Urgent EP advice

[JoshuaWAH]

Although not ideal I think the difference is although the 'big' rides were not open, there was still a full day of things to do that were open, through the indoor rides and the shows. Unlike a UK merlin park which is unmanageable in such conditions.
We have been fit unlucky too at Europa with snow wiping out all of the big rides. Yet we still have the most amazing and magical day doing everything else but the outdoor coasters.

I did basically all the good dark rides by 2PM (3 hours in). It doesn't help I spent two days there earlier this season which I focused on the dark rides, as it was so busy the coasters were busy (Voltron was closed too).

But yeah Pirates in Batavia and Arthur are great but after one ride each, I was ready to go home and twiddling my thumbs with boredom. I surely couldn't of spent more than 4 hours there without some form of boredom.

 

[IDB]

We have been fit unlucky too at Europa with snow wiping out all of the big rides. Yet we still have the most amazing and magical day doing everything else but the outdoor coasters.

That happened the day after we left the park this week. Unfortunately though it also wiped out my flight home.

 

[Rob]

But yeah Pirates in Batavia and Arthur are great but after one ride each, I was ready to go home and twiddling my thumbs with boredom. I surely couldn't of spent more than 4 hours there without some form of boredom.

And to think I've often spent 4 days there without an ounce of boredom!

 

[NuttySquirrel]

Although not ideal I think the difference is although the 'big' rides were not open, there was still a full day of things to do that were open, through the indoor rides and the shows. Unlike a UK merlin park which is unmanageable in such conditions.
We have been fit unlucky too at Europa with snow wiping out all of the big rides. Yet we still have the most amazing and magical day doing everything else but the outdoor coasters.

I'm inclined to agree, Europa Park isn't the sort of place you just rush around ticking off as many coasters as possible, like a Six Flags park. From that perspective I guess it makes sense that they don't issue refunds for only a few big rides being unavailable when they still have dozens of other attractions.

Still it comes down to what your expectations for the day are and everyone's will be different. If I went to Alton Towers and all of CBeebies land was closed I really wouldn't care - but a family with preschool kids would have felt they'd had a wasted trip. I do sort of think the park ought to do something for guests that haven't had their expectations met at all, it's just good customer service.

Also I imagine a snow day at the park is a bit more enjoyable than a stormy one in terms of being able to walk around, enjoy the theming etc.

 

[Skyscraper]

And to think I've often spent 4 days there without an ounce of boredom!

Yep I've got three days there in May and can guarantee that I will not be bored

 

[JoshuaWAH]

Yep I've got three days there in May and can guarantee that I will not be bored

And to think I've often spent 4 days there without an ounce of boredom!

So imagine you've spent two days in the summer doing all the dark rides/shows with a sprinkle of coasters. I did Pirates X3 in the summer, and basically every supporting ride from the rapids to the dodgems. They are all great!

Now take away 5/6 of the primary roller coasters, and close 2 of the supporting coasters. Also have gale force winds battering you as you walk around the park, with dull skies due to this walking around isn't even fun anymore. The cold was also pretty ugly with the winds. The shows also seemed a lot more sparse anyway, it just seemed to be the Ice Show and nothing else? I guess you had Fjord Rafting I could have done but i was alone and the realfeel was like 2 degrees on Accuweather.

So after doing the dark rides i remember being good, Eurosat, what else was i meant to do? Walking around is even miserable? A lot of pathways were empty from everything being closed, take Europa Park and roast the atmosphere until it is dead. So yeah summer is very different.

I just sent an email to EP complaining. I feel like a karen now but I do feel its interesting that right now I wish I was dealing with Merlin.
I basically just told them about how their customer service policies are incompetent compared to my local park operator (Merlin) which is disappointing for a park that prides itself with the reputation that it holds. But yeah it used to be my favourite park, now its dropped certainly below Phantasialand and Cedar Point. Man guys maybe Merlin are actually good, at least they would of given me a day to try again and have fun. I never thought i'd call Merlin Parks better than Europa Park but I guess parks show their care for guests when difficult situations (like severe weather) arise, and Merlin would of taken well care of me by now. I feel like buying a Merlin pass now haha

 

[rob666]

I don't want to sound awkward, but you chose to go to a theme park in the middle of the continent in mid November.
Poor weather is to be expected at that time of year.

