A visit to Bizarro Disneyworld

[bavaria]

Long overdue! I just wanted to share some photos of my recent trips to EuropaPark, aka Bizarro Disneyworld. I have come to love this place, although it does require a sense of humour to really enjoy all the elements of the park.

The park is located in Germany near the French and Swiss borders, so there is a variety of cultures who visit. I rarely see American tourists but if you are ever in this corner of Germany, I do recommend it.

There are four hotels on site; most recently I stayed at the Santa Isabel and dare I say that the service, quality of food, and theming was better than Disney?

www.europapark.de

[bavaria]

Lobby

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/europapark/overlookinglobby.jpg


guest room
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/europapark/guestroom.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/europapark/childrensleepingareainguestroom.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/europapark/bathroomarea.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/europapark/paintingonguestroomwall.jpg

[bavaria]

Partners statue. The Mack family has been building amusement park rides for years and opened EuropaPark to showcase their attractions

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/europapark43.jpg

African Queen

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/europapark5.jpg

Milka store in Chocolateland

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/europapark4.jpg

Main Street Germany

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/germanyoct2007207.jpg

The monorail

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/germanyoct2007198.jpg

Stave Church

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/germanyoct2007193.jpg

The Jungle Cruise

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/germanyoct2007184.jpg

Complete with angry hippos

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/germanyoct2007181.jpg

more to come!

[minniekissedme]

this looks right up my alley...

Feiern wie in Bayern! Das Oktoberfest im Europa-Park

[bavaria]

this looks right up my alley...

Feiern wie in Bayern! Das Oktoberfest im Europa-Park I did once have a cheese plate in the beer garden but it was eerily deserted at the time :Paranoid:

The room includes daily buffet breakfast with characters, which would put any current WDW breakfast buffet to shame. Countless hot and cold items, and the variety of selection is amazing. Not just Bonne Maman jams but eight flavours from which to choose. Not just hot eggs, but six different styles, etc etc.

EuropaPark has some of the biggest rides in Europe, but a great variety of family rides as well. It reminds me of Disney in the 1980's when there was far less stress and planning involved. Dogs are permitted, and people come for a stroll in the park with family. I never have seen any bad behaviour, even from teens. People speak to me in French and German; there is a feeling of camaraderie.

Some elements are very German, such as the traditional story telling huts. No animatronics; just a diorama and a story told by pushing the button. I enjoyed strolling here at night, listening to the German classics in either language. I was not alone; people of every age group seemed to enjoy this simple area.

And service? the hotel service was definitely top notch, even though the staff very mostly very young. Dare I say that my friend Daitcher would even give the hotels a good review? :Pssst:

[bavaria]

For 18 Euros a night, you can have space on the floor of a chuckwagon :help:

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/franceoct2007003.jpg

or sleep in a tipi for the same cost

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/franceoct2007002.jpg

or in the log cabin

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/franceoct2007001.jpg

Universe of Energy

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/germanyoct2007169.jpg

The train - no barriers at the tracks; if you are silly enough to cross the tracks when the lights flash, please do not bother to sue

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/germanyoct2007159.jpg

Your host, EuroMaus

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/germanyoct2007156.jpg

[bavaria]

Scary flowers

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/germanyoct2007130.jpg

Pirates of Batavia

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/germanyoct2007116.jpg

Alpine Express - a runaway mine train

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/germanyoct2007146.jpg

For my froggy friend, some evil dwarves inside the mine

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/germanyoct2007213.jpg

[bavaria]

Hotel Castillo Alcazar - my room overlooked the EP Express and the horse barns and nature preserve. At night I could watch fireworks from my room

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/germanyoct2007138.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/germanyoct2007137.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/germanyoct2007134.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/germanyoct2007109-1.jpg

[NYDVC]

looks like fun. thanks for sharing.

[mickeyndvcfan]

Great pics...love the hotel rooms. The park looks like a lot of fun.
Thanks for sharing.

[administrator]

Great pics!

They have a Chocolate Land??? I am SO there!

The hippo and t-rex look like they're made out of papier mache, though....

[bavaria]

You just have to squint really hard sometimes.... the monkey in Pirates of Batavia looks like he has some very bad fur disease. :tilt:

But some of the rides are really VERY good - too scary for me some of them sadly. And in the Haunted Castle there was a live person snaking around on the floor, surprising people.

Oh, and the food... the Milka shop has bars not found everywhere else. And even the cafeteria restaurants are excellent. I had tomato soup on a rainy day; served with a toasted crouton and dollop of sour cream and something like in a fine restaurant.

And being on the edge of the Black Forest, they serve an excellent Black Forest cake.

