Jump to content
  • entries
    43
  • comments
    59
  • views
    14091

Germany Road(works) Trip - Day 6 - Express Pass Interest


Benin

690 views

Movie Park Germany was the park of the day, having been a stone’s throw from it the day before, so it was a bit weird to drive to it for a second day in a row.

10606312_10154551339115220_4102799772302065657_n.jpg?oh=38ecc4df99f804f0f95f7ce2b9d77737&oe=54761523

Upon arrival I grew frustrated by the park not opening up the turnstiles prior to the official opening, mostly due to the lack of space available to the large crowd building up outside and the low number of actual turnstiles available. Does annoy me greatly when they could instead let people into the park, get some early sales from a cold and miserable rainy day and reduce the crowd issues.

Oh well, first port of call was a shop to pay an Express Pass. For €25 you could buy an unlimited one for all but two of the rides in the park (Jet Ski ride and the 4D Cinema), a ridiculous value that either the Germans don’t buy into because they don’t like the concept or they sell barely any of. Either way, judging by the early crowds, this was to be quite an intelligent investment.

10522178_10154551339090220_3988442617283761603_n.jpg?oh=09eee33f1d2ccc982a59f56a9d72605e&oe=54816D07&__gda__=1417521681_c7b5d3d24b5a6886534f9bf6c9998302

936694_10154551340145220_5446066421706990971_n.jpg?oh=c4e3189faa17d6ad351735c3622f0edc&oe=545EC8AC

So to the rides and the first on the list was Van Helsing’s Factory, the indoor Gerst Bobsled which I had heard many good things about. We entered through the side door of the massive shed and quickly onto the ride, the station and ride cars are both nicely themed, and I do wish I had actually seen the queue line proper.

The ride starts with some faff before the first lift hill, still quite well themed before the ride begins proper. The usual stuff really from this ride type, with swooping drops and turns, and naturally the wild mouse style turns in the dark (with no brakes) made an appearance before the second tyre lift hill. Some dodgy animatronics later we’re launched up into the rest of the ride, which I have no real recollection or knowledge of as it was all dark. Eventually you hit the brakes after defeating the evil vampire.

This ride is good, very good. It’s fun, enjoyable and quite well themed throughout, with some decent effects to boot. Solid coaster to their line-up.

10644972_10154551341120220_1188546849425953774_n.jpg?oh=1d046aa1ae9d3d6721039c66b3ce36d9&oe=545FBFD8&__gda__=1416770855_cba3a9328e71aa4b0eaf75d0bfa3a8e5

10600427_10154551341905220_4079608747496025040_n.jpg?oh=96c71cd0a3982205f4b25d09feeada06&oe=545F52F8&__gda__=1416607811_5eb2302a108320911a53d3d92be66a55

10610930_10154551350230220_4746503517971937626_n.jpg?oh=b537d2116e0e6ab34cd79f64036ea0b1&oe=54789334&__gda__=1415726029_97ea173512f85753f2a99af888ca51d1

Unfortunately, the horizon for coasters didn’t particularly look great, so we had a quick go on the Jet Ski Patrol because of the wish to delay the inevitable. It was time for MP Express, a Vekoma SLC.

Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t very good. But the worst was still yet to come.

10574410_10154551342105220_8528066518842930458_n.jpg?oh=fe3c64beed87ca598e819df82a03219c&oe=546D2979&__gda__=1416561007_4da5e406a37097912f3e3539047b644e

10646789_10154551342990220_5260217362301332798_n.jpg?oh=a1a9adde05f29e1ea8e991c2e0ff2b73&oe=545CC100&__gda__=1415407103_2dabb67b637e6a88967807db787b9039

1521930_10154551345850220_2880130872748393779_n.jpg?oh=11ed45db049d9a1ad1c45ddf532a6dda&oe=546D3BDB&__gda__=1416028899_67ce5f559969d88bcdeea220c71c7d18https

10370413_10154551346290220_3249964370329326099_n.jpg?oh=b0b022313407bb8b9af2160625c53964&oe=547F6C32

10394154_10154551353970220_8285056041082125105_n.jpg?oh=3316d542304b641a75d7e8356df290f9&oe=5469B8D7

The next coaster wasn’t open yet, so we decided to go on High Fall, an Intamin Stand-Up Gyro Drop Tower. Oh boy was that a mistake. Combining the tilting motion with the drop and the brakes and all of a sudden the entire ride is screaming in pain and agony. The most entertainment the ride presented was the subtle change in noise as the ride hit the brakes. Again, awful.

