pandora440x

Perhaps this is due to the large attendances experienced during the holiday period? Imagine what your park would feel like with our attendance figures!

If I ever recieve bad service from a business I stop going there / using their services. If you find things so bad, why keep visiting? Slick seems to think that the original post by Richard is old news, but this is the way that things work in the business world. Fortunately for staff, the media coverage of Dreamworld's attendances and profitability came at the time park staff were voting on a proposed (new) enterprise agreement. The proposed agreement was rejected. Attendances are up now, profitability is looking good, and the share price is quite strong. At the same time, word around the water cooler is that Dreamworld is looking to spend $50 milion in two years on a new attraction. Spending that amount of money must tighten the purse strings on expenditure of theming, wouldn't you think? I, too, am sick of looking at the state of theming on the major rides. However, I do know that more is going on in the park (and behind the scenes) than most of our visitors would ever notice, even regulars like Slick. I also know that a great deal of effort is being put into improving capacities on rides - an issue which is raised on this website often. This was an issue spoken about again at the last attractions meetings just a week ago. Change takes time, both in the physical and mental sense. I have made posts in relation to capacities and theming on previous occasions. Slick has never spoken to me in regards to anything of any substance really. If you wanted to talk to "experienced" ride operators, you could do a lot worse than me. Don't fall into the trap of believing you know more about the park than me until you have walked in my shoes for 11 years. Slick doesn't even know who I am. I have a whole box full of information for you, petal.

I don't believe that the TOT reduced speed discussed in this thread had anything to do with economics of power comsumption. I have been told that the parks power bill is calculated on peak usage, not actual usage per day. If the TOT shoots, the Wipeout starts, and the Rapid ride pumps are running all at the same time, I think you'll get your peak power consumption. It is my understanding that the TOT has been operating under reduced launch power for reliability issues. Sure, up the power again, but then how many cycles would end up in the back of the tunnel? SLICK wouldn't have a clue what he is on about, and it's refreshing to see Richard once again bring some sense to a thread. One day SLICK will be old enough to work at Dreamworld, and then at least he would have a legitimate excuse for spending EVERY weekend there.

This method of promotion has been used many times before. So has shopper-dockets. There are about 40 different discount promotions on offer at present to varying associations and groups. Drive the gate, make money. It's not personal, it's business.

By length of the station, can you be more specific? I would consider the "station" to be the parked position of the TOT car, or in other words, the length of the car. Therefore I would consider the section of track behind the station to begin at the back of the car, and end at, well, the end. Am I making sense. This is like a Government department... you must ask the exact question to receive the answer you wish to hear. I could ask Bob for answers to the other questions you ask, but why would I go and do that?

Slick wishes he was FIFTEEN!

Yes, previous posts could well have been posted as one, however I have some doubts over the attention span of some members, and posted 3 separate items to make for easier reading. Sometimes one has to do things differently to make a point. For those with greater capacity for reading, I apologise. In response to the TOT sound effects, I do believe that changes are at hand. I don't know when, or what, but planning and costing work is well underway. As for the common sense issues of park guests, I have often mumbled something along those lines of "please check your brain at the door", but honestly, these people are on holidays and park staff shouldn't forget that little point. Holidays for some is a time to relax a little, and not have to think so hard. Of course there is the little shock of entry prices that park guests must get over as they walk through the gates. (That'll be $232 thanks, here's your little bit of paper and map.) International visitors no doubt face language barriers when visiting Australian parks, and I know many Dreamworld staff speak other languages. We even have some staff who have some AUSLAN (sign language) skills. Personally I find language "barriers" interesting, and sometimes even entertaining to a degree. But if one were to observe others boarding a ride, as Wonderbus2003 mentioned, perhaps it ought to be a case of "monkey see, monkey do". Good to see that Big Murph was taken care of when falling ill. That service is one that all guests pay for, but thankfully few ever need to call upon. As Summer arrives some of you may even see Dreamworld's newest Healthcare buggy driving through the park. It's similar to a golf cart. I believe it was used several times last weekend for guests who had fainted. Drink more water, and eat some breakfast, damn it!

Ride seats and restraints are cleaned EVERY day at Dreamworld. Starts at 5am. But it doesn't take long for the harnesses on TOT, Giant Drop, Cyclone, Claw, etc to get nasty. Have you not seen some operators wearing gloves? My biggest concern would be the dirty, filthy people who don't wash their hands after going to the toilet. Why is washing your hands so foreign to boys? (Don't go asking when I was in the boys toilets.)

OBSTRUCTURE, the issue of loose belongings, and their removal/storage is huge! It is, in my humble opinion, THE biggest time waster during the loading of riders. Not to mention the more stubborn riders, who insist that they wear their glasses, or take their video camera with them. This would really get my box open, so I'll stop shortly. It boils down to design, and that wonderful interaction between people. "Hello, welcome aboard the Tower of Terror" (hurry up and sit down, get your belongings organised... why can't you put your hat, glasses and camera in the bag BEFORE you get to this point?) I dream of the day when the desingers involve the opertors in the planning.

THE CLAW - as many of you may have ridden this ride, I was wondering just how the staff working on it could increase capacity. Curently 3 staff are working there each day. Perhaps dreamworld could roster 32 staff, so that each seat has it's own staff member, who will gather your belongings from you (since you are to slow to put them away yourself and/or didn't listen to the announcements) seat you, fasten the belt, and check your harness. Then all 32 staff would have to move to an appropriate area prior to ride operation. Do you now understand the "law of diminishing return? Damn, that would cost a bit, wouldn't it! THE CYCLONE - Ride capacities are limited by physical factors, like the number of seats, cycle times, and the time it takes to load, check, and unload riders. with 3 staff, this ride CANNOT operate any faster. Law of diminishing returns people! Yep, it is a long wait. You aren't the only person here today, so stop thinking that because you post on this forum you have any special entitlements. The staff are working as hard as they can to get you there quickly. Of course, if they were paid a bit better... but that's an on going issue right now. Voting on EBA in 2 weeks!

I must say that I am enjoying the vigour on display in this thread... quite impressive. MORE STAFF - would it really be helpful? There is a point at which adding additional staff becomes inefficient. It's a race between efficiency, cost, and human behaviour. The "law of diminishing returns" definately applies in all situations I have observed where staffing numbers have been incresed. Do any of the learned persons in this forum really believe that if 20 staff worked on the Tower of Terror that things (the queue) would move faster? Of course not. The "pod" is launch capable 45 seconds after parking. Unfortunately it takes longer than that to load riders, ensure that all loose belongings (including sneaky cameras) are away, and that all safety restraints are secure. RIDE SHOOTS. Cycle time is around the mid 30's from launch to park. Wait 45 seconds for computer system, well not really wait because riders have to disembark, collect their belongings, operators move to load next group. This process takes, on average 2 minutes. Perhaps Dreamworld ought to pull out the second pod?

Not if I see you first, Squirt.

Only because of the high-heels you wear.

Will you meet the height restriction, Slick?

Yes, staff of Dreamworld had the opportunity to ride THE CLAW tonight, and will have another opportunity tomorrow. Media and Trade launches will also be taking place over the next few days. It's great to see that this time the newest ride will be more than 60% complete on opening day (Cyclone). And what a fantastic, thrilling, and visually spectacular ride the CLAW is! See you all there soon.