UK Theme Parks!

The park has a selection of attractions, ranging from the Dragon's Fury roller coaster, to family-oriented rides such as the Bubbleworks. It also has animals, many of which can be seen from the Safari Skyway, an elevated monorail around the zoo. Since 1998 Chessington has been in the same ownership as nearby Thorpe Park, and since 2007, Legoland Windsor.^[1] Recent changes in direction have stunted the growth of the park; however, infrastructure is currently being fully refurbished to prepare for relaunch in 2010.

Beanoland

Beanoland (themed around The Beano comic) was introduced in 2000. The area opened with two rides: Roger the Dodger's Dodgems, and Billy's Whizzer; a wave-swinger with water fountains that squirt guests on the ride. In the following years, Dennis's Madhouse, an undercover play area relocated from the Millennium Dome, and the Bash Street Bus, a small magic carpet-type ride, were added. After the 2009 season has finished, Beano finishes its deal with Chessington meaning that Beanoland would have to be rethemed for 2010.

In June 2009, a planning application confirmed that Beanoland will be "redeveloped, including the relocation and/or re-themeing of existing structures/buildings", with possible relocation of rides". The application mentioned the installation of a new disc ride and the possible creation of a bird walkthrough, which will be the theme park's first new rides for years.^[3] Concept art was later published confirming that all the existing rides were intended to be rethemed into the new 'Indian/Tribal Adventure' theme and/or relocated to different areas of the new Beanoland. This would leave room for the new thrill ride, confirmed as a 'Disc-O', themed as a giant snake. The drawings show Billy's Whizzer with a new monkey theme; Bash Street Bus with a new Indian bus theme; Dennis' Madhouse with a newly themed facade and the area behind the shop opening a new reptile attraction.^[4]

In a 2 month sponsorship deal, an Ice Age walkthrough opened in the Family Centre, with opportunities to meet characters from the film Ice Age 3.

[edit]Forbidden Kingdom

Themed around Ancient Egypt, this area is home to two rides. Tomb Blaster is an interactive laser-shooting attraction themed as an adventure into a historic tomb, with many large effects such as re-animated mummies, scarab beetles and a giant snake. Rameses Revenge, is a Huss Rides top-spin, which is built into the ground. For 2009, the Casbah Cafe in Forbidden Kingdom was replaced with a 'Fried Chicken Co.' restaurant, themed around ancient Egypt.

[edit]Land of the Dragons

Land of the Dragons opened in 2004 and is a self contained Dragon-themed area containing a variety of rides and attractions.

The largest ride in the area is a spinning roller coaster, Dragon's Fury - manufactured by Maurer Söhne.

There are two large play areas for Young Adventurers which are "Dragon's Playhouse", a large soft play area. Adjacent to "Dragon's Playhouse" is "Canopy Capers", an outdoor treehouse rope bridge attraction for Young Adventurers.

Also accompanying these attractions is "Sea Dragons", a small round ride and "Griffin's Galleon", a rocking tug spinning ship; a small water fountain which plays mischievous tricks on passing guests, "Sir Walter Squirtalot".

In the "Dragons Tale Theatre" there are two live action puppet shows entitled 'Spike on Safari' and 'Spike and the Missing Griffin', performed every day of the park open season. The shows feature the lands Mascot 'Spike' and his friend 'Cinders'. Other characters include Marvin the Monkey, Lionel the Lion, Amy the Elephant and Gloria the Griffin. The show also features a live actor as 'The Safari Ranger' and a video segment of 'Claude The Explorer' an olde English jungle explorer.

[edit]Market Square

Market Square is the central area of the park and home to shops, video arcades and food stalls. Outlets include a doughnut stall and the park's main shop. The land also contains the entrance to Safari Skyway, a monorail that opened in 1987 offering a guided tour of the zoo, lawn and mansion area. Hocus Pocus Hall was added to Market Square in 2003, situated in part of the Burnt Stub Mansion itself. It is an indoor walkthrough experience themed as a wizard's house overun with goblins. Visitors wear 3D glasses, giving a more exciting feel to the attraction. The area also contains lockers, the Chessington Shop, the Sweet Shop, the Ice Cream & Milkshake outlet, Market Square Donuts and Guest Services. The area is themed around a traditional English market square, complete with a gateway themed as a castle, a water wheel and a courtyard restaurant, Market Square Pizza Pasta Restaurant. There is also a large pub called the Greedy Goblin, the only outlet in park to sell cigarettes and alcohol.

[edit]Mexicana

Themed on a Mexican and Far West environment, Mexicana is home to two rollercoasters. Rattlesnake (built in 1998), a steel wild-mouse, is the main roller coaster in the area, with a supporting roller coaster, the Runaway Train. This is a powered roller coaster made by Mack, which features fast turns and close proximity to theming. The train completes a number of circuits each time. Western Portraits is also located in Mexicana.

[edit]Mystic East

Mystic East is an oriental-themed area. It is home to the expansive Dragon Falls log flume. The ride, opened in 1987, takes riders around "Mystic East" and features two drops. The first drop takes visitors inside the mouth of a dragon, with the second drop entering the area outside "Peeking Heights". Much of the ride's themeing is based on real-world monuments, including Angkor Wat, the Great Buddha of Kōtoku-in, and the Merlion of Singapore's harbour, although the park's renditions have a slightly caricatured look, particularly the Buddha.

"Peeking Heights", a 25m high 18 pod Observation Wheel is also in "Mystic East", situated next to the second "Dragon Falls" drop. The ride gives a panoramic view of the park, surrounding area, and up to 30 miles into London on clear days.

There are also many shops in Mystic East including the "Dragon's Lair" shop, and "Panning for Gold" games unit.

[edit]Pirates Cove

Pirates Cove is a land adjacent to "Transylvania", home to the Black Buccaneer, a swinging pirate ship installed in 1988 and manufactured by Huss Rides, and also Seastorm, a small circular ride manufactured by Mack, where riders sit in small boats that spin up and down as they are rotated round.

Pirates Cove is also home to several games units combined together to be called "Treasure Chest".

[edit]Toytown

Toytown, situated in the centre of the park, adjacent to Market Square. It is home to a number of gentle rides for young adventurers.

The rides include the Carousel, Flying Jumbos and the Berry Bouncers, Tiny Truckers, Toadie's Crazy Cars.

The area also contains a small Smarties Castle shop, a large pond and an interactive weather house.

[edit]Transylvania

Transylvania is home to two rides. The main ride in this area is the Vampire. Featuring two lift hills and tight corners, this roller coaster uses suspended swinging cars as it glides round the track. The ride has a relatively low height restriction of 1.1m (guests between 1.1m and 1.3m must be accompanied by an adult) and reaches a maximum speed of 45 mph. It is also well themed in its station and queueline area, with cobwebs, gravestones and an animated organist.

The second ride in this land is the Bubbleworks. Sponsored by Imperial Leather, the Bubbleworks takes you upon a tour of a soap factory. Similar to the previous version, you can see the several stages of the production, from the initial idea to the development and experiments. The ride was previously based around an over-the-top fizzy pop factory run by the zany Professor Burp. It is now themed as a tour through a fantastical soap factory under the management of Imperial Leather. In the factory are machines such as the Rub-A-Dub Reactor and the laughing gas cylinders. Although the new ride has received criticism for merely being an advertisement for the Imperial Leather brand, it is still popular.