[Japan 2025 Trip - Update]

6 hours ago, Baconjack said:

Id personally trim your expectations. Yes park opens at 9 but standby queues for Space Fantasy, Hollywood Dream, minion mayhem and even jaws  can take a fair while (though tbf single rider for jaws is a cheat code, managed to get on it 3 times with a 5 minute wait each go). It’ll take you till lunchtime just to wait in line for those 4, no time to do other stuff.

We're thinking of getting there around 2-2.5 hours before opening, from my understanding the park usually opens 30m-1hr before listed to ease in the crowds, especially with SNW. We're hoping to get there early so we can be one of the first in and quickly do Hollywood Dream and Space Fantasy whilst most others are going to SNW/Harry Potter.

6 hours ago, Baconjack said:

Universal is always busy. Went in December last year where it was freezing cold outside and it was a full house. I was lucky I went alone and could abuse the single rider line.

I was hoping to use it - unfortunately I have a party with me, but one wouldn't want to do Hollywood Dream at all (afraid) and the other would only do it forwards.

We're lucky it's only a group of three - we were thinking of going to a waterpark in Thailand back in 2023 but we couldn't because there was only one source of transport for the group of 10. And the last time we went to the Gold Coast back in 2022 we had a group of 8, so it's a lot smaller than most holidays.

6 hours ago, Baconjack said:

Don’t forget Waterworld (best ever stunt show at a park) or the sing show that are both really good.

Hoping to do Waterworld at some point - if we get everything without an express pass done quickly we'll have time to do so.

1 hour ago, themagician said:

I’d opt for not doing Minion Mayhem at all. I had never ridden a version of it before, so did this year during my trip to USJ and it was not worth it, even with Express. Save your time and do anything else. The Minion land as a whole is worth walking through and the food/shops in the land is good.

Still hoping of doing it - but if we have to sacrifice one then that would be the one. It just seems like a normal simulator - nothing of note compared to the others.

[What if Movie World built Super Nintendo World instead of Wizard of Oz?]

5 hours ago, Baconjack said:

Dreamworld could have had a bluey attraction in ABC kids world if they wanted to.

I believe the merchandising rights for Bluey are owned by the BBC, not the ABC. Dreamworld could still hypothetically do so and put it in Dreamland (I think that's what happens with Wiggles, I don't think they're owned by ABC like the others) but as said it would be too expensive. Bluey is one of the most streamed shows on Disney+ in the US so the BBC would likely charge a fair amount for the rights.

[Japan 2025 Trip - Update]

An update: we've booked our Universal tickets this morning: as said before, we will be going on the 26th of September, which is a Friday. The pricing was the highest tier: a bit worried it will be busy due to that.

All of our group (3 people) have also got the Mine Cart and Selection Express Pass, which includes everything in SNW, Harry Potter and either Jurassic Park/JAWS or Flying Dinosaur/Minion Mayhem. I'm very excited for Flying Dinosaur but one of the others isn't, so they're giving me theirs for it which means I get 2 gos.

Our group all has the same return times of:

• 2:40pm: Forbidden Journey
• 3:10pm: Flight of the Hippogriff
• 4:50pm: Koopas Challenge
• 5:20pm: Yoshi's Adventure
• 5:50pm: Mine Cart Madness

The good thing about this is it allows us to quickly get the ones without express done at rope drop (Hollywood Dream, Space Fantasy, JAWS, Minion Mayhem) whilst also allowing us to walk around and experience the park, have lunch etc.

A bit lucky we even got the express passes: we checked at 7:30 this morning and it said "No Stock", but it managed to come back thankfully

[Dreamworld - Something big is coming]

Thinking about it, the soundstage wouldn't be a good place for the house. Yes the indoor portion is soundproofed but it would be very expensive. The show runs for 2-3 months most years and Ten/Endemol Shine would likely be competing for the soundstages against the larger studios wanting to film there who have much more money.

Plus if the sets were kept intact for new seasons, they would either have to pay 9 months worth of rent for it to just be sitting there not being used, and if they re-rented it each year they would have to spend the cost of demolishing and rebuilding the house each year which would bump the costs up even more.

