Europa Park Discussion Thread

[Murfie]

Holy crap! I was there a few weeks ago and my friends/family weren't too excited to ride Batavia and Fjord Rafting. Now I'm really glad I convinced them at the time.

 

Such a shame this happened, but I'm sure they will recover and come up with a great replacement ride.

[djcoaster]

Good news : EP will open "tomorow".

[robbalvey]

Good news : EP will open "tomorow".

Oh, good. I'm glad they've made that decision.

[ThatFalafelGirl]

Thanks for the updates everyone. Just saw the news come through in my twitter feed and looking it up online I was only turning up UK tabloids reporting. While useful, I don't 100% trust them for accuracy...

[Canobie Coaster]

I was stunned to see Pirates burning down on my Facebook feed. It was a really well done "ripoff" of Pirates of the Caribbean (and I don't even know if ripoff is the right word since it was really well done).

 

Fortunately no one got hurt.

[beatle11]

It's a shame to lose a classic ride, but thankfully no one was hurt. I have no doubt they will replace it with something even better.

 

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[cal1br3tto]

I am also keen to see how they move forward from this. I know they're not a place that would give up or cheap out, but I'm interested to see exactly what decisions they make. I hope (and am confident) they'll bounce back quickly and fully.

[Condor]

On the silver lining point, I have to agree that while it will disappoint fans of Pirates, this will be an opportunity to replace a dated, derivative attraction with something hopefully more original and better. Of all the areas that Europa could have been lost, I think this is honestly one of the lesser ones. Considering the extent of the damage it's fortunate no one was apparently hurt.

[sofulsomety]

Three firefighters suffered 'minor smoke related injuries' though.

[cookiex]

I'm really glad nobody got seriously hurt.

 

But even if I wasn't going to the park in just a few weeks that is just devastating to see. Especially since I really enjoyed Batavia (yeah it was a blatant Pirates rip-off but it's a guilty pleasure) and really wanted to ride it again.

[JordyC]

Update:

 

Current information about parking operation:

 - The park opens as planned at 9:00

 - According to emergency services, the fire is extinguished in the meantime

 - There are still a few extinguishing works in progress

 

For now the following areas are closed:

 - Holland

 - Scandinavia

 

Currently the following attractions are not in operation:

 - Koffiekopjes

 - Vindjammer

 - Piraten in Batavia

 - Fjord rafting

 

Currently the following gastronomy offers are not in operation:

 - Restaurant Bamboe Baai

 - Fjord Restaurant

 

We ask for your understanding if some processes in parking operation are not working smoothly yet.

 

Note: currently the app can not be updated (waiting and show times).

 

Also, here is a look at Fjord Rafting after/during the fire.

 

[cookiex]

The whole Scandinavian town appears to be wiped out. All that destruction

 

Edit: A new update from EP's official twitter says Vindjammer is still running but the monorail, Panorama Train and Dschungel-Floßfahrt are closed.

[indyv]

The German tv show "Immer wieder sonntags" that is live aired from the park also continues. You can even follow it live here.

 

Glad to hear that no one has been injured.

[NightHawk]

Here you can see just HOW INSANELY FAST the fire started and spread.

Beginning with a bit of grey smoke at 0:25, it literally took a SINGLE 180° SPIN OF THE OBSERVATION TOWER till all was completely engulfed in flames and lost forever:

 

 

Edited May 27, 2018 by robbalvey

[Kooky]

On Twitter are pictures from Wodan wooden coaster burning too.... Sad day

Please do not post things on our forum unless you actually know what you are talking about. Last time I checked, the coaster at Margate in the UK looks NOTHING like Wodan. Don't be like Trump and spread Fake News. We are better than that.

 

Sorry, I should check that before posting, you are right. I life in a city close to the park and had a barbecue when all of our towns firefighters drive by in direction to the park. A friend just said that there are pictures of Wodan burning too. I already wondered how this could happen because Wodan is a good amount away of the pirates ride. I should have taken a good look at the picture than would have seen it is not Wodan. So sorry for that overhasty post. Just sad to see a part of my childhood in my home park burning down. But glad no one got serious injuries.

[RCT3Bross]

Here you can see just HOW INSANELY FAST the fire started and spread.

Beginning with a bit of grey smoke at 0:25, it literally took a SINGLE 180° SPIN OF THE OBSERVATION TOWER till all was completely engulfed in flames and lost forever:

 

 

They never stood a chance. I'm surprised to hear they opened today but maybe it's for the best. The faster they can leave this behind them the faster they can work on filling the hole left by the fire.

[JordyC]

The devastating fire in Europa-Park has caused a lot of damage. Of the indoor dark ride Piraten in Batavia, only the entrance is left. The Scandinavian themed area was also largely destroyed. Particularly from the Monorail, the damage can be clearly seen. Although the fire has been under control since last night, it is still being damped down. The Norwegian church in the Scandinavian area was spared. Europa-Park opened as planned this morning. With the help of information boards visitors are informed that the themed areas Netherlands and Scandinavia are closed. In addition to Piraten in Batavia being closed, Fjord Rafting, Koffiekopjes and Dschungel-Floßfahrt are also out of use.

 

 

Source

[cookiex]

Here you can see just HOW INSANELY FAST the fire started and spread.

Beginning with a bit of grey smoke at 0:25, it literally took a SINGLE 180° SPIN OF THE OBSERVATION TOWER till all was completely engulfed in flames and lost forever:

 

 

In the time it took that one train on Silver Star to make it up the lift hill there was already a huge flame on that roof. Yikes.

[BDG]

Also, here is a look at Fjord Rafting after/during the fire.

 

That building housed a really nice restaurant, with a great view of the Fjord Rafting. You could open those windows in the summer and look at the rapids below. Loved that place.

 

 

Downstream there even was a balcony.

 

 

 

[NightHawk]

Rubbing salt in the wound much...

[robbalvey]

If I had to guess, I don't think Europa Park will waste much time at all once the dust settles to re-build this area of the park. I would also not be surprised to see them completely re-build it just as it was, updating things where it makes sense to. What does everyone think? Two years and we'll see this area back in operation as normal?

[NightHawk]

I don't know. The area maybe, but I doub't they would bring back the pirates ride the way it was. The park is trying to come up with his own stuff now and not copy Disney any longer for the most part.

 

Then again, it was a much beloved classic people miss.

[robbalvey]

The park is trying to come up with his own stuff now and not copy Disney any longer for the most part.

Um... Their most recent attraction was a direct clone of Soarin'!

 

I'm not complaining, I LOVED that ride, but it was absoultely a direct copy of a Disney attraction!

 

That being said, I really hope they DO bring back the Pirates ride but instead give us the Europa Park take on Shanghai Pirates! (Seriously, that would be amazing!)

[sofulsomety]

Are they really operating the tiny HUSS pirate ship basically next to the smoking piles of rubble?

[KarlaKoaster]

I don't think it will be long before the area around Fjord Rafting is redeveloped and reopened, and maybe a bit longer before they replace Piraten. I loved Piraten, but mainly for sentimental reasons. It would be a waste to rebuild it like-for-like but I like the idea of a new ride that pays homage to the original while combining it with new technology. Europa really care about their history and I know from the work they're doing on Can-Can coaster how obsessive they are about respecting the history of Eurosat V1.