December 21, 201311 yr comment_173451 Those heaters aren't great and I would say there's a good chance they were the cause. Am I right in saying they caused the monorail fire at Alton?
December 21, 201311 yr comment_173453 Edit: Reading the article, sounds like it did get to fangtasia shop. If that does turn out to be the case isn't that bad news for vampire? In my head trying to piece the builing together the brake run/workshop are is above the shop, is that right?
December 21, 201311 yr comment_173454 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
December 21, 201311 yr comment_173456 According to the local news, the park will remain closed until Boxing Day (ie, closed tomorrow too). Makes sense really. So there'd be no need for the grotto, so hopefully if the park can get back open for then, it won't affect the event itself.
December 21, 201311 yr comment_173457 Personally I'm praying Creaky Cafe was the only victim, if Bubbleworks was hit we'd probably have to wait till winter 2014 before it was seen to. I'm not at all surprised the culprit appears to be the grotto, fairylight fires are all-too common at Christmas and the trees go up like candles. EditWell this snippet from the daily mail sounds more hopeful:"London Fire Brigade Station Manager Craig Carter, who was at the scene, said: 'The fire damaged a large part of a restaurant within the park, and crews worked very hard to bring it under control. "I'm sure if portions of rides needed to tended to he'd have mentioned that. Edited December 21, 201311 yr by Merry-go-girl
December 21, 201311 yr comment_173458 BBC also cites that a "Plant Room" was also affected by the blaze. The only room of that kind in that area would be Bubbleworks. A positive thought would be that hopefully the major components like the massive pumps are usually completely removed and moved to the warehouse during the winter for maintenance; with any luck that would have happened and the damage would be limited so minor components or mainly cosmetic.
December 21, 201311 yr comment_173459 The problem is the ride is supposed to be open for the festive event, could be bad if this is the case.
December 21, 201311 yr comment_173465 The problem is the ride is supposed to be open for the festive event, could be bad if this is the case. I thought officially it was closed for Festive Zoo days, but had been open most dates?
December 22, 201311 yr comment_173466 The Bubbleworks had been running as I went on it twice on the 7th. I wonder when we will get any pictures of the area when the park re-opens and the level of damage. The 25,000 sq foot area they were reporting would say to me this was the Bubbleworks and possibly Vamp/Bubbles shop. To be honest I would expect Chessington to close the main gates between the Zoo and Transilvania/Market Square to keep people away from it. Which sadly could also mean the loss of Seastorm for the youngsters as well as the Bubbleworks. Chessington will be covered as they are only advertising the Zoo and Sealife centre, so if you get no rides then you still get what they are advertising. The only backlash for guests will be that there will be almost nothing to keep you there longer than 2 hours. They don't have the option of opening other rides as Tomb Blaster is too far into the Park and next door to last years ride embarrassment. Unless they fence off Transilvania and only have the Buccaneer and Seastorm open. I guess we will find out after Christmas. I would put money on it that the fire was caused by the heaters and a decoration too close as I had this discussion with somebody when we were in the grotto waiting to see Santa, I said "Maybe they are fire retardant decorations or something" But this should have been picked up in a risk assessment which I am sure the park would do for every attraction the open, permenant or temporary.
December 22, 201311 yr comment_173471 It's all a bit of mess really isn't it? SBNO everywhere. Merlin will want to forget 2013 in a hurry :\
December 22, 201311 yr comment_173478 As established yesterday at meet - insurance scandle/Wicked Witch's Haunt v2, Merlin recycling their schemes
December 22, 201311 yr comment_173480 Wait a second, so this would've removed the only remaining sign relating to the old bubbleworks? Balls.
December 22, 201311 yr comment_173485 Wait a second, so this would've removed the only remaining sign relating to the old bubbleworks? Balls. I don't think I knew about this. What was it? Was it in the plant room?
December 22, 201311 yr comment_173487 I think he was on about this sign: 1517590_1400269473552705_2020720571_n.jpg Not the best picture but it reads: 'Private Bubbly Bits. Access To Staff Only'.
December 22, 201311 yr comment_173488 Oh yes, unfortunately that particular area (which is ironically I fire exit I think) looks pretty charred now. You can see the burnt out roof in this picture: I think not long ago they installed some strange bat models and SFX that would activate if you opened the gate. Of course that's gone now, along with more old facades near the top of Transylvania it seems.
December 23, 201311 yr comment_173529 I wonder when we'll find out how badly damaged Transylvania and the surrounding area have become apart the completely destroyed creaky cafe.
December 23, 201311 yr comment_173530 'Private Bubbly Bits'... Erm... ...REALLY CHESSINGTON? You REALLY think that is family friendly?
December 23, 201311 yr comment_173538 Yes, it's called a double entendre. It goes right over the kids heads. We need more of it, though not as much as Bon Bon Land it seems.
December 23, 201311 yr comment_173542 Fangtasia/Vampires shop was apparently unaffected by the fire That's a shame - it's looked horrible since the re-fit at the start of this year...
December 23, 201311 yr comment_173543 Yes, it's called a double entendre. It goes right over the kids heads. We need more of it, though not as much as Bon Bon Land it seems. Bon Bon Land isn't full of that though, it's as subtle as a brick to the face...
December 23, 201311 yr comment_173545 Bon Bon Land isn't full of that though, it's as subtle as a brick to the face... I was unsure what you meant by Bon Bon Land so I googled it, your right is as subtle as a brick to the face...
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