MaxxTheMonster

We used to go with friends and 6 of us would put in for an all day locker. As previously stated you can easily pop back to get stuff when required, no late fee if you are away for more than an hour, you can wander off and not have to worry about being back there at a certain time. If you know you are going to have someone not go on each ride then use the non-riding friend option. Sure you may not use the short term lockers enough to equal the all day cost, but then you also don;t have to carry stuff around all day and are not confined to having to be at the locker at a certain time.

Popped in for an hour on the way to MW... Reef Diver was busy today... More that the Claw, Cyclone and Giant Drop... There was actually a queue!!! And not sure how long it has been there, but the shark from WipeOut was in amongst the theming for Reef Diver.

If I was a bit more detailed... The kids rides were full in Wiggles Area, and the kids rides in the DreamWorks areas where busier than the Big 8/7/6 seemed to be hence my comment about put the staff there instead. I agree shops make more money than the rides... But if your rides are not going, people wont attend, and hence the shops don't make money. Guess it is a catch 22. If I went on rides my posts would be about them and how interesting they are... But with a back condition that prevents me from doing most rides, that is not something I can do. Most people here are ride enthusiasts and as such that is what I see more presented hence I reflect on the other side, not hyped up from rides and so on. Just a person wandering around noticing, as has been pointed out, the small things.

In the last week alone... Corroboree: Looks wonderful. 　 The new auditorium looks fantastic. 　 HWSD2: I did love that they have made this as a filming of the teaser trailer for their next big budget movie. Ally, Dave and Morgan Ross all make a return as well. The green screen component currently places the female in front of a shot of the painted alleyway at the back of the set, but that is also going to be changed down the track. This show has great potential and I feel this will be a bigger hit for the park than HSD was. So your comment of " It doesn't matter which park you go to, all you ever come back with is negative experiences, and nitpicky little flaws." is incorrect. Claw has only one staff member operating it. They walk around and check harnesses, step into the opposite booth then walk back to the main booth. Despite that, the comment I posted of "They could have run one staff for claw and reef diver and there would have been less people waiting." was a point to the fact they are not cutting in the places that should be given the rides they have cut staffing to were always busy and the ones they hadn't had less than half capacity loads... My wife got on Pandamonium 3 times, twice she was the only rider (11am and 2:00pm) and the other time one of 4 riders (3:30pm). The Claw twice where she was 1 of 6 and 1 of 11. Reef diver (when I saw it) seemed to never have more than 5 people on it. As far as "smart business sense suggests you're not going to be in business long if you keep pouring money down a wages black hole", I agree, however as I stated they are not putting on the ride ops but having 3 people working in one store standing around, 2 people attending to one character costume and then a photographer as well. If they are that worried about wages then get rid of the 2 additionals in the store and 1 at the characters and put on another 1 or 2 ride ops. "You're saying it seems like Wonderland, but where all rides are dispatching half full or with no wait times, how many staff should they have on?" At least one operator for a ride instead of 3 ops for 6 rides... Especially when there are people queuing or actively complaining about the situation... Hell even opening one from 10am to 1:30pm and the other from 1:30pm to 5pm would be better. I have been to SW twice in the last 3 weeks... Can't think of any negatives posted there... Or WnW... Or WWW... You want positives... okay... Dreamworld today... Was a lovely quiet day today with not many guests to have to try and get around to attractions. Choosing a place to eat lunch was exceptionally easy as was deciding what to eat with the park opening 2 food outlets. Staff were efficient at their jobs serving people and although there were long lines the queues moved through at a pace. Wiggles World had a more personalised experience with one operator alternating between Tea Cups and Big Red Boat ride meaning the one operator that looked after you on one was also available to do the same on the neighbouring ride. As did DreamWorks between Ogre Go Round and Dronkey Flyers, and again between Puss In Boots Swings and Gingy's Glider. It was nice having additional staff in the Dreamworks store to assist with selecting merchandise with 3 staff in the shop. The character appearances were well under control with 2 staff escorting the characters and at least 3 in character suits. They also had a photographer on hand to take your happy snaps. A lot of parents were commenting on this. Every ride was easy to get onto as they were launching less than half full except MDMC and Giant Drop which were full everytime. Log Ride had a 5 minute tops queue, Pandamonium was often starting with less than 4 people loaded, as was Buzzsaw. Being a hot day was surprised River Rapids was walk on. At 1pm the music across the park cut out and we were left with a loud buzz noise. This however only took an hour to fix. Was also surprised to see them selling chips a month past best before date in the Candy Store, and Tower of Terror (1), Big Brother 2012, and Stingray merchandise in The Emporium. Talk about nostalgia. Every shop was open, every on ride photo location was staffed, the hair wrap place was open, the sketches were open... Hate to say it but the current state and the offers currently available ($30 for 30 days)... Smells like Australia's Wonderland... Better???

