Efteling Report(7/5/05)

Efteling has always been another park I had always wanted to visit, I had heard many good things about the park from its themeing and its Haunted Swing ride Villa Volta which is said to seriously rival Hex.

So onto the Park, and we arrive just before 9AM ready for a combined ERS on Pegasus and Python, the entrance into the park is amazing entering the biggest thatched building in the world(You have to see the picture) Its visually stunning, and amazing that the park went to such a length to build such an entrance.

So onto the coasters which was quite a long walk,Python was first and while not extremly thrilling, It did give out a rather smooth ride which is great for a Vekoma, the double loop in a row was good, and the end helix was very good. Next up was Pegasus, and again while it didnt look a particually thrilling ride, It was again very smooth and gave out a very pleasent ride, there's even a bit of airtime to be found in there too.

After a quick stroll around the park, we found Villa Vota closed at present, so it was onto Dreamflight(Droomvlucht) one of many dark rides to be found in Efteling, it seemed to be based all on fairy tales, but the themeing inside was excellent, and scenes were very rich in detail, the last part is most unique where you circle downwards around a huge tree with the cars travelling at a slighty higher speed than normal(It almost feels like a coaster)

With Villa Volta still closed, we make our way onto Volk van Laaf Monorail, this is a monoral standard ride like Squirrel Nutty at Alton Towers taking you round a makeshift town full of more fairy tale scenes, It was quite a long ride, and not too bad either. Next was Vogel Rok, an excellent indoor Vekoma Coaster which is what X at Thorpe should be, Its very similar to the dark indoor coaster at PhantasiaLand simulating the flight of a Nighthawk, however this one is a lot shorter to its PhantasisLand's Cousin, but it still gives out a really good ride with a few nice effects inside too, and another thing, Its SMOOTH TOO(Who says Vekoma dont make smooth rides)

Villa Volta was finally open now, so we took advantage by getting a quick ride, and I can quite say I was VERY disapointed with this ride, and why people say this is better than Hex is talking rubbish IMO, There is just absolutly nothing impressive about this, the pre shows are boring with no added effects(Just a lot of talking/recorded speels about the history/story of the ride) and even the ride itself didnt impress me, OK so I did enjoy the music, but thats about it, most effects on the ride just seemed random and afterwards, I was just puzzled as to if I missed something impressive. Although its not the worst Haunted Swing I've ridden(Drayton Manor Park anyone) I certaintly rate the versions in PhantasiaLand and Warner Brothers Spain above Villa Volta with Hex still number 1.

Before Lunch, we found time to quickly take a ride on the Flying Island, I had never ridden one of these before so was eager for a go, these are very unique rides and give out excellent views too, and when at full height, the ride does a complete circle to get a really good full view of the park, It works well,and I only wish one of these appeared in the UK sometime. One thing I liked with Efteling's is that the ride is complety hidden from view from the trees, and its amazing to see it rise up into the air,

After Lunch, It was on a hunt for more dark rides and we found Carnival Festival, this is a Toyland Tours Style Ride going aroud a factory in cars, Its quite a good ride, and its all themed into different lands too. Soon afterwards we find The Bobsled(Bobbaan) This is not your usual bobsled style ride though in that you sit in one big car which sits 6 people, and then you attempt many wild twists and turns which results in a good ride, It works very well, and I havent seen such a ride like this before(I wonder if anymore exist??)

Next we find the Rapids(Pirana) Its quite a good ride with a long course, and a deadly looking waterfall section(luckly I didnt get wet by it though) there's not much themeing around the ride itself, but it still provided a lot of fun. We then went on to find the Pirate Ship, I thought this was a very enjoyable Ride, and one of the better pirate ships I've ridden, the size and shape of the ship is different to many standard pirate ships I've seen, and you just seem to go very high indeed with a long ride sequence too,certaintly very enjoyable.

Afterwards, there was only 1 more dark ride to hunt down, and that was Fata Morgana, while the storyline seemed a little confusing going around, the themeing was excellent, and the ride itself had some very good effects indeed especially the Tilting Room at the end, Infact it was so good, we rode it twice, the only complaint I had though is that the ride's station was very bare in themeing, Its a shame to see the ride very rich in themeing with a very poor looking loading/unloading building.

Overall, Efteling Was a really nice park, the themeing is certaintly very good, and most of the rides are great,and we got so lucky on the day as it was SOO quiet(and it was a Saturday too) however the park certaintly does lack something, my feeling is that it lacks a really good signiture ride which it doesnt have, there is a lot of good rides here, but none of them really made me go WOW, Maybe the 2006 Water Coaster will transform the park???? Needless to say, I would definatly visit again if I had the chance though.

Lastly, Pictures now follow of Efteling,ENJOY

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