StingRay

So within your world, you hold your breath a lot. Don't go asking for CPR then.

Really?. Have you never seen how close ride crews get to the guest.

All the best to you.

So does that mean we are all armchair experts? With you being the almighty expert.

Eh, I had a kid annoying me wanting dinner. So I suffered a stroke. Yes, local chippies can follow the plans and do some of the work. All machinery is only ever signed off by an engineer from the company who has designed it. So I am not as silly as you might think. But I also know they cant simply built the entire coaster unsupervised. But I am sure they could follow plans until a particular point. I didn't realise I was in a brainwashing seminar.

100% bang on the money here. We have come along way since the time BB was built. CAD has bought us much better results than a standard string line and some sums done on a back of a napkin used as lunch. You can use local tradies to build things. Its the signing off that is required by an engineer from the actual company those designed it. Cause if anyone has those brought then how on earth would Australia get any of the big rides built that it does?. We've always used our own trades in the areas that they can assist.

HAHA, I'm far from a Christian boy! For sure its got missed potential. Rumours have circled this park much like its chequered history. I think eight or so years ago when they decided to head down the live entertainment route it changed the direction of the park. It was positive to add shows etc. But it has covered up some of the shortcomings of the park for sure. What most definitely hurts the park now is this pandemic. Whatever major plans they might have had will definitely be pushed to the side. That's a sad thing. Because sometimes it is just a mural that needs touching up or something. I am still keen to see what rabbit can be pulled out of a hat, however. I know these two rides will be eventually missed when they leave (Tumble Bug & Ranger). I just hope we don't lose one that really is unique. I pray they have at least been forward-thinking in that regard.

So why so much shade towards a park then?. Is it because they don't have such an amazing coaster?. I've said this before and ill say it again. They know they ain't MW or DW. Heck even when LPS and Wonderland existed together for the month they did management knew Wonderland was more popular. But it was a vastly different beast.

They do what they can. Some might forget that this park is not open every day also. Everyone's idea of retro will always be different. Maloney's corner was literally a last-minute addition to the parks final planing stage thanks to the office building being smacked into the location its in. Maloney's corner shouldn't have been used all year round. But as an overflow for extra rides during the peak times. Unfortunately, things changed from what I've been told and the Big Top also got much larger. So from what I understand not as many rides should have been in the park in 2004 when the reopen occurred. But they managed to keep them. I would like to see some new flat rides. In fact, I think some of the old theming like the bug for tumble bug and the spider for the spider should have been reinstated in new forms when the park reopened. Ashley the park artist does the best he can to try and make the place look somewhat vibrant. He's admitted he is only one person however and management do change their minds a lot. One thing I love that they did was set a permanent reminder to the big dipper by changing the colours etc on the entrance. The blue and silver were so disgusting. But now it looks great. Along with the special plaques that are placed around the park showing the history etc or particular buildings or attractions. The one thing is they currently don't have anyone I believe who has their finger on the pulse within the industry. So that's why they wouldn't know what to get for a new attraction also. I could definitely be wrong. But I reckon it might a short time before we see the park actually buy a new ride. Not lease one from a travelling company for an extended period of time. Something they have done before.

Maybe you are unaware of the park history then?. Its always had carnival rides. So I don't see the massive issue. They like any other park around the world have to keep people happy. Including the government (both federal & local) and the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority. The latter has a massive say ironically. Also, even tho we once had a custom made coaster within this park its ridership was ironically low a few weeks after it opened. So I don't see why they'd want to invest in a massive ride. Park has as capacity any it must adhere too. I get you that you think it is essentially "cheap and nasty" and it ain't MW or Dw standard. But they are trying to be true to the parks entire history. The face is based from the 1960s along with Coney island and the outside of the crystal palace. Everything else is kinda retro and represents the 80's. But it literally does us alright. I mean I suppose if LPS seems this bad I would hate to know what LPM is then.

From things I have heard, it comes down to flogging a dead horse. They can keep investing in it but it's not giving the return they hoped for. Its got the novelty of being a suspended coaster and that was unique. But I believe the issues with Arkham are not train or track related. Plus they don't want to look like Dreamworld and just take something away and have people blame COVID. So I think they believe it is better to leave it SBNO Maybe you can only Ctrl+Alt+Del so many times.

LPS is meant to be a multi-use facility. If you truly want to see an engineering marvel the park has then its gotta be the car park. It actually goes under Sydney harbour. But honestly. I don't see how a small little boardwalk amusement park can even be compared to a multi-billion-dollar empire. Like I have said. It covered the market here as well. Sydney has way more tourist attractions than just theme parks. The marketing here covers so many categories it is actually rather amazing. So I don't see the desperate need for such a massive roller-coaster to only make some people happy that they get another coaster credit. The charm of the park is what is the real winner. No its not Disney park but they utilise what they have in a very good way.

