Hhappy

Hi there, Time flies when you are having fun (they say) and to be honest.. i can hardly believe it has been almost 5 years since my first TPR trip (back in 07). My life has never been the same since that first day (trip). Got to know some great folks and made new friends. Visited some of the most awesome places in the world and i'm not planning on stopping any time soon.. So what's the plan/idea behind this topic? As you can imagine i have taken a decent number of pictures over the years... I might as well start a topic to share some of my favorite images i've taken during coaster trips with you all. The plan at this time is to post a picture every day. This can be a picture from a trip in 07 or something that happened this year. I will try to add the story that belongs to that image and why i post it. Some of these pictures might look familiar (as in i might have posted these before) and some will be brand new. (If for whatever reason i miss a day, i'll try to make up for it in another update ) Let's give this a try and please let me know if you like this idea and topic. Feel free to comment on the pictures posted. First up is a picture from the 07 Midwest Trip. This was taken during the Indiana Beach visit. Back then the park blew me away and had an awesome vibe. It's a bummer the park felt totally different a couple of years later during another visit. This is still my computers background image and is one of my favorite images i've taken so far. Riding a coaster close to sunset, people having a great time.. what else does one need? So here's the second picture for today. This is from the Mini Europe in 07 stop at Klotten. I just totally love the different expressions at the end of the slide and the kid just looking at these strange adults having way too much fun And the last one for today.. Another picture from that same day at Klotten in 07. I just love capturing all the different reactions of people to (and on) coasters from the hairtime in the front to the shock in the back. Life is full of surprises and a coaster is always fun

Timelapse video of the construction of this coaster:

sorry.. quick trip.. just carry one (and i'm not that strong ) If all goes according to plan.. Port Aventura after that

Looks like i'll be going to Legoland Denmark next...

Van Dik Hout : Stil in Mij

Oziris POV!

Coaster at Plopsa Coo

Have been feeling weak and exhausted for most of the week now.. Was planning on Parc Asterix for tomorrow.. but i'll have to skip.. If i would try to do that 5 hour drive.. i would crash before getting anywhere close to the park.. Time to think of someplace else to visit (soon)

So after spending a couple of days at Europapark it was time for the (long) drive home. Plopsa Coo was one of the parks along the possible routes and since i had not been there yet i decided to take this one hour detour to go for a visit. Plopsa Coo is an interesting place to check out. Not for coaster enthusiast but more for families with small children. Besides that the location of this park is pretty cool. Getting there is an interesting drive through the hills in the area. Almost felt like doing a rally through the hills. Francorchamps (the F1 circuit) is within 10 miles of the park.. so that could be an interesting stop as well. Anyway, i did a quick visit and then went on with the drive home... Enjoy the pictures and feel free to comment. it was not that busy when i parked my car first stop at the park Vicky, the spinning coaster next stop was coaster which has some interaction with the flume and the flume was a hit with the kids entrance to coaster sign but wait.. there's more to this park octopus should be clear on what's in that corner trying to capture coaster which actually was a nice surprise here's the parks maze which is called labyrint looking back towards the front of the park skloosh i wanted to get some more pictures and a ride on coaster.. but it broke down (or at least it looked that way). Time to move on hmm, those are big.. can i take them home?? Balls.. (not the chocolate salty kind) climbing structure for the kids park map, as you can see the place is not that big it should go up and then round an round and round and... at least they have coca cola hmm, this should make some folks happy every plopsa park (i've been to) has one of these wassup? water play area they also had a kart track it ain't tiny at all and these machines went pretty fast time for some more vicky pictures lovely station building accross from vicky and yes.. you could walk underneath the ride.. not netting at all see? there was also a bobslee more vicky track a lovely waterval right next to the park and yes.. the park is right next to the water and that bridge one more look at vicky the big restaurant (i think) the end of the ride of the bobslee and yes.. going up was in reverse..

Anybody else playing The Simpsons Tapped Out?

Tokyo DisneySea is worth the trip by itself. Just bummed it's so far away..

Phil Collins - In the air tonight

went to Europapark and Plopsa Coo this weekend

Today was season opening day for 2012 the park and Wodan was opened to all guests. Opening a new ride for a new season brings ceremonies and usually some fireworks.. so i had to check it out Here's a few images from today. Enjoy and feel free to comment Euromaus was ready for opening There were some dudes throwing fire a random girl was asked from the audience and stood in the middle.. this blue character was there as well and the big "guy" was keeping an eye on us all still not sure what it is.. but i like it and yes.. that's a lot of people funny faces, shorty.. so many things to say he did look scary.. i guess a nice touch for all the early people.. if you look closely at the image you can see a ball.. this ball was good for a stay at the new Bell Rock hotel for 4 persons looks like the train is coming.. i see sparkles more sparkles and then there is fire time to enjoy the ride they had 2 guys carving something with chainsaws but here's the ride the name/sign some random people having fun not sure and here's what i was looking for most of the day... Blue fire .. and Wodan.. so close.. yet so far more people enjoying the ride that's closer.. but still no sigar close enough? the test seat was there as well i missed the boat jumping over atlantica not bad for "playing" around with a chainsaw (this was not the finished product) more random riders still an awesome ride pretty close (but not at the spot i hoped for.. Guess it's time to take pictures of something else again and there it was.. and i was in a different spot so i did not get the angle i wanted... Maybe some other time..

