jedimaster1227

Mecalodon has begun ride testing!

After the incredible day and a half we'd had at Europa Park so far, it was both reassuring and incredibly sad to know that we had only one day left. This park had lived up to the hype and then some, and I wished (as I still do) that more time could have been squeezed in to enjoy more of the vast property's many offerings. That said, we still had a full day ahead of us, capped off with an evening at Traumatica, a Halloween event hailed as Europe's most sophisticated Halloween event. Our morning started off with some exclusive ride time on the Can Can Coaster... I love that Eurosat had such name recognition, that the new version still retains its branding, even subtly. Not unlike the queue for the attached Phantom of the Opera Coastiality experience, the queue for the Eurosat - Can Can Coaster features lots of related props and decor to set the stage for the attraction. I love how the queue embraces different parts of the lore and history of Moulin Rouge. A few props from the former version of Eurosat have found a home in the new queue. I absolutely adore this station design. And to be honest, I appreciated the Can Can Coaster far more than I expected. What feels like it was originally built as Europa Park's answer to Space Mountain has become a really fun tribute to the iconic sounds and sights of the Moulin Rouge, right down to the famous Can Can song. Next up for morning ERT was a ride of Silver Star. Now, I will admit that I almost definitely set myself up for a let down with this one. For years, I watched Robb & Elissa's earliest Europa Park videos and this B&M hyper looked to deliver a really fantastic experience. One such video that would always hype me up: In the years that followed, I'd have a chance to ride some of the biggest B&M hyper coasters back home, even getting one in Orlando. None of this to say that Silver Star isn't a good, if not great, hyper coaster--because it is. It is just that, hyper coasters don't have the same effect on me that they did when they weren't such a commodity. I enjoyed this one, but nowhere near the levels of awe I had somehow built myself up to expect before riding. The moral of the story here? Sometimes it is best to just enjoy a thing for what it is, and be surprised with how it ends up being when you actually get to ride it. I absolutely adore this section of the park. It didn't hurt that the Euro-Tower was nearby to give us a chance to view the park from above. One section of the park that I had less time than I would have liked, was the Ireland area. So many great things in one view. Swiss Bob Run looks great from above! No, this isn't a Spaceship Earth knockoff... Nor is it the only park with a geodesic sphere in it. We got a sneak peek at Traumatica from up here... Such a neat place to watch Voltron Neverra in operation... Speaking of which. We simply couldn't stop. Wouldn't stop. This might be one of my favorite ride photos ever... The insane variety of facial expressions sums up just how wild this experience can be in every sense. Nearby we rode the Snowflake Sleigh Ride which... Exists. This could probably be replaced with something more modern. This on the other hand, I hope they never change. "Dubi dam dam, da dubi daba dibi dam..." I love that they have a replica of The Globe Theatre and I regret that I didn't have a chance to go inside. Similar but different. I know many poke fun at how Pirates of Batavia feels like a knock off of Pirates of the Caribbean, but there is a lot to the experience that is unique. It had moments that reminded me less of Pirates and more of Sinbad's Storybook Voyages at Tokyo DisneySea. I think they really did a great job recovering and revamping this attraction in the wake of the fire. Did you even go to Europe if you didn't get poffertjes along the way? Had to go back to ride Snorri Touren again! I'll admit I had a degree of FOMO about not getting the chance to dine at FoodLoop but gimmick seemed just fine to observe from afar without eating there. Still blown away by this section of the park. I couldn't help but to stare at the Stave Church in the park. The Scandinavian section of the park (and its similar-themed hotels) was among my favorite areas of the park. Blue Fire is a great coaster that lived up to the hype. There aren't many swing rides that look as good as Vindjammer. We spotted a bit of Traumatica history while waiting for the Voltron 4-D film. Taverna Mykonos had an awesome platter for lunch that was a fantastic value. Pegasus packs a punch despite it being a family coaster. Tesla gave me a bit of side-eye as I walked back up for more time to watch Voltron up close. But it was worth it. I mean, look at this thing! Less side-eye given, now that I was going back in to ride. The maneuver from the brake run into this corkscrew is practically a launch. The first and only time I was able to capture a shot of the inverted stall... What a masterclass in coaster design! Old meets new. Action shots in motion... I just love it. Still delicious. Still refreshing. Time to start making our way out of the park... But the day was far from over. Silver Star looking great from afar. Europa Park takes on a gorgeously different tone at night. I wish I had more time to explore the rest of the park in the evening. But it was time to be traumatized. Welcome to Traumatica! The park's houses/mazes are definitely lower-tech than you'd find in some of the stateside parks, but if anything, that challenges the park to be more imaginative and creative with their effects and scares. The event features a main stage with a rotation of themed acts including musicians, dancers and freak-show acts. The Hill is quite literally a maze built upon a hill on the edge of the property. It was one of the most basic experiences of the event, but I give them credit for leaning into the theme simply and effectively. Something that surprised me about Traumatica was the sheer amount of fire found throughout. These fire pits were found throughout the event grounds... Never in America could guests be trusted to openly access such fire, for a variety of sad ("this is why we can't have nice things") reasons. Roaming scare actors were some of the best parts of the event and some of them even carried sparklers and fire sticks as they moved through the crowds. How about an action shot? POP! The houses each had a unique way of approaching the theme--and to the park's credit, none of them really went the way you'd expect. The entrance experience in this house alone, sold me on the entire experience. My favorite house of the entire event! The event also featured a variety of food trucks and booths in case you needed a bite or some liquid courage. I highly recommend experiencing Traumatica if you have the time to experience Europa Park during the season! What an absolutely gorgeous sight upon which to end our final evening at Europa Park...

Magic Springs has announced that the Arkansas Twister wooden coaster has been permanently retired after having operated in the park since 1992. Before this, the coaster operated at Boardwalk and Baseball in Florida from 1978 to 1990. Despite the coaster's closure, the park has confirmed that it will remain standing but not operating with a tribute set up at the ride's former entrance. (Photos and video from Theme Park Review) https://magicsprings.com/rides-thrill/ A Fond Farewell to Arkansas Twister After several decades of heart-pounding thrills, the iconic Arkansas Twister has taken her final run. The 2025 season marks official retirement for the beloved wooden coaster and she will remain permanently closed. Since relocation to Magic Springs in 1992, Twister has been more than just a ride – the coaster has been a backdrop for countless memories. Saying goodbye isn’t easy, but we celebrate the legacy of Twister and the sheer joy shared by generations of Arkansas families alongside visitors from around the world. While the ride will no longer operate, her presence will remain. We invite guests to visit a special tribute at Twister’s entrance celebrating the ride’s history and place in our park’s story. To everyone who has ever taken a seat, gripped the handles, and felt the rush of Arkansas Twister – thank you. Together, we will create the next chapter of unforgettable experiences and cherished memories.

