Jobe

Not sure why anyone would be surprised RE a projected Boxing Day opening of Big Dipper. The coaster was always slated to open in December and all press material relating to the Dipper has pointed to this date. Its an easy extrapolation to surmise that 26th December Boxing Day would be the likely opening date. Even if they are well ahead of the construction curve, I cannot see them opening any earlier as we have a little thing called COVID to contend with. The park will want to make sure that it can open in confidence and they will want to maximise the publicity of opening such a ride in order to put more people through the turnstiles. Fingers crossed that by the time December rolls around, the park will be in a position to make a positive call on opening Big Dipper by the current time line. If not, and COVID is still a maor issue in the Greater Sydney area , then there is a real possibility that Luna Park will be faced with a Iron Gwazi/Icebreaker situation where we have the new ride complete but not the optimum conditions to open.

Luna Park Melbourne has the space vacated by their former coaster Metropolis. This space could easily fit in the Skyloop model in that footprint- yeah sure they would have to move around a couple of flats- but it is extremely doable. This would be a pretty good acquisition for the park as they certainly need another thrill coaster and given the value on offer with the purchase of Buzzsaw, would be a good fit. Given LPM's crowd levels, throughput would not be a problem and would give LPM a much needed boost and attention focus. Yeah I dont think Aussie World is a serious contender either as they definitely have a master plan that they are working towards. It may only be a serious option given the bargain price investment that the purchase of Buzzsaw could offer the park and the ability to add to their coaster line up in an economical purchase. I actually think that Buzzsaw would look good in Aussie World's skyline but i dont credit the idea with much creedence. True they dont but they have been steadily adding to their portfolio of attractions and an opportunity like this may be too good to pass. It would certainly be a game changer for the park if they did! Adventure World seems like the best fit but it seems very unlikely that this would happen. Although they certainly have a history of purchasing second hand rides such as the Geronimo Schwarzkopf coaster from Luna Park Sydney and their current Huss Drop Tower Inferno..... Gumbuya World is a bit of a dark horse for mine. They have bolted out of the blue in the last 5 years and have a good sized park with good attractions that is just aching for a couple of tier 1 thrill rides. Buzzsaw could definitely fill that need... Funfields could also be seen as a likely contender as they have invested heavily in the past few years in new attractions. They are also known for picking up second hand rides and giving them a new lease on life( see the Stingray from Dreamworld and the Pirate Ship from Seaworld). Adding a ride of this calibre and their first coaster would be a game changer for them certainly........ Rainbows End for mine would be the most logical choice. Buzzsaw would see them add a much needed 4th coaster to their lineup and would be an economical pick up for them. It is a park that doesnt have a huge amount of land for expansion yet could fit Buzzsaw with ease. It would be a good option for them. In saying all that, my bet is also the Asian market, especially in the South East. I reckon a park in Indonesia or Vietnam would be the most likely contender.........time will tell!!

Yeah I knew that I was just having a lark mate!!

These pics yours mate or second hand? 😂😎👍

You haven't been feeding info to @themagician recently by any chance??

Hahaha no shit!! Sorry for laughing at your misfortune here Magician but I guess I love the irony of how you accept the platitudes for this type of info without mentioning that it comes from another source then drop it like a hot potato when its proved to be wrong!!! 😆😆 Don't get me wrong I think we all would react this way but I guess this is a poster child to disclose all where we all get info from , especially if it turns pear shaped!!

I agree 100% here. Something does not quite add up. If the ride is the absolute maintenance nightmare that it is purported to be then it should not be advertised as being in perfect working condition. Interestingly, there were 10 models of this type installed around the world with all still being in operation. The last one was installed in China in 2015. The earliest and prototype is still operating in Germany at Skyline Park. All of this does not speak of a ride type that is a maintenance nightmare. Methinks that this could be Dreamworld's spin factory giving a major reason for its demise from the park. I am sure that the ride DID have its issues- they have been well documented- but this is coming from the park that added extra restraints not signed off by a manufacturer on a ride that literally has hundreds of installs- worldwide- I am looking at you Shockwave.....how much of the "so called maintainence issues" have been brought about by Dreamworld themselves and their running of the ride? Remember its not even 10 years old........and every other model install in the world is still operating in its original location. There are 8 X-Car coaster installs and the only one that has been scrapped and removed is the G-Force at Drayton Manor. Not a hugely popular model type but other than that one example, all are still operating. There are 3 operating in China, one in the Netherlands, one in Germany, one in Italy and one in the United States. The biggest profile is of course Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket at Universal Studios in Florida. I have had the opportunity to ride this and I thought it was a decent ride. The harnesses seemed fine but of course being Universal , it is certainly well looked after. Just because the manufacturer Maurer are not actively marketing the line does not mean they will not support the ride installs that have already been built. This seems a bit harsh for mine especially as the last X-Car and Skyloop installs were both in 2015- just 6 years ago. I find it hard to imagine that a manufacturer would refuse to support a park with a ride type that was still being installed such a short time ago. I think also that the fact that there 10 models of the Skyloop installed and 8 X-Car types installed would mean that parts for these models would still be in existence and in good quantities. This isnt a Tower of Terror issue where we are seeing a ride model type that consisted of one prototype and one other install...surely given the number of installs Maurer can conceivably support this model type for the existing coasters for quite some time.

So realistically if a park in Australia was going to purchase it where do you think the best option is for it to go? The parks that could potentially purchase and install Buzzsaw include: Funfields Aussie World Gumbaya World Adventure Park Geelong Luna Park Melbourne Adventure World, Perth And as a long shot Rainbows End, Auckland. Any that I missed? Would this be a good acquisition for any of these parks? Thoughts?

