World of Jumanji Plans

Following a public consultation in May 2021, Chessington World of Adventures Resort submitted a planning application in August 2021 for a new land encompassing a rollercoaster and two children’s rides. The speculation generated by the plans that the new land, set to open in 2023, would be themed to Jumanji and feature the world’s first Bolliger & Mabillard launched wing shuttle coaster was subsequently confirmed, upon the Resort officially announcing the project.

In May 2021, the Resort undertook a two week public consultation on the proposed new land, providing a first look at the prospective attractions. Concept images released, suggest it could be a Wing Coaster manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, based on the style of track shown and the inclusion of air gates on both sides of the open-air station. The description and layout plan suggested it would feature an initial backwards launch out of the station, before being further propelled through the main course up into a large spike element that loops around a rock ‘animal feature’. The exact children’s rides that would feature were yet to be confirmed, with two due to be chosen out of a Jump n Smile, Technical Park Bateaux Volants, Zierer Jet Skis, and a Technical Park Super Miami. Read our full article here.

The full planning application was submitted by the Resort in August 2021, offering a more detailed insight into the proposals and generating speculation that the area could be themed around Jumanji. The development was largely as shown in the consultation, although changes of note included the relocation of one of the children’s rides to the north of the area, the layout of the plaza’s landscaping, and the rollercoaster’s station becoming fully enclosed. The plans confirmed the rollercoaster as being 380m in length, reaching a speed of 20 m/s (around 45mph), having a 1.4m minimum height restriction, carrying 24 guests in 6 cars, and having an approximate 1 minute ride period and a 1 minute turn around period (implying a throughput of around 720 riders per hour). It was unclear which of the four options featured in the consultation that one of the low-level flat rides would be, but one appeared to be a Junior Miami type ride. In terms of theming, the main plaza area was shown to be surfaced with pattern-impressed concrete, and a series of Amazon-themed stone carvings of varying dimensions installed around the site. The main theming element was said to be an animal-based rockwork structure in-keeping with the Resort’s offering. Read our full article here.

In August 2022, the Resort announced that the new area would open as World of Jumanji in Spring 2023. Following the reveal, details of the Jaguar Shrine theming feature were submitted to Kingston Council in order to satisfy the associated planning condition, providing a number of different views of the structure!