Plopsaland De Panne General Discussion

[BigAl]

Plopsaland is set to get a new Vicking themed land, according to this article from the LA Times:

Viking hordes set to invade Belgium's Plopsaland theme park

Concept art of the Vicky the Viking themed land at Belgium's Plopsaland. (Plopsaland)


This summer, a Belgian theme park will add an $8-million Viking land based on a television cartoon and movie series with two rides and a restaurant set in a lakeside village.

The 12-acre Vicky the Viking themed land will be built on the location of a former theater at Belgium's Plopsaland De Panne, located along the North Sea about 90 minutes west of Brussels.

A clever but timid 10-year-old boy who lives in a Viking village, Vicky is the star of a German-Austrian television cartoon series and the "Wickie the Viking" live-action films.

Photos: Vicky the Viking themed land at Belgium's Plopsaland

The centerpiece of the new land will be an interactive boat ride built by Germany's Mack Rides. In the awkwardly named Vicky the Battle, riders will shoot at each other with water cannons as they travel in Viking ships across a man-made lake.

The backdrop of the land will be a Disk’O shuttle coaster built by Italy's Zamperla with a track themed to look like 50-foot-tall granite cliffs. Riders on the Great Wave will sit on a spinning platform with outward-facing seats that travels at 45 mph along an undulating half-pipe track. The platform will be themed to look like a Viking ship with dragon-shaped prows, red-and-white striped sails and Gokstad shields.

The land will also include a gift shop aptly named Vicky's Shop, the Viking Grill sit-down restaurant and Halvar's sandwich stand, named after Vicky's bearded and eye-patch wearing father.

Plopsaland De Panne is one of five theme parks run by Studio 100, which produces Vicky the Viking. Plopsa Coo, another Belgium park, opened the Vicky the Ride spinning coaster by Gerstlauer in 2011.

As part of the expansion, Plopsaland De Panne will also open the 1,300-seat Groot Theater that will present shows and concerts based on Studio 100 characters.

For the 2014 season, Plopsaland De Panne plans to add the PlopsaAqua water park and a hotel.

The article also includes some images which I can't share here so you'll have to scroll through them on the site.



Anyway, I love the Zamperla Disk'o Coaster entrance! Pity the big one isn't as fun as the smaller one, imo. Also nice to see they're adding a water park and a hotel for next season!

 

[BigAl]

The new 'Wikieland' area based on 'Vicky/Wickie the Viking' is now open, and Plopsa Fansite have a selection of photos of this new area of the park. Here are just 6 out of 60 pictures available to view...

Not a fan of the fake turf that's been used on the Zamperla Disk'o Coaster, I'm sure they could have just used something better (even the same material as the fake rockwork would have probably looked better). Aside from that, this area looks really good. Plopsa Land have once again demonstrated that bringing in an IP doesn't necessarily mean it's going to bring bad attractions and poor theming with it.

Screamscape also spotted this article on the opening of the park's latest attractions.

 

[Benzin]

Plopsaland is an IP park though, so that point is rather moot


Fab park though, really worth the jaunt over there... Especially when it's literally the first exit in Belgium when you go into it from France...

 

[Martin]

Wow, that's the coolest kids area I've seen in ages.

 

[BigAl]

Oh, I didn't think the whole park was dedicated to IPs, I thought it was only certain areas and the larger attractions? But even so, if they can get it right time and time again, how come UK parks can't really make decent IP-based areas (and by that I don't mean the owners more making money, I mean the park making an area that's fun, immersive and memorable that's good for more than just under 5's)?

 

[DiogoJ42]

Looks pretty sweet, especially the theming on the Disko track.

 

[Benzin]

Oh, I didn't think the whole park was dedicated to IPs, I thought it was only certain areas and the larger attractions? But even so, if they can get it right time and time again, how come UK parks can't really make decent IP-based areas (and by that I don't mean the owners more making money, I mean the park making an area that's fun, immersive and memorable that's good for more than just under 5's)?

It is slightly mix and match (Supersplash is one generic example though is still themed to the Pirate Pete character), but as the park is owned by Studio 100, the majority of it I'd class as IP... Especially if this area is anything to go by for their future additions...

