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One more point I forgot to mention - I think scrapping the themed lands is an easy way to throw the doors open for more cheapo, short-sighted stuff, like the ridiculous I’m a celebrity maze, Bouncezilla, and Black Mirror. it even leaves the door open for “plonk down” style short term rides like AT’s fairground nonsense. (Please no) Theres no denying that the Amity KFC with the incredible boat / flood / shark theming is miles better than the new generic Burger King… Even the Amity toilets are so much better than elsewhere like the newer swarm ones, with the boat crashed through the roof etc - come on let’s have some effort and do the theming properly.

I like themed areas, however I prefer highly themed experiences on rides over than just areas. I’d argue themed areas add to a themed ride experience, so go hand in hand. I want themed lands but I don’t want it the old themed lands. They were too generic. When I say themed lands, I want places like Saw and its plaza. That would be one land. The Swarm and its plaza is another. These two areas have one/two points of entry and exit. It helps them become isolated and define the areas. Project Exodus and its area can also become a themed land due to this. Amity has a long running history, so its themed land suits itself. Nemesis Inferno and Colossus are arguably harder. No plaza as such as little room to define them. This is where a themed ride station and queue line is important as it creates its own thing by itself. I don’t want an amusement park, the U.K. needs another thrilling theme-park which competes and offers its own unique experience away from the real world. Theming can also be important if you don’t have the space to continuously build rollercoasters. An amusement park has a larger selection of rides and rollercoasters. Project exodus, should not be generic and a six flags coaster. John Burton is involved and I pray because he is, that there is a theme. It would be a massive mistake if they don’t add on the swarm. You have something a grand as that area and then you come up with forest the ride. People will still like the look of swarm. Merlin wouldn’t want to operate a place which doesn’t “try” to immerse you. Every single attraction from the midways to the parks does this. It’s all down to laziness, cost and lack of direction. Management stay there for a few years try to come up with ideas but then move to one of their sister parks which receives more opportunities and funding. So teams are always changing…

On the face of it I’m really disappointed to see that there now saying they’re not keen on themed areas again. after all, you could argue that a large part of Wickerman and The Smiler’s success have been their strong themes. Also what they’re doing with Nemesis in Forbidden Valley, Curse in Gloomy Wood and Jumanji at CWOA relies heavily on the story behind the themed area… “Merlin” seem to think that themes do work, and guests seem to like them. Thorpe can’t make up its mind though, and the attitude towards themed lands seems to swing back and forth as regularly as the one operational Rush arm. Since The Swarm opened Thorpe seems to have had a revolving door of short-term managers, staying for a short while before they leave again. For over a decade it’s been one knee-jerk short-sighted decision after another, just to get through the year, then the next season many of the priorities seem to change again. Obviously I don’t know any of these people and I respect what they have all done - they’ve each had a spell at running a successful company after all, which is not something I’ve ever or will ever achieve - but the truth is that Thorpe doesn’t seem to have had any sort of long term vision at all for ages - it’s all been very much based on the upcoming few months. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if the current management just don’t fancy themed lands, but then all of a sudden they magically come back again in a couple of years - maybe even next year with Exodus opening. Who knows. I just think they should pick a direction and go with it sooner rather than later, because this ‘middle ground’ is a bit messy. I will say though that if they’re laying the foundations for Exodus to be generic and unthemed, that is a mistake in my eyes and will be a missed opportunity. I think most people enjoy buying in to the idea of a theme - Alton Towers proves that - and personally I’d be looking to them to replicate their recent success.

So me and a few other members popped into Chessington today for it’s 2023 pass-holder day. Lots of rides closed (all advertised bar Gruffalo), which was a shame but expected. Vampire was the only operational coaster today, with some slow operations on just 1 train. Tiger Rock was on just 9 boats, Monkey Swinger had numerous broken seats and Tomb Blaster had a Mis-match of working/broken targets. We left the park around 4. So again early, however this time feeling more accomplished and worthy of the trip, despite the numerous operational potholes during the day. Although when you compare somewhere like Paultons having pretty much their full selection open for February half term, it certainly puts things into perspective. Even if today is just a rehearsal day at this point. Right, some more positives. Because I don’t want to become a Craig Revell Horwood here. Chessington has seen some substantial aesthetic updates last closed season. From entrance amendments to cosmetic theming upgrades throughout the park, from Adventure Point to Mexicana. From a presentational perspective, the park hasn’t looked this good in at least ten years and is welcoming to see. There’s still some areas (naturally) that need t weakening, but compared to the shambles of the 2010’s this is welcoming to see. It’s amazing how better fury looks with just the repainted supports. Jumanji is still a construction site at this time, but seeing the park’s first new coaster in almost 20 years and biggest expansion in a generation is so refreshing to see. A headline attraction with two supporting rides. It’s a park which needs new infrastructure and more capacity, even if there are some compromises in this example. Oh, and Pizza Pasta was actually okay this time round, except the BBQ chicken pizza. That was rather grim if I’m honest, but the other pizzas and pasta were fine.

