Chessington World of Adventures Resort

[owenstreet7]

As someone who visited Chessie quite a lot during the 90s, it's quite gutting to see these classic attractions / areas turned to rubble.

I know there's got to be progress but it's still quite sad.

It'll be disappointing for me when Tiger Rock/Dragon Falls ends up becoming a rollercoaster at some point

I hope it's at least a Water Coaster or another water ride but I wouldn't be surprised if we see a GCI woodie there.

 

[Towers4ever]

To be fair Scorpion Ecpress had lasted years before it'd retheme but no one could of expected it to catch fire like it did

It didn't catch fire

 

[pluk]

It didn't catch fire

I normally hear about what's happened with these things one way or another, but I never did hear what finished Scorpian Espress off in the end. Lots of fire rumours at the time but I did see some pictures post closure of the front of the train, ride shell removed exposing the motor, and there were no signs of charing or other damage. I'd presumed it'd either partly derailed or just seized up?

 

[Bowser]

I normally hear about what's happened with these things one way or another, but I never did hear what finished Scorpian Espress off in the end. Lots of fire rumours at the time but I did see some pictures post closure of the front of the train, ride shell removed exposing the motor, and there were no signs of charing or other damage. I'd presumed it'd either partly derailed or just seized up?

I vaguely recall another factor being the modifications to ensure updated safety standards could be met were unviable, be it economically or logistically.

 

[owenstreet7]

I normally hear about what's happened with these things one way or another, but I never did hear what finished Scorpian Espress off in the end. Lots of fire rumours at the time but I did see some pictures post closure of the front of the train, ride shell removed exposing the motor, and there were no signs of charing or other damage. I'd presumed it'd either partly derailed or just seized up?

I saw an image/video at the time where the train (motor?) started smoking which caused (not necessarily a fire but serious enough for an indefinite closure) which would explain the fire rumours.

It would explain it that there is no fire but a smoking motor if the train isn't charred.

 

[ItsAllGood]

The snake theming for kobra is almost gone!

Just all left on the floor, surprised it wasn't foam

Some big bits visible from the tiger rock queue line

Can't wait to see this return in a more... blocky form

Wild Asia Removal at Chessington Has Begun | Theme Park Guide

Work has officially started on the removal of Wild Asia at Chessington World of Adventures. One of the first major changes can be seen at Kobra, where

themeparkguide.co.uk

 

[TBoy535]

The snake theming for kobra is almost gone!

Just all left on the floor, surprised it wasn't foam

Some big bits visible from the tiger rock queue line

Can't wait to see this return in a more... blocky form

Wild Asia Removal at Chessington Has Begun | Theme Park Guide

Work has officially started on the removal of Wild Asia at Chessington World of Adventures. One of the first major changes can be seen at Kobra, where

themeparkguide.co.uk

I do feel the end result of this ride will be a downgrade in themeing with its vinyl blocks and all but I know that is the only way they can theme it to Minecraft.

It’s actually the perfect theme for a Merlin Theme park, they have a lot of experience in this area.

 

[Matt N]

I wouldn’t be so sure. Super Nintendo World is arguably proof that you can take a blocky cartoon theme and do it well!

Admittedly, Merlin will have nowhere near the budget, but I don’t see why the principle doesn’t still stand. I do have faith that this Minecraft area could be pretty good!

 

[Hid]

I wouldn’t be so sure. Super Nintendo World is arguably proof that you can take a blocky cartoon theme and do it well!

Admittedly, Merlin will have nowhere near the budget, but I don’t see why the principle doesn’t still stand. I do have faith that this Minecraft area could be pretty good!

Investing £80 Million hefty chunk of money

 

[TBoy535]

I wouldn’t be so sure. Super Nintendo World is arguably proof that you can take a blocky cartoon theme and do it well!

Admittedly, Merlin will have nowhere near the budget, but I don’t see why the principle doesn’t still stand. I do have faith that this Minecraft area could be pretty good!

