Talk to me about Efteling

[TulipsInBloom1]

Im contemplating this as a cheaper alternative to Disneyland Paris.

Any recommendations or reasons not to go?
How many days in the park?
How reasonable is food and drink in the park?
Anyone added in days in Amsterdam or Rotterdam?
Best uk school holiday to go in?

Kids would be 4.5 and 7.5.

I just got back from Efteling on Friday. It was our second trip and I'm already itching to rebook.

The first time we went in February half term. The park was very quiet but everything was open and we were lucky with the weather. We stayed in bosrjik village that time.

This time the park was busier and we stayed in Loonsche Land.
I prefer Bosrjik but Loonsche Land would be lovely in the warmer months. I think you need longer evenings to appreciate it.

Food and drink in the park is reasonably priced with lots of choice but there are a couple of supermarkets in easy reach it you wanted to make a pic nic.

It's one of my favourite places in the world, much nicer than DLP with a more relaxed vibe and I would highly recommend it.

I can't add much to previous poster except I agree with staying in bosricjk, loonsche land has different feel, still v good and but not quite as cosy, magical.

It's a stunning atmospheric theme park, it's got more class than Disney. It oozes character and its truly old.
The food is superior to Disney and you can drinks there, can only buy alcohol with food at Disney.
Also so much more to do generally when rides are busy. Far more play areas and chilling out areas.

We really really like Disney Paris as well but personally I'd wait and go there when the extra parts are added eg elsa land etc because it needs it.

You'll have a fabulous time the fairytale wood is glorious.

Your dc are truly prefect ages, in summer in July and August they have extra entertainment in park sat and Sunday and it stays open later.

We drove to Amsterdam for one day, just over hour to get there easy parking, had fab day

It's fab. We only spent a day but will return to stay at some stage. Really magical and I felt the theming was better than Disneyland Paris.

We went when our boys were exactly the same age and they loved it.

I’d stay in Bosrijk purely because you can use the pool! We went the last week in August and it was sweltering, but not too busy as most Dutch schools are back by then.

It’s an easy drive from Amsterdam and the flight (from Liverpool at least) was only 45 minutes.

Have a look at Duinrell, similar to Efteling but with an enormous water park too.

Duinrell has fewer rides, but the water park is fantastic. De Efteling was magic when I first went there in the early 70s as a child, and was even better when we took DD 12 years ago. As soon as DGS is big enough, we'll book a trip for him too

Are they close enough to do both within the same week?

It's the Netherlands, everything's an hour's drive.

104 km to be exact.

There are no reasons not to go.

Your children are the perfect ages. You will not be mugged for Disney produce left right and centre which straight away makes it better than Disney. The Magic Forest is well, magical.

Food is well, fried. But the pancake place is prob best because it looks cute.

Everything in the Netherlands is close. It's not a big place. We did it from Amsterdam on the train/bus in one day.

I made DH go and we have no children and are in our 40s

Oooh I'm thinking of booking up in 2020!

Thank you everyone, it sounds perfect!

We have done Rotterdam before (inc the zoo) pre kids so maybe will add that in too. We are quite close to Newcastle so contemplating ferry overnight and taking our car.

How is the driving over there? Apart from opposite side.

What ages is it for? Never heard of it!!

Yes we stayed in Duinrell and did the day in Efteling. Duinrell is super also, we go there a lot. The water park is brilliant but the theme park is nothing like Efteling.

All of them once you can walk. Seriously, we're in our late 50s and we'd go on our own if we could. Actually, once the move's out of the way...

We went at Easter and have booked again for August. We didn’t know what to expect but totally loved it - everyone from toddler DS to teenage DD.
Much, much better than Disneyland Paris IMO.

OP: drivings fine, the Dutch are reasonable people, unlike the Parisians. If you go to Duinrell, try and fit in Madurodam as well. By the way, the heron by the gate is NOT stuffed.

I can’t believe I didn’t know about this place!! Is it worth staying on site?

I agree with all the pp's have said. A great time to go is May half term as it usually is not school holidays there - we went at this time and didn't queue all day! That was amazing after Lego land where most of our day was spent queuing.

Only ride I hated was the Mad House (I think) made me feel sick and claustrophobic!
Most other rides were great.

Go! It is a truly magical place. We went in May half term and it was hot, unusually so really. The queues were manageable and there is plenty to do when you have had enough of rides. We stayed in Bosrijk, the accommodation was clean, comfy and well equipped. There are loads of play areas around the village too, all of them different. We found the food really good - we ate in the restaurant in the village, sea themed cafe and the pancake house. Don’t bother with the pizza delivery though - ordering was a faff and it wasn’t that nice. Do order a breakfast delivery though! And make sure you try some poffetjes and ollibollen!

We also popped out for a morning to see the windmills at Kinderdijk which was worth the drive.

We drove from the tunnel which was easy.

We are going back in January for Winter Efteling, I can’t wait!

It is so, so wonderful.

Yes to staying in Bosrijk.

I don’t know where you are in the U.K. but it is a very easy drive from Calais. If you’re in the north east you could have an extra adventure and take the overnight ferry to the Hook of Holland.

If you drive, consider taking bikes.

I highly recommend going in May half term. It isn’t a holiday in the Netherlands (or indeed most of continental Europe) and we found it just right - bustling but not heaving, with lovely weather.

All of the voice-overs and the storytelling are in Dutch but you won’t mind. We have a video of 4yo DD absolutely transfixed by the Sandman telling his nightly bedtime story in the gatehouse at Bosrijk. It’s entirely in Dutch but she genuinely didn’t notice. Staff speak English to an embarrassingly high standard, almost universally.

We cannot WAIT until baby DS is old enough to enjoy it, then we will be straight back.

May half term was my ideal date so it is great to hear that its quieter.

Would 3 days in the park be too many?

No, we went Friday-Monday and that was perfect, like I said we spent half a day outside of the park. We had time to do everything and revisit the best things.

I was looking at this tonight, strangely enough.

When would people say is the best time to go? I prefer quiet times but I also prefer when it’s warm but not hot!

May/June isn’t an option I don’t think as i am away in May already and my daughter finishes primary in June so I don’t want her to miss school events.