Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

To take 2yo and 5yo to Efteling?

38 replies

CastleCrasher · 04/08/2019 09:15

It would be their first trip abroad as holidays so far have been UK based. The website and reviews look great, and it seems like it would be better than Disney for the youngest.

Has anyone been - is there enough to keep the youngest entertained? Is there much to do in the surrounding area?

I probably Abu because this is really here for the traffic, sorry!

OP posts:

HarrassedMumof3 · 04/08/2019 09:20

We were there yesterday with our kids, aged 8, 5 and 2. They loved it! Big rollercoasters for the big one, lots of things for the little ones. Didn't agree it's better than Disney, but still great fun!

HarrassedMumof3 · 04/08/2019 09:23

There's a huge area of the park devoted to fairy tales - took us three hours to walk around! Plus a steam train ride around the whole park, pedal boats, a couple of slow boat rides similar to Its a Small World, monorail, maze, lots of playgrounds, water show, etc. Loads to do - we did two days there. It's massive - take a buggy!

Violashift · 04/08/2019 09:24

Yes my daughter loved it. It is so magical.
It is like being in a fairy tale.
We stayed in the theatre room at the hotel it was amazing.

Original poster

CastleCrasher · 04/08/2019 09:35

Oh thank you for the feedback! Neither DC uses a buggy, but I could try to get the youngest to tolerate it for the trip rather than carry him around after he gets tired! Dd is fairytale obsessed and ds loves trains and any fast (to a two year old!) rides, so it sounds perfect! Looks like it's a good plan then!

OP posts:

TooMinty · 04/08/2019 10:08

We went last year with 5 and 3 year old. They still say it was their best holiday ever
We spent two days there, plenty of stuff to do - fairy tale area, old fashioned merry go round rides, boat rides. There's an indoor fairytale ride that you need to go to first thing before the queue gets too long, but it's worth the wait.

Crotchgoblins · 04/08/2019 10:49

I've been as a child. I imagine it has changed a lot! I remember it being a magical place and walking round the fairytale part believing it all!

Original poster

CastleCrasher · 04/08/2019 11:20

Ooh, I'm all excited now! Have made a note to do the fairytale ride early morning, and will definitely take buggy. Love the boat rides, I have such lovely memories of similar rides as a child! Any other hints and tips gratefully received!

OP posts:

Violashift · 04/08/2019 11:22

Loved it. Though the Mr. Cannibal ride does make me wonder.

Jokie · 04/08/2019 11:31

Definitely. They'd both absolutely love it and are the right age for most of the park (minus the bigger rollercoasters).

I can really recommend the park and hotel. It's really well done and there's lots of English options. If you need any help, feel free to PM me. I live close by.

justilou1 · 04/08/2019 11:32

Oh yes! So much better than Disney Paris for that age group, and so much cheaper!!!

Josephinebettany · 04/08/2019 11:53

I'm interested. We've been to DLP a few times. Love it but hate the queues. How do the queues in Efteling compare? My kids are 6 and 4.

whereonearth · 04/08/2019 11:59

Definitely! I went as a child often, and still remember.

Whoseagooddoggiethen · 04/08/2019 12:00

Love Efteling, definitely better than disney for us. Absolutely magical place :)

BareGrylls · 04/08/2019 12:10

YABU to start a thread here instead of the travel topic.

ditheringdorothy · 04/08/2019 12:16

Hijacking - have booked a trip to Efteling later this year. Is it easy to travel via public transport to the park from the airport? Don't fancy hiring a car as we're staying in the park and not travelling elsewhere.

Original poster

CastleCrasher · 04/08/2019 12:25

@Jokie thank you, that's really kind of you!

OP posts:

Violashift · 04/08/2019 12:27

We used public transport from Amsterdam. We had to change trains and use a bus. Everyone was so helpful and it was interesting seeing some of the real Holland and suburbia with their little play parks.

Jokie · 04/08/2019 12:36

@Josephinebettany: queue's are A LOT shorter than DLP but will depend on the day/time you go. For the kids rides (aged 3-5) we've had max 15-20 mins wait.

@Violashift and @ditheringdorothy: very easy to get to the park by public transport. It's a train and then there's a designated bus or you can take a taxi from the train station. It's very easy by car from Amsterdam (A2, A27, A59) so either would work. If you're staying at the Efteling hotel then I'd look with them as they may have designated shuttles (that may or may not still run).

surroundedbyvulpices · 04/08/2019 12:41

It's my favourite theme park ever. Especially at that age - just right. You'll have a great time!

MumUndone · 04/08/2019 12:59

Yeah it's great, perfect ages.

ditheringdorothy · 04/08/2019 13:30

Thanks @Violashift and @Jokie!

TheSheepofWallSt · 04/08/2019 13:33

Following avidly- desperate go (and of course DS3 might enjoy it too) but would have to be public transport (won’t drive overseas), so particularly keen to see how others find it.

Also am a LP and we holiday alone, so interested to know if it’s a massive faff- as one toddler, one parent, one travel buggy and one suitcase can be one big disaster if transport is tricky.

puddleducker · 04/08/2019 14:41

We went there last year for a week with our then 5 & 8 year old. We stayed in the Bosrijk area which was beautiful, peaceful and magical. It also gives you access to a great pool too. There are regular trains that take you up to the entrance of the park if you don't want to walk or the kids are tired.

The kids LOVED it, we LOVED it and we had the best time. They also rent out little wooden pull along trailers for the kids to sit in when they get tired which was great as there's a lot of walking to be done. We're already planning to go back next year. Droom vlucht was our favourite ride!

Little tip for anyone yet to book- end of August is cheaper and quieter as some of the Dutch school kids are already back, and if you book more than 3 months ahead you get an earlybird discount.

Also, the queuing systems are brilliant. The Dutch have designed it so the queue becomes part of the preamble to the ride. very clever. And very cheap to eat there too, unlike rip off UK parks. I'd recommend the appelflaap and coffee combo, we had one every day!

Enjoy OP, you're all going to love it!!

Pekkanekka · 04/08/2019 16:50

We've hired those double buggy cart things at Alton towers and legoland before - it was perfect for getting younger kids around and likely to be an option at Efteling.

TooMinty · 04/08/2019 16:57

We did train then bus there from Amsterdam, public transport is amazing there.
We stayed in a "tree house" which was nice, but we ate in the main hotel and the food was great plus had a really good kids play area

You will all love it, jealous now!

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread