Trip Planning: Information, advice and questions!

[djtruefitt]

Just thought of a question that I forgot to add... In the Austria area can the gem cave be accessed without doing the adventure trail, or do you have to traverse the aerial sections to access it?

Yes you can just go in the shop.

 

[Skyscraper]

Yes you can just go in the shop.

Sorry what I meant was can you access the gem cave that's before the shop without doing the adventure trail high bits?

 

[Soprano187]

Yes you can.. btw I did three buffets last year and they were all amazing. The cost is correct imo. Can’t see how they can do that quality any cheaper. Best buffets I’ve ever had.

 

[Poisson]

Meat buffet is the best, in the bottom of the trip of hotels.

 

[Smiling Abyss]

Hey all, planning a trip to Europa Park, Phantasialand and Movie Park in late September/ early October have a couple of question if people know the answers as it's my first time planning an european trip
1. Planning on staying at Europa Park for 3 nights at the hotel (Birthday treat), how does the resturants works do you have to reserve, are you limited to which resteraunts/bar you can go to in the resort area depending on the hotel you booked or are you free to go to any of the hotels?
2. been trying to find onride photo information but can't seem to get any information on them for all the parks, seen earlier there is a post saying €4-€6.50 for what seems like a print out but do they offer digital photo pass or have I been spoiled with merlin parks having that?
3. Is Rulantica worth getting the 7pm-10pm pass for the evening?
4. finally, any tips for the parks on where to start in them?

Cheers

 

[Skyscraper]

Hey all, planning a trip to Europa Park, Phantasialand and Movie Park in late September/ early October have a couple of question if people know the answers as it's my first time planning an european trip
1. Planning on staying at Europa Park for 3 nights at the hotel (Birthday treat), how does the resturants works do you have to reserve, are you limited to which resteraunts/bar you can go to in the resort area depending on the hotel you booked or are you free to go to any of the hotels?
2. been trying to find onride photo information but can't seem to get any information on them for all the parks, seen earlier there is a post saying €4-€6.50 for what seems like a print out but do they offer digital photo pass or have I been spoiled with merlin parks having that?
3. Is Rulantica worth getting the 7pm-10pm pass for the evening?
4. finally, any tips for the parks on where to start in them?

Cheers

1. You can book the restaurants on the Europa Park hotels app, apart from the pizza restaurant in Colosseo which is walk-up only. You can visit any restaurant on the resort regardless of which hotel you're staying at, they're even open to non-hotel guests (hence why booking in advance is important). Also note that you don't book breakfast, it's walk-up only.

2. They don't do a digital photo pass unfortunately.

 

[Poisson]

Start on Studio Tour at Movie Park as the throughput isn't great.

Probably start a day at Phantasia (would recommend 2 days) on Maus au Chocolat. Also recommend staying in Charles Lindbergh for hotels there. Probably would start the other day probably on Taron.

I'd start one of the EP days on Voltron, simply as it gets a big queue as it's new. Another day I'd start on Arthur as the queue is unpleasant and can get quite long. Would recommend 3 days at EP for first visit, plus a day at Rulantica. Can easily do 2 days for a revisit.

 

[John_P]

I'd definitely say the Rulantica evening pass is worth it, did a 5pm-10pm ticket on a Sunday last June and was happy to leave the pool at 9pm and that included stopping for a while to eat dinner. Tip arrive early and check in as you'll get your wristband and be able to access the changing areas 15 minutes before your session starts.

For Europa Park think if it's 9am park opening the gates open at 8am, and you can get in a ride on one of Voletarium, Geischtersloss, and the other ride in the Italian area from 8.30am, then wait for the rope drop. Probably do Voltron first thing.
Have your passes linked to the app and get a virtual queue for Voltron then hopefully you can get 2 goes on that relatively quickly (vq goes live at 9am), after redeeming that one it's likely the big rides on the vq will be already in the afternoon by then. So book one of Wodan or Blue Fire. Then start riding stuff around Voltron heading towards the Iceland area, then use for vq you booked, and the regular queue for the other one.

