DaptoFunlandGuy

I can't imagine they'd want to do that. It's a bit like building a new rapids ride..

I enjoyed the description of Steel Taipan as 'World Class'. This catchphrase has oft been bandied around far too much in Australia, and mostly scoffed at when used by corporate executives and marketing folks. I do think its the first time in a long time that it's been used to describe something at Dreamworld though, and it just came off 'right'. Its definitely the start of a new chapter. spot on. In the case of TOT and Buzz, they weren't on the new construction site, so multitasking the cranes was a cost efficient use of their time on site. Being on the same site isn't workable as there's a huge lead time between removing the old and constructing the new and the site prep and foundations wouldn't permit it to stay onsite.

Well it was on the market for sale so they obviously felt it was saleable. even if it hadn't been sold yet, you wouldn't just demo it because nobody had bought it yet - this is why RCDB has an 'in storage' category.

The last time I was in there - which admittedly was a few months ago, they had some very unique items. I don't recall seeing the same merch anywhere else - most other stores are loaded with looney tunes and DC characters, neither of which really fit Wild West. Top of my head, i'm remembering Akubra style hats, a wine bottle holder shaped like a cowboy boot, and other similar 'western' themed goods. It may have changed I suppose but it wasn't that long ago that I was in there.

Why? Is there some deadline out there I haven't heard of?

INTRODUCING MI7!

In the past, they've usually held the events mainly on friday and saturday nights. White Christmas began in earnest in 2010. Christmas eve was a friday that year, but it was the first year and wasn't massively taken up as I believe free entry only extended to VIP Gold passholders. Likewise 2011 - christmas eve was on a saturday, but again, the event was in its infancy and wasn't the multiple night sellout we've seen the past few years. There is quite a lot of pent up demand for local entertainment for some reason? The next Saturday christmas eve opportunity was 2016 - and interestingly they did add additional nights including thursday 23rd, but not christmas eve. So, there isn't a precedent, but I think this event has matured somewhat, and this will be the first 'friday night' christmas eve since the event began. We also need to keep in mind that they like to host corporate christmas parties on nights the park isn't running WC, so some nights will stay cleared for that reason too. (Sidenote, my googling took me to an OurWorlds video on White Christmas for 2016, and while I love the sentiments expressed in the video, i'm VERY thankful audio recording equipment for digital environments have improved! [also 🍺]) I guess - never say never!

And what's so good about the WWF shop? Uniqueness. That store (apart from the same old crap you see in many of the gift shops) has a few very unique items you can only get in that store, and its well worth the visit just for those alone. It's something I remember well from my trip to Disneyland in the 90's to when I visited in 2013 - the difference between unique items you couldn't find anywhere else, compared to the same spirit jersey, shirt, keyring and drink bottle you see on main street. I remember buying shirts in Movie World a while back and they had a 3 for $xx. I found a shirt i liked in one store, and another in another store, and i asked the cashier if they were part of the same deal. They asked which ones I liked, then sent me to the department store which had all 3. Merch shops should offer something different, but relevant. Parks used to sell merch unique to each land (which I guess is what Wild West is, even if its only 1 ride) - now its all the same stuff, in bulk, and just spread out to fill gaps (with some minor changes in each).

Everyone always feels more comfortable in their own home. Right Skeet?

I'd ask about Superman's exit shop but it doesn't exist anymore. lol.

Their preferred pronoun is 'Brolga'.

...until it hits you in the head...

I can't argue with sound business logic on pedestrian traffic flow - but they did have a path leading there from Goldrush once upon a time. The BB Cafe and its predecessors were the likely revenue funnel for that area. In the short term some carts along the way (especially if there were a few seats in a good place to watch the coaster) could even improve their per cap, with a view to including a kiosk or other outlet down the line when they expand onto the logride site. Village have shown peak-trade carts in high traffic flow areas are obviously profitable. (As a matter of fact I don't think i've had anything to eat or drink from a bricks-and-mortar outlet at Sea World in forever) You're right - if they're going to spend more money, it needs to be in such a way that they're going to increase revenue - perhaps that is a way they could have done that, without the foolishness of an 'exit shop' though? Then that would make the business case viable, simultaneously reducing guest frustration at dead-ends?

Good onya mate. That is actually really positive to hear!

Another Slick cliche - call it a bad faith argument so you can avoid the obvious flaw that has been pointed out in your rhetoric. Please explain to me what I took out of context. You stated that it was a risk to a $30M investment not to drop the extra $500k. If they don't shun it, is the success of the ride really at risk if they leave a few footers bare? And if $500k absolves the risk, what would $200k do? or $750k? there has to be a line somewhere. Yes yes. We've all trotted this trope out. Movie World's roof. Sea World's penguin encounter. Sky Voyager. And just because a business has $18M in cash, doesn't mean that big Uncle Scrooge Money Bin style pile of gold coins is just sitting around unaccounted and unplanned for. Cash reserves are needed for a lot more than extra theming - especially in a covid, border closure, lockdown prone world. We're not out of this yet.

