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Efteling: General Discussion
- Thread starter Corinec
- Start date
Sam
TS Member
The brand-new Efteling app went online a few hours ago. You can find it here for Android, though it doesn't seem to be available for iOS yet. 
Just downloaded and had a play about with it. Although it's a little short on features, the actual map element (which is combined with queue times) is a really high quality product, probably the best of any theme park app.
You can select different layers (attractions, food & drinks, toilets for example) to control how you want the map to look, and each little 'bubble' for an attraction or restaurant will pop up with all the details such as waiting time, height requirement and even whether there is Halal food available or not.
There's also some sort of day planner thing, which works really well and lets you create a 'checklist' of must-visit attractions, as well as telling you the weather forecast for the day and welcoming you when you arrive at the park. It's also all in English, which is great. Some screenshots below.
If you like Efteling, I advise that you download this app as it's really great! We'll see tomorrow if you can view queuetimes from outside the park, fingers crossed.
Just downloaded and had a play about with it. Although it's a little short on features, the actual map element (which is combined with queue times) is a really high quality product, probably the best of any theme park app.
You can select different layers (attractions, food & drinks, toilets for example) to control how you want the map to look, and each little 'bubble' for an attraction or restaurant will pop up with all the details such as waiting time, height requirement and even whether there is Halal food available or not.
There's also some sort of day planner thing, which works really well and lets you create a 'checklist' of must-visit attractions, as well as telling you the weather forecast for the day and welcoming you when you arrive at the park. It's also all in English, which is great. Some screenshots below.
If you like Efteling, I advise that you download this app as it's really great! We'll see tomorrow if you can view queuetimes from outside the park, fingers crossed.
Sam
TS Member
One of Europe's best dark rides re-opened to the public today
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ruqjq8I5x5U#ws
Some things that jump out at me right away:
- The new grass greenery on the ceiling of that horrible cattlepen. It's a start.
- Those two beautiful new doors in that cattlepen! Exquisite!
- The new star tunnel between the 'forest' scene and the 'space' scene is vastly improved.
Compare 3:40 in the above video (new) to 4:40 on the below video (old):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoS4iT9RPq4#ws
- New queueline shop.
- New more colourful lighting in the main forest scene.
Gorgeous.
Posted by Efteling's Facebook:
Hopefully after Pirana, it'll be Fata Morgana's turn next!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ruqjq8I5x5U#ws
Some things that jump out at me right away:
- The new grass greenery on the ceiling of that horrible cattlepen. It's a start.
- Those two beautiful new doors in that cattlepen! Exquisite!
- The new star tunnel between the 'forest' scene and the 'space' scene is vastly improved.
Compare 3:40 in the above video (new) to 4:40 on the below video (old):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoS4iT9RPq4#ws
- New queueline shop.
- New more colourful lighting in the main forest scene.
Gorgeous.
Posted by Efteling's Facebook:
Hopefully after Pirana, it'll be Fata Morgana's turn next!
Sam
TS Member
A new clock has been installed in the station near Joris, to tell you when the last train is.
Efteling have also released this video about Dreamflight's refurbishment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtVgWcEc5Xc#ws
I think they're probably pushing it a little far, this is very much a Dreamflight 1.1 yet you'd think from that video it was a Dreamflight 2.0!
As Dom said, glad they've kept the charm of the original.
Efteling have also released this video about Dreamflight's refurbishment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtVgWcEc5Xc#ws
I think they're probably pushing it a little far, this is very much a Dreamflight 1.1 yet you'd think from that video it was a Dreamflight 2.0!
As Dom said, glad they've kept the charm of the original.
Sam
TS Member
Quetzal said:Whilst what they've done to Droomvlucht is beautiful, and hopefully they'll do the same to Pirana, it's hard to ignore the fact that they'll seemingly never build Hartenhof.
I've been reading a lot of the Efteling fan-forums to try and figure out what's going on. With the exit of Bart de Boar, who captained the park through an unprecedented period of growth, they are now in what they are calling a phase of 'consolidation'. This means basically that they're having a look at everything they've got and bringing it up to the current standard, starting with these two refurbishments and a series of refurbs in the Fairytale Forest. I think the fear was that they'd end up with a 'park of two halves', where you'd have all the old attractions tired and tatty, with stuff like Aquanura, Raveleijn and Joris feeling like they belong to a different park entirely.
