Thank you all for the advice; I do really appreciate it.
To be honest, I think I’m possibly less nervous about planning Europa than these posts imply. To tell you the truth, I actually quite like planning and having some ideas before I visit a park, and having some basic ideas of what to do and what to expect is helping me feel more relaxed about Europa; I think I’m just a planner at heart. I’m trying to plan in a way that doesn’t reveal too many of the park’s surprises to me, as I get the impression some of Europa’s best elements rely on the element of surprise. I don’t even really know Europa’s park layout, to tell you the truth, and I haven’t even seen that many photos of it beyond the big coasters and hotels, so when I step into the park for the first time, I guess I’ll just turn a certain way, walk and be surprised by whatever I find! That isn’t how I’d usually approach a new park visit, but I’ve been advised numerous times now that this approach works well at Europa, so I’ll give it a whirl!
And based on how my planning for these things has usually worked; while I do of course have a plan in my head and take any advice on board, I usually end up being less regimented and plan-orientated when I actually set foot into the park itself. While still there, the plan usually dissipates to the back of my mind, and I start to enjoy the park itself as I come to it without really worrying too much about the plan. I’d hope that will be particularly apparent at Europa, as I’m spending 3 days there; it’s not like I’ll be rushed for time here. I think I’m simply coming across more neurotic about planning Europa because I’ll admit that when you’re doing internet planning, being presented with a park as huge and attraction-laden as Europa is mildly overwhelming to try and plan, even with 3 days there. I know you’re all probably laughing at me for being so neurotic, though, and I’ll probably laugh at myself when I’ve been!
When I usually visit a new park, I usually tend to have a set plan of action in my head and things I want to hit before I do anything else, but I guess I could try “going with the flow” a tad more… with 3 days, it’s not like I’ll be short of time.
Sorry to be such a pain… I guess I’m just excited, and wanting to get some very basic plans and ideas in my head. I’ll shut up now, as we’re kind of going round in circles here…
P.S. Cheers for that queue times tip
@Tim; that’s a pretty handy and easy-to-remember rule of thumb for me to use that will probably save me a lot of bother! Does Europa have advertised queue times like Towers, or do I have to guess and hope for the best like at Blackpool?
Also, cheers for the food advice
@Gurkensalat; we’ve been thinking about places to eat lately, so that’s good to know!