The Parkz Update: Dreamworld reopens with respect and dignity

Dreamworld quietly turned 35 this week. It wasn't cause for celebration as the theme park emerges from a very tragic and extended closure, with the theme park obviously very eager to heal and grow from the incident.

Image: Parkz. Dreamworld is back.

Update By Richard Wilson
16 December 2016

Throughout Dreamworld there is a very palpable awareness and respect. It's business as usual – to a degree – but the theme park's reopening is as much about healing its extended family of staff as it is about respectfully and cautiously regaining the trust of the public. You get this feeling with every staff member you talk to, and with every interaction where it's clear that these are people who love their jobs.

With only their children's and smaller family rides operating thus far, Dreamworld is perhaps the quietest it has been in its 35 years. You won't hear the roar of Tower of Terror, the magnetic whir of the Giant Drop's braking system, nor the screams and laughter of hundreds of guests filling Ocean Parade's many rides. But at the same time, Dreamworld has perhaps never lived up to its vision more than it does right now.

Doing what they love – making people happy – is how Dreamworld and its staff rebound from this tragedy.

The entrance has been adorned with Christmas decorations.

A screen at the front of the park very prominently indicates which attractions are and aren't operating, with a curious mention of operating at "heightened capacity". Given all of the attractions currently open – mostly minor children and family rides – can more or less only operate at their standard capacity it's hard to see any discernible increase in throughput anywhere in the park.

The new banners greeting guests in various languages at the front of the park are an interesting touch.

It's the kind of thing that is quite common at European parks, and goes well with the many flags that flank the entrance.

Lego Store construction

The Lego Store comes together at the front of the park.

The Lego theme to the $3.5 million development is really starting to show.

With such a bold structure it will give the iconic Dreamworld entrance a run for its money as the focal point of the theme park. It really solidifies the vision at the theme park to put the focus on third party brands over Dreamworld's own identity.

It is looking like external construction work is very near completion.

From inside the theme park it's every bit as bold as from outside.

Ride closures

Wipeout is one of the many noticeably closed rides at Dreamworld. Interestingly, it's also now the oldest major ride in the theme park with the closure of Thunder River Rapids and Rocky Hollow Log Ride in limbo.

There's a whole lot of ride closure going on here, both new and old. Giant Drop is undergoing work, which has seen the inside top of the Dreamworld Tower wrapped in protective sheets to likely contain falling debris.

Rides that are closed throughout the park feature this standard signage.

SideWinder towers over the very much open and operational WhiteWater World.

The Claw is typically the first ride you see as you head towards Ocean Parade. Sitting stationary in this usually vibrant section of Dreamworld is quite a desolate sight.

Even relatively new rides like Pandamonium remain eerily lifeless during the ongoing safety audit.

Buzzsaw sits with hefty chains holding its foreboding gates closed.

The ride – second tallest structure after the Dreamworld Tower – stares down over the freshly reopened theme park.

Tail Spin is the park's newest major ride – and really no more intense or complex than many of the other family rides in the park that have already reopened.

Motocoaster... best summed up in a conversation about closed rides at Dreamworld with: "Oh yeah, I forgot about that one."

Thunder River Rapids & Gold Rush

The Gold Rush area of the park now forms a dead-end with nothing but closed rides. Only Buzzsaw is expected to reopen.

The imposing fencing that surrounds Thunder River Rapids makes for quite an intense feeling. It both respectfully hides and simultaneously draws attention to the now infamous ride sitting just the other side of it.

Rocky Hollow Log Ride

The Log Ride is boarded up with the same semi-permanent fencing as Thunder River Rapids, which deservedly raises questions about whether it'll ever reopen.

It's possible to see much of the ride from the elevated footpaths, though there really is nothing to see beyond an empty flume channel.

Leaves collect in the stagnant channel.

There's the very real possibility that Rocky Hollow Log Ride won't reopen. Despite the fencing that very much tries to hide the ride from view, it's still listed on Dreamworld's website as if to hedge their bets on the ride's future.

But inside the park you can't escape the fact that they really don't want you to know that the Log Ride is there.

The fencing is purpose built to hide the ride, but is simply bolted to existing walls and fences; there's no permanent concrete foundations that would make its removal particularly tricky.

The perennially overgrown river looks no different to the way it has for several years, but it doesn't exactly help with the image of a semi-abandoned theme park.

The train is also closed currently, both its vintage steam engine and the replica diesel train.

Spending some time at Dreamworld Corroboree with the native wildlife is a good way to feel like it's the same old Dreamworld.

Fences have been given some colourful trim in the theme park's downtime.

Tiger Island

The new Tiger Island features prominent themed signage at both its entrances.

The new area is a vast improvement on\ its previous incarnation, with elaborate landscaping and theming throughout.

The new arena style seating is perhaps one of the best features of the new Tiger Island.

The AV booth blends in beautifully.

Lush tropical gardens fill the area.

The main area is largely unchanged but is looking greener and fresher than ever.

The key difference to the area is the addition of a larger, closer pool with underwater viewing.

The seating allows Dreamworld to put on properly staged shows and demonstrations throughout the day with vastly improved viewing for guests.

The new Tiger Island really pulls off a landscape and nature based theme superbly. It is very much in the same league as Disney's Animal Kingdom or Busch Gardens Tampa.

There might be a way of conveying this information in a more befitting and themed way than with an A4 piece of paper taped to the glass?

The new food outlet serves a variety of Asian foods, and even has Kirin beer on tap.

It adds yet more diversity to the park's growing, modern food and beverage options.

Gold Rush

The Gold Rush area remains open and accessible despite no rides being operational. It's one of the more quiet and solemn corners of Dreamworld right now.

Without knowing that Thunder River Rapids exists behind this wall, it blends in to the point where it would feel like this is a natural end to the theme park.

With a slow start to the summer season for Dreamworld, it's clear that they're focusing on what they can do well right now: presentation and customer service. As rides progressively reopen, Dreamworld looks poised to start a new chapter.