March 15, 201312 yr comment_153233 Me too. For anyone who was going Sunday, they can go on Wednesday when the park fully re-opens. 3 days isn't going to kill anyone. Ermmmm, yeah, of course I can book a day off work and take my child out of school to go to a theme park... A right shame as the AP are ALWAYS popular and busy at Chessie... Not a great start to the season really... A lot of the park needs resurfacing and a LOT of it needs redeveloping in general, need a HUGE investment in infrastructure, but it just seems like the parks have all suddenly gone really behind on what they're doing with work on new things...
March 16, 201312 yr comment_153308 When you look around Chessington, the ground is a patchwork quilt of years of resurfacing! Thorpe is the same in a few areas, and Alton is probably the best too. Also, I love how the Vampire seems to have taken control of The Burger Kitchen. It belongs to Transylvania, not the Vamp.
March 16, 201312 yr comment_153316 The ground is constantly shifting, hence why repaving is a complete patchwork (key examples are the field by Fury and the entrance to Trail of the Kings)... It's REALLY bad but something the park cannot control...
March 17, 201312 yr comment_153358 Yes, the whole park slowly slides down the hill. I'll never understand.
March 19, 201312 yr comment_153639 http://www.chessington.com/updates/ 3 Rides out for the start of the season and Zufari opening late.. I look froward to seeing these upgrades!
March 19, 201312 yr comment_153641 The scale of this investment, and also the fact that the resort is open throughout the year for Zoo Days, means that all the works cannot be completed in the winter months and a certain amount of disruption cannot be avoided during the main park season. My BS detector is twitching. In the five months since closing there is no way they could not have completed this over closed season, especially with it all being in areas not accessible during zoo days anyway. They have clearly failed to plan and screwed up their timings, or have been forced into taking unplanned action now because things have become inoperable due to the condition they have got in (I think this is especially likely with Mine Train). Good that stuff is happening of course, just a shame they aren't capable of managing it properly.
March 19, 201312 yr comment_153648 They were delayed, as per everything merlins done this year bar crash pad. Whether it was started late or not, who knows!
March 19, 201312 yr comment_153653 I'll find out tomorrow when I go, but as both rides in Mystic East are closed, is the area totally closed to visitors?
March 19, 201312 yr comment_153676 The only improvement they could make to Peeking Heights is throwing it away... I do wonder though why all of a sudden news of such an investment in Chessie (since those two words NEVER happen) wasn't revealed until THIS week... Great to see 3 rides down for opening though... PERFECT decision making...
March 19, 201312 yr comment_153690 Looks like Chessington is setting themselves up to have a very negative year plagued with problems and lots of unhappy guests! Cancelling Annual Pass weekend at short notice Unhappy customers due to reaching capacity in half term (although I stuck up for them as I didn't believe it was their fault) Zufari delayed a week has upset a lot of people - especially when they delay it and then two weeks prior to it's delayed opening have a VIP preview Now these closed rides. Hmmm have I missed anything.
March 19, 201312 yr comment_153691 That post sounds like something I expect on the tube. However looking forward hopefully to improved falls and mine train if their rocks are renewed.
March 19, 201312 yr comment_153694 Agree with all the above, especially pluk - something doesn't stack up here! Having RMT and Dragon Falls closed at the same time - arguably two of the biggest and most popular rides at CWOA - doesn't sit right to me. You can't tell me that was "planned"...?!
March 19, 201312 yr comment_153699 IMO I think that maybe they had a visit from HSE (or a similar body) and were like yeah these are getting dangerous, you need to sort them out now.
March 19, 201312 yr comment_153701 I think even if they had Vampire back on three trains again (bet it won't happen) there will be some crazy queues for 2013.
March 19, 201312 yr comment_153705 I always find that when Merlin rides get a spruce up it is always half a job and it leaves it looking almost as bad as it did. Let's hope this time they will go for it!
March 20, 201312 yr comment_153729 What did I say weeks ago about health and safety and the rocks, I knew I was right.
March 20, 201312 yr comment_153730 What did I say weeks ago about health and safety maintenance and the rocks, I knew I was right.
March 20, 201312 yr comment_153737 What did I say weeks ago about health and safety and the rocks, I knew I was right. Really? I missed the part where you predicted that Chessington would close some of its rides for a two year £million refurbishment plan. Although it is probably clear that this is to do with the fibreglass rockfaces of doom. Dragon River's first lift and drop had a lot of water damage last year and obviously Runaway Train's caves died years ago. In an ideal world, as well as restoring the sculpted Buddha faces on Dragon River they should rebuild the mountain, which would make a big positive difference to the area. Then they should totally remove the caves surrounding Runaway Train and rebuild them with something not made of foam. However, I doubt they would spend so much money on a small ride that doesn't have a long future. Also, considering Chessington's budget for its new flagship ride was cut by £4million, it seems unlikely they would receive so much money to refurbish its older rides, although they have wanted to for years. Well as long as the rides are better after the refurbishment, not worse...!
March 20, 201312 yr comment_153741 Agree with all the above, especially pluk - something doesn't stack up here! Having RMT and Dragon Falls closed at the same time - arguably two of the biggest and most popular rides at CWOA - doesn't sit right to me. You can't tell me that was "planned"...?! To be honest, I think they will be up and running soon. They are ovbiously trying to get them open for the easter season but who knows if they will be open! I am visiting at the end of easter again so at least they will be open I am visiting on saturday(my thorpe trip cancelled ) and I would like to see falls open but not very bothered about RMT. I suspect people will be very cross though with all these delays especially as RMT is a great family ride! I bet they will try and sell you a fastrack ticket with only 2 of 4 rides working on it I can gradually see zufari getting delayed by 1 week at a time...
March 20, 201312 yr comment_153745 The work on Falls and Runaway goes way beyond losing some rocks. In a year that I thought Chessington would lead the way, it's going backwards at every step. It's even more gaulling that Zufari isn't open at all considering its been doing previews and staff have been able to ride it since.
March 20, 201312 yr comment_153748 I feel for Fury and Vampire, well and truly. Good work Chessington though, the park with the longest closed season of all our parks is unable to open five of its biggest rides. Ludicrous.
March 20, 201312 yr comment_153757 May as well call it a zoo days extension! Just watch facebook explode in the next few days.
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