Photo TR: Oktoberfest 2024 with TPR

[jedimaster1227]

It had been a long time since I last traveled with Theme Park Review... On land, I had been a part of the Behemoth/East Coast trip in 2008 and the Deep South trip in 2009. At sea I had sailed with TPR on the Freedom of the Seas in 2011. Oktoberfest had been a bucket-list experience for me for most of my life, and getting the chance to experience some of Germany's most notable parks had equally sat atop my list for as long as my fandom of theme parks and coasters has existed. For years, I watched Robb & Elissa's videos from the parks, thinking that I wouldn't get the chance to experience the beer tents or to have the chance to ride Olympia Looping, Euro-Mir or SilverStar...  But when the 2024 Oktoberfest trip was announced, I knew I was going to do everything I could to attend (including ending up on a certain game show).

As I've been preparing (read, paring down tens of thousands of photos) for this trip report, I'm already nostalgic for the experience of this trip. Robb and Elissa took great care to show us the best time possible at each stop. For those of us whose first time it was here, they made an extra effort to make sure we didn't miss out on the best parts. And as someone that has been a part of this site since the mid-2000's, it was an honor and a great gift to experience so many new things and places with friends I've known for 19 years. Diving into it...

Did I walk all the way across the Chicago O'Hare airport to visit this particular corridor for a very particular reason? Sure did!

My first half day in Germany was a success in that I had a chance to drop off my stuff at the hotel and hop on the train into the city... 

The architecture in and around Marienplatz was absolutely stunning. 

My main stop for the day was Hofbräuhaus München. I didn’t have a ton of time, but I did get my first taste of Bavaria, literally and figuratively…

The interior of Hofbräuhaus München was so charming and unique.

My first taste of authentic oompah music on this trip!

While I'd been to the Biergarten Restaurant at EPCOT, I'd never been to an authentic beer garden before!

But I immediately took advantage of the opportunity!

My first German meal of the trip and it got me so hyped to eat more throughout the trip.

And to drink more too!

The next morning I hopped a train to Fussen from Munich...

The train ride was beyond picturesque.

I had an amazing spaetzle take on mac and cheese at the hotel in Fussen and called it an early night because the next day would be a very active one.

Why Fussen? Well I had some castles to visit...

Oh, and the Museum of the Bavarian Kings could not be missed. No photos allowed inside but the museum was well worth our time and helped to instill a greater understanding in us before we toured the castles in the area.

Hohenschwangau Castle was the first of our stops. There's a strict policy of no photos inside except photos taken of or through windows, but the tour was absolutely incredible. 

Delicious and refreshing!

It's like Coca-Cola... But with orange!

The view from within Hohenschwangau Castle was incredible.

And it only got better upon closer investigation.

Neuschwanstein Castle was within direct view of the Hohenschwangau Castle at most times.

Back near the Museum of the Bavarian Kings is a lake known for swans... A swan lake, if you will.

Lots of roasted pork and sauerkraut was consumed on this trip.

We hiked up the mountain after lunch to Marienbrücke for the best possible view of Neuschwanstein Castle. 

Just two Disney fans from both coasts experiencing a Disney fan's dream up close!

Die Schlümpfe.

My first Cornetto cone of the trip. but not my last!

Neuschwanstein Castle is a landmark for Disney fans as it is known as the partial inspiration for the design of Sleeping Beauty Castle found at Disneyland Park in California (also previously found at Hong Kong Disneyland). 

Discerning fans can recognize the visual similarities.

Again, no photos inside but the tour was fantastic and the reveals from room to room were cinematic and surprising!

 

It was amazing to be here in person.

Most people share photos of the castle from Marienbrücke, but not the other way around.

After our fun in Fussen, we drove two hours to Dornbirn, Austria, for an authentic Austrian meal and a night in the city. Due to bad traffic and rain, our night was really just time at dinner, but Rotes Haus, which has a deep history going all the way back to 1639, was a delightful treat.

And our meal did not disappoint!

The rain cleared as our meal ended and we enjoyed the nearby sights briefly before heading to bed. 

The next day we found ourselves back in Munich for the formal kickoff to the Oktoberfest trip with TPR. The spread was bountiful!

And the beer was flowing!

Pork knuckle and roasted chicken were the main courses of the night and they did not disappoint!

After dinner, several of us walked to the Oktoberfest grounds to scope out the festival...

But when life puts Olympia Looping in front of you, it is simply the rule that you must ride at least once.

As I mentioned earlier, Olympia Looping has been a bucket list coaster for some time. It is a white whale for many coaster fans, both because of its traveling nature and because of its famous size, number of inversions, its smoothness despite its age and its intensity. Schwarzkopf coasters continue to be removed from service year over year (several notable sibling coasters were taken out of operation in 2024) and it has always felt like the clock is ticking for Olympia Looping--at least for me to have a chance to ride it. 

But I can wholeheartedly say that the hype and the wait to experience this were both worth it. Olympia Looping is incredible. The layout, the speed, the smoothness, the intensity, and even the operations when kicked into high gear (five trains running at once!) were all mind-blowing. For a coaster that first operated in 1989, it is maintained and run like a modern coaster and even when compared to Alpina Bahn operating nearby at the festival, this was a significantly better experience and an absolute highlight of the trip.

So great to be traveling once again with friends I've known for so long!

I'd be back to try to conquer the Toboggan later...

