SteveJ

I would describe Saw as 'decorated'. With shop window dummies. But yes, particularly now with the weeds growing through the paving and totally overgrown queue area, it gets a hint of seclusion and nastiness about it. Feels odd without the music though!

That's just my personal opinion, since I don't really let mundane stuff like that ruin my day out. The park feels a lot more colourful with the gradual changes being made and Zufari has added a buzz in a new part of the park. Of course "licks of paint" can't solve the park's real problems, but I'm glad that a few things that should have been done ages ago are now being visibly improved. The Vampire's newish batch system is pretty much what it always should have been (I'm talking about waiting beside the organist and being directed to your seats, I can't really say about any other changes that have been made). Waiting in the station is not nearly as dire as I had heard, and the trains were dispatching fairly promptly which kept queues bearable on a rather busy day. Also, most Abdabs have finally vacated the queueline - a foolish decision reversed. The area around the Tomb looks much better now that they have replenished the 'stone' walls in places and repainted various features. The obelisk may have had its top cut off but I much prefer its new aged appearance, since they remodelled the top to look like an ancient ruin. The show inside was running really well too... what's left of it.

Many things already have been repainted and improved quite recently, particularly around Terror Tomb and Rattlesnake... Personally I think Chessington is at its best within the last few seasons. I still think the Dragon River refurbishments are being handled well, thinking from the perspective of a first-time guest: leaving the sculptures in such an ugly state is more telling of Chessington's history of poor upkeep, than if the guest never knew there was anything there. As long as they restore what they removed yes... Talking of Mystic East, I love this image Chessington posted today: I wonder who that could be poking out the top?

I think the text is trying to impersonate a Bavarian accent (and when he says "Ya!" he really means "Ja!", which is German), Romanian accents are somewhat different. I agree it is surprising, only because Transylvania has absolutely no essence of Europe at all these days. I think he spoke in that voice on the ride as well, but by the time I knew BubbleWorks all his sound effects had either broken or become indiscernible. I remember at the start of the ride he would sort of squeak weirdly as the boat went past? Not that his mouth ever moved.

Those charming cartoons are all from old railway leaflets that Chessington published during its early years (before they started printing free maps I think? back then they had guidebooks on park instead)

And I'll make it even bigger for you. (Uploaded by Glen Fairweather) Chessington... If only...

But it's boring to look at bicycles. In fact it would be more interesting by far if they were fake bicycles (as in slightly stylised in their design) rather than just a bunch of standard bicycles stacked behind a building with a sign. That's not the point of 'theming' really. That's why I am really glad that Dragon Falls is having a full refurbishment (rumoured to be) designed a professional design company - from the ground up. That's better than the original sculptures which probably weren't built for the long term eventually. Bear in mind that Chessington's recent efforts to "theme up" their old rides consisted of recycled Terror Tomb animatronics dressed in cloaks, a fabric painted to look like the Great Wall and a redressed Rodeo cowboy. I'm not saying the new stuff will be able to replace the nostalgia and charm of the originals however.

It was the trick drinking fountain. That was the best part.

The bunch of bicycles always looked to me like the staff cycle rack or something... Homemade props are never very helpful for a theme park. The backs of those buildings used to have a load of decorative windows, lights and stuff but it was removed so long ago. This year they removed a bit more of the platform that used to run beside ittt

The narration by Tom Baker was never intended to play in the queue and as far as I know only the music loop has ever played there. The narration was produced for a promotional CD that was once sold in the old Nemesis shop!

As a former 6 year old myself - yes, I can imagine such a person being disorientated for fun. Ultimately it comes down to whether people enjoy the experience or not, regardless of what the ride is now 'supposed to be'. I don't think anybody will truly work out what the original ride was supposed to be anyway! If they have managed to make a majority of people long for the original X No Way Out then that's a pretty big failure! But I myself think they chose a sensible option that will keep the ride going for a bit longer, until its necessary demolition

Just like it was 15 years ago

Or design a good queueline.