And another thing is they couldn't construct the outdoor portion as the soundstages are surrounded from all four corners by roads, and the noises from the construction crews and DC Rivals would fill the area even if they found a way to do it. They could build that portion indoors but that would mean the housemates are stuck in there with no sunlight for up to three months

[Could Big Brother return to Dreamworld?]

1 hour ago, DaptoFunlandGuy said:

it'll be curious whether village are 'in on it' and will capitalise with cross-marketing, in-park appearances and BTS opportunities post-production, or whether they are simply 'renting a space to a production company' and no more than that...

It would be cool if they did that, especially with the "nostalgia" angle they are trying to bring back, but by the looks of things and the separation of the park and studios it seems like the only thing theme park related is the house being in a soundstage that's next to Movie World

[WB Kids refresh ideas]

My idea would be to somehow gut the area. Keep Road Runner, JDS (but update it), Marvin, the Parents Room and Arcade but flatten everything else and bring it indoors.  Something like this at the WB park in Abu Dhabi could work but on a lower budget: perhaps a combination of matte paintings, more space between buildings and building facades closer to the walls (rather than building the whole building) could work.

This would not only reduce having to spend money on repaints thanks to the sun but allow a difference to the other parks in having an indoor kids section. On a hot summer day in January where the park gets the most visitors, most families would likely rather be inside an air-conditioned indoor kids section rather than standing right in the heat.

[Gumbuya World reduces operating hours]

As someone who went there recently on a Saturday, when I went it was mostly little kids and their parents, and the only non-kiddie rides operating were the three coasters and the tree swing. TNT had some wait but not more than one train, and Project Zero literally had nobody in line for most of the day. Even the bumper cars, the mining coaster and the kids train seemed to have a longer wait than Project Zero, which had a maximum of six people riding at once with some cycles operating with only 1-2 people.

I think what John Verga said about how "if the weathers bad, Melbournians don't go" is true. The weather was decent that day, but too cold for the slides to open. And since the slides weren't open, many people chose not to go. I asked a family member if they wanted to come with me and they said no for that reason.

1 hour ago, Narra said:

Super disappointing, seeing that makes me think we aren't going to see any investment on the rides front for a while

I honestly was thinking of this recently, and I thought of financial issues being a reason. Most of the phases they've announced to be coming haven't happened yet, perhaps the coasters underperforming could be putting investment on hold.

I couldn't see any construction on that visit, so they aren't likely putting anything in for 2025. If they put something in for 2026, that would be a 4-year wait between TNT/PZ and the new attraction.

[Trip Report - Japan - March 2025]

Really nice, as someone who is going to Universal on September 26 this is helpful. Probably won't go to Wizarding World right on opening, we will have a fast pass which includes that, SNW and the JW rides with the first two having timed entry. We're hoping to get the other 4 main rides done first (Space Fantasy, Hollywood Dream, Minion Mayhem and Jaws) before doing the others.

We unfortunately can't go to DisneySea as we're only at the main park from 3-9 on either October 4 or 5, which is a weekend. One of my family members wanted to see the castle so we're thinking of spending the afternoon there, I'm only hoping to get Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain and the kiddy credit in ToonTown done.

Also going to Nagashima on October 3, hoping it isn't busy so I can get all the credits. Hotels and flights are booked so we can't change plans around, we're going September 24 - October 7 and staying September 24 in Singapore, September 25-28 in Osaka (includes day trip to Hiroshima), September 29-October 1 in Kyoto, October 2-3 in Nagoya, and October 4-6 in Tokyo, flying out on the 7th.

[Japan 2025 Trip - Update]

Thanks everyone for the tips, we will probably get there early like the other two as we have 3-4 days in Tokyo IIRC (although we are flying out on the last night).

I realised the fast pass for Nagashima actually is for individual rides, although 1,000 yen for each ride (around $10.50 AUD) isn't too bad (cough cough Village Roadshow). Not sure how busy it is in October but we probably don't need fast passes for each ride. The cost without the water park is around 5,800 yen so we would most likely grab that one instead.

