thunder001

Advertised for the Ekka this year is a 2.5million spinning Wild Mouse. Will have to go and ride it for the credit.

People, please keep the noise down as I am haveing trouble sleeping. If a person is allowed on the ride with a camera, then that should fall back onto the ride operator, not the rider. If the rider can take a camera in open view onto a ride, then the operator is not doing their job. Went to Dreamworld and was allowed to keep my new digital camera with me as long as it went into a secured pocket, ie zipped shut. This is the only way that the park would allow me to keep it with me as they would not pay me for the camera if it went missing from the station. It really is a matter of using your brain, but this goes both ways. A good strap system is all that is needed to keep the camera from coming out of your hand, the tape is just for stability and to cover the parks insurance, that's all. We went through all this to get the on-ride footage from the Thunderbolt coaster with Dreamworld, and they explained it all to me. The amount of info about general park stuff that you can get from the park if you be nice and talk to the right ppl is amazing. You should just try to be nice and see what happens. But I am sure Richard will disagree

Ok then I will bite, WONDERLANDOP. You are right that the park reads this fourm, and that they give out misleading info to ppl who they think are leaking info to the general public. This happened to me with Dreamworld. I was walking through the park and overheard some "suits" saying that the skull to the Tower of Terror was being moved to the other side. I posted the info as a rumor and went to get the official responce from the park. They told me that it was not the case at all. One year later the Skull was moved to make way for the Nick Central coaster. You would be surprised at the lies that you are told. I will say that I am sorry if I did not get your name right, but I have not seen the above mentioned name for a while and then you turn up with allmost the same name? To close for my likeing. Oh and BTW, My contact comes from upper managment and that is all that I can say, as my contacts are my OWN!! If you don't believe me that is fine, but my track record with info stands for itself, over 98% correct. The B&M for wonderland is still the only one NOT YET correct.

I can assure everyone that the Beach is getting a new slide. How? Here is a copy of a email received by me from my contact in managment. "This year the BEACH at Wonderland will be celebrating our 10th birthday and with this will be opening a new slide. The beach area will receive a new face and with this we will be giving away an undisclosed amount to one lucky punter. Stay tuned for more details." When I questioned the park about the rumor of a B&M coaster coming to the park, the responce was "It has been raised, however at this stage I am unable to comment as to whether or not it is coming to Wonderland Sydney." So I ask you as nice as I can, where you are getting your information from reguarding the construction, as I have just told you mine. 8)

It seems that we are to disagree on everything, but what is new :twisted: I have never had a problem with any of the staff at any of the parks on the GC. You have to remember that when you are talking to these ppl, that the job they do requires them to be on their feet most of the day. So if you put yourself in their shoes and go up to them with a friendly attitude, they do come back in reply with the same attitude that you go to them with. I have found this works in a lot of situations, mostly with the work that I do, going to someone's house for example, where the kitchen has just caught fire due to a misshap, and having a family not in the best mood. You go in and say at least everyone is ok, and that the kitchen can be rebuilt, but that you don't like the burnt black colour they had last time. It tends to lighten the mood of the ppl and they are alot eaiser to deal with. Take this approach to your normal shopping and I will bet that it goes a lot eaiser. Having said that, I restate that I have not had any trouble with any of the staff at any of the parks. Maybe I am missing the entire point to what Richard is meaning, but this is how I have interpreted the reply....but that is just me All in all I do believe that the park will come and hit us with a great attraction next year...( Wish I could tell you what it is but am not allowed) so you will all have to wait. Not what you all would have wanted but you will be pleased none the less.

