Jump to content
  • entries
    43
  • comments
    59
  • views
    15048

Germany Road(works) Trip - Day 3 - Flight of the Jahreskarte


Benin

1160 views

Ah Heide, the weird red-headed step-child of the Merlin machine from my last visit, with its strange mixture of music and atmosphere seemingly stolen from other parks. It lured me back with the prospect of completing the European B&M collection (of course, until Garda and Efteling’s ones open next year), and an attempt to ride Colossos again to see if I can actually like it.

10641178_10154551280240220_1103578105864982282_n.jpg?oh=9333e226d72176683ef854f7a27644ac&oe=547819A1&__gda__=1416215066_50205daa4b8c9f6f5525074ea818f058

First thing was first though, and that was to collect our German MAPs. The reasons for this were for the free entry to Gardaland and the complimentary Q-Bot at both Heide and Legoland Germany. Considering how busy Heide was looking prior to opening, this was a good choice.

10600432_10154551280230220_5206780531901809120_n.jpg?oh=90612078a1ddc1b44884563850a788b6&oe=5473DC7D&__gda__=1415672006_3d36fd9d979c2ce817ed3c58a78c2bbc

10600526_10154551280390220_1176006973826373413_n.jpg

1907748_10154551280430220_7344805712933908674_n.jpg?oh=062b588ef4010cdd64bf0498619b70d7&oe=546EBA39

Passes and Q-Bot acquired, we moved straight over to Flug von Damenon. Unlike Swarm, this has a sensible queue-line, the splits just before the batching point, has enough space in the station for 2 trains worth of people AND most importantly has a rotating bag holder at each row. How this logic never made it to Thorpe I’ll never know, because it runs a lot more efficiently.

However, the ride itself is unfortunately lacklustre, and I’m still not sure if I place it above or below Swarm. The layout is quite good, and with a bit more speed might not have the sort of dead spots that you see in Swarm’s over-sized flat turnaround and the finale. But it is quite slow and lumbering, and even worse, has an awful, awful bounce already. The bounce is what ruins the ride really, it’s so strange that a brand new ride can have that so early in its life. Perhaps the design of the ride and the layout being quite tight (Raptor and Swarm are both drawn out) means that there are higher levels of force acting upon the train, and because of the vibration that naturally happens anyway on these train styles, it just becomes more noticeable under heavier force.

Either way, a bitter disappointment, and Raptor is still quite easily the best Wing-Rider I’ve experienced.

10592865_10154551280825220_2633391965850383642_n.jpg?oh=772d3f545d17c32f91c21f400f304020&oe=5478C5EE&__gda__=1417799765_aa0dc038a089504a4b7bdfea67fd450a

10351458_10154551281185220_1279390369499072222_n.jpg

10641232_10154551281695220_1402442581798574071_n.jpg

10620623_10154551285335220_3582150423967789547_n.jpg?oh=153ee20cacb46b705e0387950d559fe3&oe=547CF6B5&__gda__=1415441484_5ff6af16e0e9983b29eb4d7eadbb828a

10646945_10154551287275220_8496282840353283804_n.jpg

10600624_10154551287570220_4893241356074563995_n.jpg?oh=577c68e76c3b413136c3be7076e78f58&oe=546BBDD4&__gda__=1417312111_5571fe28234271fcb7b61c3d669af79e

10600554_10154551287975220_6141098450521388842_n.jpg?oh=8ff5b86c3e3fa5fc0bc2f3ce38843ade&oe=5474F0C5&__gda__=1415449755_6215a1ab0478e8f4d83ed216922352fe

10447705_10154551288185220_7889848904229750722_n.jpg?oh=6788931ebe97cf591c8aa42695a169e8&oe=546062BA&__gda__=1416066627_6807e8bd032c213d7c2968d9ed1c7323

13902_10154551288680220_4486809250281087844_n.jpg?oh=ef6be34bb563cd0838292efe02313aa7&oe=545CC2BD&__gda__=1416968084_acdbc4e34394c8383b4b7ae712eb6127

10606406_10154551281745220_8997054062299099308_n.jpg?oh=ad78c3e576278f982e99784be0e75038&oe=545F75C3&__gda__=1417090205_2ba05e463896f18366f24e9b7b4a4922

One positive for Flug is the single rider queue, which when combined with a reasonably epic batcher man, went quickly. After the second ride it was time to ride Krake with the finished boat section. I still liked it a lot from my first rides, especially as it amazed the Germans from the visual perspective. It still does that, and it delivers a fair whack of airtime after the inversion nowadays. They’ve also added a dedicated front row queue to it, which is a slight improvement, but a real improvement would have been to batch it all in, especially given how Q-Bots enter the station building in an awkward fashion.