My personal experience of Merlin customer service this year has been poor.
Merlin operations at Alton in the same window as your visit were shockingly poor.

 

[Bowser]

So imagine you've spent two days in the summer doing all the dark rides/shows with a sprinkle of coasters.

The park can’t reasonably cater to the fact you went on some rides a few months ago. Sounds like the majority of attractions were open, just not the particular ones you wanted but that’s not really a provable aspect for the park to offer refunds on.

Sorry you had a bad time, I think we’ve all had experiences like this.

 

[RicketyCricket]

I can't think of a better park to be at in those conditions tbh. You can trust they'll get as many things open as possible.

But yeah I can sympathise, I'm an impulsive trip booker too and it feels like a waste of money/time when you go somewhere for a specific coaster and it's closed.

 

[Rob]

It depends what you want from a theme park. I could happily enjoy a day at Europa-Park whereby I went on only a handful of rides, watched a show, relaxed with some food and drinks etc. But if you are going to ride the coasters then clearly a day where all the major ones are closed is going to be a bummer. You did however go on the only day I have known in recent history whereby all of the major coasters are closed all day!

As for their customer service response, I am not surprised. Getting anything "free" from Europa-Park is a real achievement, it's just not how they do things. Whether that is right or wrong is up for debate, but it doesn't appear to be doing them any harm.

 

[Bowser]

I can't think of a better park to be at in those conditions tbh. You can trust they'll get as many things open as possible.

But yeah I can sympathise, I'm an impulsive trip booker too and it feels like a waste of money/time when you go somewhere for a specific coaster and it's closed.

My lesson this year after getting burned at AT, Drayton and Universal Osaka is not to go to a park just to ride something specific (unless you have regular access of course).

 

[IDB]

I can't think of a better park to be at in those conditions tbh. You can trust they'll get as many things open as possible.

But yeah I can sympathise, I'm an impulsive trip booker too and it feels like a waste of money/time when you go somewhere for a specific coaster and it's closed.

and if all else fails O'Mackay's was open selling beer and Shepherd's Pies.

 

[JoshuaWAH]

I don't want to sound awkward, but you chose to go to a theme park in the middle of the continent in mid November.
Poor weather is to be expected at that time of year.

My personal experience of Merlin customer service this year has been poor.
Merlin operations at Alton in the same window as your visit were shockingly poor.

In my defence everything was operating just fine that week though. Now it is cold in the continent but gale force winds isn't an everyday thing in continental europe lol. Nobody would book any trips in winter if they did lol. Yeah Merlin isn't perfect but there is some policies they have that I think are admirable.

My lesson this year after getting burned at AT, Drayton and Universal Osaka is not to go to a park just to ride something specific (unless you have regular access of course).

I think there was problems with the snow last week weekend but it seemed Wodan was still open. Honestly any of their big coasters. I would of lapped Wodan and been happy. Any big coaster would of been made it something i could work with. Honestly just being able to enjoy the atmosphere which was dead from the dreary storm would of helped. The place had no little atmosphere on my visit which was more than likely due to the drab conditions. It is a wonderful park on basically any other day of the year.

Anyway probably best i finish this thread soon,
but yeah maybe i'll refrain from the Merlin slander now. Sorry for the rants guys.

 

[Llama]

I do have to say the idea that EP has very little to do outside the main roller coasters is a bit funny to me. Other than perhaps Disneyland or Efteling I can't think of another park that has more to do if you remove the big coasters.

It does sound like you have a bad experience but there's not much the Macks can do against a day of gale force winds.

 

[Bowser]

but yeah maybe i'll refrain from the Merlin slander now. Sorry for the rants guys.

No need to apologise, it's been an interesting vent and hopefully cathartic for you!

I really don't think you'd have fared better if you took the equivalent situation to a Merlin park in the UK where weather caused a handful of attractions to be closed but the majority remained open. Yes they have the "rainy day" policy but that itself has restrictions. And of course the main difference is that at most of the Merlin parks other than LegoLand adverse weather means the majority of rides can't operate whereas Europa have plentiful indoor offerings so they're going to face far more disgruntled customers. This of course is another reason they don't operate much in Winter.

Also i think Merlin are happier to offer "free" returns because their business model is reliant on spending in the park.