Matt 236

Maybe as early as 2006 maybe. 2016 will be an interesting year in the way to see what's open and what's been changed/changing on rides both open and closed. I reckon Tomb may not be coming back and will be used for the 2017 attraction depending how well WC16 goes. After all, 2017 is the next scheduled big investment for the park.

If this vicious but fairly realistic rumour does turn out to be true, I'm wondering if there is a back bone plan to quickly reopen all the SBNO rides bar Flume & Ripsaw? Ideally I'm hoping there won't be any closer next year but that's unlikely especially with loggers closure and rumoured flume one adding up. There is no smoke without fire. Should flume be gone for good, I just hope a new flume like ride is fastracked for 2017 whether that be a Mack or Intamin one like Chiapas (which would be great).

The rock work looks impressive. It'll be difficult to decide whether Kong or Taron win the award for the best rock work of a ride in 2016.

That was either a stupid mistake, misinterpreted by management or refused at a very early stage I guess. Either way, big yay for updated existing rides as they need it. Wonder ehst will be closed next year though?

There must surely be a massive reason behind these flume closures besides cost cutting if all Merlin mack ones close. Maybe this a big knee jerk operation to something major that happened behind the scenes that we don't know of and as a result Merlin are implementing extra safety protocols. If Fall is t open next year, I may cry. Looks like that will win the award for the best water ride then.

Air's retheme better be pretty darn good next year! Looks like I'll have a lot to talk about in my vlogs next year.

Hopefully, this could mean the fountain finale could be improved too as a result (and hopefully make the fountains more reliable). Last time I went in there, was rather poor. Fury is covered in scaffolding too, what's happening there though I'm not sure.

It's not looking very good for Garda's flume eitter. Storm Force 10 is now the biggest 'operating' log flume in the uk then? Merlin

A 2016 towers trip 1/ ride nemesis 2/ check out the enhanced Air 3/ ride nemesis 4/ redo air to see how it compares 5/ ride nemesis 6/ Eat at food loop, looking at this burger bun shows how much soul is missing 7/ have another ride on nemesis 8/ walk with sorrow through the gardens for 2 hours 9/ Get thirteen & Oblivion down 10/ mourn over the closure of Hex 11/ ride Duel because it's the only elfin dark ride on park now apparently 12/ ride nemesis 13/ realise the air shop is closed 14/ ride nemesis 15/ buy out the gift shop to remember how good towers once was 16/ leave & go to Blackpool (because it's surely a better park for 2016). Bah

Highly doubt the admission fee will be cut, if anything it'll probably still go up. Unacceptable approach to business from Merlin here, they are essentially operating their resorts like bog-standard regional parks from what I expect next year. Standards have slipped this year at most parks and on the assumption they may go even further, I am seriously already considering not renewing my pass when it comes up for renewal. The urge to focus more on European & non Merlin uk parks is becoming a lot more apparent. Blackpool & Paultons will be seeing more visits for sure.

Such a stunning ride. Definitely planning to do Phantasia alone for this beauty let alone the other great wonders there.

Yay for Merlin in 2016! I hope they're not closing all those rides. Closing a massive chunk of attractions (most of which are in the family market) is not a good move IMO. If they're trying to get visitors back in to the park, this is not the way of doing so as for me I can see the opposite effect occurring. It makes me more concerned for What Chessie is in for and that more could be happening at Thorpe.

I think refurbishing what they've got so far as the best idea. After all, aside from scorpion, Fury, Wild Asia & Zufari (to a lesser extent), much of the park needs major work not to mention many rides in their current state are on their last legs.

When I said about Edteling being an underrated park, I meant more so in not getting noticed as much as theme parks fans and fanatics as most tend to do the likes of DLP & PA rather than Efteling. On the topic of those who have gone though (including myself), many have rated the park highly after visiting. You're opinions of Ravelijin are similar to my own, as there were times where there was too much to see. Still loved it though. Which Aquanura was it you watched? I think I saw the second/main version I think. I've heard there's s version where Tiesto does a remix to the themes and makes a lot of them sound very clubby. Was that the one? Should have a video anyway of the version I saw online soon anyway. The version I watched on both nights were highly enjoyable.

Oh yea I remember that one (can't remember if I took pictures even there), but that one www really interesting and the effects were very good there as well. That's interesting to note. Must admit there were times when there was a bit too much going on, but none the less it's still an impressive show and wipes the floor with any uk shows at this time.The baron mercy is lush. If they could do that amount with other rides they would have some great stuff available. Can't remember which version of Aquanura we watched but the themes from Flying Dutchman, Joris, Monsieur carnival, dream flight & Villa Volta were used though.

Quite a good list, definitely more open from last year. Going back this year, so hopefully it'll be just as good if not better than last year's.

Damn, and it looked such a nice park (despite the many problems mentioned above) and I though it had such a bright future. It appears to be the opposite. I just hope something can be sorted where the park can be brought up by a new management as thisxfoesntvsou f good at all. Is this the next hard rock park I wonder?

