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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Efteling - top tips needed.

20 replies

BellaMoo · 04/01/2018 14:45

We’ve booked to go at Easter and I’m very excited! We’re staying in a house in the village and have 4 dcs (11,9,7 and 2).

I’m basically going on the recommendation of mumsnetters (and DH’s rather vague memories of going as a child!). I like to be prepared and although there are dozens of forums for Disney there’s not much on Efteling.

Which restaurants should we eat at? Best rides/attractions (especially for the 2 year old)? How easy is it to self cater? Is the swimming pool in the village worth a visit?
Anything else we should know?

OP posts:

MaryPoppinsPenguins · 04/01/2018 14:50

Following as I’m also going at easter

ParadiseCity · 04/01/2018 14:52

I was googling efteling yesterday after mning... got confused and abandoned it. Is it a theme park with hotels/ nearby lodges/whaaat? And is it too young for 13 and 12 yos?

Waterpixie · 04/01/2018 14:57

Same thought paradise. We're over in NL in July\Aug but don't know if DS who is 10 would think it was too young. DD is 8 but more minecraft/Star Wars than princesses

NotAPuffin · 04/01/2018 15:19

We were there recently with 7 and 5 year olds and had an absolute ball. There were loads of rides for all ages. There would be plenty for a 2 year old but also 4 big coasters that we didn't go on at all.

Our favourite restaurants were Polles Keuchen (for lovely pancakes, and the theming is gorgeous), Het Witte Paard (beef stew and mash or chicken pot pie type stuff - no burgers and chips!) and 't Poffertje (for mini pancakes). In general, food is nice, but don't eat in Octopus, it's rank. The play area is brilliant so it's worth going in for a lengthy sit down and cup of coffee, especially if it's raining, but eat elsewhere.

The pool is nice and handy for something to do in the evening, as the park closes at 6.

The wee kitchen in the apartments has a fridge, microwave, coffee maker and kettle, so fairly basic. We ordered breakfast pastries to be delivered each morning (order at the reception desk, there are forms provided in the rooms), which were delicious and fresh. We ordered pizza to the room a couple of times as well, which was tasty but overpriced. Other meals we ate in the park.

Enjoy! It's a gorgeous park, it feels much more natural than Disney.

TheSconeOfStone · 04/01/2018 18:18

We went end of August with DDs aged 10 and 7. Was amazing. Some real thrill rides. Proper roller coasters. Fabulous place for any age. Definitely plenty to do for 12/13 year olds. We loved the George and the Dragon racing wooden coasters and Flying Dutchman ride (dark coaster that plunges you into a lake). We’re going back to stay for a few days but not until next year sadly.

WeaselsRising · 04/01/2018 18:35

We were also there in August, but we stayed in the Hotel, which was fab. We ate in Pinocchios which was very loud because they were having some sort of magic show.

Our 10 yo is a wimp and won't go on any big rides. We loved the new ride Symbolica, but the queues were very very long. Best get there as soon as it opens or after the coaches leave at 5pm. You have to do it at least 3 times to have a go on all 3 versions.

You can download an app which tells you how long the queues are, and I see they've just released time slots for Python. There's a version of Small World which is entertaining and fun for the 2 yo. Also a little maze they can run through. We spent a lot of time on the gondolas which float through the lake on a track for about 20 minutes.

There is an area right over the back with rides for tinies, like the old style cars on a track, and a train you have to pedal (10 yo did well; I gave up half way round). Droomvlucht has big queues but is something you can all go on. There are a number of Carousels as well. Basically something for everyone. DD insisted we went to the horse and bird adventure show Ravelijn three times, despite there being no English headphones available

I went in the early 70s as a small child and clearly remembered the fairytale woods, which don't seem to have changed.

UpABitLate · 04/01/2018 18:40

Oh wow what a blast from the past, I went in about 1981 as a child and me and my brother still reminisce fondly it was BRILLIANT so hope you all have a fab time

bonbonours · 04/01/2018 19:19

No specific tips re food except the little pancakes are lush.

Definitely plenty to keep tweens or teens entertained as well as little ones, there are some seriously big roller coasters.

Be warned, the wooden roller coaster terrified my lot as it was so bumpy and fast. We thought it would be like the scenic railway at Dreamland which they love but it was nothing like it and they all came off crying (even the 8 year old who had already been on one of the looping roller coasters without tears)

Octopus indoor play area is great, and the fairy tale forest is great for little ones.

gastropod · 05/01/2018 07:06

Efteling is awesome. We go there regularly (live within easy driving distance) and have done since the kids were very small (now they are 7 and 9).

Both mine currently love the wooden roller coasters (dragon ones) and the bobsleigh run. They also love the roller coaster that's in the dark (Vogel Rok - makes me sick though!). When they were younger they loved the Droomvlucht, the carousels, the Carnival ride and the little snail monorail. Everybody still loves the fairytale forest.

My absolute favourite is the Flying Dutchman rollercoaster - the kids like it too but always need to be jollied along as the part that you queue in can be a bit spooky (I think it's brilliant), and the first part of the ride, in a "stormy" sea, is quite realistic!

