Theme Park Guide

Complete guide for theme parks Halloween events

Nowdays its mandatory for a theme park to have an Halloween event   Europa Park celebrates the Halloween season. This year the park has renamed their event Traumatica and it will take place on select nights from September 20 through to November 4th, filling the night with eerie figures and demonic nightmares. You can find out more details about Traumatica at the official website.

Zoo da Maia is home tigers, brown bears, zebras, capybaras and wallabies and a themed area “Noah’s Ark” dedicated to cold-blooded animals (poisonous snakes, scorpions, tarantulas, nocturnal animals, piranhas, among others). You’ll also spot all manner of turtles, tortoises, iguanas, geckos and snakes.

Also worth mention is a sea-lion show (“Show of Foquinhas”) that rejoices small and adults three times a day.

  There’s also a bird of prey demonstration with barn owls and Eurasian eagle-owls.

Small but nice zoo. Nice price 7,5€ Adults. Plan for 2-3 hours visit. Good for an early morning visit and to use the rest of the day for the nearby Zoo de Santo Inácio, in my view the best in Portugal.

Parc Asterix 2 million annual visitors mark

Parc Astérix has announced that for the first time since its inauguration it has surpassed 2 million annual visitors. In 2017, visits increased by 10%, thanks to the new family roller coaster Pégase Express, the good weather and the enlargement of the hotel with 50 new rooms.

Inside a small roller coaster, a water splash ride and some fun fair toys like a giant wheel and carousels. All centred on little children but without a coherent or inspiring theme. There is even a themed land properly called “World of Confusion” where you will find a small Eiffel Tower and flying elephants. There are some nice sculptures and scenarios like the St. George Dragon at the entrance or  Pirate Galleon but nothing that justifies 17,50€ entrance.

Spaced in the park grounds are some nice sculptures and scenarios like the St. George Dragon at the entrance or Pirate Galleon but nothing that justifies 17,50€ adult entrance or 12€ children.

Lot’s of work to do here. We’ll probably come back in a year or two to report the progress (or not).

All we know about Legoland Billund 50th anniversary expansion

Legoland Billund in Denmark turns 50 and to celebrate its anniversary a major expansion is already ongoing. This is what we know so far. Renewed themed land: LEGOREDO Town. The Wild West where you can meet gun-slinging cowboys, gold-diggers and Indians will be totally revamped with a 2500m2 expansion, a new rollercoaster for the youngest and the popular recreation Lego Canoe is being refurbished.…

Legoland resorts invest in VR

LEGOLAND Resorts in Malaysia, Florida and Germany will transform their “Project X” coasters into a virtual reality (VR) “The Great LEGO Race” ride. During the ride riders will board brick-built contraptions driven by Trendsetter, Pharaoh, Surfer Girl, Wizard and Pirate Captain – characters from the LEGO Minifigures range.

First, despite all the signs, it’s almost impossible to get to the park without GPS. It’s a bit far from the freeway and you have to cross small and dangerous mountain roads.  Second, the parking lot is a bit far from the pool area so hill climbing skills are needed. Finally, the park is located in a steep mountain so it seems small from a distance.

But when you arrive, rent an umbrella and head to the slides these first cautious impressions vanish right away: the park is wonderful, the rides are fun and prices are right.

The complex isn’t big but enough for six multiple lanes, four fast lanes, a snail, two toboggans, a wave pool and two children’s pools. In 2017 the park has just opened its new ‘Fast Mountain’ attraction, a 180 meter long slide, one of the largest in Europe. So there are lots of things to keep you busy.

  To rejuvenate your mood with a refreshing drink or a light meal, the Amarante Aquatic Park, integrated into the Tâmega Club resort, has bars and a snack bar with terrace. This year the park will be in operation until September 20th.

Europa Park again wins Golden Ticket awards

Europa-Park won Best Theme Park Worldwide for the fourth year running at the Golden Ticket Awards host Amusement Today magazine. No surprises here because this year the park opened Voletarium – the largest flying theatre in Europe and Europa-Park’s biggest ever investment in a single attraction. As also reported by us future plans include the ambitious Nordic-themed Water Adventure…

Disneyland HK sends Buzz Lightyear ‘to infinity… and beyond’

Hong Kong Disneyland’s popular shooting-gallery ride – the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters – finished service on Thursday. It will be remodeled into a new Marvel-themed interactive shooting game. Buzz Lightyear’s last day brought 300 of his fans to the theme park to bid farewell to the ride. Buzz Lightyear is one of the main characters in the Disney movie series Toy Story. The 12-year-old…

Six Flags lineup for 2018

Six Flags lineup of new attractions was announced online and includes the world’s first Wonder Woman-themed roller coaster: WONDER WOMAN Golden Lasso Coaster. The coaster will marvel feature a first-of-its-kind single I-beam rail with riders seated single file. That ride will be heading to Six Flags Fiesta Texas. At Six Flags Magic Mountain CraZanity will become the world’s tallest pendulum ride…

New 2018 Toverland expansion website and video

Toverland launched a dedicated website to its biggest expansion ever: 2018.toverland.com The new Toverland Theme Park will be one and a half times larger. A new entrance area and a new theme area will be built over an area of seven hectares. Two new rides will be added: a Wing Coaster from Bolliger and Mabillard (B&M) and a boat ride by Mack Rides. The expansion will cost 30 million euros and…

Opened to the public in 1960 the park was previously part of an estate belonging to the family of William Reid, founder of Reid’s Hotel. Now Madeira Botanical garden hosts 2,500 plants, originating from all the continents that coexist in harmony with about 300 exotic birds. There’s also a good cable car which unfortunately i couldn’t have the time to visit.

Dive Coaster to debut at Knott’s Berry Farm

Southern California’s most popular theme park will open the West Coast’s first Dive Coaster in 2018. The steel roller coaster, named HangTime, will be 150ft tall and located in the Boardwalk area of Knott’s Berry Farm. Riders will be sent down the steepest drop in California at 96 degrees. At the highest peak of the coaster, the train will suspend riders at a 60-degree angle for several seconds.…