Kids areas were busy which is why I was shocked and people seemed annoyed about them using 1 staff member alternating between 2 rides. They could have run one staff for claw and reef diver and there would have been less people waiting.

Dreamworld today... Guests were few and far between, as were places to get lunch. Choices all day were the Main Street Café (one register) or the Market Place (2 staff). Nothing else opened at all. Wiggles World had one operator alternating between Tea Cups and Big Red Boat ride, as did DreamWorks between Ogre Go Round and Dronkey Flyers, and again between Puss In Boots Swings and Gingy's Glider. However they had 3 people in the shop, 2 escorting the characters and at least 3 in character suits as well as a photographer. A lot of parents complaining due to this. Every ride was launching less than half full except MDMC and Giant Drop which were full everytime. Log Ride had a 5 minute tops queue, Pandamonium was often starting with less than 4 people loaded, as was Buzzsaw. Being a hot day was surprised River Rapids was walk on. At 1pm the music across the park cut out and we were left with a lovely loud buzz noise for almost an hour until it was fixed. Was also surprised to see them selling chips a month past best before date in the Candy Store, and Tower of Terror (1), Big Brother 2012, and Stingray merchandise in The Emporium. Every shop was open, every on ride photo location was staffed, the hair wrap place was open, the sketches were open... Hate to say it but the current state and the offers currently available ($30 for 30 days)... Smells like Australia's Wonderland...

No that pretty much covered it. Can't say I saw any others. On a similar note saw maintenance workers (4) standing looking at Shockwave for about 5 minutes before turning and looking at The Claw for 5 minutes... I think I heard one of them say "I think the additional turbines would look better with The Claw if we rip out the old Kingswood, that way it will match in with the new gondola theme on Wipeout."

There is temporary signage at the ride stating that due to a change in manufacturer requirements the height minimum is now 110cm... Not sure how long that had been there but thought it interesting to note...

Yeah I did see that on the weekend... Can't for the life of me remember what was there but will do... Oooohhh... March 7... Yay Wiggles performance!!!

Heading back tomorrow since Mr had such a great day on the weekend and need a break from MW and SW. Might play a game of "How many turbines can I find?" Any other pics anyone wants?

Given the fact the base and the paddlewheel are all still intact I would like to think that at least part of this post is correct... And no not the part about Terry the Turbine.

God I hate curlews... Worked in the Whitsundays for 7 months and they are everywhere and they don't shut up...

General Park: Don't really think I need to add to what has already been said... Wiggles World: All traces of the old Wiggles combination is now gone with Emma, Lachlan, Simon and Anthony now in all images including the videos in the Big Red Car Ride. However the music for the ride as it moves from one to the other still refers to Murray during the song. Corroboree: Looks wonderful. A lot of repainting in the area with an overhaul of the Grey Kangaroo area. There are a few small areas set up where throughout the day a staff member shows the instruments used, weapons, gathering food and de husking coconuts as well as painting. The new auditorium looks fantastic. A lot of information inside about the different tribes... and their breakdown on a large map of Australia... as well as some interactive touch screens. A large wall to wall screen as well which I dare say is used during shows but did not catch any today. The chairlift is still at this end, thought they might have used the chance to remove it. Apparently not. The freshwater crocodile area and outback areas have not been touched apart from some stencils... and further information about the animals and indigenous tribes. Some signage still refers to it as the Australian Wildlife experience.

Excellent... I will get this images up now then lol

I know it is here somewhere... Where can I find the info on posting images into a reply? Been a few years...

None of them were on today. Maybe someone just didn't turn it on...

