-
ℹ️ Heads up...
This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.
Phantasialand: General Discussion
- Thread starter Sam
- Start date
Matt Creek
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
Visited the park recently for the Winter event, which was highly enjoyable.
Things to Note:
Things to Note:
- Park lighting was fantastic and one of the best for lighting I've seen. Looked festive too
- Taron was still running amazing and definitely more than just a series of twist and turns
- Nighttime Christmas shows were enjoyable enough for what they were, but didn't leave me amazed
- Rookburgh construction hasn't changed much since previous pictures and can't see it being ready for 2018. Rumour has it, there been some groundwork issues hence the delays
- The main patharea of Wuzetown was closed off exclusively for an event, so we had to access Winjas through an overflow pathway. Interestingly it looks like this area may have once been used as the Wuzeball queue extension.
- Most outdoor park music was off until 6pm on the Sunday due to a national holiday, which was interesting to witness but didn't effectvthings as much as expected
- Stayed in Ling Bao which has got to be one of the most gorgeous hotels out there
- During out of hours, the China area (more if you are lucky) is open for hotel guests to wander around which is great
- Interesting observation that Taron always had around 90 minutes queue, yet Hollywood and Nighthawk probably never exceeded 5 minutes all weekend and certainly shows their time is borrowed. Even Geister Riksha received a 20 minute queue surprisingly.
Think its worth considering though that HT and TOTNH probably have the two highest throughputs on park. When I visited celebration days in the summer, Hollywood tour's queue was out of the entrance and TOTNH had a 25 minute wait, so they can build up queues easily. Taron's throughput is nowhere near as high and the operations on it this year haven't been as quick as they were in 2016(had to wait over 100minutes for a ride in the dark on the celebration day!)
Ian
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Dizz, Bobby’s Yarn Land
It’s really suffered with queues since opening. Partly because of the sheer number of people queuing for it (it does seem to be doing a good job of pulling the crowds), but made much worse by reduced capacity.
When it’s running all of its trains it seems to be fine, keeping the queue steadily moving at a decent enough pace (opening weekend it was fine). But as soon as one has to be pulled from service, which seems to happen far too often, it starts to struggle.
Still, at least they seem to be able to run it better than Mamba... That awkward moment when your B&M seems to have the worst throughput!
When it’s running all of its trains it seems to be fine, keeping the queue steadily moving at a decent enough pace (opening weekend it was fine). But as soon as one has to be pulled from service, which seems to happen far too often, it starts to struggle.
Still, at least they seem to be able to run it better than Mamba... That awkward moment when your B&M seems to have the worst throughput!
I personally think Mamba's throughput is absolutely fine. It's always running on two trains, the queue moves pretty efficiently and the throughput of the ride can cope with the amount of guests wanting to ride the coaster in my opinion.
On the busiest celebration day on the 19th August, I had to wait nearly 2 hours for a night ride on Taron, and this was from queueing up about 8:30-9pm(so the queue really should have died down by this point as it had on the previous celebration days). It was only running 3 trains and the queue was moving sluggishly slowly, so I think its really unfortunate that the coaster can't cope with how popular it is and with how many people want to ride it as it is my favourite coaster I have ever ridden(my night ride on the CD meant that it overtook shambhala into 1st place!)
I visited Phantasialand in August 2016 also just after Taron had opened. I only had to wait about 45-60 mins max(20 mins on one occasion) and this was towards the end of the school holidays. It was running 4 trains and I think this evidences how much the throughput really suffers if they can only run 3 as on 4 trains the queue seems to move relatively efficiently whereas on 3 it is particularly sluggish and slow moving as they can't get the dispatches out fast enough.
Rick
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Crux
Taron is still in its honeymoon period in terms of guest numbers, its capacity is planned for the long term. Particularly when you're a seasonal park with expansion plans in the works, it would be too cost prohibitive to build everything with 2000pph capacity and in truth, you wouldn't ever really need it.
