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Big Stevie B · Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:23 pm Post subject: Chessington WOA/Zoo Rumours

I was at Chessington on Sunday March 23rd. While we were there we visited the new farm area.
We were there while one of the keepers was talking about the new/relocated? Gorilla House.
While she was speaking about this, she spoke of the hotel and Chessington becoming a resort in the parks future plans.
Her words were "Become like Disney World, by splitting the parks" and "Split the Theme Park and the Zoo". Saying it would not come in for a couple of years yet but the two attractions are being considered to be split. As in two separate entry price parks.

This was only one of the keepers but she seemed very clear on what she was talking about.
So this is possibly just a staff rumour.
If they do this, i think it will be a big mistake. Chessington is different because of the zoo/farm and park combined.
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Magic · Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 10:34 pm Post subject:

I can see them becoming more focused on animals than rides, purely because the park is currently in direct competition with the Legoland target audience. So CWOA needs to find its own niche market, and that's animals. If they wanted to split into two they would need a major investment in both sides, ie. lots of new animal exhibits and also a lot more rides, the zoo certainly isn't big enough at teh moment to be a stand alone attraction.

Personally I can't see a split happening for real. The main reason is Zoos are a dying market. They are not as financially viable as they use to be. They can't compete with the likes of theme parks for the ever decreasing family disposable income. If you look at a lot of zoos and aquariums for that matter they are adding theme park style rides, whether it be a 4D cinema or a few flat rides in a bid to offer a more rounded offering.

Merlin themselves are starting to add rides to some of the Sea Life Centres, I think Poole or Plymouth is the first to get rides including a Rockin tug. And on a similar vein take a look at the Dungeons attractions, what use to be straight forward museum style attractions are now adding theme park rides to keep the customers coming through their doors.

So I doubt very much the CWOA will become 2 parks any time soon. However I strongly believe we will see a lot more animal exhibits opening or existing ones getting Extreme Makeovers. I also wouldn't be surprised if they start offering multi park weekends. Say stay at Thorpe Hotel and spend Saturday at Thorpe and a coach takes you to Legoland on Sunday, or Stay at Chessington Hotel with a day at Thorpe and a day at CWOA.
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bluea61 · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:16 am Post subject:

I think the potential for a multi park hopper ticket is massive. Chessington, Thorpe and Legoland are just too close to ignore the money making potential. Like Magic says couple that with the hotels and it could be a real bonus for all the parks.

Imagine the people who wouldn't usually go to Chessington only going because they get it cheap on a flexi style ticket. If they enjoy themselves they could continue to go to both parks instead of just one. I'm suprised Tussuads never really pushed this.

On the subject of Chessy zoo, the enclosure by the runaway train queue is currently having a major refurb. Also to split the zoo and park would be hard as they are very much on top of each other.
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