The Raveleijn show is spectacular but I wouldn't bother with the English headsets as you can easily work out what's going on without them.

We quite like eating in Octopus, they make nice fresh pasta to order, and my kids love their spag bol so it suits us. I like their smoked salmon sandwiches too, and the play area is really great. We also absolutely love the fresh doughnut stand (round the corner from the Symbolica ride on the way to the Marerijk part of the park). They make fresh mini cinnamon doughnuts that are seriously moreish.

Honestly, Efteling is my favourite theme park because it's actually fun and - dare I say it - relaxing, not stressful like Disney.

TheColdDoesBotherMeAnyway · 05/01/2018 07:19

I disagree about Octopus - I thought the food was fine - not Michelin starred or anything but for a theme park it is perfectly acceptable. The Pancake restaurant was our favourite though, as well as the little stalls dotted about.

Our favourite rides were the rapids, dream flight, bobsleigh and Villa Volta (although the story at the start in Dutch drags on, I wish it was possible to skip it after the first time. I googled a translation to get an idea of the story). Symbolica opened a few weeks after we left and the gondola was closed for maintenance but both look good. The Flying Dutchman broke down whilst we were in the queue but that looked good too. Download the app - we planned our day using it.

We were in a house in the village which had a full kitchen. We ordered breakfast deliveries which were lovely. I wouldn’t bother with the pizza one though - we couldn’t get anyone to answer the phone so ended up having to walk to the reception to order which defeats the purpose really! The restaurant in the village was lovely though and not too pricey for a theme park. Explore the village, there is lots to see. The pool is ok, one visit there would be enough.

Don’t miss hidden details like the donkey who ‘poos’ a coin if you give him a euro, or the talking bins.

Enjoy! I am very jealous

Original poster

BellaMoo · 05/01/2018 08:26

Thank you all so much for taking the time reply. We're getting really excited about our trip.

There seems to be lots of food options which is great (a holiday's all about food for me) and we all love pancakes.

We loved Disney (Paris not so much but California was awesome!) and we like doing holiday that combines something fun for the kids with city so hoping Efteling is one we can keep going back to!

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TheColdDoesBotherMeAnyway · 05/01/2018 08:40

We also took a day ‘out’ in nearby Kinderdijk which is a UNESCO heritage site - basically a long line of windmills. It was beautiful and very interesting. It is about a 45 minute drive away from Efteling and something to do if you want a peaceful few hours away from the park

Original poster

BellaMoo · 05/01/2018 08:51

Thanks cold we've got a few days in Amsterdam but really wanted to see Windmills and tulips so that's a great recommendation.

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TheSconeOfStone · 05/01/2018 17:04

I second Kinderdijk. We went on a warm and breezy August day. It was very tranquil despite being fairly busy. We learned so much about Dutch history and geography. Got some gorgeous photos of the windmills and scenery.

poorbuthappy · 06/01/2018 08:26

We are going for a day at Easter as we are in a nearby CP for 5 days. I can’t wait!!

Newyearnewyew · 09/01/2018 11:26

Bella you don't need such as complicated forum as unlike Disney it's not a mass money machine with all sorts of tricks trying to get you to spend. Depending on what accnd your in, it's not so easy to self cater as I don't think there is a hob.. There ate two villages now, bosrick and loonsche land.

It's all very relaxed, the plein restaurant mentioned above is large, does lots of things but I particularly liked their schnitzel.
Pinocchio has a show every night which is fun for smaller dc.

The pancake place is lovely for lunch.
You won't really go far wrong wherever you eat. There is a large, gorgeous square devoted to carousel rides, suitable for smaller dc, we liked sitting in plein place and letting the dc run off and have someone freedom in carousel area.

They will love droomvuicht fairy ride and land of the laafs has A gentle monorail, and little village to run round.

Then the fairy tale wood, hours of fun in there... Whale ride and cars, adored by my then tiddler and more besides. You see family of all ages there grannies.. Teens... It has something for everyone and it's relaxed... Gentle... You can also eat in ravelijn restaurants, we did lunch as found dinner pricey and had lovely sandwiches

Newyearnewyew · 09/01/2018 11:27

There is a lidl in the little town its in dh used to drive out for milk, bread and meats.. The little pool is cute, our dc liked it

Newyearnewyew · 09/01/2018 11:29

PS we are have been three times and always had at least one night pizza delivery and it was fine!really tasty, good value...

Original poster

BellaMoo · 09/01/2018 17:29

Ah thanks so much newyear really useful info. Yes I’m hoping for a more relaxed experience than Disney especially with our 2 year old in tow. We’re staying in a house so think we have a full kitchen so may stop at Lidl but it sounds like the restaurants, breakfast delivery and pizza are all good. I’d rather not cook if I don’t have to on holiday!

OP posts:

Ukdad72 · 22/07/2019 13:00

Hi there.

Have you been I the winter and whstus it like. Also how many days do you need
Thanks in advance

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