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Chessington World of Adventures Resort

So today has been lovely warm weather after a early frost.

Vampire on one train.

Croc drop not spinning with no mist

Rattlesnake, tiger rock closed. ( already knew that )

Zufari, pass.

We paid £39 each ( party of 2 ) for a overnight stay including free gym and pool etc breakfast wasn't good really yet yesterday at thorpe the breakfast was much better... ?!

Park busy with school kids and smelly people in que lines along with those that have all the time in the world to reach the ride station....
 
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Information is now online about what Chessington intends to discuss at the consultation. In summation, we have three main points of interest in terms of new things. These are:
  • Project Refresh and Renew: Wild Asia and the area currently occupied by Explorer Glamping are to be rethemed into a brand new themed land. The centrepiece attraction will be a brand new roller coaster “with indoor and outdoor elements”, and other draws include a rethemed and repositioned Kobra, a new indoor attraction, and a new outdoor play area. Interactive retail and food and beverage opportunities will also be present.
  • Project Play: This is a little bit more blue sky, by the looks of things, but the northern end of Mexicana, encompassing Scorpion Express and the Children’s Zoo, is to be rethemed into a children’s area “similar to CBeebies Land at Alton Towers”. The design concept is still being developed, but this could include a children’s roller coaster, children’s flat rides, a themed play scape and meet and greet areas, amongst other things.
  • Animal Movements: Some of the animals are to be moved to a dedicated area in Wanyama Village and Reserve from their current homes. The lorikeets are to be relocated here from Wild Asia as part of Project Refresh and Renew, and other animals are also to be relocated here.
In terms of some existing announced projects, other updates have also been provided:
  • The previously granted Safari Lodges are being targeted for a 2027 opening.
  • The waterpark development is ongoing, and they hope to seek planning permission at the earliest opportunity.
  • The southern Macaw car park is to be resurfaced using a similar geogrid surfacing system to that at Legoland Windsor.
Doesn’t this all sound rather exciting? I’ll be interested to hear whether there are any more details from the consultations later on!
 
PhalanaxOperativeA1127 said:

Chessington Public Consultation 2024 Announces Plans for New World Replacing Wild Asia | Theme Park Guide

Today, Thursday 19th September 2024, Chessington World of Adventures is holding a public consultation to unveil details about an exciting new projects
themeparkguide.co.uk themeparkguide.co.uk

Well , replacing Wild Asia was not on my bingo card.
Click to expand...

I would argue that’s the best themed area surely not? The ball pit is the only depressing part I would say unless they’re extending the theme?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Matt N said:
Information is now online about what Chessington intends to discuss at the consultation. In summation, we have three main points of interest in terms of new things. These are:
  • Project Refresh and Renew: Wild Asia and the area currently occupied by Explorer Glamping are to be rethemed into a brand new themed land. The centrepiece attraction will be a brand new roller coaster “with indoor and outdoor elements”, and other draws include a rethemed and repositioned Kobra, a new indoor attraction, and a new outdoor play area. Interactive retail and food and beverage opportunities will also be present.
  • Project Play: This is a little bit more blue sky, by the looks of things, but the northern end of Mexicana, encompassing Scorpion Express and the Children’s Zoo, is to be rethemed into a children’s area “similar to CBeebies Land at Alton Towers”. The design concept is still being developed, but this could include a children’s roller coaster, children’s flat rides, a themed play scape and meet and greet areas, amongst other things.
  • Animal Movements: Some of the animals are to be moved to a dedicated area in Wanyama Village and Reserve from their current homes. The lorikeets are to be relocated here from Wild Asia as part of Project Refresh and Renew, and other animals are also to be relocated here.
In terms of some existing announced projects, other updates have also been provided:
  • The previously granted Safari Lodges are being targeted for a 2027 opening.
  • The waterpark development is ongoing, and they hope to seek planning permission at the earliest opportunity.
  • The southern Macaw car park is to be resurfaced using a similar geogrid surfacing system to that at Legoland Windsor.
Doesn’t this all sound rather exciting? I’ll be interested to hear whether there are any more details from the consultations later on!
Click to expand...
Interestingly, from the TPG article there's speculation that the indoor coaster could be the one originally planned for Project Horizon.
 
