2013 Sydney Royal Easter Show

[benclare]

Less than two weeks to go and I must say I am getting excited as usual!

No mention of any new rides on the website or Facebook page which I've been monitoring except something called Alien Obduction, is this a rethemed Gravitron?

Not sure yet what days I'm attending but am aiming for the discounted rides deal on the first day which is 21 March but we'll see.

Also, unlike recent years, the Show won't be running during the school holiday period except for the Easter long weekend of course and I think the entire event will be during Daylight Saving as well which may bring more people out at night.

[Top Gunner14]

From what I heard it's the brand new Wisdom model which is being travelled Gill's at them moment. There's some photos of it in the Inverell Show folder. From what I've noticed aswell no SkyWalker either... Shame that it won't be there but having a pretty poor spot like they did would've been a reason for pulling out. I'll be working again this year aswell

[Paulie123]

Shame to hear about Skywalker, although I'm not surprised. Whenever I would walk past it in previous years it never really had much of a line, if any at all. Does anyone have any suggestions about getting work in the carnival? I had a friend who got work on the Wave Swinger a couple years back just by calling a number she found online a week or so before the show.

[The Limit]

Adam you can not call what you do working mate see you there

[Force10]

Hey Sydney AAF's- what's happening with RES 2013? Where is the excitement, posts & pics?

Lets not lose our sole...

[benclare]

I'm going on Monday afternoon I think and am pretty excited about it too.

It's perfect weather for Pirates Revenge at the moment!

[Hardrock]

Im going over the easter long weekend. Don't do ride reviews but will have pics.

[Force10]

Awesome. Keep us posted! Some pics would be great.

[benclare]

Dropped into the Show for a while this afternoon/evening and had a great time as usual.

The total lack of people there was probably disappointing to the RAS but was fantastic for me as I was able to move around really easily, see heaps more than I usually do and I even found myself browsing through the showbags, something I never do due to the enormous amount of people queuing at the door so all that was a nice surprise for me.

I came in through the Kids Carnival entrance so I checked that out first. I really enjoyed walking through here! It was nice seeing families having fun together and the kids were really enjoying conning their parents into taking them on rides that thrilled the kids and scared the adults. I almost had a go on Bell's Crazy Raft before I decided to get a review from AFF first. Is it a thrill ride despite it being in the Kids Carnival? Should I spend my coupons on it next time? It sure sounded good and I've heard it goes pretty fast.

Shortly afterwards I checked out the Coca-cola Carnival which was pumping despite most rides only running half loads at a time and some not at all. I noticed several rides, including the Zipper, Waveswinger and Raupen Bahn weren't operating. I'm not sure whether they had broken down in the hot weather, had shut down due to the lack of customers or whether there was a power failure on that part of the midway. No Limit did appear to be working but no one was riding, quite sad to see and I should've had a go myself, next time for sure!

One ride that was doing pretty brisk business was Pirates Revenge. I forgot just how really wet you do get on this thing! The first hint is when you sit in a large puddle of water on the seat which is maintained each ride cycle. It was nice not to have to line up but it looked as if every seat was occupied constantly.

XXXL

Another ride doing not too badly and absolutely scaring and thrilling everyone. A very long (too long) ride cycle with excellent chatter from the operator who appeared to enjoy his job.

Taipan

Celebrating ten years at the Show, this coaster is more popular than ever and if there had been more people, it would've held a massive queue. As it was, every car was full of passengers having a great time.

That's basicly it for this visit. I'm most likely returning on Wednesday or Thursday and will do more rides then and perhaps some pics as well!

Here is something I was pondering today whilst walking through the two carnivals. Can any of you name the rides that have survived since the Royal Easter Show moved from Moore Park in 1997, opening at Olympic Park the following year? There are very few but here are the ones I came up with.

