mrmonkey

I'm up for This, was fun (but cold) last year!

Phantasialand and Europa Park are quite a distance from one another a better park combo would be Efteling-Toverland-Phantasialand Or Europa Park with Tripsdrill

Adventure island 1 Chessington 1 Legoland 1 Walibi Belgium 1 Plopsaland 1 Parc Asterix 1 Movie Park Germany (inc Halloween event) 1 Heide Park 1 Hansa Park 1 Phantasialand 1

Tell you what - Put me down - need to catch up with peeps I might just join you for the meal and onwards - WW remember people - no alcohol for secret santas or otherwise - due to bag checks at WW!

if you drive - car hire would give you more freedom - or even take your own car via ferry most people do 'cluster' trips - so I'd actually recommend doing a few smaller trips:- Phantasialand, Toverland and Efteling (Tag on Walibi holland if you want) is one! then theres Europa - which you REALLY NEED MORE THAN ONE DAY! - 2 days at Europa then one day at tripsdrill - that's another good pairing. Then North Germany/Scandinavia is a good cluster - Hansa, Liseberg, Grona lund, Tivoli, If your going to do a long road trip - Then Efteling-Toverland-Phantasia-MovieParkGermany-Heide-Hansa would be a good one perhaps finishing with a ferry etc over to Sweden from North Germany! Then you have PortAdventura - Which I'd recommend just doing on its own with a Barcelona Trip - taking in Tibidabo city amusement park too! Then there's Disneyland Paris and Parc Asterix - easily clustered around Paris As for accom I've only stayed on-site at Hotel Matamba at Phantasialand and its SOO worth it! I would recommend May time mid-week for Visits (google the countries school holidays - and avoid) Also Sep/ Oct time- mid oct you might get Halloween events which is a bonus - again - go midweek and avoid school holidays! Don't Miss:- Phantasialand is Fabb.... but others are correct that its customer services aren't up there with others - also it's a small park in terms of area - so when its busy it feels horrible! so definitely go midweek out of school or public holidays. Europa Park is my Fav! But some thrill seekers often booboo it as it has no 'best of its type' headliner coasters - but its just a very fun, friendly, MASSIVE park, loads of charming dark rides etc. Its the only one I'd say is Essential for more that one day - however if you just want to do the coasters, then one day is fine! If you don't stay at the onsite hotels - definitely check out their bars/restaurants...quality!! Efteling:- Again if your a thrill-seeker coaster enthusiast- and that's all that matters to you, you may be disappointed - However this is again a beautiful park with Disney-standard theming - The flying Dutchman is my fav ride in the whole world! Hansa Park - People often forget this Park - But don't - its beyond fabb and friendly and has two of the best and unique coasters in Europe! It's also beautiful and charming, has quality food - and lots of things to 'explore' such as a free high ropes course! I've yet to do Liseberg - but this seems to be one not to miss! PortAdventura - I've yet to do - but the world seems to compare everything to Shambala - so I'd say its not to be missed! (I'm hoping to go early next year).

Well like I previously said - Hansa Park is faaaab! - I think TPM could have a lot of fun there!..... could be paired with Heide Park - or indeed Liseberg - as Sweden isn't that far - theres also Hamburg Dungeons! Phantasialand and Efteling is another good paring - perhaps making it a hat trick with Toverland - if their new themed area/coaster are open! I really want to get over to Tayto park too - could in theory be done in a day flying into Dublin (or just one night).

Well we spent 11 hours on the park - and didn't do everything - despite no queues longer than 45mins, we wanted to do a show but didn't get time and missed out at least 5 or 6 main rides. Also didn't get time to explore (such as the aforementioned high ropes course), also the food is properly decent - and worth sitting down and enjoying! The only differing factors was it was the Autumn festival - and we saw the parade and fireworks! I'd definitely recommend visiting at that time of year! Like Europa park - it's a place to just 'be' and explore - and not run around just doing all the coasters! However I would agree a Heide combo would be sensible if it came to it (especially if they fix Colossus - which a little birdie tells me they will)

Not sure if this is the right forum because it's just a suggestion - but thought I'd highly recommend Hansa Park for a TP trip, which I visited last weekend! It's fantastic and really hospitable to groups (CEO greetings/goodies/ERT) AND discounted entry! The Park is very deceptive in how much there is to do.....there's LOADS - definitely a two-dayer - and some TOP rides you want to do again and again! I also think its great for groups - because you've got all these side attractions to play on and be silly on to have a laugh for example - free high-ropes courses (no uncharge). Also because Karnan:- that is all!! - It gives Taron a run for its money in top 5 European coaster status! Lastly - Hansa kind of reminded me of the good parts of Thorpe in the mid-nineties (landscaping, pleasant, verdant, colourful, clean, family-run charm, lots of water rides, attempting to be quasi-educational, Popular Park Mascots etc etc ) BUT with awesome rides and coasters on top of this! also they have on site 'lodges' as their accommodation - where you need a min-number of persons to book one! Just a thought to put out there.

Oh 8ths fine too - either was fine! yay!

Yay - if its the 7th I can come to this!!! put me DOWN!

Love the new Artwork, looks like it fits in so well with the park! lots of landscaping, use of water and organic shapes!

Can confirm Heidi is fab! somewhere between Joris en de drake and Troy in intensity........ ALOT of fun!

