Imagineer

What a detailed history! I don't think it would be even possible for me to have anything similar to this. Not sure if we're counting trips or individual visits but if so I have been to the Walt Disney World parks the most (but I did work there for 3 months) - individual trips would probably either be Drayton Manor or Alton Towers with Disneyland Paris also being up there. I would probably say the coaster I have ridden the most would be Nemesis and then I think Expedition Everest must also be up there due to the single rider line being magic.

It’s been over a year in the making, but I finally visited Energylandia this week. Here’s some of my thoughts:
Park is massive (humongous maybe), clean and features tonnes of attractions (does need more transport rides) Zadra is marvellous and easily my European number 1 Hyperion is surprisingly excellent and a great park headliner  Abyssus just shows how much Vekoma (and EL) have improved  The quality of newer to older areas is definitely noticeable Park presentation and landscaping were better than expected  Operations generally good but queue jumping awful, excellent food Largely buzzing park atmosphere, especially on Magic Nights evening Whilst some things need sorting, I honestly enjoyed this park much more than I was expecting and it is definitely becoming a key player in Europe (or even the world). There’s a vast quantity of attractions, but in time also quality. Surprisingly I missed a fair number of Creds, but I’ll mop those up should I return. 

What an awful choice of coaster.

No other park out there that I know of handles queues and operations as efficient yet immaculate as Europa Park. Some come close but none properly match this.
 
When you walk into full looking queue, you would expect to wait over an hour whereas in Europa it is more like 30 minutes with almost constant moving lines and trains heading out of the station in as quick as 20 seconds. 
 
That’s before mentioning just how many attractions this place has which is probably more than any other park worldwide with such variety and sometimes mystery.
 
It’s also just a lovely place to be in anyway, even just having a beverage in one of their outlets is such a lovely experience!

Left without further comment...
 
 

Double post... sorry.
 
Details of the changes to the Tower of Terror have been announced. There will be 3 separate stories. Looks a bit scarier if I'm honest so I'm looking forward to trying each of the 3 out! I've copied over the details they've published on each below. Not sure if 'shaft creatures' is a bad translation but it sounds a bit odd haha.
 

 
The 3 horrors:
 
The Malevolent Machine 
The little ghost girl haunts this elevator. But she is the least of your worries. Because as soon as you take your seat, this malevolent machine only has one thing in mind – to trap you, and clank and screech with glee as it catapults you up and plummets you down at its wicked will without warning. The only thing you can do is hold tight and scream! Will you be able to free yourself from its grip?
 
The Shaft Creatures
“They know you’re here. Whatever you do, don’t scream!” Scary creatures roam around the elevator shaft and are looking for distressed souls to terrorize – as the louder your pleas for mercy, the more powerful they become. Can you stay silent while plummeting – several times – 13 unlucky floors at the speed of fright?
 
The 5th Dimension
Don’t get lost in this dimension! A sinister Poltergeist specter has opened the 5th dimension and wants to take your soul with it. Prepare to question everything you think is real as you’re dropped into a terrifying psychedelic journey between worlds. Will the little ghost girl be able to take you back to our dimension?
 
I'm not sure how it will work with each of the 3, whether you will get a choice or not, how exactly it will work in practice I will be interested to see. 

Awesome Old Tv show Bodger and Badger Series 4 was filmed at the park. This rare clip shows some of the park including Dragon River from the 90s.  It ironically shows issues from todays maintaining of effects at Merlin parks 😂
 
 

Septuple posting? Must be a record, but it's worth it because FLY'S TRACK IS FINALLY COMPLETE:
 

Saucey

When you say try do you actually mean 'hides show building completely'?

This is something I posted on a FB chat page, but thought I'd share here for your thoughts as well:
 
I have mixed feelings on DBGT. In its favour it is unique and a do mostly enjoy it. However I feel there is lost potential. Its biggest issue though is narrative and immersion. The ride chops and changes what the theme and story of the ride actually is. Here is how the ride pans out.
 
