MaxxTheMonster

We went last night taking our 18 month old son with us. Overall a very good night, thoroughly enjoyed it, but it did have the feel of not being very well thought out from a guest perspective. We had spent the whole day at the park and had asked Guest Services when we arrived what we would need to do come close time. Informed to head to the front of the park from about 4pm to get a wristband to stay in park. Headed to the front area where we had to exit the park, line up, and come back in... Why was there not somewhere set up inside the park for people who were already inside? They were letting everyone in through the stroller/wheelchair exit so this in itself presented a fun challenge. Once back in went to the "designated" area for white christmas attendees. Was not too bad until you see security and staff not telling others wandering up the other side of main street to get in the area as someone else mentioned, getting forward of everyone who had done the right thing. They then started setting off the smoke from the grates, 2 of which were in the area we are waiting. My wife being asthmatic had to move away to prevent issues. Finally people got sick of the others sitting on benches and wandering around so pushed the rope away and started spilling out into main street where staff started telling them to get back into the area. General chaos ensued. We stood and listened to the choir sing a few songs before being let up towards the top of main street around 5:45pm, where we were again packed in, as another guest stated "like cattle" for the snow angel. This wowed the crowd and must admit was nicely done. They then opened the rest of the park where people immediately headed to the stunt arena for the carols while one "elf" was talking about the show stage. Had to as a staff member what it was about as could not hear it to be told that the carols were there instead. Carols were good, however will agree you can't hear the choir over the music, and if you were using the words on screen to sing along, this was spoiled with characters and presenters standing in front of it throughout meaning you had difficulty singing along. Left this and headed to the lighting event. The woman singing was, well, okay I guess, only during the slower parts of music, otherwise a cat in a washing machine would have done the same job... Don't get me wrong, she could sing, just not fast and in tune at the same time... Then without warning randomly during her singing everything lit up... Countdown would have gotten people involved more. Took our son to go on the carousel... Safety issue waiting to happen. While it is operating it is all lit up... When it stops though almost all the lights go out making it very hard to see where you are walking, with little kids, maybe rethink lighting of the whole area as it was pretty dark. The parade... Was a parade, not much else to say. Except nice to see that Santa gets to ride the float while poor Mrs Claus has to walk... Didn't know he was so sexist, but meh... After the parade we headed back up main street for our son to dance and play in the area while we waited for most of the guests to clear out before attempting to leave. Left the park around 9:00pm and got straight out of the carpark. Scores out of 10... Lighting - 9. Would give 10 but need to give them room for improvement. Immersion in "White Christmas" - 7. While main street was fantastic, the lack of lighting and general christmas in the WB kids area needs a lot of work for next year considering this is where the young kids and families would have been most of the night. Staffing - 4. This was perhaps the second biggest let down for the night. Conflicting information from staff, lack of happy cheerful "christmas spirit". Sure you are working an evening shift and people aren't always listening, but at least have a smile. The main let down was the rude and inconsiderate demeanour of the guests. But because this is not controllable by the park have otherwise ignored it for review of the evening. Overall I would give the night a 8 out of 10, mainly because the main reason we went was for our son and his face was a smile all night so well worth going just for that. Definitely would not have paid for the evening so happy we got the VIP Gold passes this year.

Sea Viper started around 12 today but was running empty for about 30 mins prior. Jet ski open all day. Managed to get 2 rides today, one around 11am before it went off for "technical issues", where I noticed a boat was stuck near the top of the lift hill. It reopened around 2pm and I got straight back on, was down again 30 mins later with people stuck on the boat near the top of the lift hill. Did not reopen after that. Was really impressed with the theming, the noise seems a little issue though, being a single rider today was looking for the single rider queue jump. Could not hear the ride attendant over the noise but saw the one finger in the air so shot my hand up. Unless you are looking for it you may miss it. Getting in the first time I was for the second row until the Asian tourists in the front row changed their minds and asked to swap, needless to say they got the water dump which completely missed me. Front row second time as well, though it dumped before the boat got to the corner, and had stopped by the time we started passing it... Maybe in between these two would give the first row a bit of moisture as well... In my opinion, it has just enough coaster, not enough boat ride... Shame the viewing area is not open to non riders to be able to experience the ride to a point... Given the space they had though, fantastic addition to the park.

