Phantasialand (20/8/19)
Been here before twice so knew what to expect. Got 40% discount on entry with Plopsa pass, currently getting more out of Plopsa pass discount than Plopsa park entry! Drove past an unidentified FLY delivery on way into park, see FLY topic soon for dashcam screenshots. Parked in Mystery so started with River Quest, still as what as ever but annoyingly short. Spent half the ride picking up drinks bottle that had fell out of bag onto boat floor! Raik was good fun but prefer Tweestryd, better theming but Tweestryd has better layout. Helps that Tweestryd was quiet as well for easy rerides. Would have gone to Taron then but had 80 minute queue and Single Rider shut.
Made way to Winjas afterwards via FLY wall. Nothing interesting or new to be seen but that wall is huge! Photos below, not great quality due to cheap phone used:
Winjas great fun as always, Do love a good spinner. Fear definitely the better side though, worse gimmick but better layout and more airtime over the airtime hill. More Maurer spinners need airtime hills!
Next up was Crazy Bats with longest queue of the day, great way to liven up an old ride. Physical theming isn't great but VR video is great and synced well to ride, great for families. Hollywood boat tour still terrible but was walk on. The effects within were probably top of the line when the ride opened but highly dated now. Ride needs completely gutting and rethemed (or demolished in favour of whole area refurbisment (including Crazy Bats and Fantissima)).
Made way back to Taron now as queue down to 45 min. Got 2 rides in, one via main queue, one via single rider. Not sure what they were doing with Single rider queue, seemingly its opened/closed randomly during day! Ride is efficiently loaded though, allowing both queues to move at a decent speed, managed to snag back row three times! Still love this ride, launches are fantastic and twisted hills have fantastic airtime. 2nd half definitely better than first. With riding Skyrush and Untamed since my last Taron ride, am now unsure if it is still number 1 in rankings for me. is definitely within that top 3 though.
Chiapas is also still fab although a bit shorter than I seem to remember. Love the music to it so was happily stood in queue listening to it. Love the backwards disco room part as well as the final drop. Still my favourite water ride, had wet feet for rest of day thanks to non-waterproof shoes and water in bottom of boat!
Talocan still fab and definitely my favourite Top Spin, if only for the comfier restraints and fire! Was on a fantastic cycle as well and could get glimpses into Rookburgh from the top.
Black mamba fun and forceful. Has the low-to-ground aspect I love of Nemesis and properly speeds through the course. Have ridden it on both previous Phantasialand visits but have never found it that memorable. That has finally changed and I can remember what happens beyond the loop!
Colorado adventure still fun and intense for a mine train. Definitely one of the best mine trains out there. Found one of 6 dragon mascots (Kroka) so had photo with him:
Geister Ricksha fun and unique but is in same situation as Hollywood tour, needs a complete refurb urgently to get up to modern Phantasialand standards. Wouldn't say full demolition as Chinatown area above still a nice area.
Mystery Castle better than I remember but still not particularly forceful, very good for a drop tower though with long cycle.
Filled rest of day with Taron rerides and merch shopping. Anyone who knows me personally knows I love dragons (especially HTTYD). Me finding out each dragon mascot as it's own plush toys was not good news for bank account.... over €140 down on 6 dragon toys and 2 music cds (Chiapas and Klugheim)....
Overall, a very good day was had on some very good rides. Park was busy so annoyingly couldn't get many rerides in but still enjoyed myself.
Leaving Germany tomorrow and heading back to Netherlands for Toverland!
