The Parkz Update: Dreamworld & WhiteWater World, March 2015

The latest Parkz Update takes a look around Dreamworld and WhiteWater World, with a glimpse at the faint signs of life at Eureka Mountain.

Image: Parkz. Eureka Mountain in all its SBNOness

Update By Parkz
20 March 2015

Eureka Mountain is the focus of internal work to determine whether it can operate again.

Despite very little changing with its exterior, the ride has undergone extensive testing in recent weeks.

Dreamworld are keeping tight-lipped, though hints they've given suggest they are cautiously optimistic about the ride's reopening.

Dreamworld's other perennially closed ride, Skylink Chairlift is also coming to life.

Unfortunately its life is in the form of vines that are slowly taking over the structure.

We've all but given up on keeping tabs on what movies are on at Dreamworld Cinema. Instead of choosing a single show that changes periodically, Dreamworld are more or less just tossing out any and all DVD extras their relationship with DreamWorks gives them access to.

A new temporary big screen has appeared. Not quite as subtle at Movie World's version.

You can finally satisfy your sadistic streak. Coin operated water squirters have been installed at a couple of points along Thunder River Rapids.

$2 Gets you 10 shots to use on a one minute timer, which seems unecessarily tightfisted. Considering rafts pass less than once per minute, at most you'll get to use half your shots.

There seemed to be more looking than squirting going on. We can't help but think if the price were at a "loose change" level (American parks typically charge 25c) people might be more inclined to just use up their sliver coins for a laugh.

Add entertainment for spectators, an added thrill for riders and raise revenue! It's a great concept that has existed at US parks for decades, but this is a classic case of Dreamworld getting the execution just plain wrong.

Zombie Evilution is closed as part of a conversion back to a scare maze. The bright and cheerful font on the signage is somewhat jarring with the sinister theme of the attraction.

Ocean Parade is looking very inviting. The paint jobs on the rides are an improvement, and it is noticeably the most lively area in the park. For our money it's probably the nicest area of the Gold Coast parks.

Now let's see some love given to those parts of the park that really need it. Like this Blue Man Group murder scene...

Given these really don't serve any practical purpose besides looking cool, we've got to wonder: what came first, the bollards, or the idea to paint people on them?

Buzzsaw remains very obviously closed.

Basically it is being a typical Maurer coaster, and is closed due to unexpected mechanical problems.

Food offerings

Dreamworld seem to be making a visible effort to improve the price, quality and decor of their food outlets. Their knock off Subway isn't bad, and in some respects has better fillings than the original. Just don't expect to be in and out quickly!

Nearby is Dough Bros Pizzeria, which attempts to shake the typical "fast foody" look of most theme park pizza joints.

It is probably the most cost effective means of feeding a family at the park.

Some of the decor.

The Gelati section faces directly out onto the outdoor seating area, and you can get Italian flavours such as Bacci, and Blood Orange.

The only reason you'd buy an impractically shaped refill bottle at any theme park around the world is to take advantage of the free refills they normally come with. But oddly, Dreamworld still charge a significant amount for each refill. Predictably, you don't see hordes of vistors toting these as is commonplace at other parks. I guess flashing LED lights aren't really the selling point they had hoped for? Add this to Dreamworld's great idea, bad execution list.

Everyone's favourite ridiculously priced ice cream now has a home at Dreamworld. When is a pint not a pint? When it's 458mL of ice cream!

Speaking of Dreamworld offerings that are 20% less than advertised, we check out Tower of Terror II. Based on its lack of height, it's fair to say that this ride is running at speeds closer to 130km/hr rather than the heavily advertised 160km/hr.

White Water World

Shortly after opening, the new Triple Vortex slide was closed suddenly. When it reopened the funnel elements had been reprofiled into a more sweeping curve.

These Proslide "Tornado 12" slides have apparently had the ocassional habit of flipping out riders. How this happens on such a slow slide we'll never know.

One of the new funnels.

"Triple Egg" is probably a more fitting name for the slide now.

Compare with an earlier photo taken from this same position and you can see how the shape of the funnels has changed.

As the slide looked in September 2014 when it first opened.

The long queue here is simply because insufficent mats are in circulation. Typically each race would run six or less people as riders slowly filtered to the top. Surely a few extra foam mats are an insignificant expense compared to the power, filtration and staffing costs of keeping a slide like this operational?