to lockout dates at Easter, Christmas and most of January The same ticket should be about $110-120 for people outside those postcodes (which is still excellent value) Gold should be up around $150 - with no lockout dates Night events (and they need to specify Carnivale, as well as WC and FN) should be an optional upgrade to your Gold pass for say another $50 Discovery Passport should sit at around $250, include everything the upgraded Gold ticket has, plus Food and Merch discounts, and special seasonal offers (eg: BOGOF at Rick's in March or BTGOF at AOS in August) I don't believe they should make the 'night upgrade' part of a wider deal - people may buy the upgrade for other things (such as no lockouts) which then entitles them to 3 night events which they may or may not attend - making it hard to account for attendance at those night events - ie: there may be 100,000 people entitled to attend Carnivale - but 30,000 of them may just decide 'not to go'. As mentioned - they'll probably take a hit in the first year as people rail against the steeper pricing, but then it becomes the norm. No longer will we wait with bated breath towards the end of the financial year to see what price point they're going with for next year... it'll be the same offer each year, with maybe a few extra sweeteners for those renewing an existing pass. We will. I'd like to say that they couldn't introduce it these days given how long we've had free parking - but Westfield has proven you can do it. People won't stop coming just because they have to pay for parking - although nearby businesses may get a little upset when half the guests park over the highway... If they DO go in that direction - they need to consider what other parks have done with their paid parking - and offer premium services as part of the deal - Valet or VIP parking that offers you a park closer to the gate for a little extra. In our time in the states we paid for that at Universal and it was worth it.

^was that pure construction cost, or was licensing a part of that? Did it include Pandamonium? I assume, since we're expecting SW to put in a new kidfamily coaster as part of the development, that the cost will definitely be 'up there'.

Not every day - only when they don't expect a big crowd. Holidays etc they'll run everything full cap. Dreamworld is always busy - yet they still manage to get away with having rides closed for half a day alternating runs.

LOLZ if the night events aren't an "upgrade to your pass" but merely just a cheaper price. We've all been screaming for the park not to give this stuff away - we can't very well get grumpy at them now that they've decided to make it tiered staggered premium pricing for the same stuff. I think they finally realised that people will buy a VIP pass without being given $70+ of extra stuff... oh - except the free ticket for a friend... whoops.

Rappa hit the nail on the head with what I was getting at. The better example of an unnecessary OTSR would be abyss... of course it does have inversions... and of course the exception to the rule in Buzzsaw... but what i meant was the unnecessary 'extra' systems employed on Aus rides that other countries show are unnecessary. Cue the response about the lower incident rate in Australia... but my point is we're very much nanny state when it comes to rides.

I do remember a train trip through the plantation... didn't think it was a monorail though... are we talking monorail as in Sydney Sea World Disneyland type monorail or just a ground based tracked tour through the bananas?

Fair point Richard, and as i've said a couple of times, i'd expect guest services to know these things. You rightly point out that an annual pass processing centre should know these answers too. My only issue with that part was that it came across as rude. As Joz said though - benefit of the doubt, and i'll take that one on board. The bulk of my discussion, however related to this: Do you expect a toilet cleaner, burger cook, security guard, flashy crap seller etc. to be able to tell guests whether the park will release a premium annual pass offering at some time in the future - especially before the spinning of the Marketing Departments Mystery Wheel?

They had a monorail???

^in a Park (and country) where rides like Verbolten have only lap restraints and no OTSRs though... I didn't mean whether they COULD do it, moreso whether our risk-averse safety regime would permit it.

It'd be a lot of work, and probably not worth it - but i'd like to see a hydraulic element installed on the bridge to have it 'partially' collapse as you approached... a la the old Universal collapsing bridge in LA. Don't know whether they could achieve that as it is 'overhead' the ride path and may have issues unless it could be made completely 'failsafe'. All we can hope for in such well themed rides in AUS is that they maintain the current theming and not let it deteriorate like Bermuda and LTRR.