DaptoFunlandGuy

I just discovered Splash Mountain as my new favourite for complexity.

^^^ But Rappa thats what i'm saying - the USH show kind of treats the show as a bit of a 'history of sfx'... current tech would quickly become obsolete, but it would still be workable in the show, and because the stage isn't full of facade - its a wide open space with lots of things wheeled on and off. Just like the floats are quickly changed over from one event to the next, so to can the trolleys with the effects props... a bit like a magician working a new act into a bigger show - they're all just segments. The old MMSFX show was a good show, but it was 4 simple effects demonstrated across 3 very elaborate sets. Off the top of my head the USH show would have showcased 10 or more effects on a single stage, in about the same amount of time (as guests didn't need to get up and move from one stage to the next)

Scooby is pretty much a 'standard' Mack wild mouse after the turntable... but yeah Ridesims does a decent job of it.

I don't think we need to retrofit existing rides, or make rides do something they weren't built to do (Giant Drop comes down VERY slowly if the catchcar doesn't release)... but if the park buys a ride that the manufacturer build in optional soft hardcore ride cycles - why can't the park market that angle? Wipeout has multiple different cycles, which are all programmable - it'd be fairly simple to program a cycle that was fast, but still kept the gondola upright. I'd certainly give it a go. Nobody complained when Batride offered motionless rides throughout the day - nor the 4D theatre having motionless seating at the rear of the cinema... Perhaps instead of randomly announcing a 'soft' cycle, they could schedule the times for the ride to run on 'low' - that way you'd know when to turn up for whichever cycle you preferred. I take the point of those who don't believe it should be done that way, but if the ride is capable, then it makes sense for the park to offer both options to widen the demographic that the ride appeals to. For a park - such as movieworld - which struggles to get a 'full-day' visit out of most people, adding a ride that offers both thrills and sedate entertainment seems like a no-brainer to me... the park is sorely lacking in non-coaster rides that appeal to both thrillseekers and families. Everyone talks of how the loss of LTRR has left such a hole... Doomsday as a double-header sounds like a good plan.

Please take a breath and find the full stop. It's very hard to read.

Yeah - I think blue screen is a little dated these days, but I could see a mocap type effect show taking place in the showstage. Universal do their SFX show very well, telling it sort of as a history, as much as a demonstration of current tech... The previous SFX show became dated because it was geared to showing people what technology was CURRENT - despite it being 15 years old. For anyone that has seen Universal's current show in Hollywood, it told both the story of the past - with things like matte paintings, blue screens etc, but also brought in mocap and other modern technologies. It'd be a really good thing for MW to bring back to the park. Tech crew on stunt driver could easily work both shows, and the showstage is already set up for lighting, sound, filming, audience management etc... sounds like a very good idea.

I really hope they're going to make the access to that top section better. that narrow pathway isn't suitable for continued expansion...

got some height on that first building at the top - is it still standing? Much to see? I realise there would be some logistics involved, but when there is a working production - I really wish they'd run tours - even if they were upcharge small group tours. For a 'movie' park, its the 'added experience' I could really see adding value to the park. Universal offer a backstage tour kind of deal and while I recognise MW couldn't offer anywhere near that, imagine a nice lunch, back of house tour through the sets of stunt driver, maybe a building facade on main street if its viable and safe, a studio tour through some sets not currently in use (the rock wall for the helicopter scene would be a good example of this). They could market and sell it like their animal adventures (subject to availability on filming). Hell - they could even get the production company to schedule a time when they're likely to be taking a break from filming and bring someone through on a live set. I'm thinking more golf cart than tour tram... but i'm quite sure you'd get enough people to pay it...

That sounds like a good idea - it would allow them the freedom to move away from a strictly immersive adventure, and implement some kick-ass coaster-time (with associated storyline of course).. something HKDL at the very least desperately needs (or they could stick with immersive and go with something in line with Transformers) I imagine Iron Man and I just see similar storyline to Superman Escape... underground tour interrupted by token bad guy or event, subsequent rescue by superhero (*cue launch), followed by relevant twisting and turning, diving and looping coaster elements before returning to the station...

