What's Onopinion
Penguins of Madagascar arrive at Chessington World of Adventures
Mark Lundrigan takes the family for a day out at Chessington World of Adventures
Laura Nightingale-SURR-DNU
The penguins have arrived!
No, not the feathered, fish-loving kind - they've already been at Chessington World of Adventures for years.
I'm talking about the cunning, Cheezy Dibbles eating critters from animated film Penguins of Madagascar.
Their stage show is this year's big addition at Chessington World of Adventures and it's worth catching, especially for visitors with small children who will love the energy and music of the production.
For those in the dark, the penguins first appeared in the successful Madagascar films before finally nailing their own successful movie last year - and now they have their own live show.
But of course if it's the real deal you want, those genuine are penguins just round the corner in the zoo area.
The zoo is a big part of Chessington, setting it apart from nearby Thorpe Park and Legoland, which are almost solely rides-based.
A recent addition is the mini safari park ride, Zufari, where riders are taken around in the back of a truck with the guarantee of seeing some African animals up close, including rhino and the always fascinating giraffes.
There can be quite a queue for this ride, but if it's animals that float your boat there are plenty of others you can visit while walking freely around the zoo area.
There are lions, tigers, gorillas, the aforementioned penguins and a children's petting zoo, most of which can also be viewed by taking a trip on the Safari Skyway monorail.
There is also a Sea Life centre for fans of the aquatic, which acts as a nice sanctuary away from the screams of the white knuckle rides, of which there are plenty at Chessington.
On the rainy day we visited, the Rattlesnake rollercoaster was closed down, but pretty much everything else was open. The top rides are the speedy Dragon's Fury, the spinning and soaking Rameses Revenge, the exhilarating Vampire (a firm favourite every time we visit) and the log flume Dragon Falls.
Another recent addition is family friendly rollercoaster Scorpion Express which has replaced the Runaway Train. It's basically the same ride but with flames and water added, a welcome ride for the children who mourned the loss of the Runaway Train.
Families seem to be very much at the centre of Chessington's ethos, with most rides aimed at those wanting to take part with their children - our favourite being the wet and wonderful Bubbleworks.
Just off the central Market Square there are a number of other gentle family rides including Treetop Hoppers, Toadie's Crazy Cars, Carousel, Sea Dragons and Griffeon's Galleon (a smaller version of the stomach-churning pirate ship Black Buccaneer, found near the Vampire).
We found taking our own food was the easiest, and cheapest, way to enjoy lunch at Chessington, but there are plenty of outlets dotted around the park, with food ranging from fish and chips and noodles to shops selling sweets and ice cream.
Chessington is an amazing family day out, but don't be afraid to go on a slightly rainy day (the queues are shorter and ponchos can be purchased throughout the park). And don't forget to visit those penguins - both the singing and the swimming variety.