 

[Smiling Abyss]

1. You can book the restaurants on the Europa Park hotels app, apart from the pizza restaurant in Colosseo which is walk-up only. You can visit any restaurant on the resort regardless of which hotel you're staying at, they're even open to non-hotel guests (hence why booking in advance is important). Also note that you don't book breakfast, it's walk-up only.

2. They don't do a digital photo pass unfortunately.

That's good to know was getting a bit confused and felt like i was going in circles for a bit

That's a shame will just have to try and find our best ones for print outs

Start on Studio Tour at Movie Park as the throughput isn't great.

Probably start a day at Phantasia (would recommend 2 days) on Maus au Chocolat. Also recommend staying in Charles Lindbergh for hotels there. Probably would start the other day probably on Taron.

I'd start one of the EP days on Voltron, simply as it gets a big queue as it's new. Another day I'd start on Arthur as the queue is unpleasant and can get quite long. Would recommend 3 days at EP for first visit, plus a day at Rulantica. Can easily do 2 days for a revisit.

Thank you for the tips, been watching some vlogs of the parks and they look great so want to make the most of it, unfortunately won't be staying at the hotel at Phantasia as we're staying at the girlfriend's family in Luxembourg to make it all a bit more affordable

I'd definitely say the Rulantica evening pass is worth it, did a 5pm-10pm ticket on a Sunday last June and was happy to leave the pool at 9pm and that included stopping for a while to eat dinner. Tip arrive early and check in as you'll get your wristband and be able to access the changing areas 15 minutes before your session starts.

Ah was thinking that after seeing some picture planning on doing that 2nd day there, and thank you for the tip didn't know about being able to change a bit before hand that's good to know

For Europa Park think if it's 9am park opening the gates open at 8am, and you can get in a ride on one of Voletarium, Geischtersloss, and the other ride in the Italian area from 8.30am, then wait for the rope drop. Probably do Voltron first thing.
Have your passes linked to the app and get a virtual queue for Voltron then hopefully you can get 2 goes on that relatively quickly (vq goes live at 9am), after redeeming that one it's likely the big rides on the vq will be already in the afternoon by then. So book one of Wodan or Blue Fire. Then start riding stuff around Voltron heading towards the Iceland area, then use for vq you booked, and the regular queue for the other one.

This is all great, i'm the group planner so having a bit more info to explain to them how it works helps alot

Thanks again to all for the replies will be easier to explain to the group 6+, anyother advice is appreciated and welcome

 

[Skyscraper]

Just a heads up for anyone planning on going to Europa in the Halloween/Hallowinter/Winter season this year, easyJet have just released flights up until March 2026.

 

[emmerse2891]

Does anyone know when the Magellan lounge tends to be open? is it only weekends? I.e. planning to go midweek - but high summer OUT of school/public holidays? Also generally what facilities (namely restaurants and bars) tend to not open/restricted open during week (but summer)? Also are any shows not on midweek for same reason. My last visit was in 2022 so there was a still creeping-out-of-lockdown feel with quite a few things still not open or fully open - I can't remember if it was May or June but it was definitely off-weekend.

 

[venny]

Magellan has had some inconsistent opening times, but last summer it was generally open every day. It had previously been open Wed-Sun.

Other places that close on some weekdays, and/or depending on how busy the park is can include:

Bodega
Bamboe Baii
Spices
Upstairs in O’Mackays
(And perhaps most infamously) Walter’s Wurst.

The hotel bars, most commonly Bar Colosseo and Buena Vista, can close during the week.

Shows are usually on every day.

 

[Bowser]

Is there somewhere i can see a general comparison of the hotels? The website is a little overwhelming. Not so much in terms of the rooms as that's fairly clear but the facilities (eg which has a pool), proximity to park, dining options etc.

Finding it hard to see what differs them apart from design aesthetics compared to say Disneyland Paris site.

 

[Skyscraper]

Is there somewhere i can see a general comparison of the hotels? The website is a little overwhelming. Not so much in terms of the rooms as that's fairly clear but the facilities (eg which has a pool), proximity to park, dining options etc.

Finding it hard to see what differs them apart from design aesthetics compared to say Disneyland Paris site.

All of the hotels have a pool, and all the hotels are a short walk from a dedicated entrance apart from Kronasar which requires a shuttle bus.

