DaptoFunlandGuy

Disturboed - there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to point to the fact that the first ride or two of the day will always be touch-and-go. More roll-backs have occurred on those first few cycles than any other time during the day. Machinery, track, wheels and the cables are cold, both from not being used as frequently as later in the day, as well as not having spent time baking in the sun. The computer calculates the launch speed based on the weight of the train - but it calculates based on optimal operating temperatures. until everything is 'warmed up', you run the risk of roll-back, or a less than optimal ride experience.

Yes Wyncenurous - but his was the 'artist's impression'

Extra capacity IS taken up - because in the time your 'virtual queue' position moves forward, you are also riding another ride. Imagine, hypothetically for a minute - that the park has 10,000 people in it. Now imagine that every second person has a Q4U device, and uses it frequently. In effect, you have 15,000 people in the park. Now I realise that you can't be on more than one ride at a time - but for the other 5000 people who don't have a Q4u, they queue for 45 minutes - whilst they're waiting, the OTHER 5000 are off riding other rides. By the time the first 5000 people reach the front of the queue, the second lot have gone to the head of the line for their own ride. Most people will still argue that there isn't any extra capacity being taken - so I put it to you this way. A Q4U allows the holder to potentially ride 2 (or more) attractions in the space of one queue time. If nothing else, this is one more cycle on the ride counter, and more wear and tear for the park. The rides will be used more (because people aren't stuck in a queue - they're off riding something else) and therefore increase maintenance costs also. So if the average person rides one ride an hour, for the entire day (7 rides) and the Q4U rider rides TWO rides an hour, (14 rides) tell me how there is no extra capacity used up? Also - if Dreamworld require that Q4u holders ride towards the back of the carriage - that makes me more inclined to not get one, and not visit the park. If I pay a premium price, why am I not permitted to choose where I get to sit?

I've been saying for at least a year that Batman needed to go the way of Buzz Lightyear or similar.... And if Sally Corp is involved, it may just pull off something really special.

A good update. Nice to see they're actually re-inventing the area, rather than just changing the signs and painting the walls... But then, thats dreamworks, so it's got to be done right... i'm optimistic for a good result here - something dreamworld can't cheap out on without upsetting their license.

More likely, he was carrying his lunch, and decided the back of house area of superman was a good spot for a picnic.

Out of curiosity - Doc Braun isn't too far of a stretch for Doc Brown... Spencer - was that your vid?

I don't think the article is far from correct. Like most of our well themed attractions, some thematic elements aren't always at the top of their game. MW had allowed scooby to deteriorate greatly - as evidenced by the thread linked to above... but it seems the powers that be were paying attention to that thread, and an overhaul occurred soon after. I think the multi-coloured lasers certainly take the ride closer to the 'kaleidoscope of colour' that was heralded when it first opened. I think the major issues to be resolved for that ride are: An effective method of distributing smoke throughout the room, and keeping it that way, despite the numerous draughts and holes in the wall - i'm not sure what they're using, but stage fazers seem to keep venues like the entertainment centre well covered. The other thing they need is a programmed laser. The lasers originally installed were programed to strike the mirrors mounted on the far sides of the building. This took one beam and split it several times. The mirrors were strategically spaced to cover the entire track, and worked well. The multicoloured laser has potential - but i think it's current 'random' program works fine - they just need another laser to make use of those mirrors to really 'fill' the room.

i do like that they've given some thought to the existing attractions re-theme. I do think Shrek was a far better match for Reptar than Madagascar, but depending on theming, it should still be a good choice. I think the main reason was reptar's proximity to thornberries, and the need to keep a separation between each land. Not sure why we're calling it 'faire faire away' - surely the term 'far far away' hasn't been snatched by Universal, considering it's a dreamworks product, and a familiar phrase in fairy tales and sci fi movies alike. Maybe Dreamworld can bring in Shrek 3 and a half D in the dreamworld cinema?

The coaster one was actually called 'america's coolest coasters'. Featured Busch Gardens, Magic Mountain, Cedar Point and Dollywood - and no mention of Kingda Ka anywhere (although I get the feeling this was recorded several years ago.) Not sure how long will take me to upload, if I can even be bothered - as I say, some were extremely out of date, but nice all the same.

I thought it was worth a mention. It's been quite a while since we had a TV Alert pop up on parks, but Foxtel is at it again... TLC channel 646 and TLC +2 on channel 647 have been showing a lot of theme park related stuff lately... Today there was 'americas best water parks' and screening right now is 'americas best rollercoasters' on TLC+2. By far the best i've seen so far are the series 'Disney Parks' which show an (authorised) backstage look at the parks. Disney Parks has been showing for a few weeks, and i've recorded them all, so will try and post them when I get the chance (if they aren't online elsewhere already)... also recorded the waterpark episode (which featured WnW Orlando) and currently recording the rollercoaster episode. If you have Foxtel, have a look at the guide over the next couple of days and you'll find quite a few of these in the schedule.

