JordyC

Easter

Helix - Liseberg

Steel

Nice report and photos! iSpeed and Katun both look so awesome. I am planning to go out there next year when Ducati World opens. Thanks for sharing!

Us

New wing coaster Fenix in Toverland is complete The spectacular new rollercoaster Fenix in Toverland is complete. The last track section has just been mounted at almost 40 meters high. With this, the complete construction of the 813-meter-long wing coaster is now standing. The last missing part was that of the turn after the lift. The ride features three inversions: a dive drop, an Immelmann and a zero G-roll. Fenix will reach a top speed of 95 kilometers per hour. The first track sections were installed in January. On April 18, the highest point was reached. The first test rides will probably take place in June, says a spokeswoman. The official opening is planned for Saturday 7 July. At the same time, the rest of the Avalon themed area will be taken into use, including Merlin's Quest boat ride. The new Port Laguna entrance area will also open on that day. Source

Very good report! I have ridden Heidi The Ride at Plopsaland, which is essentially a clone of White Lightning, and I was really surprised with how awesome that little GCI is. So it is great to hear that InvadR has a fairly similar ride experience -- short but sweet!

This will be the theme of the new roller coaster in the Efteling A Dutch theme park website, Looopings, revealed which theme the new roller coaster of the Efteling will have. The theme park is planning to open a spectacular new rollercoaster in 2020. That attraction is all about the circus theme. It will be a cheerful family attraction with various varied elements, including a launch and a lift hill. The roller coaster will be located on a piece of land to the east of the current park. That new area - in the neighborhood of Vogel Rok and the Efteling Hotel - will soon be included in the existing Reizenrijk. A large circus tent will be built in the Efteling. The roller coaster is largely located around it. More details about the theme are not yet known. The rollercoaster is built by the Swiss manufacturer Intamin. There will be no inversions. The Efteling does not want to confirm the message yet. "We like that our plans for the future are so well talked about, but we can not say anything about it ourselves", a spokeswoman responds. The theme park does not yet have the necessary permits to build. "We have plans, but they have not yet been finally approved, and unfortunately there is little to say about this project until then." Source

Here are some of the photos I took of the new-for-2018 Tiki-Waka at Walibi Belgium. You can find more photos of Tiki-Waka and the other rides at Walibi Belgium, along with my review, in my trip report.

