MannekenPis
Roller Poster
A daytrip not a trip but I feel Bobbejaanland gets a slightly raw deal so have done a write up to show some people like it!
Bobbejaan was a flemish country and western singer who founded the park , and that is the only way it is similar to Dollywood. I listened to some Bobbejaan to put me in the mood. But then I wanted a nice day so I stopped. Thankfully the park takes the same approach. I heard plenty of Dolly, no Bobbejaan, in the western area.
Quick note on appearance. It's the common round a lake design. Nice pretty lake with fountains. Plenty of trees and flowers. A nice attractive park. The theming in the western area was pretty good I thought, and also on Fury. Back of the park less so, but you always have the lake. Park was a nice place to be. I was a bit worried by school buses on arrival but most things were walk on or wait in station other than Fury and Typhoon which were generally 10 minutes. Perfect.
Fury: I thought this ride was excellent. It seems a bit underated to me, noting I only have 90 odd coasters so less to compare with than most here, but within that, Walibi is my home park and I ride Kondaa all the time which seems to be loved. I think I probably prefer Kondaa but not much in it. I found Fury to be so intense. Maybe because I like a launch coaster and this was my first swing launch. I loved that airtime at the top of the spike, the way each launch was faster than the last and then the actual coaster is so intense, especially backwards. So maybe I have just discovered I like swing launch and this happened to be my first. I lost my glasses first ride, which I have never done(reminds me I need to write an email to the park in forlorn hope), shows the intensity! I don't think the voting does anything, but makes sense to have a forward queue and a backwards queue. It is short but fits a lot in, feels nonstop. I rode twice forward, twice back, and found back slightly better but liked both.
(Perhaps my generally good opinion of the park appearance is down to blurry vision. But my eyesight isn't very bad, honest!)
Typhoon: I have in my mind I dislike Eurofighters, though I do like Smiler so not sure that's consistent. Anyway I had my longest queue of the day (15 minutes)to ride and I would have thought the layout was fun, apart from the level of vibration. I enjoyed the loop but then became uncomfortable. It did at least avoid bashing my head and ears on the restraints but still gave me a headache. Just too painful to be fun. Also no real theming, not on the lake, not very attractive.
Naga Bay: I remember enjoying spinball wizard years ago so was looking forward to this. These can be capacity nightmares I know but was walk on. Lovely setting over the lake. But first ride didn't really spin. Don't know if I was unlucky but it did have a lot of breaking. 2nd ride did manage to get it to spin but I was really working at it. Not as fun as I remember and comes to a horrible stop as well to straighten the car for the station. Wouldn't want to queue for it, fun enough for walk on.
Oki Doki: family coaster in the slightly concrete back of the park, but saved by going over the lake. Great for what it is, plenty of force on the helix, heard plenty of kids talking about going on it, I reckon it has some nostalgia Value for Belgians and why not? Plenty of fun, would happily have re-ridden but I was on a tight schedule for school pick up so didn't.
Speedy Bob: Unlike many on here I like a wild mouse but this didn't do a lot. Not very strong on the corners, and the dips don't really do anything. The sort of thing you can forgive at a fun fair but not at a park.
Revolution: What is this thing? How long is the train? I was in car 22 and there were plenty behind me. How long is that spiral lift hill? I briefly thought it was a powered coaster and the ride had started. Anyway, it's dark, light effects are OK, it's walk on, some force on the helix and it's different and fun. Would definitely have liked a few more goes to assess if time was no object.
Dreamcatcher: Nearly forgot this. But I quite liked it. Cars are like vampire at Chessington. They do swing nicely side to side. Ride doesn't do a lot but has decent helixes. However first ride was so rattley, didn't hurt or anything so still enjoyable but noisey. Went for a second ride and held back for front row and was much better, rattle less annoying and great view of the lake. Again no theming relies on lake.
Bob Express: Powered mine train, some mine theming but another ride relying on the lake. But it worked for me, went round twice, ride operator working hard to encourage hands up and enjoyment. Cool view over lake and log flume. Made me laugh, what more do you need?
