c1hrisin Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 Fair point there, but that's not the first style of safari that comes to most people's minds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pluk Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 I think when some of the planting grows in it will look a lot better, it will make it feel permanent and complete even if it isn't strictly realistic. It will help it feel like a viewing of a natural place rather than a disconnected drive round fairly standard zoo enclosures. It doesn't feel like you are part of an adventure at the moment, more like something you are viewing from elsewhere and I'm sure the growth will help that. There's a lot more fundamental problems with the ride than the planting though. I'm intrigued to see if any meaningful improvements are made, I doubt they will as I'm sure the feedback will just slip into the 'good enough' category. Who needs excellence eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imagineer Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 Fair point there, but that's not the first style of safari that comes to most people's minds That's because most of the season for going to countries that have a Safari is during a dry season - so that it is easier to spot the animals. In theme parks obviously spotting the animals through thick grasses isn't really a problem! SteveJ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merry-go-girl Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 Consider me corrected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pluk Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Also from Chessington Buzz... They've realised they have made mistakes with Zufari, and then to remedy it have made it worse. What in the world is that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyMoo Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Mmmm dat keyclamp railing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 I wouldn't trust Merlin to organise a piss-up in a brewery... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merry-go-girl Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 I guess it's the only way they could think to stop queue jumping during the pre-show. But I wonder, did they even consider the radical action of putting up a big sign asking guests to enter and leave in order? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pluk Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Or, and this is extreme thinking I know, just rearrange the seating blocks and some other minor expense bits of theming to a zig zag (ie cattlepen) formation so the preshow was viewed while shuffling through. Now it seems you have a choice of watching the show while everyone jumps you, or walk straight though and miss it. It makes no sense at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HermanTheGerman Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 I'd like for the pre-show building to have a cattlepen installed, with space for theming. Then use the pre-show screen to show the animals on the ride, to give you something to look at whilst in the queue. The first half of the original pre-show (the Chase part) would play every two mins or so, in order to not loose the story, but ditching the cringe worthy lemur. This would decrease running costs (not having to pay staff for the voice over) and probably improve guest experience. OldFarmerDean 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pluk Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Exactly, something like that. It seems quite simple to me, I've no idea what they are thinking with what they've done in terms of either use or look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBobJones Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 I think they have got it half right. What would have been better was a walking cattlepen inside the building with Chase Van Driver telling you about Zufari, what to expect and then have pictures of the animals you would see today jon81uk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon81uk Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 I think they have got it half right. What would have been better was a walking cattlepen inside the building with Chase Van Driver telling you about Zufari, what to expect and then have pictures of the animals you would see today Yes, something more liek Willy Wonka's introduction in Charlie & Chocolate Factory at Alton Towers. the queue snakes in front of the screen several times and you usually get to see the whole video twice. Zufari would be better with just Chase and some animals and a hint at the mysterious cave and get rid of Gozi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 I think that the cave on Zufari would really benefit from a door at both ends - it would be darker, more atmospheric and the tacky sheeting roof would be hidden. J.S217 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerfuffle Posted March 29, 2014 Report Share Posted March 29, 2014 What in the world is that? It's the same awful job of a preshow queueline as Alton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBobJones Posted March 30, 2014 Report Share Posted March 30, 2014 I went on Zufari today and I have to say it worked for me. Missed the Gonzi thing, got Chase Van Driver, queues inside for a short time. in total the queue was only 15 mins. got to see lots of animals and the effects were working well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flipper Posted March 30, 2014 Report Share Posted March 30, 2014 I went on Zufari today and I have to say it worked for me. Missed the Gonzi thing, got Chase Van Driver, queues inside for a short time. in total the queue was only 15 mins. got to see lots of animals and the effects were working well. I have to second that I feel it works, but based on what you're experience was it completely confused me as to what it's purpose is. When we queued, it just showed the logo on the screen for ages, and then suddenly that annoying Lemur came up and tried to interact with the kids, encouraging the kids to be let through and stand in the big space until the adults caught up; and trying to be interactive (still the staff member behind a screen). At first, I thought it was just a way to run it how they wanted to - pre-show when it's busy, no pre-show when it's not; but clearly that isn't the case. I do agree though I think that a normal cattle pen and a generic video would work better; although equally I would like to see the wood and rope queue line continued if they went down that route eventually. Also, don't know if you noticed it BBJ, but when I went on the driver parked ridiculously close to the rockery in the cave; resulting in us all getting a real soaking which I wasn't too pleased about. The car had puddles in it when we boarded, so we sat in a small flood throughout it which wasn't pleasant, and getting off, I felt like I'd been on Valhalla in Blackpool. It truly threw water in, giving everyone a spray; and giving poor unlucky mugs like me who were sat on the end left a real soaking as the wave literally came into the jeep... TPJames 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashleyrose-66 Posted June 22, 2015 Report Share Posted June 22, 2015 Chessington have sadly announced that "Kismet" one of the Giraffe from Zufari has died. He was unwell, and the vets took the decision to "euthanize" him. pognoi 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Han30 Posted June 22, 2015 Report Share Posted June 22, 2015 After reading this, I had a look on their FB page - aaaand I have tears in my eyes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstroDan Posted June 22, 2015 Report Share Posted June 22, 2015 ...that makes the ride even more boring then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark9 Posted June 22, 2015 Report Share Posted June 22, 2015 /\ Mark9 Dislikes this post. Poor Giraffe. The keepers at Chessington must be gutted, the relationships they develop with these animals means they must be heartbroken today. HermanTheGerman, Matt 236, dk3 and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Han30 Posted June 22, 2015 Report Share Posted June 22, 2015 ...that makes the ride even more boring then. say whaaaaaa? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merry-go-girl Posted June 22, 2015 Report Share Posted June 22, 2015 Well that's a bummer they only had him a few years and giraffes should live to around 25. Poor thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pluk Posted June 23, 2015 Report Share Posted June 23, 2015 Well that's a bummer they only had him a few years and giraffes should live to around 25. Poor thing. He was 19, so getting there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HermanTheGerman Posted June 23, 2015 Report Share Posted June 23, 2015 ...that makes the ride even more boring then. Seriously? I know you may dislike the ride and the park as a whole, but this seems quite cold hearted. This must be horrible for the keepers though, the animals must have been like pets to them, and I personally can't stand it when an animal has to be put down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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