Phantasialand 2014: Chiapas

[Ian]

Re: Phantasialand

More Chiapas info is surfacing!

29 boats, each with 6 seats. So it seems that they are getting the steepest drop record on the technicality that this is a traditional style flume, as oppose to the mass capacity systems like Hydro, Stormforce, or Splash Mountain.

 

[Rob]

Re: Phantasialand

And the "thrills" argument at Phantasialand annoys me. People go on about these "thrills". There's Talocan which is out-and-out thrill, Black Mamba along the Nemesis Inferno level - and then frankly all of the rest is family thrill or family. Hardly a Thorpe Park mass of adrenalin heaven. There's dozens of other European parks with more "thrill" rides than Phantasialand!

I agree with this. The only real thrill rides are Mamba, Talocan and Mystery Castle. There is nothing else that I would class as a thrill ride. There are then a few family thrill rides such as Winjas and Colorado Adventure. If I wanted to go to a European theme park based on thrills, I definitely would not choose Phatasialand.

For me, Phatasialand is good, well themed but overall disappointing. It didn't live up to my expectations and felt like it was lacking something. It probably didn't help that the park was in a big re-development project when we were there but I was still slightly underwhelmed. I certainly wouldn't rush back. I think they only way I would return is if I was either already in the area, or if they build a new world class coaster or dark ride.

 

[Dave]

Re: Phantasialand

29 boats, each with 6 seats. So it seems that they are getting the steepest drop record on the technicality that this is a traditional style flume, as oppose to the mass capacity systems like Hydro, Stormforce, or Splash Mountain.

So they are not actually getting a record then really?

As for Dan and Robs points i agree fully, i just find many of its rides are amazing but the park as a whole lacks something. And i too don't understand the thrill argument, Mamba is less thrilling than Bluefire yet everyone goes on about PL having the thrills.

To my mind the only thrill rides are Mamba and Talocan and the only one that is actually very thrill is Talocan. Mystery Castle is i would say upper family thrill.

It's almost like they have all the right ingredients but once mixed together something is just missing.

 

[Sam]

Re: Phantasialand

It may not be the kind of holiday resort you could spend a week at like Europa, but for thrills (which is my main interest), there is no contest.

Is there another area of the park that I never managed to find...? :S

The 'thrills' argument about Phanny is very odd. Firstly, Mystery Castle is firmly family-thrill. Don't get me wrong - it's one of my favourite rides of all time, any genre, but it's probably the least physically intense tower ride I've been on, except ToT.

Black Mamba is beautiful, but strip away all the theming and I didn't find it anymore intense that Inferno. Yes, it's a thrill ride, but definitely towards the lower-end of that category. I find it about as physically intense as Silvia, Mir and Wodan.

Talocan is undoubtedly a thrill ride, yes. I don't like it personally because it crushes your testicles. But when the only truly rip-your-face-off thrill in the park is a Huss flat-ride, I think Phanny's reputation as a g-force utopia is very overrated.

Based on the criteria of people who say they prefer PL to EP because of the thrill rides, logically your favourite park in Europe should be Thorpe, which offers many more top-intensity rides than Phanny.

p.s. Chiapas looks lovely.

 

[DiogoJ42]

Re: Phantasialand

As someone who hates drop towers, Mystery Castle is plenty thrilling! I'll admit that Mamba is no Nemesis, but I would honestly take it over Blue Fire any day. And back row on Colorado can be a pretty intense ride.

 

[Bear]

Re: Phantasialand

I personally class Colorado as a thrill ride, it's absolutely mint!

 

[Ian]

Re: Phantasialand

I personally class Colorado as a thrill ride, it's absolutely mint!

Bare in mind we didn't ride it right at the front Colorado is an interesting one, as I'd say at the front it's a strong family thrill ride, whereas at the back it's a completely different experience, which is much more intense. It's a brilliant design I think.

With regard to the thrills argument, my personal view is that Phanny is probably one of the best examples of a family park, along with Alton. They really do have something to cater for every audience, and while their thrill rides may only be 3-4 depending on how you look at it well considering their size and number of attractions I'd say it's a good balance of attractions from all areas. The ratio of thrill to family works very well. I'd say Alton is the same, if a little thrill heavier.

---

In other news, the scaffolding is coming down at last

They also seem to have started spreading the rocks around the pool. Surely once that's finished they can't be far off filling?

