DaptoFunlandGuy

I'm fairly certain they still have limited steerage don't they? like the rail guides them the same as the existing cars, but you can make limited adjustments before it corrects you? And sure, if there's no accelerator "control" out on the track its a loss, but I don't think it's a fundamental loss to the experience. Maybe that's just me, growing up with the Wonderland version and seeing no issue with it. Maintains safe spacing between ride vehicles, allows an E-stop to completely power disconnect the entire ride, rather than rely on the driver to obey a red light?

Hanna Barbera's loss at Wonderland was quite the opposite - they had a firesale on merch, used plushies as skill game prizes - I even have a photo somewhere of the head of the flintstones dog Dino gaffa taped to the ski pole on the back of a jetski as they towed stunt skiers around the lake. A lot of stuff survived in storage in the park's maintenance area and boneyard, with even the fibreglass heads from the long since closed paddleboats getting flogged off (or outright flogged) with some appearing on Ebay a few years ago. It will come down to what is written into the terms of the original contract. they can't make them burn\destroy things if the contract didn't require it.

So your objections are mainly aligned to the "Dreamworld Express is no longer a steam train" type issues?

I'm not trying to be argumentative here - I genuinely don't understand what you mean - If you put the themeing aside, and the design of the cars is fine.... what is the 'everything else' left? There was zero wrong with Wonderland's electric models. no stink, no flammables risk, and safety zoning in the power rail preventing collisions. It is literally the thunder river (in house) vs. Snowy River (Intamin designed) comparison all over again.

In so far as it's a guided-track "self drive" attraction, I'd argue it's a fine "replacement" and leave it at that, but I do understand the various differences of opinion and I'm not outright saying that anyone is wrong for their point of view. Universal Singapore has this modern, electric vehicle. I'm quite sure that any new vehicle design can be modified to have passing resemblance to the old one, except for safety features such as doors to prevent egress That's because I was referring to Jungle Rush. Translation: River town returns, with touching tribute to old car ride, plus new rollercoaster. Apologies for the confusion. Well, that's the nail in the coffin then.

If it's this one, I hope they do two queues, so you can choose your experience. If left to chance I see a bottleneck as people let others go in front because they're waiting for the correct facing seat - like waiting for the front but exponentially worse.

Thread split lost this, so just copy pasting this from my post in the other thread to continue the relevant discussion: I don't disagree with you, but when I read this, my impression was: They've just lost Patrick, and without his level of experience, they need time to rework things. Without the Alpha (patrick) maybe the other trainers were less confident \ having issues with the ongoing interactions, and they've pared back their offering to a straight up exhibit to minimise the risk of potential incidents while they re-group. I think because they always have. It's a continuation expectation. nothing more.

...sooooo repurposing the upper levels isn't out of the question then...

Too true. We have for many years decried the park for moving the cars out the back of the wildlife area, in a flood zone, and then putting in the most minimal amount of concrete path with ZERO themeing. We even ridiculed them when they announced they were adding koalas to the area. The current version was a case of "we have these assets, but they need to move for new ride. What do we do? - eh - just shove them at the back. nobody will care". Here we have the park returning the River to River Town, with some new hotness and combining it with a touching tribute to the Murrisippi name coined by John many years ago and largely forgotten by practically everyone, and as part of the process, instead of once again lifting and shifting and half arsing it, they've decided to reinvest in one of the oldest attractions in the park for generations to come by upgrading it to modern safety standards with new purpose built vehicles. (it's almost as if a cobbled together home-made ride built in-house could be considered a safety risk in this day and age?) - as I said before, I don't like the loss of the original vehicles, but I applaud them for reinvesting into the long term future of the attraction. They could have very easily left it to rot behind wildlife - or worse, shut it down entirely.

I'm inclined to agree with you. Could they be repurposing the TOT station zone? perhaps that is why they didn't remove those parts of the ride?