10544412_10154551281890220_7363039724793301119_n.jpg?oh=8fb385bbf812559ee19637b1ddb5366c&oe=545DCB31&__gda__=1415414472_3e80d02f7e265b469a673fb3e0b59f7c

10491258_10154551281915220_5817338780544938777_n.jpg?oh=a56b30afe47c105ed3c1e3c1d58b67b8&oe=547A73E0

10609688_10154551282280220_1501292108345359322_n.jpg?oh=5111142adef121622167dfff352c99d6&oe=5469C37C

15222_10154551285215220_1972400551377775567_n.jpg?oh=72113f2530ef85bebe81acedc6ee54c8&oe=547EB0B5&__gda__=1417694306_3ef036b31f7dd4b6bf5377521f5086ec

10438267_10154551287070220_1174483786767128094_n.jpg?oh=64eddadb6745831fc4923d5f6469e0f6&oe=546BB490

We had some Crepes whilst we waited for our next booking, Colossos. I distinctly remember being completely non-plussed about this ride on my previous visit, soul-less rubbish I called it. After my recent enjoyment of Balder I thought however that this viewpoint could well change, and to see if it was accurate the back row was chosen.

My viewpoint on Colossos has not changed. The first drop is wonderful, but everything else just seems poor. Just found it extremely difficult to actually enjoy the hills, the corners are duller than Balder’s and that long helix is really rattly. It just simply doesn’t do anything for me and I doubt it ever will.

10439375_10154551283815220_4408332329390996567_n.jpg

1451961_10154551283905220_1664825929512874402_n.jpg?oh=0b518569399dee08e309e4aa2b059403&oe=5470A777&__gda__=1415391922_b791f6934d57ff40f07ca3a0dc297115

10615511_10154551284030220_6021240196968862461_n.jpg?oh=04241c3e9387b651028f78636e856481&oe=54803237&__gda__=1417449321_051952a03c92e628a25a925cd50cf02e

10603399_10154551290940220_7347409052774443405_n.jpg?oh=a346baa6dd7387fe16480903dcdda156&oe=546E19C6&__gda__=1415437008_072c95950153fa4f525b56474a42fea3

10610778_10154551290985220_8969184314588881482_n.jpg

Grottenblitz was next, one of my least favourite Mack Powered coasters, before we broke for lunch at Pizza Pasta. I forget how much it was, but the pizza slices are quite simply ridiculous. I spent some time afterwards taking photos from the terrace outside.

10537142_10154551284365220_1354016120828966527_n.jpg

15240_10154551284565220_2949336165406933812_n.jpg?oh=6876b4b26c550f670791be743e21b9a9&oe=547180D1

10458859_10154551284585220_7743309089300093770_n.jpg?oh=fe7093a09962909322fab5f514d2214e&oe=546AF0D0&__gda__=1417650985_54ea7aad4d173e73bf77e2bec2932d2e

10514483_10154551284665220_8961347828168765916_n.jpg?oh=53177a45abae159802281999f2d4b031&oe=54634DD3&__gda__=1416082536_d6a4a01aa4c92318dff0486bb756daa8

10300078_10154551284745220_6324913103280252572_n.jpg

10628302_10154551284760220_8775289851027520873_n.jpg?oh=14a0679d6795d49f00d8f716ac61d340&oe=5476CA3A&__gda__=1416742597_016fb375124bac2fd7d0e0de74bff588

10468625_10154551284865220_4630444188271365086_n.jpg?oh=148838043d0991ca29a2e581eac7fa72&oe=5463E910&__gda__=1415385259_7b7e70fd997922c4ca9ff668c2339e72

10615417_10154551284965220_5278686700646400204_n.jpg

Straight after lunch was time for Desert Race, the slightly better version of Rita (again, damning with faint praise), before it was time to see the Madagascar Circus Show.

10645099_10154551285850220_7356191360029812687_n.jpg?oh=754081ea353c70f04d5a255bcb6e490d&oe=54615777&__gda__=1415572265_d342e64fb6f705b12231eeb772eeea3c

10599309_10154551285860220_6079739945657537420_n.jpg?oh=f68b88e3bf9c9fd2336c5671222463b5&oe=545FBFA6&__gda__=1417324573_241ef501bbab106bba82cac80d8e7ecd

10308078_10154551286065220_4395424358747817046_n.jpg?oh=a8002af344521316bea03b0b47dd295d&oe=5475F9C7&__gda__=1416316881_96287e40f40163a00630f4ef9056194f

422525_10154551286375220_6360976420037129643_n.jpg

10590675_10154551286585220_1381823041821989086_n.jpg

10562951_10154551286670220_2670314356996667892_n.jpg?oh=9502a939cda628e1800b4c554c51039b&oe=545B7DC1

Unlike Chessie’s version, this one is indoors, and as a result you need to acquire a ticket for the next showing. A good idea really, as it prevents mass crowds building up and then having to close off the building and disappointing guests. Also unlike Chessie’s version, this one is actually good, as it more appears to be a circus show that just so happens to have a Madagascar related storyline to tie it all together. It also had fire.