I'm sitting here right now debating if I should book a room for myself in July, not to visit the parks but because I want to see some things in the area.

[JimP]

Is that a duvet that I see? ;)

/Jim

[Ransom]

The monorail

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/germanyoct2007198.jpg


Woah! That looks like the original PeopleMover from Disneyland, Anaheim!

[greenban]

Dear Bavaria:

I can afford the 18 Euros a night for the 'Moderate' Resorts, but how much for your room with the fireworks view and mmmmm buffet, mmmmmmm?

Also does 'in' translate to 'of' (Pirates in Bavaria)?

It really looks like something I must do with the family.

Can the kids drink beer there (my kids would love to sample various brews)?

-Tony

P.S. That was a scary dwarf. Reminded me of the time I almost ran into (over) WMD at WDW.

-Tony

[bavaria]

Woah! That looks like the original PeopleMover from Disneyland, Anaheim! That is the monorail, not to be confused with the EP Express shown below. Confused? ;)

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/europapark/europapark612.jpg

My dear Froggie, you can book a room in the Portuguese monastery in the first set of photos for less than the cost of a WDW moderate room, breakfast for the froglets and the larger frogs included!

And don't forget that frogs are held in very high esteem in Germany. In fact, there are many homages to frogs throughout the park.

One more photo - if anyone would like to attend Cirque d'Europe! (and is that something familiar in the back left of the photo?)

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/europapark/europapark61.jpg

[TW1]

Fabulous Bavaria!
So glad you went and were able to share the story.

Thanks,

[2nd Star]

Thanks for sharing...I would like to visit there someday.

[2nd Star]

One more photo - if anyone would like to attend Cirque d'Europe! (and is that something familiar in the back left of the photo?)
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/europapark/europapark61.jpg

What is their "Spaceship Earth" called?

[bavaria]

EuroSat - it is actually Space Moutain meets Spaceship Earth :crackedup ie it is a roller coaster

A lot of their rides are like that - combing elements of Disney rides.

They also still have the Mack Gallery - a historical overview of the family, company, and park. Sadly DL closed the Disney Gallery, which was something similar.

TW1, I really enjoyed Fluch der Kassandra, which you thought sounded interesting. The first time I rode it I couldn't figure it out - it appeared that it would turn one upside down (the seating is similar to Journey to Jerusalem from Epcot, but seats face each other)

Turns out the ROOM moves, and the riders stay stationary. Very smart idea, but I had to ride it twice to figure it out :headscrat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuC0dc-xEFE

Here's one of my absolute favourites - the song is catchier than 'It's a Small World' I think http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ3x-RSPwS4

I would never ride Silverstar, the largest coaster in Germany, but I love this commentary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5BQGma3aB4

[JimP]

This whole place sounds like a hoot. Thanks for sharing. Putting this one on my bucket list.

/Jim

[Grandbuddy]

Euromaus! Who knew?

[7swans]

TW1, I really enjoyed Fluch der Kassandra, which you thought sounded interesting. The first time I rode it I couldn't figure it out - it appeared that it would turn one upside down (the seating is similar to Journey to Jerusalem from Epcot, but seats face each other)

Turns out the ROOM moves, and the riders stay stationary. Very smart idea, but I had to ride it twice to figure it out :headscrat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuC0dc-xEFE



Oh my Gosh! I wouldn't want to experience this attraction after the 6 different kind of eggs breakfast buffet!

[carolina_yankee]

There was an attraction similar to that in Six Flags Great Adventure here in New Jersey, but the seats moved along with the building. Talk about disorienting! It was nowhere as well themed as this, though.

Bavaria - thanks for sharing!! I do feel like it's a trip to the Twilight Zone each time you post about the place, though. :D

Dirk

[Rozzie]

I just LOVE it! This is a place Scott and I would crack up the whole time we were visiting. We love stuff like this. :upsidedow

Next trip you have to at least get a shot of inside the chuckwagon, I am dying to know if a duvet is hidden inside. :slyasafox

[rcomputers]

Love this, Bavaria! Thanks so much! Sounds Bizarro alright! I would love to go next time we are in Europe. How many days do you recommend?

[erikthewise]

Trivia time! Without Googling™, what is the origin of the term "Bizarro World"?
Bavaria you can't possibly be old enough to remember, can you?

[JimP]

Trivia time! Without Googling™, what is the origin of the term "Bizarro World"?
Bavaria you can't possibly be old enough to remember, can you?

I just showed this post to Jennifer (DD26). She immediately said "Superman" alternate dimension bizarro.

If this is not the right answer... I guess she is not old enough to know either. However... if Superman is the correct answer... it is because I raised an intelligent daughter.

