Photo TR: Europation Domination with Don and Monica

[Jeezus Juice]

You know, the flight back yesterday really wasn't bad. And it was cool to go to a restauraunt with free soft drink refills and all the ice I wanted!

 

But what do you care about that? You're here for pictures. Before I get to that though here are some stats:

 

We did 26 parks in 17 days, 8 countries, 5500 kilometers, 3 ferrys, 95 coasters, and about 100 trampolines!!

 

We started out at the Amsterdam Dungeon, a stand-alone haunted walkthrough attraction located in Amsterdams dam square. Since we arrived on 6/6/06 they were running a special. Only 6,66 euro instead of the normal 18,50.

 

The whole attraction took just over an hour and consisted of several themed rooms that played out various themes centered loosely around Amsterdams sorted past.

 

The tour culminates with a ride on a new Mack model "E-Motion" coaster, basically a compact mad mouse type ride with a verticle lift, turntables, and a springy suspension.

 

After that we toured the red light district, got some pizza, used a very open public urinal and got out of town as we were quite tired.

Small quiet road. We're off to Eftling next!

The town is actual quite lovely. I wouldn't mind biking around next time I come through. Definately not as complex as Venice.

They are pretty strict on photo taking in this area but I got one of this sign which is pretty common for the area. Would've got more but the bouncers are pretty big!

You can't tell from this photo but down that alley is nothing but sex, sex, sex!

Here's a shot of the Dam Square activity. Aside from a few heroin hippies bumming for change it was hassle free.

We'll be back in 100 years when they offer this price again. The B&M hyper should be done by then.

The entrance is built into some period buildings. The coaster is actually inside a church right next door!

Our first stop.

[Jeezus Juice]

Ahh Eftling...I don't think there is another park that I've been to that I've herad so many differing opinions on. It seems people either REALLY love it or think it's kinda meh...

 

I suppose if you look at the park from a strictly coaster standpoint it's not that impressive: a vekoma loopscrew, an 'ok' woodie, a bobsled, and a pretty good indoor coaster.

 

If you look at the park as a whole with it's immaculate gardens, scores of walkthroughs, dark rides, and playground equipment that can sever limbs you can really begin to appreciate the park.

 

We were there all day just wandering around and re-rideing stuff and we really enjoyed ourselves.

This is what the 60's must have been like.

Man, when the pigeons turn colors it's time to get out the woods. Bobbejaanland is next!

Here's the chocolate coin ass shooting donkey. How can people not like this park?!

They we went from the arab bong to the muchroom forest. Things got pretty crazy after that.

Not as much as this guy though! Puff puff pass dude! You're getting strung out...

Monica hit the bong a bit too much.

I filled my Eftling bong with water from the "Arabs of the Carribean" ride before we left.

The bobsled was a fairly lenghty Intamin. It's layout is mostly through the trees.

"Sorry folks, ride's closed. The Lion out front should've told ya."

Unless the inside is really good I don't think we missed much. This is the turn around and brake run just after the drop.

So Villegende Hollander wasn't open, but at least they had the area open to walk around. The whole building is themed very nicely...at least the outside anyway.

The woodie was pretty tame but fun. Definately way better than about 40 or so other woodies I've ridden. I'm looking at you california! >:/

Oh BTW, the small world/canaval dark ride is totally P.C. No overblown stereotypes here!

Dude! I've wanted to ride this forever and it's actually really good! Go Vogel Rok!

Evil or not, at least he got my letter!

Evil Santa will send you into the tree of death if you even think about being naughty!

If you stand in the middle this christmas tree will slice your legs off!

I'm totally under the pointy hut, let me in!

You enter through the pointy building.

[Jeezus Juice]

Bobbejaanland was a pretty fun medium sized park just packed with rides. most of you probably know it as the park with the El Paso Special/shoot mexicans, women, and civil war soildiers while riding on a bench ride.

