captain

Hi, all the slides are in the aqua dome, which is the centerparcs heart for water enthusiasts. Swimming, snorkeling and of course sliding. The one you see on the picture is a wild water ride. Its build like a wild waterride where you slide like a raft on the colorado river, but the stones are just plastic and don`t hit you to hard. Your raft is just your body, and you slide through caves, smaller slides and of course the whitewater parts. It takes some minutes from the begin to the end. Really funny (sorry it`s so damn hard to describe what its like to ride this slide/rapid thing). Centerparcs overall is good fun for families, because the Aqua Dome is free of charge if you stay in the bungalows. Also there are plenty of activities which you can do while you`re there. If someone is interested check out the homepage: www.centerparcs.com You`ll find some photos of the different Aqua Domes and Market Domes at each park. But don`t get me wrong. Those Aqua Domes are not that Typhoon Lagoon or Hurricane Harbor style of waterparks. There are more laid back, just two or three smaller slides. It`s all indoor and swimming, relaxing and the tropical feeling while indoor is the main reason to visit such a "themed" swimming area. So it was really good for our base while touring in some belgium/dutch parks.

Part 4: Short Impressions af Amsterdam "German tourist crashed into cyclist" - a news topic that could happen in Amsterdam every day Now for the cultural part of our little eurotour we decided to stay the weekend in Amsterdam. Our hotel was in the middle of the city so our car sleeped for some days in a parking lot (omg - 34 Euros a night!). The moment you step on Amsterdam`s streets you are kindly reminded that this city is for cyclists - so beware of their rules (there are parking lots with 4 levels only for bycyles!). In Amsterdam we did a lot of shopping (great spot for it, but the stores are closing as early as 6 pm) and of course a shipping cruise through Amsterdams waterways (called "Grachten"). Lovely, romantic and very laid back. Of course one evening we decided to stroll through the red light district. I wanna know what all you american guys will think about this. But hey we`re from munich, and even for us it was a bit to offensive. During our Amsterdam stay we decided to visit one more park and do some more relaxing on the north sea.... Amsterdam`s famous Red Light District (hey americans - what you say about this?) innercity shopping snapshot onboard the dutch love pancakes in all kind of sorts - even Alex loves them Cruising through the waterways Canal Boat Tour Downtown Amsterdam

@ghost Thanks - I`ll try to keep it short because I`ll think everyone wants to see photos and don`t want to read too much. I can imagine that Efetling will be lovely with a romantic winter setting. So now I go on with the next parts: Part4: Walibi World Today we visited Walibi World, settled inmid a flat, flat area about 70 Km (45 miles) from Amsterdam. The former Six Flags Holland park used to call itself "coaster capital of europe" - what is kind of bizzare because parks like Blackpool (12), Alton Towers (9), the Wiener Prater (9) and even the EuropaPark (8) are owning more coasters than this dutch park. But hey, I don`t want to take them there illusions. So Walibi World has 7 coasters: Xpress (Vekoma`s LSM Launch coaster, a outdoor clon of the indoor Rock`n Roll Coaster in Disneyland Paris,just not in such a good shape and thatfor not really smooth), Wok's Waanzin (Zierer kiddie coaster), Robin Hood (Vekoma`s woodie gets bonus points for the leather seats, which are very comfortable), La Via Volta (Vekoma Boomerang just like in many parks), Flying Dutchman Gold Mine (standard Mouse from Mack, the track colour is not matching the themed area around this ride), El Condor (one of the roughest Inverted rides from Vekoma,but who cares because it was the first inverted coaster from Vekoma worldwide) and last but not least Goliath (Intamins Megacoaster, designed from coastergod Werner Stengel, it`s absolutely the no.2 coaster in europe, just Holidayparks Expedition GeForce has a higher fun level. A lot of Airtime, smooth like ice, good seating comfort, long track, and plenty of fun - that`s some of the plus points Goliath has to offer). Walibi World is not really good themed, okay it`s more like they have no theming at all. The only part who is really themed is the kid`s land. Near the Kid`s land, is the new attraction for 2005: Splash battle, manufactured by italians Zamperla. This ride makes you so damn soaked, that you will never get dry by days (okay hours). You cruise through rain showers and more wet elements while you try to target the other riders on the boats or the nearby watching people, who also try to hit you. A real nice layout paired with a real good idea - so this is great fun - Really? No, it`s not. It doesn`t work in our mild climate zone, only younger kids will love it. I would love to see this ride system in parks where you`ll allways love to get real, real soaked. Maybe it can work in Dubai? We`ll see who is going to buy this ride in the future. The other things the park has to offer are more the standards: a rapid ride, log flume, Mad House and some flat rides. At the end this park is good for every coasterlover who like to enjoy some good coasters and of course Goliath. All of you who like well themed parks, fantasy, entertainment for everyone and good food will hate this park. We like both and so this park was just a nice visit - nothing more and nothing less. Coming Up: short impressions of Amsterdam, Drievliet and Movie Park Germany Vekoma`s LSM Xpress Coaster - the Rock`n Roller Coaster double is just okay, but not as nice as his disney twin more Goliath... Intamin`s Hypercoaster Goliath - very smooth, unbelievable airtime, one of the best coasters worldwide (nr. 2 in europe) Walibi`s own mascots... Zierer`s Kiddie coaster Wok`s Waanzin - guess who`s riding this coaster...? Nice Walibi Kiddie-Area even more Splash Battle Alex trying to hit some of the boats Zamperla`s Splash Battle Welcome to Walibi World