Walibi Belgium (Tiki-Waka) - May 2018 Hello everyone! On May 4th 2018, I went to Walibi Belgium to check out their new-for-2018 coaster Tiki-Waka, along with the general updates around the park. Tiki-Waka is located in Exotic World, a new themed area. This is one of the first phases in a multi-year plan that will completely change the look of this park. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much of the new area. I thought there would have been just a subtle exotic theming, but I was pleasantly surprised. The whole area has a very nice atmosphere and Tiki-Waka fits in perfectly. Most of all, I was impressed with how awesome the station, the queue line and the trains looked. If Exotic World and Tiki-Waka are the new standards for this park, then I am even more excited for the coming years! Walibi Belgium has always been an "okay" park for me, but if they start adding good theming and creating an atmosphere that fits the area, like they have done with Exotic World and Pulsar a few years ago, then Walibi has a very good chance of becoming an excellent park in my books. The weather that day was absolutely perfect, but crowds were still manageable. Of course, Tiki-Waka had the longest line in the park, topping out at 40 minutes. All the other rides were at most a station wait. Welcome to Walibi Belgium! The park's mascot welcomes you in the park. The park's carousel is the first thing you see when you enter the park. Vampire (4/10) Vampire is the park's Vekoma SLC. I always thought that the layout of these SLC's are pretty good, but it is the head banging that makes this ride so horrible. It is not the worst SLC I have done (thanks, El Condor), so I'll give it that. There are some pretty good forces, but it is hard to enjoy when you have to hold on for your life. On the plus side, it has a bit of theming, although it is very minimal. Let's start our day with a ride on Vampire. It will surely wake you up. This is probably the smoothest part of the ride, not counting the lift hill. There are some good positive G's during the ride, but because you are holding on for your life, it is almost impossible to enjoy them. Just rollin' around on Vampire. It does have a fairly good layout, it is just poorly executed. Some of the transitions are just terrible. Anyone for a ride on the antique cars? Walibi Belgium is also home to a wave swinger. Loup-Garou (5/10) Loup-Garou was still as bad as I remembered. The train is literally shuffling around the track, especially in the corners. It is not as bad as the other Vekoma woodie I have done, but that one is getting the RMC treatment next year, so... Despite all that, the ride has a fairly good first drop and some surprisingly good airtime. Most of it is strong floater air, but you definitely get some ejector near the end of the ride. Also, this ride has no theming whatsoever. Next up, it is time for Loup-Garou. It starts with a gentle journey upwards the lift hill, but don't be mistaken. It is the calm before the storm. The ride has a few good moments of airtime, even some ejector near the end. Pulsar (6.5/10) Pulsar is probably my second favourite ride at the park. The ride starts nice and slow with the first launch backwards. On the vertical spike you get some unexpected airtime. Then you are peacefully going forwards, until you hit the second launch over the airtime hill. Yes, you read that right. You are launched over an airtime hill - ejector all the way! Next you are travelling up the other vertical spike, which had a bit of airtime. When you hit the third launch, the airtime on the hill is even better. You travel up the vertical spike for one last time. At the top, you got some fantastic views and a great feeling of zero-G on the way down. Then comes the moment when you will get absolutely soaked. Seriously, Pulsar will make you wet. The trains did have a bit of a rattle though, but nothing too bad to distract from the ride experience. Also, Pulsar is well themed. The queue line looks fantastic, with some very good special effects in it. It is time to get soaked on Pulsar. I really like the station of Pulsar. Did I already mention that you will get absolutely soaked on this ride? The airtime gets better with every time you pass this hill. No matter where you sit, you will get wet. But the outer back seats are on a whole other level. The boats of Pulsar are massive, though. The station turntable is such a clever idea. Completely vertical. Those people are still dry, but not for very long. See? That is what I said. It still is one of my favourite rides at the park. Who doesn't like a ride on the bumper cars? The park is also home to a Top Spin, called Buzzsaw. Don't go chasing waterfalls, I mean fountains. Next up, it is time for a ride on the park's drop tower - Dalton Terror. It is tall, but that is pretty much it. Not much force to it. Calamity Mine (6.5/10) Mine train coasters are always a lot of fun, and Calamity Mine is no different. There are a few good pops of airtime, and some excellent head choppers. Calamity Mine is probably the best themed coaster at the park, I just love Wild West theming. Of course, I prefer Big Thunder Mountain, no doubt, but it is a toss up between this one and Colorado Adventure at Phantasialand. Calamity Mine is the park's mine train coaster. It is clearly the best themed coaster in the park. It even has this cool water effect. The ride has some very nice pops of airtime. My favourite moment is when you dive in the tunnel under the lift hill - a good head chopper and great airtime. Tiki-Waka (6.5/10) Tiki-Waka is my new favourite