Horse Pedalo: I'm putting it here not in other rides. It's at least as much of a roller coaster as Bob Express, actually more so because it has a lift hill and I reckon it would go to the turn before the station without pedalling. Interesting, nice theming, cute cars. Quite long. Nice views. Obviously there is no actual reason for a grown adult to be on here, except I wonder if I could tell my daughter it's a roller coaster and use it to wean her!
Other rides:
Sledgehammer: I think I only go on this type of ride these days to prove I still can. Much more prone to dizziness/nausea than I used to be. But the size of the circle on these giant Frisbees actually means they aren't that bad and I didn't find it nauseous. Maybe because I was spending the ride using the height to see if I could see my glasses under Fury! Unsuccessful as you'd imagine. The cycle was a bit short I thought whereas I'm normally desperate for them to end.
Terra Magma: Really wanted to go on this, waited for the sun to come out, when it promptly closed. (On the subject of sun, children's area is indoor, info for those taking kids, pretty sensible for Belgium!). Went on old el paso walk on shooter ride next door. Quite fun, shooting the target to activate the animatronics. No idea what my score was as couldn't read the numbers! Magma still not open, but sun still out so went on the outdoor log flume. I love a log flume and this is one. Theming not amazing, not none existent. Not too wet. Finally Magma reopened and I had just enough time to do it before having to leave for school pickup. It's great fun. The actual ride is quite an old log flume but the theming is excellent, and with the wind, and the cold and the hot Magma, it's like a not quite as impressive but much less sadistic Valhalla. Glad I did it, time to go.
Tip/Aside: Food gets terrible reviews, I can't comment as was put off but they have a Panos which is Belgium Greggs so you can get a perfectly adequate sausage roll or sandwich for 4-6 euros.
Would I go back? Yes, I would, I'd like more rides on Fury, give revolution another go, and the rest I can take or leave but happily enjoy again (except Typhoon). I'd take my daughter on the pedal coaster and the indoor area when it inevitably rains. On the other hand we have Walibi passes, she is happy there and her parents can take turns to sneak off on Kondaa, so probably won't happen unless they miraculously find my glasses.
Should you go? Not from the UK in and of itself but as an add on to Walibi, you seem to be able to get tickets through Groupon for 27 euros so why not? (My walibi discount effectively gave the Groupon price without the faff, so I didn't check this definitely works).
Bobbejaan was a flemish country and western singer who founded the park , and that is the only way it is similar to Dollywood. I listened to some Bobbejaan to put me in the mood. But then I wanted a nice day so I stopped. Thankfully the park takes the same approach. I heard plenty of Dolly, no Bobbejaan, in the western area.
Quick note on appearance. It's the common round a lake design. Nice pretty lake with fountains. Plenty of trees and flowers. A nice attractive park. The theming in the western area was pretty good I thought, and also on Fury. Back of the park less so, but you always have the lake. Park was a nice place to be. I was a bit worried by school buses on arrival but most things were walk on or wait in station other than Fury and Typhoon which were generally 10 minutes. Perfect.
Fury: I thought this ride was excellent. It seems a bit underated to me, noting I only have 90 odd coasters so less to compare with than most here, but within that, Walibi is my home park and I ride Kondaa all the time which seems to be loved. I think I probably prefer Kondaa but not much in it. I found Fury to be so intense. Maybe because I like a launch coaster and this was my first swing launch. I loved that airtime at the top of the spike, the way each launch was faster than the last and then the actual coaster is so intense, especially backwards. So maybe I have just discovered I like swing launch and this happened to be my first. I lost my glasses first ride, which I have never done(reminds me I need to write an email to the park in forlorn hope), shows the intensity! I don't think the voting does anything, but makes sense to have a forward queue and a backwards queue. It is short but fits a lot in, feels nonstop. I rode twice forward, twice back, and found back slightly better but liked both.
(Perhaps my generally good opinion of the park appearance is down to blurry vision. But my eyesight isn't very bad, honest!)
Typhoon: I have in my mind I dislike Eurofighters, though I do like Smiler so not sure that's consistent. Anyway I had my longest queue of the day (15 minutes)to ride and I would have thought the layout was fun, apart from the level of vibration. I enjoyed the loop but then became uncomfortable. It did at least avoid bashing my head and ears on the restraints but still gave me a headache. Just too painful to be fun. Also no real theming, not on the lake, not very attractive.
