Mitchada04

Welcome to Walabi. This isn't the entrance but it has the logo so it'll do. Plus it's a thrill ride on park, the dodgems. Revenge of the Wallabies! Oh, no. My bad. Did have the classic Sally Corp gun noise which is annoying. Zomg serious cred. Wee! Thing even went backwards a bit Urgh. Pointless waste of space. Yeah... this thing spins... wasn't impressed. It's a very colourful park! And a good flume! I-Spy: The Queue line experience! Oh. This should have been at the entrance with cattlepen written underneath. Mad house of applause. Woo it didn't align properly and we're stuck let's clap! Until we were let off. Fun! Look at the people looking at all the fun Yeah it's not a Wallaby. It's a vampire. Nice SLC. But I am weird and do like them. Ooooo More SLC. Vekoma park or what. Choo choo good Vekoma Oh no water. <3 Pure awesomeness! The sheer speed is amazing! Duck is more awesome though (not sure with the obsession of these random boat rides around lakes with ducks in) Look at them all! It's tall. Artsy slightly blurred shot Oh woop. Let's go underground. To get there we went upstairs. Impressive launch, urm that's it. Far too short, I don't like vertical loops backwards and it was just eh. Proper big style rapids boats There was a tunnel too which looked cool Yes more boomerangness. Don't ride wood. But that's the fun part says Fanta. Fine we'll ride boomerang. Rawr. Was very good. Not amazing, just very good. And it's vekoma too (which was odd for it to be quite smooth...) Yeah this was dead as well as Buzzsaw and some other stuff. Rock on! And that's Walabi. More school kids than Wallabies and lots of Vekomas. Off to the park I've always liked the look of next... Phantasialand

It's clever when the boat ride is closed that the lift just doesn't go all the way down. Yeah change can be good but the Ripper section went on for sooo long. So you now get attacked by him where Todd used to be and then attacked again in the pub? The Todd section was brilliant, the chairs worked in a barbers. Mrs Loveits worked better with the meat shop and the person coming down the shaft at the end, that shaft is now just unused. Change is good but only when it's needed. It feels like Ripper featuring etc.

It was definitely a park that seemed to split our opinions in many ways Had some real gems and some very meh stuff. Psyke was pointless in my eyes, Flashback was a great flume and good I-Spy queue! Calamity Mine I couldn't believe your reaction after riding it, think you were just as shocked with yourself to be fair though. I enjoyed Vampire but I seem to be one of the few SLC likers... Real shame they didn't have that music battle show thing we saw that's now a business event area, that might have added that something. Was a good day in that it was the last day we had long queues (bar Baron) and we didn't miss any creds here on in!

Or the lack of marketing could be their tactic. We all know it's going to be kept a huge secret where possible. There was a small surge of marketing with the boards being put up, teaser images to a few fan pages and then it went quiet. Not like people can't see the site or ignore the fact something is going on. Maybe we'll see another small surge in September (although surely they'll be busy with FN promo at that point which is the bigger concern as they only have a month for that). I'd say if we see a FN map there'll be something on that about a new attraction coming and then probably quiet again. I feel like we'll get stuff in small blips, especially until they know the actual opening of the ride as they still don't know if it'll be spring, early summer or mid summer. Little marketing can be just as good as lots, it makes people more curious and nosey. It gets people talking about what it could be and can interest people if they don't know what it is. Merlin will pull the worlds first card somehow, it's already been talked about it supposedly being the first of its kind dark ride (which is a big statement). Let's just enjoy what the park do, we've just been spoilt by how clever the Smiler's marketing was. This I feel will be the complete opposite. Anyway, they have done another little blip of marketing recently. So, school trips get a leaflet with offers on for cheap popcorn/sweets and just general deals. This was one of the card things. So maybe we'll see something on the website soon.

Welcome to the park down a road behind some houses on some grass where we parked next to a tree. Look who's in Jack's bag! No temple not open yet. Jack is unimpressed by lack of temple. Correction- the temple thing that's now a mine shaft is open! Correction- it's an awesome tomb! See the awesomeness. Temple of awesome mineshaft tomb with broken on board audio. Well I'm glad I tried one. Really doesn't feel like you tilt much at all on ride. The excitement! Look at the fun! the lion mascot, called Lion approves (although he approves of most things...) Shocked face! Probably what we all pulled when we saw this coming. Must be a shocking life The local enjoyed it! He was coughing spreading his Europeness... ewwww. Oh no. Aww Tigers are the best. The elephants laughed in disagreement. The Lion probably approves of this, they said it was magic, I think there was a wild animal in their once. called Houdini. They say he's dead, I don't think he is. There's Houdini! A real wild one! "Just you wait till you get round here..." "We'll move here so you still don't get too close" Houdini magiced us away to Niagra Falls. A water ride, of dryness. Seriously, are Europeans afraid of water? These guys weren't afraid! But they might be imported. Fire. This Leopard disapproved of the non natives. So we went to India to ride the traditional rapids you find there. The holiday in Mexico had ended when we got back though. Temple must have taken them. Oh well time for 2.5 hours of driving that should've taken one! Thanks you accident prone natives in your cars! Toot toot Brussels! Very nice place I'd play where's Wally... but it's too hard. Nice surprise. Nom nom! Dunno why but people love going to a restaurant to eat guitars. Till next time where we get stuck in more Brussels traffic!

