Just a heads up for anyone visiting on the annual pass park preview. It seems as though The Gruffalo River Ride Adventure will be unavalible over the weekend according to the booking website!

How much luggage? 1 bag or several suitcases? There are lockers available but these are quiet small so unlikely to fit a suit case in.

One of these these so not the smallest but if need be its something that wouldn't be such a huge pain to move around.

the only suggestion i could offer is contact the park via email/social media explain your situation, when youll be visting... as they may be able to help you out. better to ask in advance than put them on the spot.

MTFX employees Tom and Mark have been servicing Scorpion Express's "Big Flame Effect" installed by them, and it looks great!



Credit to MTFX Facebook for the image.

Hi does anyone know how busy it will be on March the 23rd? I think I'm just missing the half term holidays but I'm not sure.

Doddy wrote:

Hi does anyone know how busy it will be on March the 23rd? I think I'm just missing the half term holidays but I'm not sure.

You are, they start on the weekend of Saturday 1st April.

Random Thursday in March, you're looking at very low queues. It'll still be soon after opening day, but I wouldn't expect anything past 15-20 minutes to be honest.

Chessington have updated their website to state that the ride will open at midday on March 18th, with the launch event taking place during the morning of the same day.

The Chessington Adventure Tree has now been installed and it doesn't look quite as odd as I thought, however when the walls come down will really be when we can judge how good it looks with the rest of the surrounding area.



Credit to UK Theme Parks - Theme UK.

A photo posted in the MAP Facebook group gives a closer and mostly unobstructed look at the tree theming element. It does look pretty nice, if unashamedly channeling Animal Kingdom's Tree of Life.

Where does it say there will be an opening ceremony?

Also, apparently the ride is going to be opening with park opening, but they've said 12 to give a buffer in case the ride encounters problems. I've also heard there's no opening ceremony.

Liam.W wrote:

Where does it say there will be an opening ceremony?

Also, apparently the ride is going to be opening with park opening, but they've said 12 to give a buffer in case the ride encounters problems. I've also heard there's no opening ceremony.

The Terms & Conditions of a competition Chessington are running mentions "the launch of The Gruffalo River Ride Adventure at Chessington World of Adventures Resort, taking place early on the morning of Saturday March 18, 2017".

Personally by 'launch' I just think it means opening the ride, not a ceremony. Only event/ceremony is on the 17th which is a VIP/Press event.

A nice new update from UK Theme Parks - Theme UK, clouding the new name of Market Square and Transylvania!

The compass has been updated once again!



In 2017 you will be walking into Adventure Point as opposed to Market Square!



Here's the new Adventure Point logo!



It is also expected Chessington will receive 2 Nitrogenies this year, one in Adventure Point in the old Hot Dog stand and the shipping container outside Wild Asia.

Wild Woods has now got some sinage too!



The arrows have also been updated.



Gruffalo has also moved along well, and is that a 3D Gruffalo set piece I see?





Finally Sea Storm has had some great improvements as well as the refurbishment for Creepy Caves being finished - also expected to have a rename or new logo!






Full Update Here.

From theme park guide live, here's a look at the tree more or less complete - it looks good!



Here's some images from Wild Woods.









Vampire also has new queue theming and audio.

And another of the Adventure Tree from TTSP Instagram It is actually looking quite nice, although perhaps won't be ready in time for the start of the season on the 17th.

Vampire has got new staton theming, a new sounds system and new airgates!





There are also new gates at the exit to prevent people waiting here.



The lighting also seems much nicer...

I believe dragons falls has now got a single rider line

ThemeParkCrafter wrote:

I believe dragons falls has now got a single rider line

Yes it has. I believe Kobra also now has SRQ. Dragon's Fury has also had its SRQ re-worked so it's better. Oh and Zufari also now has SRQ I think.

The penguin stage looks interesting...

While creepy caves looks different...

Jungle bouncers is now treetop bouncers

And liam this is the new srq entrance for dragons falls