John Wardley on Chessington & Alton Towers (2014) 

It’s just perfect timing to have someone with pioneering ideas like John and a company like Pearson / Tussaud’s who trusted John & were willing to build it. Alton Towers is such a special park but I’d just love to see these types of attractions being built again in the UK but not solely at Merlin parks. For example Tulley’s Shocktober Fest continues to be such a great event because they expand every year and are always thinking bigger and better. Shame that it’s only a seasonal attraction, that team could build a great park.

It is a shame that there are no college or University courses, which teaches students how to design and build theme park rides. I remember a career advisor visiting my secondary school in the 1990s and he said that the theme park industry was merely impossible to get into. I used love spending loads of time at Chessington, Thorpe Park, Legoland and Alton Towers, when I was growing up. Before the Internet age, there was no way to learn how the rides were designed and built.

Well this was a nice surprise! Really great interview. So interesting hearing John speak about the different approach to the transit systems; I think it’s brilliant how they did it in Fifth Dimension, with so much potential for great story telling. Unfortunately this is lost in the current lacklustre version of Tomb Blaster. I loved the part when you asked John if he knew Bubbleworks would be a success and he said ‘well I loved it and I knew that everyone else would!’ ☺️ They don’t make rides like this anymore.

He is so so passionate always

When I was a kid I never really thought how clever he had been in designing the 5th Dimension but i loved that ride/show.

Wish you asked him about Thorpe Park and Toyland Tours

Wonderful interview!!

I love ur channel it just fascinates me

I would love the meet him. He seem really interesting to talk too