Europa Park

[spark]

Sure it wont be that bad folks, end of the day if your overweight for a ride, then thats a sure sign to do something about it!

[oldgitBEN]

didnt harry potter ride have similar issues upon opening? I heard all sorts of rumours about larger people not being able to fit it, then big boy seats arriving later.
I never actually saw people say they couldnt ride tho, and I was reading reviews on TPR (read into that comment what you will) :P

[AstroDan]

I know one or two people who were unable to ride HP on opening, and it took many months before big boy seats were added.

Hopefully this won't be as bad.

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[AstroDan]

The new 4D show at Europa-Park was great, I am pleased to say.

The new "look" to the cinema externally is also a vast improvement, with a classic "nouvelle vague" feel about it. Even the bins have been themed to match the style of the cinema.

Inside, it's very much the same (as in, generic but tidy so they can still show standard films in the evenings and easily change the film at Halloween if needed) but the new film is breathing life into the entire place.

I saw the film twice in my recent visit, and on every occasion the theatre was packed. Prior to the film, there was a "making of" documentary which lasted 10 minutes. Then, the actual film lasted 15 minutes. Although it was in German with a little French, it was fairly easy to follow. The audience was laughing a lot, and there are a lot of 4D effects. The quality of the graphics is easily as good as any major CGI film and the fact the film features the EP mascots, and EP locations makes it have masses more relevance to a day in the park than the rubbish they used to have (Sammy's Great Adventure or PandaVision). All in all, a massive success and I look forward to seeing the Summer Season version which I believe has a different opening and ending.

The film also makes use of the new Europa-Park soundtrack which was introduced in 2011.

This clip wishing everyone a Happy New Year, also features the same mascots:
link

[thefatone]

Couldn't they have just had a few rows of the train with seatbelts for now (before then being replaced with big boy seats)? It wouldn't have affected throughput too much.

No, but it'd completely warp peoples perceptions of whats safe and not. Think how many people get worried about B&M large restraints having 2 seatbelts instead of the ordinary one.

At the end of the day, they're working on it. Astro thinks it'll be like spinball, which isn't bad. At least this ride shouldn't bother tall people.

[Dormiens-Dave]

I only just fit in spinball and though i'm a bit fat i'm not obese, so there will be trouble for a few guests.

However EP are amazing at sorting out ride ergonomics so i'm sure they will find a solution.

[AstroDan]

Europa know there will be complaints and problems at first.

However, they are working to sort the problems out.

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[Spike]

Europa know there will be complaints and problems at first.

However, they are working to sort the problems out.

It may have already been asked and answered but why didn't Europa sort this issue as they are building? I mean GCI is an American company and they know all to well about the need for seating  larger guests on their rides. I find it quite odd that they won't be opening with the ability to accommodate larger guests. 

[AstroDan]

Europa know there will be complaints and problems at first.

However, they are working to sort the problems out.

It may have already been asked and answered but why didn't Europa sort this issue as they are building? I mean GCI is an American company and they know all to well about the need for seating  larger guests on their rides. I find it quite odd that they won't be opening with the ability to accommodate larger guests. 

I have absoluetly no idea. I presume that GCI are unable to offer any sort of compromise on seating, given that it is the TUV H&S executive in Germany who are insistent on the restraints on the ride.

I have no idea what the situation is with El Toro, the only other German GCI is. However, this ride will be far more aggressive than that anyway.

[Spike]

I have absoluetly no idea. I presume that GCI are unable to offer any sort of compromise on seating, given that it is the TUV H&S executive in Germany who are insistent on the restraints on the ride.

I have no idea what the situation is with El Toro, the only other German GCI is. However, this ride will be far more aggressive than that anyway.

Having ridden Colossus & Troy are their coasters equipped with seating for larger guests? 

[AstroDan]

I have absoluetly no idea. I presume that GCI are unable to offer any sort of compromise on seating, given that it is the TUV H&S executive in Germany who are insistent on the restraints on the ride.

I have no idea what the situation is with El Toro, the only other German GCI is. However, this ride will be far more aggressive than that anyway.

Having ridden Colossus & Troy are their coasters equipped with seating for larger guests? 

There are no Big Boy seats on either Colossos or Troy. However, Colossos is Intamin. Troy, although GCI is also in the Netherlands with a different H&S executive.

Come to think of it, the only German coasters I know with Big Boy seating are Silver Star (row 5) and Blue Fire (row 10).

What I reckon has happened here is, EP have ordered seatbelt-less trains and the TUV have then come along and said that they will need to lock lower. Upon this, EP have asked GCI to add Big Boy seating. However, perhaps GCI don't ordinarily do Big Boy seating so this needs designing from scratch. Given that the trains are already in production, this will take added time - beyond when the coaster opens in March.

[Spike]

Come to think of it, the only German coasters I know with Big Boy seating are Silver Star (row 5) and Blue Fire (row 10).

Now why would HSE have an issue with a 100ft Woody having big boy seats when they obviously allowed Silvia & Blufie. Blufie inverts with a lap bar as well 

[AstroDan]

Come to think of it, the only German coasters I know with Big Boy seating are Silver Star (row 5) and Blue Fire (row 10).

Now why would HSE have an issue with a 100ft Woody having big boy seats when they obviously allowed Silvia & Blufie. Blufie inverts with a lap bar as well 

I don't think they do have a problem with the ride having Big Boy Seats. I just reckon it's going to take GCI a little longer to sort out Big Boy seats for the ride, presumably because when EP said they'd be needed it was too late.

Perhaps EP were caught unawares when the TUV said they'd need to lock lower, and it was too late to get GCI to modify the already designed trains.

