April 12, 20223 yr comment_276437 At least the Amazon project will bring in a high-capacity multi-train coaster to eat up the queues and improve the situation 🙃 Sarcasm aside though... It does bring 3 new rides I suppose, even if 2 of them are only small junior flats. 3 rides is 3 rides though, and will spread the crowds more, even if just a little. 🤷♂️
April 12, 20223 yr comment_276448 10 hours ago, Inferno said: It does bring 3 new rides I suppose, even if 2 of them are only small junior flats. 3 rides is 3 rides though, and will spread the crowds more, even if just a little. 🤷♂️ We also have the two rides opening later this year. Only shame is ALL new attractions are low capacity, but it will certainly create more rides to spread crowds than now.
April 13, 20223 yr comment_276451 I visited yesterday, and honestly? The park was 'fine'. It wasn't that busy for Easter holidays. Operations were standard for Chessington. That's not to say they were objectively good, but they were the usual I come to expect from Chessington over recent years. Dragon's Fury opened late and Tomb Blaster wasn't open by the time I left. So a bit of poor form there. My biggest bugbear with Chessington is their advertised queue times being wildly wrong. Just as some examples: Kobra listed as 30mins, was one cycle wait Tiger Rock as 90mins, was 40mins Dragon's Fury as 50mims, was 80mins Gruffalo as 60mins, was 15mins This has regularly been a problem for the park, and seems to be a bigger problem this year. They have new systems for scanning Fastrack and RAP which might be affecting things and highlighting these problems even more. But it's concerning just how awfully wrong these times are.
May 6, 20223 yr comment_276693 I went on Tuesday and had a fantastic day. I'm so biased towards Chessington though. I completely wear the rose tinted glasses. There's clearly issues across the park but sometimes, just sitting back and enjoying the day means more. + Four laps on Scorpion. Why did I love it so much?! I have no idea + Mexicana looks great with all the new little props in the area + I love Grufflalo so much. It stands tall with Wallace and Gromit and Hex as one of the best dark rides in the country + Dragons Fury now sits in the under-rated category. What a fantastic rollercoaster + Great to see the investment in the park. New rides, more announcements on rides, new music. + Croc Drop is fine but doesn't spin anymore. + Bought loads of merchandise because it was the original 1987 logo. Shameless + Free food for the Lorikeets now. - Blue Barnacle was almost as good Black Buccaneer. Surprised how high it went actually. - Very few boats on Tiger Rock. Park needs to invest in new boats now, it's going to be awful in Summer - Tomb Blaster was rough. I don't like the new story or the guns it uses. - Queue boards inaccuracy. Said 40 for Fury, was on the stairs, Said 40 at Vampire, was 5 minutes. - Lots of the Zoo area closed for refurbishment. Pirates Cove was very loud from construction. - Maybe its my Disney exposure, but how thin are the queues. Vampire can only be walked single file for examples. it's so tiny!
May 7, 20223 yr comment_276702 That free food for Lorikeets will last until they're all too fat to fly. Again.
May 11, 20223 yr comment_276748 Timber Tug Boat has now docked into Chessington. It’s going to imminently be renamed Trawler Trouble. The Ship with its new name and livery is expected to sail again within the next month. Trawler Trouble looks extremely immersive and follows Disney Standards. It’s hard to believe only 6 months ago it was a ride that resembled that of a Traveling Funfair. I knew that Timber Tug Boat was in for a full scale refit rather than a rename to Trawler Trouble. Chessington is the best Themed Park in England. I have always said that Chessington reminds me of the Disney Parks. Image from Chessington Buzz
May 12, 20223 yr comment_276754 Disney Standards? No, not even close. It looks basically the same as at Thorpe: fine, but basic.
May 12, 20223 yr comment_276755 Here's a full set of photos from Chessington Buzz: https://www.facebook.com/203612636346124/posts/pfbid0iZ6uEVxwAqgGoombkgnMKACpbqjs1WamAKpz1HLuwSbs5tymyhh8H3uJkoZjuGJPl/ The base of the ride is exactly the same as it was at Thorpe, for the record.
May 12, 20223 yr comment_276759 I wouldn’t say it’s Disney standards at all, but it does look very nice. A definite improvement from it’s sorry state at Thorpe. I’m glad the park has been working on presentation this year.
May 12, 20223 yr comment_276763 I like how they've given it a rusty paint job to hide the actual rust that the ride will eventually gain after years of no maintenance whatsoever.
May 12, 20223 yr comment_276770 Who would like to see some Props put on Trawler Trouble? I would like a Seagull to be placed on the roof and the reinstallation of the rope that Timber Tug Boat at Thorpe Park had.