10390999_10154551346605220_5969484583546296217_n.jpg?oh=f98496906cf91d6f1012bb2e40ae8956&oe=54697C9A

Then it was time for Bandit, my second RCCA Wooden in the space of a month, and this was a clone of Coney Island’s Cyclone. What could POSSIBLY go wrong?

Turns out, everything.

Bandit is by a far, far margin the single worst ride I have experienced. It’s that simple. Worse than Coaster Express, worse than Baco, worse than a Volare, worse than a Screaming Squirrel. It was violent on a constant basis, shook around at every corner, juddered about and for good measure did the odd slam into the side. It was at this moment exactly that the Express Pass value came into being, as I didn’t have to queue up for the worst coaster experience of my life. I wish I had been able to burn it down; it would certainly be worth the arsony racket.

10614255_10154551344025220_8422139424054120463_n.jpg?oh=13d291ca3945cccdb34b9ffff7be75eb&oe=545C8502&__gda__=1416441948_4289268b05482cbac75c0c114bf007fc

10583824_10154551346955220_5548908232492093841_n.jpg?oh=1bb955f0888d144aff9907de65335e3c&oe=54657950

Another go on Van Helsing was needed to experience what a good coaster was, before we headed over to Nickelodeon Land to grab the kiddie creds. Starting with Backyardigans – Mission to Mars, a Vekoma Junior, Ghost Chasers, a Wild Mouse and the infamous in German Top Trumps Jimmy Neutron’s Atomic Flyer. They were all as to be expected, though Atomic Flyer was easily the best coaster of the three.

10645296_10154551347445220_8035605377875137709_n.jpg?oh=e770a12c004905ce2f1b36e42eb79a7f&oe=545CC927&__gda__=1415850712_addd82bbc930182683e02fd3c9e6a4e1

10565219_10154551347995220_7574905668427362415_n.jpg?oh=e785c7b16f285388a0267a127db44224&oe=546662F0&__gda__=1416771933_8108e6ada1b25c66a64db83fcfd4f223

10628468_10154551348225220_3391622808378259166_n.jpg?oh=d9c12684bd4786187c29b87da77cf780&oe=545FEE94

10632622_10154551348930220_371081648628947439_n.jpg?oh=34c4afcd9afc589bc91bd30d1af37d8f&oe=5460F4BD&__gda__=1417755256_f5d0d0cc4b25bf858722df42af573517

1958534_10154551348420220_5349376129495281532_n.jpg?oh=36a3b14af439718014eb36260a3fa530&oe=545B499F&__gda__=1417744730_d776eaf72dae79376a6e9d6fc7ed21ae

10388577_10154551348500220_331591220384370701_n.jpg?oh=67b6019fafce22238290078517ee8d58&oe=546C65B2

10487253_10154551348535220_5352538955791604931_n.jpg?oh=18621c5b6962e8b134e52bb94dba594b&oe=546C79E5

Next up was Ice Age Adventure, an indoor dark-water ride combo. It followed the plot (loosely) of the first film, with some typical dodgy animatronics and theming throughout. The interesting part came with the drop, which essentially made it a cred. Was pleasantly surprised by it.

10522178_10154551348655220_6999989167481707895_n.jpg?oh=81eb4dd38876aad9f74ece258dcd95d9&oe=545EF5C9

Time for a random crappy flat ride in Splat-o-Sphere. Had never done an Aileron before, probably won’t ever again since it was pretty dull. We saw a couple of shows around this time which were all pretty standard theme park affair (at least, with those who care about shows, not UK park level). Then it was time for the Van Helsing Show.