Angry bird one was the staff pin last year. It was never on sale.

No idea where they're building it so have no idea. There was a small square cornered off but I'll be astounded if they put a woodie in there (unless it is just for the Plops!)

Banned for using a Baron thing when you haven't ridden it. Mijnbaron Gustave Hooghmoed Dissaproves and rightly bans you from here and his mine.

Much like a year of Britain, A Year of Europe looks to expand upon its predecessor by including some European parks (of which I already have gained 7). Aim is to end this around this time next year to start a further, worldwide one (one can dream). So, my first European park outside of DLP when I was 15, Plopsaland. It was an early morning when we left Dover (5:15am). To arrive before 9am at a park that opens at 10. Notice the oversized door, yeah we didn't understand why everything was so large until the end of the day. What do you do when you're early? Go for a mile walk. They have horses in Europe (must be near a Findus factory) Something the others had never seen were the war cemeteries they have. They are astonishing in size, and Belgium is littered in them. R.I.P. Just down the road though it was a birthday. My 15th birthday cake wasn't that big Lovely entrance area. Like stunning European trees. Apparently this is a ride station! And this is a queue line I thought we were invading a house and the owners were going to kick us out. See, have something protecting your house Anubis! Dragons are the way. Didn't work though, we still made it in. Lights were cool too! Zomg it's like home! Well half like it. There was a pedal thing. A Vekoma Roller Skater called... Roller Skater! With an oversized washing machine. From a dark ride on a boat we learnt that the Plops (a race of things) are very small people. Fair enough, why buy an already oversized machine? That will surely kill them. More random house invasions! Not even a mat for us to wipe our feet on. Pirate boat of forever. Like a 5 minute cycle. You could honestly race the boat from this splashing down to returning to the station with the pirate boat. Both took ages. Start your watches. Swan boats are faster. It's a big lake though. Jack and Josh are awful drivers. This duck agrees. Time for the Mack watersplashofdrynessthatgoesbackwardsunderawobblybridge. Sploosh. So this has a height restriction of 1.2 or 1.3 can't remember. Still, I'm pretty sure the Plops are smaller than that. Can't even ride a ride in their homeland. Luckily we could, was a very good ride. yay land of bees. Was all a bit overgrown if you ask me. This was good fun though! This was from the Plops water ride thing. I had no idea what was going on. Oh look a nicely themed hill. Wouldn't have even known the Disko was broken, can't even see it. Minus that... shhhh Splash battle! Was very welcome with the weather. Again though, the Plops so would not be able to reach the guns. So Plopsaland, a very nice park, just feel bad for the natives. Might have even stood on one accidentally if they're that small. Au Revoir Plopsaland, till next year with your GCI (just think about the height restriction yeah?) And off to Hotel Joly we went (yeah, wasn't Jolly like we were hoping...)

Here we go then. Lanyard from last year (now with the Thorpe pin on it because why not). This pin from getting a pass. Nice touch but yeah I don't vote fun so I blurred it on purpose. The new Towers set minus Smiler for now. Two Hard Rock ones (only started this collection 2 weeks ago...) And a lovely Disney World one.

The website often shows this for a while each year as it's the press/staff preview and then AP preview of Fright Nights. It changes eventually (unless for once they're actually planning to have it as a whole day thing but I doubt that). The big show of how badly the park is struggling if it is, is if they cut FN back to 9pm close even after last years crazy busyness.

Would definitely recommend checking out how busy they expect the park to be when you're there on their calendar. They have "quiet" "lively" and "busy". We went on lively days so there were lots of people around but other than Baron the rides were all under 30 minutes. However, every ride seemed to have a long queue line but they were all empty when we went so the park can obviously get heaving (apparently their omnimover the carnival thing can reach 2 hours). You've got 2 full days which is ample time to do the whole Park and rerides! All depends how long you spend in fairytale woods. Don't bother going into Kaatshuvel (town next to Efteling) there is literally nothing open at night.

