Drachenjagd is a tiny kiddie coaster that's actually quite decent for what it is. I found it smooth, and the small first drop was actually more fun th...
Drachenjagd is a tiny kiddie coaster that's actually quite decent for what it is. I found it smooth, and the small first drop was actually more fun than I expected. While being short, it at least runs two laps. Theming is not too extensive but adequate. It's not as good as Fridolin's in Fantasiana, for example, but I've been on way worse rides that are tailored to the youngest demographic. Try to do it early in the day to avoid extensive queue times as the capacity is quite limited and the park draws in lots of young families.
I'm in a love-hate-relationship with Freischütz: I think it's a visually beautiful ride with its colour-scheme and it's location surrounded by trees. ...
I'm in a love-hate-relationship with Freischütz: I think it's a visually beautiful ride with its colour-scheme and it's location surrounded by trees. I also love the balls-to-the-wall intensity of it. Freischütz is absolutely relentless from start to finish and might as well be one of the most intense coasters in Germany. Greying out was pretty much guaranteed after the loop. That being said, the ride has developed some serious rattle over the years which might cause some light headaches on back-to-back rides. I'm also not a fan of the bulky X-car lap bars which put some pressure on my ribcage. Despite that, Freischütz still delivers 40 seconds of pure adrenaline if that's your cup of tea. In my experience row 5 was the one with the least amount of rattle, so maybe try riding in that one first.
FirleFranz is a great family coaster with a somewhat ingenious trick up its sleeve. The switch-track adds a lot of character and really elevates the o...
FirleFranz is a great family coaster with a somewhat ingenious trick up its sleeve. The switch-track adds a lot of character and really elevates the otherwise rather conservative layout. While being far from intense, it's fun throughout and, in my opinion, so much better than regular family boomerangs. The only downside of this coaster is its limited capacity as FirleFranz can only operate one train at a time.
Where to begin? When we rode Helios first thing in the morning we liked it but weren't really blown away. Once it was warmed up, though, we couldn't g...
Where to begin? When we rode Helios first thing in the morning we liked it but weren't really blown away. Once it was warmed up, though, we couldn't get enough of it. The on-board soundtrack is great and elevates the experience while every element during its first three quarters hits: The lift hill is speedy, the following drop offers laterals and some ejector time before it transitions into an amazing banked airtime hill which at times had me out of my seat for its whole duration. Next is the single biggest ejector pop of the ride which leads into the first inversion that unexpectedly offered great hang time. The second inversion follows with lateral and then regular hang time. Lastly the heartline roll through the station has some nice whip to it. Unfortunately, this is where Helios loses a lot of steam: It slows down considerably and, consequently, the last banked hill does nothing on the left-hand side while the seats on the right get a little bit of floater airtime.
However, even with Helios fizzling out on its final stretch, I couldn't get enough of it. It's extremely re-ridable with an exciting layout and great elements. I found the coaster to be quite smooth on top with only one of my many laps feeling a bit rough - but that might have just been me sitting awkwardly in those comfortable Stryker seats for once.
Most people seem to prefer the seats on the left but I liked the outer right ones as well: the heartline roll is especially whippy and you can actually enjoy the last banked hill a little bit.
Hopefully, Fantasiana will be able to improve Helios' capacity a little bit by adding either a second train or a single rider lane as they were sending out trains with 1-2 empty seats constantly.
So while Helios might not be the most extreme coaster out there, it does sit in that sweet spot of being re-ridable while offering intense elements. Hopefully, some other parks will follow suit: Helios is perfect for a park of that size and well worth the trip as long as you don't expect the next Voltron. TL;DR: Mackprodukt.
For what it is, Fridolin's Verrückter Zauberexpress is pretty good: It's a family coaster for even the youngest of guests. Minimum height is 90cm so t...