Kennywood has shared an update on the progress to restore Steel Curtain to operation later in the 2025 season. https://www.kennywood.com/Steel-Curtain-Update

^It is real. They tried out the increased surcharge on the festival booths but reverted to their standard 5% after significant online backlash.

SeaWorld Orlando has released details about the new Expedition Odyssey attraction, replacing the former Wild Arctic attraction at the park with a new flying theater experience. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/seaworld-orlando-unveils-expedition-odyssey--a-first-of-its-kind-arctic-adventure-opening-spring-2025-302401217.html SeaWorld Orlando has officially announced the name and new details of its most ambitious attraction yet: Expedition Odyssey. Launching in Spring 2025, this groundbreaking experience will transport guests on a thrilling expedition across the Arctic—where cutting-edge ride and video technology meets the raw beauty of one of Earth's most extreme environments. Combining dynamic motion, state-of-the-art visuals and real-world animal encounters, Expedition Odyssey is more than just a ride—it's an adventure that blurs the line between simulation and reality. This first-of-its-kind attraction will take guests on an exhilarating journey through towering glaciers, vast tundra and the icy depths of the Arctic Ocean, encountering some of the planet's most awe-inspiring wildlife along the way. A First-of-Its-Kind Adventure At the heart of Expedition Odyssey is a revolutionary ride system that pushes the boundaries of theme park technology. Unlike traditional motion-based attractions, this next-generation vehicle delivers an unparalleled range of motion, allowing guests to soar, dive, twist and glide with the fluidity of ocean currents. The adventure begins as guests embark on a breathtaking tour of the Arctic. Guests will feel the rush of navigating powerful currents as they dodge towering icebergs, race alongside pods of beluga whale and dive deep into the hidden depths of the sea—all while experiencing seamless motion and immersive sensory elements that make every twist and turn feel impossibly real. Unprecedented Real-World Footage Captured with Unparalleled Precision What sets Expedition Odyssey apart is the stunning, real, live-shot video footage captured exclusively for this attraction. Using custom-designed camera rigs and groundbreaking underwater cinematography, an award-winning production team ventured to the Arctic's most remote locations to film polar bears, orcas, humpback whales and other iconic wildlife in their natural habitats. This isn't CGI or animation—every glacier, every wave, every incredible animal interaction is real. Guests will experience never-before-seen perspectives of Arctic wildlife, from the majesty of a humpback whale breaching at arm's length to the raw intensity of a polar bear navigating the ice floes. The result is a level of immersion so vivid; it feels like being there in real life. From Virtual to Reality: A Face-to-Face Encounter with Arctic Animals The adventure doesn't end when the ride does. Expedition Odyssey seamlessly transitions guests into a real-world encounter with live Arctic animals, including beluga whales and walruses. For those looking to get even closer, SeaWorld offers exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences like the Beluga Whales Up-Close Tour, where guests can stand poolside with these incredible marine mammals, learning firsthand about their intelligence, behaviors and conservation. An Adventure for the Whole Family Continuing the legacy of Penguin Trek, Expedition Odyssey is designed to be a family-friendly thrill, with a height requirement of just 39 inches. That means kids and adults alike can embark on this unforgettable Arctic expedition together. "A First-of-Its-Kind Experience" "With Expedition Odyssey, we are delivering an experience that is truly unmatched—one that combines breathtaking adventure with powerful, real-world encounters," said Jon Peterson, Park President of SeaWorld Orlando. "This attraction embodies SeaWorld's ongoing commitment to innovation, conservation, and creating awe-inspiring moments that stay with our guests long after they leave." Be Among the First to Ride Expedition Odyssey Guests can be among the first to experience Expedition Odyssey by becoming SeaWorld Orlando Annual Pass Members, which offer unlimited visits, early ride access and exclusive perks like free parking, free guest passes and discounts on food and merchandise. Plus, Pass Members enjoy exciting seasonal events, behind-the-scenes animal experiences and special monthly rewards, including festival-exclusive deals and savings on Howl-O-Scream admission. For a limited time during the Spring Break Sale, guests can save up to 25% on Annual Passes. Visit SeaWorldOrlando.com to learn more, and follow SeaWorld Orlando on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates. About SeaWorld SeaWorld is a leading marine life theme park and accredited zoo and aquarium that provides experiences that matter while educating and inspiring guests of all ages to care about marine life. Welcoming millions of guests every year, the parks offer fun and enriching experiences from up-close animal encounters and year-round educational programs to award-winning marine-life-themed rides and attractions, special events, and exciting entertainment. For more than 60 years SeaWorld has advanced the conservation of marine life in and outside its parks through science, education, and exceptional animal care that is Humane Certified by American Humane and accredited by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. SeaWorld is one of the largest marine animal rescue organizations in the world, helping more than 41,000 animals to date. The SeaWorld Conservation Fund, a non-profit foundation established in 2003, has provided more than $20 million to nearly 1,400 organizations to advance critical research on every continent. A portion of park proceeds goes toward supporting these longstanding conservation commitments. SeaWorld parks are in Orlando, San Antonio, San Diego, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). SeaWorld is part of the United Parks & Resorts Inc. (NYSE:PRKS) portfolio of theme park brands. For more information, visit us at SeaWorld.com.