[Sam]

Looping coasters having lapbars is a totally different issue to this. There is absolutely nothing that makes looping coaster inherently safer with OTSRs, though many classic Schwarzkopfs have been decimated to this effect due to nervous park management. Mack should be commended for really reversing the tide back towards lapbars on loopers!

[Spike]

Looping coasters having lapbars is a totally different issue to this. There is absolutely nothing that makes looping coaster inherently safer with OTSRs, though many classic Schwarzkopfs have been decimated to this effect due to nervous park management. Mack should be commended for really reversing the tide back towards lapbars on loopers!

I wasn't suggesting any of that. I was merely pointing out that German HSE didn't raise any concerns over the other two lap barred coasters allowing big boy seats. The inverting side of things I would assume would make them more nervous.

[AstroDan]

I don't think the TUV are concerned about Big Boy Seats. Surely, GCI must be unable to modify the trains at this late stage and deliver the order on time? Therefore, they will have to modify the trains in-season, presumably during May/June in quieter periods on a rolling basis.

[AstroDan]

Promo Trailer here
(features Troy - bonus points if you can spot Booster Bikes and the Scorpios Pirate Ship in there!!)

Official Reveal of the Name from Roland Mack here including "Happy New Year" from Roland, too!

[Maaarrrvelous]

The promo looked pretty awesome that'll be one of the first rides I'll queue for when I go to Europa Park as part of me and my friends mini European trip xD

[DragonMarty]

Europa has a new visitor record for the 2011 season that ends this weekend.

German newspaper:
http://www.badische-zeitung.de/rust/eur ... 39283.html

Facts in the article:
- At least 500,000 visitors (50.000 more than last year)
- 4,000,000 visitors from the summer season, that are 4.5 million this year
- They had more illuminations and indoor shows this winter season
- Winter season hotel bookings grew by more than 10%
- € 50 million investment for 2012
- Bell Rock has already 20.000 reservations
- 300 new jobs for 2012
- Now they have around 3200 employees
- They are building a new apartment house for the employees

What a year for Europa. ep-fans has published 2011 in review: 

January
- Premiere of "Lenßen - der Film" ("Lenßen - the movie", "Lenßen" is a German trash low budget tv-thriller-series)
- Season finish: Visitor record with over 4 million visitors
- Roland Mack was jury member of the 35. Monte Carlo circus festival

February
- The park was on many trade shows in Germany
- Voting of Mis Germany took place in Europa-Park
- Construction sites of enchanted forest and Volo Da Vinci where busy

March
- Euro Dance Festival took place
- Another new attraction for 2011 "Food Loop" was announced
- Building of a new bike and working path from the car park entrance to the bus car park

April
- Press conference with new attractions for 2011 and presentation of the new park anthem
- Parkscout-Awards 2010/2011 for Europa: "Best Theme-Park" and "Best Park Event" (Horror Nights 2010), 4 times on the second and three times on the third place in other categories
- Start of the deconstruction of the Science House
- Screamie Awards 2010 for Terenzi: "Best International Attraction"

May
- Finished deconstruction of the Science House. The building was then rebuild for the park administration
- Start of Bell Rock earthwork
- Presentation of the new hotel Bell Rock for 2012
- Milka Shop moved from Historama to the russian area

June
- The ep-fans summer fan meeting took place
- New attraction for 2012: A woodie
- A new shop "Shop am Turm" below the Euro Tower was opened
- Start of earthwork for the new woodie
- The string puppets show moved from russia to austria on a new built stage
- Volo Da Vinci test runs

July
- Press conference and opening of Volo Da Vinci
- Closing of the "Angel Heart" shop in the German alley and opening of the first "Miss Germany Boutique" at the same place
- Milka Shop moved from the temporary place in russia to a new built final shop
- Buildings of Bell Rock where growing
- Launch of the new Europa-Park website
- Start of the horror nights 2011 construction work

August
- Preview building for the woodie was opened in the German area
- First trailer for the Horror Nights 2011 appeared
- Announcement of the new 4D movie "Das Geheimnis von Schloss Balthasar" for the winter season

September
- Major proceedings on the two construction sites for Bell Rock and Wodan
- New big LED-Display for the British area
- Press conference: Foundation stone ceremony for Bell Rock and Start of the Halloween season
- Horror Nights 2011

October
- Explicit infos regarding to the new 4D movie
- Roland and Jürgen Mack got honorary citizens of Sélestat / France
- Construction of the highest point of Wodan
- County council decided to improve the transport connection to the park: Bigger streets

November
- Summer season ends with over 4,000,000 visitors: A new summer season record
- Horror Nights 2011 had a new visitor record of 55,000 guests
- Roland Mack got president of the IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions)
- Pemiere of DJ BOBO's tour "Dancing Las Vegas" took place in the park
- Sneak preview of "Das Geheimnis von Schloss Balthasar" in the renovated magic cinema with fans and celebrities took place
- Start and press conference of the winter season
- New Shop near the cinema featuring "Das Geheimnis von Schloss Balthasar" merchandise

December
- Ep-fans winter fan meeting
- The Bell Rock lighthouse got its final floor
- A new bridge from Colloseo to Bell Rock built
- Europa-Park took over the fitness center near Bell Rock and reopened it for hotel guests and employees

Source: http://www.epfans.com with some additional infos

[Sam]

Does anyone else suffer from EEF? :P

'Europa Excellence Fatigue'.

It's where you hear so much good news about Europa, you can't take it in anymore, and even the most amazing achievements become mundane. More visitors than even before? Standard. A huge new hotel and Europe's biggest GCI in one year? Figures. Roland Mack made president of the The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions? *yawn*.

If I read "Europa-Park to resurrect Saint Mother Theresa" or "Jürgen Mack convinces Barack Obama to open new wooden coaster" I wouldn't be surprised. :P