Bowser
TS Member
So we just got home from 3 days at Efteling for the first time ever. I was going to do a trip report but i didn't take many photos (apart from some family shots) so i think reams of text might be a bit dull and will instead try to condense my thoughts! I may fail...
In short though, this is easily the best theme park we've ever been to! I thought Plopsaland was great but this was next level.
The Rides
- Every ride here is great! Literally everything we went on was brilliant even when they were simply better versions of rides we have been on elsewhere.
- The 4D cinema is lovely. The effects are less aggressive than say Lego Cinema but the wonderful pre-show cave room, gigantic main screen and the secret element take it to the next level. Not only that but you exit into an insane restaurant that has an entirely themed childrens play area.
- Next we went on Symbolica. What is this witchcraft! Our first trackless dark ride, it's beyond spectacular from the magically themed exterior, the pre-show to the ride itself. The option to pick your route and encourage re-rides is great too, a running theme in the park.
- After that was Vogel Rok, which instantly became my sons favourite ride ever and we went on perhaps 7 times over the trip. Seems crazy the UK has nothing comparable, especially when we used to have several.
- Carnival was probably the weakest ride. Still nice enough but somewhat dated compared to other things in the park.
- The pirate ship on the other hand was great, the size of it!
- How is Python 43 years old and smoother than any coaster i've been on in the UK? Even my non thoosie wife couldn't believe she could go on any ride at the park, especially that and not get a headache. And the fact you keep your bags on the ride too!
- Joris was great, we only did one side so not sure if there's much difference between them?
- The highlight of the trip was The Flying Dutchman. Because of the way we walked round the park, my wife and son didn't see what the ride actually was, so just thought it was a themed boat ride. Their surprise was equivalent to ones first ride on Thirteen! The whole atmosphere of it was amazing.
- Max and Moritz was an excellent powered coaster. The way it does the second lap faster absolutely delighted my son so we did both sides on that one.
- Pagoda was a good change of pace. Great how it does a full cycle so everyone gets a chance to view from all sides. Every detail catered for, very much the motto of the park.
- Dreamflight was brilliant too. The setpieces are amazing and then the fast descent was a nice surprise.
- Sadly my son was 3cm too short for Baron.... but after a disastrous first nights sleep (or lack of) he was crashing by 8pm on day 2 so my wife took him to bed and i ran back for a sunset ride on my own! My first ever Dive coaster and it was brilliant. The pre-show reminded me of Wickerman but the whole presentation of it was incredible. The drop itself was really fun, much more pleasant than the beyond vertical drops i've experienced.
The Park
- Such a beautiful park. Just endless flawless unique theming everywhere, it's incomparable and my words can't do it justice.
- We never queued more than 25 minutes for anything to my knowledge. The way the majority of the rides are built so that there are pre-shows and interesting theming is pure genius. The operations for everything were excellent too. A few times rides went down but they were always up again in very short order. Even when we saw a ride was down on the app, i figured it would be fixed by the time we got there and lo and behold it was.
- Real food! In a theme park!!! Will wonders never cease? Yes there's plenty of burgers and hot dogs and donuts but there's also freshly cooked pasta, massive salad bars, fruit smoothies and more! And food establishments absolutely everywhere. And seating! And staff! Staff everywhere! This is how to run a theme park.
Accommodation
- We stayed in the Bosrijk village and it was so good. Like Center Parcs but multiple times better. Nicer buildings, nicer surroundings, a fun if very crowded free swimming pool. Our house backed onto a lake where we could see the sandmans house and then the ducks would come over to us which my son loved.
- Being able to walk to and from the park was a dream come true. It meant on the difficult sleep deprived second day we could pop back for a rest then return to the park for the fountains and some food.
Conclusion
I'll wrap it up there. I'm sure i'm forgetting things (like the fairytale village i've just realised) but i want to talk and gush over Efteling forever, it truly was magical and we will almost certainly be back next year!
In short though, this is easily the best theme park we've ever been to! I thought Plopsaland was great but this was next level.
The Rides
- Every ride here is great! Literally everything we went on was brilliant even when they were simply better versions of rides we have been on elsewhere.
- The 4D cinema is lovely. The effects are less aggressive than say Lego Cinema but the wonderful pre-show cave room, gigantic main screen and the secret element take it to the next level. Not only that but you exit into an insane restaurant that has an entirely themed childrens play area.
- Next we went on Symbolica. What is this witchcraft! Our first trackless dark ride, it's beyond spectacular from the magically themed exterior, the pre-show to the ride itself. The option to pick your route and encourage re-rides is great too, a running theme in the park.
- After that was Vogel Rok, which instantly became my sons favourite ride ever and we went on perhaps 7 times over the trip. Seems crazy the UK has nothing comparable, especially when we used to have several.
- Carnival was probably the weakest ride. Still nice enough but somewhat dated compared to other things in the park.
- The pirate ship on the other hand was great, the size of it!
- How is Python 43 years old and smoother than any coaster i've been on in the UK? Even my non thoosie wife couldn't believe she could go on any ride at the park, especially that and not get a headache. And the fact you keep your bags on the ride too!
- Joris was great, we only did one side so not sure if there's much difference between them?
- The highlight of the trip was The Flying Dutchman. Because of the way we walked round the park, my wife and son didn't see what the ride actually was, so just thought it was a themed boat ride. Their surprise was equivalent to ones first ride on Thirteen! The whole atmosphere of it was amazing.
- Max and Moritz was an excellent powered coaster. The way it does the second lap faster absolutely delighted my son so we did both sides on that one.
- Pagoda was a good change of pace. Great how it does a full cycle so everyone gets a chance to view from all sides. Every detail catered for, very much the motto of the park.
- Dreamflight was brilliant too. The setpieces are amazing and then the fast descent was a nice surprise.
- Sadly my son was 3cm too short for Baron.... but after a disastrous first nights sleep (or lack of) he was crashing by 8pm on day 2 so my wife took him to bed and i ran back for a sunset ride on my own! My first ever Dive coaster and it was brilliant. The pre-show reminded me of Wickerman but the whole presentation of it was incredible. The drop itself was really fun, much more pleasant than the beyond vertical drops i've experienced.
The Park
- Such a beautiful park. Just endless flawless unique theming everywhere, it's incomparable and my words can't do it justice.
- We never queued more than 25 minutes for anything to my knowledge. The way the majority of the rides are built so that there are pre-shows and interesting theming is pure genius. The operations for everything were excellent too. A few times rides went down but they were always up again in very short order. Even when we saw a ride was down on the app, i figured it would be fixed by the time we got there and lo and behold it was.
- Real food! In a theme park!!! Will wonders never cease? Yes there's plenty of burgers and hot dogs and donuts but there's also freshly cooked pasta, massive salad bars, fruit smoothies and more! And food establishments absolutely everywhere. And seating! And staff! Staff everywhere! This is how to run a theme park.
Accommodation
- We stayed in the Bosrijk village and it was so good. Like Center Parcs but multiple times better. Nicer buildings, nicer surroundings, a fun if very crowded free swimming pool. Our house backed onto a lake where we could see the sandmans house and then the ducks would come over to us which my son loved.
- Being able to walk to and from the park was a dream come true. It meant on the difficult sleep deprived second day we could pop back for a rest then return to the park for the fountains and some food.
Conclusion
I'll wrap it up there. I'm sure i'm forgetting things (like the fairytale village i've just realised) but i want to talk and gush over Efteling forever, it truly was magical and we will almost certainly be back next year!