I really don't think the market exists here for that "major coaster" that people think. Residing from Sydney I keep my finger on the pulse. Many people know a large or even "over the top coaster" really would not fit into LPS. I know this sounds odd to many. But its the true feelings down here. It is not because we have been underdelivered etc. Its the fact that most people have never been to Wonderland or that. So LPS has the market its got. LPS can't compete against the main water parks as they are seasonal within the Sydney (extended) region. The other thing is you gotta sit back and see things from a management POV. Under previous management, the big dipper was built and caused a major headache for the company. While they want to keep the guest happy they also do not want to piss off the residents nearby. Over the years many incidents have occurred from ride operators being assaulted and even rides tampered with. So while those coaster dreams are simply that we've grown a custom to the idea down here that it's not going to happen. We got a wild mouse and trust me that's thrilling enough in its own right. We pretty much run to the same business model at LPM. Bring in some other rides over the busy periods to help with keeping guest happy. Operate to certain government guidelines and that's it. We still get the place we love to visit operating all be it the way it is. So even tho some rides are having to retire you can't do much until those rides have left the site as the room does not exist in the way many would think. This is the exact reason why the Rangers light pattern was changed and why the spider had the number of lights reduced around 12 years ago.

If you knew how much the company behind LPS have thrown at court cost and also out of court settlements you'd be shocked. The park goes alright without a massive coaster. I mean I understand the feeling people from Qld would have because its a whole "go big or go home". But honestly its an amusement park. Not a theme park. Coney island is the parks number one attraction. A simplistic fun park within a park. LPS has had many coasters over the years. Most noticeable being the Big Dipper 2.0. I don't blame them for dragging their feet on these situations. You have limited space and so many restrictions based on what you cant do. Plus the new owners have always known getting new rides in could be a challenge. Even Volare had issues. Even the school holiday rides they draft in have issues. The park does indeed print money. Not the way you would want to see it tho. It is done via its functions. They make a shit load of cash doing weddings and corporate events. They have tried to keep true to LPS origins. That being a bunch of flat rides knowing they ain't Disney or even any of the parks in Qld. It works well for them.

Just little explosion...

I think any of these companies are going to have a struggle right now getting anything signed off. Gotta think on the flip side here. Maybe these overseas companies don't want to risk employees health also. In the event, something goes drastically wrong here or back in there homeland.

With the Ranger, it was up for sale a few years ago. While no official announcement has been made it is rather old now. Remember when the UFO went. I just suddenly shut for a short time then vanished. We will see the same with Ranger.

Well, it's positive news. The park (DW) will reopen. BRC was due to leave us anyway so that was somewhat known. Flowrider is a shock as last year it had a refurb. It has always been in super awkward place within the park anyway. So not a really big lose plus it was the only upcharge attraction in the park. Obviously numbers are going to low at the park. With no interstate travellers for the foreseeable future, it means all parks will seem rather quite. Whitewater World moving to become a seasonal park is a good move. Operating cost get lowered straight away and they also have the ability to take those staff and keep them on (if they choose to) within DW. This will help in the definite short term in lowering that all-important overall coast. I would like to see the parks season be a little longer tho. January it's way too early. You could easily run it until the end of easter.

That's happened too many times before.

I miss myself too. I think the admin team must love talking about me!

All the best to you my friend. Have a good weekend.

So I am not allowed to be biased at all?. Everyone does not have to like the name Vanilla icecream you know just to keep mates happy.

Would anyone like salt with their fries?.

Oh, I am aware that it was not a case of Dreamworld letting go 50 casuals. I completely understand that. But VRTP has let many go (non-casual & salaries) from its various parks worldwide during this. The staffing levels between the two companies are vastly different also. 50 staff being stood down from VRTP would be nothing compared to what Dreamworld has just done. With multiple properties, it can be absorbed rather easily. I still don't yet see how this could affect the daily operations upon reopening unless they don't have any duty managers or supervisors anymore. It's obviously hard to speculate what positions are gone. But looking 50 indeed was a massive blow for the company. I do wonder if under the old management people has rather large salaries hence why some* are gone. VRTP has done the downscaling before and placed even more workloads on staff (not talking frontline). So this could be some form of streamlining within the organisation. They are not the only ones to do this within this industry in Aus unfortunately.

VRTP pretty much did the same thing. They actively told people to go look for other jobs. Many didn't return. Hence rides down and food outlets not all open at all properties (Yes I know it is not a busy time of the year). Yes, the first weekend was busy. But that was people wanting to do something after being in self isolation. So what part of the guest experience is actually going to be seriously affected?. A company can operate the same with extra staff or not. You budget for it and made amendments in daily operations for this to occur. It is rather simple.