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Phantasialand 2014: Chiapas

I think they need to think about getting some decent merch in stock before they even consider an online shop! Much of their current range is dire (Though it is slowly improving). They seem to do pretty good when it comes to more home decor merch, which is more cultural and in line with their themed areas (With a hefty price tag to match!), but when it comes to actual park merchandise they're pretty lacking I think.

Don't get me wrong, they do some rather nice little bits, but things like mugs they only really have a couple, and they're all rather dire (Mamba especially!).

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They have a pretty large central store, yet manage to put very little in it! I mean a Black Mamba toy truck? Really?!
 
On the subject of merch, it's quite funny when we went at New Years and asked about pin badges, they only sold them in one shop, then we had to ask for them and they were all kept hidden behind the counter. It was as if we were buying a porn magazine or something! Compared to Efteling that had a whole stand to them (including a new years eve pin badge!)
 
Chiapas (and why it's the best water ride in the world)

It's taken me a while to get around to writing this review because I am particularly susceptible to a problem. That problem is a tendency to massively overstate a ride's qualities just after going on it, and then having to embarrassingly backtrack some months later once the 'shock of the new' has worn off. That's why I was hesitant to write anything about Chiapas in the weeks after my visit to Phantasialand, wearily suspicious of my own brain's fanboyish assessment of it as the best water ride that I've ever been on. Now I've had a month to reminisce, listen to the music and to watch POVs to flesh out my memories of the ride, I've come to the conclusion that for once my first impression was bang on the money: it is the best water ride I've ever been on.

The most surprising reaction - though one that was pretty much shared universally - after our first ride was that the POV is somehow both an accurate account of the physical ride as well as a complete misrepresentation of what the thing is like in-the-flesh. The POV shows the ride's parts: the actual layout, the theming, some of the music, the 'dark ride sections' and the drop. But somehow, in real life, the ride is ten times the sum of those parts. It's these elements that the POV completely fails to capture - the atmosphere, the pacing, the interaction between boats and the key role that the masterful progression of music plays in ratcheting up the tension throughout the ride until the final drop become an explosive climax of pure joy.

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Image from PL's FB

The role of music cannot be understated in the success of this ride - IMAscore's finest work to date. The main theme is majestic and well-recorded, as well as being extremely catchy and melodic, and embodies the ride as well as any classic film theme does. It is a proper adventure theme, the soundtrack to a thrilling expedition where the possibilities are endless. Whereas other rides with similar themes have compositions that sound rather lifeless and like a pale imitation of a Hollywood equivalent, this theme could happily take pride of place in any tinseltown blockbuster.

But it isn't just one theme, oh no. IMAscore have created a suite so that every stage of the ride has appropriate music, each piece distinct but linking back to the main theme. It is a masterpiece in building tone and pacing. It eases you in - each lift-hill and drop turning up the aural excitement to fever-pitch until you find yourself before the big drop, fist in the air, pumping to the music as you would to any headline band at Glastonbury. Throughout your journey, you pass by other boats - either forward or backward - and in the pure ecstasy of the moment a connection is bridged between two groups of strangers and you look at each other, grinning from ear to ear, and find yourself yelling "CHEEE-APP ASS!" at the top of your lungs. This is psychologically manipulation elevated to a masterpiece.

It would be unfair to say that the pacing is all owed to the score. On other log flumes, the flow and continuity of the ride is broken up by the technicalities of the ride system - the slow-flowing river, the slow switch-tracks and the slow lift-hills. These lead to a disjointed experience. The incredible engineering by Intamin here means that the lift-hills and switch-tracks are both lightning quick, and don't feel like the interludes in the action that they do on other flumes. Not a beat is missed. While you speed round the ride, the music is pumping and the party stays in full-swing. The most incredible example of this is the sideways-slide from backwards to forwards - it is done at such breathtaking speed that it feels more like a belly-dancer's shimmy to the right, like a smooth dance move in itself.

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Image from PL's FB

The layout - and the sequence of elements - has also been designed expertly to enhance the pacing: the ride system, the music and the layout forming a tri-pronged attack to keep the excitement levels dangerously high from the first second to the last. The three drops (little, backwards, big) follow a much-used sequence, but it still works well, so why mess with the winning formula? The 'river' sections between drops are just about the right length so that they end before they get boring, without the winding, tedious and overly-worthy 'middle section' that mars The Flume, and saps the momentum of that ride. The technical necessities that usually detract from log flumes are so quick here that not only are they not boring, but they are actively exciting. Yes, the lift-hills are so fast that they are a thrill in themselves.

