Break Run And Roof Installed
Sunday 30th October 2022
It’s the last day of the 2022 theme park season at Chessington and it’s our last chance to see the progress made on The World Of Jumanji area and the new rollercoaster.
Since our last visit to the park, no new track appears to have been delivered but work on the rollercoaster hasn't stopped! The first section of the track outside the station has been properly bolted together. At the back of the station, the first section of the track has been lifted into place. Featuring more launch fins and some breaks, this section will be used to slow the train down when it rolls back into the station after completing the circuit. Some catwalk side panels can also be seen, these will be used for maintenance and for evacuation purposes.
Inside the station, sections of the track have been covered in blue plastic sheets to protect them from damage whilst the park theme the station.
Talking of the station, we finally have a roof! The park is now one step closer to having the station watertight and ready for winter.
Next Sunday is an Annual Pass Day and will be our last chance to see the rollercoaster progress. With today being the last day of the season, the park has all week to receive new sections of track and install them without geeks watching!
World Of Jumanji First Track Sections Installed
Sunday 23rd October 2022
4 days after we reported that the track had been delivered for Chessington's new rollercoaster, we had spotted that the track we spotted was indeed for the station and just outside of the station / the first turn out of the ride.
These track sections have now been installed along with the start of the spike coaster supports behind the station. With these track sections now installed it leaves the car park where they were delivered completely empty, making room for more deliveries very soon!
With the station track now installed, work has already begun on installing the roof over the station. Although the track has been installed in the station it would appear the first section of track outside the station hasn't been bolted together yet and isn't in its final resting location just yet.
We can't wait to see what sections of track are delivered next over the next few days and weeks. It won't be long until we start to see track installed all over the site! There's lots of work to be done still before we see the other 2 flat rides installed and theming work properly commence.
Chessington 2023 Rollercoaster Track Delivered
Thursday 20th October 2022
Track has been delivered for Chessingtons newest rollercoaster which is due to open in 2023.
A few pieces lay in the car park awaiting being moved into the construction site to be installed. The pieces that can currently be seen appear are some straight sections of track which look to be part of the station and launch sections for the ride. And one big curved section which we expect will be part of the helix looping up and around the jaguar theming.
It seems one piece has already been relocated to the construction site. Since our last visit only a few days ago more supports have been installed around the jaguar theming. The only support left to be installed is the rollback out of the station as far as we are
90% Of Coaster Supports Installed
Monday 17th October 2022
Supports for the new rollercoaster at Chessington have flown up at a fast pace over the past. Since our last visit to the park supports installed for the new rollercoaster has gone from 3 installed and ready to track to possibly 90% installed! Including one of the highest supports now in place around the Jaguar statue, this section of track will be the end of the line before the train rolls back and completes the layout in reverse.
There's still no sign of any track for the rollercoaster yet, but construction work on this project is progressing rapidly. Other changes since our last visit include more vines added to the Jaguar statue and more panels added to the station building. We expect the park will hold off putting a roof on the building until the track has been lifted into the station.
Supports Delivered And Installed For World Of Jumanji
Monday 10th October 2022
The World Of Jumanji at Chessington is about to get a lot bigger! Supports for the new rollercoaster have been delivered to the site since our last visit to the theme park. 3 supports for the ride have already been installed, with one big one installed near the constriction fence near Dragons Fury, one smaller one near the car park entrance and a small one installed just outside the ride's station.
Since our last trip, the huge central theming piece has also been completed. During our trip, we managed to catch a glimpse of some of the vines being installed on the jaguar structure. It looks like the park was just seeing how they looked once installed as they were only installed for around half an hour before being removed.
The station is really starting to take shape now with staircases now installed along with more panels and sides of the station being installed every day. Hand shape holes have been installed on the back end of the station, you can see the space where the train will travel through at high speeds after climbing up the reverse section of the track. We still have no clue how the ride will work or how the capacity issues have been sorted out!
Huge foundations for the new flat ride can be seen ready for ride hardware to be installed over the next few months. We expect the rollercoaster track and supports will be installed first before we see anything else happen around the construction site.
We can't wait to see this project progress over the next few months! It won't be long until we see more supports and the first sections of the track get delivered!
World Of Jumanji September Construction Update
Monday 5th September 2022
The World Of Jumanji is progressing fast with big changes made across the construction site, the big animal theming element is now completely covered n metal rebar and it is close to being finished! Since our last look at the animal more of the creature has been covered in concrete and has been themed.
At the top of the site, the foundations for one of the new flat rides have been completed. Walls can be also seen around the new ride base, we're still a long way off from seeing ride hardware for these new flat rides but it's good to see progress being made!
Work on enclosing the ride's station has now begun with metal panels being added to the back of the station building. Metal rebar can be seen on each side of the station, ready for the station floor to be poured and installed.
There's no sign of any rollercoaster track yet but it won't be long now until we start to see rollercoaster track and supports delivered and start to be installed over the new few months.
Very exciting times ahead for Chessington World of Adventures!
New For 2023 World of Jumanji At Chessington World Of Adventures
Tuesday 16th August 2022
Chessington World of Adventures Resort and Sony Pictures Entertainment have announced today, ‘World of Jumanji’. Set to open in spring 2023, this £17m development marks the world’s first themed land for the box office hit Jumanji film franchise and the single largest investment in the history of the renowned UK resort.