 

Well, EPS did not dissapoint! Why can't all shooting dark rides be this much fun. Screw the score, just give me a gun and let me shoot people!

 

They rethemed their vekoma swinging jet coaster into a native american-floorless-dreamcatcher strewen ride.

 

We rode everthing in the park except one side of speedy bob and the Vekoma Illusion (both were closed) but everything else kinda paled next to Immigration: The Ride!

Before we left we all spun the wheel of gum. We didn't win anything though...darn!

ZOOM!!

Luckily I didn't sink it.

Lets take a walk on the bridge made of ice chest lids!

Die bank teller!!

Oh yes, this will do.

"This Helix makes me want to shoot something!"

The powered coaster had some pretty strong helixes.

Yep! And she's looking a little better now too!

I wonder if Lou is in there?

WARNING: Psychotic clown coaster coming through!

Oki Doki had a pretty sweet layout for a roller skater. Lots of low to the ground swooping turns, even if I can't say the name in public.

After this credit I need a picture with that walkaround character...

Either that or he got it from this guy. The walkaround characters at this park are very authentic!

Pumpkin pot here must've gotten into some of the stuff from Eftling yesterday.

Kachina Kuwanda watches over you and offers 2 for 1 comps at the buffet for all $5 minimum table games.

Dreamcatcher is sporting the awesome new floorless vekoma trains. Big Bad Wolf needs these like now!

This one's for Wally! Hope you had fun working overtime!

This was called the "Horse-pedalo" or something. Apperently they just make up their own spanish words here!

The 95 degree drop coaster was actually pretty good. Not nearly as painful as it looked like it would be.

Apperently Indiana was settled by the aztecs and is full of crocodies, 5 foot spiders, and 3 square miles of cargonetting...in that order.

Oh Sweet! It's the mariachi band that kept me awake at 4 in the morning at my old apartment...DIE!!

then the guy with the pots on his head...

Ok...I think I'll start with the woman...

Oh hell yes!

Yay! We're here! Can I shoot people yet?

[ECZenith]

Oh man, Amsterdam alone makes this TR awesome so far. Curse you for living one of my dreams!

 

Looking forward to the rest of it, nice photos!

[turbolaaf]

Looks like you had a great time over here

I live near the Efteling adn i love the park a lot.

Seems that you didn't do Toverland ?

Anyway i hope you liked Holland and Belgium a lot.

Must be the same like me since i like America also every time i get there.

[viking86]

Awesome trip report so far Don! Bobbejaanland looks like a really weird park.

 

Looking forward to the next update!

[Jeezus Juice]

Dude, we totally did Toverland!! That park rules!

 

It was kinda hard to know what to expect from this park. As far as indoor parks in the states go they pretty much suck. Imagine our suprise to find a Costco/Super WalMart sized indoor/outdoor park in the middle of some cow pastures that actually kicked ass!

 

Fist off the two coasters are really good. The booster bike is very re-ridable, comfortable, and a ton of fun!

The indoor vekoma "boomerang" is really good as well. The lift takes you to within feet of the celing and then just whips all over the place around and through other structures.

 

Second is the massive about of 'support' rides that are here. Anyone who knows me knows that I'll take some cargo nets, trampolines, ziplines, whatever over a generic B&M any day. This place had more "fun Don crap" per square foot than anywhere else I've ever been, including a full-on ropes course out back.

 

Add in the bobkart, interactive water stuff, a reversing log flume, and the fact that all of the kids left at 4pm and you wind up with a great time!

 

It kills me to think about all of the indoor waterpark hotels that we have in the US all cannabilizing each other and not one of them have thought of adding rides. You could easily add an indoor waterpark and hotel on to Toverland and drop it anywhere in the states and have a goldmine buisness.

 

Anyway...

And they even have a zipline too! Magic Mountain can burn into a molten crater for all I care. I'm totally coming back here next year!

