Chessington World of Adventures Resort

[Prof Burp]

It is Chessington’s one, and I imagine they take those numbers from their retained documentation so they should be correct. I can only presume wasn't new when Chessington purchased. There wasn't an internet full of sluthing geeks to document it at the time though. The ride type was already 10 years old in '88 so its certainly likely.

@pluk it isn’t a massive shock that the Black Buccaneer was second hand. Since the Black Buccaneers insulation Chessington World Of Adventures have purchased,Monkey Swinger (Billy’s Wizzer),Temple Of Mayhem (Dennis’s Madhouse),Peeking Hights (Eclipse) and River Rafts (Crocodile Creek) that have all been second hand.

@pluk the fact that Black Buccaneer was already a decade old when claimed as new, could explain why it has been condemned by Chessy and sold before The Blade at Alton Towers. To the unsuspecting eye The Blade would appear older than The Black Buccaneer whereas in reality the Black Buccaneer is at least 8 years older due to the fact that Chessington World Of Adventures purchased it years after it was originally new.

 

[ringo]

A random over at TPM posted this gem

Hello fellow forum members!,I hope your belief regarding the return of Forbidden Tomb thickens once you have read this. I was sent this email by Theme Park Giraffe regarding the return of Forbidden Tomb. Keep in mind that Theme Park Giraffe herd about the return of Forbidden Tomb from the horses mouth. The email goes like this

Start of quote “I’ve heard the the ‘Forbidden Tomb’ name may be returning through Nick Hutson on a future episode on the podcast” end of quote.

Can you all please trust that Nick Hudson is telling the truth. Chessington is digging itself out of the deep pit that Tussaud’s lead it into. I have faith that when Chessington’s season starts in March Forbidden Tomb’s jewel thief Abdab may have returned or a least the richly themed Disneyesqe Forbidden Tomb will be uncovered!!

https://forum.maniahub.com/topic/11982-new-for-2021-drop-tower/?do=findComment&comment=271982

Seem so strange Chessington themselves aren’t teasing this exciting development...

 

[John]

Disneyesque? Not a chance!

 

[jon81uk]

Can you all please trust that Nick Hudson is telling the truth. Chessington is digging itself out of the deep pit that Tussaud’s lead it into. I have faith that when Chessington’s season starts in March Forbidden Tomb’s jewel thief Abdab may have returned or a least the richly themed Disneyesqe Forbidden Tomb will be uncovered!!

Considering that Pearson publishing owned the park from 1948 and Tussauds (a subsidery of Pearson) took over the park in 1978, appointing John Wardley in 1984 to turn it into the Disney-esque theme park, whoever wrote this doesn't seem to realise it was Tussauds that created the original attraction The Fifth Dimension, then Terror Tomb, then Forbiddon tomb.

 

[Prof Burp]

Disneyesque? Not a chance!

@John please don't put Chessington World Of Adventures down the toilet pan. I think that Chessy is exactly how Disneyland would be without the following,smell pods around the park, Disney characters,parades,fireworks and the Sprikle of Disney Magic that no other Theme Park could come close to recreating. Ever since my first visit to Chessey back in October 2007 I have nicknamed it Disney in England!!!

 

[Islander]

Can you all please trust that Nick Hudson is telling the truth

Lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Prof Burp]

Considering that Pearson publishing owned the park from 1948 and Tussauds (a subsidery of Pearson) took over the park in 1978, appointing John Wardley in 1984 to turn it into the Disney-esque theme park, whoever wrote this doesn't seem to realise it was Tussauds that created the original attraction The Fifth Dimension, then Terror Tomb, then Forbiddon tomb.

@jon81uk I thought that Tussads destroyed Chessington World Of Adventures. I thought that it was the Pearson Group who employed John Wardley who in turn created the Chessington World Of Adventures greats like Tomb Blaster (Forbidden Tomb),Professor Burp's Bubbleworks,Runaway Train,Circus World and of course the legendary Vampire Rollercoaster that is still much loved today. I truly thought that Tussads were the company who destroyed Professor Burp's Bubbleworks by turning it into a living Imperial Leather advert!!

 

[Ian]

If by Disney-esque we are benchmarking against Superstar Limo... I guess the answer is still no.

 

[AT86]

I mean there could be some truth in Tomb Blaster getting some attention over the closed season, they have tinkered with it nearly every year for the past 5 years.

