Plopping along to Asterix

[Nemesis Inferno]

So that myself and Nicky could celebrate our completion of university, a plan was formed to go on a brief holiday. As the original plans of Europa fell through, and the gleam of a shiny new B&M to much to resist, an alternative to Asterix and Plopsaland was booked.

Are you sitting comfortably? Then let's begin...


Day 1 - Travel and Plopsaland

So an early 4am start led to a drive down to Folkestone where the train awaited. After a relatively simple crossing and brief stopover at CiteEurope, we began the drive towards Belgium and the first destination, Plopsaland.

It's easy to get to, as the Tunnel plonks you onto the approriate motorway and the directions are obvious to follow. Our arrival in De Panne was around 30 minutes after our departure from Calais and this brand new park to myself was revealed with the use of a giant door...

The turnstiles had many a character stood by, one of which decided to hug me as I was taking photos and ruffle my hair... An... interesting start to a visit at a theme park and something that hasn't happened before.

We entered into the park's plaza, which featured a set of fountains Ms Thompson would be proud of, and as we had some time before they opened the rest of the park, we briefly explored the indoor Maya Land area, the newest addition of the park.

The park is owned by Dutch TV company Studio 100, and hence is essentially filled with their own characters on each ride, with some loosely themed areas based off the original park which was purchased.

The park opened, and we naturally headed straight for the big coaster...

Anubis - The Ride

Based off the House of Anubis series, this is a Gerstlauer Launched Coaster which as a ride system has had a good level of positivity from those who have ridden it, so I was intrigued to see what experience this ride would give.

The ride building looks incredible from the outside, and just as good on the inside. It would probably make more sense if I had ever seen the show, but regardless, it's an impressive looking entrance and queueline.

We walked straight onto the front row and were joined by another person (who later revealed themselves to be a fellow English enthusiast) and off we went on the first train of the day.

A quick 180 dropping turn leads into the launch, and wow, rolling launches NEED to happen more, after this and Fluch, they are absolutely awesome to experience, with the sudden impact doing a lot more than the more traditional stationary launches. Getting launched into a different style of top hat with a straight entry and turned exit, into multiple inversions and hills with a good constant pacing and thrilling and fun experience. AND more importantly, smooth, like every other Gerstlauer aside from Saw...

We rode twice more in the back and middle, where the launch was slightly more rough yet the rest of the ride remained smooth and constant. Overall I would say that it is a very good solid family ride, and certainly wouldn't say no to a park in the UK having one.

8/10

We wandered past the Supersplash ride, taking in some more of the park's nice atmosphere. Before deciding that grabbing the low throughput coaster would be ideal at this point. So we headed to...

Vleermuis

This was my first Batflyer coaster, and to say that it was a weird experience is not an exaggeration. Duelling rides as well lead to a weirdly designed queueline to the weirdly designed seats to the weirdly designed layout. Needless to say, this ride was pretty damn weird...

It's kind of a strange ride to rate really... It barely does anything really and it feels very different. Fun but wouldn't bother again really...

5/10

We next entered the castle area, which was like appearing into Legoland Windsor, only this time there's a Mack abound!

Draak

This Mack Powered coaster has a pretty impressive queue and layout to match. Two laps of this beast with some good interaction with the log flume next door to it. I liked it because it actually takes you somewhere rather than some strange pointless jaunt in a field and the interaction works very well.

7/10

Next door to the Castle area was the park's continuation of the Legoland theme, with two low throughput rides, both of which have become Legoland staples, we only rode one of them because Nicky had never done one before...

Jet Skis

Just like the ones at Lego. Although without water features acting upon you. I spent most of my time watching the awesome system that turned the boats side to side as well as working out how to 'snap' the boats. S'ok rides these are really, just wouldn't want to experience the awfully long queue it had...

Again next door, a Vekoma Rollerskater awaited us, so we went on it...

Rollerskater

Interestingly themed this thing, with giant appliances being the order of the day. Including the washing machine of spraying water at you as you dive through it. Two laps as well here making it a decent ride for the target market. As per most rollerskaters, it was enjoyable...

6/10

With not much else to do around the current area, we decided to do some pre-lunch water rides, the first being...

Log Flume

This hidden Flume ride delivers two drops, one small and one double drop. Not a lot else to say but it was nicely themed and delivered interaction with the aforementioned Draak coaster. Bonus points for the Hyrulian Shield of Legend of Zelda fame on the safety signs...

Supersplash

This version of the Supersplash has a hidden elevator lift system which surprised me actually due to the rotation of it during the rise. Nothing to look at inside was a bit disappointing though but it was quick enough for this not to be an issue.
The drop was good and the airtime hill full of airtime, with a decent splash which was welcoming in the coming heat as the sun had appeared. The journey back a bit boring, although the potential for Pirate Ship interaction looked good. The fountains were pointless as they turned off upon the boat's arrival.

6/10

Lunch beckoned and we returned to the main entrance plaza for a BBQ Bratwurst, which was rather cheap and pretty nom, also allowing for relatively suggestive photos to be taken...

Afterwards, we headed towards the final coaster of the park, a Zierer...

Dongo's Race

This was a weird one, as are most Zierer's of this type, very long and some good G's on some of the corners, with some weird theming as well... Actually a surprise really even if the seats aren't designed for two people sat together...

6/10

Carousel

It was a Carousel...

Chairswings

Some Chairswings...


Next up we headed into the Farm area of the park, which had an assortment of animals around the area including giant rabbits, small cocks, cows and evil goats... Was alright, including the poor horse with the heart painted onto its head...

SpringFlyer

Opening at 1pm (Merlin pls) this was just a StarFlyer, as per usual, not too particularly different but a nice view of the local area at the top of it. The op was doing well to fill the thing up as well, which is always approved of...