ride at the park. The coaster itself is a lot of fun, but what really makes this ride is the theming and atmosphere around Tiki-Waka. You will start your journey with a left turn out of the station, after which you will climb the awkwardly silent lift hill. The first drop is unlike most coasters out there, because it isn't the biggest drop of the ride and it has some funky curves to it. Surprisingly, you get some nice airtime on the drop. Next, you hit the first of many MCBR's, but they barely slow the trains down. What follows is a variation of sharp turns and hills with very good floater airtime. The bunny hops near the end of the ride even provide some ejector in the back. To end the ride, you get some good forces on the helix over the water. Also, the trains are very comfortable. In the front, you can literally stretch your legs. Overall, Tiki-Waka is a very solid coaster and a fantastic addition to this park. Welcome to Exotic World - the newest area of the park. Exotic World is home the new-for-2018 Tiki-Waka. I really like the station of this ride. Also, the red and yellow balls in front of the station light up when a train is dispatched. Tiki-Waka's trains are gorgeous. Like most coasters, the ride starts with taking you to the top of its lift hill. The first drop has some funky curves to it, while still providing airtime. Exotic World and Tiki-Waka are a fantastic addition for Walibi Belgium. Are you ready for some twisted airtime? As the ride continues, the airtime gets more stronger. There are also lots of great head choppers during the ride. It really is a twisted mess of track. Sadly, the slide along with the play trail weren't open yet. The trains are very comfy, you even can stretch your legs in the front. Ready for some airtime? Two train shot for y'all. It seems like they are really enjoying it. Even the maintenance building is themed. Tiki-Waka is a really fun ride, and the overall experience makes it even better. The ride is full with sharp turns and airtime. I really love the theming and atmosphere around Tiki-Waka. Exotic World is also home to the Tiki Fruit Bar. Older rides got re-themed to fit in with the new area. This interactive and trackless dark ride is really underrated, in my opinion. It is one of the better dark rides I have done. It has excellent theming and an unpredictable ending. A bit of themed music during the ride would improve this ride even more. Next, it was time to ride the park's dark ride - Challenge of Tutankhamon. Psyké Underground (6/10) Psyké Underground is the park's indoor Schwarzkopf Shuttle Loop - Yes, indoor! The ride starts with a gentle LIM launch, not the most intense out there. But the part that follows, the vertical loop, is crazy intense, both forwards and backwards. And it is even more crazy when you don't know what is up and what is down, because it is pitch black inside. The one major negative is that the ride is way too short, it is over in a couple of seconds. Psyké Underground is also a very smooth ride for its age. The theming is fairly good, and it even has a little pre-show. It is time for the park's only indoor coaster - Psyké Underground. Because it is all indoors and you can't see a thing during the vertical loop, it is a very disorientating coaster. It might be a classic coaster, but it still packs a punch. Anyone for a ride on the park's log flume? It is a 3-drop special this one, one of them backwards. Walibi Playland, the kiddie area of the park. Who doesn't like a ride on the park's rapids when the sun is shining? Don't go into the tunnel! The ride itself is okay. It looks nice, but you won't get that wet. Cobra (4/10) Cobra is the park's Vekoma Boomerang. What good things can I say about it? Okay, it is intense. That is pretty much it, to be honest. The ride has absolutely no theming, it will give you a headache if you don't brace yourself, and it is a boomerang. 'Nuff said. Nothing special here, just another Boomerang. I really like the concept of these rides, but just like the SLC's, it are torture devices. Cobra taking the cobra roll. You can get some great views across the lake in the middle of the park. Overall, I had a great time at Walibi Belgium. I really enjoyed the new themed area and Tiki-Waka, an excellent family ride. With the addition of Pulsar in 2016, the park made a 180 degree turn and I really like this new route they are going. It really is a park to keep your eyes on in the near future! Thanks for reading!

Tiki-Waka at Walibi Belgium. (Trip report coming soon)

Python - Efteling

Down Hyperion or Steel Vengeance?

Gold Rush - Slagharen

Almost completed!

^^ Did I miss something, or does Flying Dinosaur suddenly has the longest train in the world?

Expedition GeForce - Holiday Park

Yes, eventually. Have you ever been on a Mack Mega Coaster?

Antwerp Left or right?

Calamity Mine - Walibi Belgium

Walibi Belgium this Friday, to check out Tiki-Waka!

Efteling adds single rider-row to Joris & de Draak Joris & de Draak will be the fifth Efteling attraction with a single riders row. The wooden roller coaster will be closed for a refurbishment from Monday 7th to Friday 25th May. A single riders row will also be added during this period. This is confirmed by a spokeswoman from the Efteling. Previously, Bob, Baron 1898, Symbolica and Python already had such a separate row. Since last summer, Joris & de Draak also has assigned seating on busy days. Source

Not the best photos out there, but these are the wheel heaters for Baron 1898 at Efteling. Source

Tonnerre de Zeus - Parc Astérix

Starbucks Stockholm or Copenhagen?