DaptoFunlandGuy

Quick - somebody throw a bucket of water of him... then a back of stunt-feathers... I can't edit here - but that should have said 'bag' of stunt feathers.

"when it first opened, rash shirts etc were not permitted... it seems now that every rider must have a rash shirt, and they give you one if you aren't wearing one." "I went last year and rashies werent permitted, so now they are? " I think I just said that. Bmull, not sure what the go is when you went - they have someone near the scales handing our the rashies, and two bins (labelled O and B i think) at the exit of the splashdown area.

I also had the opportunity to ride yesterday - and thanks to the person who pointed out gold VIP holders get ERT from 9.15am, with the rest of the general public being admitted from 9.30am. Everytime i begin to doubt whether buying the gold pass was a good idea - VRTP give me another good reason why I did. We were the first 2 people on the ride (took nothing in with us except our vip passes so we didn't need to fiddle with lockers etc... In 15 minutes, we rode 4 times, and only had to walk around once - the rest of the time we just lifted the harnesses, and changed seats for a different experience. [*]Onboard audio was non existent - however i notice that the audio controls at the rear of the car have operator-adjustable volume up and down buttons. [*]They have done exceptionally well with fine-detail theming, including the lantern logos on the back of each seat. [*]the oath (printed on the back of each train) should also be on the inside row (rear of front seats) so the back row can see them too [*]IMHO - front right hand seat is the best ride experience, followed by front left. the back row, even though slightly elevated, loses the "floorless" effect you get in the front, but is still a reasonable experience to be worthwhile. I felt the front row had less speed through certain elements, while the back row went through those elements a little faster (for obvious reasons). [*]Whilst it's interesting to see the on-board circuitry, and the giant capacitor, I do wish they'd have hidden it a bit more than a clear perspex box. [*]Subliminally, I had an overwhelming urge for the rest of the day to 'Give in to my fear'. [*]For such a compact little coaster, it's very enjoyable. The lap-bar-only harness system does leave you feeling a little more out of control, and the 4-across "overhanging" seating makes those outside front seats an interesting ride. The camera section is quite slow (I expected it to be faster than it is) and apparently the camera isn't always a reliable shot - having missed our first and third rides.

I guess it would depend on the location, climate, terrain, proximity to other things including major cities... I mean you wouldn't build a park in melbourne and call it Tokyo Disney Sea... I'd need more information to make a commitment on a name... Generic names don't work for me... They already built that - but they called it neverland ranch. Well? Which is it gunna be? You're on a winner. I've decided - mine will be Eight Flags. Gold.

Since we're on the topic, not sure if anyone has mentioned it but WnW have done a 180 turn on rider requirements - as I think Gazza pointed out when it first opened, rash shirts etc were not permitted... it seems now that every rider must have a rash shirt, and they give you one if you aren't wearing one. Spoke to an operator in the line yesterday and apparently, they used to think no-rash-shirt meant greater chance of valleying... seems they found out it was the other way around... Having said that, when I rode last year, no-rash-shirt, i didn't see one person valley. Yesterday I saw about 8 in a 10 minute stretch. Again, according to the operator - it's just idiots who can't keep ankles crossed and arms folded.

If the old western town is on borrowed time, why then does the latest parkz update show that buildings in that area (blazing saddles) are getting a renovation? Either you're way off the mark... or way (and soon) on it...

Well, for starters... it isn't. The Giant Redback is a Zamperla Disk'O - available only in a 24 seat configuration. Shockwave is a Zamperla Disk'O Coaster, available in a 24 or 40 seat configuration, and featuring a camelback hump in the middle of a larger half pipe. Now, just my own opinion \ observation, but i always saw Redback as being steeper than shockwave? However, there is merit to the question: http://zamperla.com suggests a recommended minimum passenger height of 1.2 metres for the Disk'O Coaster. Took me a while to find it - but according to their website - Zamperla also suggest a minimum passenger height of 1.2 metres for the Disk'O... so it is curious as to why there would be different height requirements...