I weigh approximately 130kg, 158cm and most of it is in my stomach and chest area. Have had a little trouble on Scooby, but someone pushing the harness in a little soon fixed that, similar with Superman. I have only ever not been able to ride one ride and that was Sea Viper at SW, however that was more an issue with my shoulders not fitting within the harness than my stomach.

There are medical reasons as well though AlexB that can contribute to people not needing to use facilities and suddenly the incredible urge that if they don't go now that there will be an accident. My brother has an overactive bladder (normally older people are affected, yet he has had this since his early teens) which makes life difficult for him and has greatly limited what he can and cannot do in normal life. We used to have to queue for rides and then call or msg him to come in because we were almost ready to load just to assist him. Despite that, people cannot always go on cue. I worked in childcare for more than 10 years (ages 2 - 5) and no matter how much you say to a child to go they will not if they don't need to. But guarantee that the moment they need to they will scream and carry on if you don't let them. Not to generate any anger or hatred (as that leads to the dark side) "As an uncle who takes his nieces and nephews to the parks infrequently" does not put in the same stead and experience as a full time parent who deals with it everyday. Meanwhile... Apologies Lis.Wiz because you will take offence to this... but if your child gets to a point of screaming for a bathroom, you're not parenting very well... might offend Lis.Wiz, however it also offends me and it is downright disrespectful to criticise the parenting techniques of anyone as there is no one guide, or correct way to parent a child.

While I am still wanting to see this in person and am amazed with the theming on the POV, still cannot believe they replaced something like Bermuda with something like this. Before anyone says anything, I know Bermuda was dated and needing removal, I know this is the next big thing that was appropriate for SeaWorld, I know times change, etc. Still sad that of the 4 rides that I can go on with friends, 3 of them are a type of coaster.

Will go with others and say MW, especially the Dirty Harry Bar. Last would have to be WnWGC, not for the previously mentioned reasons, but as a parent of a under 18 month old, the parent room having one change table and little bench space is crazy.

Finally got down to the park... The show was, well not what I expected... The cars and bikes were out together for a few minutes at the beginning at which time the bikes jumped both cars parked side to side at the front of the stunt arena before the cars and one of the FMX guys peeled out. We were then left with 2 FMX bikes doing a few jumps in front of the screen for about 10-15 mins before the cars and other guy come back out for a few minutes and then the show is over. Was hoping for a bit more interaction between all the vehicles, but getting to the park and it is advertised as "FMX Showtime's Overdrive" sort of lead to believe it would be FMX orientated. Even throwing in a lose storyline about the cars chasing the bikes would have lent a bit more to it than basically watching the same show they have done for almost the last 10 years at the Ekka... Just my thoughts.

Please be the first full week of December (next week)... I happen to have the week off so can get in and enjoy

I weight approx 132kg. Have had a little trouble on Scooby, but someone pushing the harness in a little soon fixed that. I have only ever not been able to ride one ride... Sea Viper... And while someone before mentioned that having to get off for safety reasons is fine, and I agree, it does hurt a little... In saying that though, it did push me to get back on the weight loss train even though it was my shoulders stopping the harness not my girth.

Isn't there already a thread about this? Sure I have typed info about this before...

Considering I don't watch the Today Show, but do watch Sunrise, and Eddie was at MW on the Christmas parade floats, in the HWSD set talking about Overdrive... I would say lolman is correct...

Thanks for that themeparkgc. I am going with maintenance being the main factor... Considering what they do already, and those ramps being further back (if that is where they would be placed) safety doesn't seem like it would be much of an issue. Would love to see them do a rehash of the show after Overdrive to include a little more stunt work... Why not have a guy in maintenance uniform do a high fall when the cars go up top for the finale? Have the motorcycle rider catch on fire when he rides through it... Take the best of both worlds, merge some of the longest running stunt show in the world, give it a nod and bring some of those features into their new show...

Excellent... Was heading down this Saturday already... Will be interesting to see something a little different. Weren't they originally planning to have large ramps for the cars in the arena when HWSD first started up? Sure I saw it in a tv commercial or promo pic somewhere...

I agree that they probably just used that as an out, but as someone who likes to use feedback as a chance to improve I would have preferred the real reason even if it was that I didn't fit the image they were after. Anyways that is the past and I have since moved on so... meh.

