Ashley Irvine

This week I downloaded Theme Park Nerd's newest application for the iPod Touch and iPhone, dubbed the Universal Guide.

After just a few minutes of testing, this app lived up to and surpassed many of my expectations, and I realised just how much of a time-saver this app would be to those visiting Islands of Adventure or Universal Studios Florida.

One of the coolest things about this app is that live wait times are displayed for nearly every ride and attraction. In my opinion, this feature alone is worth the download cost as it literally allows users to choose rides based on the shortest queue -- something that the average theme park guest cannot do easily.

There is also a list of rides, attractions and guest facilities within both parks, as well as detailed ride statistics, general rider information, photos and an embedded map of the entire Universal Orlando complex.

Another thing I like about the Universal Guide is that it is suitable for both theme park enthusiasts and the general public. Both groups will find the included features extremely useful, which will result in a lot of happy users.

The app sells for $1.99 (USD) and is available from the iTunes Store.

Photo: Theme Park Nerd

Not too long ago, I reviewed an application for the iPod Touch and iPhone called Thrill Seeker. I have since tried out another app called Adventure Map. This application compliments Thrill Seeker by providing users with a list of nearby parks and tourist sites.

Clicking on a park or tourist site will bring up basic information, including addresses, phone numbers and URLs.

More detailed information is also present, including internal points of interest (rides and attractions, for example), updates (events, wait times and ticket prices) and user reviews.

A map can also be used to pinpoint nearby attractions.

Adventure Map is one of those must-have apps for travellers, adrenaline junkies and regular theme park goers.

The application's interactive reviewing feature makes it ideal for both tourists and out-of-towners, while theme park enthusiasts will enjoy the inclusion of detailed ride and attraction information.

This app's only let-down is the lack of user-generated content (such as reviews and wait times).

Nonetheless, I award this application a near-perfect score of nine out of 10. I strongly suggest that everybody gives Adventure Map a try!

Adventure Map is free and is available for download from the iTunes Store. You can also find more information here.

Photo: Boz Adventures

What do high-powered lasers, fog machines and a flame thrower have in common? They are all featured in Dreamworld's new night-time show spectacular dubbed Illuminate.

I saw the show on Friday and was pleasantly surprised with how well the show was pulled off. It surpassed my expectations, even though its target audience is children and families.

It wasn't a patch job, either. The lasers and fog machines were hidden inside of the facades, with only small holes revealing what lied within.

Still, it would have been great if these holes were out of sight, so that visitors couldn't see where the lasers and fog machines were until they are switched on at night.

The show runs nightly from 6:00pm until 6:45pm, with selected shops and attractions operating until 7:00pm.

This means that guests can stay in the park from 10:00am until 7:00pm. However, the problem is that patrons are not purchasing dinner because the park doesn't open late enough.

Ideally, Illuminate should start at 7:00pm, with selected rides operating until 8:30-9:00pm.

However, another major issue is that Illuminate is targeted toward families and young children, who by their nature do not stay out all night.

These two concerns may make things difficult for Dreamworld, who are trying to raise their in-park spending.

In the future, Illuminate should be re-programmed (and re-marketed) toward teenagers and adults.

However, Dreamworld shouldn't expect guests to stay in the park for hours just to view Illuminate. Because let's face it, without rides, people aren't going to be sticking around for very long.

At the end of the day, the park has invested a lot of money into Illuminate with the sole purpose of keeping guests in the park longer to help increase per capita spending. This, however, isn't working out because guests are simply staying back to view the show and leaving straight afterward.

Of course, some guests are buying snacks and merchandise, but from my observations, most were empty-handed.

Nonetheless, the show is very good and I suggest that locals check out the show before it finishes on 16 April.

P.S. If you have time, jump across to WhiteWater World to try out The Wedgie. The slide has received some excellent reviews.

Photo: Dreamworld

While fellow theme park enthusiasts were thrilled with the first version of Thrill Seeker, the second version appears that it will again raise the bar for theme park-related applications.

Dubbed Thrill Seeker 2.0, the updated version carries all of the features that the first did, but has been completely rebuilt to include additional features (and parks).

Thrill Seeker 2.0 includes an upgraded mapping system, allowing you to view your real-time position via satellite imagery (Google Maps). You can then zoom in to view nearby rides, attractions, restaurants, shops and park facilities.

This app will even direct you to a particular point of interest if you find yourself lost!

The developers are also gearing up to release hand-drawn maps as part of a free update.

Another fantastic feature that has been added is the photo gallery. The photos are easily accessible and can be downloaded directly to your device.

What's more, special offers and in-park updates are listed on each park's profile.

So, if you are one of those who visits a lot of theme parks that you are unfamiliar with, this app is definitely a good investment. Even if you don't require the in-park directions, the RCDB-like profiles, photo galleries and special offers make this app a must-have.

Photo: Thrill Seeker

Have you ever been at a park and wondered how fast a particular coaster travels? Or maybe you wanted to know which rides work with Disney's FastPass? Whatever information you are seeking, the Thrill Seeker app (for the iPhone/iPod Touch) will most likely hold the answer -- as long as the park is in their ever-growing database.

The app was first launched on August 19, 2009, and already has a number of parks listed (with an ever-growing database). You can look at a particular park's profile and view the full list of rides and attractions that the park has to offer. Each ride and attraction has a detailed page with statistics, minimum rider height requirements, services (disabled access, on-ride photos, single rider line etc.), history, and of course, a direct link to the official website.

Alternatively, you might need some extra help… like guided instructions to a particular ride! That's right, this thing doubles as a park map. The best thing about this feature is that you can even manually select your location if your iPod doesn't have a built-in GPS chip.

The app works flawlessly, with most data stored on the device to allow for total mobility. However, the app will update each time it connects to the internet (depending on the settings), allowing you to always have the latest information -- even when you're offline.

Wondering what my opinion is on buying this application? Well, it's a yes, as long as you know you will use the features on hand. I know I certainly will be using this app for a long time to come.

Thrill Seeker is available in the App Store for just (UK: £2.99), (US: $4.99), (Mexico: $50), (Canada: $4.99), (Europe: €3,99), (Norway: 29Kr), (Sweden: 38Kr), (Denmark: 30Kr), (Switzerland: 5.50Fr), (Australia: $5.99), (New Zealand: $6.49), (Japan: ¥600).

For more information, visit the official website at www.thrillseekerapp.com.

Photo: Thrill Seeker