Skymaster Wheel which operated at Moore Park for years, March's Waveswinger which operated for a short time towards the end of the Show's run in Moore Park although the Yoyo was there more often than not, perhaps O'Neil's Waveswinger currently in the Kids Carnival but I'm not sure, the steam carousel currently not located in either of the carnivals but an old Show favourite from years back. That was all I could think of. Everything else is new or updated I think. Obviously I'm talking about rides that continue to appear at the Show today since 1997, I know many rides from that period are still operating at other carnivals and amusement parks. If you can think of any others, let me know!

[benclare]

I was back at the Show today, the absolute hottest day I've ever experienced there I must say! Despite this, I still had a good time and spent a bit of time in the Coca-cola Carnival which was doing brisk business in contrast to last Monday.

Disk 'o

I was keen to check this one out again as I had ridden the roller coaster version at Rainbows End back in January. There really isn't a lot of difference between the two versions of this ride with the coaster version perhaps a little better IMO. Still, a good ride today with an excellent operator.

No Limit

No queuing for this one but was doing full loads each cycle. I think everything that can be said about this ride has already been said except I think it's still the scariest carnival ride in Australia. It never fails to shock and thrill me at the same time! A quiet operator this time around but the music wasn't bad and created a good atmosphere whilst getting on and off the ride.

Pirates Revenge

I didn't do it this time around but it deserves a mention because the queues for it had to be seen to be believed! I imagine Topgunner14 you would've been flat out today. Passengers were piling on and loving getting wet as the sunshine was so intense in the carnival area.

Speaking of the sun, we have discussed the lack of shade and seating in the carnival area before and things remain the same unfortunately. It was uncomfortably hot in that area today, not only for us show goers but probably for the workers as well. I had to leave the carnival at one stage and return later after taking a break.

Sky Flier

Totally relaxing and blessedly cool! There's something about being lifted so high like that and plenty of people were taking advantage of it let me tell you!

The rides that weren't working last time I was there which include Zipper, Raupen Bahn and Waveswinger were all working today so if there was anything wrong then, it's all fine now.

Well that was about it, most probably my final trip to the RES for this year too as my money is running out but I still have a couple of coupons left so maybe I'll get the chance to spend them before next Wednesday. If only they could be used at the upcoming Hawkesbury Show!

I won't promise my pics will be uploaded but if I get time, I'll do it.

Happy Easter everyone!

[RexDragon]

Hey guys, back after a long break from AAF, but I feel like going through my thoughts on this year's Sydney Royal Easter Show. I thought it was okay, but the ride lineup hasn't changed one bit from last year, except for Sky Walker not being there. Not even a single ride from O'Neill's was there either (still a no-show for Rainbow ). Well, here goes.

Hard Rock - Pretty fun swinging ride, got me pumping for more rides.

Rock n Roll - Rode on this twice. Very fast and fun.

Disk o - Pretty good ride.

Cliffhanger - Nice hang-gliding experience.

Wave Swinger - Love this classic swinging chairs ride.

Taipan - Great coaster.

Techno Jump - This is a pretty funny and wonky ride.

Break Dance - All-time favourite of mine. Endless fast-spins.

Space Roller - Oh boy, it could be me, but I felt this one was pretty tight this year. Lots of fun.

Ferris Wheel - Got to relax and unwind after going on those intense rides.

So, in conclusion, this year's Easter Show carnival didn't really offer anything new. Please, guys, for the sake of all the hardcore thrill-ride fans, bring back the Rainbow already! Rock Star is just another drab, watered-down Rainbow knockoff. Also, hope Sky Walker will return to shows again next year or so.

Have a Happy Easter

[speederbrad95]

from a vid i seen it looks empty compared to the area that the main sideshow has

[Hardrock]

There were two new rides in the Coca Cola Carnival area. Showtimes 9D cinema which took skywalkers spot and looked out of place there. And Gills
alien adduction gravitron. Oneils had there waveswinger, supa slide, wacky worm coaster, there flume ride Jurrassic Adventure in the kids carnival area.

