GoGoBoy

Wow this is pretty major. Those flume slides have been there since the park first opened in the 1980's. They were refurbished when the fake mountain was added and you can see that the colour of the actual flumes changed as they used to be that old light blue that waterslides used to always be made of. I'm not sure whether that original refurbishment required the full demolition and reconstruction of the slides though? Certainly sounds like this may be more than just a refurb this time. I wonder if they will just replace them with a more advanced style of flume such as ProSlide Pipelines or Atomic Coasters with water curtains? Being an attraction almost any age can enjoy, they were certainly popular. So it looks like construction has started on the rumoured new slides for WnW. However we are yet to see any movement over at WhiteWater World. If WWW doesn't make some changes this year I think WnW will virtually canabalise them. I mean it's all very well to cash in on the fact that the park is 'new' but when you've got a park down the road that is already significantly larger and is again going through a massive expansion... I think Macquarie Leisure is going to need more than just the' new' novelty to compete. By the way - can we please get some photos of the demolished White Water Mountain Flumes???

On the WnW website is says that the White Water Mountain flumes will be closed from the 28th of May and reopen in September. That is quite an extended closure period! Maybe they will be installing the rumoured new slide attractions in this area

Thanks Gazza. But their coaster is what I'd call a 'true ' water roller coaster where the trains dip in and out of the water at various points. WnW is just sopposedly adding a couple of water jets and I get a feeling they might be a bit pathetic similar to the 'smoke' which sprays out on Batwing. It's a shame WnW's isn't adding a full circuit coaster either. It's quite funny the video for that water coaster is followed by an ad for tuna

I'd really like to see the whole layout of the footers. It is hard to tell from the photos I have seen, all I can see is that there will be some kind of double helix but I have no idea how long the ride will be etc. There are some more recent photos up at http://www.australianamusementfanatics.com but again only really shows the helix part of the layout

You just dredged up an almost 2 year old topic so that you could pay out on someone who you obviously have some issues with. To be honest though I completely agree with SuperSpruikers comments - even 2 years on everything he said is still the same. The brasserie building at the front of the park is still empty, there are no new rides and they still bring in craptacular temporary rides like the Dominator during holiday seasons. I wonder if anything will ever change there?

Are you being sarcastic? Awesome coasters? I don't think Dreamworld and awesome coasters should go together in the same paragraph. You make it sound like DW actually has a large or reasonable number of coasters and that the coasters they do have are really good. Neither of those are true

Steve Peet of Wet 'n' Wild talks about waterparks being essentially a whole new exciting industry (starting off in the 70's) and yet they are now building a dry theme park ride. I don't care if they throw a couple of misters, it's still not a waterpark ride. While I am incredibly un-excited about the 'Surf Rider' I am looking forward to hearing about their second attraction and I'm hoping its a new waterslide. Good on them though for adding so much new stuff

Yes and who would've though it would be the year when a rival waterpark opened just across the road. Seems crazy. 2 new attractions in one year will only boost attendances further... let's hope WhiteWater World is planning to fight back

I'm a Macquarie Leisure shareholder myself and always read through the quarterly and annual reports. There has been nothing mentioned in regards to the Mine Ride and it is rare for the reports to go into specific detail regarding operations, particularly an old ride. The reports always try and accentuate the positive rather than the negative so are unlikely to mention the closure of a ride which has no major financial impact. I still think it's very wrong that Dreamworld would allow any of its rides to close indefinitely. As I have always said with such large attendances and capacity issues the park should have every ride operating. Either that or some serious expansion over the next couple of years. As Gazza said it is ridiculous to think that even when the new coaster opens, the park will still not have any more rides operating than it did a number of years ago. As a shareholder ofcourse I am interested in earnings but I don't see the loss of the Mine Ride which I considered to be one of the most fun in the park to be particularly good for the company. Unless ofcourse the savings made by not reopening it will be redirected to significant new attraction investment... I have my doubts

Thanks mattcrombie you've saved the day once again. I really needed that construction hit... I was starting to go through withdrawals. I can't personally work out much of the layout from those pics - can anyone see any surprises in there or anything of note? I'm assuming it won't be going out over the lake as was originally rumoured, which is a bit disappointing

Are you serious? You mean to say that footers for the new coaster are already in place and a whole new area is being constructed and we haven't even seen a single photo yet? What's going on around here? Normally at least one person would post some pics when footers have gone in. It just seems like all the Aussie theme park forums are so dead lately which is strange considering there is quite a lot going on at the parks again this year

It would be good if someone was able to find out the true reason for the closure and expected reopening. Surely someone must be able to do a bit of digging? What about any of your contacts at the park Richard? Or do you think they are likely to keep this sort of info private? Considering it has been so long now I think they should disclose at least some info

Actually that statement isn't correct. Movie World's Wild West area changed significantly when Wild West Falls was added some years ago. A large part of the Wild West area didn't even exist before this ride opened. When the ride was built they expanded the area quite significantly. But yes I'd be happy to see it grow further with a large wooden coaster

Don't look at Wonderland for theming ideas! Their Snowy River ride had absolutely no theming whatsoever besides the name. You might think Dreamworld's rapids aren't themed well but they are ten times better than Wonderlands were. And at least Dreamworld built fake rock around their trough - Wonderland had exposed concrete channels