Thinking of also stopping by Tokyo Dome City and getting the two credits there, Thunder Dolphin especially seems like a highlight there and the two coasters are only 2100Yen/$22 AUD combined. If everything goes right, that should be 21 credits (some probably would be closed but oh well, should at least get 10)

[Japan 2025 Trip - Update]

54 minutes ago, DaptoFunlandGuy said:

Since you're arriving early on the 25th, you might consider the USJ "1.5 day pass". You get a half day in the park on the first day, so you could head in in the afternoon to 'get the lay of the land' and knock some things on the head to clear up your full day. USJ can be done in a day but the extra afternoon gives you a bit more time to pace yourself. We did it last year in June and i'd recommend it if you've got nothing else to do that afternoon and you aren't staying far from Universal City. Then you get your 7 ride pass for the second day, and you've already sussed out the lay of the land and how things work. Your plan to hit everything else in the morning is good if you've got SNW locked in already.

We are landing in around 2pm on the 25th and it will take a bit to get through everything at the airport like checks and to get to the hotel, and by then we would be tired so I don't think we would be able to do 1.5 days. We've got plans to get fast passes with Nintendo/Potter/Jurassic Park as said, so we should be able to get everything done in a day if we do everything else first. Most videos i've seen at opening show everyone running toward SNW so it shouldn't be too busy.

Thinking of getting the Demon Slayer coaster done first followed by Space Fantasy as thrill-data says they have the longest waits, iirc Potter/SNW rides have timed entries so we should have time to do them.

54 minutes ago, DaptoFunlandGuy said:

 Thrill Data's crowd calendar shows the back end of September is likely to be 'average crowds' every day.

Good to hear - although looking at the results the past few years it seems to be busier than average on the 26th.

54 minutes ago, DaptoFunlandGuy said:

If you just want to see the castle and consider that a good day you could get away with doing nothing in advance but if you want to experience more than a couple of attractions, you need to do your research.

That's our plan - we wouldn't be going if they didn't want to see the castle. The only thing I want to prioritise is Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain and maybe the Gadget Coaster to get the credit, I probably won't be able to get everything done but if I get those 3 I will be happy.

[Japan 2025 Trip - Update]

Just an update:

We are now looking at flying into Osaka on the 24th of September 2025 (arriving on the 25th thanks to stopovers in Singapore) and going to Universal on the 26th as the 27th and 28th are weekends, then moving up to Tokyo and stopping in several places including Nagashima before staying in Tokyo for the rest of our trip which includes a day at Disney.

We're looking at getting fast passes to both Universal and Nagashima, Disney we aren't as we're only going as one of my family members "wants to see the Disney castle" and we thought we might as well go there for a day. Our pass at Nagashima looks to be unlimited, however the one at Universal is a 7 ride pass.

Any way to plan a day at Disney and Universal using this information? Nagashima looks a bit more loose given the fast pass is unlimited and there will be less crowds. The fast pass we have at Universal is "Universal Express Pass 7: Mine Cart and Selection" which includes everything in Super Nintendo World/Donkey Kong Country, Harry Potter and Jurassic Park. For Universal we are thinking of being there at opening and quickly getting the other rides out of the way while everyone else is at SNW/Harry Potter as we will have a timed entry and fast pass, we don't have a plan for Disney yet. Any tips would be appreciated from people especially ones who have been there around this time of year.

[New Building behind Hollywood Stunt Driver]

If this new building is for floats, hopefully they can move them from the showstage and then eventually use the combined showstage + Doomsday land for something new

[Theme Park Worldwide - Top 25 Coasters]

1 minute ago, Naazon said:

There is public transport options if it means that much to you

Yes, but I want to be with family on this trip: I would already be getting new credits at Disney/Universal anyway so it isn't a big deal if I miss out on that, I can always come back alone and get them. Plus we may be using public transport to travel down from Tokyo to Osaka rather than a rental, so we don't want to get too lost with one going one way and the others going the other just for a credit.

[Theme Park Worldwide - Top 25 Coasters]

3 hours ago, Naazon said:

but Eejanaika is a wild coaster, and very impressive.

Looking at it it does look very intense: I would want to ride it when I go to Japan but unfortunately I am going with family and cannot go their myself (only renting one car) and they don't want it to be just about theme parks (looking at going to Tokyo Disney/DisneySea for three days and Universal for one/two)

[New Building behind Hollywood Stunt Driver]

1 hour ago, DaptoFunlandGuy said:

I want to be confident that they're going to fix the sightlines, but BGH has erased any confidence I had on this one. Please prove me wrong!