The breathtaking beauty of the ride has been well documented and doesn't need many more words from me. Standing in the plaza of the ride, just in front of the splashdown, you realise that it is one of the most fully-realised and immersive environments ever created in a park. It is a cut above. The bar has been raised. Somebody - or a team of people - have taken real care with every painstaking detail to ensure that view is unimprovable. While other great-looking water rides are themed well (Atlantica and Poseidon), it is the landscaping that takes this to the next level. Also of note is the ride's seamless integration into the notoriously patchwork park that is Phantasialand, with the ride somehow intertwining itself with Talocan, Colorado Adventure and Black Mamba, while never feeling compromised by these challenges.

The dark ride section looks to be a bit of a joke on the POV, and the weak point of the ride. Actually, it is yet another peak in a ride that has more peaks than the Himalayas. The ride succeeds in creating a 'party vibe' that builds in each rider as you go round, and by the time you get to the 'gay disco' section, the nightclub is fully open, the first DJ is tearing up the floor and everyone has had a few drinks down them. What could be lame and tacky is transformed by the anthemic music into yet another fist-pumping climax; riders who are grinning so much that their faces are in danger of breaking are sailing backwards at speed and chanting in unison "OOH EEH AHH OHH!"

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Image from PL's FB

For me, it finally topples Splash Mountain, which I had long assumed was an unchallengeable king at the top of the water ride hierarchy. The Disney flume does not have the scope and the ambition in its built environment that this does, and lacks an authenticity of place and location that Disney have gone on to nail with Expedition Everest. It is cartoony where Chiapas attempts immersion. It is also too childlike, with fairytale songs that are a bit plinky-plonky tweeness compared to the full on rave-up of Chiapas. This is not much of a criticism of Splash - it is at a Disney park after all - but Chiapas has a much broader appeal.

Some of Splash's weak points in comparison are not Disney's fault. The ride is around 25 years older, and the ride system is therefore much more primitive - the transitions are slow and clunky compared to the super-modern Intamin system, and this dampens the excitement a little bit. While there is more of an attempt to tell a story, I am not entirely convinced that this is a great idea on a log flume. Storytelling on Splash means that the boats have to float round at quite a sedate piece, which allows the adrenaline levels to keep falling back to normal between drops. The location of the ride in each Disney park also doesn't quite lend itself to the jaw-dropping cliff faces and dizzying spectacle of Chiapas, though the mountain is pretty impressive. I can just about see why some might prefer Splash, but Chiapas is undoubtedly the more adult-orientated ride (while still accessible to families), which I prefer to the child-focused excitement of Splash and the somewhere-in-between hybrid of Dudley Do-Right.

Chiapas is the ride equivalent of MDMA - an endless euphoria with seemingly no downsides. It breaks the rules of being a log flume, they do not have a right to be this exciting. Phantasialand have taken the concept - which hasn't really been advanced since Splash conquered all in 1989 - and taken it to that next level. They have somehow made it as exciting as a really great rollercoaster. And the drop isn't even that intense. But who cares? Drops on log flumes are never intense, and even Chiapas can't change that. The intensity is in the theming, in the music, in the atmosphere and in the gorgeously rich environment that each visitor bathes in. It is an adrenaline-pumping, fist-in-the-air, full-on party ride that'll have you screaming its name by the end of the night and trust me, the night is still young.

S Gregory
 
Time for a new topic for this new ride...? A report from Looopings...

Looopings said:
Phantasialand: first revelations about mega-ride
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10-06-2014, 07:01 | Comments (32)


We finally know a little more about the attraction Phantasialand is open. 2015 or 2016 According to park owner Robert Löffelhardt the new ride even bigger, better and more expensive than this year opened Mexican flume Chiapas. "We will only build attractions that excellence can surpass" , says the big boss in an interview with magazine Park World. " Our entire park needs to be modernized. " While on a theme officially nothing is yet known, Robert confirms that the new attraction will be located in the theme section 'Mystery', surrounded by medieval castles. "About 70 percent of the budget goes on of decorations. " He does not burn his fingers to predict an opening date. Phantasialand is known for extreme secrecy around new projects. The site even goes one official photo ban .
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The above words will make anybody who has been to Phantasialand salivate. Bigger, better and more expensive than the jaw-dropping Chiapas. Knowing Phantasialand's recent standards, this is already one of the hottest current projects in the whole world.
 
