The Official "TPR In Europe" Ongoing TR Thread.

Face Book · Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 2:00 pm Post subject:

Day Nineteen: Parc Asterix and more Disneyland Paris!

OMG! Tonnerre De Zeus is BACK!!!!

Wow, I couldn't believe it! A woodie that was firmly in my top 5 (or at least in my 'A' category) from '97 - '00 fell SHARPLY in 2002 when it was performing terrible. It was rough, sluggish, and overall just a huge let down.

I'm happy to report that today Tonnerre De Zeus was BACK to it's old self!

In fact, after riding it, it easily plants itself into the top of my "A" list along side other woodies such as Balder, Pheonix, Colossos, and Raven. It was THAT good! Crazy airtime all over the place, insane laterals, it was running FAST like a bat out of hell. I'm not sure what was wrong with this coaster in 2002, but I'm happy to see that it's back in top form now! It might not be quite as smooth as when it first opened in 1997, but it certainly is NOT what I would consider 'rough' or 'sluggish' like it was in '02.

As for the rest of Asterix, well, the place totally rocked today! The day started off with a little bit of rain, but cleared up by mid-morning. It seemed like it kept the locals away, because there wasn't a queue more than 10 minutes long for any ride all day!

That meant as many rides as possible on the awesome running TdZ. It also just confirmed my thoughts one more time on what a completely stupid time of year the ACE ECO trip was planned. I mean, let me just go on a rant here for a second....

On the ACE ECO trip in 2002, just about every park visited we were met with HUGE crowds, school group outings, hour long queues for most rides, etc, etc.... We were lost on many occasions for hours at a time, missed out on ERT, and even lost out on some ERT due to ACErs who were too big to fit on coasters trying over...and over...and over again! If you can't fit, DON'T RIDE, and stop wasting our time!!!

After that trip we thought for sure "Wow, if this is an organized group who have hired a professional company and there were so many things that went wrong on that trip, how the hell can we ever do things on our own?"

Well, what we realized is that it was a lot easier than we ever could have imagined! And oddly enough, not many people on that trip saw the mess we did. I guess our standards must be set a bit higher. Gee, so we want to go to parks when they aren't crowded, and we don't like to get lost on the way to parks. Why is that such a big deal?

Had someone actually done a little research like we did, they would have found that the middle to end of July is *NOT* a good time to go to Europe theme parks!!!

On our trip, none of the parks we have visited have been crowded, we never got lost, not once, we have not missed out on any coasters, and we have actually gotten MORE rides in during this trip than we did during ANY ERT session during the ECO trip.

The moral of the story....let Robb & Elissa plan your coaster trips!!! Taiko Laughing Red

Ok, rant over....back to Asterix.

The park was great. No crowds, TdZ was amazing, the bobsled was fun as always, the log flume was nice and wet, Elissa got her kiddie coaster credit that was closed during the 2002 trip, and we got in more riding in the 5 hours we were there this year than we did during the ECO trip being there almost all day with an hours worth of ERT. Go figure!

Asterix has always been a favorite of mine as the park is VERY clean, well kept up, and nicely themed. I've visited the park about 10 times since 1997, and I'm glad this visit can wipe out of my mind the bad visit I had in 2002.

After Asterix we headed back to Disneyland Paris for the last few hours of our night. We spent most of the time just taking photos and shopping, but we did grab a couple more rides on Rock N Roller Coaster and Space Mountain: Mission 2.

We went back to the hotel, packed up most everything, and then went to what is the last dinner for the group together. That's right, this is the end of the trip. Taiko Cry Red

*sob*

However, this is not the last Photo TR as we'll do one more when we get back home with a little 're-cap.'

It's been an amazing trip so far, and now after having done Japan in October and covering most of Europe this trip, with both trips being flawless, maybe it's time we take the next step and start doing group trips. I think we've got a good shot and being able to do them right! We'll see.