Yes, you stay locked in the cage, I'm going to hit the tramp for a while.

BOOOOOSTER BIKE...Soon there'll be a massive wooden coaster blocking the view here.

This place is pack floor to celing with crap to explore, mean while Tom Sawyers island is being covered in foam rubber and bubble wrap...darwin surrenders.

Bobkarting. It totally counts as a coaster.

Another picture of me being awesome. The netting pretty much saved me from certain death a few times.

Sorry girls (and Barry) I'm taken.

Yeah, made it in one step, you know. Last time I did this it was for free cable.

Go Mon. Just like we practiced in the bath tub at home.

I love crap like this, and it's everywhere!

Look! Happy riders! On a Vekoma!!

Launch me baby!

My head is scraping the celing on the best Vekoma Boomerang ever!!!

This thing goes all over the place.

Hey, wait a minute...this looks good!

First up, the Vekoma Boomerang...

Dude, I'll trade the two Costco's and half a WalMart for one of these in my town.

[zaneymon]

LOL don and mon that was Awesome

[USRoadTripper]

I'm so upset that Revolution was closed! *cries a river of tears* I was looking forward to that onride footage on the next DVD!

 

-Julie

[Bush985]

Awesome pictures guys! Glad you guys made it out alive. Can't wait to hear the stories next time I see you two.

 

-RD

[turbolaaf]

Nice report (again) so it seems you enjoyed it.

Anyway I can tell ya that the wooden coaster isn't comming on the open space what should block the view from the boosterbike.

On that part there will rise the Wiegand flyer (like the bobs but suspended) in 2007 or 2008 so....

The wooden coaster will rise behind the Boosterbike near the station.

But thanks for the pics and fun

[Jeezus Juice]

Hey guys! Glad you like the PTR so far. With everyone getting back at the same time I have a lot of competition.

 

I'll try to make this one special! I just got the internet back at work so I'll try and post a bunch more pics incase it goes out again.

 

Here are some from an afternoon we spent in Brussles. There's going to be one of a few "Rick Steves" style updates. Partially because it's gives a good context to the 'feel' of being in Europe, and partially becaus you can't swing a dead Saxon without hitting some 12th century buildings!

 

Basically we rolled into town and parked, and then proceded to wander about for a while looking for opportunities to goof off in some historically signifigant area. Mission accomplished.

You know...you're never really far from cheap cheeseburgers anywhere you go...

I think it's really man's first attempt at a Legoland.

On the way back to the car we find this odd-ball "random-ruins-under-the-street" museum thing.

I am simultaniously intrigued and curious...but I resist the urge to try the water.

OMFG! It is EXACTLY what it sounds like!

Now what could that possibly be...? Certainly not what it sounds like right..?

Crap! She found me...better not try anything...

There's gotta be some way for me to get in trouble here...

Wow, I think we found more OSHI buildings.

Sometimes it's best to follow the american tourist's around, since they buy maps and all.

Here is no doubt some Object of Significant Historical Importance (OSHI). Remimds me of something I saw in Hill Valley circa 1955.

So this is what greets us upon emerging from the smelly car park, lovely...

[Jeezus Juice]

So, Walibi Belgium... You know, we went to 3 of the StarParks on this trip, Walibi Belgium, Walibi World, and Movie Park Germany and none of them really measured up against the other parks fun wise.

 

Almost like going to WDW and Knoebels and then spending a day at SFA. The parks were clean and we did have fun, but they just seemed to be missing something...

 

That being said Walibi Belgium did have some good rides. The Curse of Tutankahman dark ride is suprisingly good and it's trackless to boot. Turbine, the inclosed Schwarzy shuttle loop, was really good. Intense and disorienting at the same time.

 

The BTMRR style mine train was pretty bad. I've never ridden a mine train with so many square wheels. It was honestly not good.

 

The Vekoma Woodie had a really good layout but something about the train design made the little pops of air and laterals a bit too painful to really enjoy.

