June 18, 201510 yr comment_211498 Couldn't care less. After the other week I have no interest in visiting what has become the world's slowest declining theme park for a long time.
June 27, 201510 yr comment_212138 Anyone notice the awesome audio upgrades at Sea Lion Bay? The park's most popular zoo presentation, has finally had the upgrade they've been requesting for so long! There are huge PA speakers lining the pool, and cable runs over the floor, all the way to the the creepy caves. What's even nicer than the trip hazards, and large black, plonked speakers (come on, a bit of fishing net, a grill cover/and barrel SOMETHING themed, or at least attempted), is that all the old broken tatty speakers are still dotted around the area too. It's this kind of attention to detail, and marks (well lack of), which makes Chessington such a jewel in Merlin's crown.
June 27, 201510 yr comment_212139 It's this kind of attention to detail, and marks (well lack of), which makes Chessington such a jewel in Merlin's crown. The frustrating thing is that attention to detail is something they used to be spot on with!
June 27, 201510 yr comment_212157 Hopefully, they'll sort Falls, Bubbles, and the joke that is Zufari too. The park is a total embarrassment, and Merlin need to address it.. This 'upgrade' is the least of their problems, but demonstrates how much the management give a crap. Jesus, they bang on to staff about standards, what a joke. The park's biggest and most popular ride is something built in the 90's, which today under Merlin, is a shadow of itself.
June 28, 201510 yr comment_212158 The sealion bay PA system is a just temporary whilst they are install a brand new up to date system, ready for the new show
July 16, 201510 yr comment_213111 It seems Merlin want more places to stay in Chessington as a planning application just went up to request permission to use the field west of Wild Asia for "glamping"... Apparently they want 35 tents, 2 ancillary tents, toilet buildings, storage, security and a play area. Some interesting files to look at on there http://www6.kingston.gov.uk/propertyServices/planning/Details?caseNo=1510241 What do you guys think?
July 16, 201510 yr comment_213113 More money on accommodation?? My thoughts exactly! Why not spend the money on what is REALLY needed in the park? (*cough* lack of theming *cough* the park is a dump *cough cough hint*)
July 16, 201510 yr comment_213115 Looks sufficient! Now the real question is, are these the proposed "Chessington Lodges" or the "Safari Camp"? The idea of tents would indicate that's it's the latter, but surely that would make more sense in the lawns north west of the Safari Hotel?Ahh well, at least we know what we're getting. Also, the consent is only temporary, stating that the tents will be present for a maximum of five years. Interesting.
July 16, 201510 yr comment_213117 Perhaps this is some Merlin magic master plan to upgrade all the hotels and turn the parks into Butlin style resorts. It's a good plan because other than a great pool and evening entertainment (which is cheap and easy), Butlins don't have a zoo or theme park on site, so they'll never need to do anything to upgrade them.
July 16, 201510 yr comment_213120 Another Chessington accommodation object? Yawwwwwwwwwwwwnnnnn Seriously the park doesn't need any more accommodation things and rather investments in to the park itself, such as new and heavily rethemed rides, plus that land there could be something much better such as a new coaster site.
July 16, 201510 yr comment_213122 I agree, but that site cannot ever be used for a coaster. That land is outside the park's major development boundary and is very close to a public footpath, meaning that noise restrictions would be a major issue. Not to mention the fact that its green belt land. The same applies for the picnic field south of Pirates' Cove and the Explorer Car Park. The only sites really viable for major coaster are within the current boundaries of the park, which I'm sure you'll agree are all pretty cramped. Then there's the issue of height but that's a whole other story. The only locations really open for a coaster development are inside Land of the Dragons and obviously Toadie's.
July 16, 201510 yr comment_213127 Eurgh, what is it with Merlin and glamping? It'll probably work out well for them, since all things like this do for them. I wonder if, given the temporary application, this is to test the water for a long term plan they've got (maybe like 'camping in a zoo' or something)? Worth also noting that the tents will only be available between May and October.
July 16, 201510 yr comment_213135 Cheap to build, cheap to run, good demand and can charge a fortune for it. Why would they not be interested in it.
July 16, 201510 yr comment_213144 Because surely at somepoint, people will want new attractions to bring them to the park. Merlin are ao rubbish at adding hotels, hotel extensions, and smaller scale hotel additions like this, and the awful enchanted village. When will chessington up their game? Seriously what will it take?
July 16, 201510 yr comment_213147 It all comes down to how paramount park is done. It certainly has very good chance to blow the Merlin bunch out the water but if it does or not is yet to be seen. No new attractions and rising gate figures isn't exactly an insensitive to build more.
July 19, 201510 yr comment_213274 So... The original 7pm closing time during summer has now changed to 6pm throughout the whole of July and August. Absolutely shocking considering both Legoland and Thorpe Park are open until 7pm during peak summer periods! Not only this, however to shorten hours after advertising differently is absolutely disgraceful and I wouldn't be surprised if the origin of these reduced opening hours are due to Merlin's budget cuts across the board.
July 19, 201510 yr comment_213276 To be fair they did extend it to 7 many times over the summer. Plus Chessington is always bad for opening hours like Towers so nothing new there. And opening times are subject to change and often do. Towers are always changing their ones. It's not disgraceful, especially as I doubt many of those who had booked knew it was open till 7 and if it's busy enough I'm sure they'll extend to what is necessary. I don't think Merlin budget cut through the season, each park gets given their money or budget at the beginning and then they can do what they want. Probably means Chessington have overspent somewhere on staffing or something. It's really shocking.
July 19, 201510 yr comment_213277 I'm gutted by this, its a massive shame, but I guess this will be one of many set backs and cost cuts put in place after The Smiler's crash. While it is a very disappointing move, you can't really blame them. The only thing that really baffles me is why was it Chessington over Legoland? I mean, the park's target audience aren't exactly going to be up for a full ten hours at a theme park surely? Whereas at Chessington, there's been a big demand for longer summer hours for ages.
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