simon8899 Posted October 3, 2013 Posted October 3, 2013 (edited) Originally we wanted to go to Munich an visit next to the amazing city the parks nearby including Skyline Park and Bayern Park. But as on the weekend we wanted to come the state elections went on the hotel skyrocket peaking at €200 per night at a 2** hotel. So we decided to postpone Munich to coming years and went for a tour roughly along the Rhine. Starting in Freiburg visiting Europa-Park, heading on to Heilbronn visiting Tripsdrill and finally on to Cologne finishing up with 2 days and Phantasialand. At the begin of the trip the weather was quite overcast and more or less wet. We went on the best day - a sunday - were we had 8 out of 10 1/2 hours of dryness. Europa-Park even extended the opening hours until 19:30 and due to the unstable weather the park was even less crowded than last year when I visited during sunny weekdays. Coming from Freiburg by train and bus went smoothly We took the Monorail to the back of the park and started with spin on Feria Swing. However it runs quite slow comparing to travelling rides of this kind. First ride of the day was Alpenexpress. Travelling with non-coaster enthusiast meant I didn't do all coasters this day. Still early in the day the major crowds haven't already hit the back of the park. Atlantica Supersplash always a big fun While friends went for a breakfast I took four great spins on Blue Fire opting for sandwich to go afterward Can't wait for Helix next year... Finally I could convince all to take a spin on Wodan. IMO running better the colder the weather With family and friends waterrides are always most popular And more wetness Mack classic ride. But the cups are hard to spin - prefer Zamperla cup rides. Having a 40 minute line I skipped it this time Poseidon running great this day nicely themed station Family friendly Mack polyp as the compartments do not spin freely I took two spins on Silver Star while my friends needed a coffee break, waits were short at about 5 minutes Park founder before Schloss Balthasar BEER!!! A peek at the inverted powered coaster coming next year Completed the circle in the evening In case you cannot remember who built most of the rides here The final rides of the day before major rain set in: 3x Blue Fire and 2x Wodan It started to pour as the park closed, nevertheless a great day We tried out Europa-Park premium food venue: Schloss Balthasar. Entree: wild deer. Dessert: Creme Bruleé with a side of iced wild berries Edited October 6, 2013 by simon8899
gisco Posted October 3, 2013 Posted October 3, 2013 This is one of my favorite parks. They do a great job at theming, so much to see.
simon8899 Posted October 4, 2013 Author Posted October 4, 2013 ^And prices were very good for such a venue with mains around €25 and desserts around €10. For that food quality I've paid quite more at other restaurants. And as all Europa-Park it is kiddie friendly with no strict etiquette or dress rules.
simon8899 Posted October 4, 2013 Author Posted October 4, 2013 Part 2: Tripsdrill With better luck on weather we went to Tripsdrill. As we wanted the freedom to drink a beer or two we took the bus from Heilbronn as advertised on the Tripsdrill Website but the return bus in the evening somehow missed the park and we had to call a cab. This sadly overshadowed a great day. I'm now in "negotiations" with German Rail RegioBus about the refund for the additional costs - but German Rail is not known for its costumer service so it drags along... The park itself offers unique rides and weird theming all over. With Karacho Tripsdrill has completed its coaster selection this year. Rasender Tausendfüssler: A Zierer large Tivoli coaster in a very green setting running around a small lake. G'sengte Sau: A Gerstlauer Bobsled with lots of fast helices and some good bunnyhops. At 1,95 I really had to squeeze in. Mammut: A Cordes/Gerstlauer woodie. A unique manufacturer combo as Holzbau Cordes is mostly known for delivering the woodworks for the Intamin woodies. On the Gerstlauer trains the cars oscillate a little if by far not so worse as on Vekoma trains. A fun ride but a little low on highlights. Karacho: A great addition offering nice pops of air, good force and some amazing hangtime in the heartline roll before the launch. Major