Now they need to add the interactive walkthrough/Madhouse combo attraction themed to House of Anubis <3

 

[Rob]

Wow that looks really good. The theming is great; really immersive and fun! I love what they've done with the Disko. This appears to add nicely to what is a really cool, fun and well themed little theme park!

 

[Sam]

The first beautiful Disko, someone's finally managed it, wow.

The way the track crests that hill in the middle is just gorgeous! Bare in mind though, photos of parks always look better around twilight. It probably doesn't look as good during the day.

Go Plopsa!

 

[Stevie]

I find it funny how smaller European parks with smaller budgets can accomplish higher quality attractions, whilst the biggest parks in this country struggle to make themeing,half the quality.

Plopsaland have done a cracking job!

 

[TheMan]

I am not impressed with the beard theming here at all:

But the handy work with that balloon, er, animal is - yes.

(Note the lad on the left, in Belgian "Hey mate, you know that looks like a... never mind" or... "Hé compagnon, vous savez qui ressemble à un ... jamais l'esprit").

Let it not be said my posts are not educational.

 

[Sam]

Interesting CoasterForce topic about the park's demolition of their Tivoli Large. As you can see, RCDB also lists a new 'Viktor's Race' under construction, and the old one as defunct.

Rumours suggest that because it's the oldest coaster in Belgium, they're replacing it with an identical but new Tivoli Large. I have no idea why they'd do this - when I went on it earlier this year, it was perfectly smooth and seemingly in a fine condition. :S

 

[DiogoJ42]

I noticed that too when I was researching for my trip a few weeks ago. Seems very odd to me.

I have to say that their new Disko looks even better in person than in pictures. We didn't go on it though, since with Anubis closed we decided to just credit-grab and bugger off.

However, it seems that Plopsaland is easily doable in a day from London via the Chunnel. So I'd like to return there next season. Just need to persuade Kelpie to drive it now. It'd be a good warm up for driving in Europe before Junket...

 

[Benzin]

Wickieland's Disko is probably the best themed flat ride on the planet...

The added Splash Battle interaction is also equal parts burdenous and hilarious...

 

[Scott]

Just seen this thread and the pictures of that land. It looks fantastic. The choice of a Splash Battle and Disko should seem like a really uninspired ride choice but they look like they interact well and the Disko is themed beautifully.

Great stuff.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk.

 

[Sam]

The rumours about a like-for-like replacement of Dingo's Race are true. Here's some photos from Plopsa's Facebook of the brand new track and supports, as well as the refurbished trains...

Also, this has slipped under the radar a bit, but the park are expanding Wickieland for a 'Phase 2' addition 2014. Though I'm not sure quite what these photos show, as I thought they already had a Splash Battle as part of Phase 1.

Any expansion of this delightful looking area has to be good news in my book!

 

[Lottie.]

If I remember correctly as I had a chance to speak to the park manager when I went last July (thanks to some friends on CF who I went on the trip with), Phase 2 of the Splash Battle is to add more theming since the area was a little bare in places. Plus in the queue, there was literally no where to hide from the people on the ride splashing you when waiting to come into the station.

Wickieland is an area that has fantastic theming and the Disko is bloody brilliant!

 

[Benzin]

Basically the area was unfinished... In that sort of continental Europe kind of way where it seemed planned to be unfinished...

Probs will be getting a shop, and the aforementioned queue house for the Splash Battle (which is needed so desperately)...

 

[Benzin]

Fantastic work from Plopsa here, considering it was a concrete block open to the elements/water pistols last year...

 

[Sam]

Exciting news from Looopings!

New wooden roller coaster at the amusement park?

24-08-2014, 12:08 | Comments (5)


Plopsaland considering to convert. A giant wooden roller coaster drop in the short term Those would be the coaster The Bat can replace, within a few years confirms director Steve Van den Kerkhof. "We view currently five options," says the director, upon request Looopings. "A wooden roller coaster is indeed one of the possibilities. Yet suggestions other novelties are still welcome. " The Bat does at least not to the scrap: Plopsaland was previously known that the mini coaster probably get a place in another Plopsa amusement park.

It'd be great to see a new GCI or GG in the European park that's easiest to get to from the UK.

And The Bat is one of the worst coasters I've ever been on! Utter balls!