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Hehe, a good photo there! I do like the fact they have made small touches like this to the ride! - Correct me if I'm wrong, but around this area wasn't there a music track playing? I think it was 2 - 3 years ago, but just outside Burger King/McDonalds, there was some sort of music/sound effects playing. Not sure it was the station music, but I'm sure there was something. Anyone else agree the queueline or indeed this area could do with some sort of music/sound effects? Looking at Dragon Falls, the music in the queueline is nice to listen to, so maybe Vampire could be improved with this, as the queueline televisions don't actually tend to work anymore (whenever I'm there anyway!!).

I know it wouldn't happen again, but it would be great for this ride to recieve a sponsorship (maybe with Kodak again) or a similar camera company, because then at least there would be a money and there would be a reason to fix it up. The ride just seems to be on a 'it looks okay to us, so we won't do anything about it' basis. You actually need to get inside the trains and look at the state of them, the exterior doesn't look TOO bad.

I have been thinking for a while now, Chessington still has quite a number of rides left from when it originally opened. Looking at the Dragon Falls thread, it occured to me that in my opinion I think that Dragon Falls is possibly the best looking ride left from the 1987 batch. It has excellent reliability, it has only been closed in the '07 season briefly to make the trough better positioned or whatever it was. But all in all, the theming, station and boats are all in fantastic condition for 23 years old. I mean looking at Safari Skyway and Runaway Train which are BOTH in an appauling condition (again in my opinion) it's clear to see that this ride can withstand a lot. I don't know if its because the park pay special attention to it because they know its popular with guests or it has just aged well. Either way (minus jumbo's) I think this ride looks best for its age... anyone disagree/agree with this? Be interesting to think about other's opinions on the best looking ride from the opening year!!

The hatching eggs (ex - hiccups) really don't seem to work like ever, and if they do its only usually one of the three levers going up and down VERY slowly, almost like a vibration which is a shame because the hiccups used to look great on this scene. It just looks like the models in that bit are stuck to the walls! - I don't know if this has been answered anywhere, but why isn't the on ride photo based going down the lift hill? - I know its been moved since PBBW but even in that day it wasn't based on the ramp down into the finale. Surley this is one of the most exciting parts of the ride for the riders as they go down into the finale, some of which not knowing what happens in the final scene. To base it where it is seems quite strange to me really. I'm sure someone can enlighten me!

When I first read there would be chart music at the entrance I was a bit annoyed, but thinking about it, the entrance theme for me is actually kind of boring, and so a change sounds really good! - I have yet to hear it myself, but hope to soon. I guess it's all about their target audience too and what they might like... any particular tracks they play? - I presume it's music in the charts 2009 + ?

Just when I thought the lift had better reliabilty this year! - That was a regular occurence for me last year, happened almost every visit actually, if you don't rock it, the boat behind will usually push it down for you

Unusually the Duck 'n' Dive Revitaliser (ex Cola Coaster) has stopped working too! The lift hill seems to be working better this year too!

I agree with everything you said there! - The music is a much better volume, although I must have had my pick of operators who DID talk a lot still, mainly talking to staff and what they were doing wrong over the PA rather than what the riders had to do... The queueline does look a lot better, the theming is fantastic!. The fences also look a nice colour, although I think PERSONALLY a darker purple would be better. The gravestones just before the entrance were removed just before the end of last season. The corridor leading to the station was missing a few bulb covers!. The station looks okay, the organist working which was good, although I think adding more cobwebs would be good, in fact I think they should have kept what was around the organist at halloween, and have the station like that! The ride itself seemed a lot slower on all my rides so far this season, and the track the wheels go into underneath needs to be cleaned as they are very dirty now!. I think apart from the above, the station music (or similar music to it) outside the ride queueline and in the queueline would suit the ride really well!. I don't know how either, but I think something needs to be done about people standing on the stairs whilst the train is being dispatched as too many times the operator has to remind riders to stand at the top of the stairs!!. I think where you come into the station could be themed with some spooky lighting too!

I did like this ride actually, as you say the cars do seem to move a lot faster, although when I went on it, I found there was no music which was disappointing for me, as that ride in particular could do with a theme tune and give the people who aren't driving something to listen to on the way round (and the driver, of course!) and I didn't hear any pre-recorded announcements either, the operator was doing all the PA's. I do like how the cars have been painted, they look kind of messy (in a good way) fitting in with the theme well.

