SteveJ

Not really, I'm pretty sure Chessington/Merlin have wanted to renovate these rides for years. And if Nick Varney's reply is anything to go by, the final decision and funding was given almost half a year go. Of course if their idea of theme 'replacement' turns out to be a two dimensional drawing of a cave printed on MDF then I'll give up being optimistic!

That looks so cool. And frightening. Actually people really shouldn't be so upset about the mine being removed. This should have happened years ago when the problem first started, rather than letting it turn horrifically ugly. Merlin have already said they are going to replace what they have removed next year if that is any reassurance? At least it's all 'part of the plan'.

It was for a few years. Then it wasn't for another few years. Now it is somewhere in the middle. But there is no such thing as "the thrill market" really. And I imagine the majority of visitors at Chessington are over 1.4m so there will always be people who can/want to ride it. Not all children are under 1.4m anyway. And Chessington aren't trying to appeal to "the RideAddict market" so they shouldn't care less whether they have disappointed you by fixing one of their rides.

It looks even more beautiful these days. I remember when this was seemingly a fun ride. Your day wasn't complete without a quick ride on Rumba Rapids, it had some memorable moments like the "Ribena factory" tunnel and waterfall, and the shower tower when worked. It was great before the refurbishment as well. Now I hardly notice the ride is there, it feels like it closed years ago but staff continue to operate it as a joke! It really has lost its status.

Does Chessington still have the audio for "Black Forest Chateau" in its archives? It was a piece that used to play in the restaurant, it was part of the same commission as the Vampire and Bubbleworks music. Just wondering; maybe they could play that in the area if it turns out to be suitable!

What I find surprising is not once have they even mentioned the record for most inversions. If you think back to Colossus, its marketing was based solely on the number of inversions, that was made clear right from the start. In fact the only purpose of Colossus was to go upside-down loads of times, resorting to endless heartline rolls achieve that fame. The Smiler, however, is so far being marketed by its theme, and already it has already generated significant interest without revealing its inversion record. Of they will announce the inversion record sooner or later, but I don't think it will be marketed as the ride's unique selling point. Also the way the 'world's first' element is being described as something you 'have to visit the park to find out' makes me believe it is something different than an inversion record...

Well give me time to draw, you can't just think up a ride theme in a few minutes. Well, Thorpe Park can and get away with it! Like Benin says, they have access to all the original models/concepts/archive documents. They would be very silly to end up with worse ideas than they had 26 years ago.

The term "retheme" is used in a certain context here. They are not changing the oriental theme, as pointed out at the bottom of the page. It's just a search for new ideas. I hope they plan on reinstalling what they have taken off though! I hope they are not going to rely solely on other people's ideas. I hope it will look better after the refurbishment, not worse. I hope etc... I hope they use my suggestions!

That's better, less intrusive and something to look at while the train is starting the second life. I wish Chessington could afford more than just recycled props, though. Speaking of which, is Abdab still in the queueline?

The current upbeat tune is rather annoying but actually suits the cultural setting of Transylvania somewhat (European celebration). It's better than the Halloween loop they were playing the year before, which was too over the top for an area that's not intended to be melodramatic. They stopped playing the BubbleWorks exterior theme a few years ago. Really that part of Transylvania has never had music that has suited it. It used to have its own 'scarier' track down by Vampire's entrance, though.

Yes, I love the split-second bump before diving under the bridge, it's over so quickly but it feels so fun. Ironically the only non-inverting element is the best part of Colossus.

And I just stumbled across this image. I have been looking for a picture of the original logo on that backwall for years, it looks great! I love the way it matches the wall texture/colours and has a totally different character to the redesigned one. Today you can clearly see a darker patch where it used to be, both on the back wall and entrance arch. Strange because my first visit was when Rameses Revenge received its new design, and I remember it having quite an impression, but I was always confused at how it fit with Egypt. I think there were even some TV adverts boasting the change? I used to like the idea of an Egyptian machine, but now the novelty has worn away (and the paint certainly has too!) If they plan to refurbish Rameses Revenge in the future, they should repaint the ride one last time with a suitable colour scheme, give it its old logo back and then let it ride another decade or so into the grave. Here's an example of that on-ride photo...

It opened before the other rides had been built, didn't it? I heard it was a tour intended to build excitement for the construction of the theme park, although it only visited the existing zoo areas. And its only purpose to this day is to be an advert! Although I haven't been on it recently, I assume they still have annoying voiceovers on it. _________ As for Chessington this year... Is Abdab still in the Vampire queueline? Please say he has gone back to storage and learnt his lesson. Has the recycled Rodeo cowboy made no reappearance? He seems to have gone from under the drop, thankfully.

Ripsaw also had photography, which only lasted about 2 seasons after its opening year. Both Rameses Revenge and Ripsaw also had their own shops with exclusive merchandise, as well as quite elaborate themework; to me it seems they were treated like major rollercoasters. But now hardly anybody actually wants to ride them, their popularity in the longer term was quite overestimated. I'm glad Chessington still has claim to Rameses Revenge, though, it's one of the only thrills they have left. I know what you mean, I think it is just the blank white patches that give me that impression. Neither colour scheme looks at all intimidating to me, but then again (despite the name and its resident haunted tomb) I don't think Forbidden Kingdom was supposed to be a scary place. I just don't get why they changed the ride's image so dramatically. This was also the same era when they unnecessarily changed all Vampire's branding, renamed 'Terror Tomb' to Forbidden Tomb, 'Dragon River' to Dragon Falls, Smugglers Cove to Pirates Cove, and the rest...

