March 23, 201312 yr comment_154198 If it ain't broke don't fix it! Evidently it was broken, it doesn't look like a design choice. Hopefully it won't remain that way for the rest of its days...
March 23, 201312 yr comment_154221 This looks absolutely shocking. This is definitely worse than what's happened to Loggers, the ride is an eyesore without the rocks. If Chessie don't rebuild the rock face and structure, dragon falls is going to look horrible.
March 24, 201312 yr comment_154230 I can't actually believe how awful that looks. Never really realised just how close the Tomb Blaster building was behind it - or what those rocks covered up. What I can't believe even more, is that those in charge of the park have SO little pride in it that they're happy to leave the ride looking like that just to save the money it would cost to replace them. It is a sad indication of how shoddy the UK park industry is that this kind of thing happens - to put it short, those in charge of these parks literally don't care about them beyond their money-making capability.
March 24, 201312 yr comment_154233 We need to name and shame the people who are making these decisions to ruin any decent theming we have.
March 24, 201312 yr comment_154238 You could name every top manager from the last 25 years who have allowed the theming to get in such poor state that the only option is to tear it down. Chessington to me is no longer able to call itself a theme park. From riding jcbs through vampire in 2001, turning bubble works into the worst retheme of any quality and now tearing down theming that lifts falls and runaway above bog standard rides. We could argue for ages about this being an order from on high and whatever but the fact is that wont being back the theming that was created 26 years ago that made Chessington different Chessington, you are idiots.
March 24, 201312 yr comment_154241 You could name every top manager from the last 25 years who have allowed the theming to get in such poor state that the only option is to tear it down. Or they could always have replaced the theming, like this: (Above got too old and was falling apart so they replaced it): Now surely if Pleasure Beach can replace their theming on such a scale then the multi million pound company that is Merlin can... Not good. Dragon falls looks dire and will never be the same again. (Unless they replace the theming!!)
March 24, 201312 yr comment_154244 If anybody who's been to the ride bothered to read the signage there, you would be aware that the current state of the ride and the high fencing around the drop is a temporary measure- the scale of this work and its' close proximity to the ride itself means it would be impossible to work on the theming with the ride operational. The ride will operate in the current state until the closed season when the work will be finished properly.
March 24, 201312 yr comment_154248 That's all very well but it's a whole year operating in that state. Going by the Disney theory of total immersion - its not really good enough to say 'oh we'll get it done soon', the minute those rocks are taken down you're not in mystic east, you're in a utilities warehouse. There's no reason the ride couldn't have had some major work over the close season - it could have even closed early last year (since water rides are less popular at the tail end of a season) and been back looking brand new for the start of the season. Also, they never replaced the last bit of theming they had to tear down (the rocks on the lift hill) so its not like this is without precedent.
March 24, 201312 yr comment_154259 Glad that chessie managed to get more of their rides open today- kobra and black buccaneer were running throughout the day.
March 24, 201312 yr comment_154261 It was certainly an improvement from yesterday althoughVampire,Fury and Rattles were closed again though.
March 24, 201312 yr comment_154279 If anybody who's been to the ride bothered to read the signage there, you would be aware that the current state of the ride and the high fencing around the drop is a temporary measure- the scale of this work and its' close proximity to the ride itself means it would be impossible to work on the theming with the ride operational. The ride will operate in the current state until the closed season when the work will be finished properly. So it's only gone for this year and will be back next year? Let's hope so. Jeez, they whipped the Angkor Wat faces off quick, surely it can't take them a year to put them back, unless new ones are being fabricated?I'll forever go on about the rocks by the lift hill and Buddha not coming back, but I think people forget the Golden Donuts stand that was in that corner before Pan For Gold was there. The size of that compared to it's predecessor is huge.
March 24, 201312 yr comment_154283 There is no reason as to why the lift hill rocks cannot return... Indeed, why not have the Gold Panning/Donuts INSIDE the rocks as a cave? So have to deal with a year (at minimum) of the rides looking like crap and pray/beg/hope that they don't cancel the return...
March 24, 201312 yr comment_154292 Not top game I know but so long as it is coming back, I can live with that. I'll be honest though. It truly is awful. Looks like something Great Yarmouth or Camelot would have had.
March 25, 201312 yr comment_154298 So it's only gone for this year and will be back next year? Let's hope so. If the Buddha rocks going were the best thing to ever happen to the ride surely you think it is approaching perfection now?! --- If this is temporary I'll be pleased, if what has gone is replaced to the same quality I'll be amazed, if I'm told this is part of some planned £2m improvement scheme and not that it had been neglected into becoming dangerous to operate I won't believe it.
March 25, 201312 yr comment_154301 If the Buddha rocks going were the best thing to ever happen to the ride surely you think it is approaching perfection now?! --- If this is temporary I'll be pleased, if what has gone is replaced to the same quality I'll be amazed, if I'm told this is part of some planned £2m improvement scheme and not that it had been neglected into becoming dangerous to operate I won't believe it. Well, I was pleased to see the Buddha rocks go. But no, removing the Angkor Wat faces for good is a step too far. Take too much away and it's not very mystic nor east. Sounds to me like you're doubting their investment, and you think it's all safe?
March 25, 201312 yr comment_154313 pluk thinks that the investment is because the structure was neglected for years and hence HAD to be done... ANY removal of theming (especially permanent) cannot be termed as good news...
March 26, 201312 yr comment_154476 Are all of the rides open today or is the park partially open like yesterday?
March 26, 201312 yr comment_154478 Are all of the rides open today or is the park partially open like yesterday? http://www.chessington.com/updates/#wwu The websites exist for a reason...
March 26, 201312 yr comment_154482 But surely if people want information on a park they would go to the official site as the first piece of available information? Not a Thorpe Park biased forum where many on here won't actually know the answer?
March 26, 201312 yr comment_154483 I visited Chessington yesterday, Falls looked so depressing in its new state. I hope it was just the weather and the lack of open rides but the whole park had genuinely lost the sense of excitement it once had. I once regarded it as one of my favourite themed parks but everything looks a bit ... depressing. I also just noticed on the site that Dragon falls seems to have gained a sponsor in 'Juicy Drop Pop'. Please correct me if this has been the case for a while!? - http://www.chessington.com/explore/mystic-east/dragon-falls-water-ride.aspx
March 26, 201312 yr comment_154485 I also just noticed on the site that Dragon falls seems to have gained a sponsor in 'Juicy Drop Pop'. Please correct me if this has been the case for a while!? - http://www.chessington.com/explore/mystic-east/dragon-falls-water-ride.aspx Been sponsored by them for... 2/3 years I think? It came with the revamp of the logo/signage/new bins... Not the worst ride sponsorship we've seen in the UK...
March 26, 201312 yr comment_154486 Been sponsored by them for... 2/3 years I think? It came with the revamp of the logo/signage/new bins... Not the worst ride sponsorship we've seen in the UK... Ah, shows how long it has been since I visited. For a minute I was expecting the heads to be replaced with huge Push pops either side of the drop..
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