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Dreamworld reopens: First visitors arrive to show support for families and staff

Rachel Clun

Dreamworld CEO Craig Davidson said it felt like "a normal morning at Dreamworld".

And hundreds of people did flow through the gates when it repoened on Saturday, however it quickly felt quieter than usual as guests spread through the park.

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Crowds return to Dreamworld on Saturday after the theme park was closed for nearly seven weeks following the death of four people on a ride. Nine News

Ardent leisure CEO Deborah Thomas hugged patrons as they entered, and both she and Mr Davidson greeted arrivals as the park opened at 10am.

The theme park has remained closed since the Thunder River Rapids tragedy in which four people died in October. 

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Local politicians brought their own children as a show of support, and rode the Escape to Madagascar ride for the television cameras. 

However all the big thrill rides remain shut, and the only feature open in the mostly walled off Goldrush Country section was the gift shop.

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For the families that showed up for the reopening there were no queues for any ride, though a photo opportunity with the Wiggles characters soon started one, and the chirpy music played throughout the park seemed out of place without big crowds.

With all the rides at WhiteWater World open there were fair crowds there who turned up to show their support for the parks and the victim's families.

Leeanne Hannah and Debbie Rye brought six children - a mix of their own and school friends -  and were keen to be here for the reopening, which coincides with the start of school holidays for some.

The first family to arrive on Saturday as Dreamworld reopened with a charity weekend, were the Hogans. Vanessa Hogan said she has been coming to Dreamworld since she was 10 years old and now that the family live on the Gold Coast they are regular visitors.

Ms Hogan, who was with her sister Abby and her children Kaelani, 13, and Tamsyn, 9, said they wanted to be at the park on Saturday to show their support for the the families of the victims as well as Dreamworld staff.

"It will be good for staff to hear laughter back in the park again," she said.

Families started to arrive, most echoing the sentiments of the Hogans. 

Kim Brezac, with her son Dominic, 11, said they were "very excited" to be at Dreamworld for the opening. 

"We're card holders, we live 15 minutes away," she said. "We're here to support the families and the staff."

Dominic, armed with a board, said he's looking forward to getting on the Flow Rider. 

Annual park ticket holders Craig and Deborah McGill, in matching Dreamworld t-shirts said they had been waiting six weeks to come back to the park.

"Some of our favourites are stilll closed, but we're prepared to support Dreamworld, support the Gold Coast," he said. 

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Dreamworld re-opens

"Dreamworld have handled it admirably."