[Hardrock]

Went to the show over the Easter long weekend for two days. Beside the crowd on the Friday being massive, shoulder to shoulder in most areas, had a great time.
Didn't ride many rides as I don't have the patients to stand in lines for long periods. The show to me hasn't changed much since I was there two years ago.
Thought Showtimes 9d Cinema looked out of place in Skywalkers old spot. Seen Topgunner hard at it both days, but looked to busy to go introduce myself.
Maybe next year. Anyway took a couple of pics off my phone so enjoy for all who didn't get to go.

[speederbrad95]

good to see they have partially fixed the lighting on the Hangover, Gympie last year the lights went out when ever the ride started and is that shorts dodgems set their newest? last year we got their first set hauled by a new truck

[Hardrock]

Yeah that's shorts new track. Hard to get decent pics with the crowd.

[Force10]

That 9D cinema looks awful IMO. Anyone go inside?? Waste of space there I think. They really need to shake up the ride line up. It's going down the Melbourne boring sole -less fair ground. I tell you what I love regional shows so much more atmosphere

[Force10]

That 9D cinema looks awful IMO. Anyone go inside?? Waste of space there I think. They really need to shake up the ride line up. It's going down the Melbourne boring sole -less fair ground. I tell you what I love regional shows so much more atmosphere

[RexDragon]

I agree with you, Force10, the ride selection is rather lacklustre, save for having some good rides, but that isn't enough to make a visit at the carnival worthwhile. *sniff* Never forget Rainbow, it's never going to come back. It will be missed... badly...

[speederbrad95]

I really hope that 9-D cinema does not come to Gympie will be more waste of space than the year we ended up with no less than 5 dodgem sets. but there is no one at our show society that really cares about what rides we get

[Force10]

unfortunately gympie show is just at a bad time on the circuit calendar. both Ipswhich & Paniyri is on at the same time..

[speederbrad95]

well last year wasn't too bad and i have a feeling extreme will be back as it was one out of the only two rides still open after 7pm on the Saturday

[benclare]

I'm sure Pavier's new dance Party 360 will be at next year's Show.

I also think the Rainbow is gone for good unless Young's one gets on which is a possibility. O'Neill's Ranger is probably gone for good too which is a shame.

[princess]

Had a pleasant day at the show yesterday, not a huge amount of people, two or three people on rides during the day, there was an improvement after dark. I was watching Power Surge, thinking that there was some great operator/rider interaction, I looked over to see Topgunner at the controls, well done TG, its a hard thing to do after 10 days at the show. There was quite a bit of over the public, very noticeable at this stage of the show, not in the carnival area, cause every buck counts, but by the stall holders.

I was very entertained by the lovely Asian man on the hammer joint, spruking, at the end of the night, this joint had about 10 people all watching a couple of guys having a go, also by a lovely Caribbean man trying to get me to have a go, on the joint he was working on, he was the only one who attempted to draw me in, (must be my age, or the look of don't bother) still he was cute enough to have a laugh and he was also, just cute!!! Loved the guy throwing the ball at peoples feet to get them to stop, very creative.

The atmosphere left a lot to be desired, only in the evening was the music pumping a little, that is the only time that I heard it actually.

I stood and watched No Limit, Hangover, Space Roller, not sure if it was just me, but No Limit still held me in awe, but I felt that it was a little tamer than in other years???

I am sure that everyone will be looking forward to the Easter Show being held in the school holidays again.

[benclare]

Glad you had a good time Princess.

Totally agree with you about the lack of music but as you said, much better as the sun went down which is the best time for riding IMO.

As for No Limit being tamer, I sure didn't notice that but I've always thought it's an intense ride that never fails to terrify and thrill me at the same time. I love my rides but am not as gaim as some other AAF members. Still, it's a far cry from when I was young and wouldn't even ride the chairlift...

I was also shocked about the robbery at the Show which saw a woman fall down and give birth six weeks early. I heard she was selling ride coupons when the robbery occurred.

Another RES come and gone. I'm sure to be back next year!