2020: Piraten in Batavia

That's a bit dramatic, but you certainly did have to plan around the show times when you wanted to eat there, so no daytime shows is definitely good news.

I’m of a differing opinion. I rather enjoyed the show, as it was a rather unique setting (both on ride and from the restaurant) and a good addition to the mix of EP shows. From all that information, the loss of the show is probably the big surprise.

It also feels like we’re now down an acrobatic show at EP. Last summer’s lineup saw a bit of a re-jig, but we:

- lost the Bamboe Baii show
- lost the variety show in Italy in lieu of Rulantica
- the less said about the outdoor show in Italy, the better
- the jousting show didn’t feature any jousting
- Paddington was not great

I’d like to see another acrobatic/variety show return somewhere this year - it’s clearly not going to be in Bamboe Baii.


A couple more things I gleaned from the fan event was that:

- the burning city scene won’t return (for obvious reasons), but will potentially be replaced by a fight scene.

- some of the scenes will be separated by gates/doors.

- the transit system will be similar to the old model, but will use drive wheels rather than chains to ensure smoother transitions into sections like the drop.

- the boats aren’t planned to gave lap bats, but this needs TUV approval.

- whilst a lot if the origin scenes and characters will return, the characters introduced via the teasers such as van Robbemond, Cortez and the fire tiger will also firm a large part of the narrative.

- the new building has also incorporated new maintenance areas for the train and monorail, enabling much more efficient maintenance on the vehicles.

I also noticed on EPFans that a spinkler system has been installed in the building, surprise surprise!

venny said:

- the transit system will be similar to the old model, but will use drive wheels rather than chains to ensure smoother transitions into sections like the drop.

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This is particularly interesting. Because the old chain system used to have somewhat of a design flaw. Alot of parks with the same ride system had issues specifically with this. Drayton Manor being one of them. Which has / had exactly the same ride system. Beweldere also had the same issues on their Mack freeflow boat ride.

Issues relating to the boats struggling to actually engage with the chain.

Teaser for a Making of Series coming soon!

I look forward to this. It is not often we get such a large scale dark ride like this built. It absolutely should be celebrated via these making of videos. I look forward to them.

Really pleased to see that they are doing a making of series! Should be very interesting, I am looking forward to seeing how they have improved the ride.

From Thomas Mack on Twitter. Coming along nicely now.

I"m excited to try this in September!!

New short film for 2020 in the cinema.

Rowe said:

A Batavia themed 4D film will be coming to Magic Cinema this season!

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AT86 beat you to it

Excellent! I wonder if this will be played alongside Nachts Im Park considering it's relatively new. Also I suspect it will be in French as well as German as was the case with NIP, however it would be great to see this translated into English!

This is a change to the information shared at the EP Fan event, which said there was no new film in the Magic Cinema for this year. No complaints though.

It would be good to see Nachts Im Park retained and an alternating schedule be implemented. They’ve done this in previous years, with different films played morning and afternoon.

venny said:

This is a change to the information shared at the EP Fan event, which said there was no new film in the Magic Cinema for this year. No complaints though.

It would be good to see Nachts Im Park retained and an alternating schedule be implemented. They’ve done this in previous years, with different films played morning and afternoon.

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Indeed, they did this with Das Zeit Karussell and Happy Family, of which the concepts were quite different. I suspect this new film will have a different concept from NiP too.

Europa have said today (via their German language Twitter channel) that the new Pirates film (which will be in 2D) will be in German with French subtitles and shown three times a day. The rest of the day Nights in Park will be shown.

lmao make a new film and show it three times a day.

What's the point of this when they've got the ride?

Sam said:

lmao make a new film and show it three times a day.

What's the point of this when they've got the ride?

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That same point can be raised with the Historama's current purpose as a preview centre for both Rulantica and Hotel Kronasar when both are now open.

The film will also contain the already released trailers footage; presumably just a longer version telling more of the story and filling in the gaps.

Sam said:

What's the point of this when they've got the ride?

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Advertising their new ride (especially before it opens), having another new attraction for the map, more variety for guests, just giving MackMedia something to do with their spare time, etc.
Also I guess they are very much in a Pirates theme year with the ride reopening, the winter season ice sculptures, the film and the new Pirates ice show (Paddington is dead thank god!) coming this season.

The first making of video has been published!

I'm not even ashamed that my hairs stood on end hearing that soundtrack opening that video.