Part 0: Something different on our journey Our "home" where we started our tours during the week was the dutch Center Park Kempervennen (near the belgium boarder, about one and half hours from every park). A nice appartment with two sleeping rooms, kitchen, living room and 3 baths nestled in peaceful nature. The centerpark chain delivers some nice possibilities for short trip vacations. All bungalows are in quiet nature settings, in the middle of every centerpark is there so called Market Dome and Aqua Dome. You have various dinning and entertainment options in those market domes, which are build like a large botanical garden inside a glass building, with exotic birds,palms and flowers. The Aqua Dome is near the Market Dome, and is a tropical paradise with swimming, snorkeling and sliding options. So this Center Park was only our overnight camp, but for one day we wanted to take opportunity from therer offer. On this one day we began with a little tennis match, followed by some quick hours in the Aqua Dome. Than we went to the mini golf course, which was incredible bad (15 tries for one hole?). After that we gave our bodies the energy back with a dinner at Forsters Australian Restaurant. And in the late evening we decided to do some bowling - man what a day. beautiful landscaped Market Dome the deepest slides can`t stop the brightest smiles travelling on a wet tube the Commander is happy- 1 pound of grilled meat - Yummy! Monsieur - what would you like to breakfast...? Captain`s little snorkel trip

Here we go again... Part 3:Efteling De Efteling - we`ve heard so many things about this park. Some people and international rankings even say its the most beautiful park in the world. So our interest was so big to see this park. First there coasters (4 credits): Bobaan (an Intamin bobsleigh ride- kind of interesting), Pegasus (an Intamin Woodie, to short to be a great woodie), Python (a Vekoma coaster, absolutely the worst coaster on our trip) and last but not least VogelRok (an enclosed Vekoma coaster, kind of Space Mountain Paris coaster type, but a bit too short. A little longer and some effects than this one could be a real good coaster). So the coasters are not there reason of beeing this famous. So what is it? It`s real simple to say: It`s there love for details when it comes to themeing. Efteling started as a storytelling land for the little ones and grown up without forgetting landscaping and themeing.Some of there rides are so damm charming, like Fata Morgana (kind of Pirates of the Car. Darkride), Carneval Festival ( It`s a small world kind of ride without water - even better themeing and more funny) and the absolut superb Droomvlucht (Dreamflight). This Darkride is one of a kind, but I don`t want to say to much about it. It`s voted one of the best non coaster rides worldwide, and now we know why. So did we like Efteling? Yes and No. It`s such a charming and lovely little park, but for us it`s a bit overrated. There`s so much to do for the little ones, but for adults there are not to many attractions to do. If this park will get two or three more highlights for adults it will relegate to the first class parks in Europe, like Disney, EuropaPark, Port Aventura etc. Now it`s just a lovely, little park with a overrated reputation. the old storybook part of Efteling ??? brilliant themed machines Lucky man put your waste inside his mouth - great idea awful ride; save your ears! new park - new maps Welcome!

Thank You now I`ll understand. But hey, we`re also some nice guys and so we can travel with some nice chicks Thank god we`re living in this beautiful city of munich. We`re often travelling with a lot of girls - on our last trip to EuropaPark we`ve been 15 people, with more girls than boys (kind of different if I look f.e. at the ECC trip to Japan). If it comes to hot chicks, there are a lot of good european places, not only sweden. But that`s not my topic - I`m married with one these chicks on the pictures above - so no more chicks to talk about By the way your chicks enthusiasm makes it more easy for us boys if we say to our girls - "hey this Elissa chick is doing this coaster in the video - why you won`t do it!"

