I have been spoilt!

[battymum]

We have been to Jamberoo recreation park (for those not from Sydney it is a water park down Wollongong way) many times and have always loved it -

Well we went today, and even DH said "ïts not Disney is it !" Which is not really fair as it never pretended to be - its still a family owned former dairy farm - and due to the climate is only utilised 6-8 months of the year - how can it possibly compete with Typhoon Lagoon!

But we had a good day, the kids had fun, but it just goes to show, we just dont have anything that comes even close do we?

I am thinking of holidaying on the Gold Coast next year, will I feel the same about the parks up there?

 

[areweindisneyyet]

We have been to Jamberoo recreation park (for those not from Sydney it is a water park down Wollongong way) many times and have always loved it -

Well we went today, and even DH said "ïts not Disney is it !" Which is not really fair as it never pretended to be - its still a family owned former dairy farm - and due to the climate is only utilised 6-8 months of the year - how can it possibly compete with Typhoon Lagoon!

But we had a good day, the kids had fun, but it just goes to show, we just dont have anything that comes even close do we?

I am thinking of holidaying on the Gold Coast next year, will I feel the same about the parks up there?

Yep, they are looking pretty tired. But better than nothing. We head down to them for day trips from our place takes a couple of hours, but each time we go we just go

Even DH has been spoilt. Maybe the Commonwealth Games will get them motivated to pick them up. They are getting new rides at Christmas time so they are worth a look at.

Just set the bar a little lower, it is about being together and having fun.

 

[Franrose]

I'm going to say yes (you'll feel the same way) too - we live half an hour to an hour away from the various Gold Coast parks and I have no desire to go, I just wanna go Disney!!! They've been spoiled for me, definitely. Kind of a cruddy feeling lol.

Ah well. Set the bar lower as areweindisneyyet suggests (And start saving )

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

I seriously don't think I could bring myself to go to the Gold Coast theme parks now .

 

[hjd0411]

Yep - you will feel the same - like everyone else says!! I went to MovieWorld earlier this year and was disappointed! I guess we have been spoilt by the lengths Disney go to. Just small things I noticed - cobwebs on lights (no it wasn't Halloween!), rubbish not picked up, food prices ridiculous scared1 parts of the park not opened.
But, that said, I enjoyed it for what it was! But I haven't been back...

 

[PrincessInOz]

What do you mean????


You mean....there are places that are called THEME PARKS in Australia????


Nope....I must have missed finding out or hearing about them. Who would have thought it possible!

 

[aussietravellers]

Well as a Gold Coaster, who does go to the different parks from time to time I can say that yes... you will feel the same about the theme parks here.

When I am floating around the lazy river at Wet & Wild, I am sure I drive everybody crazy... "This is just no where near as good as the water parks at WDW". "Oh the lazy river at the WDW parks are so much longer" "I really wish this was as good as WDW"

But the water parks here (Wet & Wild and the one at Dreamworld) are ok, not too bad, but no where near as good as WDW.

Same with the theme parks, they are ok and for someone who has not been to WDW and maybe DL, they are great, for we Disney addicts they are OK, just OK.

 

[marvel]

I totally, agree way too spoilt with Disney. We did the theme parks a few years ago when we didn't think we would be going to disney for a few years, and boy were we disappointed. As much as we wanted to get the best of it, we finished Movie World by 12, and it opened 9 or 10.

It just felt cheap and try hard. We vowed never to return, the only park we would consider is wet and wild as you can always have a good time with slides and water.

Every time we consider going back to the gold coast we always think we could be saving the money for another disney trip. Plus we get sooo ripped off with hotels here, ok, i am starting to upset myself now.

I agree about the cleanliness, it was soo dirty at movieworld you just felt cheap being there.

 

[Mum from oz]

We used to go to the Gold Coast every year. Well that stopped once we went to Disney. We figured the good $3k we spend in a week up there is better put towards another trip to the States.