Even pre Smiler crash the parks did seem quiet at the beginning of season, some Saturdays being virtually dead or no longer than 30 minute queues when weather was fine so these cuts must be from general underperforming. Regards to opening times, the general rule is if the park is open until 6 or later (excluding FN) then ERT startsfrom 9:15 with Park opening from 9:30. They don't usually announce it as one it takes a bit of stress of the main entrance as you get the early arrivers in before the rush of arrivers for announced opening time.

Urm... I kinda gave up taking many photos after the first few days but I'll try if I get enough time to do something. This will be a nice way for me in a few years to pick which parks were nicest incase I forget

Probably because Lego is cheaper to run, has always had longer summer hours and remains busy to the end and overall gets a heck of a lot more guests. Chessington must be one of the more expensive ones with the constant looking after of animals, rides that don't work etc. It's easy to cut from a park that doesn't need investment to somehow gain visitors. Plus if the majority of visitors are pass holders then that won't help. Why invest in a park that is a success just by opening same as it did last year mainly.

To be fair they did extend it to 7 many times over the summer. Plus Chessington is always bad for opening hours like Towers so nothing new there. And opening times are subject to change and often do. Towers are always changing their ones. It's not disgraceful, especially as I doubt many of those who had booked knew it was open till 7 and if it's busy enough I'm sure they'll extend to what is necessary. I don't think Merlin budget cut through the season, each park gets given their money or budget at the beginning and then they can do what they want. Probably means Chessington have overspent somewhere on staffing or something. It's really shocking.

Fire effect behind the train? Well directly behind the train in pre show is the station with only a massive holey gate between the two (does a good job at blocking the view of train and preshow but definitely wouldn't do so for fire). Plus behind the train would seem a bit... pointless. Like Josh has said I don't see how fire would fit in. Nice to see the other wheels turning though!

It's £2 a cup so same price as a 500ml bottle in a shop There's also a pop up pizza stand by Inferno serving pizza slices for £2 or a whole pizza for 7.

The Park needs more fun experiences, something they severely lacked till last year when they got the dodgems. Yes it was a simple cheap investment but it's so much fun, something that had been missing. IAC is good in concept at providing a lengthy, interactive experience. Again, something different that the park was lacking. There is a lot more to making a good Park than cramming it full of flats and coasters. A year round show would be a nice investment. If not I'll take the hypergigamegaB&Intamin coaster around the Thorpe island with a huge turn around over the M3.

So lots more concept/details have been revealed! First Tron. Pretty trains Lovely area (just will lack in physcial attractions compared to the other tommorowlands apparently) Mickey's avenue instead of Main Street. Pirate Cove like we know, And what looks by far the best... Adventure Isle!!!! Home to the E-Ticket rapids Roaring Rapids. Not based on an IP or anything. Animatronic for it. Castle comparisons. Video covering more. Mr Iger is very happy.

Saw could break down like that in the dark... so you might want staff used to dealing with the situation in the dark as well. Plus engineers are there till 11, maybe they were doing all there evening checks and stuff before they started training staff or something.

Pop badges are cheap, look tacky and are designed for kids who shouldn't be having pin badges due to the pin. Yet somehow they seem to have been hugely popular with enthusiasts and well everyone although they look awful and clutter lanyards. Anyone could make a pop badge, just buy the plastic shell, print out and sticker and boom done. It's nice for the kids but they're just tat in my eyes. Pin badges please and thank you.

So wish this was mine but it's not so credit to the owner massively! Best picture ever?

I personally didn't think Mamba was forceless, it had some real kick in places! It for me was just too dragged out with not a lot going on at the end, definitely had a punchy start in my eyes. River Quest's drops are the same on all rapids with those elements, all a bit bumpy due to what they're doing Really surprised me that ride as I didn't expect the upper section, only the bit around the queue. Urgh Mystery Castle. Really didn't get the hype. Even the queue line made so much hype it was unbelievable! And all of that just for a drop tower with not a lot going on. It wasn't overly forceful, it wasn't sure if it was a shooty one or droppy one. It ended far too soon and was just urgh. The Intamin gen tower at Walibi Belgium was much better, first drop tower I've properly felt the speed hitting my legs heavily! Winjas, that ride! So clever!!! One of the best surprises, so glad I knew nothing about that! And Maus, so much fun! How have the queue times been?

Good luck on the Saturday, that's ministry! Lack of music I guess will be down to the concerts although some summer nights in previous years I've found have been eerily quiet with no music whilst other nights they've played lots of current music and dance classics (not just the noise).