TR: Phantasialand Wintertraum 2016

[Anac0nda]

Long story short, I was nearby Köln doing other business and managed to squeeze in a quick visit to Phantasialand. I’m planning to visit Phantasialand again next summer with more time, since I now had only about 4 hours. I skipped Winjas and that whole section of the park, because I didn’t want to rush anything, and besides I was there mainly to ride Taron! That said, the crowds were very light and I managed to squeeze in a total on 10 rides on Taron and 3 on Black Mamba plus a few others. Thank Phantasialand for the single rider queue

 

So how was Taron? Well, since it was about +3 Celsius, my first rides in the morning literally left me a bit cold. However after a couple of hours after opening the track and trains had definitely warmed up and with each ride it was better! When I left the park at 4pm it was a totally different ride than what I rode in the morning: it became the blast everyone has talked about. The trains are very comfortable and I like how fast the restraints open automatically. Also the zero car looks way better in real life than in pictures, at least in my opinion. The layout is just as everyone says: first half is fun, second is intense. The first launch has a nice kick, which to my surprise was lacking in the second. However after the second launch the top speed is insane and totally gives a new energy to the ride. My favourite part of the layout is everything between the second launch and the turn before the only “straight” airtime hills. The transitions and pacing are just off the charts (in a good way)! Regardless of the intensity, the ride is smooth as anything and the trains have no rattling or any unfavorable noises.

 

But I do have some criticism. The layout is no doubt what Phantasialand ordered (and Intamin delivered just that!) but the ride is lacking “sustained” airtime. Taron only gives pops during transitions, but they don’t last like taller parabolic hills. Through nitpicking one could say there are a couple of turns that have uncomfortable laterals, but they aren’t misshapen or shaky, just a design choice I think. Taron also has no inversions. But that’s about all the negatives I can say. As far as I can see, nothing could be technically better, it’s just how I like my rides as a single person. The trains are great, the layout has variation and is _long_ and theming of the whole area is immersively executed. So for execution I applaud Phantasialand, Intamin (and IMAscore, Vekoma and others part of Klugheim)! Taron is no doubt “one of the world’s best coasters” as I have heard quoted. As I said, I rode Taron 10 times so that should also tell that I liked it.

 

Black Mamba was running only one train, but still was a walk-on except for the first row. Needless to say it is a great ride, and the first row was clearly worth the extra wait. I found the legchoppers on Mamba to be even more intimidating than Taron’s headchoppers! Mamba was also my first B&M invert which means I just now got to finally experience the famous flatspins. RAIK was a fun family coaster with surprising speed and forces. It is bigger in real life than in photos. Colorado Adventure was pretty much anything I expected from a Vekoma Mine train but the length of the layout is certainly a bonus. Talocan restored my faith in Top Spins. The program was very long and had awesome flips in both ways, not something I’ve experienced this far! Mystery Castle was another example of how keeping yourself unspoiled has benefits. I only knew it’s a tower ride by Intamin, so I was in for a treat! I seriously suggest anyone who’s heading for Phantasialand, don’t look it up!

 

I have to give it to Phantasialand for making the best of the area you have. The park, while is very beautiful and has immersive theming, can sometimes be maze-like. I took several wrong turns while trying to find a ride’s entrance, even though I had a map (I’m looking at you Talocan). But when the park is as pretty as Phantasialand, I actually don’t mind at all! On the contrary it was actually fun to discover everything! Most personnel were very friendly beginning from the shuttle bus ticket sales person who had to stand in the bus/train platform without any cover or stand (which by the way is awesome and very smart for the park to have a guide person there).

 

Before the pictures, I’ll give you my current top-10, with honorable mentions:

 

1. Helix - Liseberg

2. Expedition GeForce - Holiday Park

3. Schwur des Kärnan - Hansa Park

4. Junker - Power Park

5. Flug der Dämonen - Heide Park

6. Taron - Phantasialand

7. Wildfire - Kolmården

8. Dragon Khan - Port Aventura

9. Piraten - Djurs Sommerland

10. Juvelen - Djurs Sommerland

 

Honors:

Fluch von Novgorod – Hansa Park

Black Mamba (front) – Phantasialand

Lisebergbanan – Liseberg

Silver Star – Europa Park

Tornado - Bakken

Beautiful (but chilly) morning upon Klugheim

Taron!

A train! It's running!

The launch makes an interesting noise, but they've managed to dampen it with the surroundings, so you can't hear it outside Klugheim. Inside Klugheim it just let's you know who's the boss in the area

Raik is there too!

Black Mamba first drop

It's crazy how close the track you get in the queue!

Blurry phone camera photo

A nice photo op!

Talocan, with water and flames (not pictured here)!

They had open flame grilled salmon on sale! Awesome!

Just look at the level of theming

I can't wait next summer to ride Taron again!

[ThemeParkJunkie51290]

AWESOME! Those pictures are truly amazing! I hope to visit this park one day in the future. Great trip report!

[alexinla]

Phantasialand is beautiful, did you had any time to take in a show. The nighttime shows like Fuego by Chiapas or The magic rose with Fireworks are amazing!

[phoxyboy]

really nice pictures! i have bin to the park to is a wonderfull park and taron is amazing.