 

The SLC and Boomerang at least didn't have any lines! Maybe the Flemish are smarter than most?

 

Anyway, we did the park fairly quickly, had a sandwich, whatched the Dopplmyer guys mess around with the mountain flyer for a bit and moved on. The park as a whole wasn't really bad but just painfully average. It felt like the coutesy visit you pay to SFKK whever you're driving by on the way to a better park.

 

What made it weird was that it was actually one of the most expensive parks admission wise...go figure...

Toverland, Fort Fun, Knoebels. These places make since for a ride like this. But a major coaster park full of bratty, line-jumping, chain-smoking kids?!

They were testing the lift while we were there. For the life of me though I have no idea why a park like this would get such a low capacity ride.

Every garden shed should have a Shuttle Loop inside. These things are great!!

"I vant to suck your Fanta orange, blah! blah!"

Ah yes, saving the best for last.

Good thing the trains are well padded though. The lap bar could use some foam rubber love though.

The Layout is actually pretty decent.

Allright, lets see just how good/bad Vekoma woodies are...

I know someone can post this picture with a better caption. Have at it!

Way to lift with your legs Mon! Here's a Jumbo burger!

At least Walibi is here to show you where to put your Jumbo burger once you're done!

Dude, *Random ACE joke* Can I have EXTRA gravy please!?

Thunder Mountain light was pretty underwhelming. I'm sure I'm spoiled but I know they at least had round wheels in the 1800's.

"You must defeat me to enter my bonus round!" "Aim for my bright green glowys"

A look at the trackless ride system. there seemed to be a bonus room near the end of the ride if you scored enough points.

Poor guy's face is melting off in the heat. Someone give him some sunscreen!

We tried to pass of there candy ghost as children to ride the kiddie coaster but the lady running it said "No Dice"...only in french.

At least there was no wait!

The whole park is situated around this big lake. It's nice but it doesn't really add much, it's just kind of 'there'.

Welcome to Walibi! Won't you join us?!

[Jeezus Juice]

Oh man! Phatasialand was so much fun!

 

We paid a little extra to stay on-site and it was so worth it! Tha PhantAISA hotel is immaculately themed and the room we got had a full sized bed as well as chinese junk themed bunk beds! Other than hitting my knee on the rudder in the middle of the night the room was perfect.

 

The hotel is literally part of the park. They even keep the chinese area of the park open for hotel guests all night. A few hours after the park closed we were able to just wander around barefooted in the area between the ghost train and the raft ride.

 

The rides are closed of course but it was just nice to hang out in a park at night and just look at the lights. OK, I'm a park geek...anyway,

 

The park itself was really cool. Black Mamba is really good. Winjas is incredable and Temple of the Night Hawk, the park's indoor coaster, is really, really long.

 

There are a great amount of dark rides, boats, monorails, and atmosphere attractions scattered around. It almost reminded me of Blackpool in a way as every space is put to good use.

Monica and Sexual Harassment Panda say Good-Bye!

They even leave snacks out for you everywhere!

Our hotel was awesome!

I was hoping he'd battle the rock guy but it didn't happen.

And then this guy walked out!

Then out of nowhere this space egg fell from the sky!

There's even a Peter Pan esque indoor/outdoor dark ride

There are so many rides here.

Some of the european cosmetics here are a bit odd. Still, she looks do-able.

Mystery Phallus, on the other hand, is an indoor drop tower.

You ride in bat boats!

River Quest. It starts with a verticle lift, it has three levels, and...

At home this would've said goldenpalace.com

This ride is gaping statue approved!

Whoosh!!

Oh yeah. Let's do this thing...

Oh yes, my other passion...boobs!

Now this is a mine train!

First things first, I must ride Michael Jackson!

[Jeezus Juice]

So we finally got to go to Holiday Park and we had a really good time. You know when you're at a midsized family park and you start to wonder, "What would this place be like with an Intamin hyper?"

