Mandrill Mayhem

Mandrill Mayhem is a launched, steel shuttle wing coaster located at Chessington World of Adventures in Chessington, United Kingdom. The ride was designed by Swiss rollercoaster manufacturers Bolliger & Mabillard, and is located in the World of Jumanji section of the park, themed to the Jumanji film and book franchise. A consultation for the ride took place in May 2021, and the coaster opened two years later on the 15th May 2023. The last row faces backwards.[1]

Mandrill Mayhem
Chessington World of Adventures
LocationChessington World of Adventures
Park sectionWorld of Jumanji
Coordinates51.347424°N 0.318160°W
StatusOperating
Opening date15 May 2023
General statistics
TypeSteel – Wing – Shuttle
ManufacturerBolliger & Mabillard
ModelWing Coaster
Lift/launch systemLSM launch
Height66 ft (20 m)
Length1,247 ft (380 m)
Speed45 mph (72 km/h)
Inversions1
Capacity840 riders per hour
Height restriction47.2 in (120 cm)
TrainsSingle train with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 28 riders per train.
ThemeJumanji
Reserve and Ride available
Virtual Queue required for all guests to ride
Single rider line available
Disabled access Wheelchair accessible
Mandrill Mayhem at RCDB

The 1,247-foot-long (380 m) ride stands 66 feet (20 m) tall and features one inversion – an inline twist, two LSM launches, a junior scorpion tail spike and a 405° spiral rollback. Riders experience speeds of up to 45 mph (72 km/h). The trains are stylized as mandrill monkeys holding the riders in their arms. The ride features a single train with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 28 riders, making for a theoretical capacity of 840 guests per hour.[2]

Guests between 1.2m and 1.3m must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 16, while those a minimum height of 1.3m can ride alone.[3] The ride sits alongside two other attractions, manufactured by the Italian SBF Visa Group, Ostrich Stampede (a ‘Jump & Smile’ model) and Mamba Strike (a ‘Miami’ flat ride).[4]

History

Chessington opened an online, two-week consultation for the ride and the surrounding area on the 17th May 2021, and held two in-person consultation in the hotel's conference centre.[5] Plans were then submitted to Kingston Council in August 2021, with the park citing they “must respond decisively” following the COVID-19 pandemic, with an attraction that “excites visitors and generates interest within the industry”.[6] Plans were approved for the area towards the end of January 2022, starting a 15-month build process.[7]

The ride and the surrounding area were officially announced to themed to the Jumanji franchise in August 2022,[8] with trademarks submitted for the attractions in December of that year.[9] Merlin Magic Making's lead creative, John Burton designed the area.[10] The land, including Mandrill Mayhem had a press launch on the 13th May 2023, by Merlin Entertainment's CEO, Scott O' Neil, who said the themed land was his company's “most expansive and exciting yet”. The World of Jumanji is said to have cost £17 million, serving as the park's single biggest investment since opening.[11]

The attraction officially opened on the 15th May 2023, with a virtual queuing system due to uncertainty around the ride's capacity to manage a conventional queue. Six Jumanji themed bedrooms complimented the area, in the park's Safari Hotel, following a deal between Merlin Entertainments and Sony covering both Europe and North America, which includes attractions, rides, lands, retail outlets and themed hotel rooms.[11]

Description

Mandrill Mayhem is the first-ever shuttle wing coaster built by Bolliger & Mabillard. The train is lightly launched backwards out of the station, entering into a banked turn before climbing 65 feet (20 metres) up a ‘beyond-vertical’ spike, known as a ‘Junior Scorpion Tail’, due to its shape; despite being at an angle slightly greater than 90°, this element is not considered an inversion. Rather, as the train ascends and briefly stops at the top, riders will momentarily face the ground. At the top of the spike, the train's gravity pulls it back down, passing again through the station, where it receives its second launch (achieving a maximum speed of 45 mph) before going through an in-line twist, serving as the park's first actual inversion on a roller coaster. This is followed by a 405° spiral rollback, going around the area's central theming feature, the mountain sculpture called ‘Jaguar Shrine’, a rock in the shape of a large feline predator's head. The train then reaches a brake at the top, rolling backwards and traversing the layout once again, before reentering and finishing at the station.[12]

See also

References
  1. RideRater (11 March 2023). "The surprising decision of Mandrill Mayhem | RideRater". Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  2. "Mandrill Mayhem - Chessington World of Adventures (Chessington, Greater London, England, World of Jumaji)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  3. "Mandrill Mayhem Family Theme Park Ride | Chessington". www.chessington.com. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  4. Jared (28 February 2023). "World of Jumanji Opens May 15th • News • Chessington Buzz". Chessington Buzz. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  5. RideRater (17 May 2021). "Chessington planning new rollercoaster | RideRater". Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  6. RideRater (9 August 2021). "Chessington submits new rollercoaster plans | RideRater". Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  7. RideRater (28 January 2022). "Chessington gets approval for Jumanji area | RideRater". Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  8. "Chessington World of Adventures Resort Announces World's First Jumanji Themed Land". www.merlinentertainments.biz. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  9. RideRater (14 December 2022). "Mandrill Mayhem: Chessington rollercoaster named | RideRater". Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  10. Nightingale, Laura (5 March 2023). "Jumanji ride designer: 'Chessington is perfect location'". SurreyLive. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  11. RideRater (13 May 2023). "The World of Jumanji opens at Chessington | RideRater". Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  12. "Mandrill Mayhem • World of Jumanji • Chessington Buzz". Chessington Buzz. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
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