View source for Tomb Blaster

{{Short description|Dark ride}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox attraction
| name                = ''Tomb Blaster''
| logo                = <!--Use ONLY the filename, not a full [[Image:]] link-->
| logo_width          = <!--Default is 250px-->
| image               = Chessington World of Adventures Tomb Blaster.jpg
| imagedimensions     = <!--Default is 250px-->
| caption             = 
| location             = Chessington World of Adventures<!--Must not be linked.-->
| section             = [[Forbidden Kingdom area|Forbidden Kingdom]]<!--Should be linked.-->
| status              = Operating
| cost                = 
| soft_opened         = 
| opened              = 2002
| closed              = 
| previousattraction  = ''[[Terror Tomb]]''
| replacement         = <!--If there is an appropriate article, this should be linked.-->
| coordinates         = <!--Use ONLY if attraction is at one park. Use {{coord}}-->
| type                = [[Dark ride]]<!--Should be linked.-->
| manufacturer        = Mack Rides
| designer            = Tussauds Studios
| model               = 
| theme               = [[Ancient Egypt]]<!--Should be linked.-->
| music               = 
| height_ft           = <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| height_m            = <!--Must be expressed in metres and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| drop_ft             = <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| drop_m              = <!--Must be expressed in metres and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| length_ft           = <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| length_m            = <!--Must be expressed in metres and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| speed_mph           = <!--Must be expressed in miles per hour and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| speed_km/h          = <!--Must be expressed in kilometres per hour and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| sitearea_sqft       = <!--Must be expressed in square feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| sitearea_sqm        = <!--Must be expressed in square metres and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| gforce              = 
| capacity            = 4 Trains - 500
<!--Use only one of vehicles, rows, participants, or audience-->
| vehicle_type        = 
| vehicles            = 5
| riders_per_vehicle  = <!--Only use if vehicles has been specified.-->
| rows                = 12
| riders_per_row      = 2 in Front, 3 in Back<!--Only use if rows has been specified.-->
| participants_per_group= <!--Only use if neither rows or vehicles is applicable.-->
| duration            = 8 minutes
| single_rider        = <!--Must be "available" if available.-->
| pay_per_use         = <!--Must be "available" if available.-->
| accessible          =yes 
| transfer_accessible =yes 
| assistive_listening = 
| virtual_queue_name   = Reserve and Ride
| virtual_queue_image  = chessington reserve ride.jpg
| virtual_queue_status = available 
}}

'''''Tomb Blaster''''' is a [[dark ride]] that opened in 2002 at [[Chessington World of Adventures Resort]] in London. Riders travel in trains through a series of crypts, shooting [[laser guns]] at targets for high scores.

==History==
[[File:Chessington World of Adventures rideentry Egyptian.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Scenic features in the queue line for ''Tomb Blaster'', originally from ''Terror Tomb''.]]
''Tomb Blaster'' is a [[dark ride]] in the ''Forbidden Kingdom'' area of [[Chessington World of Adventures Resort]]. It originally opened as ''[[The 5th Dimension (ride)|The 5th Dimension]]'', a dark ride based on a story of a TV repair robot<ref name="tombblastercoasterforce"/> that operated from 1987 to 1993.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}} The ride system was manufactured by [[Mack Rides]].<ref name="tombblastercoasterforce"/>

The area was rethemed as the Forbidden Kingdom in 1994, and the ride became ''[[Terror Tomb]]'', a horror ride in the dark.<ref name="smugglespg"/> 

In 2002 ''Tomb Blaster'' launched as a retheme of the old terror tomb ride utilising many of the sets but with some animatronics being replaced.<ref name="smugglespg"/> In the [[dark ride]] riders shoot [[laser guns]] at targets.<ref name="forbiddenkingdomcwoa"/> In August 2015, Tomb Blaster closed for undisclosed reasons. It then underwent a minor refurbishment during the closed season, with a new laser gun system, an ultraviolet scenic treatment and altered audio. The refurbished ride debuted during the annual pass preview weekend of 2016 to a negative response.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.chessingtonbuzz.co.uk/news/tomb-blaster-back-from-the-dead/| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160124220113/http://www.chessingtonbuzz.co.uk/news/tomb-blaster-back-from-the-dead| archive-date = 2016-01-24| title = Tomb Blaster - Back from the Dead • Chessington Buzz}} </ref> General response from guests as well as fans of the ride criticised the "unprofessional" nature of the new lighting and audio alterations, citing missing sound effects, many animations still broken, missing pieces of the sets and excessive light spillage that revealed the areas intended to be covered by darkness.<ref>maniahub.com</ref>

In 2020, the attraction was revamped again with a new story overlay, new soundtrack created by Nick Hutson and new lighting, with some of the targets removed. The new story for the attraction is that guests are being recruited to rid the tomb of the curse of the high priest.

