DaptoFunlandGuy

As read that, i thought - 'good for valleying - also good for not rubbing the shit out of your back'

I must say - i've never been able to ride Lethal 10 times in a row. I arrived at MW this morning to meet up with some family from interstate, and decided to take advantage of the early entry on green lantern... except it wasn't open... Arkham Asylum was... and I was the ONLY 'VIP GOLD' pass holder in the park. I had my pick of seats (front row is definately the best) and managed to get in 10 rides before the general public made it to the ride. 2 cycles in the rain (the new wheel cowlings drip water on you!) and 8 cycles without. You certainly get a much better view with the new harnesses - I managed to check out most of the backlot, including where they've currently stored the fountain-christmas tree, and the old LTRR boats (wayyyyyyyyy up the back, on the road between MW and Paradise Country). For $2M, Movie World certainly got their moneys worth on that train... it has resurrected a staple attraction into something much more rideable, and re-rideable. I found the theming was well done, not over the top, and for those whinging about wallpaper and perspex - it's a lot better than we had, and that's enough for me. A big thanks to the crew (all 6 of them, plus the maintenance worker who is permanently staged there at the moment) who made those 10 cycles quite enjoyable. I'm pretty sure it was Natasha - but I hope you got off on time for your party tonight, a big thanks to Matt for the chat, and the others, whom I did not catch their names. There were a few hiccups with the harnesses, although none that affected me - I hope they get the bugs worked out because there was one harness tagged out of service in the back row when i got there, and they had to tag another two out in row 2 before the park opened. The harnesses are a little 'glitchy' and the seatbelts don't always release. I tried to pull the harness down at one point, but it wouldn't go down because the retractor had locked up. The green buttons are a good idea - but only if you use ONE of them. pushing both doesn't release the harness - you have to only push one or it doesn't work. Other than that - the turnaround time between cycles is currently longer than it should be - while I was able to do up my own harness and seatbelt during the morning, once the GP turned up, the tower operator was spieling to the guests NOT to do their seatbelt up, just pull the harness down - apparently, some guests insert the seatbelt the wrong way, and the only way to resolve it is to unlock-relock them. There is one bonus to that though - and a nifty little feature from Kumbak i must say - the tower operator has the ability to unlock ONLY the harness they are having trouble with - rather than unlocking all of them, and freaking out people at the other end of the train. if lethal used to be a 3/10, i'd now rate it a 10/10 (as an SLC) a 9/10 for theming, and an 8/10 overall. I realise that haters gotta hate - but you're all wrong.

Never been to Screamworld, was contemplating this one though... At a guess, My thoughts would be that they would try to build on the launch of Dreamworks with some additional character appearances on the night. Whether or not they've done it before, they've just blown their wad on a license, retheme, launch, and overall - they got great value for all three - some additional wages to put those characters into the park on a night event wouldn't be too expensive, and i'd assume that (riding on the successful wave that was their launch) they'd be willing to throw those characters out there.

The only thing I remember about my trip on the studio tour was when they pointed out that they used meat trays (as in those polystyrene trays you get from the butcher) stuck onto the walls of some spacecraft or something, and spraypainted a metallic bronze colour. I also remember to guide saying to everyone that it was a live set, so we shouldn't touch anything - and then a guy in front of us knocking on one of the trays to see if it was hollow (he was lucky he didn't crack it)

I wouldn't just remove the person's name - knowing what attraction they were working on, and on what day would narrow it down to only a couple of people...

The original studio tour took guests around the studios, and ended with the movie magic special effects show - which is where your audience participation comes in. When they axed the studio tour, the queueline was still utilised for the special effects show, albeit without the tram tour to start off...

Not really - the special effects stage is a good comparison with the 'Movie Magic Special Effects' show at MW. the Studio tour was a separate component.

Random statement of the week.

Scooby's queue doesn't really allow for that... unless you were to put the fastpath entrance in the exit line as I said before.

I'm sorry - but whilst I realise that a POV (or "Point of View") can be had from just about anywhere, but in terms of the term 'POV' - isn't this usually used in coaster videos to indicate an 'On-Ride' video? In those terms, how can there be an 'Off-Ride' POV???

just got back from this. Photo wise - it wasn't worth it. Daylight photos already posted show it off much better than night time. Rides had 'some' lighting - including a little orange neon on the bottom of the Gingy gliders, but other than that, standard flood-wash around. Check the parkz update - they're better. Dronkeys were still missing ( i think about every second one), but everything else was pretty good. The carousel needs more themed characters rather than a bunch of 'hooded horses'. I did get one photo - of the 'latin' sign near the food outlet. This has now been replaced (and made larger?) with the same 'theme', except the words are now in english, and are the ride names (with the arrows obviously pointing in the right direction of each) - i'll post tomorrow if no-one else does. there was no pomp-and-ceremony - just a night-time ride experience. Thanks to Warren who made 'escape from madagascar (5 times in a row) a more enjoyable experience than usual. Not sure if it has been mentioned yet - but EFM now has an on-ride photo. Simple 'big-shot' camera, in a similar position to the original camera on lethal weapon (ie: you get a great photo of your feet). One thing I must mention though is that Dreamworld did this 'exclusive launch' VERY well. WVTP take note! By my estimate, there were about 200 people (including children). Each ride was well staffed, and after seeing the theming in person, DW has pulled this off extremely well. I could picture myself standing in Madagascar land at USH. Even little touches - like spatter-painting all of the ride fencing, as opposed to the standard 'one-colour' fence we've grown so used to over there. Every attraction was either walk-on, or wait-for-the-current-cycle-to-finish. This is what night-time events should be like. The other photo I managed to get should satisfy Gazza - the 'sad-puss-in-boots-eyes' has been included in merchandising - there is a key-ring using the image (and it is of course also used in the theming surrounding sword-swing).