For what it is, Fridolin's Verrückter Zauberexpress is pretty good: It's a family coaster for even the youngest of guests. Minimum height is 90cm so there are lots of parents with their small kids trying to experience this launch coaster. Obviously, the ride is quite tame and the layout nothing to write home about. But what Fridolin delivers is good theming with great care for details (there's even an explanation for the backwards swing before the first launch) and an incredibly smooth ride experience. The best part is the hill after the second launch which grants the tiniest bit of floater airtime in the back. Fun but unsurprisingly not targeted towards enthusiasts.
Hals über Kopf is an extremely re-ridable invert. It's surprisingly smooth all the way through and the inversions are taken rather gracefully. There a...
Hals über Kopf is an extremely re-ridable invert. It's surprisingly smooth all the way through and the inversions are taken rather gracefully. There are a few moments of positive Gs, e.g. during the final turn in the trench but overall the focus is more on airtime and weightlessness. While not being overly intense, HüK still has a great layout including a fun drop which is best experienced in the back. I also appreciate the quirky theming which fits the park perfectly.
Don't underestimate this one! Initially, we were a tiny bit underwhelmed by Karacho as we were riding it in the morning before it was warmed up. The c...
Don't underestimate this one! Initially, we were a tiny bit underwhelmed by Karacho as we were riding it in the morning before it was warmed up. The car was crawling through the midcourse break run and riding in the back hat a faint but uncomfortable rattle to it. When we returned in the afternoon, however, it was a whole different beast. The launch is punchy, the tophat has some nice airtime and there's a great sense of speed in the front row. As the first row conveys a better sense of speed and felt a little smoother, I'd say it's always worth the few minutes of extra wait time.
For me personally, the magic seat was the right wing seat in the front. There the dive loop feels especially whippy. Bonus points for the unexpected albeit awesome surprise which I don't want to spoil here. I'd rather it even higher were it not for the rather weak helix before the finale.
Given its age, "G'sengte Sau" runs surprisingly smooth. The theming is quite good, especially how it winds around the castle-like structure. That bein...
Given its age, "G'sengte Sau" runs surprisingly smooth. The theming is quite good, especially how it winds around the castle-like structure. That being said, it's capacity is quite low and you can't expect a lot of forces aside from the laterals during the hairpin turns of the wild mouse section. Overall, it's enjoyable enough with a fun finale consisting of a few bunny hops. However, I didn't really feel like doing several laps either, despite the ride being a walk-on during my visit.
Mammut certainly looks great and has outstanding theming both in the queue and during its pre-lift dark ride section. However, after the first drop, w...
Mammut certainly looks great and has outstanding theming both in the queue and during its pre-lift dark ride section. However, after the first drop, which is quite fun in the back, the rest of the layout is a complete disappointment. There is some minor airtime on the first hill but then the coaster just loses it's speed way too quickly. Mammut feels too slow and doesn't offer any particular forces - it's just a very average which should have been so much better. I liked the foggy tunnel towards the end but it can't save a mediocre ride, I'm afraid. It's a shame as I really wanted to like Mammut.
I'm generally not too fond of the family boomerang model as they're usually rather short and not too exciting. At least during my visit, capacity wasn...
I'm generally not too fond of the family boomerang model as they're usually rather short and not too exciting. At least during my visit, capacity wasn't a problem of Volldampf. The theming is well done and I love how it interacts with "Hals über Kopf", especially the spike which is placed above the loading station of HüK. While on the tamer side, I really appreciate the two bunny hills which at least grant the tiniest bit of airtime in the back. That's also the main reason why I prefer Volldampf to Raik in Phantasialand. It runs smoothly and is a nice addition to the park, but not a ride I'd wait in line for.
For a Tivoli that old, "Rasender Tausendfüßler" runs surprisingly smooth. However, the layout is nothing to write home about and probably won't please...