 

Well, that's Holiday Park! They have one of each of the amusement park standards; flume, raft, dark ride with boobies, corkscrew coaster, ect...and then they have GeForce!

 

Expedition GeForce was probably the most hyped up coaster on the whole trip. Luckily it didn't dissapoint. Basically it was like S:ROS without the dull helices and with a wicked first drop.

 

It runs more or less at tree level too so the onride views are really good. If only Millenium Force could have been more like ExGF...

 

The rest of the park was pretty good. No trampolines but they did have a good selection of off beat rides as well as a pretty good 2nd gen intamin drop.

Yay! Donkey vomit.

The best part? How about a coin operated Donkey that spits chocolate coins out of it's mouth?!

I'm so getting one of these for home. Yes, that is a mini soccer goal and ball in a urinal. Yes I scored many goals without useing my hands.

Especially when the go through tents with crazy animatronic hoses inside.

Yay! Garden monorails are fun!

Monica reliving her college job. You don't have to pop naked out of cakes for old japanese men anymore sweetie.

Super Gerbil wasn't bad actually. It also had a longish layout before it hit the brakes. I actually re-rode it.

Expedition GeForce kitty. This cat doesen't care how long RiRod rode for.

For around $50 you could purchase a piece of the cable that Richard Rodriguez used to flaggellate himself.

Even trimmed this ride still kicks ass!

Signiture shot!! That twist is wicked in the back.

Aww! That's what we want!

Allright you green bird, which way to GeForce!?

The log flume had an odd Satan theme. He kept popping up in signs in the Queue. Satan says "no standing." Satan say "wear a pancho."

[Jeezus Juice]

Tripsdrill was another fun medium sized park that we enjoyed. It's located in a wine region of germany and carries that agricultural theme over to the rides and attractions.

 

Trips is also home to G'sente Sau, one of those awesome Guerstlaurer bobsled coasters with the crazy airtime hills and the death spiral helices.

 

The park kind of reminded me of what I would expect Bonfante Gardens to be like in 10-15 years if they really build it out.

 

The park also has a log flume themed to the fountain of youth where you ride in bathtubs and watch as nude old women manniquins gradually turn into hot nude young chick manniquins. Way to go guys! Two thumbs up!

One last look at a really awesome ride. Good thing there was two more on the trip to look forward to!

Just as well, I think this translates to "Manure Sack"

I couldn't kidnap a kid to ride this mini log-flume. Too bad because it looked really fun.

This is what I like about European parks. If you want to ride around on messed up bikes and hurt yourself, go right ahead. Band-aids are sold in the guns and porn shop.

Also new this year was a maypole themed cable tower ride. Good fun as well.

I think this book contains the whereabouts of Hitler's frozen head.

...porn on one side and world war II weapons on the other.

The gift shop was kinda weird...

OK, some masochist must have invented this. Undulating downhill rollers are a very easy way to break your ass...hard. This was very funny to watch for a while. It's kinda like getting really drunk and roller skating down stairs. Priceless.

Tripsdrill also got one of these "Crow Trees" type tower rides. You go up and down a few times then the ride car 'breaks' and tips forward while you fall. Good fun.

I also had fun interacting with the goats. Why can't all parks have goats!?!

All sorts of rides are built right over and interacting with each other.

The park also had a nicely landscaped Tivoli. Actually the whole park was landscaped very well.

Please don't poop in our Tub Flume!

I love the Tub Flume!

Tub Flume!

Both the coaster and tub flume share the same Alsaceian building.

Dear parks, Please stop buying crappy looping coasters and wild mice. Please give the guys at Gurstlaurer a call and buy some of these. Thanks.

Time for some G'Sente Sau action!

We're here!

[USRoadTripper]

Awesome TR so far! Keep the pics coming!

 

-Julie (who can't wait to go back to Europe!)