This is a great idea, but remember one thing. That a new ride alone willnot help the park if the little things are done wrong. All the Australian parks have great staff and that in itself is the biggest step for any park. So lets move on to no2 It needs to be in a good position, and I think that wonderland has the best position of all the parks. Near that many head of population, you can't get any better. On to no3 The park must have a great ad campain, and I have not yet seen a ad for wonderland on Queensland tv, but I know that the Queensland parks advertise on NSW tv around the school holidays...so this IMO is something that the park needs to work on. Then you get to what it is that will draw the guests to the park. This is another area that the park needs to adress and I believe that they are with a long term plan. From the little that I have been told about it, expect the park to be able to complete with the Gold Coast parks within the next 5-7years, as far as the rides go. This is ALL THAT I KNOW. So please don't ask for any more detail as I know not!!! But this is just my OPION....but a B&M would be nice 8)

For a while the Tower of Terror was the fastest ride in the world getting up to 106mph in testing. I think that this is the right speed, but if it is wrong it is only by 1 or 2 mph. The Thunderbolt held the record for the fastest Double Loop coaster for a while also when it opened in 1982. But I was old enough to ride it then, so that is why I proberly remember it.

From what I was told, the back half of the building is completly removed and there looks to be footers inside the building. I can't see why you would need footers for a walkthrough attraction, but only time will tell.

All I know is what I have told before. That the Beach is getting a revamp and a new slide. What type of slide, I was not told but the park is spending a few dollars on it. That is all I know at this time. Will check back with the park soon to try to get more info.

Not Richard on the mouse Flea, to answer your question. At least it does not look like him.

Start of Fire - Now Known, thanks dude!

Sorry Richo, but I tend to disagree. I believe that the Scooby Doo Coaster is the smoother of the two. I also challenge anyone to ride EM and not get off needing a hip replacement. I guess the opion will differ between riders on any ride built, but the only true way is to try it for yourself and you be the judge. IMO Scooby Doo is the smoother and better of the two rides, as it is not just a dark tunnel that you go flying through. But to each their own.

Start of fire was unknown

There was a small grass fire that caused some of the timber to "LOOK" burnt. The park took the chance to change those timbers during it's annual maintance. I will look into the down time for TBB and see what the parks responce is. Do you know the TRUE DAY that the ambulance was seen in the park? I need the details to be as true as they can so the Main Office will give the correct info.

For those of you who I know and speak to on a regular basis, thankyou for your suport in what was and still is a hard week for me. Haveing loose someone who was your BEST MATE for the last 21 years is a hard thing to take. For the other KIDS, yes I said KIDS on this board, no more info for you. I have had enough with your rumors and all the other crap. So I will pass on info only to those who I can get along with via pm. This way it will enable the correct info to get out and the lies might stop. Oh and to the LITTLE KID NIGHTSHIFTER. My info comes from the parks managment office also known as the HEAD OFFICE, not someone behind a shop counter. The beach is getting a new ride and there are ppl on this board who allready have been told what it is. If anyone would like to know what it is then please pm me and if you are in my good books, you will be told the style of ride coming to the park next year. Sorry to those of you who are about the same age as me but I have had it with KIDS that have misleading info and don't want to be told the truth. At this time my info on parks is at about 95%correct all the time and I have the past to back it up. I will contact those of you that I want to stay in contact with over the next few days, as for you kids....the board is yours....FOR NOW!!

And you say that according to me the beach is not getting anything this year. You guys give me the s%#@s.

Did you even read my post. The park is designing a new entry to the park, TO BE BUILT IN THE FUTURE. It has nothing to do with the entry to the buisness park and I think that Richard has explained why before. They are two seperate projects. Nothing to do with each other. And after all that I have had to clear up with the park in reguards to the rumors that you have said here, what makes you think that I would tell you anything. Please re-read, if indead you did read it at all, my post and it states that this is ALL THE INFO THAT I HAVE. This means, to anyone over the mental age of 5 at least, that I have told you all I can, and all that I know. Dude I know that this may sound a bit harsh, but stiff. I tell you guys this on the day that I burried my best mate and all you want to do is ask stupid questions about stuff that I have allready answered. If you want to make friends on these sites and get the info that matters, then check your contacts info with the park. Play nice and read the info before asking silly questions, and this bit is not only for Boycotta as there are others who ask these questions also. I will no longer reply to those who ask questions that have allready been answered. Sorry to those of you that don't do this but it is the way it is going to have to be. No news until I have something to post.

Sorry guys but I know not what you ask. I only know the style of ride and if I say to much I will give it away and maybe get my contact into trouble. This is something that I don't wont to happen. When...I believe next year. Rating...don't know as I have not done this ride yet. Sorry guys but that is all I know....really.

