Chessington World of Adventures Resort

[Bowser]

I said this on here a few years ago and got shot down by some folk.......but I will repeat again. A lot of you have probably outgrown Chessington and refused to admit it to yourself.

It's not a park for young adults anymore. It probably never was truth be told but that's even more true now. They are clearly going after a family / younger child audience and that makes a ton of sense given that's where the money is currently and the fact they have Thorpe close by which is aimed at thrill seekers.

For the same reason it's probably my favourite UK park for attractions, it has thrill rides but my son can go on them all! Ok there's Rattlesnake which is the outlier at 1.4m (presumably for safety reasons not intensity) but i'm sure that will be gone soon enough. In fact considering Mexicana is no more it's going to be quite the oddity. I'm surprised it's not getting a re-theme. Perhaps it will over the winter?

You don't tend to see the same criticism levelled at Legoland because people accept it's a family park.

 

[owenstreet7]

I said this on here a few years ago and got shot down by some folk.......but I will repeat again. A lot of you have probably outgrown Chessington and refused to admit it to yourself.

It's not a park for young adults anymore. It probably never was truth be told but that's even more true now. They are clearly going after a family / younger child audience and that makes a ton of sense given that's where the money is currently and the fact they have Thorpe close by which is aimed at thrill seekers.

I can somewhat agree on this however I'd say that Chessington has carved out it's market share with Alton Towers, Paultons Park and Drayton Manor now sharing this market.

In terms of an all ages family park that offers something for everyone.

Currently Towers is the closest to all ages in it's offering with a range of rides for thrillseekers.

Drayton Manor previously catered well for all ages with thrill being covered well however since Thomas Land opened, they have hyperfocused on the area and almost forgot about everyone else, since Looping Group acquired them - this has improved but more on an all ages level.

Paultons Park have grown hugely over the years from a park that is probably as big as Flambards in Cornwall to something that could really compete Towers in years to come. I'd say they may cater closely to all ages very soon.

Chessington has always been very much an all ages park however there has been a more family focus over the years with Thorpe Park being nearby. I'd say it is more all ages than Legoland. With the zoo, it is a multi generational theme park and I'd say is a good middle ground between Legoland and Thorpe Park.

The Paw Patrol area serves it's purpose and is the park's equivalent to Cbeebies Land, Peppa Pig World and Thomas Land.

I don't think this is indicative that Chessington are only focusing on young families and more as part of a broader strategy.

With Minecraft, I'd imagine this will attract not just families but gamers too who tend to be young adults and teens.

I'd say it wouldn't surprise me that with lower height restrictions on thrill rides nowadays, it wouldn't surprise me if Chessington goes for something thrilling in the future as a step up from Mandrill Mayhem.

 

[Hid]

I said this on here a few years ago and got shot down by some folk.......but I will repeat again. A lot of you have probably outgrown Chessington and refused to admit it to yourself.

It's not a park for young adults anymore. It probably never was truth be told but that's even more true now. They are clearly going after a family / younger child audience and that makes a ton of sense given that's where the money is currently and the fact they have Thorpe close by which is aimed at thrill seekers.

Chessington was a thrill park back in 90's when you had Ramesis Revenge, Samurai, Vampire all those rides and Thorpe wad the family park.

 

[QTXAdsy]

Had Tussauds not acquired Thorpe then it's likely Chessington would have still appealed to all ages and it's interesting to think what might have been for the park in the long term.

 

[Benzin]

Chessie is stuck because it can't go for any "true" thrill rides as it'll be encroaching Thorpe's market, and similarly the family side it's in direct competition with Legoland.

Rock & a hard place come to mind. Especially when the zoo USP is coming under ever greater scrutiny over the years.

Paw Patrol clearly has staying power within the cultural zeitgeist. There's always more kids to buy toys after all.

Had Tussauds not acquired Thorpe then it's likely Chessington would have still appealed to all ages and it's interesting to think what might have been for the park in the long term.

Chessie had some real issues with planning. Which is probably the main reason Tussauds purchased Thorpe really. Certainly a sliding doors moment mind.

Paw Patrol occurs in a world where every character is an assigned authority figure. And yet, without any visible commerce or even society, there is nothing to police. Paw Patrol is a celebration of authoritarianism writ large, a garish gateway drug not into escapism or education, but the intoxicating promise of fascism.

As such, I am delighted to see it introduced to the lineup at Chessington World of Adventures.

ACAB, even Chase.

 

[Dhev123]

I'd say is a good middle ground between Legoland and Thorpe Park.

Exactly this.

Even in the 00s, growing up we started going to legoland when I was very young, until I was maybe 7 years old then I outgrew it

Then chessington took over for a few years while I was still under 1.4m tall, making it the perfect middle ground park,

As soon as I hit 1.4m we as a family ditched chessington and started doing towers and Thorpe. I think I was 9 when that happened?