Hi Elissa, Yes the Mack Coaster was open, and it was a nice one if someone likes powered coasters. The track is over water, what makes it even more nicer. @ Chris What you mean with Elissa has some competition :?

sorry the last photos were in wrong direction! Now to Part 2 Walibi Belgium: On our second day we decided to visit Walibi Belgium. The former Walibi Wavre and afterthat Six Flags Belgium park has 7 coasters to count, one of them a kiddie which is not to count for adults. Besides the average coasters and the soaking rapids ride, there`s one superb highlight: the Darkride the Challenge of Tuthankhamon. It`s nearly like the Men in Black ride but with the storyline of the mummy (both Universal Studios, Florida). I`ve to say that this belgium ride beats Men in Black because of theming, and for me it`s one of the best darkride shooters worldwide. Overall Walibi Belgium is a real good park (this was a surprise for us) with a lot to do and real nice mascots (everywhere was a chance to meet and greet). Their waterpark is also included in your entrance fee, but we didn`t have time to explore. But at the end there was one thing we hated about this park - it`s getting dirtier and dirtier every hour. This waste problem is a starparks group problem. And it`s not only the daily waste, it`s about everything in the park like there ugly walls in some attractions. At the end we didn`t had a good feeling with this dirt and it gave this overall good park somewhat a bad touch. Next Walibi World, Drievliet, Movie Park Germany and some more stuff will follow soon... Vekoma`s Loup Garou - long q`s, rough and uncomfortable ride Hurry, Hurry - no time to waste Vekoma`s Calamity Train - one of the nicer mine trains Vekoma`s Vampire - nice but average some more friends... Walibi & Friends Welcome to Walibi Belgium

Hi, some munich coasterfriends did a little Eurotour last week and I`ll post some photos and Tripreports in the next day. We visited Bobbejaanland, Walibi Belgium, de Efteling, Walibi World, Drievliet and the Movie Park in Germany. I`ll do this tourreport in three parts over the next days, otherwise you`ll have to look at too much photos. You`ll fin more photos of every part our journey on our webiste. Any comments are heartly welcomed. Part1 Bobbejaanland: About 3 a.m. in the morning on the 29th of august a small group of munich`s coasterfriends (Alex aka commander, Belli, Andi and Andy aka captain) began there way to belgium.We arrived at belgium`s bobbejaanland after a 780 KM (490 miles) journey without any problems. This is a lovely small park with some nice attractrions und some weird theming (it`s themed in a kind of wild west style, but not really all the way). There are 6 coasters to ride, but unlucky Speedy Bob, the Wild Mouse, had only one track open to ride. The highlight of the park is the 2004 established Gerstlauer coaster "Typhoon". This coaster is 110 % fun, smooth and is definitly one of our top ranked coasters if it comes to fun. Overall Bobbejaanland ist well worth a visit, because of its own flair and some nice attractions, but none of them are really spectacular. the little coasterfriends crew on tour Our first stop on this tour Thumps up for this lovely small park Small Overview; in the front the Mack Bob Express What a crazy idea...Chewing gum trees for the nasty ones Bobbejaan Highlight: Typhoon small and charming rides; but be careful some people will get wet Did I say something?

I`m so damm boring because I`m saying the same like most all other users in this forum but my german votes go directly to Expedition Everest, because I love theming, theming, theming, and by the way Animal Kingdom strongly needs an expansion. Secondly I`m looking forward to Black Mamba and the african theming of this coaster. I hope B&M will strike back with this coaster after some average coasters in the younger past. And last but not least if Fuji-Q is really going to build the seocnd worldwide 4th dimension coaster like X I`m really enthuastic about this.

I`ve to agree with BC: I`ve been to Walibi World last weekend and the new Splash Battle is absolutely wet - but this ride is more like an moveable shower than a real ride and I think it`s to wet to enjoy it without bathing clothes. So it`s more a ride for a water park, but that would be no fun either.

I rode Big Thunder Mountain and Indy while there was snow at Disneyland Paris during the winter months. By the way you can also enjoy the speed of coasters during winter, look at my pictures for our awesome bobsleigh ride at the worldcup track in Königssee, Germany After more than 80 mph (about 120 kmh) and 80 seconds our ride was over... Over 6 g in the last curve!!!

For me the wettest spot on earth is Popeye, followed by the incredible Valhalla at Blackpool. Valhalla was also my longest ride, because we stuck over ten minutes in the lift hill. Valhalla and Dudley tie if it`s come to theming aspects. So three points for Valhalla and my winner!

if it`s just the theming it will be a tie between IoA, Europa Park and the Disneyland Paris. I think Tokyo Disney Sea will join this list next year, but we`ll see...