Look at Nemesis, built for 1400pph with 2 - 3 hour queues as standard in the mid 90s. 10 years later, you'd be unlucky to queue more than 20 minutes, with Air racking up a 3 hour queue just down the Valley and Oblivion not much less.
Even better, when you have a special event and vast crowds, you have enough rides to deal with your peak numbers.
In terms of length of train, sometimes you have to sacrifice capacity to deliver a certain ride experience. It's difficult to offer guests a Wild Mouse experience with excellent capacity, unless you go down the Primeval Whirl route.
Look at Nemesis, built for 1400pph with 2 - 3 hour queues as standard in the mid 90s. 10 years later, you'd be unlucky to queue more than 20 minutes, with Air racking up a 3 hour queue just down the Valley and Oblivion not much less.
Even better, when you have a special event and vast crowds, you have enough rides to deal with your peak numbers.
In terms of length of train, sometimes you have to sacrifice capacity to deliver a certain ride experience. It's difficult to offer guests a Wild Mouse experience with excellent capacity, unless you go down the Primeval Whirl route.
Matt Creek
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
Taron's throughput is perhaps around the 1000 PPH mark,considering it's a rarity rides will reach their theoretical throughput.
Phantasialand's rides certainly do pretty well for throughput and take on a good capacity (Winjas may be an exception). Colorado is a throughput monster on five trains.
Strangely Hollywood and Geister Riksha are perhaps the highest throughput rides in the park which likely receive around 2000 guests an hour (on busy days with good operations).
It'll be interesting to see what else joins Fly in the Rookburgh area and what will happen if Temple and Hollywood are the next to go? Some say there are complaints of the park needing to open a modern new dark ride.
Phantasialand's rides certainly do pretty well for throughput and take on a good capacity (Winjas may be an exception). Colorado is a throughput monster on five trains.
Strangely Hollywood and Geister Riksha are perhaps the highest throughput rides in the park which likely receive around 2000 guests an hour (on busy days with good operations).
It'll be interesting to see what else joins Fly in the Rookburgh area and what will happen if Temple and Hollywood are the next to go? Some say there are complaints of the park needing to open a modern new dark ride.
CSLKenny
TS Member
FreizeitparkCheck.de is reporting that a "reliable source" has informed them that Rookburgh will feature the park's third hotel and Fantissima will move into this hotel at a later date.
They also have claimed that the next project will be replacing Geister Rikscha (most likely with a new dark ride as they are retaining the underground hall) and retheming the rest of the area including Hotel Ling Bao to a Tibetan/Himalayan theme.
Personally I'd take these rumours with a pinch of salt until there is any firm evidence. If true though interesting that they'd spite Geister before Temple of the Nighthawk and Hollywood Tour, I had thought/hoped it would be the other way round.
They also have claimed that the next project will be replacing Geister Rikscha (most likely with a new dark ride as they are retaining the underground hall) and retheming the rest of the area including Hotel Ling Bao to a Tibetan/Himalayan theme.
Personally I'd take these rumours with a pinch of salt until there is any firm evidence. If true though interesting that they'd spite Geister before Temple of the Nighthawk and Hollywood Tour, I had thought/hoped it would be the other way round.
Last edited:
Matt Creek
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
The Chinese area at Phantasialand does not need removing, only enhancing.
I would like to see the area undergo a similar transformation to Berlin Street, where the original theme remains but new updated elements are brought along in keeping with the current stunning Chinese theme.
As for Geister, although dated, I would rather the park extensively update the attraction than rip it out completely, as there's something I really like about this attraction. If it is for the scrap heap though, whatever replaces it I strongly hope is a Chinese Dark ride (with possible references to the old ride).
I've heard a lot of interesting rumours relating to Phantasialand over the coming months, some more realistic or ridiculous than others. Some say a third hotel will be going into Klugheim, whilst others say it will actually be going into Rookburgh. I had expected Temple and Hollywood tour to be the next to go, especially given the rumours.
