Francois

Hi there! 3 days remaining now before the end of the poll So for the latecomers, it's time to vote Go on http://www.uetpa.com See you! François

Thanks you! Elissa I'm very happy to know that you enjoyed your travel in Europe.

Hi there ! My name is François Mayné, i'm 23 and i'm coming from Belgium. Like last year, i open this topic to present you the Ultimate European Theme Parks Awards. The Ultimate European Theme Parks Awards is a project created by different european enthusiasts in 2003. There was at that time many surveys of all kinds on the Web from many theme park enthousiasts (among which Coaster Poll and the Screamscape Ultimate Awards) but none were really devoted to the European parks. Our idea was then to create a great annual survey available in the majority of the most spoken languages in Europe and dedicated only to the Europeans parks. Now, we are launching the fourth UETPA Edition ! The poll is presented in 6 languages (english, french, german, dutch, spanish and italian) and you can vote for 26 Awards in 5 categories (New for 2005, Attractions, Shows and Events, Parks and Various) So, i invite you to participate to the UETPA, even if you aren't coming from Europe, i believe that your amusement culture is important, and that you can answer for each Awards, in fact, all enthusiasts are welcome, from everywhere in the world ! And some of the Themepark Review dream team were in Europe last year, so they really know what's good in Europe (or not... ) The link is: http://www.uetpa.com (you have to accept cookies if it doesn't work) You will also find on our websites the past complete results, some pictures of prize winners, presentations, Honour List, etc. Voting will end on Sunday March 12th 2006 ! And to make something more interesting that "just a post", here some commentaries on my vote (i hope you will explain too your choices and argue them ) Concerning the 2005 novelties, i decided to vote for Rush! (Thorpe Park - Uk) as the best new Thrill Ride, because i love it (the Screamin' Swing S&S so fun...) and Sponge Bob Squarepants 4D as the best new family ride (Walibi Belgium); because i like the movie and it's fun! My favourite steel rollercoaster is... Expedition Ge Force (i really want to compare it with giant american coasters, it will be for later... ), Stampida (Port Aventura) as best Wooden Coaster, Winja's Fear and Winja's Force for best family coaster (it's a really cool rollercoaster, i advice you to ride it if you come in Germany, i think Robb & Elissa enjoyed their ride in it ). As best Thrill Ride, i vote for Hurakan Condor, the new Intamin drop tower of Port Aventura (stand up position... argh) , River Quest (Phantasialand) as best Water Ride, Challenge of Tutankhamon as best Dark Ride (even if i really love DR like Phantom Manor, Pirates of the Caribbean or Droomvlucht), Templo del Fuego (fantastic !) as best Special Effects Attraction and Big Thunder Mountain as best themed attraction. There's also an Award about the ride's music, i vote for Villa Volta (Efteling), Efteling have a big number of great musics for its rides (Droomvlucht, Vogel Rok, Fata Morgana, etc.) About shows: "Main Basse sur la Joconde" from Parc Astérix and "Fantillusion" from Disneyland Park, and my favourite event in 2004 was the Halloween Season of Walibi Belgium (with Tornalloween) The parks: i like Port Aventura, Disneyland Park, Phantasialand and Europa Park, and Nigloland for the "small park", it's a french park very nice. For example, i vote for Port Aventura for Food Services and Merchanding, Disneyland for best crew, Europa Park for best Space / Cleanliness, etc. Thanks a lot, happy 2006 season ! François

Yes, in Walibi Lorraine (old Walibi Smurf), under the name of Tang'Or, but it will open some weeks after El Volador, because according to the Huss Topple Tower Manager, he has to be on construction site (it's the only guy in Huss that can supervised the building site of the Topple Tower). So after the opening of El Volador, he will go to Walibi Lorraine to build Tang'Or. Tang'Or will be exactly the same ride as El Volador (with the scary head of the bird ) Oh yes... the head is 6 meters length, and is equiped with a system of lights (just imagine his eyes become lights during your night walk Elissa ) and there is a system which automatically direct the bird head to the soil (depends on the speed of the pole), so he will always looking at you

Hey everybody! This thread is simple! Rather than having a million little threads about everything that goes on at Bellewaerde, this thread is designed to consolidate it all into one user-friendly thread. Feel free to use it to post updates, trip reports, questions, comments, and of course, general discussion. For pictures and videos of the park as well as past updates, see TPR's Park Index Page. Official Park Website Below are some links to past updates from the park, you may be interested in. Enjoy! --Robb _____________________________________________________ 2005 February 24th, 2005 - Park to get world's first Huss Topple Tower, El Volador (SEE BELOW) April 24th, 2005 - El Volador opens 2012 September 14th, 2012 - Park closes classoc dark ride Los Piratas September 14th, 2012 - Zierer indoor family coaster announced for 2013 _____________________________________________________ Original Post: Hi there ! Here are some news from Belgium ! As you maybe know, Bellewaerde Park (not far from the borderline with France), a typical european familly amusement park (50 years in 2004), with a Dark Ride, a Vekoma Boomerang, a Shoot the Chute, a Space Shot, River Rapids, Flume Rides, various flatrides, shows...), under the management of Six Flags between 2000 and 2004 and of Star Parks since mid-2004, has decided to open a new ride in 2005. And this new ride will be a World First, the new Huss Topple Tower (which will be build also in Walibi Lorraine -France- this year too), his name is El Volador ; he will open in the Mexico Area just in front of the Dark Ride "Los Piratas" (and behind Boomerang). The design, you saw it during last IAAPA Convention. It's a typical "exotic" thema with a giant bird on the top of the ride. Today (February 24th) was organized a first press meeting ! Here are no some pictures and informations about El Volador: you can see the press presentation, the building site, piece of rides, etc. Building Site Construction Pictures Concept Arts / Simulation Video Press Release (in french) Technical datas (in french) Technical informations (in resume): Budget: € 2.5 millions (about $ 3 millions) Capacity: 40 passengers - 800/hours - Time Length: 1.30 min Height: 20 meters Diameter gondola: 8 meters Speed Gondola: 9 rotations / min Speed Pole: 0.5 rotation / min Weight: 210 tons The ride will open next March 26th Construction Picture Construction Picture Construction Picture Construction Picture Concept Art El Volador Concept Art El Volador Concept Art El Volador

