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Chessington General Discussion


Ash

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The loss of the original Carousel is certainly a massive shame. Given it's traditional grandiose appearance, it's references to the past and the spinning teacups. Their crazy spinning no more!

 

The new Carousel will at least be comparatively different, being in a new location and a contrasting theme and style. Whilst I must admit I prefer the style of old Chessington, I would rather see the park change and develop with new attractions instead of being stagnant and stale, like it's has in recent years.

 

The adventure theme does come across as over produced, but if it's the direction the park intend to head towards and it's bringing in visitors then I guess it's not all bad given it's a theme that relates between the park and zoo quite well.

 

With the recent closures, Old Chessington seems to be disappearing fast. And if the 10 year master is/has been approved, planning suggest one of two (possible) new coasters will replace Truckers, Toadies, Peeking and where the old Carousel was. This could be intentional too, given the coaster could be a technical replacement to Vampire, which is arguably on life support currently given it's age, location and current significance to the park.

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The old carousel was a standard boring carousel and they're replacing it with a better themed one, that's my opinion. The old one had nice paintings on it that were a nice touch and something I long remember, but they dont represent those past attractions really. Removing the carousel isn't killing the heart and soul of the park, that was done back in the early 2000s.

The African animal theme I dont think has ever worked for Chessington. It's just a brand that Merlin imposed on the park in 2010 because they run their parks according to brands and sloganeering (rather than any true substance I feel). Plus their impression of Africa is the kind someone would have if they've never been near Africa and have just watched Madagascar, and I am certain this is the kind of audience they are appealing to anyway.

 

The 80s park started out having world culture themes but it was never this generic/commercial and didn't comprise of only bamboo and themed vinyl signs like today. Present day Chessington is a desperate attempt to be Longleat or Disney's Animal Kingdom but without spending any money.

At the height of its success, the park's original USP (which is only a business term to simplify things after all) was that it was an unconventional, quaint and eccentric park with big theme designs, flamboyant dark rides and general gutsy fun for families. Not the sentimental 'explorer' brand that it is now.

 

Also the zoo, while a good asset to have, has always been awful and in need of brand new facilities, not the park's jewel in its crown as Merlin have been able to promote it as. Zufari was a failed attempt to integrate the park and zoo, it won't last long as its not economical, popular or any good.

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  • 1 month later...

Interesting article which covers a good deal of the creation of Chessington and Alton Towers, kind of from a more commercial angle than the John Wardley side: http://blooloop.com/feature/ray-barratt-port-aventura-cwoa-and-a-life-in-attractions/

 

They asked the Pearson board for £6,000,000 - in 2016 that would be £16.7m so quite an achievement! 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Alot of things have changed/are changing at Chessie this year. Firstly the hydration station by Wild Asia has been moved to Skyway's old queue. Literally looks like its been picked up and plonked back down. In its old place is a Nitrogenie stand. Great, I always wanted loud pop music instead of the Wild Asia audio.

 

Across from where the hydration station is now, where the shooting game was, has had some major work done. A shutter has been pulled over the front and it seems like part of a wall has been removed, inside it looked like some kind of photo opportunity. 

It seems as if all the coasters are having work done to them. There were some workmen on Dragon's Fury's MCBR after the second drop near Canopy, and some hammering going on. Some sounds could be heard from Rattlesnake too, and all of the cars are outside Dragon's Fury, which also seems to have had some new signage in the station. The shack outside Smokehouse is now doughnuts and hot dogs. It looked like Black Bucaneer was being painted or cleaned, the boat is out on the path just behind Sea Storm's queue and looked as if it was being sprayed by something. Speaking of painted, some of Griffin's Galleon's platform looked as if it has been repainted. Work was also being done on the penguin show stage.

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So literally nothing out of the ordinary and what happens every closed season Sam.

The Ikea-style Hydration kiosks are designed to be plonked about the place, they are not permanent structures. Hence theyre identical across all Merlin parks. I think theyre ugly to have them everywhere all identical, but theyre only kiosks.

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18 hours ago, ChessingtonSam said:

Alot of things have changed/are changing at Chessie this year. Firstly the hydration station by Wild Asia has been moved to Skyway's old queue. Literally looks like its been picked up and plonked back down. In its old place is a Nitrogenie stand. Great, I always wanted loud pop music instead of the Wild Asia audio.