It was time to whore out the Q-Bot some more (although Heide have a rubbish tier system of either having select rides depending on your choice, but a decent idea in limiting the amount of times you can use it on each ride, so we had 2 goes on every major coaster but Flug). So we rode Krake, Flug and Schweizer Bobbahn, which wasn’t very good, before riding Desert Race again.

10612579_10154551288575220_6844187924075692168_n.jpg?oh=1698576270ca82a5a88416906284bbd8&oe=54666647

10949_10154551288350220_5079759631500641006_n.jpg

10516891_10154551288455220_8618328203301701651_n.jpg?oh=ec19b49a3c71e4ae0ecb36e837b3956c&oe=546FE337&__gda__=1417366478_0daab95b23b4841baf2455d00e1cf7e0

10409535_10154551288755220_6592139404981189570_n.jpg?oh=145bed9f7351217c07cb434eae57a3bd&oe=54746B7B

10612615_10154551289075220_7860313063669829028_n.jpg

10590459_10154551289695220_3642525782248700283_n.jpg?oh=161355bfa74110bd42fcc41a994302e0&oe=545CDEE7

There was a long gap for Colossos so we used it riding the two water rides in the middle of the park. They were a well deserved rest in amongst the constant cred riding it must be said. Colossos was still a disappointment.

10592966_10154551290445220_6564435465477031014_n.jpg

10646714_10154551290640220_5733354229587529177_n.jpg?oh=0f5e5caa296aa983514b7e6e623e4820&oe=5470B661&__gda__=1416092830_a1fc8cd9655e1905c5a7d3db421036ba

10559966_10154551290755220_2267745698588776968_n.jpg?oh=41dfac66fdcc457064e53e94c403250a&oe=54725FA7&__gda__=1417110610_ce0c55249ca296e552fc4c8916dec66e

16062_10154551290835220_180157618085646619_n.jpg?oh=946c1f59c3195e02ebd2dbaafa1312f3&oe=54617C8C&__gda__=1415682329_5c68e6737b2c31667e82d6db7b5b213c

10636003_10154551290885220_4097883414981150641_n.jpg

The random Pirate Show was next, which was extremely weird and random. Didn’t really get it so we ran away early for our Krake time slot before two last goes on Flug to finish off the day.

10343665_10154551291025220_4044579299439369313_n.jpg

970423_10154551291660220_8267481785476824395_n.jpg?oh=0833f46afbd34e2b73c898981ad7d8d4&oe=547CA4DE

Heide is such a weird park, I don’t really know if I like it or not. The rides don’t really do that much for me (Krake being the best, Scream was closed all day) and the park is a weird mish-mash of half-arsed theming attempts and some completely closed off areas. They have started to get an unique identity to themselves with the addition of several IMAScore music dotted around the park to remove old Tussauds themes, but there’s still a lot of flaws around the park. Their ents budget has also seemingly been slashed to bits as one arena stood empty.

10408886_10154551292200220_575332608161860392_n.jpg?oh=757fb1e86031bfa699aeeb8429f90a0c&oe=5463E303&__gda__=1415782312_1508b015b81b720bb9ae4a109a0ee96c

2 Comments


Recommended Comments

Argh you're such a miserable git when it comes to this park or the rides. Poor Bobbhan :(.

 

Flug sounds to have changed since I rode - the addition of SRQ and Front Row Queue. When I went it was queue to the building which split into 2 lanes (left and right) where a batcher then let 10 of you in each side. The third queue was for Qbot (which wasn't operating). Simple and very very smoothly run.

 

The ride itself judders to hell and also something I didn't enjoy... there's nowhere which feels great... the front row feels like it's being held back constantly and the back row is just juddery judderyness. However it looks visually stunning and I did repeat ride on every seat just to try and see if there was a non-juddery side (there isn't).

 

Park does seem to have budgets cut but its really nicely presented. Looks busy on your day though, colossos out the entrance!!

Link to comment

Bobbhan was as bouncy/rattly as Flug was... Just one of those ride types that just seem to be poor on a consistent basis (like B&M Stand-Ups)...

 

No Front Row Queue on Flug, presumably due to the SRQ and Q-Bot (which you get given a card for, because some people try to queue-jump at that point for no reason then get denied in an amusing fashion) now existing instead... Another logical sense of organisation that exists only in European Wing-Riders...

Link to comment
Guest
Add a comment...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...