{"id":1679,"date":"2022-11-22T20:27:47","date_gmt":"2022-11-23T04:27:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/babypengu.in\/blog\/?p=1679"},"modified":"2022-11-22T20:27:47","modified_gmt":"2022-11-23T04:27:47","slug":"de-efteling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/babypengu.in\/blog\/travel\/de-efteling\/","title":{"rendered":"De Efteling (theme park)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Before getting on to the dry part, de Efteling is just cool. It doesn’t need a more poetic description than that. As an outsider, it was a unique look into a Dutch family experience that, despite some signs in English, is very much for the locals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It started as a sports park in the 1930’s, initially being comprised of soccer fields, with a playground being added shortly after. The fairy-tale forest, which still exists today in an expanded form, opened in 1952, but the first roller coaster didn’t arrive until 1981. A more detailed history can be found on their website<\/a> for anyone who wants more than the bullet points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current park contains a quirky mix of thrill rides, immersive fantasy-world attractions, and some rides that bridge the gap. The latter might be compared to “It’s a Small World” at Disneyland, which certainly isn’t about exhilarating g-forces. There are also two main shows, with the first featuring heroic knights defending the village of Raveleijn, and the latter being a combination of lights, music, water, and even a bit of fire. While walking between all of these attractions, guest may run into one of the many costumed characters wandering the park. Most lack the name recognition of Mickey and Minnie, but they’re a fun addition in line with the fairy-tale theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of name recognition, not every story is so recognizable for Americans as Snow White or Pinocchio. Longneck, from the Grimm tale “The Six Servants,” was completely unknown before learning about this place. Fortunately, their website offers heavily abridged descriptions of each fairytale<\/a> depicted in the park. Links to specific stories can be found attached to several of the photos below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fata Morgana<\/a> – Visitors land in de Bazaar (gift shop) after a ride through a far-east kingdom <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The sultan, surrounded by his harem<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Pira\u00f1a<\/a> – a rapids ride through the Incan empire<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Baron 1898<\/a> – the tower in the background is the main feature of this drop coaster that sends riders into a subterranean mineshaft filled with mist<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Gondoletta<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Not trying the donut turned ice cream sandwich is a major regret<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Diorama<\/a> – a miniature world complete with a model train and simulated storms over some of the darker sections<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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