- Dragon Falls
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Dragon Falls 
Location Chessington World of Adventures Area Mystic East Coordinates 51°20′54″N 0°19′15″W / 51.34842°N 0.320926°WCoordinates: 51°20′54″N 0°19′15″W / 51.34842°N 0.320926°W Status Operating Opening date 1987 Type Log flume Manufacturer Mack Rides Dragon Falls is a ride at the theme park Chessington World of Adventures[1] in Chessington, London, England. It is located in the Mystic East area of the park. It is a water ride and features two drops, one that leads into the mouth of a dragon and another, taller one between two large 'stone' faces designed to resemble Angkor Wat. The ride's station is modelled after a pagoda and is decorated extensively inside. Although regarded as a 'log flume', the boats are not themed as logs (as in Loggers Leap at nearby Thorpe Park), but rather as nondescript wooden boats with inline seating. The ride starts off by traveling out of the loading station and down a peaceful stream, passing bridges and points where the water is rough. Then you travel up a lift hill and down the first drop, which is small, yet has quite a splashdown and into a dragon's mouth. The inside is un-themed, and after traveling along it, you come out into the open, round a lake and then climb up to the top of the lift hill, where you can see over the park. You then splashdown but before you get in to the station an elephant squirts you with water, getting you very wet. Then you travel back into the loading station.
The ride is themed extensively through the land, and features a giant fibreglass Buddha, based on the Great Buddha of Kōtoku-in (according to a plaque placed alongside it in the park), amongst other objects. The ride opened in 1987 and has a height requirement of 1.2m to ride (anyone less than 1.3 metres in height must be accompanied by a person aged 16 or over). This was updated early in the 2011 season from the previous 0.9m restriction with Chessington citing this was as part of a regular review process. The ride is currently sponsored by Juicy Drop Popwith the slogan "Dare to soak with Juicy Drop Pop.[2]
The ride was manufactured by Mack Rides. Express Pass tickets may be purchased for this ride.[3]
The ride was named Dragon River[4] upon opening in 1987, and was changed to Dragon Falls for the 1999 season.[5][6]
References
- ^ http://www.chessington.com/plan-your-trip/chessington-news.aspx
- ^ "Chessington News, April 2011". http://www.chessington.com/plan-your-trip/chessington-news.aspx. Retrieved 2011-04-11.
- ^ "Official website 'Mystic East' page". http://www.chessington.com/rides_attractions/mystic_east/mystic_east.asp?css=2. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
- ^ "Map of Chessington World of Adventures from 1987, with 'Dragon River' (scan)". http://themeuk.net/Chessington_History/1988/pic2.jpg. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
- ^ "Map of CWOA from 1998 (scan), also with 'Dragon River'". http://themeuk.net/Chessington_History/1998/1998map.jpg. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
- ^ "Map of CWOA from 1999 (scan) with 'Dragon Falls'". http://themeuk.net/Chessington_History/1999/1999map.jpg. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
External links
- Dragon Falls at Theme Park Insider
- Dragon Falls at Theme Park Junkies
- Dragon Falls at ThemeParks-UK
Categories:- Log flumes
- Mack Rides water rides
- 1987 establishments
- Buildings and structures in Kingston upon Thames
- Visitor attractions in London
- Water rides by name
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