I may be a bit out with my dates - pretty sure wild west finished it's refurb before november 20 though. The drop has been completely rebuilt, and a lot of the western town \ indian village etc also rebuilt. The final lift hill had the majority of it's effects removed after a fire - this was some years ago - and it was either safer, cheaper, or a combination of both as to why they did not replace them. Unfortunately, we can't all have Uncle Walt's dedication to detail (such as replacing EVERY lightbulb at 80% of it's life, so that not one bulb will ever be blown whilst the park is open) - so effects sometimes go down for a little while... and for 90% of the guests - they don't notice, because they've never seen it before, or don't pay as much attention as we do... for them it's just a fun ride, and for those who do remember how it used to be, they leave just thinking "maybe it was my dodgy memory" or "i wonder what happened to those spark generators on the final lift hill? without ever digging any deeper to find out why.

Hi Luke, Wild West Falls recently underwent a complete facelift, including a rebuild of the final drop. The scenery all got touched up, so you either visited prior to the christmas holidays, or you're wayyyyy too picky. You must remember that the whole of Wild West Falls is designed to be a little dilapidated... it's meant to be in the OLD west. Scooby's effects have been discussed to death on this forum. It's not to say you shouldn't raise it as an issue - but it seems a regular occurrence that scooby's effects are a bit 'hit and miss' - sometimes you'll find it all perfect, other times a little so-so, and rarely, but not impossibly - extremely lacklustre. We've had reports from people who rode Scooby 3 times in the same day, and had 3 different experiences (with smoke etc). My point with Scooby is - ride it again, and see how you go. End of the day, most guests won't notice that something isn't working - because it's dark, and if you can't see it, you don't know it's there. Out of interest, when DID you ride Wild West last? And lastly - welcome to the forums.

I can't speak for california adventure... as far as Disneyland is concerned: For me Space Mountain will always be my favourite. There are so many good ones to choose from so it's tough to not say one of the many others there, but given the choice, Space Mountain wins every time. To disclaim that though - i've only ridden California's SM whilst it had Aaron Richard, Eddit Sotto and Dick Dale's original SOBAT 'Le carnaval des animaux', so this was also before the complete refurb and relaunch for the 50th Anniversary. I have ridden Hong Kong's version, using the new soundtrack by Michael Giacchino, and by all accounts, the HK version is identical to the 'new' California version, with some things missing \ new additions between the station and the main lift hill. I'd rate HK's version about .25 of a point lower than california's "old" version. As for worst - tough call. Everything in Disneyland has a touch of walt - including attractions built well after his death. I don't really think I could pick one that would fit - they're all fantastic for their target demographic... but if i'm forced, i'd have to say probably the treehouse. I'm also curious to hear best\worst from everyone at other disney parks around the world...

As I recall the original advertising campaign for it (on many a VHS video cassette from your local video store [for the younger generation, try http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rental_shop]), the voiceover, and the imagery referred to it as "Lethal Weapon; The Ride". I used to have lethal weapon's original online logo back in the day of dialup (kids - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dial_up), but it's on a portable hard drive somewhere - and in my typical 'on holiday' fashion - i can't be arsed. There is ONE reference online that I can find - http://movieworld.myfun.com.au/Attractions/Rides/Lethal-Weapon-The-Ride.aspx Which does kind of contradict the in-park signage, because all of the other imagery available - including signage in-park does refer to it as Ride: Lethal Weapon - Although, having said that, google returns a lot of results for the "Lethal Weapon, The Ride" version of the wording: http://www.google.com.au/search?q=lethal+weapon,+the+ride&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-au:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7TSAU_enAU381AU381&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&ei=hVIET96rHJCJmQWcsuDlCg&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=1&ved=0CC8Q_AUoAA&biw=1366&bih=597 Perhaps it was just to give it the multiple word titles for rollercoasters like Superman: Escape from Krypton... etc etc. Also, In my googling - i also stumbled across this - which is one year old tomorrow.... BUSTED! Must say - good eyes from the operator - or poor job from the person filming. It was a good 7 odd years ago now, but I did manage to get a camera on board, and filmed the whole trip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNJ69SP-iZg

Don't luna park do the same thing? they make theres heaps easier - they have a height board in the ticket queue, and each section is colour coded - i think it's red, blue and yellow - and then you buy a wristband based on your height colour (or one lower than your height if you're not wanting to ride everything).

Hi Crofty, I can see you're a recent addition to the forum, please don't take this the wrong way - I think i've been a little too picky, but if you take the time to re-read your post before you submit it, it makes the reading a lot easier for others. At the very least, the the park park was a bit hard to get past. As I said i've been a bit too picky on the rest, and haven't really tried to fix grammar... (ducks before the next tirade from the anti-spell-checking-nazis) Fixed.