Naga Bay: I remember enjoying spinball wizard years ago so was looking forward to this. These can be capacity nightmares I know but was walk on. Lovely setting over the lake. But first ride didn't really spin. Don't know if I was unlucky but it did have a lot of breaking. 2nd ride did manage to get it to spin but I was really working at it. Not as fun as I remember and comes to a horrible stop as well to straighten the car for the station. Wouldn't want to queue for it, fun enough for walk on.
Oki Doki: family coaster in the slightly concrete back of the park, but saved by going over the lake. Great for what it is, plenty of force on the helix, heard plenty of kids talking about going on it, I reckon it has some nostalgia Value for Belgians and why not? Plenty of fun, would happily have re-ridden but I was on a tight schedule for school pick up so didn't.
Speedy Bob: Unlike many on here I like a wild mouse but this didn't do a lot. Not very strong on the corners, and the dips don't really do anything. The sort of thing you can forgive at a fun fair but not at a park.
Revolution: What is this thing? How long is the train? I was in car 22 and there were plenty behind me. How long is that spiral lift hill? I briefly thought it was a powered coaster and the ride had started. Anyway, it's dark, light effects are OK, it's walk on, some force on the helix and it's different and fun. Would definitely have liked a few more goes to assess if time was no object.
Dreamcatcher: Nearly forgot this. But I quite liked it. Cars are like vampire at Chessington. They do swing nicely side to side. Ride doesn't do a lot but has decent helixes. However first ride was so rattley, didn't hurt or anything so still enjoyable but noisey. Went for a second ride and held back for front row and was much better, rattle less annoying and great view of the lake. Again no theming relies on lake.
Bob Express: Powered mine train, some mine theming but another ride relying on the lake. But it worked for me, went round twice, ride operator working hard to encourage hands up and enjoyment. Cool view over lake and log flume. Made me laugh, what more do you need?
Horse Pedalo: I'm putting it here not in other rides. It's at least as much of a roller coaster as Bob Express, actually more so because it has a lift hill and I reckon it would go to the turn before the station without pedalling. Interesting, nice theming, cute cars. Quite long. Nice views. Obviously there is no actual reason for a grown adult to be on here, except I wonder if I could tell my daughter it's a roller coaster and use it to wean her!
Other rides:
Sledgehammer: I think I only go on this type of ride these days to prove I still can. Much more prone to dizziness/nausea than I used to be. But the size of the circle on these giant Frisbees actually means they aren't that bad and I didn't find it nauseous. Maybe because I was spending the ride using the height to see if I could see my glasses under Fury! Unsuccessful as you'd imagine. The cycle was a bit short I thought whereas I'm normally desperate for them to end.
Terra Magma: Really wanted to go on this, waited for the sun to come out, when it promptly closed. (On the subject of sun, children's area is indoor, info for those taking kids, pretty sensible for Belgium!). Went on old el paso walk on shooter ride next door. Quite fun, shooting the target to activate the animatronics. No idea what my score was as couldn't read the numbers! Magma still not open, but sun still out so went on the outdoor log flume. I love a log flume and this is one. Theming not amazing, not none existent. Not too wet. Finally Magma reopened and I had just enough time to do it before having to leave for school pickup. It's great fun. The actual ride is quite an old log flume but the theming is excellent, and with the wind, and the cold and the hot Magma, it's like a not quite as impressive but much less sadistic Valhalla. Glad I did it, time to go.
Tip/Aside: Food gets terrible reviews, I can't comment as was put off but they have a Panos which is Belgium Greggs so you can get a perfectly adequate sausage roll or sandwich for 4-6 euros.
Would I go back? Yes, I would, I'd like more rides on Fury, give revolution another go, and the rest I can take or leave but happily enjoy again (except Typhoon). I'd take my daughter on the pedal coaster and the indoor area when it inevitably rains. On the other hand we have Walibi passes, she is happy there and her parents can take turns to sneak off on Kondaa, so probably won't happen unless they miraculously find my glasses.
Should you go? Not from the UK in and of itself but as an add on to Walibi, you seem to be able to get tickets through Groupon for 27 euros so why not? (My walibi discount effectively gave the Groupon price without the faff, so I didn't check this definitely works).