There are rumours that once they've finished this process of consolidation, they might revive plans for Hartenhof. Remember, if all they're doing is refurbs for the next few years, they'll be able to save a lot of money compared to the cost of building new attractions, and this money could be spent on Hartenhof. This refurb program also ensures that if Hartenhof does get built, the other dark rides won't just look crap in comparison.
A few photos from forum user Tjomme of the Pirana work:
The dragon in the middle of Joris is also being refurbished:
Quetzal
TS Member
Oh right, that makes sense! I'd heard that BDB had left but my attempts to understand dutch forums were not too successful. I'm happier to hear that they're working on the older rides rather than just not investing in the park.
I wonder if they've got plans to renovate the square by Vogel Rok and Monsieur Cannibale. That corner of the park (especially the restaurant) really contrasts with the fairytale image of the rest of the park.
Still a new attraction somewhere wouldn't go amiss, surely?
I wonder if they've got plans to renovate the square by Vogel Rok and Monsieur Cannibale. That corner of the park (especially the restaurant) really contrasts with the fairytale image of the rest of the park.
Still a new attraction somewhere wouldn't go amiss, surely?
Sam
TS Member
Eftelist.nl have discovered the plans for the Pirana refurb.
New entrance?
The area around the last bit, including some sort of 'grandstand'
New queueline.
New entrance?
The area around the last bit, including some sort of 'grandstand'
New queueline.
Thanks for the updates.
We went to the park on Sunday and saw all the construction work around Piranha.
However, wasnt very good ride operations. Single train on each side of Joris, resulted in a 60 minute queue, which was very annoying especially with the trains just sat there waiting to be used. Dreamflight had a 45minute queue and its refurbishment has been very tastefully done. Also Bob had a 30 min queue. Other than that, everything else was walk on.
We both love Efteling, however, we both left feeling a little flat... Cant quite put my finger on it as to why....
We went to the park on Sunday and saw all the construction work around Piranha.
However, wasnt very good ride operations. Single train on each side of Joris, resulted in a 60 minute queue, which was very annoying especially with the trains just sat there waiting to be used. Dreamflight had a 45minute queue and its refurbishment has been very tastefully done. Also Bob had a 30 min queue. Other than that, everything else was walk on.
We both love Efteling, however, we both left feeling a little flat... Cant quite put my finger on it as to why....
Sam
TS Member
Looopings has a story on the current state of Villa Volta.
A trusted source has revealed that the ride will be the next to be overhauled.
A trusted source has revealed that the ride will be the next to be overhauled.
Sam
TS Member
The last three posts have been me.
Anyway, there's some news about a (sort of) new attraction for next year: Aquanura 2.
Can't embed that video, but you can see it here.
Also, a few new photos of the Pirana refurb here that finally show some of the details of the new theming.
Anyway, there's some news about a (sort of) new attraction for next year: Aquanura 2.
De Vijf Zintuigen said:
Can't embed that video, but you can see it here.
Also, a few new photos of the Pirana refurb here that finally show some of the details of the new theming.
maneatingmonstrosity
TS Member
Looking good. Hopefully it'll be Villa Volta up next for some tender loving care.
Sam
TS Member
The Piraña refurb is nearly complete, and the wraps are starting to come off. Notable changes to look out for including the rebuilt walkway around the outside of the station, the new entrance gate, and the beginnings of the new bridge round the back.
Photos from this topic.
The bridge.
The gate.
Sorry for the huge post, I just get so excited about improvements to this great ride and amazing park! For any real Eftefreaks, check out this topic for photo updates of the ongoing €2m refurbishment to the White Horse restaurant.
Photos from this topic.
The bridge.
The gate.
Sorry for the huge post, I just get so excited about improvements to this great ride and amazing park! For any real Eftefreaks, check out this topic for photo updates of the ongoing €2m refurbishment to the White Horse restaurant.