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Favourite coaster without a doubt would be Knott's Xcel, just fantastic in nearly every way. Favourite woody would definitely be Ghost Rider as I'm sure any who have had the pleasure would agree. Close to those is DJV (just not quite complete enough to top the list) and of course X which is just a stand out all of its own. I also loved Goliath but that was really a size thing which I'm sure would come with most Hypers or Gigas out there. Smoothest Corkscrew is my vote although Xcel is right there too (only ride I have never had even the slightest sickness or headache even after 50 rides). After all these years Corkscrew is still so unbelievably Smooth. You can say what you want about B&M but this Arrow has been well looked after and it just goes to show you the difference between good and bad maintenance.

Couldn't agree more. As well as just the tilting itself, saying you don't trust it because its Vekoma is just being stupid. You may say you don't like them (and I also question those motives) but lets not confuse preference with safety here! I think the concept/ride looks very interesting/exciting, would definately be something different to bring down under and Dreamworld is already hooked up with Vekoma... I've always been a big fan of the 'fishook' coaster on the stratosphere in vegas. I never quite knew how they would get the train back up top but asuming that was all worked out would this be a wicked launch!!

Hey Richard Although not directly related to your post, a short time ago in a thread I'm not sure of mention was made to an old "Mummy" attraction being reserected... I can't recall ever seing such an attraction, can you shed any light?? Thanks heaps, look forward to seeing the photos.

The wall is actualy only a false backdrop. The drive/support shafts actualy run straight through it and have counterweight arms mounted on them, hidden by the wall. The rainbow is just a unique experience, the height and extreme airtime coupled with relatively small restraints make for an exciting ride.

Its true that DJV doesn't have the best throughput however that is going to be the case with any inpulse too, by design a shuttle can only ever going to be able to have a single car. The one good thing about DJV is the staggered seating does allow for more people on the same length of train. SFMM manages pretty decent dispatch times, thing is you really need 4 crew on the floor to make it work properly... 1 giving seating assigments at the gate (the stag. seating makes it a little confusing), 2 checking restraints and 1 op (also tends to double as a pa nazi )

Hey Richard, I understand your thougts on DJV, I sort of had the same feelings too... However, trust me, as soon as you get to that thing you'll be changing your mind for sure! It doesn't even look that much in pictures but when you standing beneath it, the sheer size of the damn thing hits you. I think the Giant Pulleys on the top of the towers say it all, you know its going to be something. Getting on it only goes further change your opinion. The boomerang is one thing but hanging all that way up at 90 degrees with your entire weight only resting on your restraints is an awsome feeling, especialy in the front. Its one fantastic ride and I'd definately sooner have it over an impulse. Just one other thing, one thing that is really starting to get to me on this board (and Im not singling anyone out) is people passing judgement or giving a 'first' hand opinion on rides or parks they have never been to. I'm not talking about the sort of view Richard gave as that was just his take on it. I'm more talking about the bashing of the quality of a park or a particular coaster company (eg. vekoma) when the person has never ridden anything different. Please just everyone have something to back your opinions up with other than what you've heard. Thanx

How it works Shaun is you can't get another fastpass until your allocated time period for the one you currently have begins. So if you got your pass at 9:30am and your slot was 10:45-11:45 you wouldn't be able to get another fastpass for anything until 10:45. If you plan things out this system works really well. After about 7pm or something though that restriction comes off and you can get as many as you like...if any are still available.

Well I think they did a great job of capturing Knotts. I've been trying to convey the sheer amount of water on PP since I got back and the footage from that was awsome. You just can't do Ghostrider justice, its one AWSOME coaster, just a mile a minute from the minute the breaks come off to when they go back on again. You have to give Colossos credit just for being itself but it just doesnt compare to GR. Then of course there is Xcel, nothing can describe the feeling when you crest that apex and take the plunge back down...can't wait for TTD :-)

Yeah the fastpass system in use at Disney is great. The only think we lined up for when we were there was Splash Mountain (unfortunately at 70mins) but other than that next to no wait at all with fastpass... Even 75 wasn't bad on a day where SM got up to 180!! Its also clever how they manage your alocation on the passes and how the two lines are merged at the ride.

