Trip Planning: Information, advice and questions!

[AT86]

Hey guys, just over a month to go before our first Winter Season trip to Europa Park. Our previous visits have been during summer season. We are very much looking forward to the trip.

Was just wondering if any one has any tips specific to winter season? Such as good places to eat, rides to do, shows to see (and maybe ones to avoid!) We are staying onsite at Bell Rock (first time staying here too), one day at Rulantica and two at EP. Anyone know the usual rides open for ERT during winter?

Cheers!

 

[AstroDan]

Hey guys, just over a month to go before our first Winter Season trip to Europa Park. Our previous visits have been during summer season. We are very much looking forward to the trip.

Was just wondering if any one has any tips specific to winter season? Such as good places to eat, rides to do, shows to see (and maybe ones to avoid!) We are staying onsite at Bell Rock (first time staying here too), one day at Rulantica and two at EP. Anyone know the usual rides open for ERT during winter?

Cheers!

Food
- Erdinger Urweisse Hut in Portugal; great Christmas ambience
- The fountain/projection show is great in France
- Christmas market is just delightful

Generally, winter is just a wonderful, wonderful time of year at EP.

ERT for hotel guests (10-11am):
1 Big Wheel ‘Bellevue’
2 Alpine Coaster ‘Enzian’
3 Vienna Wave Swing
4 Columbus Boats
5 Feria Swing
6 Batavia made of Ice
7 EP Express Station (stops in Germany only)
8 Casa da Aventura

Arthur etc. opens early on some peak days.

 

[AT86]

Food
- Erdinger Urweisse Hut in Portugal; great Christmas ambience
- The fountain/projection show is great in France
- Christmas market is just delightful

Generally, winter is just a wonderful, wonderful time of year at EP.

ERT for hotel guests (10-11am):
1 Big Wheel ‘Bellevue’
2 Alpine Coaster ‘Enzian’
3 Vienna Wave Swing
4 Columbus Boats
5 Feria Swing
6 Batavia made of Ice
7 EP Express Station (stops in Germany only)
8 Casa da Aventura

Arthur etc. opens early on some peak days.

Thank you, much appreciated.

 

[Lneeno]

So looks like I’m going to europa during may school 2020 holiday, and I have a few questions.

1. Europa hotels are 20% off during that time but they still work out about £200 more than stopping in rust. Would you guys say it’s definitely worth stopping in them over rust hotels?

2. Planning on going Monday to Friday so two days on park and one day in Rulantica as it stands. But don’t know if doing Rulantica on it’s own day is a waste? Hard to predict as it’s not open yet.

3. What time does the shuttle from Ringsheim finish on Mondays?

Ta!

 

[RicketyCricket]

Personally I don't think the hotels are worth forking out for, but I'm sure plenty on here will disagree.

They're all brilliant, but it's just a bed at the end of the day. If you stay in Rust you can always walk to the hotels to use the bars/restaurants.

 

[Burbs]

1. Europa hotels are 20% off during that time but they still work out about £200 more than stopping in rust. Would you guys say it’s definitely worth stopping in them over rust hotels?

I will be making my 6th trip to EP in December this year, and that will be my first time staying in a resort hotel, and only for one night at that. The hotels are beautiful and a pleasure to wander around, dine and drink in. You can do all this without being a hotel guest. For me, Rust feels like it's an extension to the Europa Park Resort - just full of perfectly pleasant guest houses, B&Bs and apartments. I've not been disappointed with any of them yet, nor have I heard many bad things. It's also not too far to walk to the park entrance - max 25 minutes depending on where you stay. For example, if you stay in the south end of Rust, it's about a 15-minute walk to the park entrance, but a 5 minute walk back from the hotels at night.

3. What time does the shuttle from Ringsheim finish on Mondays?

Here is the current timetable for the 7231 shuttle bus between Ringsheim and Europa-Park. This is only accurate until mid-December this year, however I don't envisage that it will alter dramatically.

2. Planning on going Monday to Friday so two days on park and one day in Rulantica as it stands. But don’t know if doing Rulantica on it’s own day is a waste? Hard to predict as it’s not open yet.

Depending on when you arrive on the Monday, you could do Rulantica in the evening as there is an evening ticket option from 5pm. You could also do this on any of the other days. I suggest this as most on here would agree that 3-days in the main park is recommend to fully experience everything, whilst not feeling rushed.

