Rob
TS Team
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- Steel Vengeance
After just getting back from three and a half days at Europa-Park I thought I would do a 2015 general update from the park. I find that the start of the season is a worry; what if the incredibly high standards of the previous season are not met? What if operations have taken a slight back seat? What if the overall quality has diminished? Thankfully these worries were not at all necessary. In 2015 Europa-Park has taken things to a new level. What they have done is, in my opinion, unprecedented in theme park history. This 2015 update post will try to demonstrate some of that but the only way to fully appreciate everything is to go and visit!
Part 1 of 3.
Euro-Tower
I'll start with the changes to Euro-Tower. I never rode it before this year so am unable to comment too much on how it has changed but it now looks visually very impressive. Here you can see the new queue:
The area outside of Euro-Tower has also been re-worked with new paving/planting etc to give a more open/airy feel:
The gondola has received a new paint job. The park map implies that the top of the tower will receive a new lick of pain but I am unsure if or when this will happen.
Finally the lovely sign to the new shop:
Work on Euro-Tower does not look like it is fully complete. They were still doing some painting whilst we were there and I get the impression that more theming will be added in places.
Kolumbusjolle
Well what a fantastic change this has been! Kolumbusjolle has gone from being a standard circular flat that you may do if you get a chance to a must ride. We'll start with a few photos of the new entrance and queue:
The animatronic man is indeed from the bottom of the Alcazar stairs.
I'm sure videos will emerge in time but the new ride sequence is brilliant. There's new audio, new lighting, new projections and you can now control the direction that your boat faces using the little steering wheel. You can also 'fire' your cannon using a button. Overall these changes are immensely fun.
Erdinger Beer Garden
This is the new beer garden that has been built one one side of the Lake House Restaurant. It was not open when we went to have a look but here are some photos:
Looks brilliant and it will look even better once some of the new planting is given time to grow. I did not get any photos but there have one half of inside Lake House restaurant has also been refurbished/redecorated.
40th Anniversary Parade
There is an all new parade this year complete with new floats. Unfortunately it was raining when we saw it but here are some photos:
More photos of the parade can be found here. The new Iceland float is a clear highlight!
The new Iceland float is a clear highlight!
End part 1.
Part 1 of 3.
Euro-Tower
I'll start with the changes to Euro-Tower. I never rode it before this year so am unable to comment too much on how it has changed but it now looks visually very impressive. Here you can see the new queue:



The area outside of Euro-Tower has also been re-worked with new paving/planting etc to give a more open/airy feel:


The gondola has received a new paint job. The park map implies that the top of the tower will receive a new lick of pain but I am unsure if or when this will happen.
Finally the lovely sign to the new shop:

Work on Euro-Tower does not look like it is fully complete. They were still doing some painting whilst we were there and I get the impression that more theming will be added in places.
Kolumbusjolle
Well what a fantastic change this has been! Kolumbusjolle has gone from being a standard circular flat that you may do if you get a chance to a must ride. We'll start with a few photos of the new entrance and queue:




The animatronic man is indeed from the bottom of the Alcazar stairs.
I'm sure videos will emerge in time but the new ride sequence is brilliant. There's new audio, new lighting, new projections and you can now control the direction that your boat faces using the little steering wheel. You can also 'fire' your cannon using a button. Overall these changes are immensely fun.
Erdinger Beer Garden
This is the new beer garden that has been built one one side of the Lake House Restaurant. It was not open when we went to have a look but here are some photos:





Looks brilliant and it will look even better once some of the new planting is given time to grow. I did not get any photos but there have one half of inside Lake House restaurant has also been refurbished/redecorated.
40th Anniversary Parade
There is an all new parade this year complete with new floats. Unfortunately it was raining when we saw it but here are some photos:



More photos of the parade can be found here. The new Iceland float is a clear highlight!
The new Iceland float is a clear highlight!
End part 1.