Chessington World of Adventure Discussion Thread

[KBrylczyk]

^ The two recent Jumanji flicks have made nearly $2 billion combined.  They're massively successful flicks and it's a pretty well-known IP overall.

[tndank]

What does everyone think of the growing trend to turn the last row backwards?

 

[AmyUD06]

1 hour ago, tndank said:

What does everyone think of the growing trend to turn the last row backwards?

 

As someone who frequently likes the back row for the forces but does not particularly like completely not seeing where I'm going, I am not a fan.  But it's not a big deal, since I can always sit in the next-to-last-row which is 99% of the time, 99% of the experience.

[Garet]

Good to see that the restriction is now 1.2m for riders, and not the 1.4 stated earlier, it will be a nice middle-ground roller-coaster for children before they can hit the bigger rides at Thorpe Park.

[CineramaMax]

Very recently, groups of enthusiasts and the press were invited to tour the World of Jumanji building site, witness the new B&M quadruple launch shuttle wing coaster 'Mandrill Mayhem' testing in person and speak to the land's designer John Burton.

The 42 mph coaster has been confirmed to have a reversed backrow that will also not come with an upcharge.

It was confirmed that a lot more planting was on the way before the area opens in mid-May, and a lot of work is taking place on crafting the area's immersive theming, which will also comprise of a mini recreation of the bazaar from 'Welcome To The Jungle', Alan Parish's treehouse as the Mandrill Mayhem station building, rockwork and sand dunes from 'The Next Level', and of course most of the area's planting (only four percent of which had been planted at the time of the hardhat tour).

It was confirmed in the British tabloids that actor Rhys Darby, who plays guide Nigel Billingsay in the Dwayne Johnson movies, narrates guests as they walk around the land.

A lot more information in this detailed breakdown on the hardhat tour with pictures from Attraction Source.

I have posted some of the officially released pictures below, as well as embedded videos of the hardhat tour, testing footage and an interview with the area's designer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[coasterbill]

This is so cute. I love it, I just hate that it's at Chessington because I never want to be tempted to go there again.

[thrillseeker4552]

This is far and away the absolute weirdest coaster B&M has ever built. It kind-sorta has 4 launches, it's their only shuttle coaster, the backwards seats, the awkward helix.... like what? lol.

Looks like fun but I'm kinda shocked B&M went so far out of their comfort zone for one coaster! Nonetheless it's nice to see!

[Satans Hockey]

On 1/18/2023 at 4:36 PM, tndank said:

What does everyone think of the growing trend to turn the last row backwards?

 

At least if someone takes their phone out on the ride and drops it you won't have to worry about getting hit in the face with it, just the back of your head lol

[grsupercity]

13 hours ago, thrillseeker4552 said:

This is far and away the absolute weirdest coaster B&M has ever built. It kind-sorta has 4 launches, it's their only shuttle coaster, the backwards seats, the awkward helix.... like what? lol.

Looks like fun but I'm kinda shocked B&M went so far out of their comfort zone for one coaster! Nonetheless it's nice to see!

I am gonna guess Merlin bought a less expensive package deal. They also have the tiny family wing going to legoland 

[cfc]

This might be the weirdest B&M coaster since Daemonen at Tivoli Gardens--the cutest lil' ol' floorless coaster ever!

[coasterbill]

Yeah, I always applaud "weird" in this industry, especially from B&M (unless it's an Orlando standup coaster being built in 2023, then no).

[Nrthwnd]

What's the minimum height, etc. for this coaster? I forget. It's a getting old thing.

I actually like the "easy ambling" (that a phrase?) that it takes, both forwards and back.

Maybe it's just a Large Scale family coaster, etc. Sure puts a lot into the elements, too.

[CineramaMax]

17 hours ago, Nrthwnd said:

What's the minimum height, etc. for this coaster? I forget. It's a getting old thing.

I actually like the "easy ambling" (that a phrase?) that it takes, both forwards and back.

Maybe it's just a Large Scale family coaster, etc. Sure puts a lot into the elements, too.