HOT NEWS After talking to the park today, I have found out some great news. But first thing first. It seems that Boycotta did have a correct peice of info..but he had it half right. Yes there is a new entrance coming to the park but it is still under design. The park is not splitting the Beach away from the main park. The land on which HBL was built was owned by the park, as is a major section of land behind the park. The amount of land owned by the park that is in use including what the park sold is only just over 50%. The beastie is still standing but it is not looking good for the old favorite. Their is a new ride coming and while I can say it has nothing to do with the beach, I can not reveile what it is as I myself only know what Style of ride it will be. For those of you who go to the park every week (Flea) whatch what is being built and you will soon understand or at least have a guess at what the ride will be. I believe it will be themed to a marvel movie to be released next year. This was not said straight out by the park, but more hinted on. Hope this keeps you guys guessing, but please do not ask me for anymore details as I have allready told you guys all that I can. Enjoy 8)

OK I have had enough. Boycotta, get your story straight and stop listening to crap. And find a better contact also. The news that I have been siting on for some time does include the Beach area of the park. This year is the tenth year in operation for the beach and to celebrate, the park is revamping the beach and installing a new attraction to that area of the park. TO MY KNOWLAGE, it has NOTHING and I repeat NOTHING to do with the buisness park. I could be wrong and it may be a new entry to the water section of the park ONLY, as this was the plan quite a while ago. But TMK the only thing happening this year is the new attraction at the Beach. Before you ask, I am not aware of what the new attraction is, just that there is one coming to the BEACH for X-MAS 2003. This is ALL I KNOW so please do not ask anything else. As for a new coaster to the park, listen for something next year. Not sure what it is, but was told to be prepared to be pleased. That is all that I have been told on that front also. So let your brains run free and wonder what it is, as I have no idea.

One fault with your plan Boycotta, this is the all important MONEY factor. First of all it costs a hell of a lot of money to HOST the Olympics and for a country to do it twice in a row is in my mind a big mistake. I am not even sure if the Sydney Olympic Group made any money from the 2000 games. Maybe Richo can help me with this one. Second of all is the tourists going to the games. Most of the ppl going to the games have allready bought their tickets and made accomidation arangments. They would have to change them so there is no promise that the tourist dollar so to speak would still be there. And the third thing is just this. Do we want another Olympics at all. I'm sure that the Athens Games will go ahead in some way and it will be all good.

And your spell checker was not working why? :mrgreen:

it is not resistant to everthing. Let me put it another way. You are a 13-15year old who is still at school, correct. I am a 29 year old electrican with a wife and family, who had seen treated pine fail against a lot of conditions. I have seen this " Wonder Timber" get eaten by white ants, something that is not ment to happen. I have seen it warped by too much exposure to the elerments. The best timber in my opion for strength is good old australian hardwood, but this is also not great when it comes to white ants. Timber is not as strong as you think it is. It is a living, breathing material, which is then killed for lack of a better word. What happens to everything once it has ceased it's normal patter of life. It rots. Plain and simple. Somethings rots faster than others which is why we use timber to build homes. This though is changeing to steel in house frames now. This is due to cheaper manufacturing costs, availablity, and weight. The steel frames used now are a lot lighter, but have greater strenght. Richard, (thanks for the correct as I should have know better myself. Timber into concrete ). Correct me if I am wrong, but arn't the new GCI built wooden coasters built with a steel framing instead of wood. Saw the video from Robb and Elissa and the frame work looks to be steel and not wood. With this in mind, I wonder if all the new wooden coasters are now going to be steel framed. We all will have to wait and find out. By the way, I think that we ALL (self included) get our facts straight before we post anything on the boards. It saves us from the embarrassment of being proven wrong by others, and it also stops any "fights" before they start. This is just an idea, but I think that it might work.

Not forgetting that when you put wood into cement in the ground, over time the wood will rot due to the chemical reaction of the concrete with the timber. These are one section that would have required replacment a couple of times i'm guessing.

Ok then ppl. Let me ask you all this. How old is "The Beach" this year? Answer this question and figure it out for yourself.