SPOILERS! Rode this a couple of weeks ago, a really fun and interesting family coaster, not all that intense, but fun and quite long (combination of lift hills and launches) the 'whats in the shed' effect is nice but not brilliant, the backwards section is probably the most intense! Nice landscaping but feels a little unfinished (the she in question has bare and exposed supports which spoil the illusion - a very merlin-eque mistake...... hopefully they will add rock work in the future! But overall a positive addition to the park! osiris Is also Fab!.... on a par with black Mamba! another highlight was the Menhir express log flume.... my 2nd fav log flume in Europe after chiapas! Their Madhouse (which has about 4 pre-shows) is FAAAAB too.

It was a great first time to the park for me! We were so lucky with the crowds. I think a lot of people (with families) probably predicted it would be busy and stayed away, along with the forecast of thunder (which they got wrong) and the recent terrorist attack - all added the place being 'moderately' quite... but it was far from dead.... just the perfect amount of people really!

Will be riding this in Oct - It look fun and unique - and looks like a good addition to the park ........ the other coasters look gross though (apart from Val Helsing) - I hate SLC's. Mystery river and Bermuda Triangle look very intriguing - and will satisfy my Passion for darks rides (I hope).

I thought this ride was a good addition to the UK theme park attraction line-up. It was very reminiscent of Maus au Chocolat - although not quite as good! I like the different approach to interactivity through using your hands - but have to say I think this technology could do with some improvements - It just didn't feel very responsive and felt quite frustrating - it's very confusing as to what is actually happening - and the visuals are just chaotic, it was also very tiring - I'm not sure how younger kids will cope with that aspect!..... it just didn't feel very satisfying - and at the end I was kind of exhausted and stressed lol! The carriages where very funky - and the multi-sensory effects where great - but maybe they could add more....maybe they will! also the lack of practical effects was obvious

Generally I distrust Organised religion full stop - or ones with very fixed ideals and rules and rituals - life's too short for that! I'm quite a spiritual person - but the blinkered belief of some of the those that follow organised religion - just makes my blood run cold! Remember our history - and that we once burned one another at the stake for being Protestant vs Catholic and visa versa - if that's not organised terrorism then what is? That might be 500 years ago, and certain religions such as Christianity have become more civilised in time - just remember they were JUST as barbaric! SOME muslims are very 'behind' by our modern western standards! And we need to live by those standards and promote our modern values, and keep promoting them! Can also just say say I'm sat in a cafe writing this.... and at the next table are a western white Scottish woman chatting and laughing opposite a muslim woman in her headscarf - obviously friends, ex-colleges or something - just two woman catching up!...... its such a simple scene.... but very symbolic! So don't go round saying all islam is evil! Some people have VERY backwards views yes...But Islam is an ancient religion - and there are billions of Muslims in the world - so We'd all be screwed/dead by now if they all truly did hate us and want us dead! I often see plenty of muslim families at theme parks I visit - they are like us, they love a day out.... the smiles on there faces are the same... remember that!

I'm a defo... two things? Does anyone have any vouchers or know any good deals?.... I'd rather not pay full price.. especially if its a rammed day and we only get on 2 or 3 rides lol. Secondly - I'd be coming by train, would anyone be able to pick me up from Windsor station (or another convenient station) - as apparently the buses are a nightmare! Thank muchley

Yes its still the original colour but aged - that orange/brown colour!

I'm sure they could fit this in, and is a good choice - but it would need to extend to other areas!...they could build it over part of X's dome/ intwine it with Colossus, extend it out to Samurai (move or re-move Samurai) Never underestimate designers/landscapers when it comes to fitting things in! Mack could even create a custom track to fit in the landscape!

Ahhh Tokyo - you see I'm also tossing up whether to do an Asian Disney trip as apposed to Orlando - most people say you MUST start with Florida (although I have done Paris). I've read a few guides/blogs on how to do Shanghai, HK and Tokyo in one trip in just over a week..... I'm DESPARATE to visit Shanghai for Pirates, Tron etc, HK (for Mystic Mansion) and Tokyo Disneysea! Also Tokyo Universal still has a jaws ride (which is now defunct in Orlando)! It's a hard call......

RETHEME IDEA: - 'THE RAVEN' however much I love the old vampire - it is a shadow of its former glorious self and in desperate need of a revamp..... it's still such a fun coaster though and just needs love! Anyway - I was thinking a good (and CHEAP) retheme - that would fit well with the forest/Gruffalo theme is to theme it to crows/ravens Paint the whole track black to give it a fresh new look The outside queue area would be filled with creepy scarecrows - a couple of which are animatronic - with fake birds EVERYWHERE! inspired by Alfred Hitchcocks birds with a bit of jeepers creepers 2/any scarecrow horror film thrown in for good measure! As the carriages are no longer bat shaped - there's no need to change them! The station would be themed to a Abbey/castle ruins - with a mix of crumbling architecture with trees growing through it in that whole inside/outside 'nature taking over' feel to it! - with L:E:D blinking eyes from the dark/up in the branches. And at the end of the ride before entering the station Id install a giant curved screen to cover up the corrigated warehouse wall - and have a projection of fluttering birds flying out at you! so an ending SIMILAR to the ending of mystic timbers ('whats in the shed'?) BUT it wouldn't have a weird marketing campaign about a 'mysterious element' and would just be part of the experience! I think something like this would be simple and cheap for Merlin to achieve - to 'freshen' it up! Thoughts?

Thanks! as with all things 'you can't have everything' - so weather might be a compromise - especially as so many attractions are indoor attractions.

Thanks for all the great advice - TBH by the time I get things in place it would probably be 2018 anyway - so I might wait it out:)

Thanks! - forgot to mention - I don't drive so would be reliant on public transport the whole trip - so ease of connections/staying on site or very near is pretty important!