1. Derren introduction makes it explicit you're preparing for a theme park ride.
2. You see the hanging carriage with a Victorian theme, suggesting a time period to be immersed in...
3. ...which is immediately undermined by making carriage modern inside. I know this was deliberate, but it begs the question what's the point? Illusion for illusion's sake. You go from modern (Thorpe) to Victorian (hanging carriage) to modern again!
4. The first VR section is consistent with the carriage and the story continues as a modern 'ghost train'
5. The middle section is also consistent and keeps with the modern story...
6...but suddenly the final VR section is now showing park guests with headsets, making it explicit that you're on a ride again.
 
It's hard to be immersed in a rise which veers between being:
 
A. Victorian
B. Modern
C. A ride invaded by monsters.
 
The twist that the carriage is modern inside and old outside is not terrible, but surely that's the wrong way around for interesting theming?
 
To use a different theoretical example, imagine that you had another dark ride which had a modern themed queue and the station was themed to pirates. The ride then starts and magically transports you back to modern for the rest of the ride. Guests wouldn't be going "wow, what a twist", they'd wonder what happened. Turn that the other way around, and have a modern station but the ride takes you back in time to see Pirates, that is a bit more interesting, right?

I get the logic in the train changing from modern / Victorian. However, theme parks are at their core about transporting you to 'the other' (so a different theme / time / place. What is seemingly backwards about DBGT is that the queue is 'modern' with mentions of fracking, then the carriage is 'Victorian', but then we're magically transported back to the time period we started off in! It's a bit backwards.

This is why I feel that a simple switch from a modern and abandoned tube carriage with a Victorian interior would be more 'magical' and therefore more interesting. It takes guests to a new place, where the current ride takes you super briefly to a Victorian carriage before taking you back to modern immediately.
 
Here is my proposal:
 
1. You start in Thorpe Park in an abandoned warehouse = modern
2. You see the hanging carriage which is now a modern tube train. The story is now that the train has been experimented on for paranormal purposes.
3. You step on board and now it's Victorian. You've been taken back in time by the mysterious carriage, and the ghosts are after you!
4. Events pan out as they did before but all in a consistent Victorian theme and plenty of ghosts. The second VR section omits the headsets on other virtual people.
5. The shop ending remains the same, because it's the best bit of the current ride.
 
I'm obviously not suggesting the is is viable to change the carriages now...but it's how I'd have done it with the same ride system.
 
What are your thoughts?

TOO MANY ACRONYMS. 

FML.

@themeparkadict
Here's the post, do you want me to put it more clearly?
I've even taken the trouble to highlight the key words in bold for you, just in case you couldn't pick them out.

£60

Hocus Pocus is definitely not red/blue. I think they're chroma-depth. ?

Hollenblitz is expensive...but fun. Loved Olympia Munich Looping last year.

It spins out of control if you load more then 6 pods at a time.

In no order: Balder, Millennium Force and Expedition Everest.

Just got back from a 2 week break in Orlando.
 
The Avatar: Flight of Passage ride is superb.  Naturally, the queues are horrific (they were hitting 220 minutes almost every day whilst we were there!) but most people will say it's worth the wait.
Think of Soarin' upscaled 1000% and you are getting close. 
The ride is visually brilliant, and the attention to detail is great.  Unlike Soarin' you sit on what essensially looks like a bike (similar to the seats on Kobra at Chessington for instance), and this is the "Banshee", which you fly on.  Thay have installed pads on the side of the seat that give you the feeling that the Banshee you are sitting on the back of is breathing as you are flying around Pandora! 
All-in-all, I was hugely impressed with it.

Prater Trip Report
 
So I recently went to Vienna and had some spare time so went to visit Prater. It's basically a permanent fairground with all rides being operated independently. This makes it quite an expensive experience and the rides aren't the best with quite a few Wild Mouses (should that be Wild Mice?!) but that said it was a good way to kill a few hours...
 

 
So arriving at the park you're met with the Big Wheel, which is why most people come to Prater. The entrance plaza is quite nice.
 
