IF you are stuck for ideas for the kids this summer, no need to panic…just yelp for help and the heroes of hit kids cartoon Paw Patrol will come to the rescue.
As a mum of three, over the past decade I have watched more than my fair share of the hit Nickelodeon kids show which follows the rescue exploits of a team of talking, cartoon puppies under the supervision of 10-year-old boy Ryder.
So when I heard the ‘World of Paw Patrol’ was opening at Chessington World of Adventures, I knew I could waste no time in assembling my pups to check it out.
The new £15million land vibrantly brings to life the cartoon’s world of Adventure Bay making young visitors feel as though they have just stepped directly into the cartoon.
Cleverly designed with little ones in mind, it covers 1.4 acres, although the land manages to have a safe, self-contained feel.
From the trees, to the vehicles, to the models of the characters which populate the land-they all look exactly like they have been transplanted from the show.
And standing, beaconlike at the centre is the iconic Paw Patrol Lookout Tower which famously serves as Pup HQ in the show.
Four brand new rides bring the pup’s adventures to life in thrilling style.
The World of Paw Patrol’s flagship attraction is Chase’s Mountain Mission, a small scale rollercoaster aimed at younger children (although they still have to be 0.9m tall to ride).
It’s a well thought out experience as children enter the coaster at the bottom of the Lookout Tower via sliding doors – just like in the show where they are then given the sensation of shooting to the top in a lift – again just like in the show.
A video brief on their ‘mission’ tells them the town’s chicken mad and gaff prone Mayor (who ardent viewers know is often the subject of rescue efforts) has been left stranded on a tightrope thanks to a pesky, baguette eating eagle and kids are asked to help.
Young adventurers then emerge at the rollercoaster’s loading station for the ride – while hardly white-knuckle, it has a few bends and zips along at a pace perfect as an entry level rollercoaster for more nervous riders.
But our family favourite Paw Patrol was without doubt Zuma’s Hovercraft Adventure.
The orange boats look exactly like they could have floated straight from the show.
There is a claim to fame here too as it is the UK’s first ‘drifter’ ride meaning it gives the sensation of hovering above ground.
It is super spinney and fast and kids get to pull a leaver in the car to make it rocket out at an angle.
It’s thrilling, kind of like a cross between a bumper car and the fairground waltzer.
Even my eldest son who is 12 wanted to repeatedly ride this one…
Marshall’s Firetruck Rescue sees young thrillseekers whooshed around horizontally, yet fairly gently, in a giant red bus.
“It makes my tummy go funny!” Estella squealed with glee.
And youngsters get to soar high in the sky again above World Of Paw Patrol in soar high in Skye’s dazzling pink helicopters.
At its centre of the land isn’t the rides but ‘Rubble and Rocky’s Playzone.’
This is a gloriously, undulating and colourful play areas where younger visitors can explore Adventure Bay on their own terms.
They can crawl through tunnels, barrel down mini slides and clamber around the familiar sites from the show like Rocky’s waste truck and Captain Turbot’s Sea Patroller.
There is also a cute designated snack stand serving Paw Patrol branded treats and, of course, the obligatory gift shop – but parents beware, because boy what a gift shop it is!
For pup mad kids it will be heaven with aisles and aisles of every piece of Paw Patrol merchandise you can think of, including an entire wall of soft toy versions of the characters.
And if you are parent to a total pup nut you might consider an overnight stay in one of the five brand new PAW Patrol-themed hotel rooms at Chessington’s resort hotel.
Each room sleeps up to two adults and three children.
Young ones would no doubt happily spend all day in World of Paw Patrol, but if course entry price also gives you free reign of all that Chessington has to offer including animal attractions, shows and brilliant thrill rides.
So for a family like mine, with kids spanning in age from 5 to 12, it offers a great day out with something for everyone.
What could be more Pawsome than that?
Tickets to Chessington start from £32pp while PAW Patrol hotel stays start from £155 for a family of four (including breakfast, early ride access and bronze fast-track pass)