One simple answer: the Wild Mouse at BPB! It nearly broke my neck....

Hi, your short trip sounds pretty nice, but the whole time for the trip depends on the travelling time and days of visit. 1. Heide Park You can really do it in one day - "must see" german park because of Collosos and overall nice atmosphere. 2. Holiday Park Very easy to do it on one day - I think about 4 hours is more than enough. 3. Europa Park This park should be the highlight of your trip - overnight stay at one of the Europa Park Hotels (try the Collosseo!!!) is strongly recommended. Normally it`s really, really hard to do it all on one day (shows and rides). 4. Phantasialand Easy to manage it in about 5 hours. 5. Movie Park Just came back from this park, and today (tuesday) it was possible to it in three hours. Don`t expect to much - some credits, some nice rides and overall lousy atmosphere; expect a lot of young school groups and stupid kids - in summermonths bigger crowds. Can`t recommend other parks because I don`t know your exact route. Normally you can extend your trip in the north with Hansa-Park or Walibi World, NL in western germany you can extend with some belgium parks (Bobbejaanland or Walibi Belgium, both about two hours from Phantasia) or Fort Fun (if you do Phantasia or Movie Park very fast, about one hour away) and in the south there`s just Tripsdrill (lovely nice little family park). But I think your trip is really nice. Andy

Thanks so much. I`ll first try to push our companies to decide about our holiday wishes and I`ll look on which dates I will attend the games and than I`ll let you know if there`s just the one way to leave earlier/come late or if we can join the whole trip (I really would like to) Andy

Thanks Elissa. Another problem is, that the biggest worldwide sport event, the worldcup 2006 is exactly at the trip time in germany and I got some tickets for some games (they were hard to get: over 12 million requests for one of the 800.000 tix). I don`t know exactly the specific dates as I`m not in my office, but is there a chance for me to cut one or two days at the beginning or the end of the tour? And do you`ve allready planned the exact route (f.e. which park to start and which to end)? Thanks again Andy

Hello Guys, me and my wife would love to join the 2006 UK Trip, but we`ve the big problem that our companies will confirm our 2006 holiday wishes at the end of november. So how fast will the places sell out? And my other question is, what kind of hotels you`ll try to book? We are not the kind of guys who like to stay in youth hostels (I`ll age 30 in 2006, to old for crappy hotel rooms - omg - 30). Thanks for the answers Andy

Hy Dave, thanks for posting and sharing all the photos. they`re all looking very amazing. I`m really looking forward to my visit next april. How was the weather during your april stay (but don`t compare it with dubai!)? And was Tobu Zoo the only park who shut down a lot of rides? Thanks Andy

Hy Phil, stil on tour in Japan? If not - is there any possibility to do a short (or longer) TR of your trip? That would be great Greetinx Andy

Hey Phil. wishing you`ve great fun in the japanese parks. It would be great if you might post some entrance fees from the parks and if they`ll take credit cards or just cash. Thanks Andy

Normally I`m not a big fan but for sure my favourite one is the Tower of terror - it`s nothing more than fun,fun,fun and of course theme.

Thanks Elissa, do they speak english at the shinkansen informations or is it better to write my route down and show him what reservation I`ll want to do? And is it worth to pay the extra money for the green trains or is it okay with the normal class? (I think for just some hours it isn`t worth the extra money!?) By the way, yesterday we watched your whole japan trip on DVD and me and my wife had some big laughs. Thanks for sharing...

A big hello to all of you and thank your very much for helping me. In the last days I forgot to reply, sorry - time is running so fast. So far I`m planning the trip for the next april. We`re going to stay about one week in Tokyo, one week in Kyoto and three days in Disneyland. I choose Kyoto because it`s in a two hour reach of a lot of places like Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima, Kobe, Miyajima... I found a real interesting hotel, the GRANVIA in Kyoto. It is right above the Shinkansen Station in Kyoto, so just getting up in the morning and we`ll be in the train. the tripadvisor reports are also seems to be great. About the train reservation thing: How many days before a shinkansen ride do`ve to make the reservation? And you said that it`s always very crowded. So what about luggage? Do I have to take real small trolleys? Normally I`m not really frightened about getting lost, because we`ve travelled around a lot of places on our own and never had much trouble. But japan is more different than for ex. thailand, malaysia or singapore. I`ll going to order the fodor guide to see what we can do besides the parks.