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Making me miss Europa so much! One day I shall return to the raclette hut!! We were there with ACE in July 2024, got lots of ert and nice and warm for the water rides but I would dearly LOVE to go during the Halloween event. Even though we had 2 and a half days we didn't see everything and unfortunately the Ghost Castle was down for refurb while we were there; and I love those things. Wodan and Arthur were my favorites, Blue Fire for Joel. I had a student one day while subbing that was reading a book from the Arthur and the Minimoys series so I told him about the ride and he gave me all the background and explained the story. We stayed at Colosseo too. Never ate at the dinner buffet but the breakfast buffet there was absolutely outstanding. I actually let Joel have the big bed and I slept in one of the bunks because he was too tall for them ? I used the ladder steps as extra shelves, lol. Does the Food Loop restaurant usually have reservations? When we were there in the summer it was just line up and wait for an open seat.

My wife and our kindergartner went to KK for their Christmas event last Saturday. It was very cold, so it wasn't that crowded. They only had portions of the park open, including most of the children and family sections. The Christmas lights were really well done. The buildings were covered with mostly traditional red, green, and white colors. They had a group singing Christmas carols to the left when you came in. The big Christmas tree was also lit up for photo ops at the main entrance. The videos we saw from years prior recommended to skip the wait for Rudolph. However, they didn't have kids with them, so we decided to wait it out about 30 minutes. The show was a very well done condensed 5D version of the classic Rudolph. Our little girl loved it. The abominable snowman was in the shop at the exit, which we didn't see until our daughter noticed him and excitedly pranced over there. KK was selling photo-ops with the creature (and aforementioned tree). However, most of the kids just wanted to meet him. That, and even with the tree, they had large unobstructed areas to the side where you could take your own decent pictures that just weren't directly in front of you. Every roller coaster in the park was closed, including the small children and family coaster. That didn't bother me, since I usually get one ride in at most when we're with our daughter. We have a lot more fun going on the bullshit kid rides and watching her, anyway. Crazy how things change. The park had a small snow area for young kids. There was also a 150 foot ice/tubing slide. My isn't brave, so she wasn't having anything to do with that. It was predictable, and I was thankful because the lines were packed. The antique cars looked like they had a few light displays throughout, but our daughter decided she had to pee badly when we were about to board soon, after about 20 minutes. Lol. IYKYK KK did not serve alcohol during this event. Instead, they had hot cider and hot chocolate. They really nailed the temperature of the hot drinks, so kids could dive right in without burning their lips. KK had plenty of Christmas merch throughout the store. I got my first park Christmas ornament. It's a metal Ferris wheel with Christmas colors and "Kentucky Kingdom" on it. However, I wasn't allowed to put it on our Christmas tree, since there are no "custom" ornaments on it...... We had a good time. We were there for about 3 hours. I wouldn't say it was worth a weekend trip from Saint Louis to Louisville alone, but we planned other events along with it. If you're int he area, I can't recommend Lights Under Louisville, enough. It's about a 30 minute drive-thru light display through a quarry, and it was so well done. For me, it was by far the best Christmas light display activity I had ever done. Be aware, lines will back up several hours long onto the interstate, it's that popular. We went at 2PM on a Saturday and waited about 45 minutes, which wasn't bad. I wouldn't go any later than that, unless you buy the priority pass. That can still be a lengthy wait from what I read.

Part 4: Europa Park day 2 concluded: Traumatica so Traumatica is a separately ticketed event that is attached to the park, and in 2024 included parts of the park that allowed two coasters to operate (Pegasus and Matterhorn blitz) as well as the Kassandra's Kurse madhouse, that ran with a graphic horror overlay via VR goggles. There was also a brand new VR ride in a tent that had lots of effects, love music and performances, a large bar area with food stands, and the marquee attractions are the 6 Haunts that are long, and detailed and the good ones are REALLY REALLY good. oh. .and there's an added attraction where you can ask for a glow necklace, and that gives the scare actors permission for physical contact. Yeah. it blew USA haunts out of the water. no pictures allowed in the houses, but I can say that my favorite was probably the Circus themed one where it climaxed in a giant big top with 8 entrances/exits that looked exactly the same but only one of them led out. the rest of them either looped back into the center of the tent, or dead ended. Meanwhile the ringmaster clown stood on a pedestal in the center, twirling around and yelling at you in German. seriously, some folks were stuck in that house for a good 15-20 minutes trying to find their way out. others had some great ideas - like the zombie attack one, where you were sent thru in groups of 4-6 with laser guns, and you had to shoot them so they don't attack you in the giant murder dome. or an elevator that transports you thru the 13 levels of an office building that has descended to hell. they were all decent, and honestly the only one I didn't care much for was "the Hill". . which was a very long, outdoors in the woods, scare maze with spirits , ghosts, and spooks. it didn't' do much for me, but that could have been because it was all outside with a lot of uneven walking surfaces in the dark. still. . .excellent event. here are lots of pics from it to end our stay at Europa Park! the whole site has a spooky and creepy atmosphere. and the haunts are most all really impressive looking. Tarot House was another favorite of mine (one the left) as was the theming in Cinema Macabre (off shot on the right, tho the queue line is there) ' this is Wakala. . he's kinda the mascot of Traumatica, and I ended up buying quite a bit of merch with him on it. the main stage, that hosted sideshow acts, as well as band performances thruout the event. random ghouls all thruout the crowd, providing jumpscares, even if not in the houses. Wakala wandering Cinema Macabre obscured by smoke, as seen from the Tarot House queue Silver Star behind the trees. . to give you an idea where we are in relation to the park notice a glow necklace or two in the queue line. . means they are ok with being touched. one of the Traumatica Event managers. . she was very very cool, and I enjoyed chatting with her and telling her how much I was enjoying the event walking around with an active torch light.. that was shooting sparks everywhere. no way in USA. . but VERY cool here. Hans has made it to the Bar area even tho outdoors? very well done. more TPR folks joined Hans! Andrew goes "Rarrrrrrrgh" Jon making the long walk into up the queue (we had quick queue thank goodness, on the left is the stand by line) for the outdoor haunt int he woods. this one is so far up and out, you get a great view of Blue Fire from the Haunt. that polka dot tent beneath us is that big top with the multiple ins/outs, as you can see from the fabric-ed off paths to confuse everyone. TPR found Wakala! Grim's Funhouse was another really well done house. . with some great props inside. not part of the event (at least not in 2024), but a great view of Voltron. .and one would go this way for the VR ride, and to access the rides that were available in the park Jon enjoying spiraled potato at the Traumatica food court/bar area lots of photo ops around here too. it really is a fantastic event, and highly recommended the temps were really starting to drop.. . so the crowds were starting to thin. myself? I headed to the merch tent and ended up spending way too much money, but I did get a Traumatica jean jacket that I wore the whole rest of the trip, and still wear pretty often. so it was a great buy but then it was time to monorail back to the hotel and pack up. we were headed out tomorrow morning to continue the Oktoberfest trip. eventual final destination? Phantasialand.