2015: 40th Anniversary

[Sam]

A few bits and pieces.

The employees of Plopsaland have seemingly visited EP for some sort of corporate event, and they had presentations from Plopsa managers as well as Roland and Michael in the Magic Cinema, plus shows and entertainment and a tour of Arthur (it seems). All the photos are here. According to someone on a forum who was there, there's unfortunately no evidence that they're building a second Poppy Tower for this season.



There's also this new video for 2015 which was uploaded ages ago but hidden until today. Weirdly, it seems to just be the same old stuff with the 4D trailer wedged into it. It doesn't mention any of the other new stuff. Though it does seem to confirm that Spook Me! will be returning. Then again, it also shows the old parade and a clip from the old 4D film. May the new film and the old both run and alternate through the day?



Of more interest, the park have also posted this backstage video of their model-marking workshop. It seems like it was filmed during Arthur construction but has only just been released, unless I am missing something. Unfortunately the translated captions are poor.

It seems like EP are also working with a masters student to look into the possibility of RFID wristband use on park. Take his survey if you have any thoughts to add on virtual queueing and using a wristband for payment or as a hotel room key.

 

[Alastair]

Hello all,

I have been considering visiting during the midnight opening, but am currently trying to look up some photos of Europa in the dark, (hopefully) nicely lit up, and have so far been unsuccessful. I figured you folks would be the best to ask!

Thanks!

Here's a few of mine to whet your appetite (in a spoiler tag so as not to cause excessive image loading):

Spoiler: Pictures

 

[AstroDan]

EPRust have published an updated breakdown of 2015 developments at Europa-Park:

• Globe Theatre: Elvis Presley show

• 360° cinema of sorts (in Greece)

• New Europa-Park Parade

• New beer garden adjacent to the See-Restaurant in Austria

• The Time Carousel, new 4D film

• Theming developments and refurbishment of Euro-Tower

• Complete renovation of Columbus Dinghy, Spain

• New theme park entrance for hotel guests

• Express Lane: Rolling travelator for guests using the main car parks to access the park entrance

• 2x dark ride portions being added to Whale Adventures, Iceland

• New kitchens and restaurant menu for the restaurant Don Quijote in Hotel El Andaluz and restaurant Castillo in Hotel Castillo Alcazar

• Renovation of themed facades in Italy

• New paving for the footpath between the theme park and Hotel Bell Rock

Further new shows will be announced in the next few weeks ahead of theme park opening on March 28th.

 

[Sam]

 

[Dave]

You have to love how they have these "improvement" years. Really adds to the park.

 

[Rob]

I just love the totally unnecessary EP improvements such as the travelator!

 

[DiogoJ42]

The car park isn't even that big. Efteling need this far more than EP!

 

[Alastair]

I have it on good authority that we're going to hear some fantastic new orchestral music from Hendrik Schwarzer for the new Time Carousel film.

 

[Rob]

I have it on good authority that we're going to hear some fantastic new orchestral music from Hendrik Schwarzer for the new Time Carousel film.

Damn! I was hoping it would be IMAscore...

Seriously though, if that is true then brilliant!

 

[AstroDan]

Not IMAScore? What a pity.

 

[Alastair]

I'm sure we were all hoping for IMA, but I guess we'll have to settle for the soaring melodies and lush orchestration of Mr Schwarzer instead.

 

[Dave]

I'm sure we were all hoping for IMA, but I guess we'll have to settle for the soaring melodies and lush orchestration of Mr Schwarzer instead.

Is he the one who's music sounds like a mash-up between John Williams and Andrew Loyd Webber? *runs*

 

[AstroDan]

With all seriousness, the more Schwarzer stuff the better. The Europa-Park suite and Wodan scores are both excellent and I would love to hear more of his music. The Arthur score was done by Eric Serra which is also good. In fact, Europa-Park use a wide range of musical outlets - including IMAScore for the on board Blue Fire music, Benny Richter for the rest of the Blue Fire music and Horror Nights plus other studios!

 

[AstroDan]

Renovations 2015

Hotel Colosseo:

El Andaluz:

Spanish Arena Backstage:

Park entrance:

Images copyright eprust.com

 

[Sam]

Schwarzer's output makes up a considerable proportion of my favourite theme park music, so more stuff from him is good news! If this new cinema dome attraction is some panoramic 'flight of Europe' style thing, then I think it's very likely that he'll be scoring that too.

On top of what Dan just posted, there have been even more updates on various projects around the park.

New trees planted along the access road (eprust).

Another view of the refurbishments happening at the entrance (Guesthouse Rolando?)

New entrance construction.

Old El Andaluz tiles.

A slightly different view of the new Greek attraction (parkerlebnis)

And because, frankly, they've been lazy so far this off-season, they've decided to re-build the Wodan tunnel under Atlantica's drop as well.

'ute', writing on epfans.ch, brings us the following news:

I ran today once around the park and could discover all sorts of other renovations:

• The gravel road at the Bell Rock is well paved
• The front facade of Magic Cinemas has been upgraded and is well designed new
• In Germany / Italy, a crane is similar to that in Iceland
• The facades in Germany will probably also renovated and are scaffolded.

Otherwise, I could still observe the delivery of various metal parts in the direction of Iceland.

I wonder what the large crane in Germany/Italy is about? Also, I don't even know what the gravel road near Bell Rock is, but I guess that's good news. And the Magic Cinema façade being re-designed? Didn't they only redo that a few years back?

Dan's picture of the new buildings in Portugal is interesting. I thought there was only going to be one new building (permanently stables for the Arena Show horses) but actually there appears to be three. I wonder what the other two are for... some sort of new eating/drinking facilities for an expanded Portugal area? The way that the Portuguese area just stops after Atlantica's station with a big gate has always implied to me that the eventual aim is to expand it slightly underneath ASS.

 

[AstroDan]

Spanish area: Closed season update

EPFans have a bit of a treat for us over the next few days, as they have some exclusive images of the work being carried out in different areas of the park. Today, they have some updates from the Spanish area - where work on Don Quijote (restaurant), Columbus Dinghy and the new resort hotel park entrance is ongoing! For more details and further pictures see www.epfans.info.

Restaurant Don Quijote

Columbus Dinghy

Hotel resort park entrance

It is great to see so much going on at EP!

 

[Lottie.]

^ That last picture just takes me back to Junket last year! Good times!

 

[Sam]

epfans.info have posted their second update about the seemingly rather substantial works taking place in the Italian area this year.

Panorama. According to epfans the stage is being rebuilt to look more permanent and themed, and less temporary. This will include expanded backstage facilities for performers.

Tomorrow they will share photos of the Euro-Tower work.

Improvement?

 

[Rob]

Welcome to... The Smiler...

 

[Rob]

Next instalment of updates from EPFans: Euro-Tower: