Visiting Chessington World of Adventures is a great day out. And with a few top tips you can ensure you get the most out of your Chessington tickets. From which Chessington World of Adventure rides you should go on first to whether Chessington fast track is really worth it, here are our 20 Top Tips for visiting Chessington World of Adventures.
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Table of Contents
1. Take your own water bottles
You can take your own water bottles in to the park to fill up with water through the day and keep you rehydrated.
There are numerous outlets across Chessington World of Adventures to get water. And you can fill them up with tap water so you’ll save money. And, of course, it’s much better than lots of sugary drinks.
2. Remember closing time is the time the queue to the ride will close – but not the ride itself
If you make sure you’re in that queue before the park closes you’ll get that very last ride in. Even if you haven’t actually ridden it before closing time.
It’s a good tip to remember as so many people head out of the park just before closing time. So it’s often a quiet time to get in the line for the big rides.
3. Pick up a map at the entrance so you can start to plan out your day.
It’s really useful to pick up a map as soon as you enter the park.
That way you can first check which of the daily shows you want to see and the times of them.
We used ours to refer to throughout the day and make a basic plan around.
4 Book tickets in advance online
It is much better to book tickets online as it will be cheaper (it can be up to 45% cheaper) plus you’ll beat the queues at the entrance.
If you think you will want to return then check out the prices for an annual pass too. It only takes a few visits to be a better price than a day ticket.
Buy your tickets in advance here.
5. Don’t try to see everything – Top Tips for visiting Chessington World of Adventures
It’s impossible to see everything in a single day so be realistic about the things you want to do. We found it a good idea to pick the top things we didn’t want to miss before we got started.
6. Don’t go to Dragon’s Fury or Vampire first
This is what everyone does. For the smaller queues go to Tomb Blaster or Dragon Falls first.
7. That said it’s best to get to the big rides in the first part of the day
It’s best to not leave the big rides, Dragon’s Fury or Vampire until the end of the day as it can eat up all your time there.
8. Stay in one of the Chessington Hotels if you can
They have special deals for combo tickets of staying and visiting the park. And you also get opportunities like half an hour in Wild Asia before the general public come in during weekends and school holidays.
You will also get fast track wristbands for use between 10 – 11am. There are also characters who come to breakfast so you won’t need to queue up at the park to meet them if your kids are into that sort of thing.
If you can’t stay onsite staying close by will help –
Find the best hotels for Chessington here.
9. Prepare for all weathers
No matter what the season take rain coats and sunscreen and hats. You’re outside and facing the elements for the whole day so it’s best to be prepared.
10. However if it rains then check out the Rainy Day guarantee
If it rains for more than one hour continuously on the day you visit, Chessington offer a Rainy Day guarantee. This will get you a free ticket back to Chessington on another day.
Do check the restrictions as this isn’t for tickets that are bought as open ended tickets.
11. Go to the earliest Madagascar Live! show that you can
This is when the show is at its quietest. We went to the first show and had front row seats.
12. Don’t leave the Sea Life Centre to the end – Top Tips for visiting Chessington World of Adventures
If you want to make it to Sea Life Centre don’t leave it to the end of the day as this is when it’s busiest.
13. Get name tags for kids in case of an emergency
If your child has a tendency to wander off then go to Adventurers’ Services in the centre of the park (at Market Square). Go first thing and get a wristband that you can add your name and mobile number to so staff can call you if they find them wandering.
14. Is it worth getting fast track tickets?
If you’re not staying at the hotel, where you get fast track wrist bands, consider buying them if you know you want to spend most of your time riding the big rides. But they are not cheap.
It’s worth trying to decide between limiting the rides you go on through the day and returning another time or buying the fast pass to make the most of the one visit.
15. Try to avoid the main lunchtime hours to eat.
It sounds obvious but queues really build up between 11 – 1.30 and can use up a lot of valuable time.
Consider taking snacks to keep you going for longer. And if you can make it until 3pm on some days they offer a “kid’s eat free after 3pm” in a number of the food outlets.
16. If your children are young consider taking in your own pushchair.
There are some to rent but these are limited. And it’s a long day walking so good to have the option for them to rest and will help you all keep going for longer.
17. On busy days Chessington offers special passes
Chessington offer special passes to those with small children which allow just one parent to queue to go on a ride and then when it’s over the second parent can ride without having to queue.
18. If you are taking in coats, bags and picnics there are lockers in the Market Square.
There is a small charge but it saves having to carry them around all day.
19. Use the height sticks all over the park – Top Tips for visiting Chessington World of Adventures
This will make sure your little one will be allowed on the ride before you queue. And avoid disappointment if you get to the end to discover they can’t go on.
20. If you are part of a youth group, consider planning a trip together – Chessington
Chessington have a large number of organisations that they offer reduced entry to so these are well worth checking out and organising a group trip if you can. You can find out more here.
I hope these have helped you have a successful and happy trip to Chessington. All tips correct at the time of writing.
Read more:
Staying at the Chessington Safari Hotel
We’ve never been to Chessington. It looks like a fun day out and those are great tips 🙂
Great tips. I’ll keep them in mind when we eventually go
Fantastic write up with some great tips! Looks like it has changed a LOT over the years! Definitely worth re visiting I think. 🙂
These are great tips, loads of stuff here I’d never thought of, thank you for sharing
Chessington is on our must visit list this year
Great tips, many are applicable for Legoland and Peppa Pig World too!
I can’t wait for Baby to be old enough to go to Chessington. These tips are really awesome. The rainy day guarantee is amazing x
These are great tips. I went to Chesington when I was younger I’d love to take the kids when they are bigger x
You have some great tips here. I haven’t been to Chessington in years and it looks like there have been big changes but I am glad to see good old Rameses Revenge is still going strong. Do they still have the Runaway Train?
Thank you for these useful tips. We haven’t been to Chessington as a family yet but it’s somewhere we’d like to visit.
Great tips – we love chessington – you are spot on about the show x
We haven’t been to Chessington yet though I am thinking we may save up and go next year, brilliant let of tips, I’ll come back to it before we go! Thank You!
Some really great tips here. We went 2 years ago and the kids loved it
This post got me all nostalgic! This article is really worth a read since the place is huge! I’m sure locals would find this very helpful !
Not visited for a few years as Teen has gone over to Thorpe Park where the rides are a lot bigger. My younger three however are old enough to enjoy Chessington and it’s changed so much, looks so much better these days. Thanks for the tips, this is def on our place to go this summer 🙂