Waiting for some battery life so I can transfer pictures to the computer for the other thread. In the meantime... Wiggles Area: All traces of the old Wiggles combination is now gone with Emma, Lachlan, Simon and Anthony now in all images including the videos in the Big Red Car Ride. However the music for the ride as it moves from one to the other still refers to Murray during the song. Kung Fu Panda: At the academy the drums have been removed and replaced with gongs of about the same size. There is nothing to hit them with though. Pandemonium was packed for hard style but my wife wanted to only do soft style anyways. After waiting 3 cycles she enquired if she would be on soon to be told that they have to wait until enough people queue for soft style before they will do it. So we left. Corroboree: Looks wonderful. A lot of repainting in the area with an overhaul of the Grey Kangaroo area. There are a few small areas set up where throughout the day a staff member shows the instruments used, weapons, gathering food and de husking coconuts as well as painting. The new auditorium looks fantastic. A lot of information inside about the different tribes and their breakdown on a large map of Australia as well as some interactive touch screens. A large wall to wall screen as well which I dare say is used during shows but did not catch any today. The chairlift is still at this end, thought they might have used the chance to remove it. Apparently not. The freshwater crocodile area and outback areas have not been touched apart from some stencils. Some signage still refers to it as the Australian Wildlife experience. Giant Drop operating both sides today, train sounds terrible, half the park didn't open until 11am and almost everything was closed at 4pm despite signage stating 4:30pm or 5pm closing for the sections. Walked around to the Vintage cars for my son to go on again only to be told at 4:10pm that they closed at 4pm outside of school holidays, again signage and the website state "Seven days: 10am - 5pm". Area is also roped off until 11am. 3D movie screens at 10:45am, 4pm and 4:30pm. Showtime for Madagascar live was on show times as 1:45pm. Along with a lot of others that got there at that time, found it was marked for 12:45pm in that area. Log Ride signage still makes reference to lockers in the Nickelodeon area, River Rapids makes no reference to age, only height restrictions on their website, queued up and was told my son could not go on because he was not 2 years old which I afterwards noted it states on the signage. Was informed when we entered (as we got a World Pass that we could go there between 10am and 4pm to get it done. Headed over a little after 3pm to find it closed and signage stating open 12pm to 3pm. Had to walk to the entrance where others were complaining of the same thing. Most signage for Big Brother has been taken down, no big loss there, and the temporary tattoo signage has been removed from the old location. It would be nice if the website and the park information matched. It would be nice if the information given by staff matched. It would be nice if the printed information and signage in the park was consistent. Overall a good day given it was more for my son and wife and both had fun and slept the way home. A lot of small things noticed that with very little attention could be fixed. As a side note: Parkz members have commented on the cost cutting measures (which are obviously related to a lot of the mentioned above). But I had to laugh when I saw that the lights as you walk from main street into gold rush are energy saving bulbs...

I will be at Dreamworld tomorrow so will try and get the pics people have asked for.

Removed

Could have been... I just thought it was larger... However it has been about 20 years...

Went and swy it as well today. Had a chance to chat to Warren Luff and a few of the creative minds behind the show at the end of the 1:50pm show. The shows today ran for 12 minutes in total. However, this is not the final version... one example: parts of the screen action (checking cameras) show the truck and incomplete ramps. The briefing when they were designing this one was that they wanted to bring the best of both worlds together from Police Academy and HSD (as they referred to it). Hence the return of the Rodney type character (which was very obvious from the moment he stood up, let alone took a tumble down the stairs), the high fall, and the body burn. I did love that they have made this as a filming of the teaser trailer for their next big budget movie. Ally, Dave and Morgan Ross all make a return as well. The green screen component currently places the female in front of a shot of the painted alleyway at the back of the set, but that is also going to be changed down the track. The re theme of the arena still is a puzzle to me... It doesn't fit in either way and to be honest, leaving it as an Italian town would have been fine and saved some bucks, unless part of what we haven't seen yet makes reference or use of this. Vehicles involved: 2 HSV Holden utes, 2 black evos with similar decals, 3 dirt bikes and a Segway. Only downside I felt from today (despite it did feel a bit unnatural, and needs wearing in but hey... day 1 so letting that slide obviously) is that it did feel a lot like FMX Overdrive. Except... The utes were out the whole time and not just at beginning and end. This show has great potential and I feel this will be a bigger hit for the park than HSD was.

I remember the Dreamworld 4, bushrangers holding up the train, the policeman asking for license on the Model-T Fords, next to where the Wipeout is used to have something similar to the Stingray but larger and themed as a card deck/roulette wheel. So many fond memories of the place and I think that is why so many of us are so hard on it in its current state. It was an "Australian Disneyland". It had the themed sections of the park where you walked from one area into another and you could have flown around the world or through time it felt so real and well presented. Now everything overflows into every other area and sections don't seem as well defined anymore.

I once got information from a few cast of police academy stunt show that there were plans, before wild west falls was put in, that a second stunt show was to be put in that area. This one was to be themed on and around water mainly using boats and jet skis. This was then scrapped and portions of it moved to SW in the earlier form of the jet ski show which everyone here will remember for the jet ski launching riderless into the crowd resulting in the fantastic concrete barriers

Show times for this will be 11am and 1:50pm daily.

The exposed air mattress I can understand if it is used to show how it is done since that is how they show it in Lights Motor Action and other stunt shows as well. The scaffolding for the high fall I would only understand if it is a "construction worker" high falling, otherwise no excuse. The ramps, even canvas wrapping with brickwork or a shop front would be more favourable to HWSD2 covering and would be more readily available as well. From what we have seen I personally am lead to believe that this is not going to be a long term show otherwise something more permanent would have been put into place (scaffolding for high fall as example). I am wondering if the diner/petrol station/gym are even theming for this show and not for something we may see in the future as neither the Italian theme nor the 50's theme seem to fit with the vehicles shown in the promotional shots. I also agree that while VR have wowed with theming (Battleboats, Storm, JL3D, Arkham) this has fallen dramatically, that is if this was done by VR. Slight deviation... Any idea on times this will be running or are we at this point assuming the same as HWSD was?