Annoyed to arrive at the park - special trip just to ride AA (before heading to the Dreamworks Experience) only to be told it was closed. No signage at the park entrance to suggest it was closed either.

On the guests fiddling with theming - there is a reason why almost all the theming in the queues of: Buzzsaw, Giant Drop and WWf are behind cages. (Giant drop never used to be and look at what happened there). Bored people in queuelines get destructive. If it's plain 'wallpaper' (it's more likely thermal vinyl) it's less likely to get damaged and be expensive to replace. be happy it isn't a blank white wall with a bloody handprint on it...

Yes. On that note - My invite is for 4 people, and we're two... so if there are two other pass holders out there that would like to come along - i'm happy to let you through the gates with my invite. PM me if you're interested - preference will be given to those older, more established members of the forums though...

On another note - was anyone else selected to attend the 'Dreamworks Experience night this thursday at Dreamworld?

The more I think on this the more I hope MW doesn't put in a paid system. If the Disney "scan your entry ticket" system is implemented, it would be fantastic. Apart from Scooby and Superman, the separate queue lines work well. Superman and Scooby would need a complete re-design of the station houses to work properly - but a recent discussion about Scooby's old 'gremlins theatre' locations might provide the solution (rather than bringing the 2 queues into one at the start of the ramp (after the large hall), the fastpass queue could come in the existing emergency exit (underneath where the TV screen is). Put your grouper there, instead of at the top of the queueline. (Although this doesn't really work with their reduced staffing levels). Superman, in my opinion, would need either a redesign of their ramps (maybe a straight ramp up the right hand side?), or else put a back door in on the opposite side of the station... I don't think it's feasible to let people use the exit gate for superman. All the other major attractions (including WWF) can utilise the exit ramp for fast pass holders, and Arkham would be able to use the side door that was, at one point, a temporary entrance (and now has some wonderful wallpaper on it). I'd love to see a sort of 'central' fastpass system in guest relations too - this would be something else that they could use as an 'apology' or 'compensation' offer - print off a few fast passes for guests (with an immediate ride time, rather than a delayed one)... could also well be used for someone to get a pass for everything (at different times) rather than having to walk all the way around to get each pass, and then all the way around again to use them. So long as they don't charge for them.... I'd also be interested (if they use a barcode-scanner style pass system) to see them roll it out at WnW - Splash Cash already has the barcode on it - why not use it for that as well?

I think the main thing to remember is that when the parks are doing poorly, we're all full of criticism - when they are doing something right (in our eyes) we're all loaded with praise, but many still have a critique. More a case of 'nothing is ever good enough?' syndrome? I love that WVTP and DreamWorld are both investing money, for whatever reasons they are, into existing attractions, rather than just lavishing the newest kid on the block, and letting the old ones deteriorate: Nickelodeon\Dreamworks, Sea Viper\Corkscrew, Lethal\Arkham. I'm sure we'll see revamps (not necessarily rethemes in every case) for our other older attractions - BATR, LTRR, Wild West, Scooby, Bermuda.. Cyclone could do with a new train - maybe Ardent could talk to the guys who built Viper\Arkham trains...

Paper-style fast passes work fine at Disney parks. I don't see the park investing huge amounts into a trial, but if it proves successful, then rolling it out and making it much more value for money than a Q4U would be a good marketing point. 'Front of the line' or 'enter through exit' systems can be made to work. Personally, if they can do it cheaper than Q4U, make it available and easy to use - maybe by scanning ticket or vip pass in a machine similar to disney's fast pass so that everyone can use it, but restricted to so many, so often, and i'm all for it. Charging extra for it though - not sure if that will be popular. Time will tell.

Just on the ads, I find it a little misleading that the ads say 'new coaster' instead of 'new coaster experience'. I realise they're completely redoing the theme, and the trains, but it's still the same track and layout. When Sea Viper launched, it was marketed as a 'new coaster experience' and it still proved popular. I also saw on Seven News tonight they had some footage and a short story on the Dreamworks area at Dreamworld. A similar message was put out by the newscast - 'each land will open with 7 new rides'... they're not new, they're rethemed, revamped, relocated, but not new (well a few are, but most aren't). If thats the biggest whinge I can make about the parks, then it's a good day - but imagine those people who don't visit regularly, or follow the parks like we do, going - "well, there are 14 new rides opening next weekend at dreamworld, and a NEW COASTER at movie world - WOW! let's go..........oh... thats the same thing that was here last time.... *disappointed"

Welcome to the forums Johnno. We are most certainly aware of the WB sister parks... you may want to check out 'Movie Park Germany' also.

Yes.

Which is funny - because in my partner's construction company, the latest release they're building has gone up 3x faster than the release prior. When I remarked on this (it's across the road from our house) I was told they have been lucky to get things done so fast because the weather has been so good! I got the impression from the email I received that it was to be a 'sneak peek' event - to see it before everyone else.

As a general rule, construction workers aren't permitted to work on sundays - it's usually against council by-laws. Presumably, the park would have been granted a permit to do such work on sundays, but most construction workers DON'T work on sundays - they usually like to have SOME time with their families. GCCC are assholes - so nothing would surprise me.

The 'end of it's life' tag extended to the rolling stock. The tracks, etc.. are all fine and dandy - replace the monorail trains, or scrap it. As we will all recall, Corkscrew had it's trains replaced only a year or so ago - so the rolling stock isn't anywhere near the end of it's working life, and the track recently underwent a total x-ray, and all serious issues addressed. Drawing any line between corkscrew and the sydney monorail isn't a good idea.

Canada's Wonderland was always on my list to visit - but this certainly bumps it up a bit...