highlight are off course the lapbar-only trains. Wearers of glasses should be warned: Even with holding straps they are not allowed. Welcome to the park The Maibaum is a one of a kind observation / swinging ride. Feels a lot higher riding it than it really is. The Donnerbalken is a fun little drop tower kiddie log flume going through lots of greenery Tripsdrill offers a lot of weird animatronics all around A roofed Tilt-A-Whirl - going quite slow but the compartments spin very easily and fast A Zierer Waveswinger in a no frills Mushroom theming A smal Zierer Berg- und Talfahrt Large Tivoli coaster in a nice setting. On to the newer part of Tripsdrill one saw the major attraction The double dive loop is insane and very forceful The lapbars provide great fun. Maybe not as good as Blue Fire but a second great coaster for the area. Mammut is a fun family woodie More rides on Karacho! G'sengte Sau is fun a packs a punch The infamous log flume Fahrt zum Jungbrunnen Hurrah for cannons Twisty! Happy riders! Enjoyed this coaster a lot. Locals already named the so far unthemed station "Der Bunker" - "The Air-Raid Shelter" If the Puking Guy will remain in the future? Gerstlauer was still on site Some Mammut first drop goodness Final ride of the day on the way out was a spin on the Zierer
Nrthwnd Posted October 4, 2013 Posted October 4, 2013 My only visit there, that TPR tour in 2008, has me remembering enjoying the VINARIUM, and the free wine sample, souvenir glass, etc. Thanks for sharing your latest visit there! The wine was good, too - as was the whole park! (o:
simon8899 Posted October 5, 2013 Author Posted October 5, 2013 ^I am not into wine - but they also have a good beer here
simon8899 Posted October 6, 2013 Author Posted October 6, 2013 Part 3: Phantasialand Phantasialand was our last stop and as weather was good we decided to get a 2 day pass. The park is located in the Cologne suburb of Brühl, from the city you can take the tram 18 till Brühl-Mitte from which goes a shuttle bus to the park twice an hour. We however stayed directly in Brühl and took bus 985 to Berggeiststrasse, with the bus stop about 500 meters to the park entrance. Having last visited Phantasialand before the big fire were both Schwarzkopf coasters were destroyed this was literally a new park for me. In the last years Phantasialand has upped the theming with the new fantasy area Wuze Town. Also to food options - we tried the chinese and mexican restaurant - are recommended. Flight of the Night Hawk - Vekoma MK-750 indoor coaster, formerly themed to a space trip it good converted to fit Wuze Town and has now a night forest theming, the ride itself in nearly pitch black darkness a little bumpy at times Winjas, Force & Fear - Fun Maurer spinner with some surprises while your ride. A little low in capacity for park this size. Colorado Adventure - my new favorite Vekoma Minetrain, more forceful than the Disney versions and equally long. Liked the middle part most which runs in near darkness. Black Mamba - Well done ground hugging B&M invert with some surprisingly forceful helices near the end of the ride. Entering on the first day we see that Talocan is down... Heading on to the next best thing Weeeee! Vekoma Minetrain was the positive surprise of this trip Fun rafting, not overly wet more Minetrain goodness They had splendid icecream Entering Wuze Town is this unique Zamperla London Bus Splendid theming Winjas! The only park that allowed non-flash photography on all shows. Cool and quite erotic ice show! First drop offered some floating air in the rear left Main Plaza with the signature Wave Swinger hmmmmm....still closed Too much Black Mamba? Never! Gymnast show in the chinese area A western city theming leftover between Mystery and Mexico Impressive indoor drop tower with a very short program. But beware of the living ghosts in the queue! Main Plaza fun More Winjas and Tittle Tattle Tower The low flying profile is really impressive Wait times as I like them! Past 5pm Talocan looks repaired doing a test run Big kudos to Phantasialand for opening Talocan for the last half hour of the day! I got two rides, one in the back and one in the front row. Plus doing video and photos in 20 minutes before hurrying to the bus.
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