I've seen them test the fire on top yesterday evening but i did not notice it today. It's not that big so it can be challenging to see when the sun is shining.. fire as seen from my hotel room the day before

Posted more pictures from today (and the fan event) at http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1163898#p1163898

So today the ride was open for a few hours for a group of fans. I was lucky enough to be able to join them for this event which gave me the opportunity to take more pictures. More pictures is always good (i've been told) and this time there will be more rider pictures. I do hope you like them and feel free to comment First things first (aka this morning) More theming was added to the ride and other work was still being done those are some giant letters Flash forward a couple of hours and something like 300 fans are ready to ride those letters add a nice touch (i think) They might look a little different tomorrow.. or not.. it adds to the look you should go this way to ride.. (letters tomorrow on the shield?) beautifull curve (german) story time "old" dude first train with riders today there will be a lot of pictures of happy riders today it's a nice location for pictures here's some zoom use owh my hair.. happy riders no train yes train maybe tomorrow with a boat?!?!? hairtime fun for all ages tunnel time looks like some laterals.. funny faces the sun decided to show up after all today mind the gap (or hole or whatever comes to mind) aaarrggh (h)airtime attempting artsy and orange more random folks owh boy (it's first drop time) almost at the end picking up more speed end of the fly through more first drop fun "mama" turn turn turn hmm, not precisely what i had in mind.. and there is the sun again this time with a train todays special guests lots and lots of joy and for the fun of it they got to ride again open up.. yup, looks like a fun ride just because it's pretty and just because it's pretty and we have a train right before the onride photo point ok, this could be interesting.. now that's a different view indeed where's that boat when you need it overview more overview and this should about complete the overview drop time zooming in just a bit yup, looks like fun something different here they go hands up if you like this ride the home stretch time for another crossing ok, time to go. That's it for today. The park will be open tomorrow.. so hopefully i'll be able to get some ride interaction pictures tomorrow

Anybody interested in more pictures? Today the ride was open for a few hours for fans

more details are still being added to the new coaster: Wodan

Wodan at Europapark

i have not seen signs for that. Maybe it will be added.. maybe not..

I'll see what i can do later this week They have 3 trains for this ride. Today they were running 2 trains but they can run 3 (and most likely they will do that later this week).

Lovely video of what's new for 2012 at EuropaPark For a report on media day for Wodan see below: http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=62114

So today was the media day for Wodan Timburcoaster at Europapark. After a nice presentation it was time to check out the coaster. It's a GCI, it has a good swooping first drop and a nice pacing for the first half. The second half ain't dull but has plenty of twists and turns. You have to be 1.20m to ride this ride and it feels like a fun fast paced family ride. My first run (which was on one of the first trains) felt like ok.. but the second (which was one of the last trains) was way more impressive (and it was all the way in the back) There are spots on this ride where you could wish for more speed (to get more air) but remember.. it's a GCI This ride, i'm pretty sure, is going to be a hit with the fans and families and is another nice addition to the park. The queue area is just amazing and something you would expect from Europapark. I see plenty of possibilities for ride interaction between Wodan, Blue Fire and Atlantica Supersplash. The more photo ops the better. Some possible photo points do have netting in front of it.. but that was to be expected.. ok, enough from me at this moment, time for some pictures. Enjoy the starting background during the presentation looks like somebody decided to join us what's up San Dimas? When the park opens next saturday.. this area will be packed.. (i think) but darn it.. it does look pretty and the wolves are there as well station building looks finished as well but first things first.. it's hammer time (a bit like Liseberg ) speech time (and a lot of photographers in front of me ) top of the gate still speech the park mascotte is here as well why so serious? i was not the only person there Bless this ride Nordlandsaga Fire is good and it was big and hot open sesame open fire and fog.. cool there is a single rider line wassup? curved restraints Look at all those celebrities hello ladies speed i missed the train first drop fun through the structure happy riders turnaround top of the first drop fun it's a big drop and now we have a train The guys from GCI were also here and yes, this could be his future wive time for something different.. let's do a skybar and yes.. this is pretty high the wolves on the top and happy riders being happy interaction with atlantica supersplash were's the boat?? yeah.. long way down... there's even fire at the top next train final turn before the brake run so now they turned the constroction in the sky a bit so that i got a better view tunnel, crossing, hop, trick track, fun so many things happen in this picture ehm.. folks.. the train is behind you.. in the distance they look so tiny crossing just for the fun of it Ble fire was also running and here we go again. Happy to see full trains at this time happy people... or not?? The kids anjoy it.. bit the lady with the blue shirt... ehmm going down still going strong look!! there are poeple over there another look at the top next group of people looking down at the final turn tiny people (and train) impressive structure something different ok, i'm back down.. time to check out the queue area a bit more she looks interesting time to go inside first themed area it's blue.. and that's usually cold.. (i think) strong dude let's walk on owh boy.. next up is red.. it's fire looking down now what is this?? ok, that explains it.. a snake it's a hole in the wall (not a gloryhole.. i think) ok, so now it's green.. trees, water story tell time and here's the station some theming What's in your wallet ?!?!? yeah, they are riding again full trains are always fun that's a lot of fog zooming by hold on to those hats it's twisty artsy?? or not.. bye bye train just another angle owh wait.. empty train.. ehm.. time to chill and relax a little something is happening on this shield looking forward to checking out more ride interaction later this week how long will it take to get 2 trains in one picture?? the entrance to the coaster one final look

I would love to see this show up in the Netherlands.. Would be funny if it ended up at Toverland...