Another change which I noted was the elephant repainted and fixed, so you actually have trouble avoiding getting wet... and also just after the second drop there are fountains under the trough that spray up, although are quite random because you dont actually get wet (well we didn't) they seem to spray after the boat passes through... The outside of the station has been painted again too, although its a shame because you can clearly see where the paint has been picked off and painted over again as there are random paint holes clearly visable. I think out of all the rides that remain from 1987, Dragon Falls is currently looking the best, although lighting back inside the dragon would be good, along with sound effects all the way through instead of just at the beginning.... Although the great big stone faces you pass through on the second drop are looking their age with lots of cracks through them, not sure what can be done about these though!

Yesterday made me wonder what the park's plan for this ride is. From my point of view, Skyway is a fantastic ride, which always has long queues, and would be a loss to the park if it went, but the trains are getting into a worse condition, and if they want it to stick around, they REALLY need to think about some form of refurbishment! - which includes the right commentary playing on all trains!

Thought I'd write a quick report of my visit to the park yesterday...Negative Points (for me) -- Safari Skyway has still had NOTHING done to it, and if the park want to keep it, its high time they actually do some refurbishment!- The new commentary on Skyway was confusing for me... as I for one don't know which side is portside and which side is starboard.- The same piece of music is used EVERYWHERE in the park, even on Skyway commentary, I know its new music and they want to make the park more of a lost theme, but one of the good things about the park previously was the fact different music was used in the different areas.- More of the staff could have been nicer, its something small, but saying thankyou for riding if opping Skyway really makes a difference to my day- Some effects not working, I thought all effects in Rattlesnake, Runaway queue were meant to be working now? - Cola Coaster on Bubbleworks was brokenPlus points -- Bubbleworks has been repainted (interior queue)- Vampire queue repainted- The park has made full use of the speakers above Bubbleworks and has the theme music playing now, I think they personally should do the same for the Vampire area- The elephant on Dragon Falls has been repaired, repainted and some random water sprays added just after the big drop- 98% of staff were fantasticI had more negative things to say this time, and I realise alot of staff are new and will get used to the way the park works, and I think the new staff were all working fantastically... but for me, the HUGE relaunch wasn't as huge for me, and there are still some smallish things as mentioned above that should be taken care of to improve my visit ;)Overall, a really enjoyable day with a ride count of 21

Not likely to happen though, although I feel that the red and yellow fits into the theme of the area alot more than the blue and yellow, or is that just me? Safe to say there won't be many rethemes of this ride in the future!

Hello to you sir, welcome to the forums (:

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was awesome too! The show in London was actually spectacular!

The Sound of Music is equally fantastic! Good old 60s!

Well yes, that is a flashing light but we were referring to the ones recently installed in the tunnel for the halloween event (the strobe lighting that flashes continuously)And Mark is right, that is true for every ride, especially fury

Vampire had really good availability too I thought this year... especially for Halloween (: - always good for an icon ride.

Interesting, I guess based on popularity it may be added to the express pass, upping the price then. I presume its classed as a family ride, dependant on height restrictions.

I didnt think of that haha, makes a lot of sense Cheers for clearing that up both of you

Another quick thing, well done to the Organist in the station, literally every time I went he was up about and moving, not as much as he used to, but I'll let him off being 20 years old next year. And I've never really thought about it until today, I'm sure there is a logical answer, but why do you HAVE to take your shoes on Vampire? Most of the time when Vampire shuts down its because they have to go and find someone's shoe thats dropped off... its not like your feet are actually touching the floor...

Thats Chessington £80 richer then!! Didn't know people would buy them at that price. I guess they'll be keeping them at that price for next year then. It's a shame really I think also that you can't use an express shot on things like Rattlesnake (basically the rides included in the ultimate express pass) I think that would make it more worthwhile for the price.

Again, thats a good point (you always seem to have very good points!) I think the park should be concentrating on bigger matters rather than changing the restraints on Vampire, which would obviously cost a lot and the ones they have at the moment are fine. Although the amount of people you see who get annoyed/scared when the restraints dont open automatically, it goes to prove really that some people dont take any notice of the announcements, so is it worth it repeating them every few seconds?

In my own opinion, as mentioned above I think £4 for one ride is ridiculous. They should have kept it at £3, I'd actually be interested to see if people buy express shots more than they do express passes, and in fact how many people on average buy an express shot per day. It can't be many people I'm thinking. So yes the express passes are definately worth it on a busy day, as the park has thought carefully about the kind of rides that are popular. Wondering if Kobra may be included next year in the pass and it be raised to £8?

The tunnel should have mist and it did have mist for halloween only. Although this year (correct me if I'm wrong) but when the train went into the tunnel, the smoke was already in there, where-as last year in the halloween event, when the train got to just before the tunnel it set off the smoke machine and you got the smoke in your face. Any vampire fans if you know what I mean. Think it changed this year.