Efteling (Opening Day Python 2.0) - March 2018Hello everyone!
Today, Saturday March 31th 2018, was the first day the new Python officially openend to the public. In less than three months, Efteling managed to largely rebuild their entire iconic 37-year-old roller coaster - Python. The track and supports between the first drop and the brakes have been completely replaced. The rest of the track has been thoroughly cleaned and there was some maintenance on the lift hill.
Although the layout remained almost unchanged, the area around Python 2.0 did get a totally different look. First, the queue was re-built allowing for a special single riders line. The old onride photo store at the exit has been demolished. Furthermore, the station building has been refurbished and next month a new food stall will open next to the attraction.
Another important change is the arrival of the Boarding Pass. On busy days, like today, guests have to make a reservation to ride Python. They can select a time of their choice via the official Efteling app or at ticket kiosks next to the roller coaster. A limited number of people are able to join the queue every 15 minutes. In this way, the waiting time remains short.
So what are my thoughts?
Well, first of all, I can not stress it enough how much smoother this ride is. It feels like you are floating over the track. When you go down the first drop, you literally feel the moment when the track changes from old to new. Don't get me wrong, you don't feel the specific transition. No, that is perfectly smooth. But you really notice the difference between the smoothness of the old track and the new track. I never thought the old Python was a rough ride anyway, but it was not smooth either. I am going to make a bold statement now and say that Python is the smoothest coaster in the park.
The lift hill takes you to the top much faster as before. With the old Python the climbing seemed to last forever. Now, the chain releases the train in about 20 seconds. The turn and the first drop remained unchanged. The two loopings are just as intense as before and the little airtime hill that follows still provides a nice pop of air. The transition into the double corkscrews was much better designed than before, there is no longer that awkward jolt. The helix at the end is still as forceful as I remember, but now you can actually enjoy it.
Something that has disappointed me a bit, was the lack of theming. I really hoped that they would add some theming here and there. But sadly, the only theming you get is the snake look of the trains.
Final Score: 6/10As much as I really enjoyed the new Python, it is and will always be a Vekoma double loop and corkscrew coaster. With the old Python, I did not feel the need to ride it everytime I went to the park. But now that the ride is much smoother, I will definitely ride it at least once every visit. I think the goal has been achieved - to preserve the iconic coaster and make it enjoyable for everyone.
Here are some pictures that I took.
- A bright new entrance for the park's most iconic coaster.
- The loopings are still as forceful as before, but now you can enjoy them without having to hold on.
- I am still wondering why they did not re-track the first drop too..
- Some random people experiencing some serious G's.
- Some of the supports look really funky.
- This is a close-up of the transition from the old to the new track.
- And this is where the new track meets the old one.
- Python is climbing its lift hill a lot faster than it used to do.
- An underneath shot of the first drop.
- Going down into the smoothness!
- It really is and will always be the icon of the park.
- The track looks massive, though.
- You get a nice pop of air here!
- You no longer have to brace yourself for that awkward transition into Python's corkscrews.
- It still amazes me how much smoother this ride is now.
- It is the circle of life!
- Cruising towards the brakes.
- I have to admit, I really like the look of Python's trains.
- You get some decent forces here.
- In my opinion, it is now the smoothest coaster at Efteling.
- Another look at Python's famous corkscrews.
- One last look at Python 2.0.
Thanks for reading!
by FirstDropJay » Mon Dec 04, 2017 11:33 am 
Thanks for sharing the video, though!