June 14, 20223 yr comment_277201 Who else thinks Shipwreck Coast could be Themed around Pirates Of The Caribbean. The Island in the films is called Shipwreck Cove. Obviously Chessington’s are will be Shipwreck Coast. I think this could be due to copyright. The addition of Goats,Rats and a mermaid also point to this. If you remember in the first film there’s a Goat,Mermaid and Rats. Furthermore Shipwreck Cove is an Seaside Island. The colouring of the new Shipwreck Coast also matches Pirates Of The Caribbean. Can you please answer with your thoughts on my speculation
June 14, 20223 yr comment_277203 4 hours ago, Theme Park Fanatic said: Who else thinks Shipwreck Coast could be Themed around Pirates Of The Caribbean. The Island in the films is called Shipwreck Cove. Obviously Chessington’s are will be Shipwreck Coast. I think this could be due to copyright. The addition of Goats,Rats and a mermaid also point to this. If you remember in the first film there’s a Goat,Mermaid and Rats. Furthermore Shipwreck Cove is an Seaside Island. The colouring of the new Shipwreck Coast also matches Pirates Of The Caribbean. Can you please answer with your thoughts on my speculation Nope.
June 16, 20223 yr comment_277234 On 5/12/2022 at 1:50 PM, Matt Creek said: I wouldn’t say it’s Disney standards at all, but it does look very nice. A definite improvement from it’s sorry state at Thorpe. I’m glad the park has been working on presentation this year. What you on about?? This is true Disney killer quality!! I have actually now decided after careful consideration to cancel my october outing to Walt Disney World. I dont see ANY point paying a small fortune and then flying 9 hours across the atlantic to go ride Rise Of The Resistance or Flight Of Passage when we have the super detailed pinnacle of theme park theming in the form of Trawler Trouble at our very own chessington!
June 16, 20223 yr comment_277240 9 hours ago, Martin Doyle said: What you on about?? This is true Disney killer quality!! I have actually now decided after careful consideration to cancel my october outing to Walt Disney World. I dont see ANY point paying a small fortune and then flying 9 hours across the atlantic to go ride Rise Of The Resistance or Flight Of Passage when we have the super detailed pinnacle of theme park theming in the form of Trawler Trouble at our very own chessington! Thats good then 😉 took the trouble to cancel your Disney booking for you as it was still active 😉
June 16, 20223 yr comment_277244 12 hours ago, Martin Doyle said: What you on about?? This is true Disney killer quality!! I have actually now decided after careful consideration to cancel my october outing to Walt Disney World. I dont see ANY point paying a small fortune and then flying 9 hours across the atlantic to go ride Rise Of The Resistance or Flight Of Passage when we have the super detailed pinnacle of theme park theming in the form of Trawler Trouble at our very own chessington! @Martin Doyle this is probably the BEST desssion you have made. Why deal with the curfuffle of travel half way round the world,when Chessington is in our Country. Let’s face it Chessington is pretty identical to Disneyland Paris. The main difference being the absence of Disney Theming and the extortionate prices.Even the rides are the same as at Disneyland but themed diffrently. Elmer’s Flying Jumbos is almost the same as the Dumbo Ride,while Zufari is kilimanjaro safari‘s English twin. These are just a couple of examples that come too mind.
June 17, 20223 yr comment_277251 Trying to work out if trolling or being serious...😅 Last time I went to chessington I found it quite tired looking and whilst great for kids defo a bit dull for an adult lol (wasn't going for my benefit!), but thats fine as its a family park and we need those too. Disney is more of an all rounder. Timber tug/trawler trouble looks like a bigger, rustier version of something you might get outside a supermarket.
June 17, 20223 yr comment_277253 Surely they could move Rocky Express to Chessington and theme it to Scorpion Valley?
June 17, 20223 yr comment_277254 And while we’re at it, why don’t they sort out the Adventure point castle. Paint it blue, gold and white just like the Disney castle.
June 21, 20223 yr comment_277319 On 6/17/2022 at 2:12 PM, MattyMoo said: Surely they could move Rocky Express to Chessington and theme it to Scorpion Valley? @MattyMoo these are my thoughts exactly!!
July 31, 20223 yr comment_278272 There are reports online from various guests that Chessington has suffered a fire. Apparently Scourpeon Express one of the park’s original and best loved rides has gone up in flames. This news is poniant as the Hotel at Chessington’s sister Park also caught fire. Here is a video I’ve found on YouTube of Scourpeon Express today. https://youtu.be/wzdFZsOrpwo
July 31, 20223 yr comment_278274 The notes to the video say its the train itself that had a fire … who knows, Electric motor fire anyone?
July 31, 20223 yr comment_278276 @RobF I think this fire is the final nail in the coffin for Scourpeon Express. The ride is over 30 years old and becoming increasingly unreliable. The ride will probably require extensive repairs. I’m not sure if Chessington would invest in an aging attraction. Personally I love Scourpeon Express it’s a great Rollercoaster for all ages as well as being one of the Theme Parks original rides. I hope Chessington see reason to repair this Chessington classic. With Chessington’s history of repairing attractions,I think it’s safe to presume it’ll be closer for the rest of the season. Of course @RobF I hope I am wrong.
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