Brave the Drop, Release the Curse

Earlier this year, Chessington World of Adventures launched ‘Croc Drop’ – their brand-new family drop tower on the site formally occupied by the Huss topspin ride, Rameses Revenge.

Over a year in construction, the 25m drop tower manufactured by SBF Visa has been perfectly blended into the existing area by Merlin Magic Making by utilising the former Rameses Revenge shop as the entrance and exit ride. Croc Drop also features an impressive new theming structure of Sobek, the ancient Egyptian crocodile God, providing ‘Forbidden Kingdom’ with a brand-new focal point.

Those daring will plunge 25m into the giant jaws of a crocodile, Sobek, the ancient Egyptian Crocodile God and protector of the Nile, who has been possessed by evil spirits, transforming him into a cruel deity. With the once fertile Nile laying stagnant, riders must take part in a ceremony to banish the evil spirits from Sobek, plunging into the crocodile’s soul and freeing the waters back into the Nile.

As much as I miss Rameses Revenge, the introduction of the drop tower has rejuvenated the area adjacent to the recently launched ‘Rainforest’, freshening up a large area of the park overall. On the day of my visit, ‘Forbidden Kingdom’ was a hive of activity and on a blue summer’s day, the area felt tropical, reminiscent of the beaches of Egypt with many families soaking up the rays and enjoying the park!

It was an absolute delight to photograph the new addition in such perfect conditions. The main aim was to capture the ride from different angles and hopefully, this has been achieved! For sure, the most interesting photo of Croc Drop to capture was by sitting in a haystack dryer, but I am so happy with the result as the archway adds another dimension to the shot and adds to the overall feel of the area.

The ride itself is wholesome fun and I particularly enjoyed the introduction to the ride from the batching area where the doors open with a heavy mist to reveal the boarding area. I am sure the ride will be an enormous success for the park, and I hope the level of theming continues for future rides, not just for Chessington World of Adventures, but for Merlin Entertainments and other theme parks as a whole! It certainly adds to the escapism!

Will you brave the drop and release the curse on your next visit?

Justin