Mark9

Who is that handsome boy?

BEEP, BEEP BEEPAH HA, HOLD ON TIGHT TINY TRUCKERS, CAUSE HERE WE GO, AHOOO

Complete worldwide domination. Got to love Gaga =D

I take all that on board obviously. But the thing is the park is now relying on a 25 year old infrastructure. The theme park and the zoo, well ones been there for ages anyway and the zoo since the 1920's so the only recent addition is the hotel which Merlin didn't play any part of.I know that throwing money at a place and hoping it sticks is not the solution, however why would throwing money in making Runaway train and Safari Skyway look 100% better be a problem. Unless Runaway is about to get the chop of course. At which point I wonder, Chessington has been under Merlin control since 2007, whilst yeah there's a transition period, why hasn't something happened yet to all the rides at Chessington that are really starting to look delapidated. It may give Chessington a chance to breathe. It's competing with so much at the moment under the Merlin umbrella, so whilst Alton and Thorpe seem to be on this investment plan, Legoland getting a hotel and improvements and new rides every year, Gardaland and Heide with new Beemers, Chessington really does look like the poor relation. It probably would struglly with new owners. But at the moment the park is going on with one major ride at 21 years old, its second in command almost 10 years old and then what.. Kobra? Rattlesnake? IMHO it really needs a decent level of investment; and I'm not talking more new restaraunts either.

I think this is the most appropriate place. I'd actually like to see Chessington be sold off from the Merlin group and be completely independant, family owned. It's just my feeling of course but being part of a huge family of parks, competing with Legoland, Thorpe, Alton, Heide, Gardaland and all the little subsidaries can't be easy and every single year Chessie comes off as one of the poor cousins. Whilst the other parks get large rides and additions, Chessington gets a retheme and a cheap disko ride and is considered its "large investment year."Small parks such as Paultons, Drayton Manor, Flamingoland and Lightwater Valley prove it can be done, that you can be successful without being part of a brand. Chessington for me is at a point where it's older rides are looking well past their sell by dates. When the park opens next month Skyway will still have the old faded 90's look on its trains, the Runaway rocks will still look like they are falling apart and the Bubbleworks will look even more shambolic.

I think this is the most appropriate place. I'd actually like to see Chessington be sold off from the Merlin group and be completely independant, family owned. It's just my feeling of course but being part of a huge family of parks, competing with Legoland, Thorpe, Alton, Heide, Gardaland and all the little subsidaries can't be easy and every single year Chessie comes off as one of the poor cousins. Whilst the other parks get large rides and additions, Chessington gets a retheme and a cheap disko ride and is considered its "large investment year."Small parks such as Paultons, Drayton Manor, Flamingoland and Lightwater Valley prove it can be done, that you can be successful without being part of a brand. Chessington for me is at a point where it's older rides are looking well past their sell by dates. When the park opens next month Skyway will still have the old faded 90's look on its trains, the Runaway rocks will still look like they are falling apart and the Bubbleworks will look even more shambolic.

This.People on TPM need to chill out a bit. There's constant bickering every single topic I go in these days and it sometimes reads like people are trying to suck the joy out of Tpm, and out of rides and rollercoasters. Which sort of defeats the point as theme parks are about fun. Is that because you're now on it.

/\ Agreed. It's not the OSR's on Saw that gives you the headache, its the ride itself.

Pretty awesome!

Ahem...

NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM...

I think thats one of your best posts Outfit. Chessington is stupidly under-rated and such a fantastic place to visit.

I think thats one of your best posts Outfit. Chessington is stupidly under-rated and such a fantastic place to visit.

I think thats one of your best posts Outfit. Chessington is stupidly under-rated and such a fantastic place to visit.

I think thats one of your best posts Outfit. Chessington is stupidly under-rated and such a fantastic place to visit.

I bet half the people on here have never even gone to Chessington giving the place a chance. I prefer it a load more to Thorpe, because it's great fun and not set in a horrendous atmosphere. And for the purpose of replying - just don't. If you don't agree with my point then keep it to yourself or try and shoot me down, thanks.

I still might be able to come if I'm able to get done, the list of things that I need to do, done, but it's unlikely. And I want to make more of an effort to come to meet-ups. I'm either going to Las Vegas / San Franciso and Calfornia (Six Flags Magic Mountain) or Orlando for the parks, so that would be awsome. As for what you said Michaela, it's too bad there isn't a feature that shows who has rep'd what, then we'd see who's too coward, to be honest and brave. You would expect some people to have grown up by now, but maybe expecting is a bit too much.

Judging by target audience them, only idiots and traveller teenagers should go to Thorpe.

Marc really isn't the right person to call on anything these days.

Judging by target audience them, only idiots and traveller teenagers should go to Thorpe.

Judging by target audience them, only idiots and traveller teenagers should go to Thorpe.

Marc really isn't the right person to call on anything these days.

Judging by target audience them, only idiots and traveller teenagers should go to Thorpe.