European Parks
I was on RCDB and I was just looking through pictures and I found this picture: http://www.rcdb.com/installationgallery986.htm?Picture=1 I've seen photos of Heide Park several times before but this time it struck me, Heide Park is absolutely gorgeous, and immaculate! It's pretty unbelievable compared to what I see here in America (well, other than Disney.)
I remembered some pictures one of my coaster friends from Norway sent me of Tusenfryd and I remembered how really beautiful that park was too. And then I remembered the beauty of Europa Park demonstrated on the Travel Channel (although that did not look as authentic as the parks mentioned above.)
Suddenly everything clicked, it seems to me that almost every European park is truly stunning and the scenery and theming goes above and beyond what would be required here in the states. So my question is, what other parks make your jaw drop from beauty and why do European Parks put so much "bling-bling" into the scenery. Whatever the reason is, I like it and would prefer it over a coaster every other year (just my opinion.) And finally, do you think the beauty of European parks will fade with the coaster boom stirring up the "flava?"
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Tuesday's Gone With The Wind.
Elijah Rock.
Is it written in the stars?
La Vie Boheme!!!
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"Mmmmm....forbidden donut!" - Homer Simpson
*** This post was edited by laurence on 9/10/2002. ***
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Tuesday's Gone With The Wind.
Elijah Rock.
Is it written in the stars?
La Vie Boheme!!!
alton towers is new age beauty?! what about the trees that have been there for 100s of years that are actually proteced by planning restrictions, and you can never forget the 16th century mansion at the centre of the park: http://www.towerstimes.co.uk/alton2.jpg
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Tuesday's Gone With The Wind.
Elijah Rock.
Is it written in the stars?
La Vie Boheme!!!
Efteling won several awards in the past for their landscaping. The park started out in the fifties with no mechanical attractions, but with the fairytale forest, where fairytales like snowwhite come alive. www.efteling.nl
Parc Asterix just above Paris is also themed beautifull, entirely to a european comic; Astrix and Obelix. www.parcasterix.fr Their newest attraction, a giant waterslide named the Oxygenarium, can easily match Disneys theming.
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Werner Stengel: Ich sprich, denke und traüme Achterbahn!
The problem with Alton Towers when we were there in July was that it was FILTHY. Trash everywhere. This definitely detracted from the potential beauty of the place.
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--Greg
"Now all I want is to find a way home, to warn Earth -- look upward, and share the wonders I see..."
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This is an interesting topic! After going on the ACE ECO tour and visiting most of the places talked about so far, I was amazed at just how beautiful most places were. And it seemed like each place was more beautiful then the last. And even the other places were better then most American parks. Why? Hard to say...I think it's a cultural thing where they value ALL aspects of a theme park, not just rides. Unfortunately this usually means a longer span between new rides or rides that might not be as impressive when they are built, but overall I think the trade off is worth it.
Of the parks we visited, I think the three best were Efteling, Heide, and Europa. All three were simply amazing looking in their own ways.
As for Alton...sorry, that gets a big thumbs down in comparison. I didn't think it was all that pretty, and the castle that is so famous is mostly ugly and in ruins (though it's being slowly restored).
Parc Asterix was okay. The theming was pretty good and better then most parks in the states...but the park was just missing something and felt incomplete. I haven't quite put my finger on it but a big grand entrance sign to the park would help (there was none). And so would some better rides (the Vekoma sitdown there will knock you senseless!).
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Werner Stengel: Ich sprich, denke und traüme Achterbahn!
Coasterbuf said:
This is an interesting topic! After going on the ACE ECO tour and visiting most of the places talked about so far, I was amazed at just how beautiful most places were. And it seemed like each place was more beautiful then the last. And even the other places were better then most American parks. Why? Hard to say...I think it's a cultural thing where they value ALL aspects of a theme park, not just rides. Unfortunately this usually means a longer span between new rides or rides that might not be as impressive when they are built, but overall I think the trade off is worth it.
Of the parks we visited, I think the three best were Efteling, Heide, and Europa. All three were simply amazing looking in their own ways.
As for Alton...sorry, that gets a big thumbs down in comparison. I didn't think it was all that pretty, and the castle that is so famous is mostly ugly and in ruins (though it's being slowly restored).
Parc Asterix was okay. The theming was pretty good and better then most parks in the states...but the park was just missing something and felt incomplete. I haven't quite put my finger on it but a big grand entrance sign to the park would help (there was none). And so would some better rides (the Vekoma sitdown there will knock you senseless!).