Onion Boats

Ahhh the traditional European ride that appears in EVERY SINGLE PARK on the continent. And always worth a quick sit down and glance at the theming. It continued the giant appliances seen on the Rollerskater. Was good and worth the sit down...

Now it was time for one of the park's main Shows, which was to be viewed in Dutch, a language I know NOTHING about. And it centred around one of Gnome characters. Did I have a clue what was going on for 30 minutes? No. But it involved a lot of audience participation and the kids (and adults) were lapping it up. If I had a clue what was going on, I would have enjoyed it even more I reckon... The Dutch language is amazing...

Next up we wandered back to a ride I noticed the entrance to earlier, thinking that it was a walkthrough dark ride... How wrong I was...

Plop's Woods

One thing I love about European parks is that they seem to hide dark rides in the strangest of places, and this was no exception. The worry was when the realisation dawned that this seemed to be an "It's a Small World" type ride about the world of Plop himself. However, it was very well themed and even involved a small drop. Rather surprisingly good and a wee hidden gem that many I'm sure would miss out on...

We found ourselves hungry and rather finished for the day so decided to snack on a traditional Belgian Waffle in the entrance area which was very very tasty...

A Train appeared so we decided to ride it to let the Waffle settle before a final ride on Anubis. The train goes all around the park and even ventures through some of the animal pens, where you can buy food to throw at them. None of the animals were interested in us however so I was glad we hadn't wasted money on the food. But still a good idea for the park to implement... It also ran parallel to Anubis' launch, providing good photo opportuinities...

One final ride on Anubis gave a good end to the day before we decided we'd head off early to get to our hotel near to Asterix. More experience of French rush hour was not what I wanted however it happened. We eventually got to our destination, which was a cheap motel style place which was pretty standard and alright. Not brilliant but I was too tired to care.

Plopsaland is a really good family park, with a mix of Chessie, Legoland and Paultons... Anubis is a fun ride and the rest of the park is of a good quality with a great atmosphere. Very recommended to all especially as it's really easy to get to by car. Dunno about public transport but it's worthwhile.

I slept in preparation for a day of B&M and Tonnes of Air...

 

[Brookes]

Great PTR, I'd really like to get to Plopsa some time. Looking forward to what you think of Oziris.

 

[peep]

Nice PTR Monsieur Benin, looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Asterix times.

 

[Martyn B]

If them hotdogs you had were the same as they ones they sell under Draak, then they are very, VERY NOM!

 

[Hixee]

I visited Plopsland last year and really enjoyed it. I wasn't expecting more than just a credit-run in the park, but in the end I really enjoyed it and was glad we decided to stop off there. The same was true for my friends who were with me. I agree, a great little park and well worth a visit if you're in the area.

Nice report Benin!

 

[Nemesis Inferno]

Since I've been in hospital due to appendicitis, I haven't been really working much on a TR, and I kinda cannot really bring myself to do a full review of the two days I spent at Asterix...


HOWEVER, I can talk about the important thing, the thing no doubt people care about, and that is...

OzIris

I was excited for this ride, an awesome looking theme, unique layout and a B&M, that stuff gets me going, and naturally we had headed straight from park opening to the new ride.

The area is fantastically themed, well and truly one of the best themed areas in the entire park (which is already well themed) and in Europe. I was taken aback by the job Neverland have done to it, and the pictures just don't do it justice at all. It truly is a work of art, from the grand ride station to the rockwork to the Eiffel Tower.

The queue itself is great, providing some lovely views of the first part of the ride and the helix. Very Tussauds like and that's just half the queue, inside is a completely different story.

If the area took me aback, the inside did it all over again. One of the best themed queuelines I've ever had the pleasure to walk straight through, and indeed is on that list of queues that you wouldn't mind being in for ages because of the high level of detail available to look at. So many great pieces of theming big and small and new things spotted on every run through the queue.

The station is just as grand and well themed, the front row queue does lack a sign and caused several confused French people, however our first ride was to be in the middle (though later rides involved the front once and the back twice).

A small dispatch sequence with changing lights and heavy bass commences the ride as the train passes through some strobing eyes (part of the ride's story) and we head up the quick lift. The first drop kicks just as well as Katun's, and the lack of pre-drop makes a ridiculously high amount of difference, with an instant dive to the left being a brilliant start to the ride and it sets out what it plans to do for the next minute or so.

The first half of the layout is similar to Silver Bullet in a way to me, with the stall turn and the rather original style of layout. But it is a very quick paced and reasonably intense start to the ride, with a real highlight being the extended drop out of the Vertical Loop, a weird and unique sensation but very very good at the same time. As always, the trims make no difference, so no worries with that.

The drop into the pool is good as well, although the mist vanished later on, it fills up very well and it's a neat visual trick for both on and off riders, it leads into the slowest part of the ride, the first zero g and helix, however, it works in a similar way to Nemesis' stall turns, allowing a short break to the relative intensity before the next good bit.

The bit in question is a dive back towards the ground before rising back up into the station hugging zero g, which is yet another extremely well done element full of fun, airtime and good levels of intensity. The final ground hugging helix in the middle of the queueline follows before a dipping turn into the brakes.

If you can't tell, I loved this ride. It looks good, rides good, and fulfils that level of intensity whilst being re-rideable. It really is a brilliant addition to Asterix as it gives them that second excellent coaster with Zeus and is straight into my top 10. It is only slightly behind Nemesis and Katun which sit as my top 2 currently, but it can easily be placed in the same breath as them in my opinion.

From that first view of the ride as you exit the motorway for the park, to the final ride, it's a beautiful ride that will hopefully put Asterix back in the minds of enthusiasts.

10/10