Benin

Had my first visit this past weekend. This had become a bit of a bucket list park over the last few years and was glad to finally get out there.

Great rollercoaster collection to start off with. I thought Kondaa was fabulous, an outstanding attraction. Intamin were really cooking around this time. I've seen it described as a modern day Expedition Ge Force. Well yeah, it has similarities but whereas EGF always left me feeling underwhelmed, Kondaa was sublime. Also loved Mecalodon. I love family Gerstlauers, there's just a lot of innovation and experimentation with the model. This being the latest one, it just has so much for family groups and is so much fun. Tiki Wawa is okay. It's not an amazing version of the ride type unfortunately. Not worth the regular 45 minute waits.

Turbine is amazing. Absolutely loved it. Great theme, great ride. Pulsar also impressed. I didn't think it would be my kind of ride but actually, it was really fun. The backwards air time was lovely and it wasn't too wet. Just enough. Calamity Mine was great, Boomerang was a boomerang. the SLC was fine, I'm now pretty used to riding these defensively so therefore I know when to brace. I still really like the layout on these things, even though the trains really do make them a battle.
Loup-Garou was a big reason for the trip, I wanted to get on it before it says goodbye at the end of the year. To be honest, I'm a big defender of these horrible janky woodies. This was hilariously bad. I can see why its being renovated by RMC, but it still has a charm.

The dark rides were also of really high quality.

I shall be back..

Visited the park for first time in over a decade. Would you believe things are very different?

The ride lineup has markedly improved. Mediocrity was king, and now Kondaa, Mecaladon and Tiki-Waka help to have rideable coasters (ok Turbine was and still is fab).

Mecaladon in particular is a great family coaster. That the kid can ride that and Calamity Mine (just!) but Runaway Mine Train at Towers is too much is hilarious to me.

Kondaaaaaaaaaaaaaa is a great coaster too. #600 for me after some recent hectic visits to Gullivers parks to boost that cred count. Certainly preferred it to Hyperia, helped by it having a decent layout and using the height (though smaller than I realised) well. The bunny hops at the end in back row are also nonsense. Low end of the top 10 for me.

Pulsar is fab. Need more of these in existence. That boat should lumber along but instead it zooms along. Unfortunately only got to do it once as it died a death later on and needed to get the train home.

Apparently Vampire and Loup-Garou were running terribly. Fortunately I didn't have to ride them. The park itself looks nice with the recent area spruce ups, though a few rides are in conflicting areas (Silverton the worst offender) which might get fixed soon maybe.

Yeah, good day and a solid cred count boost. Helped by the park being utterly dead even with a few school groups about so still 5-10 minute queues for everything.

Mean I don't know anyone staff wise but been told someone called Josh Reynolds has moved over.

Top Spin: The Musical?

Top Spin: The Musical?

Another square for Thorpe Bingo everyone!

Another square for Thorpe Bingo everyone!

3 years later....

Resort area planned for 2027. Will go on some older car park area and where the high ropes course stood.

Looopings
Toverland wil vakantiepark Ithaka Resort openen in juni 2...
Toverland zet vol in op een viersterrenresort met internationale allure. Achter de schermen worden de laatste voorbereidingen getroffen voor de bouw...
But that's not all.

Blitz Bahn is getting spited at some point for something potentially later this year.

Looopings
Details over vervanger van Maximus' Blitz Bahn in Toverla...
We zijn weer iets wijzer geworden over de attractie die Maximus' Blitz Bahn in Toverland gaat vervangen. Het Limburgse themapark neemt binnenkort...
And thennnnnnnn the park want to expand the Port Laguna entrance area with a big dark ride and other things.

Looopings
Nieuwe tekeningen tonen uitbreiding Port Laguna in Toverl...
Er zijn nieuwe ontwerpen opgedoken van de uitbreiding van Port Laguna in Toverland. In een openbaar document van de provincie Limburg, over een...
Exciting future for the park really.

Lol.

Towers has had 60+ min queues on stuff in CBeebies Land. Even bloody Sea-Life and Teacups have had queues.

Don't think Lego has been much better. And that has the added plus point of RAP using the Fastrack queueline for 90% of stuff.

I mean who could've forseen backlash when it was slyly (read not) announced on the same day the first batch of RAP bookings were made available?

Surprised they've u-turned this quickly. But I'm sure RAP users won't complain when the situation hasn't changed this season.

Now this is timely.