 The map is pretty confusing. Unless you know the names of the ride you wont really know where to go. So I wondered down the right hand path and found a Wild Mouse, which I avoid like the plague, and this: a Pinfari called "Super 8er Bahn" and it is fairly decent. 
 

 
I remember the days of Drayton Manor's sombrero ride....and therefore decided not to give this a go.
Below is Maskerade - a Gerstlauer Spinning Ride with "themeing". It starts with a vertical lift which makes the experience quite unique. It span quite a bit. When I got off the ride I realised the cashier/ride operator had decided to bugger off. Which was...reassuring.
 

 

Is a Boomerang really a Boomerang if it gets lifted up both sides? I didn't ride this as I was being careful with my funds so moved on to Hollenblitz. This was by far the most expensive ride at €7! But it was also the craziest. I had to wait a while in the station whilst they waited for move people to board. The inside is best described as a drug-induced trip. The carriages free spin which provides for a really interesting ride and means you to be hand rotated as it comes into the station.

 
So then we move onto this monstrosity...A Zamperla flyer called Volare. First you have to climb into the "seats" which isn't comfortable as you have you actually apply pressure on your feet. The spiral lift his is interesting but because of the loose nature of the restraints every inversion is ridiculously painful. I would never ride this again. Ever. Worse than an SLC.

 
 
IMG_6934.MOV < - Here is a video of the lift hill if this works at all? I don't know.
There are lots of "Ghost Train" style rides. I didn't ride any as I don't think they're always worth the money and I was by myself. I think they're less fun alone.
 

 
Quite often I was the only one on the coasters. Like this inside Maurer spinner. This was again pretty fun. There are many other flat rides to enjoy too...like the classic Tagada. 
 

 
The rides have weird opening times (not labelled) and seem to just open when they want. So there were a couple of rides  I wanted to do that were already closed and therefore I went back the next day. First thing I saw was this...which was closed...but still better than Storm Surge.
 

 
So now it was time for what I was really here for...Hochschaubahn (catchy name!) my first wooden coaster with an on board brakeman. I got a bit photo happy so enjoy a few shots of the beautiful mountain countryside...
 

 

 

 
 
They also have a nice looking little train that actually has a few stops, so I took a round trip.
 

 
 
They had a lot of kiddy rides...like these plane and car rides. In which the cars go higher than the planes...alright then.
 
 
Then it was on to the weirdest ride I've ever been on. Blue Plant. It's....difficult to explain and if you don't want the entire experience spoilt then don't click the spoiler!
 
 

 

 
After all that I decided to round off my trip with a go on the Big Wheel. You can see quite a bit and they do pack them in. I'd say it was probably worth the money. You can get combined tickets with other things which makes it better value.
 


 
And that's pretty much it. Thanks for reading!
 

Prater Trip Report
 
So I recently went to Vienna and had some spare time so went to visit Prater. It's basically a permanent fairground with all rides being operated independently. This makes it quite an expensive experience and the rides aren't the best with quite a few Wild Mouses (should that be Wild Mice?!) but that said it was a good way to kill a few hours...
 

 
So arriving at the park you're met with the Big Wheel, which is why most people come to Prater. The entrance plaza is quite nice.
 
 The map is pretty confusing. Unless you know the names of the ride you wont really know where to go. So I wondered down the right hand path and found a Wild Mouse, which I avoid like the plague, and this: a Pinfari called "Super 8er Bahn" and it is fairly decent. 
 

 
I remember the days of Drayton Manor's sombrero ride....and therefore decided not to give this a go.
Below is Maskerade - a Gerstlauer Spinning Ride with "themeing". It starts with a vertical lift which makes the experience quite unique. It span quite a bit. When I got off the ride I realised the cashier/ride operator had decided to bugger off. Which was...reassuring.
 

 

Is a Boomerang really a Boomerang if it gets lifted up both sides? I didn't ride this as I was being careful with my funds so moved on to Hollenblitz. This was by far the most expensive ride at €7! But it was also the craziest. I had to wait a while in the station whilst they waited for move people to board. The inside is best described as a drug-induced trip. The carriages free spin which provides for a really interesting ride and means you to be hand rotated as it comes into the station.

 
So then we move onto this monstrosity...A Zamperla flyer called Volare. First you have to climb into the "seats" which isn't comfortable as you have you actually apply pressure on your feet. The spiral lift his is interesting but because of the loose nature of the restraints every inversion is ridiculously painful. I would never ride this again. Ever. Worse than an SLC.

 
 
IMG_6934.MOV < - Here is a video of the lift hill if this works at all? I don't know.
There are lots of "Ghost Train" style rides. I didn't ride any as I don't think they're always worth the money and I was by myself. I think they're less fun alone.
 

 
Quite often I was the only one on the coasters. Like this inside Maurer spinner. This was again pretty fun. There are many other flat rides to enjoy too...like the classic Tagada. 
 

 
The rides have weird opening times (not labelled) and seem to just open when they want. So there were a couple of rides  I wanted to do that were already closed and therefore I went back the next day. First thing I saw was this...which was closed...but still better than Storm Surge.
 

 
So now it was time for what I was really here for...Hochschaubahn (catchy name!) my first wooden coaster with an on board brakeman. I got a bit photo happy so enjoy a few shots of the beautiful mountain countryside...
 

 

 

 
 
They also have a nice looking little train that actually has a few stops, so I took a round trip.
 

 
 
They had a lot of kiddy rides...like these plane and car rides. In which the cars go higher than the planes...alright then.
 
 
Then it was on to the weirdest ride I've ever been on. Blue Plant. It's....difficult to explain and if you don't want the entire experience spoilt then don't click the spoiler!
 
 

 

 
After all that I decided to round off my trip with a go on the Big Wheel. You can see quite a bit and they do pack them in. I'd say it was probably worth the money. You can get combined tickets with other things which makes it better value.
 


 
And that's pretty much it. Thanks for reading!
 

Prater Trip Report
 
So I recently went to Vienna and had some spare time so went to visit Prater. It's basically a permanent fairground with all rides being operated independently. This makes it quite an expensive experience and the rides aren't the best with quite a few Wild Mouses (should that be Wild Mice?!) but that said it was a good way to kill a few hours...
 

 
So arriving at the park you're met with the Big Wheel, which is why most people come to Prater. The entrance plaza is quite nice.
 
 The map is pretty confusing. Unless you know the names of the ride you wont really know where to go. So I wondered down the right hand path and found a Wild Mouse, which I avoid like the plague, and this: a Pinfari called "Super 8er Bahn" and it is fairly decent. 
 

 
I remember the days of Drayton Manor's sombrero ride....and therefore decided not to give this a go.
Below is Maskerade - a Gerstlauer Spinning Ride with "themeing". It starts with a vertical lift which makes the experience quite unique. It span quite a bit. When I got off the ride I realised the cashier/ride operator had decided to bugger off. Which was...reassuring.
 

 

Is a Boomerang really a Boomerang if it gets lifted up both sides? I didn't ride this as I was being careful with my funds so moved on to Hollenblitz. This was by far the most expensive ride at €7! But it was also the craziest. I had to wait a while in the station whilst they waited for move people to board. The inside is best described as a drug-induced trip. The carriages free spin which provides for a really interesting ride and means you to be hand rotated as it comes into the station.

 
So then we move onto this monstrosity...A Zamperla flyer called Volare. First you have to climb into the "seats" which isn't comfortable as you have you actually apply pressure on your feet. The spiral lift his is interesting but because of the loose nature of the restraints every inversion is ridiculously painful. I would never ride this again. Ever. Worse than an SLC.

 
 
IMG_6934.MOV < - Here is a video of the lift hill if this works at all? I don't know.
There are lots of "Ghost Train" style rides. I didn't ride any as I don't think they're always worth the money and I was by myself. I think they're less fun alone.
 

 
Quite often I was the only one on the coasters. Like this inside Maurer spinner. This was again pretty fun. There are many other flat rides to enjoy too...like the classic Tagada. 
 

 
The rides have weird opening times (not labelled) and seem to just open when they want. So there were a couple of rides  I wanted to do that were already closed and therefore I went back the next day. First thing I saw was this...which was closed...but still better than Storm Surge.
 

 
So now it was time for what I was really here for...Hochschaubahn (catchy name!) my first wooden coaster with an on board brakeman. I got a bit photo happy so enjoy a few shots of the beautiful mountain countryside...
 

 

 

 
 
They also have a nice looking little train that actually has a few stops, so I took a round trip.
 

 
 
They had a lot of kiddy rides...like these plane and car rides. In which the cars go higher than the planes...alright then.
 
 
Then it was on to the weirdest ride I've ever been on. Blue Plant. It's....difficult to explain and if you don't want the entire experience spoilt then don't click the spoiler!
 
 

 

 
After all that I decided to round off my trip with a go on the Big Wheel. You can see quite a bit and they do pack them in. I'd say it was probably worth the money. You can get combined tickets with other things which makes it better value.
 


 
And that's pretty much it. Thanks for reading!
 

Volare's aren't that bad at all man! One of them over El Condor any day of the week.
 
This park seems absolutely the definition of credit run, nothing worth the hassle apart from the temporary visit from Hollenblitz...
 
On that note, I'm rather jealous of you for getting to ride that beast, I'm currently praying to Zeus nightly that it makes it's way to Winter Wonderland!
 
Dinosaur Sub Terra does seem like a laugh though.

Prater Trip Report
 
So I recently went to Vienna and had some spare time so went to visit Prater. It's basically a permanent fairground with all rides being operated independently. This makes it quite an expensive experience and the rides aren't the best with quite a few Wild Mouses (should that be Wild Mice?!) but that said it was a good way to kill a few hours...
 

 
So arriving at the park you're met with the Big Wheel, which is why most people come to Prater. The entrance plaza is quite nice.
 
 The map is pretty confusing. Unless you know the names of the ride you wont really know where to go. So I wondered down the right hand path and found a Wild Mouse, which I avoid like the plague, and this: a Pinfari called "Super 8er Bahn" and it is fairly decent. 
 

 
I remember the days of Drayton Manor's sombrero ride....and therefore decided not to give this a go.
Below is Maskerade - a Gerstlauer Spinning Ride with "themeing". It starts with a vertical lift which makes the experience quite unique. It span quite a bit. When I got off the ride I realised the cashier/ride operator had decided to bugger off. Which was...reassuring.
 

 

Is a Boomerang really a Boomerang if it gets lifted up both sides? I didn't ride this as I was being careful with my funds so moved on to Hollenblitz. This was by far the most expensive ride at €7! But it was also the craziest. I had to wait a while in the station whilst they waited for move people to board. The inside is best described as a drug-induced trip. The carriages free spin which provides for a really interesting ride and means you to be hand rotated as it comes into the station.

 
So then we move onto this monstrosity...A Zamperla flyer called Volare. First you have to climb into the "seats" which isn't comfortable as you have you actually apply pressure on your feet. The spiral lift his is interesting but because of the loose nature of the restraints every inversion is ridiculously painful. I would never ride this again. Ever. Worse than an SLC.

 
 
IMG_6934.MOV < - Here is a video of the lift hill if this works at all? I don't know.
There are lots of "Ghost Train" style rides. I didn't ride any as I don't think they're always worth the money and I was by myself. I think they're less fun alone.
 

 
Quite often I was the only one on the coasters. Like this inside Maurer spinner. This was again pretty fun. There are many other flat rides to enjoy too...like the classic Tagada. 
 

 
The rides have weird opening times (not labelled) and seem to just open when they want. So there were a couple of rides  I wanted to do that were already closed and therefore I went back the next day. First thing I saw was this...which was closed...but still better than Storm Surge.
 