The differences being that Superman is an established character outside of the movie franchise. People are aware of superman whether or not they have seen the movie. Countless comics, jokes, and other media. Hell Batman and Robin have their own Christmas Carols. I was too young to remember the Mad Max films at release, although I did see several of them years later as part of an 'aussie' study of films. I didn't mind them, but I wasn't really aware of them until my senior years in high school. This is fairly conclusive evidence (in my opinion) that the franchise doesn't appeal to those under 30. Couple that with the fact that the movie won't be in cinemas for at least a year after LW will relaunch, and it's a failure to launch in my opinion. Superman worked because it didn't need to movie to be a popular theme \ franchise - it stood on it's own, and backed that up when the movie was released. Unless the relaunch is delayed to coincide with the theatrical release (IT WON'T!!!!!) then it will fail... For that reason, combined with the fact that the management of VRTP are quite intelligent people who have run theme parks for many years, I can tell you Mad Max isn't even an option. Those who continue to suggest it as a theme are nut jobs who don't deserve their cabbage soup and strait jackets. Also... apart from a sneaking suspicion you two are the same person, with 3 and 5 posts respectively, not to mention the RIChardwilliamCOLLIns and COLLI-RIC names, I just want to point out that 'Warner Brothers' don't own movie world, despite their name on the sign. Village Roadshow bought them out several years ago. Any mods want to check the IP addresses of those two... pretty sure duplicate accounts are frowned upon (I'm also thinking this is another DocBrown \ Spencer stunt... just has his 'style', given his current behaviours...

i agree with the bullshit call about mad max. If it were the case - the refurb would not occur until the movie was in post production. Not happening.

The hatbox ghost discussion has been done to death for years. When the mansion first opened for previews, hatty was on board. A rider who filmed the ride back when it first opened posted a grainy video that purportedly shows hatty in situ in the mansion, but when the mansion opened to the general public, it was gone. there are many discussions on why it was taken out, but it's more disneyana and folklore to most. A nice little stunt for disney to bring him back, but really, it wouldn't be seen as spectacular for any but those original 'first season' riders.

The major thing that would work with go-kart tracks and the like is that if they install lights on the track, then it would function well as an 'after hours' venue, similar to the eastern creek go kart track. The parks close at 5 (WnW later in summer) but this would give people something to do afterwards, instead of immediately departing the precinct for other night-time attractions. The track would also do well to absorb the AOS market - those arriving early for the show could enjoy a few laps of the track first... as well as those AOS visitors who had been at the parks during the day. I like the idea, and the proposed location would fill a gap for VRTP. As said above - the studios make money. Ok - not universal backlot kind of money, but sound stages are needed constantly. Many filmmakers have chosen to film in australia because of the generous tax concessions and grants by government. The studios aren't going anywhere (although the current aussie dollar would be hurting that a bit)

Much as I would love to see Demon back on Aussie shores, I don't support the idea of bringing it to Aussie World. That said - I want to take to task those people who are ranting about it being worse than lethal weapon. The major issue with LW is the harnesses - for most people, the enormous foam-rubber wings that surround your head cause the headbanging, with the track doing the rest for you. Demon does not have this type of restraint. Sure, it's vekoma and they're known for the roughness of the track, but I never had a problem with Demon, and most people I know who have ridden both LW and Demon would rate LW lower. A boomerang is an old concept. Decades old. Sure, it isn't new, but it is a fun, enjoyable (and extremely compact) attraction that delivers a large bang for it's buck. Sure it also had lots of problems at Wonderland, but some of that was down to maintenance, or lack thereof. I've ridden 2 different boomerangs in my time and cannot complain about the experience. In my time working at Wonderland, I never missed an opportunity to throw on some civvies and high-tail it into the park for a few quick lunchtime rides (or finishing the afternoon after doing a breaks shift). Of course, it's an opinion, but i'd like to know how many of those touting this attraction as being 'rougher than LW' have actually ridden both - considering the majority population of this forum are from QLD, and most of those too young to have been to world expo (and been tall enough at the time). If someone is bored enough - go through the Wonderland threads that we used to have on here, and see how many people bitched about Demon being a rough ride? I've said before, i don't have major issues with LW, but 3-4 rides in a row is my limit. I once did demon for 2 hours straight on a quiet weekday afternoon... Again, just my opinion - but i'd like to know where all this Boomerang-hate is coming from?

agreed. nuff said.

That POS is well past it's use by date. I shudder at the stories some of the maintenance guys have told about that attraction. A Vekoma Boomerang isn't really something we want back here. I doubt they'll recover the funds they spent on it though - so potentially it could be a cheap ride to pick up - and AW would be the ideal purchaser - but the money they would spend on that would by far, be better spent on a newer, fresher attraction without all the problems this has... it's already third hand, having been at World Expo, then Wonderland, and then Alabama... One has to wonder why they're getting rid of it so quickly?

The wall at the end, to me, looks like the scooby show building - in particular, the lift shaft. Well the china town alley was made the way most back-lot style movie sets are made. The universal backlot is changed constantly, with changes to some signage, a bit of paint, and some other thematic elements. It wouldn't take 2 months to do all that, even if they chose to render every building. You've got to remember that the studios know a bunch of organisations capable of doing that very quickly... Hell they built the dawn treader out here in only a couple of months.

Yep, you said that two posts ago...

little bit of both i think. The visuals for the drop etc are half the fun. When I heard the rear seats were elevated, I thought it a great idea - but they don't seem elevated enough to be worth it. Don't get me wrong, i'm not knocking the coaster, the park, or the management decision - i just expected it to be higher - kind of like "stadium seating" in a theatre.

What you see as a 'slight circle', I see as the 'leg separator' of the trains (where the seatbelt used to be on the old trains). The lower "jutting out" piece is the bottom of the seats. The higher up, slightly less 'jutting out' bit is the bogey section of the train. Just an opinion.

centre-sides are better in my opinion. I can't remember which side i preferred - i think the left side.

Definitely not the right thread to post, and yes - we've known about WBMW Germany - now known simply as movie park germany, for quite some time.

Well, undisputed is the demolition, but i'd like to know the source for this: