You can get a free ticket from Millie's Cookies if you buy £4 or more of stuff from there. Might be useful if you have an odd numbered group or you could just go back later and essentially pay £8 for 2 tickets.

Or if like me you are a greedy fat bastard, you could just eat all the cookies and go back the next week

Eh?... If this was the Chessington section I'd explain further, but for me Chessington has taken the biggest step forward in 2010 out of all four main Merlin parks, and has surpassed Thorpe for gate figures on frequent occasions this year.Unless I've forgotten the meaning of stagantion.

We're in the Chessie section now.. :huh:I completely agree that Chessie has taken the biggest step forward this season, however, if you look at the years 05-09, the park did well and truly stagnate whilst the zoo advanced. First I've heard about Chessie surpassing Thorpe though. My post was more focusing on preceeding seasons, as opposed to this one.

Gate figures have been a lot lower at peak but spread out instead of silly 12-13k peaks.

2008 season, regular 16,000 gate figues.Althoguh that year was just the best Chessie season ever from a personal stand point, as well as a commercial one.

I have a few questions that I have been pondering about for quite some time now. I have been to Chessington 4 times now and I am not going to go to there for a while as I have riden all the rides that interested me and have seen everything so I would not spend my money again unless there is a really good offer lol.But anyway.Why have the ticket prices increased over the 5-8 years? (they are very expensive!).What I also find strange is that the queue times are much quicker, shorter then what it was in 2003 for example, there is less people visiting the park then before but the tickets are high?

I have to say I disagree with it being particularly expensive.Compare it to other things you can do, e.g. a few friends paid £55 the other week for a Pendulum concert, that lasts a few hours.Also, the high gate price caters for the huge number of offers out there etc.I honestly don't think you can complain, and how you can choose not to go to Chessington any more, well, it's your loss.Also, there's more to do now than 2003, not only that, the target market has changed since then with Thorpe becoming the Thrill Park.

Why have the ticket prices increased over the 5-8 years? (they are very expensive!).What I also find strange is that the queue times are much quicker, shorter then what it was in 2003 for example, there is less people visiting the park then before but the tickets are high?

1. Inflation, new additions, staff wages have increased, ride maintenance costs go up as rides get older. They are expensive but only in relation to say.. doing nothing. I personally think the costs for Chessington anyway are good value. Thorpe and Alton not so much...2. Queues aren't so much shorter, it's just staff are more aware of queue busting and efficiency since Tussauds of 2003 becamse very aware of the bad publicity queues have.3. Gate Figures are far higher then you realise, the park is doing very well actually.

since the average IQ level of youtubers is pretty low...

Hey! I'm a youtuber and I take that as a personal insult! :oand Chessie isn't as expensive as Legoland!

last week I saw no body riding griffins galleon all day! I must say it is not too well signposted and in my opinionis not that bad of a ride. However on this day, the 2nd highest ride queue was for Toady's cars.

Yeah, That's the problem with Griffin's really- LoTD wasn't very well designed in the fact that it's tucked away, making it difficult for guests to come across it. This is why many of us think they should get rid of Truckers and open up that end of the area. I do think it's a great little area for children, shame it's not as well known by many of the guests!I can really see Chessie having really defined areas with entrances to each, having 'transition areas' like you get in the Universal and Disney Parks. A good example of this would be the area between Land of the Dragon's and Wild Asia- that's going to really work as a transition area once they develop the areas into their desired continents.

^ This :)I really hope we end up with well defined areas!And also, a possible reason behind no-one riding Griffin's is that it was down a lot of last week.

I dont think this was the case on my visit day due to a very bored looking man sitting in the control unit with nobody on the ride!

I dont think this was the case on my visit day due to a very bored looking man sitting in the control unit with nobody on the ride!

I loved Grffins. Could spend hours down there and not see a single person. Marvellous doss ride.

I loved Grffins. Could spend hours down there and not see a single person. Marvellous doss ride.

Quoted for Truth...Love Griffins, epic music, epic ride, just fab...Get rid of that crappy Zamperla attraction that annoys everyone involved and it can get the attention it rightly deserves...

Griffins is wicked, some may not agree.

I agree! I love that ride, then again, I think the whole Land of the Dragons area is truly awesome.

With the new continenetal theme, what will land of the dragons be?Any Ideas?

Just a reminder that we have an awesome Future section to talk about this sort of thing!

Vampire - 120 minsBubbleworks - 70 minsSafari Skyway - 30 minsRattlesnake - 45 minsDragon Falls - 100 minsHeard by someone Black Buccaneer had a 30 mins queue too.They are some of the queues for yesterday.Yesterday had one of the highest gate figures since 2000! (Thanks to Outfit for that information )

Vampire - 120 minsBubbleworks - 70 minsSafari Skyway - 30 minsRattlesnake - 45 minsDragon Falls - 100 minsHeard by someone Black Buccaneer had a 30 mins queue too.They are some of the queues for yesterday.Yesterday had one of the highest gate figures since 2000! (Thanks to Outfit for that information )

I knew all this information, outift's not the only one you know!

I knew all this information, outift's not the only one you know!

But what's your point?

Rather noobish question from to be honest...Park opens at 10, but does Explorer Gate open half hour before then?

But what's your point?

don't really have point, just that it is common knowledge, lots of people know

Rather noobish question from to be honest...Park opens at 10, but does Explorer Gate open half hour before then?

Both Gates open at half 9 ish, however on Lodge side you're held at the containment gates until 10. On Explorer side, you're allowed into Wild Asia I believe.

Both Gates open at half 9 ish, however on Lodge side you're held at the containment gates until 10. On Explorer side, you're allowed into Wild Asia I believe.

Ta. :blink:Though I think it's only Hotel guests allowed in Wild Asia...