 

[Caroline NZ]

I agree with everyone else.
The Sunshine coast was our first overseas trip with DS (then 2).
We then went to the Gold Coast with DS(then 4) and DD (then 2).
We have subsequently been to DLR 2 times. The children are now 9 & 7, and we have no intentions of taking them back to the Gold Coast.

 

[battymum]

Oh, thats such a shame, it was a trip to the Gold Coast last year that inspired us to do Disney - we really had a great time there - we are like addicts now, constantly looking for that initial high

We need a southern hemisphere Disney Park!!!

 

[aussietravellers]

Oh, thats such a shame, it was a trip to the Gold Coast last year that inspired us to do Disney - we really had a great time there - we are like addicts now, constantly looking for that initial high

We need a southern hemisphere Disney Park!!!

Battymum, the GC is still a great place to holiday! And the parks are not too bad, Dreamworld is our favourite, but Seaworld isn't bad either (a bit fishy stinky though near the penguins ). It's just after the parks in the US that they don't compete, we don't have the population to support the parks like the US does. But they are still good for a day out and our kids all have a fun time when they go. We have AP's for many of the parks here on the GC

 

[Franrose]

We have AP's for many of the parks here on the GC

Prior to Disney, we had APs too lol. Haven't bothered this year!

 

[Franrose]

Still Batty, if you can get close to the beach, there are some lovely things to enjoy on the coast. That white sand that stretches for miles (ok, kms ) - I love the Burleigh area the best - and places like Currumbin or even Fruit World a little south, are uniquely Australian and fun to explore.

 

[battymum]

Yes, a $5000 trip to the GC is more realistic for us than another 25k "once in a lifetime" trip
We havent done Dreamworld, so that will be on the cards and maybe skip the others

 

[battymum]

Actually that is one thing that Australia has that the rest of the world struggles to compete with - Beaches!! And I agree the nicest is at Burleigh!

When we were on our cruise and we stopped at Coco Cay - DH said to me the first thing we are doing when we get home is going to the beach!!!

 

[hjd0411]

Couldn't agree more about the beaches. Ours here are second to none. And there are lots of things to do on the Gold Coast rather than the theme parks. Agree, too that Burleigh is one of the best beaches!
OK - day trip to the Gold Coast coming up...!!!!! Got to visit my favourite camera store, anyway! Plus Harbourtown!!

 

[Aust]

We went to Movieworld in October - I spent the whole time comparing it to DL - the horrible churros and revolting corn dogs! The try-hard 'Main Street'! The parade with the bad attempt at a castle! etc etc. Kids and DH were laughing at me. And don't get me started on Dreamworld, I didn't realise until I went there a 2nd time after going to DL how much it tries to copy DL (but fails) - e.g. the front entrance, the paddle steamer on the river, etc.

After Movieworld is when I decided we're going back to DL next year, like others I'd rather put the $3,000 we'd spend going back to Qld towards DL. Although we do love the sunshine coast. Actually quite liked Buderim Ginger's version of IASW (the song isn't as annoying).

 

[areweindisneyyet]

Yes, a $5000 trip to the GC is more realistic for us than another 25k "once in a lifetime" trip
We havent done Dreamworld, so that will be on the cards and maybe skip the others

Dreamworld and Whitewater World next to it are the only ones I will go to. Movieworld drives me insane. Wet n wild is good.

Dreamworld just needs lots of paint. My girls love it. They run from Wipeout to the Claw from Wipeout to the Claw. Tip: if you get Wipeout will wipe you out

 

[miss.potatohead]

We went to the Gold Coast theme parks almost every year (or second year) since I was young - and after going to Disneyland they cannot compare! I love the themeing and atmosphere of DL a million times more than anything on offer in Australia, but I also love the thrill rides that are at Dreamworld/Movieworld which the Land didn't have as much. We never went to Knotts or the larger rollercoaster parks but I'd love to next trip. DisneyWorld has a few more 'older kids' rides that I think I'd enjoy, but overall Disney has captured my heart.