I reckon from when they’re looking to put planning permission in it’s going to be 2026 for the Wild Asia replacement and 2027 for the Mexicana replacement? Or potentially both pushed a year back?

I’ll be interested to see when the Water Park opens if it gets approved because surely that will be their big focus for one year.

And it looks like Zufari is staying after all - hopefully it gets a big refresh/retheme over Winter and then they can market that as their new thing for 2025!

I’d be interested to see if this new Chessie coaster was supposed to be Project Horizon at Towers - has that been canned altogether do we think?
 
Skyscraper said:
Interestingly, from the TPG article there's speculation that the indoor coaster could be the one originally planned for Project Horizon.
Click to expand...
I think it's far more likely that either Merlin have purchased more than one of the same ride type, a la Spinball Whizzer and Dragons Fury, or it's completely unrelated and a different ride entirely. I don't see this as having any impact on Project Horizon.
 
PhalanaxOperativeA1127 said:

Chessington Public Consultation 2024 Announces Plans for New World Replacing Wild Asia | Theme Park Guide

Today, Thursday 19th September 2024, Chessington World of Adventures is holding a public consultation to unveil details about an exciting new projects
themeparkguide.co.uk themeparkguide.co.uk

Well , replacing Wild Asia was not on my bingo card.
Click to expand...
I’m not surprised that Wild Asia is going. When I visited a couple of weeks ago I did think that it looked quite run down in places and I did get the impression that Temple Of Mayhem might be much more likely to see a bulldozer than a reopening next year.
IMG_8525.jpeg

Also the area around Monkey Swinger looked in a bit of a poor condition as well with lots of water sitting on the floor and some of the seats on the ride itself were green with algae, it wasn’t looking so great.
IMG_8527.jpeg
 
All seems good stuff. A Minecraft coaster at Chessington makes perfect sense I’d expect it to be extremely popular. I wonder if this is a reallocation of PH or Merlin had their usual 2 for 1 offer. What appears to be an indoor flat ride again makes a lot of sense. A indoor coaster, an indoor flat a supporting flat, a play area and indoor F&B…

So they can do it.

Meanwhile the UKs number one theme park gets a re-tracked coaster, an identical replacement flat 4 years too late and a still broken dark ride that or may not be an improvement.

Let’s hope they apply this same logic to Dark Forest and Walliams soon!
 
GooseOnTheLoose said:
I think it's far more likely that either Merlin have purchased more than one of the same ride type, a la Spinball Whizzer and Dragons Fury, or it's completely unrelated and a different ride entirely. I don't see this as having any impact on Project Horizon.
Click to expand...

The two for one I agree with but no impact?

If anything the lack of start on PH (based on their own quoted plans) could suggest they’ve either pushed capex back or this could be it.

Although I really can’t see Alton missing to use such a huge building given how difficult it is to get something like that through planning. But who knows…
 
It's weird for them to state that the Wild Asia buildings are some of the oldest given Beanoland was 1999(ish?) and half the rest of the park is older than that.

All very vague and not much to really consider as of it. Mostly what's apparently staying (including Rattlesnake while rest of Mexicana is binned) is more interesting.

But I guess with Chessie things are far more in a situation of being able to bin a lot more given (especially in Wild Asia) how little infrastructure there really is.
 
Ash said:
The two for one I agree with but no impact?

If anything the lack of start on PH (based on their own quoted plans) could suggest they’ve either pushed capex back or this could be it.

Although I really can’t see Alton missing to use such a huge building given how difficult it is to get something like that through planning. But who knows…
Click to expand...
The only thing which links them is a shed, so it's tenuous at best. If Project Horizon had a ride profile submitted for planning permission, and no shed, I really don't think we'd be having the same conversation.

The area for Project Horizon also being out of access, for even the most determined vlogger, makes updates on any progress a bit more difficult than usual to follow.

CapEx for ride and attraction investments isn't approved at the park level, it's entirely managed by Merlin. A new announcement of a wave and, presumably high, level of investment, at a park everyone thought was being neglected, is a good sign that the money taps haven't been turned off yet.
 