Not so much a 'record player' but a similar idea on a turntable, where the spinning disc isn't circular, but cut in odd places and in odd shapes to trigger a small or large motion of the animatronic. There is a youtube video around somewhere that shows one of the imagineers cutting, sanding and otherwise altering one of these discs to achieve the correct motion... but i can't be arsed finding it.

In all honesty - Ipswich's carpark for the V8s would have easily been bigger than MovieWorld's. They took a team of 10 people - two to a row, and just walked up and down each car. They know what they're looking for and can judge by eye whether they need a closer look. They don't actually stop - except to put a small slip of coloured paper on the wipers. Another crew will come through (with the infringement books, measuring tape, etc) in a vehicle, and they issue the tickets. Its surprisingly fast how they accomplish it. I would wager that Movieworld's blacktop carpark could be knocked over in less than an hour. The grassed area in about another 45 minutes.

An idea you thought of? I'm sure theres plenty of these overseas, but Dreamworld has been doing it for a while with Claw and motocoaster... i'm sure theres others too.

Disappointed Joz... With a name like that, the clip is just screaming for Darude.

Would you mention WBMW as a client if the last thing you did for them was 20 years ago? Not exactly something you want people to reference when considering buying your product... 'hmmm..... their product looks outdated, rundown, and in need of refurbishment... I don't want to buy their product.

I get the concept of not wanting to pay that much for a toddler, but to answer that question - some people are like us - enthusiasts who love their parks. Some want to expose their kids to the parks early so they love it as much as they do. Some people don't exactly like the idea of paying for a babysitter, so that they can go to a theme park - something meant for 'families'. Either way I do think it's a bit rough for AW to be charging the same price down to age 2. at least a 3 year old is capable of riding some things and enjoying it - a 4 year old would probably be better.

*FACEPALM* Really? three posts apart?

Majority of the people parking on grass are in fact parking on private property. The few who do park on the outside of the perimeter fence aren't worth it. If WVTP don't complain to council \ police about the parking (and why would they when they're making money off of it), it's unlikely that would happen. On the other hand - the police should grab a group together like they did at Ipswich and Gold Coast V8's, and run through the parking lot checking rego and defects. THAT would be worth their while.

Right before your 3rd birthday. I'm planning on doing it in the next few days.

Interesting though that it was in use for white christmas - what exactly are they doing in there?

Indeed that is correct, but perhaps the retheme, relaunch, retrain increases their expectations as to how long people will wait - kind of how Corkscrew stopped being a walk-on when they opened Sea Viper.

As far as the Universal Studio Tour, it cost a lot, but it was built over decades, and a lot of the static sets you are toured through are built for films. Six-Points-Texas comes from the silent era - the point though, is that each and every film shot on the universal backlot either utilises (and pays for the privilege) or builds\renovates new sets that are then added to the tour. Only the interactive attractions are built specifically for the tour - and even then, they're utilised in films at various times (Earthquake was used in Beverly Hills Cop 3). The problem is there isn't the demand for structurally sound semi-permanent sets, nor is there enough room to house a "backlot" (unless Paradise Country is levelled). As for AOS complex being used for equestrian events: [*]I'm sure equestrian events could be considered, if they were actually on the games list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_Games#Approved_sports [*]I'm sure VRTP would be hoping to capitalise on the games by selling tickets to the show (i forsee if the show is still running at that point that for the games period, VRTP may host more than one show a day) [*]The arena itself could house a single showjumping arena. You need multiple dressage arenas, and a cross country course also. This would take up most of the available AOS land, which is used for grazing. [*]There are insufficient stable facilities - more would need to be built, and they aren't cheap for a short term use of a facility that isn't purpose built. [*]All equestrian events need to be held within the same geographical area - as many riders compete in multi-disciplined events. [*]The Gold Coast already has purpose built equestrian facilities that would need little or no upgrading to handle an international equestrian event - Cedar Lake, Oakleigh and Hunter Lodge to name a few. [*]The Sydney International Equestrian Centre (built for the olympics) has world-class facilities including major Indoor and Outdoor arenas, 10km of trails, a Steeple Chase Track, Cross Country Course, Stables and Accomodation. You won't fit all that at AOS, especially not as a "temporary" venue. It's simply not feasible.