No inversions, not a huge speed and not scary at
all...
But that doesn't mean that it's not fun.
In fact in almost every way, this ride is pure
genius. Before this ride, Tussauds efforts to make this a family park
had not really been seen, apart from the disappearance of Samurai just
to add to Thorpe's already thrill-filled line up of rides. Although a
family park, it was turning into more of a kids park as the only real
attractions that older brothers/ sisters and parents could enjoy, were Professor
Bubbleworks, Black Buccaneer, Vampire, and the only real thrill ride,
the brilliant Rameses Revenge. This very small selection was not enough
to justify a day out for older people, meaning that smaller family
groups were coming (i.e. just parents and very small children). This
small group was made smaller by the fact that Bubbleworks was banned
teenage groups (of which I am part of, although I do agree with this
move as when me and a few friends went, we could see other scum doing
stupid things, that detracted from a families ride), and the fact that
the over rated Vampire (a!
And it is over rated still by quite a few) had
horrendously long queues for what you actually got, and Rameses could,
and still can vary from poor to average, and good to excellent.
But in 2004, I was amazed to see excited teens
in Chessington, which just 1 year before was a vary rare to non-existent
sight. Of course they were all heading towards the new star of the park.
The first ride of the day gave us a 50 minute
queue which for a new ride is quite good. As we went around the queue,
we got more and more bored, as the queue takes you away from the ride,
and the only thing you can see is the drop and large immelman turn. Not
very good for younger children I would have thought.
As you board the train, loading is quite
efficient and people hurry into the cars as instead of stopping in the
station, they crawl through it, which makes people get in more quickly.
A very quick lift hill takes you straight into
the first drop, past the camera, up into the spectacular immelman. This
provokes a lot of spinning and is quite forceful. We then go up into
some trim brakes, into another dip and slight turn, into some more
brakes that don't slow you down at all. Then comes the fantastic helix,
which also causes some spinning, which is carried onto the second, very
shallow lift hill.
This leads you into a little s-bend, into a
small drop, up though a bunny hop, into a final downwards banked s-bend
into the brakes. What great fun.
Not a thrill ride, but not a kids coaster, one
of the only coasters I know that actually fits into the category of
family coaster, the only other I know being Big Thunder Mountain at
DLParis. (Vampire is not a proper family coaster it is more for younger
people). This ride thrills older people, and makes younger people feel
like they have been on a major coaster, therefore making it have
universal appeal.
This ride is just what Chessington needed. It
made the park a proper family park, as just like Thorpe used to be an
overgrown water park, Chessington was starting to become more of an
overgrown kids park. But Fury saved Chessington and brought in the whole
family, meaning that income is a lot higher, hopefully funding future
developments.
In 2 years, Tussauds have opened to amazing roller coasters
at Thorpe and Cheesington, both fitting their criteria perfectly.
Colossus saved Thorpe Park, and turned it into a thrill park, Dragons
Fury saved Chessington, and turned it into a proper family park. And
with two great parks, that are good for all ages, only 30 mins drive
apart, their is now more and more reason for the public to visit Surrey
for theme parks, rather than Alton Towers (which of course is good for
me as I live in Surrey).
Good work Tussauds!