Sounds like you had a great day! I have to give you credit, I was pretty proud of myself for hitting disney all in a day but you managed to do mosty of BOTH parks, congrats! (I did however wind up there on the last day of spring break :-) ) I'm glad to hear you say that about Jungle Cuise, I think you might have had the same guy we did...for something I went on just because it had no line it turned into a terrific ride. Did you guy go for a cheesy disco moment as his sang the tune to The Hustle by any chance?? Indy (temple of the 4 hour line) I agree is amazing. Sadly I don't think we'll ever see a $100mil attraction down under. Best gem I found on this was the single rider que...NO WAIT I agree with Honey I Shrunk the Audience however the best bit is when you drop and you realise the whole theatre is 1 huge motion base...2nd only the the 'drop' on backdraft. You said it all about grisley and cal scremin. Best thing is the clever station design...awsome capacity.

Wow Richard as someone who did so also I can't sypathise with you more... It was just soo painful to sit through those things doing what I do :-) However if you see this show at DCA I'm sure you'll see what I'm talking about!

Just to clarify I wasn't specificaly replying to you Richard, just yours happend to be the post before mine, no attack or anything :-) I wouldn't say the number of attractions is low, perhaps the RIDE count could be considered low but there are definately a lot of attractions there. I admit I thought it quite low on the count and pretty poor before I actualy went there, but the actual park changed my mind a lot. Also I think you'd agree that if you looking for pure thrills then Disney isn't for you. Their parks a something different with some thrills thrown in but not the only piece of the pie. Just look at Disney Land, you can't really get a better 'theme' park than that and its certainly no thrill land. DCA has got a 'full package' IMO, I don't think its really intended solely as thrill park. My take on it was that it is just something with more variety than its heavily Disney themed neighbour, where as IOA is a ride park... IMO the layout of the park is not so much as incomplete but just well laid out as to alow for much future expansion and additions. I hope you enjoy it...I certainly look forward to getting over to IOA in 2005.

Okay as someone who visited DCA only a short time ago I really must come to its defence here. I quite easily spent an entire day and night at DCA without running out of things to do (is there a rule that you can't ride something more than once??). The park works extremely well because unlike Disney Land the paths and walkways a nice and wide and can carry a lot of people without bottle-necking. You have to remember how young this park is, name another park that opening with this many attractions, none of which is a dud???? The addition of Tower of Terror soon will only re-enforce this. BTW that thing is HUGE! California Screaming isn't even close to the same category as lethal weapon...a stock standard SMALL vekoma SLC 'vs' a custom Intamin monster than packs a punch from go to stop. Grisley is easily the best themed most exciting Rapids ride I've come across. Then you've got the other attractions like Millionaire, Sorin` and Muppets. Did any of you even bother to look at these since they weren’t coasters? Sorin' over Ca is amazing, really cool technology. And lastly is the Aladdin show, as someone who works in the business I can tell you that the show would be amazing if it was on broadway let alone as a FREE show that runs every day several times a day in a theme park. Come on guys...stop playing sheep and bashing a park because everyone else does. I will keep the opinion that I always have that you can't judge a park/ride/whatever until you've actually been there. Same goes for certain people who keep bashing Vekoma and praising Intamin or B&M when they haven't even been on one of their coasters. ::end of rant

Hi Thunder I am also down in Sydney so if theres anything I can do for you feel free to give me a shout. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the 'new slide' is just a refurb...just another example of what I'm always saying. Management tries to pass the place off as a first rate park whilst running it on a 5th rate budget!

No I think the ride nightshifter was refering to was the old Ned Kelly's Getaway attraction that was discussed at length a few months back in another thread...

Well we shall have to wait and see which is true I guess. I must say I'm not sure whether I'm glad or not if its not coming. I would much prefer something new at WL but on the other hand it would be cool to see what they do with it.

Not that this has been confirmed yet but it is looking like only a matter of Time before I get to say "I Told You So." Wonder if I'll be right about their marketing strategy as well :-)

And as cheap as those owners were at least they did add something! These owners haven't added anything. As much as many praise them for how 'clean' the park may be simple fact is IMO the park is nowhere near the standard it once was. Closing one area of the park and relocated the rides to other parts and attempting to pass them off as new attractions to the GP frankly is CHEAP. They have attempted to put on shows, however they have always been second rate and half done...CHEAP. They put on the magic and illusion show and instead of coming up with a proper venue they throw a tent on the old HBB theatre...CHEAP Before they closed Little Wonders they proceeded to remove rides and yet keep the area open, that way they don't have to list them out front as not operating...CHEAP And finaly since the closure of HBB land the admission price has remained the same despite only having 2/3 of the park now...CHEAP You may not agree, however I feel I am entitled to my views as I have justified them here. As for Thunderbolt, I totaly agree with you that it would be absurd, yet knowing Wonderland I just wouldn't be surprised if it did turn up. Think about it, a new colour a new name and billing as "Largest dual loops in the Southern Hemisphere" a vast proportion of the GP would have no idea.