Worlds of Fun has announced investments in the park's Africa-themed section with notable changes on Zambezi Zinger and Prowler, along with other enhancements throughout the park. https://www.worldsoffun.com/blog/2025/africa-section-getting-upgrades-for-2025-season In 2025, Worlds of Fun is investing in its Africa-themed section, headlined by improvements to the popular Zambezi Zinger and Prowler roller coasters. Zambezi Zinger's Iconic Spiral Lift Hill to be Enclosed The signature spiral lift hill of Zambezi Zinger is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Construction is underway to fully enclose the lift hill, which takes riders more than seven stories high before launching them on a thrilling two-minute journey at speeds up to 45 mph while navigating low contour turns and a midcourse tunnel. This new addition will not only add to the ride experience but will also enhance operational efficiency. Prowler Receives 400 Feet of Titan Track Prowler, known for its terrain-hugging track layout, fast pace and airtime hills is getting more than 400 feet of new Titan Track this offseason. This new track technology is commonly used to replace or upgrade sections of existing wooden coasters, but also in new ‘ground-up’ coasters, including a section of the park's Zambezi Zinger. Mamba and Zulu Get Refreshed Look Mamba slithers into the 2025 season donning a fresh coat of vibrant green paint, fitting nicely into the Africa-themed section’s landscape. The 27-year-old classic steel coaster begins with riders being lifted 205 ft. followed by a gravity-defying drop at speeds up to 75 mph before traversing a second 184-ft. hill and through a spiral helix and multiple airtime moments on a series of camelback hills. Zulu, providing centrifugal forced thrills since 1979, also is getting a makeover. Departing from its previous yellow, Zulu’s ride vehicles will be repainted green, orange, redwood and yellow. More Shade Boomerang's queue line is being expanded and a new shade structure is being added. Fury of the Nile also will have a new shade structure. Additional Park Updates Over in East Asia, a shade structure is being added to the Spinning Dragons queue line. Paradise Falls, the kids' water activity playground in Oceans of Fun, is being repainted this offseason. Calypso Cafe' was renovated in 2024 and will make its debut this season. Oceans of Fun guests will be able to enjoy new frozen alcoholic beverage options at 21° and Colder in 2025. The new variety of icy concoctions will be available in the waterpark's former Subway building. Worlds of Fun officially opens for the season on Saturday, May 3. The best way to experience everything that Worlds of Fun has to offer in 2025 is with a Gold Pass that provides unlimited visits, free parking and special perks like discounts on food and merchandise.

The Mecalodon trains have begun to arrive at Wailibi Belgium and they look great! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1LX6yuinPS/ Mecalodon is here! The brand new Walibi coaster will soon come to life! What do you think of the train design? We are fans!

After some time at sea we arrived in port at Valetta, Malta, earlier than planned due to an unexpected itinerary change. We had been set to visit Mykonos in Greece but due to significant storms, the conditions were deemed unsafe for the ship to make port there. Valetta had already been on our schedule, but the ship worked hard to make up for the lost port, re-arranging our next planned day at sea, and arriving in Valetta a day early for an evening and overnight stay in port, leading into the originally-planned day there. Our first night in Malta was uneventful, and just consisted of aimless wandering on foot and a Maltese dinner at one of the port-area restaurants. The next day we would wake early to catch our bus for the Traditional Maltese Ftira Demo Making & Wine Tasting port adventure. The drive through Valletta was quite scenic. We stopped first at Diar Il-Bniet, a local Maltese restaurant for a hands-on cooking demo. We were able to sample some dips and spreads commonly found on the Maltese dinner table. Next we were tasked with rolling out our own ftira dough and loading it up with cheese and toppings of our choice. Ftira is in essence Maltese pizza, and as such it is cooked very similarly. Mine had two kinds of cheeses, green olives and eggplant. I opted out of the traditional cooked tuna topping that was available. Next on our tour was a visit to another culinary experience... The Meridiana Wine Estate is built on a former military airfield. We had a chance to walk through the wine-making process during our visit. This included seeing how the wine was stored in the cellars below. And finally we had a chance to sample the goods. Back onboard the Disney Dream we skipped Pirates Night dinner in the rotational dining venue in favor of dinner at Palo. These pillowly, pesto-y clouds of heaven were the restaurant's gnocchi. Butternut squash agnolotti for the win. Dinner featured an incredible view of Valetta as we sailed away from the port. Valetta is a major destination for the filming of movies, and during our visit, production on Gladiator II was underway. Having just watched the movie a few weeks ago, it is neat to think that I saw some of the sets relatively up-close not long before. A massive blue screen had also been constructed nearby, likely for the same film. It isn't a dinner at Palo without their signature Osso Bucco. But my favorite dish out of any meal at Palo is actually the Grilled Portobello Mushroom. Absolute bliss. The chocolate souffle is a must-have when visiting Palo. Even if you're full, you must find room and try it. After dinner we enjoyed the special vibes of Pirates Night. And we spotted a few notable pirates along the way... Due to the nature of our longer cruise, we were treated to some extra variety acts in the Walt Disney Theatre during our sailing. Paul Zerdin, from "America's Got Talent" fame was featured on the main stage for the night. Having watched him as a contestant on the show years ago, this was a really pleasant surprise to see him in person on our sailing. Pirates Night towel animal for the win! Pirates in the Caribbean is one of my favorite character experiences onboard. Mickey and the gang come out in pirate gear and teach the guests about how to be a pirate. And that knowledge is put to the test when a band of pirates under the leadership of Captain Hook and Mr. Smee crash the party. Some new-to-me magic was the chance to experience the show while wearing my DisneyBand+ which lit up and vibrated in sync with the show. The night concluded with a fun, adult-only performance by Chris Cox, a mind reader. Breakfast of champions required for the next morning... For today we would be welcomed to Catania, Italy. The ship docked within a size-able view of Mount Etna, the famous active volcano in Catania. We were greeted with a significant welcome trail! We toured the city by bus and found preserved remains of former city elements of Catania embedded in the modern, rebuilt areas. The architecture of the city center was impressive. We spent some time roaming the area on our walking tour... We visited a few churches along the way. Allow me one artistic shot per update. Next on our tour was a visit to another winery... There we learned about the Italian style of wine-making and sampled some small bites along the way. It wouldn't be a wine tasting without wine to be tasted. A hero's welcome was waiting for us back at the ship after our port adventure. I'll forever love this ship's atrium. Back onboard we could experience a fun dance party with Mickey, Minnie and the gang. Hi Elissa! Riding the AquaDuck with a view of Mount Etna is quite fun! Riding the AquaDuck in general is quite fun! We enjoyed this awesome water slide several times throughout our cruise. A view of the upper deck... The Mickey Slide is fun for the younger kids. Always one of my favorite photos to take while onboard. What else do I do with my free time in the stateroom than to watch obscure cult classics like Tomorrowland. Hiya Donald! Exclusive to the longer itineraries, the cast of the Walt Disney Theatre gets to put on a custom show where the performers can sing notable Disney songs of their choice. This is always one of the highlights of our longer cruises! Mickey looks great in his Greek outfit! The sun set on another amazing day... And as per tradition, we were greeted in our stateroom with another adorable towel animal.