For a Tivoli that old, "Rasender Tausendfüßler" runs surprisingly smooth. However, the layout is nothing to write home about and probably won't please anyone but the tiniest guests. For those gaining their first experience on a rollercoaster, this is surely a fun little ride. For everyone else, though, it's probably just a credit for their personal count. Capacity should be decent enough, especially for the park, but during my visit there were some technical difficulties which caused the train to stop and unlock the lap bars every time after its first lap. Therefore, the already slow operator had to recheck every row before sending the coaster for its second run. They fixed it later in the day but while the issue persisted, it caused even more downtime in between. A second operator could speed things up significantly but is probably not worth it for the park.
Where to begin? Voltron obviously has amazing theming, especially the station building and in the queue. What blew me away most, though, were the oper...
Where to begin? Voltron obviously has amazing theming, especially the station building and in the queue. What blew me away most, though, were the operations. Trains were dispatched within seconds while not a single seat remained empty thanks to a well-implemented single rider lane. Therefore, the capacity is simply amazing for a thrill coaster of that calibre. The ride begins with a surprising and fun pre-show before the first launch catapults you upside down. The hangtime here is amazing and ultimately only outclassed by the fantastic stall after the second launch. Whippy inversions and airtime for days are probably the backbone of Voltron's relentless and creative layout. For me, the turntable is a welcome breather before the second half dials it up to 11 once more. There are so many ejector pops and laterals on the wing seats, that Voltron ultimately is an exhausting ride. Depending on the train, it might also not be the smoothest experience, especially on the wing seats. The inner ones have always been quite smooth for me, though. Even the rougher trains are tolerable, however, thanks to the comfortable seats and lapbars. Most people seem to prefer the back, but I enjoyed the front row a little more due to the insane amount of ejector pops. The only downside of the first row is the spike after the turntable which does nothing in the front. At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter where you sit. There is nothing quite like Voltron. It might not be the best coaster to marathon but it most definitely is a masterpiece in my opinion.
If you're a cat-owner, you might be well used to your pet's daily zoomies. Well, Wodan is just that but as a rollercoaster. From the first drop, which...
If you're a cat-owner, you might be well used to your pet's daily zoomies. Well, Wodan is just that but as a rollercoaster. From the first drop, which is amazing, until the brake-run it's just a single and relentless adrenaline rush at full speed. At times I was convinced that the train was about to jump off the tracks. Most people say to ride it in the back for the drop alone. And while it is superior in the last car, I surprisingly enjoyed the first row more. At least in the winter, every one of those smaller hills gave me a short ejector pop in the front. But whatever you prefer, Wodan is great in general from start to finish. It's also smooth for a Woodie with the typical rattle being not much of an issue due to the comfortably padded cars.
***This review is about Silver Star with winter wheels*** I've always loved this B&M a lot but experiencing it in the winter with its harder set of wh...
***This review is about Silver Star with winter wheels*** I've always loved this B&M a lot but experiencing it in the winter with its harder set of wheels and the brakes disabled is something else. In general I'd say the back rows provide the best experience with lots of floater airtime during the first drop and the first two airtime hills. After the turnaround, though, things are starting to get really awesome. The sudden drop after the midcourse brake run provides amazing ejectors with another one following after the helix. The final s-bend delivers a great sense of speed. After a fun first half, Silver Star follows up with an exceptional second. It's biggest drawbacks are its location in the middle of the parking lot, the comparatively weak theming and a mild rattle on the outer seats. It didn't really hurt my experience but it's noticeably rougher now than it used to be. Still, Silver Star is a hyper I always enjoy coming back to.
Riding Blue Fire for the first time over a decade ago, I came off the ride disappointed. Much to my surprise, I enjoyed it a lot more when I finally g...
