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Chessington World of Adventures Resort

Not that I have been to Chessington since it was a zoo, but could I nominate another dark ride that is a shadow of its former self, and in a poor neglected state.
Valhalla.
What a mess.
 
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Valhalla has declined a lot but it's still entertaining at least. You had to see Imperial Leather Bubbleworks and today's Tomb Blaster to believe it. How could Tomb possibly be considered 'working' and fit to open?
 
To not be going round the track. Bulldoze it. It's the kindest thing to do.

I think that's harsh. It has the bones of a really good dark ride that could eat the que lines...if done correctly. Redo the que lines, repair the sets correctly, get the screens working in the ques again and correct the lighting. Then the rest is just a complete service of track and ride trains. Pretty basic stuff, and let's be honest, this is stuff most other "theme" parks do on a day to day basis
 
It has the bones of a really good dark ride that could eat the que lines...if done correctly. Redo the que lines, repair the sets correctly, get the screens working in the ques again and correct the lighting. Then the rest is just a complete service of track and ride trains.

If Merlin were going to go to all that effort (which, let’s face it, is highly unlikely), they might as well retheme the ride given its age, although ripping out such an elaborate facade would probably be an expense too far.

That said, I suppose with the imminent removal of Rameses and the new crocodile drop tower going on, they could refresh the ride as some kind of jungle adventure without too much exterior work.
 
The ride's maximum throughput is 400pph. Given it's one of Chessington's largest rides and indeed their major dark ride, that is dire. It would be better to put something more modern and higher capacity in.
 
The ride's maximum throughput is 400pph. Given it's one of Chessington's largest rides and indeed their major dark ride, that is dire. It would be better to put something more modern and higher capacity in.

Is that just it's it's cu throughput? Chessington and Merlin don't care about ques. I thought it was higher and all trains available and operational? I miss terror tomb. It was Disney standard.
 
Is that just it's it's cu throughput? Chessington and Merlin don't care about ques. I thought it was higher and all trains available and operational? I miss terror tomb. It was Disney standard.

On the operations panel, there is a document that reads "4 trains - 300 guests per hour. 5 trains - 400 guests per hour". (Or to that effect, it may be 3 trains = 400 guests per hour, 4 trains = 500 guests per hour).

Factor in fast track and the main queue becomes an utter, non-moving misery. An advertised 20 minute wait on the last visit turned into just short of an hour due to fast track; the park wasn't even that busy. The ride's operations are appalling.
 
Thinking about old Chessington makes me depressed.
At this point, I think I’d rather the entire complex was SBNO.

On a lighter note, CHESS-ington or CHEZ-ington?
 
I've always said Chessington, as have most of my family, but my Nan says Chezington. Then again, I don't often bring the park up with her as I know she used to visit when she lived in Kent in the 70s and 80s (this was when it was still solely a zoo), and its conversion into a theme park is something she's never agreed with...
 
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