DaptoFunlandGuy

No way in hell Dreamworld would divert funds from the foundation. Granted, if the foundation is in need of funds, the lack of the donation would need them to divert operational funding to support it... but I doubt the Foundation is that desperate for funds.

I can legitimately see the Claw rethemed as a mushroom ride... and work.

Surely not every day though? Like - Bush Beast had a carpenter walk the entire track EVERY MORNING. Steel would be far harder - especially when it isn't box section track - like Arkham... so it wouldn't be as regular surely...

Lol.... I was thinking or

While i'm not suggesting this is how it's done, it wouldn't be hard for a person trained in vertical mobility with a harness and two safety lines to simply climb the top hat, clipping and unclipping as he went up. I didn't think they did 'track walks' on steel coasters... I thought only woodies got that sort of regular attention...

^and it wasn't cancelled at the last minute...

^the fly coaster looks like its just very very dead grass...

wasn't there a trike overhead or something as you went down the chute that was next to the pathway leading to AWE (on the logride?) And Wyn... not doubting either side of this discussion - but you yourself said you only got to see the signage on a recent ride - so until you saw that - you couldn't make that connection either, so it's not exactly obvious to most people, regardless of age, now is it?

^ precisely. Disneyland (prior to becoming Disneyland Resort) had a fairly expansive carpark, and there was a lookout tower, with guards and cameras that were able to see the entire carpark. You may park there at your own risk, but if the risk is real, rather than fanciful, who will choose to park there? MW will lose customers as word gets around, and then they'll have to spend far more money trying to bring those people back, instead of buying one of their guards a pair of binoculars. Seriously though - if the cost of running a 'patrol vehicle' was too much (fuel, maintenance etc) then put up a tower in the middle of the carpark, with either a guard, or cameras. At the very least the cameras will get some vision of the crims, and given the carpark is pretty much one way in, one way out, very likely to be able to get number plates. $5k would probably be more than enough to give guests peace of mind... and scare off the guys knocking them off to a place with easier pickings... (Perfect example - a car was stolen from a petrol station in logan last week - WHILE THE OWNER WAS FILLING IT - because the keys were left in the ignition. The servo had surveillance, and the vision was published online. QPS media announced earlier today that they had arrested and charged a guy for that crime... so it does help.

It does fit with the current theme of low capacity attractions...

I'd suggest reef diver probably will lay undisturbed until maintenance finishes with Wipeout, alternatively, until the buyer (if any) turns up with a spanner. Given Wipeout won't be done for a little while yet - it doesn't look like new construction will take very long at all...

doesn't look as 'green' as I would have expected it to...

^lol. I know the parking lot is 'public' and 'at your own risk' but this is two in a week. Obviously we don't have the 'before' pics so can't know what they had - most likely they were some pretty shiny chrome ones or ones that are particularly expensive. I doubt they'd be stealing stockos - so the general park-going public is fine - only those who spend a lot of money on wheels need to be concerned. As for the rattle gun - too much noise. Nobody needs to be fast when the owner is in a park all day - loosen all the nuts first, then jack it up - couple guys with a tyre iron each can get em off in a few minutes without the need for a rattle gun... judging from both photos, it looks like both cars were a fair distance from the entrance too.

Theres certainly some activity there "Siganto" according to google maps (which is probably 3 years old considering GL doesn't even appear on them), but my meaning as to rumours was actually ON VRTP property... not just nearby.

Thanks Skeet - I'm fairly certain that DA approvals can be extended, and don't need to be re-lodged if its for the same thing. This is only what I'm getting from my wife who deals with GCCC, MBRC, LCC and BCC on a regular basis for large construction projects. That said, I wasn't suggesting the approval as it stood was still current, only that if they were behind the original application, this might backup the current rumors of accommodation somewhere on VRTP property (besides SWR).

I think you're on the right track Bern - reading their street food menu, everything is Orleans inspired - so i'd say you're on the money and they're emulating Mardis Gras - however the connotations for the term "Mardis Gras" here in Australia are a little different to New Orleans.

There is an as-yet unnamed, unidentified BA for alterations to an existing building on the GCCC's PD online: http://pdonline.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/masterview/modules/applicationmaster/default.aspx?page=wrapper&key=201262 and in my searching I also managed to find this from 2007 which I don't recall hearing anything about: http://pdonline.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/masterview/modules/applicationmaster/default.aspx?page=wrapper&key=136643# This one is a DA for a hotel resort at the very corner of the VRTP property, on the other side of WnW, which received approval in 2009. We may have talked about it but I don't remember - it was around the time of the GFC though so that may have changed priorities. The applicant wasn't VRTP (which doesn't tell us much) but if it was initiated by them, this may lend further credence to suggestions they're considering accommodation elsewhere.