Riding Blue Fire for the first time over a decade ago, I came off the ride disappointed. Much to my surprise, I enjoyed it a lot more when I finally got back on it, this time in the winter. The launch was much punchier than I remembered, and the trains were running smoothly despite the coaster having operated for 15 years now. Along with the comfortable Mack lap bars, Blue Fire is an incredibly re-ridable thrill coaster. Arguably, it's on the tamer side but this does not detract from the fun factor in my opinion. The drawn-out loop even grants the tiniest bit of hangtime in the front row whereas the highlight is obviously the snappy final roll which has a really nice whip to it. Granted, this is not the most spectacular rollercoaster but it is a fantastic crowd-pleaser and in general a good time if you need to cool off after riding something like Voltron. Somehow, I grew to love Blue Fire (winter edition), who would have thought?
Europa Park always has world class theming but what they did with the queue is out of this world. There are so many details and Easter eggs hidden whi...
Europa Park always has world class theming but what they did with the queue is out of this world. There are so many details and Easter eggs hidden while you're navigating narrow streets, elaborate rooms and the backstage area of a theatre. All the while different music provides the matching atmosphere. The queue could be an attraction in and of itself. That is important, as Cancan Coaster rarely is a walk-on even on slower days. Capacity is not bad per se but as it's an indoor family attraction, it always draws a decent crowd, even on rainy days.
The ride itself is really smooth compared to Eurosat before. While Cancan coaster could do with a little more theming during the ride, the glow-in-the-dark visuals look great and provide a decent enough illusion of flying through nightly Paris. I was hesitant at first, as I loved its predecessor but was happy how the ride turned out in the end. A truly fun and re-ridable experience that is only held back a little by its simplistic layout.
Eurosat was never the smoothest ride but back then I didn't care. I loved the visuals, the soundtrack and the countdown towards the end of the spiral ...
Eurosat was never the smoothest ride but back then I didn't care. I loved the visuals, the soundtrack and the countdown towards the end of the spiral lift. It might just be nostalgia but I do miss the space theme quite a bit. In any case, Eurosat will always have a special place in my heart as it was my first indoor coaster and one of my first larger ones as well.
While being more of a dark ride than a coaster, Arthur is certainly a unique experience. I enjoyed the theming, the smells and how it travelled throug...
While being more of a dark ride than a coaster, Arthur is certainly a unique experience. I enjoyed the theming, the smells and how it travelled through the giant hall with all the visitors below. The seats and lap bars are very comfy as well. While I was hoping for a little more speed during the outdoor sections, they're quite fun nonetheless. As Arthur is a mainly indoor family attraction, expect long queues throughout the day.
Due to that, the single rider line might be a good idea: I was able to save more than half an hour going solo.
I used to like Euro Mir for what it is, but re-riding it in 2025 was a quite bad experience for me. The rattle has gotten so bad that one of its jolts...
I used to like Euro Mir for what it is, but re-riding it in 2025 was a quite bad experience for me. The rattle has gotten so bad that one of its jolts toward the end while going backwards caused some actual physical pain in my back. I like the beginning, though, as it offers some great views over the park while circling around the iconic structure. What ultimately ruined the ride for me this time was the soundtrack, though. Apparently, they replaced the iconic theme with a rather bland and generic song for the winter season which turned the lift-hill into a bore. Therefore, you might add 0.5-1 star to my rating if the original theme is playing - it just adds so much to the experience.
When it opened in 2000 this used to be my favourite coaster in the park. I've ridden it a lot over the years l, so I was rather surprised when I found...
When it opened in 2000 this used to be my favourite coaster in the park. I've ridden it a lot over the years l, so I was rather surprised when I found out ten years after my previous visit to Europa Park that Poseidon had developed a rather uncomfortable rattle in the coaster sections. It hurts the experience a little even though the two drops are still fun. I still like the theming in the station and the beginning of the ride a lot, though. It's a great addition to the area, so it'll hopefully be due for a retracking at some point.
For a family coaster Pegasus has not only a great layout but really good pacing as well. The first drop even offers some nice airtime in the back. The...
For a family coaster Pegasus has not only a great layout but really good pacing as well. The first drop even offers some nice airtime in the back. Therefore, I'd recommend riding it as far back as possible. It's only downside is that it's way too short. Luckily, the capacity is quite good for what it is, so you might be able to jump on right again.