Efteling is more than just about the rides, especially when a large chunk of park comprises of the Fairy Tale Forest. The Fairy Tale Forest is a massive forested area in the park which features a large array of animatronics and models telling the story of numerous fairy tales. There are different types of settings, some that are outdoors, others that are inside and some that are somewhat a mixture of both. Some have said to me how you can spend hours looking around the whole area. Believe me, it's no joke as it took me around two hours to polish the whole area whilst taking everything in from the charm and overall atmosphere of the area and believe me, it didn't feel like a waste of time at all and was an intriguing experience in the wacky yet wonderful world of the Fairy Tale Forest as there was just so much to see. As a result of this, I shall only be showing some of the best fairy tales. if anyone wants to see any more of the missing, just let me know. The iconic tree is one of the main centrepieces. To me, he comes across as wise and intelligent. Could This Dragon be the influence for the creation of Joris? One of the most interesting ones, the Chinese Nightingale. The way they did the carpet on this one still remains interesting today. The Emperors New Clothes, One of the more modern fairy tales in the forest.The effects and animatronics used here were nothing short of impressive. There's some giant bits of theming in here [pun intended]. One of the most famous ones I think, the dancing water lilies I think. The track is included on the park CD. The insppiration for Aquanura surely? On of the more familiar ones, Cinderella. I like how the castle appears at the end. I think Europa park got some influence from this one. One of the more simple but effective ones here. And who could forget this fellow? One of the original ones here [Anton Pieck anyone]? And of course this guy, who is one of the first characters you will encounter in the forest. But there's more than just dozens of fairy tale models and characters in this forest. There's a full scale theatre right in the middle where a puppet show aires every so often. Great show for young families, although the position of the dragon puppet is debatable. But there's more to just the Fairy Tale Forest and the rides. Ravelijan, a full scale live action show featuring numerous impressive live stunts and effects addition to theming and a soundtrack that are superb. Whilst I didn't understand the what was being said, the choreography and everything else was enough for me to know what was going on. Ravelijan as a result of it's greatness is now my favourite theme park show [that doesn't use fountains & projections] and that includes Lights Motors Action too. Amazing show. Like many of the best parks, Efteling features many random wonderful attractions around. One of these is this walk-through which depicts numerous fairy tale diorama scenes. An interesting distraction. There was also an indoor carousel in the same complex which made me think of the long closed Carousel Kingdom at Thorpe Park. Naturally during a busy day out, the need to have a bite to eat becomes inevitable. but Efteling, it's not all 'shove it down your mouth' at the park eateries. Like a lot of the park, it is a unique experience. Polle's Kitchen is a must do on anyone's visit to Efteling. Because they do the most amazing pancakes you've seen and eaten. They do savoury ones. Or sweet ones. Both I had during my trip were absolutely fantastic. It's one the best places I've ever eaten at within a theme park and the theming and turning gears which will speed up and react to the music every so often help significantly. You can also buy pancake mix in the shops and restaurant as well, to yours heart's desire. There's even a small museum in the park dedicated to the history of the park. It may not be for everyone but is nice to see the park keep such a historic addition. Now on to one of the most ambiguous additions in the park, Spooksplot. Which down to interpretation can be seen as a show or an attraction. I see it personally as a show [though maybe not in the traditional sense]. This is because you enter an unguarded entrance way, which adds to the mysterious atmosphere, wait and then enter where you are then shown a series of interesting effects in a spooky gothic setting whilst the music of Dance Macabre [Jonathan [Matt] Creek] plays. Despite it's unknown entrance way, it fits in to the park very well even today as a sign of one of the first stepping stones where Efteling started expanding from the fairy tale forest in to the large world class park it is today. The effects there are still intriguing from the peppers ghost to the moving stairs especially considering this is nearly 40 years old, being the first projected created by the now late Tony Van De Ven, the successor to the park's original creative artist. This attraction was also one of the set pieces to the music video to Kate Bush's first tv appearance [type Kate Bush Efteling in youtube]. But no visit to Efteling would be complete without watching the shows fantastic fountain show Aquanura, the largest fountain show in Europe [third in the world]. It's an absolutely fantastic show, especially how they synchronise all the different fountains and colours to the music which are all ride themes from the park. These include The Flying Dutchman, Joris and Dream Flight, all of which are re-orchestrated to transition better but still retain their original features. And some beautiful night shots to close my Efteling report, because this is one of the most picturesque parks I have ever visited [probably overtaking even Towers on that one]. Efteling is an underrated park. It features some fantastic theming and impressive rides alongside some excellent shows, entertainment and even eateries and as a result is one of my favourite park's I have ever visited. My favourite rides were easily Joris, Dutchman, Baron & Fate Morgana amongst many others. Not many weak rides in this park here, Monseur Carnival comes across as the only ride I did not really like and though Python was a little dull, I did not dislike it. My only criticisms to the park would be the park closes rides at closing times [not the queue like many others], which would be nice if they took up the Towers way of closing things and the merch. Whilst there was some merch there to buy [notably Baron & CDs], I did not find there was a great selection and actually found it quite difficult choosing stuff to buy in the wrong sort of way. If the park could do more ride branded items like pens, mugs, t-shirts and even badges, it would be so much better. Aside from these few floors, this park like Disney [ in it's own way], wipes the floor with much of the current UK offering. A lot of UK parks could learn many things if they took a leaf out of Efteling's book.

Wow! That's some of the best theming we've received in the uk since I can remember. I really hope this a new era for the park and they can start competing with the big parks. If I don't get this park next year I will be very disappointed.

This is crazy expansion here. Three new additions in one year is already heft but four new additions? That's mayhem! One thing that does concern me though is, what happens when they've run out of development space? Those things are all happening the following year Nintendo replaces all those kiddy things in 2019 Dr Doom replaced in 2020 Potter mk3 in 2021. Unless they buy more land, I don't know where they can go from there. Sure they've got it though.

Part 2 of my Efteling VLOG is now up. In this part, much of it involves seeing the Fairy Tale Forest, which was a very interesting place.

A mack spinning mega coaster would be an interesting and unique concept, though I don't really want it implemented on fire I case it ruins the experience on that one. Could be Walibi Holland that receives it though as they're supposed to be getting a mega coaster next year. Walking dead dark ride sounds interesting, wonder which park is getting one?

Lift, uni workload and money depending, I'll try and do this one as I've always wanted to see the TPM shenanigans I hear things about on these Guildford meets.