Chessington World of Adventures Resort have today unveiled full details of what will await in World of Jumanji, when it opens later this spring, with families set to follow in the footsteps of Dr. Bravestone to locate the Jaguar’s Eye Jewel, lift the curse and save Jumanji!
The first adventure is the new winged, launch, shuttle rollercoaster, Mandrill Mayhem. Riders will be swept-up in the long arms of a mandrill, as the horde whisks them around the different regions of Jumanji, all while dodging the hazards of the jungle. Said to be the most fearsome of all the wild animals, the mandrills are unpredictable and will launch at full speed through the treetops, flipping upside down (through the first inversion on a coaster at the Resort) on a hair-raising adventure that culminates in a spiral up to the summit of the 55ft tall Jaguar Shrine. Riders will be able to glimpse the Jaguar’s Eye Jewel glow before falling and braving the adventure again, but backwards!
Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, the rollercoaster is confirmed to have a 1.2m minimum height restriction, making it accessible to the Resort’s thrill-seeking, younger guests. This is reduced on the 1.4m threshold mentioned during the consultation phase, and is the same height restriction as for LEGOLAND Deutschland’s new family wing coaster. Concept art released as part of the announcement appears to confirm that the train will feature seven rows (one more than the six referred to in the planning application documents), with two seats on either side of the wing. However, whilst six rows will face in the forward direction out of the station, the ‘back’ row will face in the opposite direction. This will provide two further ways to experience the rollercoaster, in addition to the usual choice for a wing coaster of which side of the track to sit on. Furthermore, whilst it is possible that the concept art may not accurately reflect the actual design of the hardware, the restraints shown in the main key visual differ from those of existing B&M wing coasters in both not featuring a vest restraint and the over-the-shoulder restraints having alternative shaping.
Other details can also seemingly be gleaned from the concept art, such as that, at the base of the Jaguar Shrine, it appears the train will travel through a near miss element in the form of ‘wooden’ spikes. The finished look of the station building is also shown to feature vegetation, canopies and strings of lights, and it can be seen how the side that faces towards Mamba Strike is themed so as to match with the surrounding sub-area.
There will also be two further adventures in World of Jumanji in the form of flat rides. Mamba Strike, an SBF Visa Top Dancer (alternatively referred to as a Junior Miami), will require guests to dodge the fangs of the black mamba on a dizzying, untameable ride located in the bazaar. Then, over in the dunes will be Ostrich Stampede, an SBF Visa Super Jumper that sees guests swerve a herd of stampeding ostriches on a whirlwind ride. This seems to indicate that the area draws inspiration from both films in the revived franchise. The Jaguar Shrine is of course a central element of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, the first film, released in 2017, which also features a scene set in a bazaar where the players are required to obtain a clue guarded by a black mamba. The dunes is then one of the first locations the players visit in the 2019 film, Jumanji: The Next Level, being required to dodge a herd of ostriches, and then they later encounter mandrills on their journey.
Representing the single largest investment in Chessington’s history, World of Jumanji is also said to feature a maze of pathways, which have a layout based on the iconic Jumanji board game. It is noted that some of these are set to be trickier to navigate than others, with concept art showing some wooden obstacles for guests to traverse. It also suggests that guests might encounter what looks to be a hippo along the pathway in front of the Jaguar Shrine. Whilst exploring, guests will also be able to find super-sized versions of the board game pieces. Themed food, drink and merchandise will also be available in the area. It would make sense for much of this to be available from outlets in the bazaar, although it looks as though there may also be a food and beverage kiosk located in a overturned truck in the dunes. With construction progressing at pace, this latter elements have already been seen set in place on-site.
Scott O’Neil, CEO of Merlin Entertainments, which operates Chessington World of Adventures Resort, said:
“We look forward to Welcome-ing you to the Jungle this spring, as the amazing World of Jumanji opens at Chessington World of Adventures Resort. Families should prepare to be turned upside down… literally, as the first NEW rollercoaster in nearly 20 years at the Resort has a twist, turn and flip that will have you holding on to your seat! This is the Next Level for families wanting to explore the ultimate adventure together.”
Complementing the above, six new Jumanji themed bedrooms will be introduced to the Chessington Safari Hotel as well. It is noted that these will be available from Saturday 1st April, ahead of World of Jumanji itself opening.
Are you excited to experience the adventures that await in World of Jumanji? What are you most looking forward to checking out in the new area? Let us know on the Attraction Source social media channels.