Agree on Alton Towers as the park is looking rough this season. The litter, gum and graffitti problems have also got worse. However Parc Asterix is superb and all rides except the River Rapids and the Vekoma Sit Down are excellent. They have an amazing Log Flume, an even better Wooden Coaster and some other fairly unique attractions. Wat more do you want!
Efteling is incredible, or unbelieveble in some respects. However out of three major coasters only the indoor Vekoma is of intrest as the other two are fairly unintresting and dull rides. Not done Europa or Heide yet ut with is included on my Alton Towers season pass then I won't be long.
Wilko
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Liseberg is a pretty cool park, it's like an oasis in the middle of Gotheborg. Lisebergbanan runs under, over, trough the trees and on the hillside.Is this cool or what? http://www.rcdb.com/installationgallery1061.htm?Picture=3 The park is clean and the theming is very good at some places. Look at the other pics on rcdb.com. Liseberg is a park not to be missed when visiting Sweden :-)
When i visited Alton Towers in 2000 it wasn't filthy or ugly at all but it was very very CROWDED! When you entered the park and could see the lake and the castley it was absolutly amazing and i will always remember that view when i first saw it.
Oh and i almost forgot (how could i?) the most beautiful park on the planet, a park Walt Disney got inspired of when he wanted to build his park. Tivoli Garden! Amazing, all i have to say.
I think i have to agree with you, european parks are beautiful, and i'm glad i live here
*** This post was edited by olov on 9/11/2002. ***
I agree with the person who said they'd rank the parks Efteling, Heide, Europa...all 3 are fantastic, but Efteling just had that little extra spark for me. Their dark rides were beyond amazing (particularly Fata Morgana and Droomvlucht) and the park itself...I can't say enough good things about it. Little touches were everywhere that let you completely forget that you were in a park at all.
Parc Asterix, as was said above as well, seemed to be lacking a special something. Oxigenarium *was* a beautifully themed experience though, and Tonnere de Zeus is among the best wooden coasters I've been on (ranking only below the Legend @ HW for me)
I think the SF parks even deserve some mention, if they existed over here they'd be considered among the best in the chain...it's just that where they exist the standards on theming and rides are so high that they can easily get lost in the shuffle.
Maybe they just don't handle big crowds well?
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TOGO!
I felt Parc Asterix was a wonderful park with no crowds... but with crowds, its unbeareable. The 3 only things that save the park for me are: TDZ, Menhir Express (Hopskin Log Flume with a great ending drop and awesome coaster hill/drop) and Main Basse sur la Joconde (awesome stunt show. Better than the Indiana Jones show at WDW).
Unfortunately, flat rides selection is sub-par (an awfully ran swinging ship, a Polyp I believe, Zierer Flying Carpet, Wave Swinger, Mack Raging Seas... that's it.). Water rides... the shoot the chutes is the most awful ( as in 2001, they added effects in 2002, heard its a lot better this year) one I have been on, same for the river rapids. Theming is quite uneven. Don't get me started on the ride crew...
*** This post was edited by Absimilliard on 9/11/2002. ***
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Tuesday's Gone With The Wind.
Elijah Rock.
Is it written in the stars?
La Vie Boheme!!!
-----------------
Werner Stengel: Ich sprich, denke und traüme Achterbahn!
Coasterbuf, what is your opinion on Tonnere de Zeus? Have you ridden other CCI's and how does it compare?
I've ridden most of the CCI's that are out there. I thought that while having a very unique layout, the ride wasn't as good as it could be (or most likely was when it was new). It was excessively rough in any seat except the front, and there wasn't all that much airtime compared to some of the other CCI's. I much prefer Legend, Raven or Ghostrider to it as it stands now. (I haven't been to Silverwood yet so can't compare those).
That being said, if some love and attention was given it I am sure this could be an awesome ride. Also, even as rough as it was when I rode it, I still think it is the best ride at the park and the layout alone makes me rank it in the upper portion of my woodie list.
GregLeg said:
The problem with Alton Towers when we were there in July was that it was FILTHY. Trash everywhere. This definitely detracted from the potential beauty of the place.
I agree with you Greg. I was really looking forward to what some people have told me is one of the "most beautiful parks on the planet."
I couldn't believe how trashy it was. I just wonder if we caught it at a bad time or something because I honestly couldn't see the park being run in those conditions for a long time. It's a shame really that people treat the park in that manner.
-Sean
*** This post was edited by Sean F. on 9/16/2002. ***
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