 

[Dave]

Re: Phantasialand

I found Colorado a bit average, not dull but certainly not amazing.

And i would definitely take Bluefire over CrapMamba any day

 

[Sazzle]

Re: Phantasialand

Phantasialand is a generally more concise park in my opinion - a small selection of rides that represent each target audience of young, old, thrill and family. I wouldn't say its the thrill mecca of Europe as some do, but I value the fact that Talocan is insane (I don't have testicles to crush, huzzah!), Mystery Castle is next to ToT for thrills, and Black Mamba is one of the most intricately themed coasters I've ever been on.

Black Mamba isn't 'crap' as has been said, but it isn't world class either - it sits as a happy medium of delivering thrills without ripping your face off. I was slightly concerned when I last rode in April 2012 as it wasn't as smooth as when it opened... perhaps the trains need some work?

I did feel, in 2012, that the park itself lacked the atmosphere than it once had (2007/08), and I put that down to the loss of the areas that are now taken up by that hideous entrance plaza and surrounding concrete jungle. Its absolutely devoid of ANY soul! Awful.

There's one thing that no one can knock the park for.. their theming. Black Mamba, Talocan, Chiapas, Mouse au Chocolat & Mystery Castle are perfect examples of theming that has gone above and beyond "small park" expectations. I won't hide that there are a few anomalies though - 4D cinema (whaaaaaat?!), River Quest (mass concrete structure!), Temple of the Night Hawk (nice station, nice.. uh..), Hollywood Tour (fantastic shed!) to name the biggies!

In short, the park is wonderful and I enjoy my visits there. I can't justify the massive hype over it being a thrill capital though..

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[Anonymous]

Re: Phantasialand

We have water!

 

[Natalie]

Re: Phantasialand

Look how nice and clean it is!

 

[Dave]

Re: Phantasialand

Never in the history of a water-ride has the sight of water been such a shocking and surprising event

Seriously though it may actually open soon, and nice tunnel drop

 

[Ian]

Re: Phantasialand

We have water!

In case anyone was wondering, it was drained again the following morning, with people working in the trough. I'm guessing they were leak testing or something.

BUT

They actually started filling the main lake today! What do you know, it actually does have water in it

 

[Sam]

Re: Phantasialand

This ride is unbelievably beautiful. Some new photos from this website. Click to see all of them - I'll post a few of the best here.

It's so perfect and beautiful I think I want to cry.

 

[djtruefitt]

Re: Phantasialand

It looks really nice, and as if most of it has been there for years! Can't wait to see what it looks like when its completely finished and working.

 

[Lottie.]

Re: Phantasialand

I am rather looking forward to visiting the park for the first time next month This ride looks amazing!

 

[Ian]

Re: Phantasialand

It gets even more stunning when you see the waterfalls in action! They've been testing various ones over the last few days (As well as making some alterations to them along the way)

Aside from the temple, which I personally think could do with a bit more water being pumped over it it's looking fantastic

Work is also continuing in Colorado's warehouse, adding more theming.

Over on PL-Fans there's been speculation that the wooden tunnel over Chiapas is only a temporary measure to hide the ugly tin shed warehouse, and that this will be removed over closed season, and the whole building overhauled to look better, as oppose to having to close Colorado mid season to carry out the work.

Personally I can't see it happening, but I do really yearn for it. While CA is an amazing coaster that shed really does spoil it. Maybe now they have another ride sharing the space though they might be tempted to do something to it all.

 

[Sazzle]

Re: Phantasialand

Wowowowowoweeeeeeee!!

Looks absolutely stunning - I can't wait to get a feel for the place with this new addition

I've been thinking about that god awful entrance plaza. You know what it needs? Nice big leafy trees. Not those ugly knobbly bare ones!

I might take some nice potted plants on my next trip..

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[CGM]

Re: Phantasialand

I do like the concept behind this ride but the rock work just looks too fake for my liking. It probably won't bother most people but for me, it makes it look quite ugly. The waterfalls in particular look very geometric and artificial. I wish they'd broken it all up with a little more greenery.

It's a bit of a personal bugbear of mine and to be honest, I think that rock work is an art that only Disney have mastered.

 

[Sam]

Re: Phantasialand

From Coaster Club Denmark...

It's just... so... beautiful...

Serious contender for the most beautiful ride ever built.