AusLeisure

Having been scheduled to open at the end of 2018, Dreamworld’s Sky Voyager, its biggest new attraction in years, has failed to open for the peak holiday season.

With new rides and experiences at the Gold Coast’s theme parks traditionally opened on Boxing Day and the $17 million Sky Voyager heralded as a major component of Dreamworld's turnaround strategy the unexplained delays is a further embarrassment for the attraction.

Writing on the Parkz theme parks enthusiasts’website today, Richard Wilson commented “Dreamworld have everything to prove right now. An attraction that was announced more than 12 months ago has failed to materialise on schedule at a time when Dreamworld needs desperately to have something major to promote and win back crowds.”

However, Wilson points out that “delays with new attractions aren't uncommon at the Gold Coast theme parks. Dreamworld as well as their competitors Warner Bros. Movie World and Sea World have faced their fair share of delays and setbacks over the years.

“Sea World's Shark Bay opened nearly four months behind schedule with construction slowed by weather and the difficulties in comissioning such an expansive marine environment. Dreamworld's DreamWorks Trolls Village attraction missed its December 2017 and Easter 2018 opening before finally opening in June 2018, with delays put down to DreamWorks licensing requirements. Storm Coaster was pushed back from September to December 2013 to accommodate the construction of a new polar bear nursery following the birth of a polar bear cub. Sea World's Wild Animal Exhibit was publicised yet never happened at all. Dreamworld were about a month late with Tower of Terror in 1997, plagued by delays relating to technology that was record breaking and revolutionary at the time.”

Before the peak holiday period, newly appointed Dreamworld Chief Executive John Osborne was forced to deny media reports that owner Ardent Leisure was planning to re-brand the theme park.

With its brand suffering considerable damage in the wake of the October 2016 fatalities of four guests and the subsequent Coronial inquest which concluded in December, reports had suggested the attraction would change its name.

Advising that the path back to rebuilding public trust doesn't include changing the park's name, Osborne told 9News “I think people will come here if the experience they get is great and they feel it's an environment that's safe.”

Osborne said safety is his number one priority, stating that he was turning to the aviation industry in the hope of making Dreamworld's rides as safe as flying on a plane.

He added "most Australians would see aviation as being a safe industry and we can learn a lot from that.”

Images show how the Sky Voyager will look when complete.

Related Articles

17th December 2018 - Activists target Dreamworld in ongoing animal rights protest

7th December 2018 - Dreamworld reputation savaged at inquest

6th December 2018 - Final days of inquest into Dreamworld fatalities sees calls for new initiatives in theme park safety

2nd November 2018 - Dreamworld begins countdown to Sky Voyager launch

23rd October 2018 - Ardent Leisure names casino and hospitality professional as new Dreamworld Chief Executive

19th October 2018 - Coroner seeks proof that all Dreamworld rides had safety certification

9th October 2018 - Staff to sue Dreamworld over ‘significant psychological injuries’

26th September 2018 - Ardent Leisure facing naming challenges with new Dreamworld simulator ride

27th August 2018 - Dreamworld looks to attract visitors with entry fee drop and LEGO exhibition

14th May 2018 - Dreamworld to open Trolls Village precinct

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.