themagician

There wasn’t any repainting done in January. One third of Rivals track was painted over a 2 month period this time last year. This middle section will be painted this year and then the lift hill and final section of track will be painted next year. Yes it probably is possible for the entire coaster to be painted within a month, but this is the Australian theme park industry. Rather than the park investing that money in one, they’re doing it across multiple years. The team required to complete the repaint quickly would be pretty significant, particularly around the higher areas (first drop and non-inverting loop). I would have liked to see it all be done at once, but from a business perspective VRTP decided to go with the multi year approach

Stage 2 of the track repaint of DC Rivals has begun

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrkomZSJm0r/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Al Mucci returned to DW! He’s now the director for Save the Bilby and made an appearance in a post by DWF

The carousel will be closed for a week early next month. This might be to allow for the installation of the wiggles planes

I found a couple maps that are still the same style, the first one from around 2014 and the second from 2018 While the first one has more rides as it was before Gold Rush was demolition, for me, the second map makes me feel like there is more to do because they list every single thing to see and do in the park. Every single animal is listed, WWW is included, they label all the different areas and there are number/letters for every single attraction, store and food outlet. Doing all of that makes it look like there is so much more to do in comparison to the parks down the road. And while, yes since that second map was released, several attractions have been removed. But on that map, they show a construction hat over where Sky Voyager is being built. They could do that on todays maps over the fountain now it’s about to become Dreamworld Flyer and soon they could do it over ABC Kids for when Rivertown construction begins. They could put more trees over the former log ride area to fill it out more. And despite it not being open, I would put the billabong restaurant building back on the map as a point of reference for way finding (just don’t label it as anything) And also adding back in the aviary, twilight trail and the new Bilby centre fills out the map more, especially if they’re listed as individual things to see and do at the park. And to make the map more accurate, remove pathways that aren’t there like the ones circled. Having said all that, the park doesn’t hand these maps out anymore. I’m not sure how many day guests would actually look at the maps on the website, most probably just refer to the maps throughout the park. So does all of these things need to be done, probably not, but just putting ideas and thoughts out there because as a theme park enthusiast, I just want to see the parks at their best and it sometimes the small things make a big difference.

WB Studio Showcase is temporarily closed Could be related to the strong winds and rain we are currently experiencing, to ensure the exhibit and props inside are protected

A few rides closed from today and next month RoadRunner will be added to this lineup

Blue shade sail is up

Since it’s the same manufacturer, and based off the concept artwork, this is what the coaster train will look like This is Big Bear Mountain which is about to open at Dollywood

My understanding of the attraction is, if the coaster starts the day travelling forward, it will reach the incline pivoting turntable rotating (whatever you want to call it) track. The train will then be travelling backwards and will complete the rest of the course backwards. It will then arrive back into the station backwards, therefore the next time the track leaves the station it will depart backwards, but then arrive back into the station forwards. And so on. This means the coaster offers two different experiences and you never know which one it will be until you are boarding the train. I don’t know if that is 100% accurate, but that’s my current understanding and knowledge of how the coaster will operate.

No more letters have been installed, but part of the tower is covered up Anyone know what this yellow thing is?

Shade structure has been installed for wiggles big red planes

Watched the ride operate today for a fair while. Operations are very very slow. The queue wasn’t that long, but the wait was 30 minutes. And I got to witness the cord being plugged in to unlock a harnesses, so strange to see this happen and adds around 20 seconds to the end of the ride while the operator grabs the cord from the op booth, plugs it in, pushes the button, unplugs it and then places it back into op booth. Since opening, they’ve moved to ride info sign from the left garden to the right garden behind the themed wall. In its original spot you couldn’t actually see it because the queue gets long and hides it. They’ve also added another purple wall into the left garden.

Workers have been around the structures at MW today inspecting/working on the electrical systems for the ride

It’s closure has been extended again to May 30

It seems that way. VRTP took them on quite a few behind the scenes tours and exclusive ride access before the park opened. So I’d say someone at VRTP told them that while riding Leviathan

If you zoom in on some of the photos shared, for example, you can see rusting on the loose item storage and fencing. My concern is because this is a raised platform attraction, at WnW they had a lot of greenery to hide it and make the track the focus, but in this spot, it’s very exposed. So it hide it they’ll need to construct something around it because there’s not planting. I worry it’s going to look like a travelling ride that’s been dropped into the middle of one of the parks best (and world class) attractions.

I know they’ve just picked this up from WnW and moved it overnight, but I do hope they give it some TLC. The ride hasn’t operated since 2020 and it’s over 15 years old and it shows. The track received a refurb, but the platforms, ramps and control booths haven’t aged well and definitely need a lot of care before the ride opens. It’s great they’re giving the ride a new chapter and adding another ride to MWs line up, but I hope they don’t cheap out on it. It would be a shame if the park dropped its standards on this.

My guess is Aquaman as that will avoid the need to repaint the ride as it underwent a repaint/refurb last year A few more photos. The control booths are on site too behind the fence.

The ramps are being stored in the carpark and the supports are still installed

Construction has begun

Coaster Studios Sea World video is up They reveal that we can expect the Wizard of Oz coaster queue/stations will be at the level of Leviathan