As a purist, I do not disagree with you. The reality is this is the same situation as the replacement of the steam train with the current iteration of the 'Dreamworld Express'. I didn't like it, but I understand why they did it. New ride vehicles are more modern improvements on out of date technology, which will no doubt also reduce the maintenance and operating expenses, something the park really needs to do. I think you're getting carried away here. (And again, as a reminder, that I agree with the sentiments you said above, that the loss of the genuine attraction vehicles is a sad day). The first version of Autopia vehicles were awful. The latest versions are cleaner, safer, and resolve many of the issues of days gone by. Monorails got upgraded. Matterhorn sleds changed. And Disney didn't build everything out of genuine parts either. they faked things where necessary. (Spoiler alert - Big Thunder Mountain Trains aren't steam engines, even though they blow "smoke" out of their exhaust stacks!). Just as LPS replaced tango train, Dreamworld replaced the Steam Train... just view the new version as a tribute to what once was, (RIP Little Puff) and be happy that at least some version of the experience remains. (It looks like the iconic barn bridge photo op will return in some capacity too).

I hate to be the cynic, but Atlantis was supposed to be about 24 months too. Sure, covid, but that wasn't the only delay to the project. Either way, its a great suite of investments and even if it takes 3 years, i'm glad they're doing it. I'm not sure the rockin tug will stay in it's current form given the BRB Coaster, and I feel as though Dronkey Fliers is going to have the fibreglass moulding replaced to create BR Planes Bush Rush just didn't feel right... I don't disagree with you, but when I read this, my impression was: They've just lost Patrick, and without his level of experience, they need time to rework things. Without the Alpha (patrick) maybe the other trainers were less confident \ having issues with the ongoing interactions, and they've pared back their offering to a straight up exhibit to minimise the risk of potential incidents while they re-group.

Tron: Announced 2017 Epic Universe: August 2019 Orphan Rocker: Hold my beer

Most folks who reveal what they know early tend to get flamed. Smarter option is to sit quietly and smile.

Could it not just be a circle, but with a cut-out attached for the Op Booth? All the pics i've seen so far have implied some sort of circular attraction, so when I saw the slab shape, I just assumed plant room or op booth on the same slab outside the circle...

Orphan Rocker most iconic steel rollercoaster of all time. Units of Puffery

Based on what appears to be the superman building directly behind it, i'd say thats the arkham entrance facade and they've kept that part up (and possibly, plan to keep that part?) to hide Oz from Superman

Gets you right in the feels. Great share.

Yeah if you look closely at the plans, the arrivals area is an entire storey above ground level. They have spaces indicated in ground level but my guess is those spaces are designed to be flooded. The hotel will become an island when the carpark floods, but guests will be high and dry.

When it doesn't open on a planned open day, that is unscheduled. If it doesn't return and they know its going to take a few days, they post it on the website so guests know. Then it becomes scheduled. Looks like perhaps the return of remotaboats!

This gives me such 'Mickey's Toontown' vibes. Thanks for the update - an impressive little collection!

For some people, 2023 started back in July. As for Christmas - as far as i'm concerned if parks around the world can have scare mazes from the beginning of September, November 1 is tinsel season.

I think I saw somewhere recently an external company was hiring games attendant staff for a theme park on the gold coast. I've seen parks run games well and in my somewhat educated opinion, Village never have. The new stand in West will at least breathe some additional life in the 'long walk' to WWF, and they've at least tried to match up with the theme while working on a budget. If the external contractor is successful, we'd likely see reinvestment and improvements to what we see here. (And prizes don't need to match the themed land, they just need to be big and noticeable.) Hopefully this signals a few things: a better skill games offering by staff who are actually interested in being there a refurbishment \ repurposing of the current midway area a win for the park and guests alike.

No, it's still there, you just can't ride it - a bit like Arkham was for a few years...

Yeah I think the guy who thought shaded seating was what was needed to replace wipeout is long gone.