After our brief but wonderful taste of Europa Park the prior evening, it was hard to sleep knowing that we'd have two full days to enjoy the resort ahead of us. I managed to grab what rest I could, eagerly awaiting the morning's exclusive ride time. We started with Blue Fire, another of the park's coasters that I had long anticipated getting the chance to ride. This is one sleek train! ERT earned many thumbs up! As soon as ERT was over, Robb and I rushed over to The Can-Can Coaster (Eurosat), not for the traditional ride experience, but for the newly-opened The Phantom of the Opera Coastiality VR experience. Replacing the previous Valerian VR experience that debuted with the rebuilt Eurosat, this new experience leans heavily into the fandom surrounding Andrew Lloyd Webber's classic musical. The queue is filled with props from the show... The queue also serves as pre-show experience before the VR elements begin, setting the stage for your visit to L'Opera Populaire in Paris. Fans of Andrew Lloyd Webber can find in-universe nods to some of his other works. I'll be absolutely honest. I'm not a huge fan of VR experiences on coasters. But I am a huge fan of Phantom of the Opera--I've seen the show seven times in my life, the movie countless times and I've listened to the soundtrack far too many times to count. For this reason, I wasn't going to be to visit Europa Park without seeing how such a beloved (albeit likely incompatible) IP could translate to a theme park ride experience. Unlike other VR experiences I've been on, this one had you put on the headset while standing in a room away from the loading platform. From here the pre-show experience begins in Box 5 of the Paris Opera House, the Phantom's preferred booth. Surprisingly, the booth lowers from the theater down into the catacombs below to reveal the Phantom's lair. Standing alongside others who are also wearing the VR headsets (you and others around you are represented as period-appropriate avatars, mine an older woman in a purple dress and Robb's a man with a monocle, a black top hat and a grey mustache) you are guided by another avatar through the catacombs to a convenient train of gondolas. What you don't realize is that from behind the VR helmets, you are walking to the Eurosat trains. And through the VR experience you are actually expected to walk to and get into your seats. If the VR isn't spot on (whether because of the headset placement or how it has sync'd up), then your results on getting in safely may vary... But I absolutely give them credit for such a ballsy approach. Once seated, your gondolas take off and begin on a journey that summarizes the key points of the musical's story in a compressed format. Logic, science and physics cease to matter as, once you ascend Eurosat's lift hill, your point of view shifts from the turning gondolas to a glowing orb that floats and flies through the story's scenes. The ride kicks off strong with the Phantom bringing down the chandelier to the famous tones of the show's main overture, and as the chandelier collides with the stage, you go crashing through it, down and into the catacombs. Flying through the layout of the physical coaster, you inexplicably weave in and out of the Paris Opera as it crumbles and burns, pausing near the end for Raoul and Christine to kiss in front of its burning remains, before returning inside to revisit the Phantom's lair, where he appears briefly and disappears in a gag that mirrors a final moment from the show, All in all, it was an interesting way to translate the show to a ride. The VR graphics aren't quite there yet and the syncing with the coaster's movement never really felt perfectly aligned--both reasons why I was in love with the end result, but as a Phantom fan, I'm grateful that Europa Park was gutsy enough to choose such a property for this experience. Now time for another hotly anticipated experience! Due to our visit taking place near Halloween, the coaster's signature music had been replaced with a special track for the season. "It's Halloween" plays on repeat throughout the queue and inside of the ride itself during this overlay. And I guess it is because I didn't know what I was missing--I thought it worked really well. Euro-Mir was a really fun ride (with a somewhat wild finale) and the randomized rotations made it very re-rideable. You know we had to come back for more Voltron! I love that the Croatia section of the park features three animatronics of Nikola Tesla (one in the queue, one at the start of the coaster and one in an outdoor area in the land). I strongly considered buying this Coaster Dynamix Nanocoaster but I haven't finished assembling several of the ones I already own. Silver Star stands in the foggy distance... Madame Freudenreich Curiosités was a very cute way to repurpose the "Universe of Energy" dinosaurs for a more unique (and less knock-off-ish) experience. The ride has a cute story. Familiar but different. There are lots of dinosaurs to be found in the ride. Not our dino, TPR has a bobsled team! Long had I waited for this moment! And Schweizer Bobbahn did not disappoint! The Swiss section of the park is charming and narrow... But most importantly... It is home to raclette! TPR takeover of the raclette hut! The park has so many beautiful areas to enjoy. I love the faux bateaux mouche so much! Europa Park had already been a delicious and refreshing experience so far! Time for more cute dark rides! Adorable. How does one follow up such cuteness? With coasters, of course! It was nice to just hang out for a bit. Of all of the rides inspired by Disney's Haunted Mansion that we experience on this trip, Castello dei Medici was certainly one of them. There's definitely key differences here. But there are also far more blatantly derivative sections. Familiar but different. There's even a hitchhiking ghost-equivalent finale. Though I have no affinity for the IP, "ARTHUR - In the Minimoys Kingdom" is a pretty neat mini land. The power suspended coaster was fun and unique. I love the architecture in the Iceland section of the park. And Wodan was a solid wooden coaster that has been well maintained. The station fly-through is such a fun element. Whale Adventures – Northern Lights is easily one of the cutest splash battles I've ever seen. Animatronics and flammable buildings out and about to enhance the lands' theming. I LOVE IT. I wish I had more time to spend in the Scandinavian section of the park. Snorri Touren is a gem of an attraction that no amount of research had prepared me for. Snorri is simply the best. This dark ride is not without value for adults. The gist of where the story takes you while onboard... Our carriage awaits! Our journey begins... Some great set design for this attraction. You can't go wrong with singing trolls. Snorri plays the mushroom drums. You can bet I brought a plush Snorri home to my son. Familiar but different. Some neat elements in the queue... Lots of exposition but I couldn't understand what it was. While he isn't Snorri, Jopie is great too. Piraten in Batavia feels similar but different to Pirates of the Caribbean. Some scenes are more recognizable than others. Jopie is helping to escape! Very pretty sets. I spy with my little eye, someone that is Mack. The ride's finale ends with an impressing series of projection mapping effects. Familiar but different. Equally familiar but different. Where have I seen one of these before? It was too cold for my tastes to ride Fjord-Rafting during our visit. Atlantica Supersplash looking good. This place is a theme park fan's dream. So cool to see in person! Such a fun and pictureseque coaster! Our time in Europa Park came to a close for the day... But our adventure was just beginning. As we had an evening set aside to experience Rulantica! Due to our limited time I have virtually no photos from inside, but I can't rave enough about the water park. This is the first indoor water park I've been to, but the bar was set so much higher than I anticipated. Rulantica is packed with themed areas, great water slides and some excellent spaces. Vildstrøm is the star of the show--a wild outdoor body slide that doesn't require you to go one at a time. Hilarity and chaos ensue. Robb has some fantastic video from our experience... The park was kind enough to let us try the Snorri Snorkling VR experience which was unlike anything I'd done before. It followed a similar story to Snorri Touren from in the park, but this time, experiencing it while gliding through the water. Super unique--mildly bizarre. I'm glad I had the chance to do it. After a wonderful evening at Rulantica, it was time to head back to the hotel for some rest. Tomorrow would bring even more adventures.

