DaptoFunlandGuy

another non news. I'm guessing it was something really small and out of the way. Given the time of the incident - it would have occurred during showtime? It could be worst case scenario and have some seriously expensive stuff damaged - but i doubt it.

Sorry to drift off topic, but it's really frustrating me - Wonka doesn't end in ER. A bigger tech box that would handle all of the vision mixing equipment, that wasn't required during PASS might be the reason - vision mixers and switchers can take up a bit more room than just audio and pyro... maybe fit more monitors in so they can see all the cameras large enough to make sense of them? *pure speculation - but who knows....

If Richard has posted it, you can bet the source is solid.

Well, if you completely demolish the show building, you could expand out and across the creek if need be. You'd be surprised just how much real estate BATR2 sits on. Edit - on second thoughts - Computer says no.

I saw a documentary on the construction of HRP on discovery a few days back - i really like the concept of some of those attractions - in particular the coaster (can't remember the name) with the ferris-wheel lift.

Gee, it's quiet in here...

**Just stay out of dark alleys. Winter is preferable - you can always put more clothes on, but in summer there is a limit to how much you can take off... in public.

so bring a satchel bag, arrive at 9, stuff your bag full of food, then ride for an hour, then when the park opens generally, go off and eat...

Hi Ed, so this is a private hire? You've just booked the time under VRTP events? Or is it collaborated with VR? I'm inclined towards this one. let me know if you get the numbers!

Just thought I'd ask everyone's opinion - Robb has posted TPR's 2011 trip ideas for feedback - i was wondering what locals thought of the 2011 "Australian Tour" they've proposed... (and this is obviously in US dollars....) All 2011 TPR trip ideas here

that doesn't have a sports theme - you have to tie it in with sports - like motocoaster, b8 supercars etc etc..., and is a pretty sensitive topic that many people would rather left alone, rather than a theme park trying to capitalise on it - it would be different if the park were in tasmania - but no, i don't think that would be a very good idea...

They need a brand name that would fit in with it - and as far as i know there are no sports out there that involve mines....

Rappa, have you moved up in the world? Are you still just at AOS, or do you have a more "diverse" role with VRTP now? (or is it just a side gig as a sort of "in house" consultant?). it seems to take time but it seems a lot of the SFX that used to lay derelict forever seems to fix up fairly rapidly when you get involved...

It really depends. Insurance companies will write a car off if it is more than a certain number of years old and the repair cost is more than 1/3 of the value. If it needs track modifications, the walls need to be ripped out \ resealed due to the nature of the material used.... you might as well throw it out and start again because the entire mountain would need to be re-done. Of course they could always rip out the mountain and leave the track in place - although the ride experience wouldn't be anywhere near the same...

Well, let's bear in mind that unlike most other attractions where they have needed to keep it secret to prevent copycat construction, WhitewaterWest have signed exclusivity, so there is no risk that someone else will beat them to it.

Edit - it's already posted in the other aqualoop thread Mods - how about combining the two?

Holy Crap - who the hell are you and what happened to Whitsy? It has been done to death, but jet skis and ski boats aren't exactly pirate transportation (unless you happen to be pursuing a cruise liner). I'm sure anyone on here could come up with a decent, serious yet not so threatening (so it's family oriented) storyline. Follow the rules of the old-westerns - you need the visitors to cheer for the good guys, and boo the bad guys - honestly, the general concensus, or so it seemed - was that the crowd rooted for the pirates, rather than the british who were supposedly the good guys - distinct lines - nobody should like the pirates, and everyone should cheer for the other team (whatever form or nationality they are). It's a pity the ship doesn't move. how hard would it be to install a mark twain \ columbia style rail in the lake?. Park it up near the bridge, and have it sail down to the stage at their cue. If this were possible, then my story would be something like this: The good guys are our island colonies, and the show opens as we're greeted by the governor of the colony, on parade with a few soldiers. They're touring the docks and making ready for some special occasion. The pirates come forth (on the underwater rail) and lay siege to the seaside town. The colonies recruit a few "natives" from the audience, together they row (with the help of a small inboard) out to the ship. One boat stops on the near side, the other (with the "natives") stops on the far side where there is a proper set of stairs for the natives to climb and reduce risk of injury. An ensuing sword fight begins, while the natives job is to man the cannons at the pirates who have stolen the small boats and are making their way to land to pillage the colony - which was left unguarded by the colonial boarding party. The good guys overcome the pirates, with dashing swordplay driving them from the peaks of the mast-heads to the waiting sharks below. The natives succeed in blowing the bad guys out of the water with the on-board cannons. Still plenty of room for comedic value within the script, but keeping a relatively serious note overall. You can have your dopey sidekick who would act the clown, but at the same time he would be the one shepherding the guests to their roles, so the "real" stuntsmen would be able to do their thing without worrying about the guests safety. I'm sure theres going to be a few responses regarding guest safety and being able to put them in the thick of it like that - but realistically - police academy was able to do it, other shows overseas can, and I know wonderland did because I was pulled from the crowd once before i worked there. We take guests on boats in shark bay etc, so there really isn't anything we haven't done before. There would be pyro on the "rowboats" - but you just don't arm the pyro on the boat that carries the guests until they have disembarked onto the ship. Each guest who takes part in the show would receive a special AND UNIQUE momento of their part in the show also. Thoughts? Suggestions? Improvements? Critiques?