...And then see the whole animation awkwardly reset in broad daylight, then repeat over and over... It's a funny idea, but please, Chessington, just put the Abdabs back in storage (or sell them to me!)... Vampire's entire queueline is quite shocking! Proper money clearly hasn't been spent on it for years. At least they tidied up the graves a few years ago, rather than having them fallen over on the ground most of the time. But then they went and pointlessly emptied the "crypt" area of its tomb plaques. There are even moments in the queue where the floor is cracked and uneven, and the paths have no edges - the tarmac looks like it was haphazardly poured straight onto the ground. ?? All this just leads visitors to think that Chessington is one of those embarrassing low budget parks that can't afford to maintain itself - which is such a shame.

I think most major Alton Towers rides are great because they are created on the basis of a unique concept, rather than just a chosen theme such as "pirates", "monsters" or a culture like "Africa". So yes, while none really have excellently designed themes, they find other ways of being special. The Smiler is also its own concept which is commendable, although I think what put people off is the way it has been carried out. It's very in your face with brash imagery and overuses made up words, while overlooking the overall guest experience. And all those unnecessary effects bunched together is like an attempt to show off rather than intrigue the riders. The music is also very divisive because it seemingly tries to be annoying, but completely succeeds in representing the ride and is unlike any theme park music I have heard before. Basically I get an undercurrent of self-indulgence from the designers, unlike Nemesis or Oblivion which are much more entertaining in concept. At least it has its own charisma, which people seem to be loving, despite the hellish queue and distasteful station/entrance/etc

Yes I know Flying Jumbos has that same pattern, but I was trying to work out what the second photo was trying to show because there's no Runaway Train in sight. I can now see the scaffold canvas in the background... Fun times.

Err, what am I seeing? They have built a 2D brickwork surround to replace the old cave, or am I looking at Flying Jumbos in that second picture? Help, I'm worried.

Since 9 year ago, I think. Spinball Whizzer has always had a playlist, at least since they renamed it anyway. In fact, why does Adventure Land even exist? It's a big fat nothing!

Just a simple theme that takes advantage of its lakeside setting. Nothing too over the top, it's not really that kind of ride. As long as they abolish that torturous switchback queueline! There's plenty of room for a meandering lakeside path.

There's something very relaxing about The Swarm. In fact, I think the B&M wingrider achieves the sense of open "flight" better than the B&M flying coaster! I really enjoy the sensation. Anybody expecting the intense destructive thrills that they advertise will be disappointed, though.

Yes, the funny thing is John Wardley is seen in 'Themes, Dreams and Scream Machines' complaining of a media crew shifting the cars around, ruining the blocking and causing the ride's opening to be delayed. And that "preview" clip was filmed on opening day, before the ride officially opened. I bet it was Motormouth that delayed it!

There are no full length POVs that I have stumbled across, but there was a partial video from 1997 or something (I think it has since been taken down). There's this, but it is terribly edited. The video jumps all over the place, the actual ride was not as random as it makes out (also the audio also doesn't fit with what's on screen). Misleading and poor quality but it gives an idea of what it was like. And this shows some shots on opening day. Most of the ride was drastically altered a few months after this video was taken, so very worth seeing.

So they are also dismantling the bridge? And I assume the cave and boiler shack have gone as well? Why? In fact, they should remove the entire ride while they're at it and replace it with a modern family coaster. I can't really see the ride ever getting its old character back after this.

None of those are world firsts, and the coaster doesn't even "duel" as such, there just happen to be trains coming close to each other at one or two moments. Unless they refine the synchronisation later... Basically there is no secret element, although there are a few surprise features. It does look like an amazing ride, though! Wow!

Alton Towers did actually propose to reverse the cars on Oblivion a few years ago, before Merlin came in. The fact that such a pointless idea was seriously considered is scary.