10563178_10154551348735220_4532611650180244528_n.jpg?oh=bc86da5d73904dd6ca8e63bb4e2979a9&oe=5481FF71&__gda__=1417282446_19206be1c9d8ddc564a5e5f9a40afca6

Impressive set aside, the show fell quite flat. Lots of dialogue, weird plot and a really bad werewolf costume mixed in with some rather poorly done fight scenes made it quite a disappointment. Points for trying/effort, but not much else positive.

10599512_10154551349890220_4844196844989350053_n.jpg?oh=7677d99f4b354915476f3fd8ed8c1539&oe=5472262F

10425027_10154551349980220_1387499180492556406_n.jpg?oh=f7340562ef811391c19b848fc6b8d456&oe=54672253&__gda__=1416722757_4b56628a775814eeaf60bccdf262ff00

As we were walking past it would have been rude to not ride Van Helsing – The Cred again before heading back to the main entrance where (strangely) two big rides sit.

First up, was new for this year The Lost Temple, to which I was very excited about, and it was probably my most anticipated ride of the entire trip. And whilst it is not a flawless dark ride, it is still entertaining, and above all well themed.

I think the major flaw with it is the actual ride system. It lacks throughput and if you’re sat in the very front (like myself) then you lose quite a lot of what is actually going on around you. That being said, the theming within the queueline and pre-shows are brilliant, and it has an actual lift rather than a fake Sub Terra style one (indeed, the ride does share some similarities with Sub Terra in some aspects). Good addition to the park and hopefully more a sign of things to come from them.

10441048_10154551350625220_8256118436270423095_n.jpg?oh=c65bb4d9d0c2b799788403ef68d6622b&oe=5470663C&__gda__=1415314627_1117de45f8543a53083ffbad18048549

10556533_10154551350820220_3498364736061881495_n.jpg?oh=0138611bd82f5c92d5b3ff0cc6b71d39&oe=54745B8F&__gda__=1416114298_3014778621fe1a9ccc678057efa351a7

10603410_10154551350925220_8494788651142842434_n.jpg?oh=f183609a1b95321920444edfe343d18b&oe=5461B249&__gda__=1416315378_a6ca97388bf3296ab58e4d18f3ed3e2a

1604464_10154551351360220_6710296441694237954_n.jpg?oh=38af4a0596d9d6c561e172637579c614&oe=547213D3

10599396_10154551351475220_7942264879594669005_n.jpg?oh=12fa8d2dbae0851d739a43aff29950bf&oe=546BBC7D&__gda__=1415885675_4267ac37de231c46f5c87d69c959f261

148696_10154551351625220_28385033430522869_n.jpg?oh=870d8089727d0afb0381a9e74a68cd4e&oe=546436D4&__gda__=1416450619_09151162f0c4ee34853f2eeb6f974002

10524715_10154551351640220_6482293621529345904_n.jpg?oh=48a72e78a4507482593807ad91cacaee&oe=547ACA70&__gda__=1416868198_43465708314b5420e0bd54a075fc5f08

10636091_10154551351735220_3762907446646721919_n.jpg?oh=f18a159fdf931a60f9911777668db223&oe=5480E9B1

10629655_10154551351880220_7166530010170752564_n.jpg?oh=925b09b26b5c4891b05ea3074883896e&oe=54770C26&__gda__=1416427731_969eafebb5b9bca0ea3133ba588356a2

Next door was Alien Encounter, a quite randomly themed water ride with extended dark ride (and backwards) sections. It was quite cool it must be said, with an awesome Pepper’s Ghost effect, but it is also very dated at the same time.

1924360_10154551351950220_2670325984461067971_n.jpg?oh=b09d3ad763675808c6737131abdb92de&oe=547F2D62&__gda__=1416020713_aaaa7bcf7e946d4f14afc37fbc410b57

10455389_10154551351975220_5172899873713888025_n.jpg?oh=b66a324ddafe1638a23661bfde0840e7&oe=54663109

We caught the parade (which was generic) before having a go on Time Riders, featuring John Cleese speaking German. It had an obscene amount of pre-shows that ended in a random tiny simulator. I remarked at some point that it reminded me of the Batman simulator at Madrid, turns out it WAS one once upon a time. It found itself in a similar position to the Batman ride in Madrid, so crap it was actually funny. Though it felt so wrong hearing Mr Cleese speaking German.