Both layouts aren't really the same (G'sengte Sau is different) but similar with first drop, 180° turns, spirals and camelbacks. The two coasters are very exciting but i prefer Klotti Coaster. What's very interesting in G'sengte Sau is that you have half-layout between walls of a building (typical german style), but it's not indoor (picture: http://www.parkfunworld.be/database/grande_photos/Cochonfou1.JPG.jpg (if you want more pics of G'sengte Sau, click here) Like Klotti Coaster, there is a series of camelbacks at the end of G'sengte Sau, this is great I prefer Klotti... maybe because of the passages between the big spiral and the camelback is... incredible (airtime without drop ) But G'sengte Sau is also very great (i think Amby likes more it than Klotti, i don't know... Amby ?) Hope that helps

Hi Elissa ! Thanks for your answer ! Glad to know that EGF is still the best rollercoaster you have done When i'm thinking that they are lots of european enthousiasts who always say "We do'nt have good rides in Europe, look at America, they have fantastic rides", i believe they are wrong about Expedition Ge Force As Amby says, you can of course vote for UETPA 2004 You know... even some europeans didn't go in more than 3 parks in their live, or ride more than 10 rollercoasters, so i believe you have a better knowledges of european theme parks than some europeans About news in 2004, i have written in my first post that i really enjoyed my ride on Klotti Coaster (Wild und- Freitzeitpark Klotten), here are some pictures about it: Klotti Coaster Gallery See you! edit: oops, sorry for the pictures size, i will change it tonight! Spiral on Klotti Coaster (Wild- und Freitzeitpark Klotten, Germany) General view of Klotti Coaster (Wild- und Freitzeitpark Klotten, Germany)

Hi there ! My name is François Mayné, i'm 22 and i'm coming from Belgium. My first language is french, so my english isn't perfect, please excuse me in advance With the agreement of Robb (thanks to him !), i open this topic to present you the Ultimate European Theme Parks Awards. The Ultimate European Theme Parks Awards is a project created by different european enthusiasts in 2003. There was at that time many surveys of all kinds on the Web from many theme park enthousiasts (among which Coaster Poll and the Screamscape Ultimate Awards) but none were really devoted to the European parks. Our idea was then to create a great annual survey available in the majority of the most spoken languages in Europe and dedicated only to the Europeans parks. Now, we are launching the third UETPA Edition ! The poll is presented in 6 languages (english, french, german, dutch, spanish and italian) and you can vote for 26 Awards in 5 categories (New for 2004, Attractions, Shows and Events, Parks and Various) So, i invite you to participate to the UETPA, even if you aren't coming from Europe, i believe that your amusement culture is important, and that you can answer for each Awards, in fact, all enthusiasts are welcome, from everywhere in the world ! The link is: http://www.uetpa.com (you have to accept cookies if it doesn't work) You will also find on our websites the past complete results, some pictures of prize winners, presentations, Honour List, etc. Voting will end on Sunday March 13th 2005 ! And to make something more interesting that "just a post", here some commentaries on my vote (i hope you will explain too your choices and argue them ) I really enjoyed 2004 novelties, Bobbejaanland, Toverland,... my favourite new rides are Sledge Hammer (the Giant Frisbee Huss) and Kotti Coaster from Wild und- Freitzeitpark Klotten in Germany. This bobsled coaster of Gerstlauer is incredible, small but really interesting with turns and airtimes. My favourite steel rollercoaster is... Expedition Ge Force (i really want to compare it with giant american coasters, it will be for later ), Tonnerre de Zeus as best Wooden Coaster, Winja's Fear and Winja's Force for best family coaster (it's a really cool rollercoaster, i advice you to ride it if you come in Germany). As best Thrill Ride, i vote for The Wild Bunch (now "High Fall"), the Intamin drop tower of Movie Park Germany, River Quest (Phantasialand) as best Water Ride, Challenge of Tutankhamon as best Dark Ride (even if i really love DR like Phantom Manor, Pirates of the Caribbean or Droomvlucht), Templo del Fuego (fantastic !) as best Special Effects Attraction and Big Thunder Mountain as best themed attraction. There's also an Award about the ride's music, i vote for Villa Volta (Efteling), Efteling have a big number of great musics for its rides (Droomvlucht, Vogel Rok, Fata Morgana, etc.) About shows: "Main Basse sur la Joconde" from Parc Astérix and "Fantillusion" from Disneyland Park, and my favourite event in 2004 was the Halloween Season of Port Aventura (to do again in 2005 ) The parks: i like Port Aventura, Disneyland Park, Phantasialand and Europa Park, and Nigloland for the "small park", it's a french park very nice For example, i vote for Port Aventura for Food Services and Merchanding, Disneyland for best crew, Europa Park for best Space / Cleanliness, etc. I don't vote for english amusement parks, because i have to do them in 2005, i don't know how they are Thanks a lot, happy 2005 season ! François 8)