 

Across from where the hydration station is now, where the shooting game was, has had some major work done. A shutter has been pulled over the front and it seems like part of a wall has been removed, inside it looked like some kind of photo opportunity. 

It seems as if all the coasters are having work done to them. There were some workmen on Dragon's Fury's MCBR after the second drop near Canopy, and some hammering going on. Some sounds could be heard from Rattlesnake too, and all of the cars are outside Dragon's Fury, which also seems to have had some new signage in the station. The shack outside Smokehouse is now doughnuts and hot dogs. It looked like Black Bucaneer was being painted or cleaned, the boat is out on the path just behind Sea Storm's queue and looked as if it was being sprayed by something. Speaking of painted, some of Griffin's Galleon's platform looked as if it has been repainted. Work was also being done on the penguin show stage.

Hopefully they're burning it. 

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Anyone could have said that from the outset. A good show will keep changing & developing anyway, but the naive reliance on a massive commercial fad like Penguins that it would last was silly from the outset. They were very proud of getting the IP as ever, and boasted the expensive talking heads all over the place, and forget to actually do their bit to make a good show.

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Indeed. The Penguin Show lasted lasted little more than two seasons, theritcally less given the show wasn't running at the start of last season due to trying to promote Pandamonium. It will be interesting to see how long that one lasts too.

 

Its safe to say this is a sign of the park's current lack of direction and short term plans which isn't remarkably surprising, especially with the moderate theming effort done too. 

 

The UK could easily do with a large stage as it would provide much entertainment and amusement to guests if done right. Shows like Ravelijin, Europa's Greek Ice Show and the numerous ones at Port Aventura, show evidence park's can pull off great shows that aren't Univerdal or Disney. 

 

At at the moment, Pirates Of Skeleton Bay is the nearest thing we have to a proper stage show. Which is a very good and entertaining show but not quite on the same levels of shows other major parks pull off. 

 

The UK used to have so many different show and entertainment offerings in parks, shame this isn't really the case anymore. It's likely the stage will be mothballed this year (unless it's ever used for Halloween). 

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I believe the stage is due to be used for the new Gruffalo story time, since the Penguins reference is also being removed from Treetop Hoppers. Gruffalo at Christmas a few years back was a great show and them hopefully this one will be used all season to. The Black Buccaneer, whilst overdue has had a complete re-paint and looks amazing.

 

Full update from last week for anyone interested http://themeuk.net/CW_Conother2017.html

 

 

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There's no point the UK parks doing big shows at the current time because there's a questionable level of interest (though that's probably down to there being no decent shows) from park guests and there's zero time in the day to actually take 30-45 minutes to sit and watch one...

 

Would UK guests want to watch an ice skating show? Whilst the Madagascar shows were usually busy was that down to the show quality or the IP?

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2 hours ago, Benin said:

Would UK guests want to watch an ice skating show? Whilst the Madagascar shows were usually busy was that down to the show quality or the IP?


The best scenario I've seen is at Legoland, where huge crowds form every day for the long-running and consistently entertaining stunt show, and then the IP-based Lego Friends show which had a bigger budget and more promotion, performing at exactly the same location and at more prime times of day, always lost crowds and had pretty poor guest feedback.

The stunt show is simply better performed, less commercial and has more substance than the stiff Lego Friends show, and guests reacted to this regardless of the IP and promotion.

 

UK audiences are very hard, but guests do respond to quality and are happy to make time in the day to watch it. Many often come half an hour before the stunt show starts to get a good seat usually. It might take a little longer to establish a show's reputation, but if it has real substance and is well performed & entertaining, it will succeed.

 

If its a bland, commercial and by-the-numbers 5 minute sell out (or stingy show budgets getting in the way of good experience like at Alton Towers) then it won't be worth the time and feedback will be mixed.

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The fact they're already having to change the themes for the stage and rides around it just shows what a mess that park is in.  They have no sense of direction or long-term planning.

 

Wish they'd try and build good, long-lasting rides or attractions rather than their obsession of IP's which they clearly value higher than the overall enjoyment of the park.

 

Black Buccaneer looks better though.

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