Matt N said:
Information is now online about what Chessington intends to discuss at the consultation. In summation, we have three main points of interest in terms of new things. These are:
  • Project Refresh and Renew: Wild Asia and the area currently occupied by Explorer Glamping are to be rethemed into a brand new themed land. The centrepiece attraction will be a brand new roller coaster “with indoor and outdoor elements”, and other draws include a rethemed and repositioned Kobra, a new indoor attraction, and a new outdoor play area. Interactive retail and food and beverage opportunities will also be present.
  • Project Play: This is a little bit more blue sky, by the looks of things, but the northern end of Mexicana, encompassing Scorpion Express and the Children’s Zoo, is to be rethemed into a children’s area “similar to CBeebies Land at Alton Towers”. The design concept is still being developed, but this could include a children’s roller coaster, children’s flat rides, a themed play scape and meet and greet areas, amongst other things.
  • Animal Movements: Some of the animals are to be moved to a dedicated area in Wanyama Village and Reserve from their current homes. The lorikeets are to be relocated here from Wild Asia as part of Project Refresh and Renew, and other animals are also to be relocated here.
In terms of some existing announced projects, other updates have also been provided:
  • The previously granted Safari Lodges are being targeted for a 2027 opening.
  • The waterpark development is ongoing, and they hope to seek planning permission at the earliest opportunity.
  • The southern Macaw car park is to be resurfaced using a similar geogrid surfacing system to that at Legoland Windsor.
Doesn’t this all sound rather exciting? I’ll be interested to hear whether there are any more details from the consultations later on!
Click to expand...
Just had a look and the plans seem rather impressive.

I'm thinking Jungle Bus is moving over to Project Play.

I am genuinely curious about the fate of the Dodgems and Monkey Swinger. I'd say the latter could be moved over to Thorpe Park easily as it can enhance their line up.

It does sound like both could be getting replaced.

owenstreet7 said:
Exciting times 😁

I'm imagining an update on or adjusted plans for the water park, the Mexicana redevelopment, the replacement for Temple of Mayhem, replacement for older rides such as the Flying Jumbos and further zoo developments.

I'd love to see a retheme of Land of the Dragons into a theme that better fits into the wider Chessington World of Adventures theme as this area is the only one that doesn't seem to fit as well into that theme as it is more of a fantasy theme than a wild adventure theme.
Click to expand...
Looking back at this, it seemed to be closer back to this than I'd have imagined.

I didn't imagine there being two coasters and an indoor/dark ride.

I saw that Chessington Buzz suggested it wasn't those areas, looks like that was a bit of a tease 😂
 
Matt N said:
Information is now online about what Chessington intends to discuss at the consultation. In summation, we have three main points of interest in terms of new things. These are:
  • Project Refresh and Renew: Wild Asia and the area currently occupied by Explorer Glamping are to be rethemed into a brand new themed land. The centrepiece attraction will be a brand new roller coaster “with indoor and outdoor elements”, and other draws include a rethemed and repositioned Kobra, a new indoor attraction, and a new outdoor play area. Interactive retail and food and beverage opportunities will also be present.
  • Project Play: This is a little bit more blue sky, by the looks of things, but the northern end of Mexicana, encompassing Scorpion Express and the Children’s Zoo, is to be rethemed into a children’s area “similar to CBeebies Land at Alton Towers”. The design concept is still being developed, but this could include a children’s roller coaster, children’s flat rides, a themed play scape and meet and greet areas, amongst other things.
  • Animal Movements: Some of the animals are to be moved to a dedicated area in Wanyama Village and Reserve from their current homes. The lorikeets are to be relocated here from Wild Asia as part of Project Refresh and Renew, and other animals are also to be relocated here.
In terms of some existing announced projects, other updates have also been provided:
  • The previously granted Safari Lodges are being targeted for a 2027 opening.
  • The waterpark development is ongoing, and they hope to seek planning permission at the earliest opportunity.
  • The southern Macaw car park is to be resurfaced using a similar geogrid surfacing system to that at Legoland Windsor.
Doesn’t this all sound rather exciting? I’ll be interested to hear whether there are any more details from the consultations later on!
Click to expand...
Wild Asia is one of the very few areas that Merlin has got almost completely right in terms of theming and guest flow. I am a little bit apprehensive.
 
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Overall not convinced it will be an increase in attraction count though if Monkey swinger and the dodgems go. Might improve the quality slightly but Jumanji used the cheapest possible flat rides so I’m not convinced.
 
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