Metlin and Nimbus have rejigged the qualifications for RAP as a result of all the various issues they've had over the years. This has, rather naturally, peeved people off, especially as this announcement was tucked away on Monday when they were releasing the first booking slots for RAP this year.

What has actually happened? Nimbus have split their "Difficulties With Queues" into two new categories. "Difficulties With Crowds" and "Difficulties Standing".

Going forwards at Merlin parks you will only qualify for RAP with a "Difficulties Standing", "Level Access" and "Toilet Needs" box. Naturally a lot of those with neurodivergency based disabilities have been given the Crowds box instead.

Here's the thing, RAP in its current guise could not continue. Prior to pre-booking requirements the queues were ridiculous and defeated the point. And of course there was a fair amount of "abuse" of the system through poor staffing (I.e. not writing down correct times) and terrible guests shouting until they got their way. Pre-booking meant a limitation on numbers which worked but being able to book for specific dates was a nightmare when no idea when they would go up. Plus still had a few people unaware they needed to pre-book specific dates in first place.

Sadly it's always felt inevitable given the whole "free Fastrack" perception on top of people gaming the system ruining it for those who need it.

Fortunately for my end the changes do not affect us. However it should be noted that other UK parks will still accept the Crowds box for their equivalent system. However, why is it such a problem at Merlin parks at all? I've seen it busy at Efteling which is understandable, but at Europa last year felt like we were the only ones really using their system (and they don't even time you out on stuff really).

Currently Merlin have termed it as a trial for Feb Half Term. Though it's probably just to let the PR storm settle before main season begins.

So thoughts? Who's affected by the change and will you renounce your MAP as a result if you have one? Have Nimbus just randomly allocated you the wrong box for your disability?

The prices at Towers are probably such to avoid hitting the local B&B market too hard.

It does feel expensive though considering the lack of overall quality. Though my visits the last two years were fine, wouldn't really wax lyrical about them either.

Just looking at possibly doing Efteling for a week in May and one of their 6 person renewed lodges is comparable to Splash Landings price wise. However I know the trip will be just... better.

CBeebies Hotel pricing is just awful though.

Closed season bingo!

Closed season bingo!

Closed season bingo!

Closed season bingo!

Movieland Italy is a fantastic park purely due to its bizarre Mafia led nature.

Barely much left from those days. No chill ride on the waterboat from the farm. No CCR or Loggers Leap. Spent many a time on the crazy golf or in model world.

Good old nostalgia eh?

Since I don’t do mazes I rely on the resident expert at home for those.

Liseberg's was good.

Walibi Holland mazes were a bit meh.

Toverland was ok.

Best part of Walibi Belgium was the Zombie Bar on the lake but no idea if they do that anymore.

General atmospheres are good though. Probably would need a fastpass equivalent though if available since you know, QUEUES.

Could hit 1k pph if it had 5 trains on.
 
Which I've no idea when last happened.

Just replace Rumba with a water ride the little grots can be pinned down into so they can't get out.
 
As always, the UK should get a Chiapas-esque ride. 

Its cool to have an Easter Egg or two within a new or reimagined attraction (say for example, Piraten in Batavia having a survivor boat from the fire and a Roland Mack animatronic), but when the majority of the attraction becomes "DO YOU GET IT?" it misses the point somewhat as you feel like they're trying too hard to bash you over the head with references.
 
 
The other issue is that the park has been so run down that a number of rides have needed a full refurbishment. Sub Terra came back out of necessity more than anything, Duel was in a sorry state since it opened, Nemesis was also refurbished out of necessity or be closed.
 
Don't really think it's anything to do with nostalgia. Just those are the rides they could either redo over a closed season or needed to be done for reasons.

Its cool to have an Easter Egg or two within a new or reimagined attraction (say for example, Piraten in Batavia having a survivor boat from the fire and a Roland Mack animatronic), but when the majority of the attraction becomes "DO YOU GET IT?" it misses the point somewhat as you feel like they're trying too hard to bash you over the head with references.
 
 
The other issue is that the park has been so run down that a number of rides have needed a full refurbishment. Sub Terra came back out of necessity more than anything, Duel was in a sorry state since it opened, Nemesis was also refurbished out of necessity or be closed.
 
Don't really think it's anything to do with nostalgia. Just those are the rides they could either redo over a closed season or needed to be done for reasons.

Private land so can do what they want within reason.
 
Including charging for parking. There's problem some different laws/rulings written up for the various situations of car parking.