It has a minimum height of 1.2m and a top speed of 42 mph, so very much a thrill coaster for families.

The coaster itself is 65'ft, which isn't huge in theory but very tall for a coaster at Chessington.

[SharkTums]

I'm excited that we're finally seeing some different stuff out of B&M, as Lizzo would say...it's about damn time!

[CineramaMax]

The Mandrill themed shells have now been installed. Source.

[JT325]

B&M giving us variety!  It's always a good day when it happens... which isn't much.  Looks like a tester/test track more than a big B&M, but good for them!  They can do anything.  Except laterals haha   Not fun in bucket seats anyway.

[CineramaMax]

Here are some pictures I took from the opening ceremony of World of Jumanji!

Mandrill Mayhem is one of the best starter thrill coasters for children out there. The launches are quite snappy and the ride pulls some very interesting forces. The area is also nicely themed and detailed. The landscaping is quite nice, the plants haven't grown fully yet, so it'll start to feel more immersive once they have grown more.

Mamba Strike is the best of the two flat rides in the area, it has some nice pops of airtime and a lengthier cycle.

[gardyloo!]

On 3/9/2023 at 9:48 PM, coasterbill said:

because I never want to be tempted to go there again.

Had a bad visit last time?

[gardyloo!]

On 3/11/2023 at 8:18 PM, SharkTums said:

I'm excited that we're finally seeing some different stuff out of B&M, as Lizzo would say...it's about damn time!

With this, the new gen. Stand up at Seaworld, and the new lapbar restraints for their loopers it seems like B&M is feeling the heat and is finally innovating again. Now if they could only bring back their snappy transitions from their 90s rides I would be an even happier guy haha

[CineramaMax]

A few observations from Mandrill Mayhem; it is quite a whippy little B&M coaster, surprisingly so. The scorpion tale and the dip out of the station provide some nice moments of airtime depending on where you sit. 

It carries some pretty fun forces, nothing overly intense for experienced thrill seekers because it is a family/thrill coaster, though if you don't like coasters that travel backwards, then this may not be for you. It is surprisingly thrilling for a family coaster.

I was expecting to find the helix a tad uncomfortable, but it was fine really. I am still not a massive fan of vest restraints, but the vests on this ride don't lock further during the ride cycle, which is a very positive development.

All in all, it's great fun, and it's fantastic to see B&M innovating once again with this ride and Pipeline over in Orlando.

[coasterbill]

5 hours ago, gardyloo! said:

Had a bad visit last time?

I didn't hate the park, I just hated the experience of riding the coasters. I'm still stunned that a park would run 2 cars on a Maurer spinner and still stack them. Everything else had an unnecessarily long line also just because they decided to create one by running everything terribly.

There were also a ton of school groups on the day we went, which didn't help. The non-moving Vampire queue inside the cave was some weird British schoolkid screaming match. Ugh... just thinking about it, yeah no.

I did enjoy the animal stuff. There was a strong "This is Animal Kingdom on meth" vibe.

[CineramaMax]

Fortunately they don't tend to operate Dragon's Fury on 2 cars anymore  it's not a perfect park by any means when it comes to running things on a lower capacity, so it's a place to visit on off peak days.

[coasterbill]

I visited on a weekday in late September. I didn't even really understand why they were open (though British parks all seem to do daily ops when American parks would do weekend-only ops), but they ended up being kind-of busy.

[jedimaster1227]

Merlin Entertainments has revealed new details about the Paw Patrol land coming to Chessington World of Adventures!

https://backstage.merlinentertainments.biz/2026/paw-some-adventures-await-as-chessington-world-of-adventures-unveils-new-paw-patrol-land-details/

All paws on deck - World of PAW Patrol is getting ruff-ruff ready! Leading UK family theme park, Chessington World of Adventures, has given fans a first look at the UK’s first and only PAW Patrol-themed land, opening spring 2026 - and it’s already looking PAW-some. 

