Behind everything that happens at a theme park, there is a small army of people dedicated to making the Thrills, Spills and Memories that Theme Parks are known for. In this special feature series, we are introducing you to some of the people behind the scenes at Dreamworld, past and present.
In the second part of our chat with Greg Yong, we look at the Dreamworld as it is today, talk about the future, discuss the legacy of the park, and ask some of your questions. For part 1 of this article, click here -> https://dwgoldenyears.wixsite.com/dwgoldenyears/post/dreamworld-behind-the-memories-series-a-chat-with-the-ceo-greg-yong-part-1 In a theme park, there are teams of people who keep the place working like a well oiled-cog. Greg acknowledges this. We asked what he was most proud of during his first few years at the park.
Greg Yong: Annual Passholders are such a massive focus for us and as we undertake lengthier projects like the Steel Taipan build, we recognise how important it is to give our Passholders reasons to come back again and again. I’m incredibly proud of new experiences, like Winterfest, Happy Halloween and Spring County Fair that our team has put together – Dreamworld has become famous for these in an impressively short space of time. These are created and executed by a small but dedicated and proactive team who are capable of punching out a lot of work at a high quality.
DWGY: Dreamworld has an incredible 40-year history and is Australia’s favourite theme park. What is it about the park do you think that people love about it?
Greg Yong: It’s the family feel and the community focus that Dreamworld has that I think people love. Every Gold Coaster or even Gold Coast visitor has fond childhood memories made at Dreamworld, and that speaks volumes – because now they can make new memories in adulthood, with an offering that suits the entire family.
DWGY: What makes Dreamworld different from the other parks you have worked at? Greg Yong: Working culture is so important to me, and it’s the culture that sets Dreamworld apart for me. It’s incredibly refreshing to work with, and for a bunch of people who feel like a big, extended family. It’s also easy to continue feeling motivated when you’re surrounded by dedicated, committed people who are here for the same higher purpose that you are. The family feel of the park is something that Dreamworld is quite renowned for. People also visit Dreamworld to ride and experience attractions that you can’t get anywhere else. There are many attractions from Dreamworld’s past which people loved, however there are two attractions people are always asking us whether they will be coming back, the first being the classic Cannonball Express Steam Train, and the second being the Captain Sturt River Boat, both opening day attractions at the park. Will we ever see the steam train return, and some sort of attraction on the river again?
Greg Yong: While we know there are certain attractions that guests would love to see again, we do have to do all of our due diligence to ensure we’re making smart decisions and gainful investments. We’re constantly researching and planning our next steps, so we encourage everyone to keep an eye out for future announcements. We’re really excited to have the Dreamworld Express running again and while we’re investing in attractions like this one that have been around for a while, we’re also always looking to the future. A significant upgrade of Dreamworld has been announced, with Steel Taipan due to open later this year, the Dreamworld Express returning at a similar time, and a resort in the pipeline for the near future. The Park is well and truly in a transformation stage. We asked if he could give any clues as to what is next? Greg Yong: I’ve mentioned it a couple of times already but the excitement for me and the entire team around Steel Taipan is huge! We’re also continuing to work through resort plans. We encourage everyone to stay tuned, we hope to have some really exciting announcements in the future. When asked what sort of attractions does he think Dreamworld is missing. Greg Yong: Steel Taipan is going to be huge for our thrill offering, and not only will it be the first triple launch coaster in the Southern Hemisphere, but it’ll also have the world’s first spinning rear seats. Aside from this, you’ll have to stay tuned! What I can say is that ride safety is at the forefront of every decision we make, and it’s a focus in every aspect of the park’s operation. Giant Drop - Spaghetti Junction as it has been coined has been mentioned many times by previous management as an area of improvement. For those who don’t know, Spaghetti Junction is the pathways/ boardwalk leading to the Giant Drop and former Rocky Hollow. The confusing mix of ramps, stairs, and access to Giant Drop has only become worse as time has gone by. Greg and his team are aware of this, and plans are already underway to simplify and make this area presentable once again.
Greg Yong: We’ve already commenced work on this space and are all conscious that it has needed improvement for some time. You’ll see that some works are underway, but the completion of Steel Taipan will see it finally looking tidy and offering a simple intersection for guests to traverse to the back of the park and then the choice of either a stairway or a ramp to access the Giant Drop. Whilst on the subject of Giant Drop, we asked if there are plans to give it a full thematic refurbishment? Greg Yong: We’re constantly upgrading and refurbishing elements of the park – like we did with The Gold Coaster. I can’t make any confirmations regarding Giant Drop just yet but this is something that is absolutely on our list of projects under consideration. We turned our attention away from Dreamworld for a bit to discuss what is next WhiteWater World. Greg Yong: WhiteWater World is looking fantastic right now with recent refurbishments, the addition of Fully 6 and what is already a very comprehensive mix of water attractions, so we’re currently focused on ensuring Dreamworld is also providing the best possible guest experience. We are definitely passionate about WhiteWater World, it has had a huge focus over the last few years and will continue to do so.
As a final note, we asked about the legacy of the parks upcoming 40th anniversary, and how he hopes the parks 40th birthday is remembered? Greg Yong: I hope that Dreamworld’s 40th birthday represents a successful summer where all of our guests are able to make fantastic new memories at the parks, maybe with some little nods to the past and that they continue doing this well into the future.
We would once again like to thank Dreamworld and Mr Yong for giving us their time to facilitate this interview.
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