Dining options are here, if you click on each one it tells you which hotel it's located in. You're not restricted to the restaurants in your hotel, though, you can visit any restaurant you like (and they're even open to non-resort guests).

Restaurants, bars & cafés

The Europa-Park hotels offer a special selection of restaurants, bars & cafés. Whether in the à la carte or the buffet restaurant, in the bar or the café - enjoy culinary

www.europapark.de

 

[Bowser]

All of the hotels have a pool, and all the hotels are a short walk from a dedicated entrance apart from Kronasar which requires a shuttle bus.

Thanks and great!

So beyond price or availability, what would one typically base their choice on?

 

[Skyscraper]

Thanks and great!

So beyond price or availability, what would one typically base their choice on?

I think it's just whichever hotel takes your fancy. I picked Colosseo as I liked the look of it the most, plus I'd heard good things about it from a few people. Also El Andaluz and Castillo Alcazar tend to be the cheapest, then Colosseo and Santa Isabel, with Kronasar and Bell Rock being the most expensive.

There are 360 degree panoramas of each hotel to help you choose, which you can access on their individual pages (but I've individually linked them here for you):

Bell Rock:

Virtueller 360° Rundgang | Bell Rock

panorama.europapark.de

Castillo Alcazar:

Virtueller 360° Rundgang | Castillo Alcazar

panorama.europapark.de

Colosseo:

Virtueller 360° Rundgang | Colosseo

panorama.europapark.de

El Andaluz:

Virtueller 360° Rundgang | El Andaluz

panorama.europapark.de

Kronasar:

Virtueller 360° Rundgang | 4-Sterne Superior Museumshotel Krønasår

panorama.europapark.de

Santa Isabel:

Virtueller 360° Rundgang | Santa Isabel

panorama.europapark.de

 

[Poisson]

Thanks and great!

So beyond price or availability, what would one typically base their choice on?

Also the original trio of hotels are closer to the hotels entrance for the park (Santa Isabel, Alcazar, Andaluz) and you can possibly get park view rooms

 

[Gurkensalat]

About the pools: Castillo and Andaluz share a pool that is only open in summer, since it is completely outdoor. The other pools have an indoor entrance and are open all year (and heated accordingly).

Chosing the hotel:
- if you want to go mainly to Rulantica, Kronasar
- if you want to go in the park as much as possible, Castillo, Andaluz or Isabel because of shortest way to entrance;
- if you like lively atmosphere, Andaluz or Colosseo
- if you like it more quiet, Isabel, Castillo, Bell Rock (in that order)
- if you like a fitness room and large spa area nearby, Bell Rock (the others all have spa, but smaller)
- if you like the best breakfast, Isabel or Bell Rock
- if your kids are bigger than 1,70 m, or you have a strong aversion against Christian religion, NOT Isabel (small children beds, monastery atmosphere)

 

[Benzin]

Yeah the hotels are much of a muchness. But that's not a negative, just the quality is fairly equal across the board.

They do all have their own atmospheres though, so depends on the vibe you're after.

 

[Soprano187]

unless youre rich I’d always go for the cheaper rooms at Alcazar / Andaluz and have more days stay!

Bell Rock feels much more “separate” than the original three (Andaluz/Alcazar/Isobel) and Colosseo, and we actually preferred the breakfast atmosphere and choice (there were small differences) at Alcazar compared to Bell Rock.

With young kids we’d always just pick the closest to the park now (this year Andaluz) and the cheapest rooms, as you get full access to all the pools anyway.

One thing I would say from experience is don’t overthink it, we picked Alcazar last year because we though Andaluz didn’t look as cool but in reality the original three are just three themed wings of the same giant hotel! Isobel does feel like a step up (it is) but with the kids it just isn’t worth it, id rather have a longer stay.

The one thing I’d always point out to people new to it though is Bell Rock definitely feels more separate than I was expecting.

Definitely get round to all the pools though, not busy through the day even in summer holidays as most people are at the park!

And the buffets are all amazing, worth the money imo!

Main advice is stay for as long as you can possibly afford which means Alcazar/Andaluz for most!