 
So now it was time for what I was really here for...Hochschaubahn (catchy name!) my first wooden coaster with an on board brakeman. I got a bit photo happy so enjoy a few shots of the beautiful mountain countryside...
 

 

 

 
 
They also have a nice looking little train that actually has a few stops, so I took a round trip.
 

 
 
They had a lot of kiddy rides...like these plane and car rides. In which the cars go higher than the planes...alright then.
 
 
Then it was on to the weirdest ride I've ever been on. Blue Plant. It's....difficult to explain and if you don't want the entire experience spoilt then don't click the spoiler!
 
 

 

 
After all that I decided to round off my trip with a go on the Big Wheel. You can see quite a bit and they do pack them in. I'd say it was probably worth the money. You can get combined tickets with other things which makes it better value.
 


 
And that's pretty much it. Thanks for reading!
 

Prater Trip Report
 
So I recently went to Vienna and had some spare time so went to visit Prater. It's basically a permanent fairground with all rides being operated independently. This makes it quite an expensive experience and the rides aren't the best with quite a few Wild Mouses (should that be Wild Mice?!) but that said it was a good way to kill a few hours...
 

 
So arriving at the park you're met with the Big Wheel, which is why most people come to Prater. The entrance plaza is quite nice.
 
 The map is pretty confusing. Unless you know the names of the ride you wont really know where to go. So I wondered down the right hand path and found a Wild Mouse, which I avoid like the plague, and this: a Pinfari called "Super 8er Bahn" and it is fairly decent. 
 

 
I remember the days of Drayton Manor's sombrero ride....and therefore decided not to give this a go.
Below is Maskerade - a Gerstlauer Spinning Ride with "themeing". It starts with a vertical lift which makes the experience quite unique. It span quite a bit. When I got off the ride I realised the cashier/ride operator had decided to bugger off. Which was...reassuring.
 

 

Is a Boomerang really a Boomerang if it gets lifted up both sides? I didn't ride this as I was being careful with my funds so moved on to Hollenblitz. This was by far the most expensive ride at €7! But it was also the craziest. I had to wait a while in the station whilst they waited for move people to board. The inside is best described as a drug-induced trip. The carriages free spin which provides for a really interesting ride and means you to be hand rotated as it comes into the station.

 
So then we move onto this monstrosity...A Zamperla flyer called Volare. First you have to climb into the "seats" which isn't comfortable as you have you actually apply pressure on your feet. The spiral lift his is interesting but because of the loose nature of the restraints every inversion is ridiculously painful. I would never ride this again. Ever. Worse than an SLC.

 
 
IMG_6934.MOV < - Here is a video of the lift hill if this works at all? I don't know.
There are lots of "Ghost Train" style rides. I didn't ride any as I don't think they're always worth the money and I was by myself. I think they're less fun alone.
 

 
Quite often I was the only one on the coasters. Like this inside Maurer spinner. This was again pretty fun. There are many other flat rides to enjoy too...like the classic Tagada. 
 

 
The rides have weird opening times (not labelled) and seem to just open when they want. So there were a couple of rides  I wanted to do that were already closed and therefore I went back the next day. First thing I saw was this...which was closed...but still better than Storm Surge.
 

 
So now it was time for what I was really here for...Hochschaubahn (catchy name!) my first wooden coaster with an on board brakeman. I got a bit photo happy so enjoy a few shots of the beautiful mountain countryside...
 

 

 

 
 
They also have a nice looking little train that actually has a few stops, so I took a round trip.
 

 
 
They had a lot of kiddy rides...like these plane and car rides. In which the cars go higher than the planes...alright then.
 
 
Then it was on to the weirdest ride I've ever been on. Blue Plant. It's....difficult to explain and if you don't want the entire experience spoilt then don't click the spoiler!
 
 

 

 
After all that I decided to round off my trip with a go on the Big Wheel. You can see quite a bit and they do pack them in. I'd say it was probably worth the money. You can get combined tickets with other things which makes it better value.
 


 
And that's pretty much it. Thanks for reading!