Whombex

As I haven't had a VRTP pass for a while, regarding the Dolphin lagoon between the tavern, Vortex and Leviathan. Were the Dolphins relocated to Affinity with the others during construction? Are there any there now? This area was just a nursery in the past?

I chose to make a reference to a circuit that still exists. I'm old enough and have watched many OP races on TV. But all of these last few posts are off topic.

The Royal Palace of Oz (Green Palace) looks to be in the same spot as the Lethal Weapon preshow room where you watched a car chase/action scene. This room was bypassed when it was rethemed to Arkham Asylum. I believe this was often used in the Halloween events as well. Does any part of that building still stand, or will they/have they raze it completely and start the Palace from scratch?

After people mentioned the Phantasialand Flyer, I went and looked it up. DW definitely need to do this with their flyer if they're adamant about putting it in where the Fountain is. Source: Phantasialand Press Imagery Although themed like this it could go into Ocean Parade - Trolls Village or Wipeout seem like good spots.

LOL. If I was given a few hundred thousand to change Moto I'd add a fake racing circuit juuust underneath the rails along the whole length. Some racing circuits have bridges over other parts of the track such as Suzuka, so this is doable. But back to topic, "raising" the ground closer to the track could be done (if the ride/supports/footing locations have already been designed for example). To me, a coaster themed to a jeep driving along a jungle dirt track would benefit from something that looks like a dirt track underneath it. This isn't a criticism, just a perfect world dream.

Loved seeing the "oh shit" from @Bikash Randhawain that video. Purely unscripted and a natural reaction of a first time rider. To me it looks like an Atlantean god summoning a creature or performing an incantation. Is there a POV in Landscape yet? The 2 vids posted by @Dean Barnetton the last page appear broken to me:

The thing with Big Bear Mountain (sure it's only a rendered video), is that as a "car" themed ride it's in the air a lot. If Jungle Rush hugged the terrain more (the few seconds in the video on Page 2 of this thread make it feel elevated when not in the tunnel), it would be much closer to the theme. Airtime elements would be where the car has gone over a crest in the road, or over a ridge. Any air moments could be 'jumps', especially if jumping over the Murrisippi. Looks fun regardless!

Geez you go on a holiday overseas, and look what happens! I'm impressed with what's going to happen at DW, especially with the return of an old river town style area where ABC has been occupying. The investment as a whole looks positive for the future of the park, while still keeping real estate for future growth (mainly thinking RHLR/Blue Lagoon). I'm curious to see if the Tower of Terror station footprint will go to Rivertown or Dreamland, considering that the train line acts as a natural border. I'm struggling to come to terms with the Flyer at the fountain. For me, whenever I'd visit DW after years of not having been, seeing the fountain reminded me was back where Id had so much fun and adventure with family and friends. Not that it was at the Fountain that I had those experiences, but that entry always was our launching pad. Many a family photo gets taken there as people first enter the park, seeing pics of people with their parents from the 80s or 90s, who are now parents themselves getting similar photos. If you don't connect with the park as you enter in this way, that's fine, but that was my magical moment, not entering the park through the turnstiles, not approaching from the carpark. If the Flyer was added with water fountains surrounding it (boarding platform obviously part of/built from ride base), as @Jobesuggested, that would be nice.

Could you please share the new park map showing this clueless layout and theming?

You're missing that one of the sound stages was actually used on the tour full-time. From memory there was a set in something like an old American mansion, with a staircase. Two guests were selected to dress up and act out a scene, the one I remember was a lady was being pursued by a male villain. He catches her at the top of the stairs, where he turns and evilly laughs back at the audience/camera. To me, this was not in the same sound stage as the sound effects for Lethal Weapon, Superman Green Screen, and Memphis Belle motion control cockpit.

But it has 100% less turbines? In seriousness, once the concrete is painted and the area around those statues is finished, it should look great. I'd like them to install some established trees to help with shade, but that's a minor thing that many new ride precincts have a lack of.

Mrs and I will be visiting DLP again in a few weeks, another one-day visit on October 31. Since 2013, in DLS, Aerosmith Rock n Roller Coaster has been rethemed/absorbed into Avengers campus, but I might only ride it if the single rider standby is short. Certainly keen to ride W.E.B. Ratatouille wasn't there last time, so very keen to ride it and Tower of Terror (family chickened out last time). Main goal for me in Disneyland Park this time is Thunder Mountain and Phantom Manor. Seeing as though it'll still be Halloween when we visit (neither Halloween Parties could be booked when we looked into going), and HM/PM are usually extra-themed, it should be great. PotC will be down for refurb, but not many other big attractions will be down, so that's a plus. I will likely ride Hyperspace Mountain, although I did ride it when it was Space Mountain Mission 2. Being a Star Wars fan made the choice easy, considering Galaxy's Edge isn't coming to DLP (Frozen/Tangled land coming instead in DLS). It will be interesting visiting DLP/DLS on October 31, versus last time in Summer (July 2013). Quite a lot less daylight during this visit, I'm curious to see how that affects our plans. Considering we didn't stay to the Fireworks/Display in '13 as it was at 11pm, we're expecting to see that this time. Kudos to the Mrs who decided on one less day in Czech Republic which became one more day in Paris, enabling this return visit. This whole holiday is for a birthday of hers ending in a zero, so it's her call on where we go. My zero-ending birthday is in '27, so will totally be visiting DL/DW for the first time, & Cape Canaveral (again) when it's my turn.

Good job on crediting the OP Franky 👍

Would not be surprised if some of the delay has been due to Mack sending staff over here.

Like, Zoinks!

You leave Thunderbolt's station alone!

This isn’t a “rebuild the park” post, but a “re theme an area” post. While wandering around after riding Steel Taipan (catching my breath - dunno how people can’t say this is a top-notch ride?) today, I was thinking about the lack of cohesive theming in this part of the park. Perhaps make this area, including ST, Giant Drop, whatever replaces RHLR, and whatever goes into Blue Lagoon’s area (assuming it stays dedicated to being part of the park) themed to Aussie fauna. Re-theme Giant Drop to Drop Bear or a diving bird of prey. Then you could play on the “Dangerous Aussie Creatures” trope (real or fictitious). Bunyip, crocodiles, cassowaries, goanna, spiders, etc. allows plenty of room for various ride or attraction types.

Trident already trying to be the Weenie of New Atlantis.

If you're on the other side of the dolphin lagoon or at the tavern, you'd see above it. Not standing near it.

We tend to have cold and gusty south westerlies in August. Don't factor waterslides into your decision.

This steel frame had better be for much better theming than a 2D mural. Hopefully structure for rockwork, greenery (and statues? 😛 ).

Take the fight to MW like they did in the day. Announce the (not a) response to WoO (as New Atlantis isn't is the time frame, having likely fully opened over the next year). I don't know what DW have in the pipeline, but after Steel Taipan, it should be family / mild thrill. Still keen on them doing a good sized track or trackless dark ride. After this, another big thrill.

Isn't the building in front of you in DCR's brake run occupied by Show Film / Show Group?

If the Big Pineapple's train in the 80s was steam, it was that. Otherwise, it was Sea World's. If THAT wasn't steam in the 80's, it was DW's. I remember going across the bridge near Corkscrew at SW on a train, but this was when I was a primary-schooler.

The swamp is a crucial part of the water flow for the suburb. It will very likely never be able to be filled in. No swamp would exacerbate situations like this. More pics, these of the swamp area in flood.