Silverwood has announced that they have undergone a substantial investment and upgrade of Tremors, with the installation of Rocky Mountain Construction's "208 Retrak" track replacement along with the addition of two new Millennium Flyer trains. These modifications are expected to bring a more smooth and quiet ride experience to the classic coaster, along with increased rider capacity (the coaster previously operated with one PTC train). https://www.instagram.com/p/DGrkOIwJW9B/

This weekend I had the chance to stop into SeaWorld Orlando for the first time in a while (it was time to activate my son's preschool pass) and while there, thanks to some free passholder perks, I had the chance to roam the park and enjoy some of the Seven Seas Food Festival. Signs at the entrance of the park warned that commercial production was underway at the park... Always a welcome sight. I can't deny, Pipeline is a good looking coaster, with an awesome setting in the park. I spy with my little eye, something that is a drone. Throughout the park Seven Seas Food Festival booths offer up a variety of food and beverage choices for guests to purchase. Flavors for all tastes. It was a busy day at the park. In addition to the Seven Seas Food Festival, the park was also celebrating Mardi Gras. They had a live band and a DJ performing alternating sets throughout the day. Work on the new flying theater attraction in Wild Arctic has accelerated, extending into the outdoor queue area. In preparation for the new attraction, the Wild Arctic animal exhibit and gift shop has also closed temporarily. Two more food booths plus a beer stand are found between Wild Arctic and Sesame Street. I honestly can't recall when the shade structures were put up, but they are a welcome addition to the beer garden area. The German Market has finally updated their imagery to make the chocolate covered pretzel look less intimidating. Flavors for all tastes. Always a popular booth. Which would you choose? One of the original booths from the Festival's beginning. A consistent performer. Lamb chops and beef gyros... For the guests that like to see fish and then seafood. Pearl divers have returned to SeaWorld Orlando in the form of mermaids... This experience was very popular with the kids. Free passholder Seven Seas Food Festival items makes for a nice sampling afternoon. These lamb ribs from the Polynesian Market never disappoint. The reimagined Lobster Mac & Cheese cone was a solid choice. To give you an idea of just how expansive the festival's reach has spread throughout the park over the years. The drone moved on to filming Ice Breaker in motion. Ice Breaker definitely packs a punch despite its compact layout. Walking from Bayside Stadium back towards the front, you get a view of Pipeline that isn't as commonly accessible. While it still isn't my favorite coaster in the park, I will admit that I enjoy Pipeline far more than I ever expected I could. It is a pretty unique coaster. Tucked underneath Pipeline is a new Seven Seas Food Festival booth. You had me at "blue cheese crumbles." Some themed performers were out and about for the festival.

^Crawfish étouffée is what it was and I still live to tell the tale!

A few weekends ago I had a chance to stop into Busch Gardens Tampa Bay to activate my son's preschool pass. It had been a little bit of time since my last visit, so I used the day as a chance not only to entertain my son, but to get caught up on a few notable changes at the park. Lazy morning for the cheetahs... Cheetah Run is seriously one of the best animal-focused elements of the entire park. Yes, they have giraffes and zebras here too. Shortly after Phoenix Rising opened it was announced that Scorpion would close. The park's second roller coaster (and oldest standing coaster in the park after Python was removed to make way for Jungala) had an abrupt closure, which had led to believe that its removal (whether disassembly or scrapping) would be swift. As you'll see here, that's not the case. The queue entrance has simply lost its ride signage and the path has been boarded off. If I didn't know the ride was permanently closed, I'd think it was simply down for refurbishment. With the exception of the there being no trains in the station or on the transfer track, this looks exactly like it did when it was still in operation. Here's hoping someone is planning to buy Scorpion for more than just scrap metal. Out with the old, in with the new, I guess. I will admit, I was surprised at just how sprawling the layout for Phoenix Rising is... Building a one-train-operating coaster at one of the most popular, year-round parks in the country was certainly a choice. To their credit, the ride ops did seem to strive for quick dispatches, but with one only train in operation, the hourly throughput is quite dismal. There are four screens within the station that animate with stylized designs as the phoenix rises into the lift hill. The track weaves in and around itself multiple times throughout the layout. A significant portion of the coaster sits backstage in the plot previous occupied by the Sand Serpent (previously Cheetah Chase) roller coaster. Because of its sheer size and location, it is pretty much impossible to capture all of Phoenix Rising's layout in a single frame. It does have some interesting twisty bits... Over in Jungala there are some familiar sights... Construction on the new Wild Oasis section of Jungala continues. Some significant additions are being built in the back section of Jungala's new Wild Oasis. Just monkeying around. SheiKra is among several attractions at the park currently closed for refurbishment. The last time I saw the the splashdown fully drained was when the coaster was first under construction in 2005. Also going on during our visit was the park's take on Mardi Gras. Yes, they have food and wine booths, not unlike other Central Florida theme parks... After the Mardi Gras parade, several of the performers offer photo ops near Iron Gwazi. Yep. Beads! Is it even Mardi Gras if you can't get your hands on a hurricane? More performers incoming! Overall it was a pretty solid day at the park!