I did wonder why it was so quiet in here... I would have liked to be approached for the survey while I was there. It would be great to see what they are considering \ have some input into what they deliver. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how many people they survey, they're still going to go with what they think will work, regardless of guest sentiment. It's also a problem because the market they really need to target (the say - 13 - 30 age group) are the least likely to stop and be willing to take part in the survey - thereby leaving us with the majority of opinions coming from families, who will give the responses for more family related attractions. I certainly hope they run a demographic against the survey so that they can see who is giving them what responses, so they can target the responses in the demographic they need to address.

I caught the show yesterday. I can appreciate those with long term parkz experience saying that it doesn't top the ski show - it doesn't. However it is a more engaging storyline for those one-time visitors to the park. I recall years ago the ski show included them taking a boat over the ramp on the island etc etc - and as I recall it had a better storyline than more recent ski shows. The pirate captain played her part well, but the british captain character is too ridiculous for words. The audience participation is strained at best, taking a child out of the crowd, asking their name, and where they're from, only to ask them where the ship is that takes up half of the damn view from the seats, and sending him back down. The love interest for the goofy pirate isn't much better. The tramp stunts are ok, the topple stunts from the masts are well done, and reminiscent of the wonderland pirate show. The acting is terrible overall. On Wonderland for a moment, even though it was in the 80's and therefore probably in need of a lick of paint - but the stunt show run out of lakeside was so much better. Real pirates - very little comedy about - with swordplay and swashbuckling action - since they have the ship, and the lake, and stunt people who can do the falls properly, they should revamp this story into a more realistic tale, rather than slapstick.

Agree that there is so much more they could have done with it. I rode yesterday, and while I agree that it does seem a little "rougher" the head chopper is certainly better. I love the little detail on the kick pads that gazza pointed out, but in my opinion, the guard rail at the front serves no purpose. The sides - I can certainly see why they are installed, as well as the little meshed guard on the outside arm, but they do certainly ruin the experience of the new train. I have to say that the orange paint job - while it is different and a little garsih - makes the train stand out. It looks shiny and new and really is a magnet to the crowd. The signage above the entrance is ok, but I would have liked to see them do something a bit bigger and out there.

I was there yesterday too. I saw it running through a test cycle after the reset. I'd say it wasn't a busy day, but being school holidays aren't technically over, the extra train would have made the day just that bit better. Dolphin Cove and the Pirates show were packed. Sea Viper was in the last switchback before the wall.

Interesting facts and stories? Well - it depends on what you term interesting. I know of quite a few places to source disneyana and disney factoids, and here is a few: Hidden Mickeys Is a site dedicated to identifying some creative designers, in employing the three circled "mickey" silouette in unusual and unlikely or just plain creative places. Most disney parks (naturally) are quite full of intentional mickeys. There are also some that are just plain accidents. Here is the HiddenMickeys.org Star Tours (Anaheim) page. There are obviously many more in this list, but it's just too long - check out the website! Another of my favourite Disney references which I refer to quite often (and have mentioned on here before) is the Mouse Tales, and More Mouse Tales books by David Koenig. (It's published by bonaventure press, and is available to order from Borders, as well as many online book stores such as Amazon.) In "More Mouse Tales" is the following little factoids This one comes from the original "Mouse Tales" That should get you started. Micechat is also another great resource for disney info, and it might be a good idea to check them out as well.

Nice work Gazza. As always, we can rely on you to bring us slamming back to earth. (and as an aside, if the car is skidding sideways - the turning circle COULD be smaller - take a look at HWSD - while drifting, cars can have their inside front wheel almost turning on it's own spot, rather than the outer circumference of a controlled 360. So yes, it is possible to decrease the turning circle by skidding. If it were to spin fast enough, then the g's would also increase, as the car is moving sideways (laterally) and accelerating.

I was just trying for an everyday comparison that most people would be familiar with. I did say the turning circle would be different - compensate perhaps with a higher speed? It wouldn't matter if it went into a spin because this would simply increase the lateral Gs as the turn would be tighter. Do you have a better "everyday" example that would give an appropriate comparison?

Whenever a coaster train requires extensive maintenance that cannot be done while the train is mounted to the track, they are lifted out (usually by crane or forklift) and taken to a more extensive maintenance bay located backstage. I'm certain both trains were back since the last posting 6 months ago, but perhaps one has been taken off for further work later down the track. I seem to recall both trains running for Hallowe'en. I'm trying to load google maps to illustrate the roller door situation, but with 22,000 people on one connection (even a fast one) it doesn't like to load fast enough for my liking. I think you will find, if you work out the position of the maintenance bay in relation to the building walls on the overhead pictures, you'll find that that is how they get the trains out of the maintenance bay and loaded on the crane \ truck to move backstage. (Thats opinion, not fact)