Hmmm hopefully a coaster of some sorts. I do think that Phatasialand needs another top draw coaster. I have a feeling it won't be though.

:)
 
I can't wait to ride it when it opens in 2017! :p

Seriously though, I agree with Rob. A nice coaster would complement Mystery quite well, it already has a flat and a water ride. Hopefully a nice, quiet launcher. From MACK.
 
Well as posted in the previous topic there are several rumours going around, including a Mummy style enclosed coaster, B&M Flyer, and the usual Intamin Free-Fall coaster that most of the park's fans seem to consider the best thing since sliced bread (God knows why, the only one in existence is far from a masterpiece!).

Remember that in that area height is not the issue, only noise, so there's certainly lots of potential. The space is enormous (I posted a map in the old topic showing size and area), and given all the holes in the River Quest structure thanks to the Jet they can go all over the area with it.

The Mystery theme is very deep with a whole collection of characters with backstories, but it's yet to be exploited. Both Mystery Castle and River Quest do little to actually convey the story, so it'll be nice to see something which takes advantage of it.
 
Phantasialand (particularly recently) seem to really pull something spectacular out of the bag when it comes to new attractions - hopefully a new coaster is on the cards here. Whatever it is though, I'm sure it will look bloody fantastic.
 
Threads merged to keep all discussion together (And since the new project is still a way off :p )



The park's usual Asia Nights event returns once again on Saturday evening. From what I can see it looks like the usual affair, with live entertainment and Oriental cooking in the China Town area of the park from 7pm. However, one change which I believe is new for this year is free admission. Previously this was an up-charge event I believe, but as far as I'm concerned after how much they've hiked ticket prices this year events like this should be free!

Here's the (admittedly dull!) promo video.


When I was in the park the week before last preparation was already underway, with teams being all over the China Town area decorating it. I have to say that Hotel Ling Bao was looking a little unloved in places on the outside. Cracked walls, peeling paint, and broken roof tiles. Thankfully, most of this is on the side facing the Autobahn, so isn't really that noticeable, but even so, it's a beautiful hotel, so I hope they will be giving it some TLC soon as they have with Matamba this season.

Generally the park is looking pretty good, and the new, expanded Mexico area is just stunning. I love all the paths weaving in and out of Chiapas' ride area. Makes for a really immersive experience. I'm not too sure on Colorado's new, green, paint job. Looks rather odd if you ask me, compared to the old rusty brown finish it had.

The area for the new Mystery project is nothing short of massive, so I really look forward to seeing what they've got planned! However, in a strange way I did miss not having Silber Mine there on my last visit! It was always a nice sit down and chance for a break, so it was kind of strange not having that!

Hotel Tartüff has also seen some changes this season, with the third floor being reworked and re-opened. This area closed shortly after opening, and remained closed off for the past seasons. Now the park have converted the large slide from the 3rd to 2nd floor into a crooked staircase, which you now ascend to make your way around the 3rd floor (Previously guests had to climb a tipping ladder, which is still closed off as it did always look pretty deadly!), before finishing at the final big slide down to the exit. It's nice to see they have put the time into re-working this attraction to ensure it is all open and up to scratch :)
 
Given that the slide from 3rd to 2nd floor almost broke my leg, I can understand this. But the tipping stairs weren't a problem for me.

Agreed though, I liked Silber Mine. But at least we know that whatever replaces it is going to be epic.
 
Asia Nights has been going on far too long now, and has become terribly stale. I like the ambience created but its just the same thing... I remember in 2007 it was identical to what it was last summer, too...

And I am sure it's always been free admission.
 
They didn't let Chiapas stuff online either, trying to keep the ride a surprise rather than have every detail poured over by enthusiasts so every part is known prior to opening...
 
They are always like this. Apparently, if any photos are taken of the park during the closed season they will actually contact whoever is hosting the image and order its removal on threat of suspending any press invites, etc.

There had been talk of deep holes appearing on the site, so I wouldn't be a bit surprised if they aren't doing another Geister and planning on burying part or all of the new attraction to save space.
 
I suppose its quite good that people don't know everything about the new rides, like Chiapas lots of information wasn't known early on, compared to other rides in other parks.

Will be interesting to see what this new ride is, wherever its a dark ride, coaster or something else!
 
We should send Charlie Veitch over there to remind them that nobody owns photons, and everyone has the right to take pictures of whatever they want.
 
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