Later in the second week of my trip, I planned another bucket list stop for after work. This one, in many ways is more recognizable and even more rare than Genting SkyWorlds... Times Square Berjaya Theme Park, and most notably, Supersonic Odyssey was within reach. I had watched Robb & Elissa's POVs of this coaster and I had long since ruled out the possibility of ever getting a chance to ride it myself. But when I found out that I would be working in Malaysia for a few weeks, this concept was instantly revisited and I started to plan... While not nearly as grand as Pavilion or Suria KLCC, Times Square Berjaya is a pretty nice mall... That just happened to be hosting a half court basketball tournament in the main atrium. Getting ready to be enveloped in a fever dream. Times Square Berjaya Theme Park is the stuff of theme park game fantasy (pick your poison, RCT, NoLimits or Planet Coaster). Paths intertwined with rides. A coaster weaving in around around other attractions and structures. Over the top theming. A totally indoor theme park with the scale of an outside amusement park. This place has it all. Supersonic Odyssey is the park's Intamin looper, which sports an incredibly unique layout that spans the entirety of the indoor park. Every angle (and there are many to be found) yields a very different perspective of the coaster's layout. I spent much of my time just walking around, staring at it in awe. They have a cute, mini Top Spin nestled underneath one section of Supersonic Odyssey. Not a single net underneath any of the track. Oh there's more... Lot's more. The theming is cartoon-like and otherworldly. It's almost overwhelming. Where my initial photos were on the ground floor, there's an entire section of the park dedicated to rides for younger guests, that Supersonic Odyssey weaves through. One of my favorite elements of this unique coaster. The trains look and feel similar to California Screamin'/Incredicoaster with traditional over-the-shoulder restraints. Rider's in the front row have the option to pay for a GoPro-recorded ridercam (which, of course I bought). Absolutely incredible. So few words are adequate to describe how over-the-top this park is. Somewhere amidst all of this theming is a small carousel. The lighting and the shine on almost everything in sight makes this feel even more unreal. It's pretty impressive just how much there is to do at Times Square Berjaya. Getting photos of Supersonic Odyssey in motion was difficult given the park operating one train every ten minutes or so, but I tried to grab as many as I could. Another angle found. The park features a giant panaromic window view out into the city... Intamin knows how to design an element. Just take it all in. This robot stairwell design had me floored. Even the floor design continuing in the ride area's flooring is a level of detail that I wouldn't expect. Gorgeous. I really didn't want to leave but the park closed as I was finishing my photo lap. I was able to ride Supersonic Odyssey six times (and nothing else) during my visit. I still can't believe that I made it to this park after years of watching the TPR POVs. I had to commemorate the visit with a ride photo (and video) as proof that it actually happened. I celebrated the evening's milestone with a variety of fresh sushi.

The next morning we docked early in Athens and disembarked for our tour of the Acropolis. There's something about this massive archeological site that amazes differently than other ancient sights I've visited. The preservation and scale of these landmarks is unlike anything I've seen. Our early morning ascent was a fortuitous one, as we managed to beat the bulk of the crowds. Simply magnificent. An active site both for preservation and restoration. The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is also part of the tour of the Acropolis and it was very neat to see up close. I grabbed a fresh kataifi from a coffee shop in Athens and it was one of the best desserts I had across the entire trip. Following our tour of the Acropolis and time in the city, we were brought to a local rooftop restaurant for a Greek cooking class. Here we were able to create our own marinade for a chicken gyro dish that would be prepared in front of us to enjoy for lunch. While waiting for the chicken to cook we were also able to prepare our own tzatziki, spicy feta dip and dough for fresh pita. The end result was a delicious, full meal for which we had prepared almost every component. Back to the ship after a day of fun in the sun. Escargot for dinner is always a treat! Lobster and tarragon pasta is another favorite of mine onboard. Grand Marnier Souffle for the win! Hiya Mickey! Always nice to hang out! One of my favorite pieces of enchanted artwork onboard the Disney Dream. The Fly Boys were a variety act brought onboard for our sailing; an acapella group singing modern songs in the style of Frank Sinatra. Another cute towel animal to cap off a great day! The next morning we woke up off the coast of Santorini! Beneath the surface of the floating ring seen here are the remains of the MS Sea Diamond, a cruise ship that sank here in 2007. Such a beauty. Time to explore Santorini! First up was some time to walk around the town of Fira. While incredibly beautiful and unique, it is also very narrow, difficult to navigate when crowded and in a sense, exceptionally touristy. But the view is unrivaled. Next up was a relaxing beer and wine tasting with a panoramic view of Santorini. Not a drop of drink nor food remained when we were done. The views were fantastic. After our tasting, we walked about Oia to take in more sights. We had researched a spot in Oia to grab some authentic Greek bites before returning to the ship... And it was well worth the visit! I wasn't going to leave Greece without trying Ouzo or Raki. Of all of the alcohols I've had, these were certainly among them. When returning to the ship, you have a choice of taking the walking trail or waiting for the cable car. We opted for the cable car, only waiting about 45 minutes to load. This was the right choice. Santorini is a tendering port, which is not my favorite, but it makes for a great set of photo ops as you return to the ship. Curry shrimp for dinner! And cupcake ice cream for dessert at Vanellope's Sweets & Treats! Hi Elissa! Hanging out once again with the Captain! And the best towel animal yet to close out the night!

After an incredible week in and around Munich, it was time to move on to the theme park-focused portion of trip. Our travel day from Munich to Europa Park was spent mostly on the bus (with a brief rest stop visit along the way), but the payoff would come in the form of an early evening arrival at Europa Park. Robb and Elissa along with the team at Europa Park surprised us with a few hours of access to the park followed by an hour of exclusive ride time on the park's newest addition, Voltron Neverra. With two full days in the park ahead of us, it was a great first taste of just why Europa Park has earned world-class praise. Local soda flavors continue to be a travel passion of mine and Germany continued to impress. What happened to Germany's original Milky Way if they're already on Milky Way 2? On the way to Hotel Colosseo we got our first look at Rulantica, Europa's water park which we'd be visiting on the next day. In terms of themed hotel environments, this is one of the nicest I've experienced. Inside of the park for our few hours of access before our Voltron Neverra exclusive ride time, we enjoyed the sights of Europa Park. In a lot of ways, it feels like the park has found ways to utilize their land creatively, embedding multiple attractions in unique, intertwining spaces that look excellent. My jaw nearly hit the floor when we made it to this section of the park. Alpenexpress Enzian re-opened in 2024 after a fire in 2023 destroyed much of its layout along with several other parts of the Austrian section of the park. Europa Park goes out of its way to celebrate Halloween with a unique parade and a Halloween overlay to an existing attraction (we'll get back to that later). Hi Snorri! There's so much happening in this photo. It's almost too much to process as a theme park fan. Something I especially admire about Europa Park is its willingness to invest in animatronics for queues, scenic spaces and themed areas simply meant to pass by. I don't know that there's a wild mouse I've ever anticipated riding more than Matterhorn Blitz. The double-train elevator at the start of the ride is a neat touch. Matterhorn Blitz was a really fun coaster. Nothing earth-shattering but the layout was literal leaps-and-bounds ahead of standard wild mouse coasters. Familiar yet different. It was finally time to visit the park's new Croatia-themed area and its signature attraction... Long had I waited for this moment and even longer had I doubted that I'd ever have the chance for it to happen. This coaster is relentlessly intense and much longer than you'd expect. Each element of the coaster flows seamlessly from the previous and the train's unique seating allows you to be whipped around through inversions while being held in purely by a lap bar. Such a unique element and a great way to kick off the coaster's outside layout. Such a picturesque coaster. ERT was such a great surprise and Voltron more than lived up to the hype. This is quite easily one of the best rollercoasters I've ever been on, and having an hour to ride it repeatedly only solidified that notion. I could have kept going for hours more! Familiar yet different. Grand Prix of Europe is a new interactive dark ride that will open at the park in 2025. We passed through the grounds of the Hotel El Andaluz on our way back to the Hotel Colosseo... Absolutely beautiful. Dinner at Antica Roma kicked off with a wide selection of cheeses... Are you even in Germany if you're not having a beer each day? Antipasti for dinner! A new Cornetto Cone flavor for the books! After dinner we assembled for TPR's first ever competitive puzzling challenge. Joey and I participated. It was also the trip's designated time for the snack exchange and many treats were had. Here's a photo of a trophy I didn't come close to getting. After an evening of fun, it was time to get some rest, because tomorrow would be our first of two full days at Europa Park.