I do think that the amity beach needs to be replaced sooner rather than later, I’ve haven’t seen it being used in years (but then I haven’t rly been spending much time in the middle of the day in that area). I think they could defo get a couple of new flats in that area or even a small scale coaster that could interact with the area well as an entrance feature, I’m probably way to ambitious here but a smaller version of gatekeeper (ofc not a wing coaster) with some kinda stall element that you walk under right after you come out of the dome would be awesome. ik this is way to ambitious and would never happen at thorpe but it’s just an idea of what that could do with all the space the beach takes up

It does seem daft that (I assume) millions were spent on the huge bit of infilling by Stealth, and where Saw Alive was, just for it to sit empty or have a queue on for a few years. I imagine it was down to priorities changing and future budgets being pulled after the Swarm was deemed a failed project?

When you look at how much space the beach and associated area take up, there’s great scope for a really nice centrepiece and plaza to be built that would look fantastic as you step out the dome. Then overhaul the dome to match. I remember a few MTDPs ago there was a plan to widen/ upgrade the entrance bridge. I don’t think it needs widening, but it could do with improvements. However I strongly think the park will see this as too much real estate to be wasted, and instead place a ride in this area. Looking at the rest of the park I do wonder when we might see a coaster on the island behind swarm island. Hopefully the long awaited woodie

MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW: So I rode it today, and I won't lie, it's a bit of a marmite situation. Some parts I really liked, some I didn't like. The area outside is simply fantastic!!! The new gravestones in the queue really fit the vive of the original ones being really finny deaths while some are nods to rides in the past. The indoor queue is okay, not a fan of the UV Words all over the wall, seems very generic to me. The actual new dolls house is great looking! Wish it was a bit brighter in there, turn up those chandeliers up a bit. The station is nicely done. Not too underdone but not too extreme. Now, onto the actual ride itself. So the poltergeist room is still there and integrated really well into the first scene, though the lights behind them don't seem to flicker as well as previously, but I'm sure the lighting will be perfected at the end of the year. The grand Hall.... oh boy, this is a downgrade to me, the Flying Demons are no more and are replaced by... a projection of Emily standing still. A small ghoul seems to swoop over you, which is a nice effect. The trommel. ITS BACK IN BUSINESS BABY. The trommel is actually tunring now, but the theming in the room is entirely different, from a gothic corridor with a giant skull about to swallow you whole is replaced by some portraits, a crack in the wall, and a very thin fireplace replacing the face. The giants lair is mostly pitch black, but there a new set between the trommel and the giant's lair with Emily. The window where the giant used to be (the only thing you can see in there) is repurposed with a trio of toys that resemble Emily and her parents, then a giant station hand prop is lit above right before you enter the hall of spiders. Most of it has been rethemed to an attic with dolls replacing the zombies, and a set of new spiders, thankfully the giant spider still remains, but with more eyes that glow now. The ghost corridor is completely different, with a car by your side which reveals Emily sitting in it, followed by a doll jumping put on your left. Now, onto the screaming heads. The iconic scream is sadly no more and the heads have been replaced with much larger and sinister ones, though they don't have any sound effects. The Sinister garden is still very familiar with most of the sets mostly untouced aside from additional props of dolls, but the undertaker, the lunatic, the grim reaper, and the column ghost are no more. With the undertaker and the column ghost being replaced by nothing, but the lunatic has been replaced by a doll, same with the grim reaper, with this doll sharing the same illusion to pirates of The Caribbean where the pirate turns into a skeleton. With the doll, it just disappears. The scene before the lab is where the giant dolls house is at. The final still has a lot of the old lab intact, but the zombies is replaced by toys and deformed dolls. Some of the walls are replaced by projections and set pieces such as oversized boxes. The final scare is where a static prop of Emily but giant trying to grab you, this was where the photo is, same where it was in duel. The gargoyle at the end has a clock in it's mouth, and that's the ride. The gift shop is much darker themed and the ride has its own merchandise. All in all, it's okay, but not my type of ghost train. It's a bit too serious and dark in some places personally, and I think the removal of most of the previous props and replaced with projections was a disappointment to me. But on its own, ignoring its past, its a nice dark ride, but maybe not for young kids. All in all first impressions are a 7.5/10

I just think it's great that Thorpe have bought back rollbacks on Stealth.

Completely agree about the entrance - it’s an absolutely shocking way to start the day, especially when it’s busy. I do really like the bridge though (and the dome to be fair) - and when exiting the dome the view across the park I think is really good! I’m not sure they still need the beach - it’s a very odd thing to have at a park like this now adays, especially right at the front! Replacing that with something else would be amazing.