Anyway, thanks to everyone who has read these reports for the past three weeks. This has seriously been some of the best times of my life, and I'm really happy I've been able to share it with everyone and see the great response on the boards. It's really made the trip for me being able to share it with all of you! And it's been so great being able to meet all these people for the first time! That made the trip really special. So.....

Onto today's photos!

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 3:25 pm Post subject:

Which was louder on Goudrix... the rattley ride, or Dan's crispy hair? Taiko Tounge

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 3:56 pm Post subject:

Well, I gotta echo Robb on this one. I remember saying at Walibi World that Zeus was fantastic when I went on it in May, and that's some real praise coming from you guys. It's gonna take a lot to move that woodie from my No.1 spot - having said that, that four other coasters you've mentioned (which I haven't been on yet) probably would! Taiko Laughing Red

I can't believe how quiet Parc Asterix was in your TR. Not only was it completely devoid of any other human life, but the rain probably made the rides run a little faster! Next time I go, it'll be on a weekday! 8)

I'm really glad you all had such a good time in Europe, and with the exception of Gardaland (which was incredibly unfortunate) you've done everything and more, and had a damn good time doing it. I can honestly say that Walibi World was the best day I've ever had at a park, and believe me, I've had a few of those. It was a pleasure to meet you all, and to meet all the people who came out.

Thankyou for sharing it with us, and roll on your next trip!

-Non-German Tom Taiko Really Happy Red

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 7:35 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the attempt at taking an onride photo of the French edition of Rock N Rollercoaster. It does look pretty cool. Do you think its better than Space Mountain?

I finally made an avatar!! Yeah!

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 9:13 pm Post subject:

Glad your trip was insane! Glad everthing went great!(exept for Gardaland) And when you said Goudrix wasn't running well, What can you expect! Goudrix running well is not having your head bleed on both sides! You should have taken my advice and told Dan and joey to stay away from it! Taiko Really Happy Red

Kevin"Now you're stuck back in Southern California with me Twisted Evil

"Bujold

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 10:36 pm Post subject:

So, that was your Euope-Trip.
I still think its amazin how much you did in such a short time.
I don't think I would be able to do this. I'd have to include several non-coaster days for relaxing. Being up on your feet all day and driving afterwards for xxx km every day deserves respect.
I'm also sad your trip is over, just what am I gonna read now, while having breakfast and before heading out to university? I got used to it very quick and it was a good start of the day.
Nontheless, your reports got me back into the whole coaster thing again (you could call it a relapse also Smile

). Since I'm a student (since 2002) I haven't been able to visit parks more than one time a year due to not having much money. And when I did, I didn't really enjoy it. So I thought that part of my life was over. I didn't continue my membership of the ECC also. But now, I'm all passionate again and am already making plans for a big US Trip, thats gonna be my present, when I've finished my studies in 2006.

So, how can I conclude this better than saying thanks
Nikita

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 10:59 pm Post subject:

So the "Robb&Elissa does Europe" trip is over.. its been great fun reading about your ups and thankfully very few downs....hope the trip home is good and safe and look forward to recapping it all with you once the jetlag wears off....

Face Book · Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 12:03 am Post subject:

Here we are at CDG airport. After a few woes of cancelled and delayed flights, we'll be on our way, this time through NYC to get back home!

Oh, well, it was a great trip and we'll post a recap probably tomorrow at some point when we are home and have had a chance to relax for about twenty minutes!

--Robb

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 1:03 am Post subject:

good luck at CDG I know what a hell hole that place is... i spent a lot of time traveling there for work and the place sucks..... if your bored go try and spot the guy that the the film the Terminal was based on. He's a real guy who lives at CDG terminal 1 on the food level... He's an Iranian wanting to get to the UK but we wont take him and he wont enter France... he's been there quite a few years......

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 2:32 am Post subject:

Hey Robb and Elissa.
Your visit in MoviePark Germany was great!
We have all fun and I hope I came to america in 5 years...

Thank you for your visit.

Greetz
Crazy Maddin

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