If they didn't fix the sightlines with Sea World's new BOH building then I doubt they will here unfortunately. Shows how BGH prefers cost cutting to the bone instead of making it a pleasant experience for the guest

[USS - Expansion Minions and Nintendo]

15 minutes ago, DaptoFunlandGuy said:

Meaning SNW has about half the plot I highlighted above. Comparing the size of Minion Mayhem i'm not sure there's enough space to put up what USJ or USH have - though I don't really have the time to do a size comparison of the show buildings (if anyone else can do a 3 way comparison between USS, USJ and USH to compare i'd be thankful!)

From my understanding the main ride show building is across the railway where the Malaysian Food Court currently is (closed yesterday), but the main area will be where the Madagascar building was. From the shape of the building it looks to be the same as USH (the slanted edges are the same as that unlike USJ/UEU)

[What ride should replace Doomsday Destroyer?]

40 minutes ago, Levi said:

in @Ogre latest video you can see Doomsday being stored in the back storage areas near Paradise Country and it looks like the ride was taken apart VERY carefully. with the foundation still in tact, including all wiring and ride booths, and the ride being very carefully pulled apart, could they just be refurbing the ride? it would’ve been pulled apart for its 10 year inspection next year anyways, maybe Intamin’s refurbing the existing ride and figuring out what’s wrong with it.

If they were doing that, then the question is why all traces of the ride including the sign on the roof were removed? Seems very fishy to me, and with Village's usual way announcing rides being permanently closed months/years after the ride last operated it wouldn't surprise me if it is getting scrapped

[Dreamworld Passholders After Dark - Take 2]

17 hours ago, Brad2912 said:

Kudos to Greg and the team there, absolutely setting the standard 

Greg is taking Dreamworld in the right direction; he is treating it's his personally owned business putting the love and care into it compared to the corporate style mess down the street. It feels like he personally wants everyone visiting to have the best day out possible while Village just want the money and don't care about the guest experience.

[Twister and Speedcoaster Relocation]

54 minutes ago, themagician said:

For anyone who’s curious, the slides are still in Canberra!

I have heard news that they may not be for much longer, apparently the slides will be closed for the entire season and the whole place may close soon

[Murrisippi Motors - Vintage Cars to be relocated to Rivertown area at Dreamworld]

Dreamworld have definitely put much more love and care into the whole land than MW with Wizard of Oz - every part just looks spectacular. The details placed within each part look fantastic, even a non E-ticket like this looks amazing, and will only get better thanks to weathering and the growing greenery. Good job to Greg Yong and his team for making Rivertown so great, I can't wait to see what is next. Hopefully some enhancements are made eventually, such as retheming Motocoaster into the land and redoing the store's facade to match.

[Wizard of Oz - Movie World Arkham Asylum Replacement]

Looking at the images, the courtyard seems underwhelming. It feels a bit too flat, and I don't like the white box in the middle of the land. I haven't seen the inside of the land yet so I hope that will be better.

[Jungle Rush Coaster]

7 minutes ago, aaronm said:

Looks fantastic so far! Amazing to see a soft opening before Christmas when all of the experts here were adamant the park would struggle to make Australia Day…

Glad to see they worked fast to get it open, who knew Rivertown would have a soft open before WoO? There are a few more bits and pieces but I am sure they can get them in before Boxing Day.

The only thing I don't like about the area is how the Rivertown store is just brown instead of the temple like features of the land, hopefully they can eventually fix it up if they retheme Motocoaster.

[Wizard of Oz - Movie World Arkham Asylum Replacement]

58 minutes ago, Ogre said:

I've heard from a few people they're aiming for Friday, with a possible soft opening before hand. Also, the models have been uncovered!

I guess this means the land will open immediately on the opening date with no announcement from the park beforehand like Flash. Interesting to see...

[Jungle Rush Coaster]

52 minutes ago, Miloja84 said:

Just a couple of random ones my son took. 

😍

This is beautiful, the theming looks amazing. Can't wait to see pictures of the rest of the land.

[Has Coast Entertainment given up on Whitewater world?]

It is very obvious that Dreamworld is the priority, with WWW not getting any investments for years while Dreamworld gets Steel Taipan, K&B Dreamland, Rivertown and King Claw, as well as being hidden and it closing on weekdays. Hopefully after King Claw they give it some love instead of giving all the money to the main park. "I heard something that apparently if you invest in something, more people will come"