I did the script they gave and continued on with the scripting not remembering where it finished. They stopped me and stated that wasn't part of the script we were given and queried how I knew the rest word for word. I informed them I had been a long time attendee to the park and knew most of their scripts back to front. After asking me to do a few, including lethal weapon, parts of the movie magic sound stage (keeping in mind this was a 40 minute approx script for 4 different staff) and the great gremlin adventure which had closed approx 1 year prior, they ended the interview. The same head of HR did my interview both years. I wore suit pants and a button up long sleeve shirt the first year, jeans and a short sleeve button up shirt the following. I told them I had finished year 12 and did a lot of drama and music since high school the first year, left it out in the second. I called the first year as they had said they would know by a certain date so called the following day to be told they hadn't made the decision that they would know the next day. I called the following day and was informed that I was unsuccessful. When I asked why I was told I was overqualified for the position and that me calling them to enquire about the position had come accross as pushy and impatient.

I attended the first round interviews a few years back for Dreamworld. You fill in the paperwork and sit around. The issue then was that they went alphabetically by surname and they finished at a certain time. Too bad for anyone whose surname started with an M or later because we didn't get an interview and they didn't even take our paperwork to look over. MW did a group interview where they gave us a short script (5 mins per person) that we had to present to get through to the 1 on 1 interviews. Got called back and had to present the LTRR script for the first room. Word of warning... Do not let them become aware you know it back to front or any of the pre show scripts. They immediately ended my interview and told me I was too "overqualified" for the position. I returned the following year and played it dumb, forgot parts of the script and "had to use the script" as I was too nervous. It was the worst interview I have given and was sucessful. They will not contact you if you are not successful and while calling them to find out may seem like you are showing interest in the position. They take it as you are pushy and impatient. These words are straight from the mouth of the HR department head when I spoke to her.

I'm with you here AlexB. What do you expect for a storm season? The company I work for sees a huge increase in contact with the public when these sort of forecasts are predicted and then have to deal with angry people calling as a follow up if they didn't get the warning and act in time or did get the warning, acted and then nothing eventuated. You cannot have it both ways. Sadly many people are now looking at the number of "false" warnings and not taking action when the threat becomes real. A prediction is just that, not a certainty.

Got a release this morning that the "World Pass", which is valid through until Dec 2014 next month, will be for sale from today. "Please be advised that the old World Pass has been removed from sale and replaced by Unlimited entry until 24/12/2014."

Don't we did it... Badly computer generated fly over which starts with the operator clicking the video with a mouse pointer and then only one lot of spray and some bubbles... Was a waste of $10... Spent more time looking at how close the seats got the the sides than the screen.

Back in 2000 when the first Pokemon movie came out there was a tram that took you over to one of the sound stages where they had a walkthrough experience. It was called the Pokemon Island Adventure and it had animated Pokemon characters. Was only there for about 6 months though.

I know things can change but was there on the weekend and it was still closed... Also to any SW reps reading, if you are not going to show live footage of the mum and cub, at least don't have the time and date stamp on it... Was showing footage from 17/07 10pm on Saturday before lunch...

Given the fact there are 3 other boats in the area under the Storm Coaster I would say they are using salvaged boats. Also, after the main splash down, the small airtime hill looks like they are going to place a shiping container either side from the concrete they have placed. Dive under one, then race up between two others...

I think you are well entitled to ask those questions given you would be donating towards their salvation. I know I would much rather donate knowing they were going to be in a proper museum type exhibit set up as they would have been on track than sitting in some steel shed on concrete with little restoration completed. Personally I think, from the replies you have posted it sounds they are either a) clueless to answer as they have no current action plan past getting the trains looking to make a quick buck and using this as a chance to do that or c) threatened by the fact that there might be someone out there that has a better idea or grasp on the ideas that they should have come up with. (Probably all 3 to be honest.)

It has a seperate area that states activites not allowed including no food and drink, recent surgery, back and neck issues, under the influence of alcohol, pregnant. It also states in the same area as height less than 90, between 90 and 110 ride with adult, sit independently, and follow directions of staff. The heading for that area is physical requirements. So it does not fall as you are attempting to tell me. If you would like I will get a photo when I head down there on Wednesday so you can see what I am talking about.

I know that is what they mean but it is written exactly as I posted. So it states less than 90cm is good, anyone between 90 and 110 must be accompanied by an adult and everyone else, well too bad.