Noctew

The panorama train which has tracks and a station right next to the burned down hall has already resumed service yesterday after debris had been cleared and privacy screens erected. The damaged roofs of adjacent buildings have already been repaired and management expects the damaged rides "Tirol log flume" and "Alpine coaster 'Enzian'" to be repaired by 2024.

Phantasialand started its winter season today. Notable changes: the "Tacana" in the Mexico area is no longer a burger restaurant but serves Mexican style food (burritos, nachos, wraps, quesedillas). The pre-covid winter show-and-firework finale did not return - but the "Tiempo de Fuego" mapping show did. And more than that: there is now a second mapping show in the Mystery area, the Rookburgh light show from last year returns and there are new light shows in the Berlin area. So it looks like mapping/light shows will now permanently replace the fireworks (thank you dear neighbours with your noise complaints). The "Talvia" show has been replaced with a new show "Spectaculum Phantastére", returning are the "Every single year" ice skating show and "The Golden Thread", which is a best of the shows from the past years. You are able to buy same day tickets again - but ticket counters remain closed, online sales only. Is visiting Phantasialand in the winter worth it? It hella is! There's great street food, Glühwein and of course the high quality restaurants like Uhrwerk and Rutmor's Tavern are open in every season.

You're supposed to lie on your back...but most people don't. Pro tip: don't do that if you're slightly heavy. Making ground contact with your butt does not hurt nearly as much as getting hit in the solar plexus by an underwater obstacle. Ugh!

Well, you'll want to be a little bit hungry for the three-course dinner at Uhrwerk, so maybe just do a light lunch. A warm sandwich at Kohleschipper (Rookburgh) or some tapas at Restaurante Cocorico (Mexico area), or maybe tarte flambee at Heißer Baldur (Klugheim). I've also heard good things about the new for this season food stands in the China area, but I cannot vouch for that myself. Can't visit Phantasialand as often as I used to since they're no longer selling annual passes.

Agreed. Phantasialand is normally a one day park, but for first time visitors who have not watched any of the shows yet (they usually run the same shows for multiple years) and who might want re-rides on Taron, Black Mamba and F.L.Y., two days do make sense.

@coasterBroOkay, do Blue Fire and Alpenexpress first, they get the longest lines. I'd also suggest the Tyrolean log flume - but you can get very wet there, and you might not want to early in the morning. Using the early opening for Pirates in Batavia is not really necessary as it has a huge capacity and only gets long lines on very busy days. You can, of course, as a hotel guest take EP Express to the main entrance where the "normal" guests have their early opening of Voletarium and I think the attractions in the Italy area. You can get a return time ticket for Voletarium and try to get in a good rope drop position for Silver Star. But I would not recommend that - enjoy the quietness of back area of the park instead. I'd suggest trying to get into Arthur or Wodan next, then maybe one of the water rides early before it gets warm and people decide they need refreshment. Hidden gems...definitely visit the garden of Balthasar Castle in the German area. Also, Snorri Touren is a cute little dark ride and in Ireland the Dancing Dinghie is quite fun. Also don't miss Pegasus, it's a "family coaster" and quite short but fun.. And Kassandra's Curse, a quite unique mad house. Food in the park: skip the usual burger, sausage and fries stands. You can get that anywhere and it's not that great. Try Bamboe Baai or Spices for exotic flavours or Restaurant Castle Balthasar or the beer garden for some authentic German food. Water Rides: the log flume and Fjord Rafting can be wet (though not nearly as wet as River Quest in Phantasialand). Atlantica and Poseidon are usually quite tame. Virtual Line: all rides included in Virtual Line have both standard and virtual queues. Pirates and Euro Mir merge the lines at the entrance to the building and the others have completely separate lines up to the ride (they use the former Single Rider queues) All lines are usually open until closing time, and the rides operate until the queues have been emptied. You won't immediately get kicked out at closing time; gift shops may be open for some time even when the park has officially closed. Oh...try to get the last ride at Alpenexpress. You may get three, four or even more laps instead of the regular two.

Yes, and for now they are only selling bundles of hotel room plus a 2-day-ticket, breakfast, three-course dinner and a F.L.Y. fast pass.

Hotel Matamba has a coaster (Black Mamba) in front of the hotel but... Hotel Charles Lindbergh has a coaster in front of your hotel room! That's (part of) the hotel to the left and right of the coaster track! It's a family business owned by the Löffelhardt family.

Europa Park (and Phantasialand) have amazing operations, but even that goes only so far when there's 60,000 people in the park on a late spring holiday or bridging day, half of which want to ride all of the "big five" (Wodan, Blue Fire, Eurosat Can Can, Silver Star and Euromir) on one day. Won't happen, you'll need two days if you're also planning to eat or ride some smaller attractions. A virtual queue system will help quite a bit, but is no magic bullet.

Phantasialand released a multi-language rulebook today. Looks like all restaurants will be open, but there is no information yet which if any rides will be closed.

A quick reminder that this time of year is probably the best time to visit Phantasialand. Barely any queues, almost all rides are open (except River Quest)... ...there's great decoration and lighting... ...trees and ice and stuff... ...great food... ...and of course Klugheim and Taron at night are even more mysterious.