First look images unveiled today of the hotly anticipated new attraction - dedicated to the top-rated animated preschool series from Spin Master that airs on Nickelodeon and streams on Paramount+ - follow the installation of the iconic PAW Patrol Lookout Tower™, a real-life replica of the tower seen and played with by millions of children across the world. The Lookout Tower will form part of the new ‘Chase’s Mountain Mission’ ride, the attraction’s entry level rollercoaster.

The new images show PAW Patrol character, Rubble, who is overseeing the site’s construction, and Sian Hooper - Creative Director at Merlin Magic Making and the brains behind the new land - masterminding the finishing touches being put to the iconic Lookout Tower. This includes the tower’s pièce de résistance - the legendary PAW Patrol pup tag.

World of PAW Patrol will see PAW Patrol’s Adventure Bay setting represented in vibrant landscape theming across 1.4 acres, with the land’s storytelling drawing on the role of the pups in the community, demonstrating purpose and everyday heroism.

The £15 million immersive experience will include four thrilling rides – including the UK’s first ‘Drifter’ ride, designed to delight riders with sliding, drifting and skidding sensations – among a host of other tail-tagging fun and features. Each of the rides is themed around a beloved member of the PAW Patrol pack:

Guests will be able to hop onto Chase’s Mountain Mission, a high-speed rescue vehicle and entry level rollercoaster to help Chase and Everest save the day. 

Soar into action by joining Skye on a high-flying rescue mission on Skye’s Helicopter Heroes, where riders are invited to climb aboard Skye’s iconic helicopter and take to the skies. With spinning rotors, panoramic views, and a mission full of teamwork and tail wags, Skye’s Helicopter Adventure is an unforgettable flight. 

Become Zuma’s co-pilot and spring into action on the UK’s first ‘Drifter’ ride. Hop aboard a hovercraft and help navigate the waters from Adventure Bay to Seal Island on Zuma’s Hovercraft Adventure.  

Climb aboard the bright red fire truck on Marshall’s Firetruck Rescue and hang on tight as it rocks and rolls through the streets of Adventure Bay. A high-spirited ride, it’s perfect for junior patrollers ready to spring into action. 

Further details on what guests can expect when visiting World of PAW Patrol will be announced in the coming months. 

"Bringing World of PAW Patrol to life is a true labour of love. From the very first sketches to seeing the iconic Lookout Tower rise above Chessington, our goal has been to capture the magic, energy and teamwork that millions of families know and adore from the show. Every ride has been designed to make guests feel like they’re stepping into Adventure Bay — whether they’re skidding and sliding with Zuma or soaring sky-high with Skye. We can’t wait for families to join the patrol this spring and create their own pup-tacular memories."

Sian Hooper, Creative Director at Merlin Magic Making

Ahead of World of PAW Patrol opening, the pups are also now on the hunt for a pre-schooler to become part of the patrol and take on the role of the ‘PAWject Manager’ this spring. The once in a lifetime opportunity will allow one lucky PAW Patrol fan to give their ‘final approval’ on the new land before fellow patrollers experience what’s on offer.

The PAWject Manager’s role will include being the first to test out the rides as well as meeting their heroes in their new home. The winner will also receive tickets for their family to attend the opening event, a night in one of the five PAW Patrol-themed hotel rooms at Chessington, and other additional PAW Patrol goodies.

To enter, little ones, with the help of their parents, can submit their application at www.chessington.com/pawjectmanager explaining why they would be ‘PAWfect’ for the job. Entries are open until 23.59 on Wed 4 March and T&Cs apply*.

Fans can experience PAW-tastic adventures at Chessington ahead of the land opening with a stay in one of the five PAW Patrol-themed hotel rooms – the first and only PAW Patrol accommodation in the UK. Each room sleeps up to two adults and three children. PAW Patrol hotel stays start from £155 for a family of four, including bed and breakfast. Hotel stays include early ride access, a ‘Pup Pass’ Meet and Greet fast track pass, and a Reserve & Ride one-shot pass. Guests staying before the World of PAW Patrol opens will be in with the chance to be one of the first to ride the new rollercoaster in 2026.

Head to www.chessington.com/paw-patrol to find out more and book a stay.