I'll reserve full judgement until riding but if Phoenix Rising at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is anything to go by, this will be a perfectly fine, adequate, non-extraordinary addition to the park... Thanks for the photo update on the construction!

Universal Studios Hollywood has announced that Fast and Furious - Supercharged, the finale experience on the Studio Tour will close permanently next month to make way for a new experience. https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/rides-and-attractions/fast-furious-supercharged Hold on tight for the Studio Tour's grand finale. Featured on The World-Famous Studio Tour Ride along with the all-star cast from the hit movies on an exhilarating high-speed chase that exceeds 120 miles per hour and catapults you into the high-stakes underworld of fast cars and international crime cartels. You'll be engulfed in a world of cutting-edge, hyper-realistic special effects, including 3D-HD imagery projected onto the world's most expansive 360-degree screens! The "Fast & Furious-Supercharged" attraction on the world-famous Studio Tour prepares for its last ride on March 10, 2025.

Universal Destinations & Experiences has unveiled Universal Horror Unleashed, a year-round attraction in Las Vegas built upon the Halloween Horror Nights events offered across Universal parks. This new experience on the Area 15 campus will feature four haunted houses, entertainment, shopping and dining and will open on August 14th, 2025. Tickets for this new offering are now available to purchase. https://www.universalhorrorunleashed.com/en/us Universal Horror Unleashed Get ready to experience the nightmare in a year-round, fully immersive, high-quality horror spectacle that brings your greatest fears to life. Enter the evils of four haunted houses, each with their own terrifying stories: Universal Monsters, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Scarecrow: The Reaping, and Blumhouse's The Exorcist: Believer. Surrounding the haunted houses are four fully themed immersive entertainment areas, each with its own unique live horror experiences, plus decadent food and drink offerings in select areas.
 Your deepest fears are closer than you think. The Living Heartbeat of Year-Round Horror Experience Universal Horror Unleashed, a year-round celebration of horror from the creators and masters of the genre. Filled with haunted houses, themed live-entertainment areas and unique food & beverage experiences in select areas. Coming to Las Vegas in 2025. Four Haunted Houses of Undying Thrills Enter the evils of four haunted houses, each with its own terrifying story. Step inside the living nightmares inspired by Universal’s legacy of cinematic and live-entertainment horrors. Universal Monsters The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Scarecrow: The Reaping Blumhouse’s The Exorcist: Believer

Today Universal Destinations & Experiences revealed the lineup of themed areas that will make up Universal Kids Resort when it opens in Frisco, Texas in 2026. https://www.universalkidsresort.com/en/us Universal Kids Resort Universal Kids Resort is an all-new theme park that inspires the unbridled creativity of kids through play, discovery, and imagination in a way that engages the whole family. Opening 2026 in Frisco, Texas, this first-of-kind resort is specifically designed and developed for families with young children. Enjoy Universal Destinations & Experiences’ iconic brand of entertainment, adventure and fun, bringing to life beloved characters and stories in ways that will just wow the youngest theme park goers in a totally inclusive way. It’s a Whole Universe Built Just for Kids! A beautifully themed on-site 300-room hotel will offer a delightful place to stay, play, and relax after all the fun of the park. With six immersive themed lands filled with kid-friendly rides, playful interactive shows, character meet and greets, and more, Universal Kids Resort is the place where kids rule the day. A Collection of Your Kids’ Favorite Worlds Discover lands for Jurassic World, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Illumination’s Minions and explore colorful and immersive areas dedicated to Dreamworks Animations' Shrek, Puss in Boots and Trolls. Your kids can also enjoy a custom Gabby's Dollhouse experience. DreamWorks’ Shrek Enjoy ogre-sized fun as you stomp, ride, laugh and play in Shrek’s swamp themed playground built personally by Shrek. Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants It’s Bikini Bottom’s best day ever and SpongeBob and friends cannot wait to show you around their neighborhood under the sea. Illumination’s Minions Let the games begin as Illumination’s Minions overrun a peaceful vacation retreat. When Yellow Minions attempt to rein in their Purple counterparts, it leads to a wave of unpredictable, water-soaked fun. Jurassic World It’s a journey of exploration where kids can learn about and come face to face with dinosaurs of Jurassic World in uniquely exciting and interactive ways. DreamWorks' Trolls You’re invited to the most colorful, most joy-filled, and, of course, most glittery music festival of all time! DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots It’s a legendary day with Puss in Boots in Del Mar as the kitty adoption drive is in full swing with colorful decorations, sideshow games, fun rides and festive food. Park Hub with DreamWorks’ Gabby’s Dollhouse A central hub with interactive play areas and shady lawns for rest & recharge, plus an immersive retail experience where guests can meet characters from Gabby's Dollhouse.