Emails went out today from themeparks.com.au "introducing carnivale". No new information, except a separate web URL - but it's good to see them hyping it a little before tickets are even released.. the wording on the site suggests that more dates will be made available later, (depending on demand I would presume):

Something I learned going through wonderland basic training many years ago was to regard the park as 'the big show' - and the 'theatrical references' they use, like 'cast member' or 'on stage' were in effect. To realise that the person queueing to ride your ride, or play your skill game, pose for the photo you're going to take or buy the food merchandise you're selling may never have been to the park before... and they may never come back again. Many of us can still fondly remember one of the first visits to a park. As kids, we'd run madly ahead of our parents to try and be the first in line for THAT ride, or even before that you'd crane your neck from the back seat of the car to be the first to spot bush beast probe giant drop batwing etc. For a lot of us, the 'excitement' of arriving in the carpark of a theme park, waiting for your parents to hurry up and grab their stuff and lock the car, so you can line up in front of the gates for half an hour... is long gone... and moreso for some cast members (obviously) who, for them - is just a job and a way to pay the bills... But when you take a step back and realise that for some people you see today whilst you're 'on stage' - this may be their first, their last, or their only time visiting your park. They're already mesmerised by the rides zooming past them and the characters waving at them from the other end of main street. And as a cast member - in any role - it's your job to make sure that each and every one of these people has the most magical experience you can possibly give them - to try and get their experience to be as close to your memory of 'that first time' as you can. On many days working the park, it'd be pouring rain, it'd be miserable, and it'd be a really crappy day to be outside - on days like that, i'd kinda "Peter Pan it" - i'd have these 'happy thoughts' stored up inside, and as I walked on stage, i'd just think of the happiest thought I could think of - and i'd always ensure i'd walk out from behind the gate with a smile on my face and a mindset to do as much as I could to ensure everyone's day was 'best ever'... And there are still cast members in the parks today with that mindset - but there are others that have lost the sparkle, and for them it's just a job... and unfortunately thats a sad fact of a theme park being run like a corporation (which, these days, is a necessity)

Surely though - if they wanted to run it (but that defeats the purpose - why spend more money just so you can run a ride which costs you more) - they could upgrade the cameras to IR cams like Disney run in their dark ride - some IR floodlights could light up the area at night without being obvious. Get some theatrical lighting set up on the western town sets, maybe even some special effects lighting to simulate bullet ricochets etc (i'm sure theres some lighting guys at VRTP that could do that pretty easily)... A few strategically placed flood lights (that you'd only turn on in an emergency) and the ride would be safe to evacuate too.... but again why spend the money, just so you can run an extra ride - which costs more money. I think it'd be fine to run for WC, and probably ok to run for HFN - but running it for Carnivale in the middle of winter? Not even brazillian cuisine could warm me up after a ride on WWF at 8:30pm...

being sprayed with water in the splashdown, i don't think heating the water would make any difference - it's not the temperature you're sprayed with (well it is if it's super cold) its the windchill after you get off the ride that kills you...

In my own opinion I don't think it has anything to do with the sun being out (otherwise they wouldn't let you ride at 4:55pm - and WnW would shut at 3pm)... I also don't think it's about the ability to evac in the dark (splash mountain comes to mind - and it runs all night)... I think it's more a matter of concern over riders jumping out of the boat in the back of house western town area and not being seen by cameras that would appear to be day-only cameras? The alternative answer is because the ride is so close to the back end of the park, the noise issues with neighbours just make it safer all-round to keep that end of the park shut down at night.

^he's right you know. I think it is just before the final splashdown.

Did my post seem anything but calm? Yes, I do ride a horse - but at barely 15hh, he isn't what i'd call 'high'. Next time i'll ensure a video message is attached to each post with a recording of my facial expression so you can clearly see my tongue planted firmly in my cheek. Geezus... Especially since: I don't have access backstage I also laughed at his nick - just like the post above mine each of the describing characteristics were 'probably.....' nevermind. every time i try to explain myself when i'm taken the wrong way I end up somehow worse than I started... forget it. ....precisely.... (and especially considering on windy days, guests can see it too)

Ok - so we're looking for a guy. probably named luke. probably aged around 24 years old. probably working at movie world. Check out his instagram profile, look for pictures that confirm who he is. find him backstage. laugh at his profilehandle name. then determine what sections of his contract he has breached and march his ass out the gate... sound about right?