In addition to Richard's latest article regarding Dreamworld's overall performance, I thought I would post some extracts from Macquarie Leisure's latest press release. I have edited it so that it only contains info relating to DW and WWW - Dreamworld revenues increase, with the two day pass gaining popularity Total revenue for the nine month period to 31 March 2007 was A$69.28 million, representing an increase of 5.2 per cent over the prior corresponding period. Dreamworld’s attendance figures recorded a marginal decline of 0.9 per cent for the nine months, against a two per cent decline recorded in the first six months. Per capita expenditure again grew strongly by 6.1 per cent to A$63.56. Rent increased 10.5 per cent to A$25.39 million for the same period. The Group‘s Chief Executive Officer Mr Greg Shaw said, ”The opening of WhiteWater World has increased attendance at Dreamworld during the third quarter. Some 29.5 per cent of WhiteWater World patrons upgraded to a two day World Pass during the period. As a result, Dreamworld’s attendance for the quarter rose 1.7 per cent from the prior year.” Mr Shaw also noted that on 31 March 2007, Dreamworld celebrated the birth of two healthy Sumatran tiger cubs as part of an internationally recognised endangered species breeding program. The new additions to the Tiger Island family will be on display for the July school holidays and will raise public awareness of Dreamworld’s campaign to save the species. Strong performance for WhiteWater World since opening WhiteWater World achieved revenues of A$6.08 million for the period since opening to 31 March 2007 following favourable trading in February and March 2007. Mr Shaw advised that this new business had performed strongly in its initial months of trading. He said, “WhiteWater World has already developed a strong, local south east Queensland client base. We are now concentrating our marketing efforts on maximising opportunities from interstate and special events markets. These markets are expected to grow strongly in the following financial year, providing greater opportunities for growth.” WhiteWater World opened in December 2006 and has delivered rental of A$2.86 million (before pre-opening expenses) for the period to 31 March 2007. The Macquarie Leisure Trust Group has continued to benefit from holding dominant positions within a number of fast growing leisure segments. “As anticipated, WhiteWater World has successfully captured significant untapped demand for a quality water park experience in the south east Queensland market. In doing so, it has provided added impetus to the Dreamworld business,” Mr Shaw said.

I can't believe I missed it. After sitting through the whole crap show last week and putting up with Ernie Dingo. I seem to be cursed when it comes to catching these WWW TV features. I just completely forgot

Article from Sydney Morning Herald - The Simpsons are headed to theme parks April 25, 2007 - 1:01PM Homer, Bart and the rest of the TV Simpson family are headed to the amusement park in the US. Universal Studios will feature the cartoon characters in a new ride set to open at its two parks in Orlando and Hollywood, California, in the spring of 2008, the parks announced today. The new attraction is not yet named and will replace Back to the Future: The Ride. It will be based on the character Krusty the Clown's vision of an amusement park. Visitors will sit in a vehicle and watch the action on a giant screen that fills their entire field of view. "The ride vehicle will be moving along with that action," said Universal spokesman Tom Schroder. "We will combine all that, along with some great special effects, to make it seem you are experiencing a ride with all of the Simpsons." Simpsons creator Matt Groening is collaborating with Universal on the project. "The ride is designed to duplicate the Simpsons home-viewing experience, only at high speed and with lots of screaming," Groening said in the statement. The actors' voices for the show's characters also will be featured in the attraction, Schroder said. "With its unique sense of humour and enormous popularity, The Simpsons is a perfect complement to our brand of entertainment," said Tom Williams, Chairman and CEO of Universal Parks & Resorts. AP

Exactly, couldn't agree more! Gazza you have a skill for articulating what other people are trying to say

Haha I guess I was being hopeful Gazza considering I didn't get to see the WWW story on the Shak this week. I figured that it must have been a minor story on The Great Outdoors and just not featured in their opening. It's pretty strange. I find it hard to believe they'd just cut a segment at the last minute as some people have suggested. These shows are edited and compiled in post production and put together as a whole package. Shows like Today Tonight on the other hand are live so they can easily cut out a segment if they want to. Anyway it looks like it's going to be a good feature on WWW if the preview is anything to go by. Hopefully I will be at home again to watch it

Um someone got their wires crossed again. It's on next weeks episode. I can't believe I watched the whole boring show for nothing

So considering we haven't heard anything I'm assuming that even though 3 people (including one 'maybe') said they would tape this episode and upload it to Youtube, no one actually did it. You can normally rely on someone on here doing it. Bit disappointing

Let's hope so... 3 people said they were going to tape it and upload it so we should get something out of that (although I don't know if you can count Tony)

Thanks Coaster boy and others... look forward to seeing it

The first episode of The Shak at WhiteWater World aired today. I have a feeling they may have a similar arrangement with WWW as Big Brother has with Dreamworld. My guess is Dreamworld built the Shak facade for them in return for WWW publicity. As I have said previously, I think the Shak facade was themed well and appropriately, despite what some others have said. Now apparantley tomorrows (Tuesday) episode of The Shak will feature a story on WhiteWater World and the various attractions. Unfortunately I won't be home to watch it at 4pm. Could anybody on here tape it and possibly upload to Youtube? Would be most grateful.... not because I'm a fan of The Shak obviously

Agree about the Aztec Theatre. The more interactive this town is the better. And Gazza I was also thinking something similar about having a perspective wall or alley and ofcourse you'd have to have the nuclear power plant chimneys painted on it in the distance