I don't know how they would work around the China area with (the beautiful) Ling Bao hotel nearby, it would excessive noise (and inconvenience) to residents, unless they partially closed Ling Bao as the China redevelopment went on.
I would like to see the area undergo a similar transformation to Berlin Street, where the original theme remains but new updated elements are brought along in keeping with the current stunning Chinese theme.
As for Geister, although dated, I would rather the park extensively update the attraction than rip it out completely, as there's something I really like about this attraction. If it is for the scrap heap though, whatever replaces it I strongly hope is a Chinese Dark ride (with possible references to the old ride).
I've heard a lot of interesting rumours relating to Phantasialand over the coming months, some more realistic or ridiculous than others. Some say a third hotel will be going into Klugheim, whilst others say it will actually be going into Rookburgh. I had expected Temple and Hollywood tour to be the next to go, especially given the rumours.
I don't know how they would work around the China area with (the beautiful) Ling Bao hotel nearby, it would excessive noise (and inconvenience) to residents, unless they partially closed Ling Bao as the China redevelopment went on.
CSLKenny
TS Member
Yeah. The rumour mill has went crazy it seems. One minute Temple is being removed the next Geister. The hotel stuff. The China area redevelopment... God knows what to believe.
I really can't see China being rethemed. Especially Hotel Ling Bao it only opened in 2003. That whole area is one of best in the park from an aesthetic and theming point of view. The amount of effort and authentic details. The theming items, decorations in the hotel and even the roof tiles on the buildings are authentic, handmade and imported from China. In matter of fact I think it is actually the largest collection of Chinese buildings outside of China itself.
It would be such a waste to change it.
The area is definitely getting redeveloped at some point but as Matt Creek said above I think it will be transformation similar to that of Berlin. There is a currently unused gateway between Klugheim and China between China Snack and Feng Ju Palace - it speculated that they will leave the main square and hotel be and demolish the street between it and Colorado (the above ground building of Geister, the last remaining section of Silbermine hall and the stalls along the street). This would have them a small plot of land to rework and the Geister Rikscha hall underneath the main square.
https://www.phantafriends.de/upload...21_o.jpg.b45faab92a467eab488e5854117d5245.jpg
Whether that is the next project or not who knows? I would certainly like to see the area transformed, a new modern dark ride and Feng Ju Palace receive some major upgrades. (On a side note Feng Ju Palace is actually closed at the minute and has been for almost a week after a small fire broke out in its technical room. China Town and Raik were briefly evacuated but the fire was quickly dealt with by the fire brigade. When it will reopen is unknown.)
Also it is highly speculated as part of Geister's removal and remodeling that area Colorado Adventure will receive new theming and a new entrance/queueline and refurbished station - which I would love to see!
However purely for the reason that Geister Rikscha is in a better condition than Hollywood Tour (it receives a lot more maintenance and I think it does really show), and unlike Hollywood actually fits in the area it is in I would think it would be replaced first. I don't think I need to explain why Temple should go.
However if Fantissima doesn't get a new home in Rookburgh (space issues perhaps) well then the park probably have no choice but to tackle China first. Then maybe they will build a new theatre for it in China using the empty space of the last remaining section of the Silbermine hall - also being situated between the hotels might actually be better. Or the park are holding out hope they will by then get their extension granted and move it out of the park onto new land.
I really can't see China being rethemed. Especially Hotel Ling Bao it only opened in 2003. That whole area is one of best in the park from an aesthetic and theming point of view. The amount of effort and authentic details. The theming items, decorations in the hotel and even the roof tiles on the buildings are authentic, handmade and imported from China. In matter of fact I think it is actually the largest collection of Chinese buildings outside of China itself.
It would be such a waste to change it.
