Three times, but not for several years. From memory it’s quite a mix, there’s half a dozen coasters, plenty of other rides and shows, and some quiet areas where you just wander round. It’s well worth a visit. The rides are at all sorts of levels so if you aren’t into being thrown about you’ll be fine (I’m not into that … I still have nightmares about Phantasialand’s version of Big Thunder Mountain …). It’s not quite the scale of something like DLP, but it’s well worth the time spent.
Just did Alton Towers again on Wednesday. Fast Pass all the way - Nemesis Reborn, Galactica x3, Rita, Th13teen, Oblivion, Smiler x2, Wickerman x2 - insane day.
Having grown up with Blackpool Pleasure Beach, multiple visits to Universal & Disneyworld in Florida and Knotts Berry Farm in CA, nothing beats Smiler. It’s insane (photo from last year’s visit where we did Smiler x3 back-to-back ):
Thoughts on the new nemesis track? I loved it - waaay smoother than before, and less back breaking
It’s definitely had a mechanical facelift. Track is exactly the same layout (repainted or replaced due to age), but I agree - the cars are new. New wheels, new harnesses, new fastenings. It is smoother and gives a more ‘Icon’ (Blackpool) feel. You still can’t beat the G’s around the switchback after the corkscrew section though - that section of track in the foreground of this shot is just cheek-wobbling:
Yea. Know it’s the same layout. Just way smoother and better.
I can’t wait for 2026, to head to Epic Universe in Florida! I’m defo not going next year, the year it opens
That happens with newly built rides. That new one at Blackpool pleasure beach was my favourite in the U.K. just because of that aspect. Kinda ruins all other roller coasters.
So today’s coaster was Expedition GeForce. It’s in a really random really remote German Amusement park near Mannheim called Holiday Park. They only have two coasters, just that one of them happens to be ranked number 9 in the world in the 2024 Golden Ticket Awards.
The ride is a 2001 Intamin Mega Coaster coming in at 174ft. Being an Intamin the cars are very similar to Colossus at Thorpe just a LOT more retro. The seats looked like they had been pulled out of a football stadium and the lack of head rests was odd.
It also had a really interesting launch system, instead of a traditional chain lift, it uses a pulley system with a catch car to hoist the train up the hill.
As for the actual ride, incredible. We went front row once and back row twice. The speed, the airtime hills, the near miss elements, the relentlessness were all top notch.
Absolutely bizarre to have a world class coaster in such an odd location, but it’s definitely worth a visit if you ever find yourself in this part of Germany.
So today was the final day of our little rollercoaster tour of Germany
We hit Phantasialand today near Cologne.
The main event was Taron, ranked number 6 in the world. I managed to get in 5 laps today including one front row which was and three back to back rides at the end of the day. It’s not my favourite coaster, but the section from the second launch into the part where you’re flying above the park might be my favourite combination of elements of any coaster I’ve ridden.
A few other notable coasters. They have a new Verkoma flying launch coaster called F.L.Y. It’s really cool and the theming of the entire ride area might be the best of any ride anywhere. The ride is a little underwhelming though and it was pretty uncomfortable, but every Verkoma flying coaster I’ve been on has been uncomfortable.
Final mention goes to Black Mamba. It’s a B&M inverted coaster (so basically the same ride as Nemesis). The difference with this one was the theming was top notch. Definitely better than Nemesis in the theming department, but Nemesis is just a better ride overall. It sits between Nemesis and Inferno for me.
Overall looking back on the trip, I’m so happy I got to ride on Voltron. I think that might now be my top ranked ride. Europa Park is just such a brilliant amusement park overall, there’s so much for all ages there. I’m considering going back next year with the little one and spending 3 or 4 days there.
Expedition GeForce was a really unexpected delight. It’s starting to show its age though, but hopefully the park will be able to keep it going. If you’re wondering whether it’s worth the long detour to visit it, just go, you’ll be impressed.
Taron is the only thing that really draws me to Phantasialand. I’ll be back there, but Europa Park is miles above it for me.
Anyone here been to PortAventura? Is it worth it?
Or are there better European theme parks to visit?
Yes, a long time ago. If your net is Europe-wide, there’s better places to go IMO. If you’ve never been, it’s worth trying. Not one to visit again for me though.
I’ve a lifelong soft spot for Disney, so that’d always be my first choice.
Alton Towers is right in your own backyard and the better theme park IMO. But it means British weather which is the edge portaventura has.
Phantasialand (talked about in the post just above yours) is maybe the best in Europe.
ETA: Legendary Entertainment are (were) also building their own MonsterVerse/Dune theme park in France, which I’ve been anticipating. It’s supposed to open this year, but there’s been no news up updates on the project since 2022, so I don’t know if they’re still working on it, but I hope so.
Yeah similar for me, it’s a long time since I’ve been, you’ll have a good time, but from what I remember it’s not the best.
Europa Park tops the list for me which reminds me, I need to try and find a way to make it work this year.
Don’t forget that Europa also won the 2024 Golden Ticket Award for Best Amusement Park.
Edit: I was going to write that Europa is like Disneyland with fewer mice, but then I remembered that Europa’s mascot is also literally a mouse.