TraX

Is this the 'moody' Halloween Chessington theme you're talking about? Basically, the people who deal with the music change so often, knowledge gets taken or the next person doesn't know what's what. Tech services have their hand in it too.

Gotta agree.. Merlin buzz words galore. Where's that 'killer image'?

Sorry, the one that started in June, with the brand new stuff..

How's the new show been going down that started in June?

Well it wasn't as 'planned' as they hoped, and are instating a temporary show to soften the blow of a major attraction being closed. Also whispers of a 'London Taxi ride' being discussed upstairs too, but I fully expect that to be scrapped, so they can focus on the Marriott Hotel becoming available... We all know how Merlin are all go (yawn) for onsite hotels..

Who exactly is running/making the final decisions at Chessington? They need to be fired, as they obviously have no idea what the park actually needs. At least it will make Mystic East look much better than it's current state of utter disrepair.. Oh wait, it won't.

The bus ride has been reprogrammed, but aside from cracking the ceiling, it's started to make the screen for the 3D show really shake. I assume it's the projector shaking, as you can sometimes hear the ride upstairs.

^ Indeed this. Nothing to do with budget. Both attractions, and the show were done by a passionate team, that no longer work there. The old manager did some interviews with ScareTour, and demonstrated how detailed and intricate those old mazes were. Something they had difficulty recreating last year too, hence they got cut from this year. Sad times.

Isn't there a new Dr Who spinoff to come?

None of those things will happen. This is Chessington remember! Tomb was already up for retheme, and when it reopens (in its current theme) will be around a few more seasons yet. SFX coaster? Yeh right. Not sure what they have available, if anything around the Zufari site. The best chessington could do, if they really want to get people to stay, is add an indoor water park. There's nothing around locally. Unfortunately after their last big investment of Zufari, and seeing how that (a pre-existing, operational, successful attraction in other parks) was rushed and screwed up, I have no faith in what they do. I'll be over the moon to be proved wrong, but history shows us exactly what to expect of Chessington.

It baffles me why Merlin can't just pull their lazy fingers out their arses, and sort this once and for all. It needs updating. It needs re-routing, and Merlin could easily sort this, yet they choose to be cheap. No wonder the park operates so badly.

Surely it's a pretty major redesign if they were changing the actual layout? I expect this to be a replacement of certain track parts. A new colour wouldn't surprise me. It's a pretty major overhaul, and one I'm suprised is actually happening. I've never found it rough. It just demonstrates how much money potter has given them, to throw cash at everything, just because they can. The scrapped trains could be used for parts, or given to Busch or SeaWorld, surely?

The queue line was great too, as already mentioned, with water effects spilling out, it was shocking when they painted over all that great theming in those awful green Original Source colours. Too bad they didn't have some pride in it, it used to look fantastic.

Everything you said won't happen. I'm sorry to be negative and all. Tidal will reopen next year with no difference, or fixed effects. Sorry.

Hocus Pocus Hall Bewitched is not returning, nor is The Mystery of Hocus Pocus Hall either. Both were created and operated in house, as was The Vampire Hollows, plus the Matket Square shows/Boo etc. It's obviously far easier for the park to get Scruffy Dog to do their only maze, so they can concentrate on their ONE attraction, Trick or Treat Wood. I'm looking forward to see how it pans out, as sacrificing the 2 mazes and a market square show, means they can put all that energy and resources on the only in house attraction. How could it fail..

Let's just remember that Zufari was a major addition, that suffered budget cuts, and we all know how that panned out. If the same people are working on a major new attraction, then I certainly don't hold up any hope. If there's one thing Chessington have shown us time and time again, is that they haven't got a clue. They should remind themselves how the park once looked, and strive to achieve that. High ropes course and some ride spruce ups. Yay. Oh I forgot about next years new attraction.. I can't wait to see that..

Next year will be exactly the same as this year, and last year, although with a new ride. All the same sore points will return (not to mention the classic Inferno mist is working/Inferno mist has stopped working discussion). I think it's a shame rides need to close before the end of the season, whatever excuse Thorpe give it's still an excuse, and if it is for winter maintenance, then they need to address why this needs to happen before winter, and why still, Thorpe suffer the most from ride downtime. Staff turnover (and walkouts from engineering), will continue to cause knock on effects (across all Merlin parks), until Merlin treat their staff with acceptable work deadlines, better pay, and less likely to suffer from cut backs, which mean staff have to suffer the pressure as Merlin saves a few pounds. It's a constant cycle with Thorpe, and will be again next year, and every year until Paramount come along to shake things up, and force Merlin to up it's game.

Completely stationary?? I assume that it's down to the ceiling cracking below, but how about Merlin FIX IT, rather than run it half arse?

I'm glad that Merlin are finally getting outside companies to do their stuff now. Yes it comes at a cost, but the quality is so much better.

Slightly off topic, but I love Thirteen for what it is, but it's a perfect example of getting the target audience completely wrong. If they'd had been straight up 'unique family coaster', it would have been much less of a let down. With this, remember every new attraction is the 'most expensive' yada.. yada.. yada.. I'm sure this will work out fantastic, but it comes down to the other topic, my main concern is how Merlin think their low capacity 'not enough demand' is acceptable, and I fear that every new Merlin addition ends up watered down from everything even they intend. Keep your hopes realistic guys!

Additionally Chessington too. lol

Why Merlin don't get updated trains something like that is beyond me. Those awkward trains need to go.

Seems strange with so many good reviews on here that it's doing so badly. There's a lot of stress and budget cuts behind the scenes due to it not doing what they hoped. The bus ride has also been tamed down with it's movements, as they're trying to prevent any further damage to the London Eye 4D show below it, as it's already caused a lot of damage and cracks to the ceiling. It was the reason it had a delayed opening.

As Benin said, the problem with Zufari is well, everything. From its ill fated pre-show and cheap interactive animation, the cost cutting of wooden doors, over automatic doors, the lap bar stuff, the long walk way to wanyama, the hilarious 'finale'.. I think most people have ridden it now and have concluded how rubbish it is, and arguably Merlins best example of how cost cutting can break an otherwise great idea.

The thing with management at Merlin, they put a positive spin on everything and think they have the right to operate so shi#ty. They overlook, and have been over looking this park for years, and it almost feels that it's finally at breaking point. The hilarity on Trip Advisor, Facebook and here, should be enough to start SERIOUS work on pulling it together. It's utterly embarrassing to see what it once was, and what it has become, and I wish that Merlin would see past the gate numbers, and really understand what a dive of a park it has become.