I'm not the biggest fan of Wild Mouse coasters but this is definitely one of the better ones. The theming is really good and immersive, even in the qu...
I'm not the biggest fan of Wild Mouse coasters but this is definitely one of the better ones. The theming is really good and immersive, even in the queue, while the lift in the beginning is a nice touch that fits the whole vibe of the ride. Matterhorn Blitz suffers from limited capacity, though, which often results in longer waiting times which are not always worth it. Trying to get on it towards the end of the day is usually not the worst idea, in my experience.
The station building of the rebuilt Alpenexpress Enzian is fantastic. The theming on general is quite good here although I can't help but miss the cav...
The station building of the rebuilt Alpenexpress Enzian is fantastic. The theming on general is quite good here although I can't help but miss the cave that is now gone after the fire. The train also feels a little slower than before but that might just be my memory playing tricks. Overall, it's a decent but not very spectacular family coaster. I preferred the old version though, if only slightly.
This was one of my first coasters as a kid. I liked it a lot and rode it every time I visited Europa Park. My favourite part was the cave with its uni...
This was one of my first coasters as a kid. I liked it a lot and rode it every time I visited Europa Park. My favourite part was the cave with its unique smell and the interaction with the log flume. It's a shame it burned down as the new version of Alpenexpress Enzian falls slightly off in comparison. That being said, it's not intense at all and the layout is nothing to write home about. A great ride for kids though.
Schweizer Bobbahn is a unique and somewhat iconic ride. I used to love it as a kid but re-riding it now is nothing but disappointing, I'm afraid. The ...
Schweizer Bobbahn is a unique and somewhat iconic ride. I used to love it as a kid but re-riding it now is nothing but disappointing, I'm afraid. The low capacity often results in long queues throughout the day - personally, I wouldn't wait longer than five minutes to ride it, though. The actual coaster part is way too short and the final stretch after the break-run is a massive dead spot. The theming is great, however, and it also feels like an integral part of the Switzerland-area. If you're sitting in the back with another person in front of you, the rattle can cause quite a bit of discomfort.
There is not a lot to it: Atlantica Super splash is a glorified drop with a small backwards section sprinkled in. At least the drop is fun including a...
There is not a lot to it: Atlantica Super splash is a glorified drop with a small backwards section sprinkled in. At least the drop is fun including a nice speedhill. That's why I usually ride it once every time I'm at Europa Park even though it's a rather pointless ride if we're being honest. Its theming is nice, though.
Apart from the launch I didn't enjoy Sky Dragster at all. It's a very short layout that rarely delivered the intensity I expected. Too often the bike ...
Apart from the launch I didn't enjoy Sky Dragster at all. It's a very short layout that rarely delivered the intensity I expected. Too often the bike slowed down at strange times killing the flow of the ride. Visually, it's not very appealing as this prototype basically doesn't have any theming whatsoever. But what kills it, is the incredibly poor capacity which usually results in long waiting times which make the experience not really worth it, in my opinion. At least, you can see that there's potential here.
It's one of a kind and a fun ride albeit not very intense. The layout is rather basic, and since the lines are usually quite long due to its poor capa...
It's one of a kind and a fun ride albeit not very intense. The layout is rather basic, and since the lines are usually quite long due to its poor capacity, it's probably a one-and-done for most people. Maybe try to ride it first thing in the morning or as your second ride directly after Sky Dragster.
Sky Spin's a strange one for me. I rode it a lot as there was basically no line and got a different experience every time. Apart from the rattle the ...
Sky Spin's a strange one for me. I rode it a lot as there was basically no line and got a different experience every time. Apart from the rattle the enjoyment of the ride depends a lot how the trains are spinning. Sometimes you'll get a fun experience throughout but at times it might result in an especially rough ride that bangs you around a lot. Overall, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would - I might have only been lucky, though.