You're assuming they had the extra available to spend. I don't think the general public are going to shun this ride because they can see its footers. This isn't the 1820s and the ride isn't a victorian lady. People are so quick to pick fault - does nobody remember the six foot tall concrete footers present between Vikings and Storm coaster? Where is the big debate about village doing nothing to that? No I don't. I'm assuming the rockwork and train diversions formed part of the original package, and they were both 'must haves' on their shopping list (let's face it, the train diversion was necessary - removal really wasn't an option), and there was nothing left to do anything else. But these are all outsider assumptions based on guess work. We're not working with their actual financial position here. What would I rather? I'm no park designer. I have friends who have awesome thoughts about what could be done, but end of the day that's not what they went with and I don't see that big of an issue with a plain corrugated roof not visible from outside the ride. I don't see an issue with concrete pillars rising 6 feet out of the ground to make a standard design 'fit' the land space (especially when nobody really took issue with the identical footings on Storm Coaster) I'd have probably landscaped the lower pathway with some greenery or shade. But then that probably doesn't fit the 'theme' of the arid desert landscape of the non coastal taipan. A design choice, albeit a stupid one. Maybe designed a pathway that lead directly from Taipan's viewing areas to giant drop without going around the world - with a loose items shield\net if necessary. But i'm not unhappy with what is presented here. And if they take the time to add to it at a later date once the crowds start to pay the bills then i'm ok with that (the same as many have suggested will occur at Luna Park). If they leave it as is, i'm ok with that too. A pensioner with a cupboard full of vita brits and ramen noodles isn't doing it for austerity - they're doing it because they can't afford anything else. Cyclone wasn't designed for it's current home but they modified things and made it fit, and despite the stupid spiral queue we all loathe, it's fine. It didn't fail because of a stupid queue line or massively out of place layout due to topography. I realise its been a while since we all walked past that part of vikings - so for those who don't remember - does THIS look familiar? Vikings Revenge Rerouting | Parkz - Theme Parks Storm Water Coaster | Parkz - Theme Parks

Everybody forgets paradise country. Just fixed that up for you by deleting the fake coasters in the list. Have they actually made an official, public announcement for Arkham or has it just been replies to comments on socials? Have they placed a sign with the usual 'this attraction closed to make way for an exciting new attraction' ? I'll be honest in my most recent visits, I can't recall if they've done either of those things. Meanwhile Vikings was closed, publicly announced as such, and signage existed at the ride entry for some time with the usual 'make way' signage. I get the issues of no lead time for Vikings, but it was sort of the same issue for Arkham - they worked to try fixing it for some time before they gave up on it so both rides are in the same boat (no pun intended) as far as lead time is concerned - yet it seems like Arkham gets a pass because it is rumoured (not confirmed) to have a replacement in the works, whereas there is no such rumour about Vikings despite the official announcement saying otherwise? :S

They do say Burkini though - which is the swimwear version of a burqa, so not sure what you're suggesting? I find it interesting that 'hooded rash vests' or other head coverings aren't allowed, but slap religion on the front of it and its perfectly safe.

That is not what you said. You said there was extra money available to spruce up other areas. You said nothing about taking it from existing theming and putting it elsewhere.

You're still assuming they originally had a bucket of money they could have thrown at theming instead of being tightly budgeted on just getting it built - with or without loans.

Agree, so long as the plain language is below for those who are too short. I do remember though Dreamworld also used to do it with laminated A4 paper and zip ties too... so not something i'd like to use to 'set the standard'

I'm not looking at this in any great detail so i'm happy for it to be shown otherwise, but it seems like the 'one at a time' mentality occurs (albeit in a scaled up way) at the Six Flags chain - don't they only have some parks getting a new hotness each year, while other parks get something the year after, and so on? Don't they also remove rides from some parks after a few seasons and move them around, effectively calling it a 'new' ride at the second-class park? (which they obviously can't do when there's only 2 parks with 'rides'...) 100-million-fucking percent. The village roadshow branding is soulless. The 'certificate of authenticity' on the sea world 50 coins is also similarly ridiculous.

I never said shockwave was decent. I said it was closed. I know the parks all try to have everything open in Summer, but we've also seen in the past couple years an unprecedented number of extended closures in both chains. While i'm sure they'll bust their asses to get things open, international delays for parts and such can blow out closures by months (which we've all seen happen recently). Don't count your chickens.

Agree it is an improvement on standard 'closed for maintenance' or 'under refurbishment'. Given their access to digital sign printers, i'd love to see them whip up a custom sign for each ride they can just swap out as needed.