Since the new ride for 2021 will be next door they might have some budget to make improvements to TB and to freshen up Forbidden Kingdom in general.

But returning Abdab (who was removed due to reasons that still stand today) and bringing in a Disney style revamp? Slightly far fetched!

 

[Ian]

For anyone who wants to know more about the inception of Chessington as “World of Adventures” and it’s attractions I recommend watching Themes, Dreams and Scream Machines.

While the documentary mainly looks at The Haunted House and Runaway Mine Train construction John Wardley talks at great length about the transformations of both Towers, Chessington and the Tussauds Group in general as well as the development and conception of many of the classic rides.



32 minutes is when the Chessington discussion really starts.

 

[jon81uk]

@jon81uk I thought that Tussads destroyed Chessington World Of Adventures. I thought that it was the Pearson Group who employed John Wardley who in turn created the Chessington World Of Adventures greats like Tomb Blaster (Forbidden Tomb),Professor Burp's Bubbleworks,Runaway Train,Circus World and of course the legendary Vampire Rollercoaster that is still much loved today. I truly thought that Tussads were the company who destroyed Professor Burp's Bubbleworks by turning it into a living Imperial Leather advert!!

Pearson owned Tussauds until 1999 when it was sold to Charterhouse development, then Dubai Investment in 2005, and now Merlin Entertainments.

Most of the good stuff across all Tussauds parks was in the years up to the mid-2000s so in the Pearson-ownership and into the Charterhouse time. The purchase of Thorpe Park in 1998 and the creation of the Tussauds annual pass in the following years also changed a lot about how the group was run I think.
Imperial Leather Bubbleworks was 2006, so just as the group passed from Charterhouse Investments to Dubai Investments. But yes much of the really good stuff was in the 80s/90s with John Wardley, when Tussauds was part of Pearson.

 

[Benzin]

DIC ruined all the parks, Chessie in particular suffered greatly.

Tomb Blaster also got a "refresh" last year didn't it? And the year before. And before that. Etc.

 

[ChristmasPud]

None of this has anything to do with Tomb Blaster in reality or an accurate depiction of the park’s history so I wouldnt take it to mean anything.

Things are way more complicated than ‘Tussauds bad’ or ‘Tussauds good’ or that an old ride can be ‘brought back’ because some guy on Twitter said so

 

[Ian]

Tomb Blaster also got a "refresh" last year didn't it? And the year before. And before that. Etc.

And herein lies the frustration. If you added together all of the money that’s been spent on these odds and sods that have been done you’d probably have a bit of a budget for a more significant update and overhaul. There seems to be a total lack of longer term vision (no doubt due to it being easier to secure money for smaller maintenance-type projects than a proper rework).

It’s not something that’s unique to Tomb Blaster.

 

[jon81uk]

Things are way more complicated than ‘Tussauds bad’ or ‘Tussauds good’

This is also why anyone who makes the "Merlin has ruined the parks" argument annoys me. Its not that simple.

 

[Prof Burp]

I mean there could be some truth in Tomb Blaster getting some attention over the closed season, they have tinkered with it nearly every year for the past 5 years.

Since the new ride for 2021 will be next door they might have some budget to make improvements to TB and to freshen up Forbidden Kingdom in general.

But returning Abdab (who was removed due to reasons that still stand today) and bringing in a Disney style revamp? Slightly far fetched!

@AT86 like you I realistically think that the return of Tomb Blaster will entail the uncovering of the Forbidden Tomb sign and the removal of the guns and targets. I hope my expectations are proven too low and a fourgh refurbishment is carried out. Considering that Chessington World Of Adventures are getting the new Drop Tower and Blue Barnacle next year (season) I doubt money will be available to subject Tomb Blaster to a complete retheme and refit.

 

[ChristmasPud]

return of Tomb Blaster will entail the uncovering of the Forbidden Tomb sign and the removal of the guns and targets.

That's not the return of Forbidden Tomb then?

Also if the guns are removed, Im sure guest enjoyment will nosedive even more because there wont be the guns to distract from the fact the ride is now so boring.

 

[AT86]

Couple of pictures from Theme Park Guide showing the replacement Pirate Ship and Croc Drop construction.

 

[ChristmasPud]

Ooh I like the look of the new boat, looks very nice. Not totally convinced about the huge goofy croc head sticking out of the temple, but cant judge until finished

 

[AT86]

Also, just found this video which might be of interest to some. A look at some work on Vampire including details on the organist refurbishment.