So in summary I guess Lego land is ideal for toddlers and young children, chessington offers exactly what legoland does for young guests + features a few more thrilling attractions, making it more suitable for families of all ages. Then Thorpe is strictly for thrill seekers.

Therefore, arguably, chessington is the most well rounded southern Merlin park. It may lack intense thrills, but I’m sure teens / young adults would still have a great day out

 

[Dave]

I have said before I think I agree with the strategy for Chessington, it will lose a bit of identity but it would make a good IP park. I just wish they would focus on their rides having higher throughput.

Thorpe I would go down an upmarket amusement park style and keep Towers as the all rounder with IP’s kept to a minimum.

 

[Poisson]

I think a lot of the issues with Chessie are aimed at quality, not wether you've outgrown the place or not. If that was the case, Paultons wouldn't be the untouchable darling despite it being a children's park (even moreso than CWOA)

 

[Matt N]

I would always have called Chessington quite a “young family park” myself. Maybe marginally less so than somewhere like Paultons, but I don’t think it has a ton of appeal to adult thrill seekers these days.

Other than a visit in 2023 to ride Mandrill Mayhem, I haven’t actually been since I left primary school. Aside from that 2023 visit, I haven’t been since 2014. Given that I visit Alton and Thorpe annually and have even been to Legoland 3 times since then (most recently in 2024), that does surprise me a bit, but I think it does prove that Chessington doesn’t appeal to me quite as much (although Chessington also being further away from home than the other three also doesn’t help).

 

[RicketyCricket]

I'm all for IP's at Chessington because they otherwise wouldn't have the budget/resources available to a) come up with anything original b) do it to a high standard.

Chessington in the 90's under Wardleys watch was comparable to Efteling, with incredible themeing and detail throughout. Those days are never coming back and good IP's are an easy win.

 

[owenstreet7]

I would always have called Chessington quite a “young family park” myself. Maybe marginally less so than somewhere like Paultons, but I don’t think it has a ton of appeal to adult thrill seekers these days.

Other than a visit in 2023 to ride Mandrill Mayhem, I haven’t actually been since I left primary school. Aside from that 2023 visit, I haven’t been since 2014. Given that I visit Alton and Thorpe annually and have even been to Legoland 3 times since then (most recently in 2024), that does surprise me a bit, but I think it does prove that Chessington doesn’t appeal to me quite as much (although Chessington also being further away from home than the other three also doesn’t help).

To be honest, I feel the opposite but I am a lot closer to Chessington than you would be.

I'd say the main reasons for Chessington over Legoland is because the rides are more intermediate and there is the Zoo.

I haven't done Legoland in about 15 years and I'd say it is more difficult as a single rider going there than Chessington - one example is Legoland are still not letting single riders on their log flume.

 

[Benjsh]

For the same reason it's probably my favourite UK park for attractions, it has thrill rides but my son can go on them all! Ok there's Rattlesnake which is the outlier at 1.4m (presumably for safety reasons not intensity) but i'm sure that will be gone soon enough. In fact considering Mexicana is no more it's going to be quite the oddity. I'm surprised it's not getting a re-theme. Perhaps it will over the winter?

You don't tend to see the same criticism levelled at Legoland because people accept it's a family park.

But that's the whole point surely.....you mention your son. I completely agree with you there. I'm referring to people without kids here. It's probably not the park for them anymore. It comes a time when you have to move on unless you start a family and then you get to take the kids there and start again.

Also I have only ever visited Legoland Windsor once in my entire life and that was a birthday trip for our son. I would absolutely under no circumstances visit a Legoland childless. There isn't enough there for me to warrant it and that's despite me being a huge fan of lego (greatest toy ever created). It's a park for young children.

 

[Benzin]

I dunno, Chessie hadn't really changed THAT much from when I was in my formative ethusiast years (20 years ago!) and a group of teenagers were happy to faff about at Chessie on a few weekends.

Was certainly more fun a day out than Thorpe. Easier too for the lack of driving.

Paw Patrol and Minecraft will change it a bit more mind. But prior to that it's not changed (and that's half the issue).

 

[Hid]

Tiger Rock needs another retheme or overhaul. Move the Tigers to a quieter location. You could easily install a couple of Flats or Coaster around the Tiger enclosure areas

 

[jon81uk]

Ok there's Rattlesnake which is the outlier at 1.4m (presumably for safety reasons not intensity) but i'm sure that will be gone soon enough. In fact considering Mexicana is no more it's going to be quite the oddity. I'm surprised it's not getting a re-theme. Perhaps it will over the winter?

Its possible Rattlesnake will get a slight reworking to make it more generic mine, removing the small mexico elements and fit in with Croc Drop and Tomb Blaster.