[rollermonkey]

Hey, Don, fix the satan flume picture from Holiday Park for even bigger laughs!

 

Maybe I picked the wrong trip this year!

Where is the Don, Mon and Ron show going next year?

 

(obtw, check out Monica's sister in Erik Johnson's Photo Trip Report!)

[thomas2]

Great TR. I like the way how you post pictures of the cities you visited, it adds a extra to this TR.

Hope you had a great time here in europe (and Loup-Garou/Weerwolf rocks )

[viking86]

Great TR Don! Looks like you had tons of fun on your trip. For some reason the goat picture really made me laugh.

 

Yngve "Goats are awesome" Oestbye

[PhishyBrewer]

Pictures are great and all, but... whatcha get me?

[Coaster Palooza]

Man, when people post things on the weekend, it takes me a while to catch up!

 

Nice Trip Report Don. All these parks make me want to go to PGA soon.

[ParkTrips]

since I'm in a letter-writing mood

 

Dear Don (and Monica, of course),

 

You guys rock, great stuff here. I LOVE the soccer game in the pisser, thats just awesome. I'm looking forward to more, of course.

 

Regards,

Joe

[shesaidboom]

It's things like the soccer themed urinal that make me wish I had a penis.

 

Great pictures and reports. I want to visit a lot of these parks.

[Jeezus Juice]

Allright guys, here's the big one: Europa Park!

 

This place was just amazing. They had the perfect balance of coasters, dark rides, shows, fire, food and themeing.

 

It was the first park that I've been to that actually offers the same type level of entertainment as Disneyland. Euro Mir became a new matterhorn. Posidon was my splash mountain. Everything was just great, I'll let the pics speak for themselves.

 

Thanks for all the comments guys! And thank you Joe for the lovely letter, it's hanging on my refridgerator..

Goodbye Euromaus! We'll miss your awesome park!

There's even a chunk of the Berlin wall here for you to get sticky handprints all over. I got my whole "standing in two opposing ethos at the same time" credit too!

Signiture shot! This is a very weird friggen ride. It's like 7 minutes long!!

This is exactly what it looks like, and it was awesome.

Here's the italian section from the air, complete with both pizza and a very haunted mansion-esque dark ride. Hitchhiking ghosts and stretch room included!

An overview of Eurosat and Silver Star. This year the Eurosat ball was themed like a giant football for the world cup.

A look at the very twisted bobsled.

Easily one of the most beautiful parks I've been too. Why BGE keeps getting voted best is beyond me.

For as huge as this park is the atmosphere is very relaxed. There's no fun police running around ruining everything. Can you imagine what would happen if you put your feet in the sub lagoon at Disneyland??

We're begining to get the hang of these Donkey Chocolate vendors.

This is just all around a great ride. Plus look! Fire!!

Easily my favorite water coaster. Look at the bunny hill after the drop!

Posidon does just what this type of ride should do. Fun coaster section-drop-float for a while-wilder coaster section-wilder drop-float to the station.

You enter Posidon through the wooden Donkey ass. Did they know we were coming?

Atlantic Super Splash (ASS) was themed really well. Even though it's basically a shoot-the-chutes we enjoyed re-riding it. Plus you didn't get totally soaked...and it's TOTALLY a coaster!!

Europa Park is kind of what Epcot should be like. Each of the countries represented here actually have rides. Imagine that Disney...rides in a themepark. I mean, it's cool to buy a pretzle from Soren and everything, but I'd rather ride him around the pavi

Back over by sista they had these weird skateboards-on-sticks-that-kinda-swivel. Try as I could I coundn't get it to kickflip.

It had a nice rollerskaterish layout. It was actually a lot bigger than I had though.

New this year was Pegasus, Mack's new family coaster.

SiSta, Sponsored by Mercedes Benz!

Silver Star was great. None of that twisty Raging Bull stuff, just awesome out and back goodness.

Finally, the park that the whole trip was based around.