Although it might sound good in your head, really riders would just be aimlessly wandering through mirrors while low-wage actors snarl or pull your hair (see how awful the actors in Saw Alive were when it was a year-round attraction), and your plan for the coaster itself sounds like Dragon's Fury in the dark. And a 'torture' theme is too grim and unsuited to such a boring ride, it wouldn't even appeal to sadists. I once made up my own elaborate plan for X as well, including a 'scary' run-through pre show; but then I realised it would never work because X is too physically boring to carry off any theme convincingly - that's down to its poor design. That's why I think removing all traces of theme and just sticking a load of flashing lights in was actually a good idea. X should be treated like the weird anomaly it is! Although I think fixing the false lifts would have suited the ride somewhat, I guess those will never be back.

It really was the strangest redesign ever! The new design is not bad as such, although I've struggled to connect with the idea of an Ancient Egyptian 'revenge machine', but it seemed quite unnecessary. I don't know what I prefer really. The Islamic geometric patterns on the arms match those in the queue but come across as a bit garish in those colours... white and orange seems a bit of a fairgroundish colour scheme. I like the snakes though! And look at that queueline! Wow, that must be hours long...

It depends whether they can remove the rock without affecting the dragon. The actual head is a separate feature that can be removed and stored if necessary, but the body might be attached to the rocks, I'm not sure. Judging by that photograph, it is only the rock that needs to be destroyed. Strange how only the Bayon faces and rock have visibly rotted but the buddha and dragon seem fine after 26 years, when I thought they were all fabricated from the same GRP (perhaps different strength reinforcements?). Then again the dragon did get repainted every other year and the Buddha also did at some point, it wasn't always such a bright green; maybe that has something to do with their longevity. The Bayon faces were only repainted once I think, in 2005, by which point they were already damaged. The lift mountain would have been the first to go because it had that waterfall running through it for years.

Because theme parks always choose to close popular rides during the open season for random rethemes. Rumour has it Runaway MineTrain and Dragon River are going become part of Corrugated Metal World.

Erm, Chessington, you missed a spot. Also, it's so jarring to see the originally bright hues of Transylvania painted dull, block grey. So dark and depressing. It looks more like primer paint than a finished design. Some silly billy has come along and said "Ooyup, Transylvania's meant teh be scary, in'teh?" and therefore decided to paint half of it grey. At least the clashing primary colours of BubbleWorks have gone. And the Burger Kitchen front looks nicer with those lamps.

It's worth pointing out that the grey faux-stone structure in the foreground is not part of the structure that has been removed. That is a separate building to the side: Just pointing that out, otherwise it gives the impression the top of the falls have been jarringly shaved off. Still, it is very jarring to see all that original sculpture disappear. But it has done for a reason and significant money is involved, so I trust (perhaps naïvely) that they are planning to restore it in the short term.

I'm sorry but you keep ignoring the point of people's posts and just reply with vague arrogant assumptions, clearly you have nothing worthwhile to say. Who cares if it's 8 years since? I'm still used to the mountain being there and it feels bare without it. The rocks were there with the ride for 18 years before so... And the themework here obviously is of very high priority, since they have just closed half their park and budgeted £5million to refurbish it. I don't expect them to magically rebuild it all in the next month but be assured Chessington would not have wanted to do this, and they want to put them back. I expect something to be done when money/time becomes available. Unfortunately I don't think John Wardley has not visited Chessington for many years and his job no longer applies to the developments at the park. And since he is pretty much retired now, he is probably not even aware that this has happened.

According to logic, what do you do when you have an old, rotting structure? You demolish it right? In order to rebuild it afterwards. You don't "leave it there and try to improve it" because you can't just reverse chemical reactions. And "those who believe they will come back soon" include Chessington themselves who obviously understand the significance and have said several times how they would like to rebuild it. They just don't have the money yet (or do they now?). And anyway, what?! We weren't even talking about the mountain that was removed years ago, we are talking about the current refurbishment which has just demolished most of the themework. Did you read the topic? A bit stupid having "Dragon Falls" with no dragon or falls, don't you think? or is that perfectly logical to you since all you enjoy about theme parks are resurfaced paths and the smell of McDonalds?

Lol, there goes my childhood. Bye! . They also created the dragon tunnel which has apparently also gone.I'm of course being optimistic and expecting them to magically rebuild it all next year.

The restaurant was ruined years ago when Burger King took out most of the interior theme features to create more space. This is what it looked like when Count's Cauldron opened, if anybody's interested. Notice the wishing well, plants, lampposts, colour scheme (before bits were strangely painted bright red). It was billed as "the largest themed McDonald's in the world" apparently. Well, not anymore. http://0.static.wix.com/media/04ccebd973e8c85c98d85998d9099b42.wix_mp_1024 [image not allowed apparently, just click the link] While I don't like tasteless repainting, I prefer what they have done this year over the BurgerKing-ified version. But bring back Black Forest Chateau I say!

Really? I missed the part where you predicted that Chessington would close some of its rides for a two year £million refurbishment plan. Although it is probably clear that this is to do with the fibreglass rockfaces of doom. Dragon River's first lift and drop had a lot of water damage last year and obviously Runaway Train's caves died years ago. In an ideal world, as well as restoring the sculpted Buddha faces on Dragon River they should rebuild the mountain, which would make a big positive difference to the area. Then they should totally remove the caves surrounding Runaway Train and rebuild them with something not made of foam. However, I doubt they would spend so much money on a small ride that doesn't have a long future. Also, considering Chessington's budget for its new flagship ride was cut by £4million, it seems unlikely they would receive so much money to refurbish its older rides, although they have wanted to for years. Well as long as the rides are better after the refurbishment, not worse...!