 

[Deejay]

Hi all I’m going next may as well during the UK half term so we are going to travel out Saturday then have Sunday- Wednesday to enjoy the park as we understand the Thursday can be one of there busiest days we plan on leaving then , may pop in during the morning if the kids really want to or just see one of the shows etc, so my question is where to stay?? We are a family of 4 and the kids 7 and 11 . The hotels on site are too expensive would ideally like a apartment type of place as be nice to have a eve or two where we can just do our own food etc but looking at hotels etc as well, so any ideas would be appreciated if you have stayed in any reasonably priced places or could recommend any , we are planning on getting the annual pass and hoping to go back out the following Easter , just hope it’s as good as people say, thanks in advance for any advise

 

[venny]

The resort hotels are nice, no doubt. As others have said though, you can sort of get the resort experience without staying there. Given the quality of the rooms, they are right on the border of being overpriced. For us, the best thing is the location - you are literally on the door of the park and can wander in and out as you like or use the monorail stop at the hotel. In that regard, we would recommend El Andaluz, as it’s both cheapest and closest. A hotel in Rust will not offer the same convenience.

As far as apartments go, you really are best perusing booking.com. We’ve stayed in a few B&Bs and also SK Apartments, Fewo Punkt and Fewo Petra. All have been very good. The accommodation quality in Rust generally is good, just check reviews and you’re unlikely to go too far wrong.

 

[Lneeno]

Cheers guys, I might just go for a hotel in rust then. As long as We can still get to the europa bars and restaurants at night it should be fine.


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[IDB]

From my experience visiting this year on Ascension Day and the day after, would recommend that you don’t visit on Thur 21 & Fri 22 May 2020. This year it was very very BUSY!!

 

[Lneeno]

From my experience visiting this year on Ascension Day and the day after, would recommend that you don’t visit on Thur 21 & Fri 22 May 2020. It was very very BUSY!!

May school holidays are the week after, I’m Planning on flying on the 25th so problem here! Cheers though


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[Deejay]

Ahhh great news I thought it was always the last Thursday and Friday of May that was the dates to avoid? So the last week in May 2020 should be good all week? May alter my days about now , thanks

 

[Burbs]

Cheers guys, I might just go for a hotel in rust then. As long as We can still get to the europa bars and restaurants at night it should be fine.


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Yep, all are available for anyone to use! Remember that the Camp Resort exists as well, right down at the other end of the park. A delight to wander around at night and Silver Lake Saloon is a hit for relaxed dining and entertainment.

 

[Lneeno]

Ahhh great news I thought it was always the last Thursday and Friday of May that was the dates to avoid? So the last week in May 2020 should be good all week? May alter my days about now , thanks

I googled ascension day and it’s on Thursday the 21st. Spring bank is Monday the 25th so that will be schools off all week as well (over here)


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[Thameslink Rail]

Are the shows worth watching with limited German skills or is there an English translation available?

 

[venny]

You’ll find most, if not all, of the shows enjoyable even if you don’t know any German.

 

[IanB]

If you buy a two day ticket as part of a Europa Park hotel package, could you use one day on Tuesday, and the next day on the Friday, or is it only valid on the day of arrival and following day?

We are looking to stop in the camp site for the first night, and then move to the main hotels for the rest of the stay with a day exploring, and a day at Rulantica between our visits to the park itself.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Dar]

Their standard 2-day tickets are valid for 6 days from first use, so I would hope the hotel ones are the same. Maybe best to drop them a quick email, their customer service has been good when I've contacted them before

 

[IanB]

I emailed the hotel, and the response I got was the tickets your purchase with the hotel stay have the dates of your hotel stay printed on, so you can only use them during your stay.

This means we just need to book a single day ticket with each hotel stay, not the end of the world and it is so exciting to have finally booked a trip back to EP after so long away.

Thanks for your help @Dar

 

[Lurker]

Do all the rooms at Europa come with bunk beds? Some seem to not given the photos. However I don't want to choose a room without them (I don't like the idea of bunk beds in my room) only to find out I should have gone with another room as they have bunk beds anyway.

Maybe there is someone who does good room tours on YouTube (preferably in English, but can always do subtitles too)? Anything anyone can recommend.