If they’ve signed a contract, they may not be able to cancel one of the coasters, at least not easily - they may end up sending it elsewhere or going for a different model in a differently location.
CWOA | Mandrill Mayhem (World of Jumanji) | B&M Wing Coaster | 2023
- Thread starter Matt N
- Start date
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- Tags
- chessington new coaster
Lukas D
Roller Poster
Given this was not due to open before 2027 and the project was everything but certain to be realized from the very beginning, I highly doubt a final contract has already been signed for anything on the Belgium site.
Where does all that talk about a 10-coaster deal with B&M even come from? We know they are working together on a significant number of projects, but that exact number seems like a random guess to me.
I'veGotFourB&MsInMyGarden
Mega Poster
That entrance sign looks epic! I hope they keep the overhead nets to a minimum though.
Joelpagett
Mega Poster
So it looks like they're operating a free virtual queuing system via their app for Mandrill Mayhem. The videos pretty explanatory, but I do think it's a good idea. I know Thorpe used it for Derren Brown and Black Mirror during COVID, and I found it worked very well and kept the queue fairly minimal.
It would likely mean that you would only get to ride it once on busy days, but once is better than not at all.
It would likely mean that you would only get to ride it once on busy days, but once is better than not at all.
Rob Coasters
Rob Poster
Oh dear...
Wonder if this could've been avoided if they bought a ride that can operate more than one train on the track at one time.
When will Chessington learn to buy something that doesn't have dismal capacity?
Wonder if this could've been avoided if they bought a ride that can operate more than one train on the track at one time.
When will Chessington learn to buy something that doesn't have dismal capacity?
rctneil
Mega Poster
This atrocity all stems from the initial conception stage. If Merlin had actually put some thought into all this back then, then surely they'd have picked a better, more suitable coaster that can actually handle being in a busy park.
A single train, shuttle coaster is useless in a park that gets as busy at Chessington does.
I've been saying for years that a coaster such as the next gen version of Juvelen would be perfect for the park.
It's family thrill, can run multiple trains, unique riding styles, gives the park a launch coaster, quad bikes fit the jungle/safari theme and can handle larger crowds.
I'm not saying that MM will be a bad ride, it's just the wrong ride for that park. The context that rides are placed in matters, and matters ALOT!
A single train, shuttle coaster is useless in a park that gets as busy at Chessington does.
I've been saying for years that a coaster such as the next gen version of Juvelen would be perfect for the park.
It's family thrill, can run multiple trains, unique riding styles, gives the park a launch coaster, quad bikes fit the jungle/safari theme and can handle larger crowds.
I'm not saying that MM will be a bad ride, it's just the wrong ride for that park. The context that rides are placed in matters, and matters ALOT!
Some fairly important news about the coaster has appeared on the parks website. Mainly, by what it seems you will only be able to ride the new coaster once per day and only by using the virtual queuing system.
www.chessington.com
Mandrill Mayhem Family Theme Park Ride | Chessington
The world's only Jumanji rollercoaster and Chessington Theme Park's first inversion roller coaster. Ride the icon sites of Jumanji for a fantastic family day out.
www.chessington.com
jasone
Mega Poster
This is screaming disaster already:
This is actually pretty awful. I know most people have smart phones nowadays but that really isn’t the point. You enjoying something you’ve paid for at chessington by entering, shouldn’t be conditional on something else. Virtual queues are great, but unless you’re giving visitors a device to use that queue line, it shouldn’t be mandatory.
In my opinion this is pretty bad from Merlin. What the hell was going on during their decision making process with this ride?
This is actually pretty awful. I know most people have smart phones nowadays but that really isn’t the point. You enjoying something you’ve paid for at chessington by entering, shouldn’t be conditional on something else. Virtual queues are great, but unless you’re giving visitors a device to use that queue line, it shouldn’t be mandatory.
In my opinion this is pretty bad from Merlin. What the hell was going on during their decision making process with this ride?
It's also worth noting each user can book a maximum of 6 places in the queue. So if you are attending on your own, you could only ride it once. However If you are there as a pair, you could potentially ride it twice as each person could book 2x place and so on to maximum group size of 6.
So if you want to possible get more than 1 ride on you need to be attending as a group.
So if you want to possible get more than 1 ride on you need to be attending as a group.
Matt N
CF Legend
I wonder whether this was planned from the outset? I only ask because I remember that main, Fastrack and RAP queues were all shown on the plans… would this suggest that the virtual queue may have been a more recent decision?
Also, do we reckon the virtual queue will be permanent or just in place for the first few weeks/months?
Also, do we reckon the virtual queue will be permanent or just in place for the first few weeks/months?
Interesting. This is basically the same system that already exists for SkyLion at Legoland for RAP users being applied to ALL users. From experience i've known on busy days to basically spend the entire trip on my phone as slots get released every 20 minutes and instantly taken. Last time i was there it took about 5 hours to get our slot so i can't imagine how this will work with a whole park capacity trying the same.
There's only a 45 minute window to access it too and Chessington notoriously has queue times far longer than this so people could easily lose their only slot as the times aren't set in stone:
The virtual queue works in real time, reacting to the ride status of Mandrill Mayhem. The virtual queue will automatically ensure guests are boarding the ride at the desired rate. If there is space in the loading queue, guests in the virtual queue will jump forward. Equally, if there are delays, the countdown timer will be paused or pushed back.
A lot of disaster potential, will definitely be waiting to see how it plays out before going.
There's only a 45 minute window to access it too and Chessington notoriously has queue times far longer than this so people could easily lose their only slot as the times aren't set in stone:
The virtual queue works in real time, reacting to the ride status of Mandrill Mayhem. The virtual queue will automatically ensure guests are boarding the ride at the desired rate. If there is space in the loading queue, guests in the virtual queue will jump forward. Equally, if there are delays, the countdown timer will be paused or pushed back.
A lot of disaster potential, will definitely be waiting to see how it plays out before going.
Fleetwood_Mack
Mega Poster
Heading to the park June 9th. This system is giving me a migraine already. As a disabled person with crab claw hands - I really don't like using my phone when on the move/standing around. Really added to my layers of physical stress having to do this all day at BPB a few years ago. Hope this isn't going to become a standard thing. Yeah, I'll be with people, but I'm the "Monica" of the group. I'll be the one in charge of/doing everything
URGH wtf MERLIN
Munchy Road Hippopotamus
Mega Poster
If this works similar to the VQ at Disney I found it really good on Cosmic rewind. But then I was willing to be up at 07:00 to book my slot
Matt N
CF Legend
From what I gather, that tactic won’t work here, as the system only releases the first timeslots at 9:45am each day…
Coastercal
Roller Poster
This virtual queue is a disaster. So you want me to drive 4 hours and 15 minutes from Blackpool to Chessington, setting off at approx 5am in the morning commute traffic, with no certain guarantee I’ll be able to ride if I can’t get a place in the virtual queue?