Robb was kind enough to record my first ever ride on Olympia Looping...

And the results speak for themselves. 

Simply an incredible way to kick off the trip... And there was so much more ahead!

[bert425]

great pics. . . and so happy to see the castles I didn't have time to visit (so a trip back must happen).

 

looking forwards to following along with you!  (and will die of embarrassment when you catch up to mine and pass me. . I'm so damn slow).

LOL

[Nrthwnd]

<sighs> I love how they do charcuterie boards in Europe. That, and that ample serving of pork and chicken for you all.

Great TR of your Oktoberfest time! Looking forward to more of your TPR Adventure Tour!

By the way, I was in Germany in Oct.2006, and me and my Munich hosts 'attempted' to hike up to that bridge behind Neuschwanstein Castle, for one of those classic "travel shots" that the public sees. But, we pooped out, before we got even half-way there. It was interesting also, that the castle was only "partially built" (1/4-1/3?) and the 'courtyard' where we entered the building for the tour, was to have been totally enclosed.

It really is an amazing "story book castle" that obviously influenced Walt Disney, etc.

[BobloLives]

Anyone in the vicinity of Munich should book the train to Innsbruck, Austria for an overnight. The trip is beautiful, and Innsbruck is an amazing town.

[jedimaster1227]

The next day we started out at Skyline Park, not far from Munich. The park has a solid variety of coasters and a decent collection of other offerings in a charming setting.

As our first park of the trip, it was a nice warmup for the more involved days ahead.

We had exclusive ride time on Sky Dragster before the park opened. With only a few two-seater bikes in circulation, this was a great benefit to prevent us from waiting in lines once the park welcomed other guests. 

Sky Dragster was the first Maurer Rides Spike Coaster, a powered, semi-manually controlled coaster system that has been built in a few parks on land and even on several cruise ships. 

It was my first time riding one, and while kind of neat, I found it to be a little less thrilling that I would have expected, and the top speeds you could reach still felt like you were crawling through the layout at times.

Skyline Park has a decent number of tall attractions on its... Skyline.

This might have been a mistake for me to ride... It might've been. 

Sky Wheel was another first for me from Maurer Rides. 

The experience is a combination of hang-time, terror, laughs and "kerchunks." 

Berg- und Tal Hetz was the park's newest coaster from SBF Visa Group... And if you know anything about SBF, you know these coasters can pack a punch.

Sky Rafting (sense a theme in the naming convention?) is a sizable water rafting attraction that should look familiar to old Six Flags attractions...

Apres Ski Party was a neat fairground funhouse parked permanently at Skyline Park.

The moose out front should've told ya it was fun!

And a good time was had.

Flotter Otto exists.

Huepfburg is a bouncy play area set in the shadow of Sky Wheel. 

Geisterbahn was the first ghost train I experienced on this trip.

This ride's main character starts out with no hands...

Strange things ensue.

And by the end of the ride he has hands.

Sky Twister is another classic flat ride. 

Sky Wheel is visible from most parts of the park.

"It's Coca-Cola but frozen!"

No coaster left unridden here.

Allgäuflieger is the park's starflyer and it is the tallest attraction in its lineup. 

Flammkuchen and beer for lunch? Yes please!

They had a self-operated carousel and it simply had to be experienced.

Wildwasserbahn is a surprisingly large log flume. It was a little too cold for my riding during our visit but those in our group that did try it really enjoyed it.

Science ride!

The queue for Zero Gravity was almost as experiential as the ride!

Zero Gravity is a modern take on a Rotor, but with a translucent structure and unique show lighting. It was quite a good time!

Most of the park's self-operated attractions had been removed over the last few years but this swing ride still exists.

And it is quite fun.

Why pay for ropes courses at home when Sky Walk at Skyline Park is included in the park admission?

After our time at Skyline Park, we stopped at the grocery store near our hotel. I was surprised to find some familiar brands like those I find at home...

A taste of the Germany of EPCOT... But in Germany.

Just a normal sight in Germany during Oktoberfest.

Back to Oktoberfest we went!

Predator was one of those super-daunting flat rides that I committed to riding before the end of our time at Oktoberfest...

I'll never discount a traveling drop tower when it comes to bringing the thrills.

You know the rule.

A hidden gem of food that we found at the fair grounds was this awesome pasta stand that prepared your fresh pasta, tossed in sauce and scraping out the cheese from inside of a hollowed out cheese wheel...

This would be the first of several truffle oil pastas for us!

It was a quick visit, but a good one. More fun would follow on the next day...

With it being the weekend, crowds were significantly more than what we experienced last night, so it was an eat-and-walk night (save for that one ride on Olympia Looping) before calling it an early night…

[bert425]

that pasta place was amaze-balls. . I think most everyone tried it once y'all posted that pic and how good it looked!

as for Skyloop.    nope. . total terror, never again.  (you can even see the terror in my face in that pic, tho you certainly look like you're enjoying it!).

 

great pics

[prozach626]

That pasta holy shit!! 

Quote

Flotter Otto exists.

Lol.

Nice report.

[Nrthwnd]

That cheese and pasta is definitely something to fall in with.  And that dug out wheel of cheese! Amazing.

And I think I've been on a few of those Skyloops. Once in China, another in Finland.... lots of fun, for myself I remember.

Your ongoing tour's looking great!  Looking forward to more.