After our time at Genting SkyWorlds, we decided to roam the rest of the Resorts World complex, grabbing a bite and checking out the Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park. Madam Kwan's called to us as we were in the mood from some Malaysian cuisine. We did not regret our choice! Some amazing satay served here. Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park is, as the title suggests, the complex's indoor theme park. Several of the attractions found within used to operate in the outdoor theme park that preceded Genting SkyWorlds. Many of these attractions are covered in lighting so help the attractions glow in the dimmer building that houses the park. The surprisingly high ceilings enable the park's rides to reach impressive heights. There's a lot going on in this park... It can almost be overwhelming at times. They have a Disk'o here. Super Glider, a Zamperla Volare that previously operated in the outdoor park, is one of the largest attractions in Skytropolis. It was closed during our visit, which was not disappointing at all. Designed by the company behind Top Thrill 2. Skytropolis also features a light canopy, clearly inspired by the Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas, right down to the zipline running down its length. The blue coaster with red supports is set to open later this year. Back down the Awana Skyway we go! Next up on our agenda was to check out the Petronas Twin Towers. While we couldn't get a reservation to go up to the incredibly popular observation deck, the towers and surrounding complex offer lots to see and do. The Suria KLCC mall beneath the towers offered a variety of shopping and dining options. One of my favorite things to note while traveling is the unique offerings that local Starbucks have. These are definitely different flavors than those you'd find at home. The towers look gorgeous at night! "The world is a carousel of color..." Another successful day ended with a Jungle Bird. Breakfast of champions! And dessert for good measure! After a full day of work, I stopped by Pavilion Kuala Lumpur to roam... And to satisfy a craving that I had since I arrived in town. Pavilion is an absolutely massive mall with shops, dining and entertainment across every floor. They even have an entire section dedicated to Japanese shops (including Daiso)! I wasn't going to pass up a chance to indulge myself in a melon custard bread and melon pan. Yes, they have Pizza Hut here. But this is why I was really here. And it was absolutely worth the trip!

After a few hours of rest in Rome, we went back to the airport to grab our bus to the port of Civitavecchia where we would be greeted by a familiar and exciting sight! I have sailed on all of the current Disney Cruise Line ships, and out of all of them, the Disney Dream is the one I've sailed upon most frequently. Captain Mickey greeted us as we first embarked on the ship. Much time would be spent here over the next 11 nights... I have always loved the atrium on the Disney Dream. First stop? Cabanas for some fantastic food including all you care to enjoy snow crab! We took advantage of the open house time on the first day of the cruise to explore all of the youth activity spaces onboard. The Disney Infinity room is inspired by the console game. If you tapped a Oceaneer Band on your game's RFID reader/pad, you could unlock an exclusive Disney Cruise Line ship toy in the game. I do wish the game series had lasted longer... Star Wars: Millennium Falcon in the Oceaneer Club features a revolving loop of sequences from Star Tours (including the original attraction's ride film) and it is hard not to geek out when I see it. One of my favorite spaces on the entire ship... Echoes of EPCOT history. Vibe is an exclusive youth activities space for teens. They even have their own outdoor sun deck and pool area. Our awesome verandah stateroom for the cruise! I've seen this Sailing Away party many, many times and it never gets old. Let the towel animal fun commence! I love how 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea continues to be a property that finds life and acknowledgement at Disney Cruise Line. Disney Victrophonics was a newer act performing on the ship for our cruise. Hi Goofy! I treated myself to a "World of Old Fashioned" tasting to kick off the cruise... And it was a heavenly experience. The experience is a little non-traditional in that not all of the alcohols used are strictly whiskey or bourbon. But the four unique takes on the drink were all worth consuming. So cute! After a relaxing day at sea, we awoke the following morning as we pulled into the port of Chania, Greece. But before we could go ashore, we needed fuel for the day. Due to it being an early-afternoon arrival in port, we opted to do a champagne tasting in Pink before our time on land. We were treated to five champagnes plus two macarons, all explained and curated by an expert sommelier who guided us through the experience. I highly recommend taking advantage of one of these tastings if you have the chance. Chania, Greece was a fairly straightforward port. We opted for an excursion (also known as a Port Adventure) that brought us on a tour of Scenic Crete... Starting at Ancient Aptera. Our first archeological ruins of the trip... This amphitheater was a neat stop along our journey. Next up was a brief visit to Kournas Lake, a picturesque body of water nestled in the mountains of Crete. Our port adventure concluded with a meal in the town of Argyroupolis... Fresh Greek food never disappoints! This was a fantastic way to kick off our time in Greece! Isn't she lovely? It was a lovely touch to be treated to spa waters upon our return to the port--it was exceptionally hot out in Chania and this hit the spot! Someone else loves John Carter like me? That's so cool! The Golden Mickeys is a classic show performed in the Walt Disney Theatre. Dinner that night was served in Animator's Palate which means we had a chance to hang out with Crush and the gang from Finding Nemo... But most importantly, it meant we could eat as many Black Truffle Pasta Purseittes as possible! Our door would become progressively more covered in decor throughout the course of our cruise... I also treated myself to a Premium Whiskey Reserve tasting while onboard. This ship is my happy place. Another cute towel animal to cap off our day!

Our final day in Munich was reserved for "on your own time" to explore the city and spend more time at Oktoberfest. For this reason, we used our day to accomplish both. Revisiting Marienplatz was the first activity of the day... Absolutely beautiful. We even had a chance to see and hear the Rathaus-Glockenspiel play. Reinheitsgebot München Viktualienmarkt was a short walk away and worth a stop for one reason in particular... Hot dog, hot dog, hot diggity dog! Despite having been to Las Vegas, New York and several other cities that have an Eataly location, this was my first time actually visiting one. It's like a theme park for Italian foods. I could have done some serious damage here. This was one of the most indulgent meals I consumed on the entire trip. Back at Oktoberfest for our final evening, we spent some time watching Jack enjoy his favorite ride in all of Germany. As the sun sets, many of the rides begin to come to life in new and colorful ways... Out of the fire and into the frying pan? Hupferl was another "never in America" kind of experience and it was awesome. The size of some of these (traveling) flat rides is astounding. One more visit to the Devil's Wheel. We weren't on a log flume... We weren't on a log flume. We grabbed as many extra rides on Olympia Looping as we could on this evening... Just such an incredible experience! While it wasn't my favorite coaster to ride, Alpina Bahn looks great at night. Our last few hours at Oktoberfest were spent roaming the beer tents, each of which has unique entertainment, decor and more. Each tent felt totally different... The Paulaner tent is one of the bigger tents. And the interior is quite vibrant! I was grateful that I had the chance to visit Hofbräuhaus München at the start of my trip, because I wouldn't end up having a chance to drink at the Hofbrau tent. The Hacker tent may be smaller than some of the neighboring tents... But it has one of the most charming interiors of them all. Braurosl was quite busy on this night... Such a neat space! Spatenbrau was too busy to allow walk-in guests to jump in for a drink. We revisited the Lowenbrau tent to see if the atmosphere changed when compared to our daytime visit in the prior afternoon. The vibe was definitely more lively and party-like at this hour. It looks bigger from the outside. But a rock band on the inside was keeping everyone entertained. This looks familiar! Remember how I said I wasn't above riding both sides? I'm not. And somehow this ended up being the last coaster I rode at Oktoberfest...

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