Well honestly if Wonderland is indeed getting a new coaster I wouldn't be at all surprised if it is The Bolt. Apart from Space Probe they really haven't added any NEW rides have they since day one?? Deamon, Fred Flinstone etc. have all been refurbs so given their usual cheapness lets just hope they don't go that way again!

Well I must say its sad to see the old girl go. What will the atmosphere in Oceam Parade be like now without the screeches of every underbanked turn? I do think it is a bit sad, a refurb would have been nicer IMO. What I would like to see (although I very much doubt it will happen) is dreamworld leave the double loops in place after the dismantling of the ride. They are a characteristic piece of scenery on the dreamworld landscape and with a nice new coat of paint would still be very attractive. What do you all think? As far as a show that's not the worst thing that could happen...it IS for Wonderland but dreamworld is a bit lacking. Provided its done well and not in a tent come theatre with low production values and cheap special FX it could be a great thing for the park. An attraction that pulls a thousand or more people off the midway for an hour or so is good for crowd management. Now if you read between the lines it doesn't have to mean the new attraction is taking the land that Thunderbolt used does it? Hopefully we'll see a new major ride come to the space next year... A new coaster of course would be great but given they already have a couple may not be the case, but as the park already has a few flats, and water rides the chances are probably as good as any! I would say if they do floorless or stand-up is what it would be as they have everything else and rocket would be too similar to TOT. Perhaps the race is on between the World in the South and the World in the North over who gets the first coaster. Happy digging everyone.

All I can say is I personally will definitely be trusting the information given by Thunder (who has been a long time poster to the forum, with plenty of insightful info.) over someone who has just suddenly appeared, claiming to be a former employee, and all they seem to do is say the opposite to anyone else. Perhaps you could provide some proof of who you are before trying to convince us with all this 'expert' knowledge you posses.

Yep there is the odd circumstance where a train does get stuck upside down, a wheel failing or a derailment could cause this, therefore not all of these stories are fakes. Most of the time though when a mate comes out with something like that it is a load of crap though :-) The ring of fire type ride is a totaly differnt story altogether. It doesn't work like a normal coaster rather the train goes around the entire track of the loop (some of it has cars, the rest is just bogies(sp?) ). If the drive mechanics jam or stall then the ride will stop regardless of position... As for the Batman and Robin incident I'm not sure of the particulars...anyone else care to enlighten us all??

My 2 personal Favs are that "The Bush Beast is so bad its dangerous, like pieces of wood come flying off when you go past!" and how can we forget all the times we've heard how "<insert looping coaster name here> broke down and got stuck upside down in the loop!!" Some people are SUCH a worry!

I have to say that story about going up and hitting the brakes at 180 sounds like one of those load of crap stories every second punter tries to tell you... Like the time that the girl on demon accidently hit the wrong button and it went too fast and almost came of the tracks! - how many times have we all heard those! Fact is those rides (TOT and STE) were orriginaly marketed/designed around the 180km/hr mark so that sort of speed simply wouldn't have the result you described. Secondly the magnets are not actualy oppositly charged in the braking process, that would speed up the car and send it rocketing back into the station. The charge is the same direction as for accelerating but rather they are fired off in the opposite order. As you said the charge is not quite as strong as for acceleration.

I agree with your thoughts on Dreamworld staff Richard. True there are some good ones, last time I was there the girl out front of TOT was great. However Cyclone is the boggest joke. The fact that they are happy to have one operator for the whole ride is terrible, the rest of the park was empty yet Cyclone had a nice ole 40min queue. Whats worse is the staff you have that come to check restraints and decide to go all the way down one side (very slowly), then go back to the front only to go the same way down the other side and then all the way back up before deciding to dispatch the train... YAY