Shots look awesome RAC... love the chopper shot! In the first pic - there appears to be a section of highway on the extreme right hand side - any chance of a full-centred shot on that? or is it not what it seems?

Some long exposures with carny rides at night make interesting light patterns. I caught extreme speed one year at LPS, and it's light array made one heck of a photo. It sounds quite prohibitive... I do know on the few occasions i've seen taipan it is normally either right at the bottom of a section or it is slotted in behind concessions skill games. I would imagine for something that has such a large footprint the RNA might offer something of a discount on floor space. I'm thinking that because it's done per lineal metre, it's the frontage that counts - so if they angle it right, and give space in front of them for other outlets etc, they may only incur the cost of the frontage for the stationhouse area...

Meh - these reports are almost always something that somebody has 'spitballed' in the office on a slow news day, and then they've all just voted based on their own personal experiences. Rarely if ever accurate unless it cites a reputable source - like TPR or an industry stalwart. Have to say - the shot of dreamworld's rapids - those guys look excited, don't they?

Looks awesome Tim. I'm loving the detail.

I really like seeing what people can do on computer with their in-park designs, but I really really dislike the 'first-third person narration' you've got going on here - like you're posting something someone else is writing... its just weird. I think you'd do well just to post it as your own creation... go back over many previous RCT3 creation threads and you'll see whether it be a recreation or a standalone custom design (such as some of Joz's work) you'll find feedback is invariably positive for people who just post it as it is, without the made up storyline... I don't wanna kill your enthusiasm for this project at all - but the whole 'nick' business is a little out there.

I don't think you can draw any assumptions from the picture as far as what they're doing. There's no cyclone in the picture because cyclone ISN'T IN the picture from that angle. If you turned the camera 20 degrees to the right, you'd have it. I also don't think The Claw, which is only 10 years old is in need of as much love as Wipeout. It could be Claw, but there are many other things i'd like to see them deal with first. They've done a moderately ok job of photoshopping, and I guess it was easier to shop out reef diver than take a new photo with a construction fence in it. I'm wondering whether they've made the path purple just to make it look different in the shot, or whether they're actually planning on making the path purple (which is hardly 'ocean-y'...)

Because you still need to access WB Kids during the day for the kiddies. You couldn't put anything through the outdoor section as it would block access. If you wanted to put something into the LTRR showbuilding, you're taking people deep into the area, which would require extra lighting, staff, security etc. I have suggested it as an option previously, but discarded it on the basis that the whole area is shut down at night, so therefore opening it up just for a maze (in what is a storage facility for maintenance and is therefore probably half full of stuff like xmas trees and parade floats) probably isn't viable - especially when you've got access to purpose built sound-stage facilities at the other end of the park.

Isn't WB Kids blocked off for Fright Nights?

^Actually, when you think about it - the Mummy is not much more than an indoor coaster with some special effects and lighting thrown in. Scooby already fits that description.. The catch is that you'd need a bigger show building... but it's not outside the realm of achieveable... Showstage is an option, you could even 'absorb' one of the sound stages closest to Arkham (which is undoubtedly a waste, but an option if the studios aren't performing well enough)

^ Lol, nice one TPGC... I predict they won't reveal the name based on likes. Once there is a modicum of information floating about, they'll reveal what it is, and then hold a facebook competition for what they should name it (including the usual like & share). At the conclusion, a winner will be announced who will win a family pass to dreamworld (which they won't be able to use as they already have a world pass), and this winner will coincidentally be the person who managed to guess the name that they were already going to call it anyway.