The area is definitely getting redeveloped at some point but as Matt Creek said above I think it will be transformation similar to that of Berlin. There is a currently unused gateway between Klugheim and China between China Snack and Feng Ju Palace - it speculated that they will leave the main square and hotel be and demolish the street between it and Colorado (the above ground building of Geister, the last remaining section of Silbermine hall and the stalls along the street). This would have them a small plot of land to rework and the Geister Rikscha hall underneath the main square.
https://www.phantafriends.de/upload...21_o.jpg.b45faab92a467eab488e5854117d5245.jpg
Whether that is the next project or not who knows? I would certainly like to see the area transformed, a new modern dark ride and Feng Ju Palace receive some major upgrades. (On a side note Feng Ju Palace is actually closed at the minute and has been for almost a week after a small fire broke out in its technical room. China Town and Raik were briefly evacuated but the fire was quickly dealt with by the fire brigade. When it will reopen is unknown.)
Also it is highly speculated as part of Geister's removal and remodeling that area Colorado Adventure will receive new theming and a new entrance/queueline and refurbished station - which I would love to see!
However purely for the reason that Geister Rikscha is in a better condition than Hollywood Tour (it receives a lot more maintenance and I think it does really show), and unlike Hollywood actually fits in the area it is in I would think it would be replaced first. I don't think I need to explain why Temple should go.
However if Fantissima doesn't get a new home in Rookburgh (space issues perhaps) well then the park probably have no choice but to tackle China first. Then maybe they will build a new theatre for it in China using the empty space of the last remaining section of the Silbermine hall - also being situated between the hotels might actually be better. Or the park are holding out hope they will by then get their extension granted and move it out of the park onto new land.
Spike
TS Contributor
- Favourite Ride
- Taron
They maybe short but they send them every 30 seconds when it's busy.
Political Correctness - The Ride?
AstroDan
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance, Cedar Point
They will never dispatch a train every 30 seconds. That is 120 trains per hour, which would be 1,920 per hour. Impossible.
A more reasonable estimate would be a dispatch every 45-50 seconds, which would equate to around 80 dispatches an hour, which is 1,280 people.
Spike
TS Contributor
- Favourite Ride
- Taron
A more reasonable estimate would be a dispatch every 45-50 seconds, which would equate to around 80 dispatches an hour, which is 1,280 people.
Splitting hairs I rounded down but the quickest I saw them launch whilst I was there was 37seconds, basically as soon as the second train hit the 2nd launch. It's easily capable of shifting a train every 40 seconds. I've stood and watched it for half an hour waiting for people to get off it.
Rob
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
I had a couple of enjoyable days at Phantasialand after Christmas, however for me it really is a one and a half day park unless there is something new to enjoy.
There doesn't seem to be much visible progress with Fly/Rookburgh, however that one inversion that can be seen does look lovely. I'd imagine construction will pick up come the spring.
Taron remains an excellent coaster, maybe not quite as good as I remember but still up there. It really is a coaster best ridden on the front row for me though! Taron's biggest downside however is reliability and capacity, particularally the latter. It was running 4 trains throughout our visit which was great yet struggling to get much more than 850pph. On most occasions all 4 trains would be stacked up in the stations and on the breaks. Whether this is down to issues with the coaster or lazy operations I am really not sure, it's really quite annoying though when it's by far the longest queue on park!
Finally, Chiapas fire show = win!
There doesn't seem to be much visible progress with Fly/Rookburgh, however that one inversion that can be seen does look lovely. I'd imagine construction will pick up come the spring.
Taron remains an excellent coaster, maybe not quite as good as I remember but still up there. It really is a coaster best ridden on the front row for me though! Taron's biggest downside however is reliability and capacity, particularally the latter. It was running 4 trains throughout our visit which was great yet struggling to get much more than 850pph. On most occasions all 4 trains would be stacked up in the stations and on the breaks. Whether this is down to issues with the coaster or lazy operations I am really not sure, it's really quite annoying though when it's by far the longest queue on park!
Finally, Chiapas fire show = win!