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Chessington World of Adventures Resort

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Chessington World of Adventures Resort was one of the pioneering parks in the UK's theme park industry. Being one of the very first in the country to be build upon a foundation of theming, theatricality and an impressing selection of immersive rides, the development of this park in the 90's was one of brilliance and grew from being a failing zoo to one of the UK's most loved theme parks.

Paving the way for the rapid growth of the Tussauds group, the profits, ideas and people involved with the initial developments at Chessington then went of to work on Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and some of the other UK theme parks. This special little park help shape the UK theme park industry as we know it, so share your thoughts, ideas and discuss one of the UK's best loved theme parks.
 
I honestly wouldnt visit if it wasnt for the fact I had a magic pass. There isnt really anything appealing there to me and the reviews ive heard of previouse people that have been have all said the place looks ''run down'' now I know this is due to budget and such but apart from Vampire and Wild Asia nothing else really appeals to be there. It just seems another bog standard park although more aimed at younger guests.
 
Zak said:
I honestly wouldnt visit if it wasnt for the fact I had a magic pass. There isnt really anything appealing there to me and the reviews ive heard of previouse people that have been have all said the place looks ''run down'' now I know this is due to budget and such but apart from Vampire and Wild Asia nothing else really appeals to be there. It just seems another bog standard park although more aimed at younger guests.
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A lot of the park has seen better days, but it's still extremely easy to visit Chessington and have an amazing day out. The rides aren't huge, but rides don't have to be Behemoth-sized to be good.

Vampire is a really good coaster. I mean, REALLY good! It just covers everything that a good family coaster should cover. There are few coasters in this country I enjoy more than Vampire! Bubbleworks may not be as good as it used to be, but that doesn't mean the ride won't put a smile on your face. And the fountain finale with the different light colours catching the jets is really something!

Wild Asia is impressive too. Kobra doesn't have the same kick as Flamingo Land's 'Navigator', but it looks great and I suppose the less-forceful ride is better for families. :p

Although Dragon Falls is short, it's a pleasant flume ride with some lovely theming. It's just as fun to watch the drop as it is to actually be on the ride.

Dragon's Fury is probably equal with Sonic Spinball, in my opinion. It's another fun coaster that's suitable for the whole family to enjoy. And it gives you some great views of the park surroundings like Peeking Heights does (except DF can have more than two people riding at once :p ).

Tomb Blaster is one of the best dark rides in the UK. I love the theming, music and the queue as well! Ramses next door is great fun as well, if you miss being hurled around on bigger rides.

Rattlesnake and the Runaway Train are by no means the biggest rides ever, but what they lack for in size they make up for in theming. Okay, the Runaway Train's mountain theming is literally crumbling away, but the rest of the ride is fine. The chaotic nature of Rattlesnake and the theming is enough for most people, but even queueing up for it is fun!

As for the zoo, it's pretty good for such a small area. They have quite a lot on offer and they're adding to it all with a new Safari style ride next year, so that can only be a good thing. But you can see just as much from the Monorail too, and there's time in a full day to experience the zoo from both above and blow.

There are lots of great attractions at Chessington. If anyone fails to have fun there then it isn't the park that should be blamed! :p
 
This year was the first time I had visited the park for about 15 years. It felt so tired and unloved.

It's certainly the Merlin park that feels the least 'Merlin'
 
Last week was the first time I had been to Chessie since I was a child which would also have probably been about 15 years ago, and I have to agree most of the park feels very tired and unloved. It reminded me of a family run park that doesnt really have alot of money, if it wasnt for the generic Merlin food outlets and adverts for annual passes I wouldnt even know Merlin owned it.

It clearly looks like Merlin havnt spend much there in years. It kind goes to show when one of their mains rides (Vampire) was also their star attraction when I went 15 years ago.
 
^ My thoughts exactly. Certain areas of the park felt a little more run down than others.

I couldn't bring myself to go into the zoo after seeing it from the monorail.
 
Rick said:
^ My thoughts exactly. Certain areas of the park felt a little more run down than others.

I couldn't bring myself to go into the zoo after seeing it from the monorail.
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I'd say the monorail itself is looking worse than the zoo. The zoo really isn't that bad, tbh. I go to Chester Zoo once a month and when you compare what Chessington has to a zoo as good as Chester Zoo, you realise that Chessington's zoo is pretty good for its size and in relation to other aspects of the park. And the zoo has a great collection of animals as well!

:)
 
I've always thought the zoo was the best kept and themed area in the park, particularly from the pathways around Trail of the Kings and down from Mexicana.
 
The thing I love about Chessington is it's genuine passion. The management have such beautiful and creative aspirations for the park, yet the funding simply isn't there. They began to prove this with Wild Asia and the ideas and plans for the whole park regeneration, before the big boys wanted the bulges in their pockets padded out with cash.

Chessington have even recently employed someone who is specifically in charge of themeing and effects and works closely with teams to improve existing areas and little bits and bobs, as well as future plans. Despite there being hardly any funding, they want to still make the park the best it can be and I think that is true passion.
 
It's incredibly frustrating that Chessington don't have the investment ready to do such groundbreaking and 'unique' attractions like the sister parks but at the same time it's great to see them trying in a 'there's still hope' way to make the most of the situation. They've had so many ideas over the past few decades that simply wouldn't come to fruition out of finance and local building restraints and they deserve to have a new stellar attraction just as much as they do deserve to have the theme park section spruced up.
 
Halloween at Chessington has just lost some of its hocus pocus.

The park will close at a horribly early 7.00pm this year. This follows Thorpe Park cutting to 9.00pm.

Closing at 7.00pm, it'll barely be dark at all and almost worthless installing the lighting...

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Hardly surprising given what's been going on elsewhere, but I very much doubt I'll be visiting now for such a short amount of dark riding time. Shame really, as Chessington has looked spectacular at night the past couple of years.

There don't seem to be many 6pm ride closes outside of August, have there been cuts elsewhere too or were the opening hours always rubbish?
 
Oh my goodness... What. A. Waste.

Chessington's Halloween event has always been delightful, and particularly their lighting park-wide has been stunning! (They have the obvious advantage of much smaller park to light)

To close that early is just...unbelievable, and even more incomprehensible than a Thorpe FN ending at 9 :(
 
If it closes that early, are they even going to bother with the nice coloured lighting, or extra lighting at all?
 
I may be shot down here but the park has always been empty the last few hours when I've been to Hocus Pocus with rides walk on.

It's a shame but if you need to make cuts it makes sense to do it when it's dead.

I love going for Hocus Pocus and would have liked them to keep the late opening, but I'm not surprised. :-(
 
It is always empty but still, the whole point of a Halloween event is night riding, and well, an hour of it? Nah...

Bleh, just gonna keep on happening, and I really cannot be bothered with the park this year... Still expect the Safari to be cancelled at any moment...
 
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