/Jim

[mikayla73]

Cool pics! My SIL is from Germany, I'll have to ask her if she has ever been.

[BONZO]

Hi,

Thanks for sharing, i'll add it to the list of parks to visit.

You'd think that being in the UK a short hop to Europe would be a cheaper option than Florida.

The main point is that the pound / dollar exchange rate is our favour whereas the pound / euro rate is against us.

[erikthewise]

I just showed this post to Jennifer (DD26). She immediately said "Superman" alternate dimension bizarro.

If this is not the right answer... I guess she is not old enough to know either. However... if Superman is the correct answer... it is because I raised an intelligent daughter.

/Jim

Your daughter shows an unusual degree of cultural awareness! I deduce that Bavaria is also 26.

[TrvlPrincess]

Does Disney still own the Park? I understood by inside sources that it was sold to another company?
DId you see the characters?

[NYDVC]

Does Disney still own the Park? I understood by inside sources that it was sold to another company?
DId you see the characters?

Disney ownes Bizaro world? wow never heard that.

[TrvlPrincess]

Disney ownes Bizaro world? wow never heard that.

I thought it was EuroDisney...:crackedup

[JimP]

Your daughter shows an unusual degree of cultural awareness! I deduce that Bavaria is also 26.

Eric,

Your comment evoked a smile from her.

The Tshirt she is wearing says: Omnia sapientia videntur cum latine dicantur

/Jim

[bavaria]

Does Disney still own the Park? I understood by inside sources that it was sold to another company?
DId you see the characters? The Mack family has always owned EuropaPark (different from Disneyland Paris, which was formerly known as EuroDisney)

The characters at EuropaPark are certainly interesting. There is a swiss goat, a Russian bear, a Dutch cat, etc

I just LOVE it! This is a place Scott and I would crack up the whole time we were visiting. We love stuff like this. :upsidedow

Next trip you have to at least get a shot of inside the chuckwagon, I am dying to know if a duvet is hidden inside. :slyasafox

Well, you do need to bring your own duvet to the chuckwagon, so perhaps we need an Owner's Locker service there as well!

Here is another example of the quirky humour. This is the line for the Alpine Express aka Big Thunder. The queue passes by the mine office. Awww, the cute bears have taken over the office. But wait - what is that on the floor? Do you see a foot? legs? a body? Have the cute bears killed the mine official?! How unpolitically correct! :Paranoid:

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/europapark/europapark21.jpg

Love this, Bavaria! Thanks so much! Sounds Bizarro alright! I would love to go next time we are in Europe. How many days do you recommend?

I usually do two nights and buy a package 2 nights/3 days tickets. But this year EuropaPark sells room only and discounted tickets. Normally I do one full day and one half day in the parks, but that is midweek or low season. Plus I don't do all the big rides! But 1.5 days should cover all the rides if not all the shows. It takes me usually several hours to drive there from the far corner of Bavaria, no matter which route I take. But it is less than two hours from Frankfurt airport and less than an hour from Basel airport, so quite convenient

Trivia time! Without Googling™, what is the origin of the term "Bizarro World"?
Bavaria you can't possibly be old enough to remember, can you?

Ironically, I only know this from an episode of Seinfeld

Your daughter shows an unusual degree of cultural awareness! I deduce that Bavaria is also 26. 26, yes, let's say 26! Well, perhaps another decade or so beyond that, but good guess :hypnotict

[Niki]

This place looks so cool. I hope to go there someday. I watched several youtube rides of the coasters and am so ready for this place. Two things this reminds me of. First, I have forgotten so much of my German that I spoke fairly well as a kid. Second, I had a really deprived childhood since my father never took me there when I visited him. From the looks of it, we weren't too far away. Please tell me that this park wasn't open in the 70's and 80's so I won't feel so deprived.LOL

[bavaria]

In the 70's and 80's it was more of a deer park, so not to worry!

But that sounds like you missed the really scary Bavarian theme park which frightened many German children into good behaviour, me included :Paranoid:

It's based on the Struwwelpeter tales, amongst others.

By the way, I stayed at EP again a few weeks ago, just for the night as I was driving a long distance and needed a hotel room in that area. I will say that if it is 30 degrees C outside to bring a battery fan as I do, as it gets a little toasty with no a/c in the rooms other than Mother Nature :sunny:

[wintergreen]

Ok, I HAVE to go to this place!!!!

[kellybus]

This Place looks KOOL!! I'll put it on my bucket list!!! :dancingba:clappingh

[gopherit]

Ironically, I only know this from an episode of Seinfeld


Same here! :iagree: In fact, I am wondering if the same is true for JimP's dd....

Cool park, cool pics, Bavaria! ;)