NEW DREAMWORLD RIDE
DREAMWORLD will embark on its biggest spending spree in years in a bid to win back the hearts of visitors.
Still trying to rebuild after the Thunder River Rapids tragedy that claimed four lives last year, Dreamworld will today unveil plans for a stateof-the-art simulator ride.
The park has secured a new “flying theatre” simulator ride, the latest trend in theme parks across Asia and the US.
DREAMWORLD is to go on a spending spree in an attempt to regain the goodwill of visitors following last year’s ride tragedy, which killed four.
The Gold Coast theme park will today unveil plans for a state-of-the-art simulator ride.
The new chairman of parent company Ardent Leisure has also mooted investment across the park. Ardent chairman Gary Weiss said he was confident Dreamworld could return to its former glory, luring more visitors with new attractions.
“We believe reinvestment into Dreamworld will result in a material increase in earnings over time. The sale of Dreamworld is not part of our plans for the future,” he said.
Mr Weiss and CEO Craig Davidson have just returned from an overseas trip during which they secured a new “flying theatre” simulator ride, which is the latest trend in parks in Asia and the US.
The 40-seat simulator, to be housed in the park’s old IMAX theatre, will take passengers on “a journey across Australia”. They heave, sway, surge and roll through the landscape, experiencing special effects such as wind, sound, light, mist and scents as they soar along.
A similar concept is behind the Star Wars, Harry Potter and The Simpsons thrill rides in theme parks overseas.
Mr Weiss also speculated about the possibility for a new “dark” attraction on the site of the long-closed mine ride, new attractions for young children, and a significant expansion of Dreamworld’s sister park WhiteWater World.
“There had not been investment into a major new ride for some time,” he said. “Theme parks need new and fresh attractions.
“Our goal always is to build a company of quality and to do that you need to invest.”
Mr Weiss, who was appointed Ardent chairman in September, was given a mandate to restore confidence in the company’s flagship theme park following the deaths of Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett, Roozi Araghi and Cindy Low in October 2016. Mr Weiss conceded that this would take time.
Dreamworld, which closed for six weeks following the tragedy, lost millions of dollars.
But Ardent Leisure’s annual general meeting last month heard the park was once again making a profit. The new simulator ride should be running soon. Other expansions could be complete before April’s Commonwealth Games.