Hahaha 🤣 Actually a train with Me Moon at the front would not be half bad!!! I could see it working!!

Yeah I was thinking its a little out of place as well, hence my question. I dont hold high hopes but we will just have to wait and see the reveal.

Given that Big Dipper is moving ahead so quickly, and that everything that has been put in place so far has virtually mirrored the concept artwork initially shown, who is betting that Big Dippers train and cars will be exactly what has been already shown? The cars and trains on the animation looked exactly like the generic trains from the Hot Racer concept videos from Intamin when they were released. Do we think that the trains will be generic or do you think that there will be some local and unique theming added to make them Luna Park specific?

Where is the rule that says you cant have 3 triple launch coasters in the same park? The Premier rides Skyrocket II might not be the best choice for another coaster but its light years from what Buzzsaw is now and if Dreamworld were to announce one of these as a direct replacement then i think we would all be pretty happy with that option. This. ☝️ The real issue with this announcement is that Dreamworld have once again announced the removal of an attraction without any plans for direct replacement. Given that this will be the 6th major loss of ride/attraction in just over 24 months Dreamworld need to have a plan for replacement and they need to communicate this to the public. Already, following this announcement, the social media was filled with comments such as "this park keeps removing attractions", this park is not what it used to be" , "there is no value in this park anymore". They simply fill the pages and this sort of negative perception can only be turned around with a positive replacement announcement plans. If they don't , they run the real risk of losing the public altogether, who will only see what is being removed, and not the big picture of an overhaul of the park.

Thanks @Yyosh. It just looks like residential especially with the balconies looking decidely "lived in" Cheers

Does anybody know, in the picture of the Big Dipper track above, is the building directly behind it, is that residential appartments? I know at the time this has been reported as being a corporate/business building but gee those balconies look like they belong to residential appartments? Can anyone clarify on that with any defintiveness?

Hmm....local councilor and advocate for North Sydney- ironically he lists on his website as wanting to "save" Luna Park as part of the community engagement. What a load of BS. I am betting he has been contacted by some of the rich , entitled , self indulgent and selfish nearby residents who are tyring to stir up trouble. They do not have a leg to stand on and the park has complied with every government requirement under the amended Luna Park act. They are well within the letter of the law and the residents nor this bloke can do much other than grandstanding. I reckon he can f*!k right off.

A step in the right direction- NSW Police have offered a $1 Million dollar reward for informatio pertaining to the Ghost Train Fire of 1979. It stops short of the independant commision and inquiry that is needed for this case to be put to rest. https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/million-dollar-reward-announced-for-luna-park-fatal-fire-20210707-p587l8.html#:~:text=Authorities hope a %241 million,inside the Ghost

No. It really isnt.

Isnt the fact that it isnt DC themed one of the selling points and also why a ride like this should be added to Movieworld's lineup? It hearkens back to the long lost and much lamented original studio tour. If the park had the capability of installing theming on this level before ( think LTRR ,Gremlins and even Bermuda Triangle etc ) then if they had the desire why could they not add an installation at this level again?

Exactly my thoughts here as well. What type of coasters are not present at Movieworld? Things that have never been seen before in an Australian park. Think an immersive spinner- either Mack or Maurer would fit the bill here and would still be an excellent attraction that would be unqiue in the Australian theme park landscape. A flying coaster? We know the huge costs of B&M's which would make one of their models unlikely but the new Vekoma flying model has shown huge promise with the opening of FLY at Phantasialand and could well come into consideration on a cost to cost basis. Intamin still offer a suspended coaster model which could also be considered. Would they go for something smaller? There are plenty of smaller coasters that pack quite a punch that could fit the bill- think Premier Skyrocket II here or the new generation Intamin vertical LSM. There are so many coaster models out there that whilst not going to be considered bigger and better than DC Rivals, would offer something new to not only the park but to the themepark landscape in Australia- something unique. There are still many options for this new ground to be covered that any Australian park could capitalise on.

Thats actually a brilliant ride. It doesnt require any one IP- as you said its Movie related which is what our Movie World is in desperate need of!! Love the concept this would be an absolute winner!! Its an Intamin which is quality and the theming throughout looks excellent without being prohibitively expensive!! This is so new that RCDB still lists it as under construction!! Buy the rights and build a clone now!!

Yeah I know. I find this decision absolutely puzzling. It’s tunnel vision at its finest.

Said it before and I will say it again........MOVE it to Seaworld!! Its such a wasted ride at Wet 'N Wild!! Management just need to admit that the experiment of putting a thrill coaster in a water park has failed. The logic is simple and the timing could not be better. Despite the upcoming Atlantis precinct and the 2 new rides opening, Seaworld is still in desperate need for more attractions and a rethemed Intamin Half pipe coaster would certainly fit the bill here. It does not take much room and could easily be fit into the park in any number of locations. Just do it already!!

Dingo Racer is a far better name than the "Rat"...........this should be open in time for Xmas, fingers crossed!! Of course if we go with the how long it took for SX360 to open it will be Xmas 2026.............

Agree great pics but surely they aren’t yours. If they aren’t yours it’s courtesy to give credit. I am certainly interested in their origins-they are excellent photos.

This!!!!☝️ This will be a gamechanger if it is anything like the Rapid Action River at Volcano Bay. This will be the first of its kind in Australia- cant wait to see the plans and concept art for this as it comes to light.