10636324_10154551350350220_6141067492670993703_n.jpg?oh=29aa87458e0a3fd7361c832bc25d6ebd&oe=5470699E&__gda__=1415938085_44c1fa89c186a017abfccee13f716203

10646787_10154551352720220_8883413963728774369_n.jpg?oh=b7fed5ab4119ff2252f64050f079861e&oe=5465BD76&__gda__=1416877705_454b0151d643cd70df3be8d1bc995216

10544402_10154551352745220_3564702085300398253_n.jpg?oh=bafc294bb0ca68308bd54bda23adff6c&oe=5470FCBE

10616442_10154551352765220_3299620045836399232_n.jpg?oh=1d43a710da2c0cb3ec63cc8c8c6d0c11&oe=547D641F&__gda__=1416379616_1270930861538ba4f9b578ff37468644

10644923_10154551352825220_8618022701496027489_n.jpg?oh=16ba512ac77d0bdaf84c7626fb781e8a&oe=547AC4DB&__gda__=1415579744_50d4b715ec2f5436ea2b7c7d444c3e43

We rode Van Helsing again before seeing the Crazy Cops Stunt Show, which was alright and typical of your basic stunt show. The guys did well in the very wet conditions mind. Least there wasn’t any audience participation faff this time.

10599185_10154551352970220_845450557980446800_n.jpg?oh=736315b4d36cde801801570e214dc58a&oe=54684ECE

Van Helsing was ridden again before some food and show times again. Afterwards we did Van Helsing again (a pattern emerged very early on in the day it must be said, not helped by the central location of said cred).

We had a look towards Lost Temple again but unfortunately it was shut (it’s been having LOTS of problems this year), so Jimmy Neutron was ridden again (for some reason, I’m still not sure why) before we did the Fairy World Spin Teacups, which were generic as well. Van Helsing was ridden again before we rode the Crazy Surfer Disko Coaster (which had a lot of bounce to it) and the Santa Monica Pier Carousel, which was actually a Chairswing. The hope was to finish the day on Van Helsing but unfortunately they had seemingly closed it early. Sad face.

10411065_10154551353440220_4067864041480019155_n.jpg?oh=1f7331ef84da46ce769376f4a65d4d9e&oe=54706A75&__gda__=1417297290_bf1dbaea972ef516f1db6c87b673085f

996154_10154551353445220_8199931159474247733_n.jpg?oh=2d831a89964520e86bfeba98face3729&oe=5473F6D6

10629655_10154551354115220_8448528797904013201_n.jpg?oh=5b1ad8a61daa626f884f30ec69f629c5&oe=547358DF&__gda__=1417639712_007891bf3322680656813c2a7ed509f8

10636275_10154551354160220_1876187969579401181_n.jpg?oh=68af44ba91ec6db58711faa0f6786546&oe=5461F464&__gda__=1417042143_902ee8a4afe416b3c728e31a3bebc0ce

10635817_10154551354250220_4750685724141226839_n.jpg?oh=46a34e01f482fbde4038ccfaa44028e0&oe=5468875A

We stopped off at the Happiness Station for epic ice cream before heading home.

10625087_10154551354325220_2092200022655849542_n.jpg?oh=ee26dc9929ef34ff4a03cb86f0f29bc9&oe=546E0FE9&__gda__=1417159452_c0f1a51d1da13b7608ed47c4352228e9

Movie Park is ok, just full of utter, utter crap for the most part. The layout doesn’t help it much, since half the park is pretty much dedicated to Nickelodeon (Ice Age and Mystery River aside), two major attractions at the entrance is also a weird design choice. The major issue is that only one of the coasters is actually good, with the two big draws being crap, some future choices would be served well into getting some good adult rides, as the park is pretty well served for families/kids. Removing Bandit, High Fall and MP Express would be an excellent start and getting some heavily themed coasters that are good could help put the park on the map a little bit more.

10628588_10154551354455220_3727456195285942967_n.jpg?oh=2e6ca97bf30bcb33fb81e279d9a3a4f4&oe=547AF2BF&__gda__=1417768452_ab938ebaa0a53218dc6fbfaa5dbc99b8

0 Comments


Recommended Comments

There are no comments to display.

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...