Phantasialand
Our trip continued beyond Rust with DB trains whisking us between Ringsheim and Cologne in around 4 hours, with one change in Offenburg. Just for the record - the DB Navigator is a fantastic app for booking tickets in Germany and if you're checking out the two best theme parks in Europe, then travel between them is easy.
We weren't staying on site at Phantasialand this time - we're saving that for this winter all being well.
Of course, like Europa-Park, we're well versed in this small but mighty theme park having first visited in 2007, just after the park's recent renaissance truly began with Black Mamba in 2006. Pretty much all of the park's additions since then have been absolute belters, although it's fair to say that these days we have to wait several years between projects at the park.
It really was a tale of two halves this time at Phantasialand. Day 1 was pretty damn awful in all honesty. If you've been to the park before, you'll know that space is at a premium - with rides crammed in every corner and the only real space being the Berlin square (yes, Wakobato too, but come on - that area is basically redundant due to the noise issues). The shuttle bus to the park was absolutely heaving and, when we arrived, we quickly realised that this was going to be one of those extremely busy days at the park. Partly our fault for not aiming to arrive at the crack of dawn to avoid those early crowds, but it really was a chore just getting in to the park - not helped by the fact they had to check vaccination certificates and ID in addition to regular tickets and, in theory, security (which was non existant).
Either way, we made our way in and what can I say? The park was horribly full. Rides were down for technical reasons left, right and centre. Indeed, at one stage Taron, Fly and Mystery Castle were all closed for long periods - with other rides joining in from time to time, including Chiapas. All of this, together with the heavy crowds, made for a pretty poor experience at one of my absolute favourite theme parks. There felt, rather like last August when we also visited, no reduction in guest figures and, judging by the minimal social distancing in queues and the fact that said queues were all spilling well out of entrances made me believe that Phantasialand weren't reducing sales whatsoever. Indeed, such lengths were the queues that entire pathways were closed off to accommodate more queue line space. This made the pathways you could enter even worse.
I often say that Phantasialand is a 1 1/2 day park, achieveable still in 1 day, but with this kind of crowding it was anything but. Of course - rides were great as per usual and not all had long waits particularly, but it was just a fairly unpleasant experience given the stricter Covid measures in that area. At the end of the day, I made my way to express my displeasure to Guest Services. The man was sympathetic and upon learning we were from the UK offered us some Fly fastrack for the next day along with free ice creams all round. He also warned us that the next day would also be heaving. But...
Day 2 on the other hand? A totally different ball game. Ride availability was far better, we arrived a little earlier and crowds were definitely lighter. Still busy, of course, but totally manageable. Lunch at Rutmor's Tavern was an absolute pleasure (my favourite theme park restaurant in Europe) - the food is just superb, reasonably priced and with litres of beers in a very cosy atmosphere... man I could stay there all day! Taron was as ever running well, although I still think it's a bit overrated given the layout's flaws and the thing just is NOT operated well enough EVER (still, a beautiful thing), Mamba was solid (although I wish the Nemesis team could sort out their operations), Colorado is just AWESOME (damn I could sit on that all day long), Chiapas was good (although damn those restraints are pesky)... what can I say? Phantasialand is a great park when it all comes together.
There is, however, one thing I have barely mentioned. And its really for that reason that I type this report.
Rookburgh [please play the below music clip as you start reading the next section]
It's all gone quite silent on the Fly front since it soft opened last year. The pandemic has really hushed the hype around the ride but, even so, we went in with high expectations of an excellent attraction - another Phantasialand smash hit. Did it hit the mark?
You bet.
This ride is one of the finest in the world, there can be no denying it. The theming is absolutely on point, as we have come to expect from this park, and the ride is wonderful. The layout itself is not much more intense or rigorous than a ride like Galactica - but my goodness this ride takes Galactica and the Superman clones and eats them up. The queue line winds its way around Rookburgh before, eventually, you reach the lockers. All incredible in setting up one hell of an atmosphere. You pass through the highly themed security area and into one of two batching areas into the station. The station is stunning - dark and atmospheric. The trains hurtle into the station empty (there's an offload). You take your seat in the trains. The restraints are slightly less flexible than the B&M harnesses, so not quite as comfy. But then... you're off. The music. The lights. I had no idea what would lie in wait between the dispatch and the launch. It's nothing technologically impressive here from a dark ride perspective but it doesn't half get the tension going. Huge cathedral sized chambers with videos and instruments as you rise upwards, still sitting comfortably face out. Then it happens. Effortlessly, like some kind of ethereal magic, the motor silently turns you, as the train moves forward and the track bends, into the position of flight. Then you launch as the music ebbs away. You launch into a wonderfully long, flowing layout. Wonderful sights, effects, fountains... through into a second launch which pushes you, swooping into airtime moments (at the front) and twists and turns. Just immaculate in every sense of the world. You continue through some inversions, passing the Uhrwerk restaurant* and then down into the brake run - which is lit by runway style lights as you enter the brake tunnel. At this moment, once more, you effortlessly twist back into the seated position before cornering into offload. You disembark.
After collecting your baggage, the only thing for it is to drop by the little bar adjacent to the ride and celebrate how wonderful this experience is with a bottled American beer. Rarely has a Miller Light been toasted to such heights.
Vekoma have smashed this thing out of the park. Phantasialand have done what only they can.
Fly might not be my number one coaster, it might not even be top 10 (for reference, I have done 700 coasters, so don't think I am being too harsh here) and it's definitely not the most intense flying coaster I have done (that still goes to Flying Dinosaur with Tatsu in second) - but this is one of the most stunningly beautiful, goosebump-causing rides you are ever likely to check out. I rode Fly 4 times over the two days and each time loved it as much as the last.
It's definitely my favourite ride in the park now and possibly my favourite ride in Germany, without being my highest ranked coaster. Hard to explain but there it is.
Effortless.
Beautiful.
Get to Phantasialand now and check it out. I will be getting back as soon as possible, preferably this winter, to ride at night...!
*I didn't want to spoil the mood, but Uhrwerk is overpriced. Compared to Rutmor's, the food is more basic and more expensive. €23 for a burger? No, sir!