I understand your point but looking at the concept art doesn’t give me much confidence

 

[Matt N]

Investing £80 Million hefty chunk of money

I thought the budget for Minecraft at Chessington was £17m, as per the planning application?

Do correct me if I’m wrong there, but I seem to remember £17m being thrown around in the planning application.

 

[Maelstrom]

Investing £80 Million hefty chunk of money

While a significant investment - That’s across Chessington and the American attraction- currently we don’t know the scale of the American plans which is possibility will be a standalone mini park which will take a large proportion of the £80, plus i understand possible themed accommodation and the IP costs. While will still be Chessington biggest investment i would expect the amount going into this land is less than £25m. The original Super Nintendoland in Japan excluding Donkey Kong as that opened later cost $578m (£444m).

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[Bowser]

While a significant investment - That’s across Chessington and the American attraction- currently we don’t know the scale of the American plans which is possibility will be a standalone mini park which will take a large proportion of the £80, plus i understand possible themed accommodation and the IP costs. While will still be Chessington biggest investment i would expect the amount going into this land is less than £25m. The original Super Nintendoland in Japan excluding Donkey Kong as that opened later cost $578m (£444m).

e

My understanding was the US project is a small midway opening next year and the majority of the budget is going to Chessington.

 

[Matt N]

The only semblance of a cost I heard for Chessington’s portion was £17m. I think it was mentioned in the planning application, but I could be wrong there.

Regardless of where it was mentioned, I definitely seem to remember hearing £17m for the Chessington part somewhere.

 

[Maelstrom]

Just looked back and it’s stated in planning documents of being a £20m construction project (prob excluding the IP costs) with world of Jumanji listed as being £17m, meanings it’s chessingtons biggest investment.

 

[Bowser]

Just looked back and it’s stated in planning documents of being a £20m construction project (prob excluding the IP costs) with world of Jumanji listed as being £17m, meanings it’s chessingtons biggest investment.

Wow I’m surprised if that’s it considering the main ride. Uncharted at PortAventura cost more and that’s a broadly similar coaster but that’s without the additional ride, facilities and the Kobra project.

Something doesn't sit right with that tbh, that Minecraft would sign off on the building of a land with less than 5% of the budget of Nintendo World...

 

[flyingguitar]

I do feel the end result of this ride will be a downgrade in themeing with its vinyl blocks and all but I know that is the only way they can theme it to Minecraft.

It’s actually the perfect theme for a Merlin Theme park, they have a lot of experience in this area.

I think in the planning permission they mentioned it would be a 3D texture for the lower half, I was thinking it may end up similar to this (some random 3d picture but you get what I am thinking) so hopefully at least part of it will be textured (I think the lower half of the walls are supposed to be) and look nice (although I would imagine it would be a pain to clean

 

[Benzin]

Wow I’m surprised if that’s it considering the main ride. Uncharted at PortAventura cost more and that’s a broadly similar coaster but that’s without the additional ride, facilities and the Kobra project.

Something doesn't sit right with that tbh, that Minecraft would sign off on the building of a land with less than 5% of the budget of Nintendo World...

Only thing Minecraft will care about is how much money it makes.

Nintendo standards are notoriously high these days.

 

[Matt N]

Wow I’m surprised if that’s it considering the main ride. Uncharted at PortAventura cost more and that’s a broadly similar coaster but that’s without the additional ride, facilities and the Kobra project.

Something doesn't sit right with that tbh, that Minecraft would sign off on the building of a land with less than 5% of the budget of Nintendo World...

Bear in mind that Uncharted probably had IP costs in its budget, whereas Merlin have signed a centralised deal with Mojang that probably removes IP costs from the budget of Chessington’s Minecraft area.

 

[The Big Mack]

Just looked back and it’s stated in planning documents of being a £20m construction project (prob excluding the IP costs) with world of Jumanji listed as being £17m, meanings it’s chessingtons biggest investment.

Construction would likely be one part of the overall budget. Thematic design, steel fabrication, creation of the effects, marketing etc would all contribute to the overall cost.