Adam P

Vampire was running two trains today (and it was really dead running with a handful of people) and I wondered why until I saw the back end of the train (it's train 1 which I'm sure was running last year) whilst I couldn't picture from the front water dummies are inside the restraints. Maybe this is why fastrack has returned...

The strobes aren't quite to the standard they used to be as they aren't used in the just the dark, they are more effective the fact that the back wall (after fire) is just all mirror again but not the old standard.

Honestly doesn't fill like that when you are there, that particular photo is taken where the backing boards have yet to be completed once in the area you will be shocked.

Fully up and running!

This is the view from the inside of the queue, now I have to say I was very impressed by the outcome of this. Shoot me but...! The backdrops look very good (there are a couple missing) Fire effects really bring area to life Scorpion moves (it's not quite finished) Trains look excellent Smoke effects from the boiler and pulling away from the station Much much more than I expected. Even little touches like Scorpions imprinted into the concrete are in place. They were surveying people who left the ride and directly comparing it to the Runaway Train, positive feedback from most people we heard. Biggest issue was staff training meant train unloading and loading was 5 minutes, resulting in an hour queue.

Disappointing for me as my 1.05m son won't be able to go on this and he loves Chessington's!

Here is a full jpeg of the MAP the most disappointing thing for me is the dodgems having a higher height restriction than Chessingtons.

It is somewhere in between, they have a great manual operator some of the time and cycles are generally short.

Powder Kegs is a little forceless (compared to Rodeo if you rode that), but you won't be disappointed by either Eagles Claw or Whirlwind!

They are rubbish at through put, I'd be doing Mumbo Jumbo first then Hero, 2 1/2 hours for Mumbo Jumbo (which I quite enjoy) during first week of August.

Also the rusty boiler which was in the queue has also been placed again in the other side of the figure 8!

When I went during the Summer the zoo opened at 10, with rides opening at 10.30. I wouldn't set your watch by it though...!

It's a shame it doesn't look like they went down the individual lap bar route like the Fish.

To be fair the "Promotional Artwork" does suggest both Fire and Water effects, although if ZUFARI water effects are anything to go by...!

More than happy to spend £5 on Summer Nights, one of the best parking experiences last year (once we had battled for the tickets mind!)

That is a great point as to what is thrilling for what age. Indeed my 4 year old loves Tuk Tuk at Chessington, to him that is thrilling, my 9 year old has been riding Detonator since he was 8, and would have been since 7 had he been tall enough! With the Cinema this area covers for all ages in my view and shocks me the mass praise Lightwater Valley got last year for the activity park (which in no doubt helped there gate figure performance) yet a year later when Thorpe do the same its out dated?! Don't get me wrong they do need to get this theme right in the location it is in and maybe it won't be an ever lasting theme. Beanoland was much stronger and only lasted 9 seasons but to me, this is a perfect family area as whilst I'm not thrilled about a dodgems ride, it will suit the rest of my family which is what it's there for! Amazingly for the nations Thrill Capital they had more coasters my 1.05m son could go on than either Alton Towers or Chessington, if they could just tell the staff the change in direction Angry Birds will be a massive success.

Fully themed land in the middle of the park isn't going to be easy, am I the only one not excited by the Dodgems at all, but excited about the Angry Birds possibilities? Assume the dodgems could be loosely based on the new racing game. Think Alton got the better deal though, CBBC on TV until 2021, and a new Ice Age in the works keeps it slightly more current!

I went down on Sunday, the whole of Market Square is closed off with some heavy fencing around. From what you can see it doesn't look as bad as I thought down the side of Bubbleworks but I guess you can't see inside.

The problem is the ride is supposed to be open for the festive event, could be bad if this is the case.

Looks like the entrance to Transylvania is in tact so the spread must have been backwards. http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/world-news/chessington-world-adventures-fire-recap-2948356

I have no idea which it was! I was just as surprised as you to read it on the Fire Brigade tweet, as I can't see how they would move most the animals quickly should they need to. I'd still be shocked if the Safari Skyway trains haven't been damaged.

London Fire Brigade ‏@LondonFire1h The fire in #Chessington is near the zoo in the theme park, so all animals have been evacuated to a safe place. No animal injuries reported. I can just sea the Lions making there way across to ZUFARI!

It's been declared now "Under Control" with no injuries.

Confirmed as the Creaky Cafe, along with hoping no one is injured I hope it hasn't spread to any of the Zoo and the animals are safe.

https://skynews.grabyo.com/g/v/2xm3F58hBrt Seems to be a restaurant Is it the Creaky Cafe? If so then most likely Bubbleworks?