The project brings together entertainment and industry experts from around the world as they create a world-first experience that deep dives into the adventurous, action-packed stories seen in the box office hit Jumanji films. For those who think they are brave enough to enter the world, a first look at some of the proposed designs give an exciting glimpse at what to expect. The impressive entrance portal, which is shrouded in the ominous and overgrown Jumanji jungle that dominates the development, creates the perfect immersive starting point for guests as they prepare to take on a whole host of challenges. The iconic and unmissable Jaguar Shrine structure looms 55ft tall, keeping a watchful eye out over all who enter as it awaits the return of the curse-lifting Jaguar’s Eye jewel. More details about the wild rides, adventurous attractions and drama-filled experiences guests can expect to discover in the ‘World of Jumanji’ are set to be shared over the coming months.
The news follows a multi-territory exclusivity agreement between the Resort operator, Merlin Entertainments, and Columbia Pictures Location Based Entertainment, that was announced earlier this year. The scale of these plans forms part of Merlin’s broader global strategy to engage and work with leading IP and brands across its global estate. It is also a pivotal step in the studio’s larger global strategy to grow and expand location-based entertainment. The market leading studio are looking at how it can further utilise its strong global film and TV brands to create opportunities for audiences around the world to immerse themselves deeper into the studio’s stories.
Tim Harrison-Jones, Divisional Director at Chessington World of Adventures Resort, said:
“What could be more exciting than bringing the global hit Jumanji film franchise to life within the single largest development Chessington has ever seen. We know what it takes to create the ultimate adventure for our guests, spread over 128acres the Resort already delivers surprises around everyone corner with over 40 wild rides and attractions, zoo with over 1,000 majestic animals and two themed hotels, plus glamping!
Jeffrey Godsick, EVP of Global Partnerships and Brand Management and Head of Location Based Entertainment at Sony Pictures Entertainment said:
“After being entertained by the films for so many years, fans now have the chance to experience Jumanji in a whole new dimension and we are thrilled to be going on this exciting adventure with the creative team at Chessington as Jumanji further expands with its very own themed land.”
Chessington Project Amazon Mid August 2022 Construction Round Up
Sunday 14th August 2022
Project Amazon at Chessington is speeding ahead and it shouldn't be long until we start to see bigger construction around the site commence.
We say this every time but it shouldn't be long until we see the track for the rollercoaster starts arriving.
Around the construction site for the new rollercoaster and 2 new flat rides, we've seen foundations for one of the new spinning rides started, a new round base can be seen at the top end of the site next to the car park entrance. In the middle of the site, a new retaining wall can be seen, it is currently unknown what this new section will be but it could just be part of new theming that will be installed in the area.
The biggest change in the Project Amazon area is the main theming element continues to be built and wrapped in metal rebar. Concrete continues to be sprayed onto the structure and towards the bottom of the theming element, it appears the theming company working on it has started to apply the final base coat and shape the "animal" into the final product. This theming element is going to look amazing when it's completed!
Towards the bottom of the site, the maintenance building is now fully enclosed and we can now see where the train will be transferred in and out for maintenance. Work on the station also appears to be progressing well with a new floor installed in the station, we're starting to see where the platform for the ride will be. We'd love to see a preshow for the ride but with the space available we don't see this happening.
Project Amazon is looking amazing and will be the biggest investment in the park for many years. We look forward to finding out the official theme for the ride in the next few months.
Chessington Project Amazon August Update
Tuesday 2nd August 2022
Project Amazon is steaming ahead and it won't be long until we start to see track arriving at the park then the really exciting construction begins! Since our last trip to the park, more metal work has been added to the huge theming structure and towards the bottom of the creature, concrete has already been sprayed creating a base structure. It would appear that work has now turned toward the top of the animal/structure. Workers could be spotted working on the head of what we think will become a lion/animal. At the front of the structure when you look head-on you can already see where the teeth of the animal will be. This huge structure once complete will have track spiralling up around it. So we expect this will be the last section where track will be installed.
Around the rest of the site more fences have been installed down one side of the construction site. The maintenance building for the ride has been built and already has scaffolding around it ready to waterproof the building. A generator for the ride can also be seen behind the maintenance building, which to us looks big enough to hold two trains. But the question is, how could the ride handle 2 trains? Maybe outside the station towards the maintenance shed, there could be a turntable? Something similar to Pulsar at Walabi holland.
It would also appear that the concrete base for one of the new flat rides towards the top of the site is being prepped ready for concrete to be poured over the next few days. Lots of dirt and soil have been moved recently and you can see banks being built around the area.
No more news about the theme for the ride has been announced yet, but we're hoping we will start to hear some exciting news soon!
Project Amazon Mid July 2022 Update
Saturday 16th July 2022
Work on Project Amazon is progressing well, with work on the station now underway since the station was fully installed last week. Bricks now line the main section of the station where the track will run through the middle. Sitting on both sides of these bricks will also be the station platform and then more queue lines and air gates.
Around the rest of the construction site, there are lots of diggers moving soil around as we enter the next phase of the construction period, starting to level out the site ready for foundations for the two other flat rides to be dug and installed. It would also appear that work on installing new fences at the top of the site is underway, it's currently unknown if the green fences will come down in this section.
The main theming element of the area is progressing well with an unknown company still cladding the structure ready for concrete to be sprayed onto the metal structure. Universal rocks is that you?
With a summer heather wave / high temperatures coming up we could see the construction site temporary close? Or could we see work in shaded areas of the site that could receive more work? Such as the station.
