Matt 236

I remember last years meet, it was great fun and really enjoyed it. Hopefully this years will be just as good or better.

I plan to visit on the 15th. Should be interesting to see how Angry Birds construction goes ahead and if there's any other park ride changes bar the stealth improvements and cantina extension.

I think it's quite common that the Dragon Claw will only operate with four of its six arms connected during the winter months,whilst they do maintenance to the other two arms in the meantime. I'm not sure if it's usually like this after half term, but remember Adventure Island Guide (AIG) used to show photos of the ride during its annual maintenance. Maybe they're behind schedule this year in relation to the bad weather we've recently received. In sad news, Adventure Island guide, the only fan site to the park AFAIK who always gave major updates of the park is sadly shutting down, which is a great shame IMO.

If Thorpe were to repair/replace the tunnel and give some TLC to ride buildings and queue, it would be brilliant and another step forward to the park showing they have improved and slowly heading to become a world class park. Unfortunately though, this is Merlin, and Merlin do not do up keeps of rides and attractiones well, unless it's a new attraction, Central Park area or it can be done as being able to be marketable, plus with the apparent action taking place in the other corner of the park, I cannot see them fixing up an ageing ride on the other side of the park, because that's what Merlin seem to do. Even though Stealth has had quite a lot of attention in the last few years, I feel Loggers will continue to rot away until the ride is removed, unless were fortunate enough to ever see a Canada Creek facelift in the future, which even if there was a new ride, that's still not to say they would fix loggers.

Typical Merlin claiming a 26 year old powered coaster as a new ride. It's not brand new, just a (step back) retheme of the ageing Runaway Train, which it's great to see the park trying to make it more magical by removing the boiler queuing with a impressive cattle pen, taking away a mouldy rock face for a few scattered cactuses and take away the I H&S parts like the boiler itself. Sure it won't be missed and it's not like it added character like peg leg Pete, the weather bane and rock faces did which have now gone. Seriously Merlin, you may think you're only second to Disney, but if you really want to compete with them in greatness, you really need to start to improve upkeep of run down areas and immersive theming and character, which Chessington once had, lots has gone, with parks in the uk much smaller progressing better than them. I hope this Paramount park happens, because not just will it give the uk themepark industry a world class park, but also more competition, where Merlin will hopefully up their game, or pay the price for lazy ness and being unimaginative.

Should be great to finally meet you Stuz.

I think the best thing about Scorpion Express, is that it's an open ride. I feel if Tussaud's still ran the park, they would keep it as mine train and just leave the rest of the ride there except the rocks.

Well 2 was the lie as I said I hadn't been to themeparks abroad. Edit- Just checked my original post and forgot the never bit (facepalm).

Jammingamer, you are correct. 1/ I have been evacuated on a rollercoaster. It was the Dragon at Legoland in 2013 when the train broke down in the block brakes, so I was guided by staff along the final lift hill in to the station. 2/ I have never been to themeparks abroad, however I haven't been to any of the big ones yet, the likes of Port Aventura and Europa (but hopefully I will be going soon). 3/ I wish this was the lie, as I did lose a brand new camera at a themepark abroad back in 2011. It wasn't lost on a ride, but rather may have been stolen. I still feel disappointed about this.

Ok, here's my turn. 1/ I've been evacuated from a roller coaster 2/ I've never been to a themepark abroad 3/ I lost a brand new camera at a themepark a few years ago.

3 it is then.

Chessington's new motto should be, one step forwards, one step back. They need to really get their eye back on the ball as what the managers see as progress is actually a step back from the old but once impressive mine train with, an interweaving queue and an interactive rock face and for a park/company that's trying to be as good as Disney, replacing this with petty cactus theming, a dull cattlemen, a basic backdrop and the theming elements that are certain to break, this is not going forward. To make this a great ride, they should've made a new rock cave round the ride with cactuses and bits sticking out, the interactive elements in the centre, plus a new queue line with interactive elements included as well. There are parks such as Oakwood, Paultons and even Pleasurewood hills with less budget that would put deliver effort and a final result twice as good as what we've seen here and all of those are starting to overtake Chessington now. If Chessington was ever like Disney, they were probably closest to that around 1990-1998. On a positive note, the market square looks an improvement from what I've seen so far.

2 is the lie

I would say one is the lye.

https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1/1621716_630171623704024_853190516_n.jpg?dl=1 Alternative photo. Creaky Cafe has been removed and it's very likely it's footprint will remain empty for 2014.

So, looks like Bubbleworks was damaged after all. https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/1604523_610576705664299_1692833316_n.jpg?dl=1 Photo courtesy of Themepark Guide.

I'm not that impressed. I think it was better when you just paid £16 each year for a capsule and could refill as much as you wanted during the whole day. Also with the old capsules, It was very helpful on a number of trips last season when I was short on cash and could just rehydrate by getting it filled up. With the slightly smaller capsule and 75p filling fee (per top up), I can't see me usi g this more than twice a day. That's if I even decide to purchase a new one. Bad move IMO, don't fix something that wasn't really broken.

I've also just seen the Lego which I can only say is brilliant. The plot and storyline is fantastic with an exciting storyline and a lot of humorous moments and some excellent characters, plus a slight twist towards the end of the film too. I strongly recommend seeing this film especially if youre a fan.

Dragons Fury (5) Vampire (5) Rattlesnake (5) Dragon Falls (5) Bubbleworks (5) Black Buccaneer (5) Monkey Swinger (5) Rameses Revenge (5) Tomb Blaster (5) Sea Storm (5) Tuk Tuk Turmoil (5) + Vampire - MonkeySwinger

The new theming of the area actually looks pretty decent, with the landscaped bridge, log flume tunnel and surrounding buildings. I hope we see this sort of treatment to our log rides in future as they now lack in theming. I assume that yellow corkscrew track was part of the old Superwirbel coaster which closed last year?

I think its fantastic how the park seems to be improving the stealth area for 2014 and expanding this outlet can only be a good thing. I did think they could've done more to the area as it did seem a little wasted considering there was loads of open space, but this should improve things there. Great to see stealth receiving more improvements year upon year. Who knows, maybe we'll receive that original awesome queue line plan in the future which was sadly scrapped/cut back.

I remember when the water uses used to run between the park and farm then getting many rides on the old flying fish. Those days were fun.

This is good news IMO considering it was also the only major coaster at the park without a shop. Glad to see it will be an actual structure/building rather than a shipping container, which have now become a cliche due to their frequent use. 2014 looks like it could be another good year for the park.

I found the (new) Dungeons to be really good actually. Very atmospheric and well themed with lots of humerous touches such as the singing heads at the exit. The Traitor boat ride and Extremis were very good too. That bring said, never went to the old dungeons, so I can't give a full opinion on that aspect.

Here's part one of a movie made from my trip to the park back in April. Edit- part two is live now too.