But, in reality, Movieworld is part of a park chain including Sea World and WnW, and combined, they cater to the entire demographic. Few people visit just 'one' park these days due to VIP passes and so on, so you go to a different location, but you get the full range. I also just want to mention that they didn't 'replace a great family ride with a questionable choice' they replaced a family ride that was once great, but was getting on in years and becoming quite lacklustre, tired and run-down, with a ride that has already found success in other parks around the world based on similar concepts. As for the 'options' that they're talking about - for all you know, half the options they are presenting aren't serious suggestions. For all you know, the surveys posted by them are so seriously out of whack because they're trying to sort out those people who can't keep a secret about whats in the surveys. (it's possible). I disagree that the 'contrast is stark'. Movieworld Village Roadshow have been listening for years. The only contrast is that it's taken Dreamworld this long to start to do the same. We may not agree with everything that either park operator is doing, but that doesn't make it the wrong thing to do.

I'm not disagreeing with you, but most of Disney's Californian efforts have revolved around getting DCA and the associated precinct surrounding the park just right. Although it's a separate gate, DCA was in itself an add-on attraction to DL. Besides - I don't think you could find many people who could agree on: where a new ride could go what it should replace what it should be. Although they have been known to replace and refresh from time to time, i think Disneyland has reached a sort of critical mass when it comes to attractions. There just isn't any more room to do something else without getting rid of something that already exists - and while not every attraction in the park is everyone's cup of tea, no matter what attraction you point to, there will be thousands of loyal fans of that attraction that would lynch the first person to suggest that their favourite ride be the one to go... The only way DL is going to get anything NEW (without being remarkably similar to something else) is to venture outside the berm... and while I know they have done so for HM, PotC SmW and IJ, they're very quickly running out of places to put things. One thing i'd love to see them do, if they could theme it appropriately is a transport ride between the two californian parks - similar to Hogwarts Express between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, but naturally with their own unique twist. Subterranean tunnelling machines would be a cinch... if you don't mind the odd earthquake...

I think that's universal's MO though - they change out franchises as they lose relevance. I've just been on a VHS-conversion spree recently, and one of the tapes i've converted was a VHS tape sold in Universal Hollywood at the beginning of 1996. The tape showed (among other things) Fievel's playland (from an American Tale), BTTF: the ride, and the ET adventure. All of these things I remember from my 1996 visit - however just opened was the brand new blockbuster show - 'Waterworld'. Now I don't think you need to see the movie for Waterworld as a show to make sense. The narrative and storyline make it obvious who is good and who isn't... but Fievel, Doc Brown and ET are long gone from the Hollywood park... but - each attraction lasted for some time before it was removed. It also takes a year or two for them to build such an immersive and involving attraction and themed land. the WWoHP will stick around for quite some time - as did Jaws before it. When you build something this elaborate - you expect it to last the decade at least - take a look at PASS, or Gremlins Adventure, Batride, Bermuda... all engineered to last. The trouble was... we didn't replace them with an attraction of the same calibre.

When you say - finish painting - do you mean there was a spot on the ground it was resting on they didn't paint (which I can't see in any of the photos), or do you mean the weird but geometric shape around the centre? If it's the first - I didn't realise they hadn't painted it. If its the latter - i think, based on the shape, that it was left that way intentionally.

On a completely unrelated note - I hate when unrelated surveys use videos hosted on random vid-hosting sites instead of youtube. And I also hate how they won't let you complete a survey until you've actually watched THEIR video. I can't see random vid-hosting site videos unless i'm at home (which is rare), which means I can't proceed through the survey and give my opinion on things i'm already familiar with (or have watched on youtube)... this of course is a completely unrelated survey about an unrelated topic.

So SFMM is two coasters down for the moment... Cedar Point wins! I don't imagine Ninja will reopen too soon - although it wasn't any fault of the ride to cause it to close, it's had a log weighing several hundred kilos fall or lean against it. They'll need structural engineers to survey that section to make sure the supports and the track haven't shifted or kinked or buckled. Ninja runs a pretty decent capacity. I'd hate to see them lose a train to this. It's what you'd expect from SFMM, but I hope they do invest in having the bogeys replaced, and the train reinstated. it could have been much worse.