Yesterday we went for a whole day trip to Efteling! It's a Dutch theme park that has been a summer staple for generations. It is our first time going there, and it turned out to be a blast for both A (5 years old now) and S (2 years old)!
Our experience going to theme park with kids is limited to going to Singapore Universal Studio when A was 2 years old. I remember there wasn't much attractions that we could go to with his age limit, so we don't have much expectations that A and S would enjoy Efteling now.
But we happily stand corrected! We spent the whole day, literally, from 9.30 AM to 9.30 PM at the park and at no point that we ran out of new things which both kids could have fun with! We're actually still missing a few things on our list that we'd love to try! So a trip next year is already planned!
A actually thinks that EVERYTHING he did that day was great. So here I'd just share the highlight of our trips that I think A and S exceptionally enjoyed:
1. Oude tufferbahn
A and S both sat behind the steering wheels on an antique car with us, parents, riding in the back. It seems super simple but A and S were having the time of their life turning the steering wheels left and right and honking at about everything!
2. Gondoletta
The queue time was quick, -maybe because a boat fits a family-, and the payoff is great! The amount of time spent leisurely floating around was actually a lot! We even spot some girls started their ride by unpacking breads and a tupperware of their lunch! I think that's a great idea that we'd steal next time! The lake was full of swimming ducks, the greeneries are nice and the ride was just super relaxing that even S decided to get comfy and lay down to sleep on the boat!
3. Fabula
I remember A had a hard time wearing his 3D glasses at Universal Studio Singapore to watch Shrek adventure. But the 3D glasses actually fits all of us including A and S snuggily. The story was fun, A actually requested to watch it again! And the fun continues as they had playing grounds with slides, climbing tree houses and short movies right after we exit the movie. A climbed soooo high on the tree house that I and S couldn't even follow! The climbing part is geared for older kids, but S could have fun in the tunnel part of the savanna.
4. Maze
A had fun choosing the way and S was always happy catching up to him! It's small and has single entry + exit, but you actually can easily get lost there!
5. Throwing garbage in the animated trash bin
The trash bin has the face and body of a hippo taking a bath, and person, and they all keep on talking about how yummy the trashes are and thanking you for giving them food! A actually asked for more trashes just zo he can throw them away!
A quick run down of the attractions that we went
to:
1. Fairytale forest
We did not spend much time here but A loved the dragon. A and S could try stealing the crown from his treasure box and the dragon would huffed and puffed and roar at them!
We caught the jet and jokie show too. A actually enjoyed and participated in it despite it is in Dutch! Good job A!
2. Droomvlucht
S mostly looked in awe to all the new things while A said it is a bit scary. I have to say I did find some of it a bit... unsettling. Some are beautiful and magical as intended though! We'd be completely in the dark and suddenly scenes of fairies singing and playing around, floating castles, planets with castles and stars.
However the depiction of dwarfs (?) and trolls playing around is a bit unusual for me. The beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess. But anyway, they seem to enjoy the ride!
3. Stoomtrein
It was great that A and S could see the machinist shoveling the coals, tending the fire and of course turning the steam machine with a loud choo choo and even splashes of steam our way! Too bad we can not stop midway, but it was fun seeing around the area.
4. Pagoda
It's nice to see an aerial view of the complex. But we think it's just ok.
5. Monsieur cannibal
It's a spinning cup ride. I actually avoided it. I think what parent in the right mind would choose to introduce a concept of cannibalism to kids? But A saw people spinning there and he wanted to play so we did. And they had fun! Thanks God the details of the fire under the pot which is the spinning cup were lost on them.
6. Monorail
We especially love this ride since we can queue virtually! But of course A keep on asking is it our turn yet? So in the end we linger around the entry point anyway ad soon as it said we have 5 minutes more before our turn. We thought it will be a ride around the park but instead it is just a ride around the top of the laaf people village.
7. Nest
Nice playground with some unusual playing structure! A and S had fun jumping around in their water bed / trampoline!
8. Kleuterhof
Is your standard playground park in the city except for the piano A and S happily stepped on to play and the hippo trash can that A love to feed!
9. Anton Pieck square
A "pasar malam" / fair ground style playground. A and S rode the carrousel and the swinging chair which I think look much safer than the usual rickety looking swinging chair in the fair.
Lowest point of the ride:
Carnaval festival
We entered in when the line was super long. We braced it anyway because this ride has been highly recommended for children.
But the most jawdropping thing is how racist, politically incorrect, regionally inaccurate and not child friendly this ride is.
It's supposed to be a ride around the world in an air balloon with the park mascot Jokie and Jet. Instead of celebrating and introducing the kids to the wonder of different countries this ride make fun of the stereotypes for each country.
Why would you have an animatronic prostitute representing France? Or drunken people partying with beers representing Germany?
I could go on and on about all the wrong things but, bottom point, Carnaval Festival is NOT a child friendly ride and I will not recommend it to any family with kids visiting Efteling.
Tips for next time:
1. Do the thrill rides first thing in the morning.
2. Get the ravelijn ticket as soon as you're in the area because the boarding passes are immediately sold out in few hours