==Description==
Anyone under 1.1 meters must be accompanied by an adult.<ref name="forbiddenkingdomcwoa"/>

Riders sit in "utility vehicles" and travel through a tomb, shooting mummies and monsters with laser guns, and competing for top scores.<ref name="tombblastercoasterforce"/> Among the scenes are a [[crypt]], a revolving tunnel, and snake pits.<ref name="tombblastercoasterforce"/> Many of the original set pieces from ''Terror Tomb'' remain in the ''Tomb Blaster'' ride with the exclusion of the Abdab animatronics and the entirety of the final concert scene, located where a giant cobra is now.

== Incident ==
On 7 June 2012, a four-year-old girl entered a near month-long coma after falling 14&nbsp;ft from the ride's raised queue line. Severe injuries occurred, including broken ribs, a cracked skull, and bleeding on the brain.<ref>{{cite news| author =<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->| title        = Chessington fall girl 'out of coma and talking'| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18723840| work = BBC News | date = 5 July 2012| access-date  = 22 April 2018}}</ref>

The queue line's protective wooden fence panelling was both untreated and positioned in an area which was subject to rainwater runoff from a nearby roof. It had over the years become rotten due to weathering. Palings had previously fallen from the fence and had been nailed back into place despite their rotten nature. No formal records of the repairs were kept. A paling from the fence had fallen out on the day of the incident, leaving a gap through which the girl fell. Chessington World of Adventures was fined £150,000 after pleading guilty to breaching the [[Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974|Health and Safety Act (1974)]].<ref>{{cite news| author       =<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->| title = Chessington fined £150,000 after girl, 4, falls from walkway| url = https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jan/12/chessington-fined-150k-girl-4-falls-waiting-ride| work = The Guardian| agency= Press Association| date = 12 January 2015 | access-date  = 22 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last = Harper| first = Paul| date = 15 January 2015| title = Chessington World of Adventures fined £150,000 after child nearly killed in 'horrifying' 13ft fall| url = https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/chessington-world-adventures-fined-150000-8430689| work = Get Surrey| access-date  = 22 April 2018}}</ref>

==Gallery==
{{Commons category|Tomb Blaster}}
{{Gallery
|File:Tomb Blaster à Chessington World of Adventures.JPG|Image of the exterior
}}

==See also==
*[[Chessington World of Adventures Resort]]
*[[Terror Tomb]]
*[[The 5th Dimension (ride)|The 5th Dimension]]

== References ==
{{Reflist| refs =

<ref name="forbiddenkingdomcwoa">
{{cite news
| title       = Forbidden Kingdom
| url         = http://www.chessington.com/explore/forbidden-kingdom.aspx 
| publisher   = Chessington World of Adventures
| accessdate  = 15 October 2013
}}</ref>

<ref name="smugglespg">
{{cite news
 |title       = Chessington History
 |url         = http://www.themeparkguide.biz/chessington-history.php
 |newspaper   = Theme Park Guide
 |accessdate  = 15 October 2013
 |url-status     = dead
 |archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20131103195202/http://www.themeparkguide.biz/chessington-history.php
 |archivedate = 3 November 2013
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref>

<ref name="tombblastercoasterforce">
{{cite news
 |title       = Tomb Blaster
 |url         = http://www.coasterforce.com/world-park-guides/uk/southern-england/chessington-woa/chessington-gentle-rides/tomb-blaster
 |publisher   = Coaster Force
 |accessdate  = 15 October 2013
 |url-status     = dead
 |archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20131105185959/http://www.coasterforce.com/world-park-guides/uk/southern-england/chessington-woa/chessington-gentle-rides/tomb-blaster
 |archivedate = 5 November 2013
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref>

}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.chessington.com/explore/forbidden-kingdom.aspx }}

{{Chessington World of Adventures Resort}}
{{British dark rides}}

{{coord |51|20|57|N|0|19|10|W|type:landmark_region:GB-KTT|display=title}}

[[Category:Chessington World of Adventures rides]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in London]]
[[Category:Amusement rides introduced in 2002]]
[[Category:2002 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Dark rides]]