I’m in Efteling now and it’s amazing

[Ofitck]

I would never have heard about this place if it wasn’t for mumsnet but I think this is going to be our best holiday yet!

After some disastrous city breaks with bored and overtired DC I thought that this holiday (for them) would be a bit rubbish for us. Couldn’t have been more wrong!

We’re staying in Bosrijk in a woodland house. DD1 pretty much slept through last night for the first time EVER. DS5 is overcome with wonder and fell in love with the sandman. Proclaimed yesterday his “favourite day.”

Both so tired that they went to sleep easily so DH and I could actually enjoy a glass of wine and a spot of crochet on the sofa!

Thank you Efteling-going-mnetters

Can you get there without a car at all?

“So you can pick ones that don't have much queue.”

Except it’s the kids that pick the rides and the ones with the queue are popular for a reason. We could only go during term break so while I’m sure it’s quiet when the kids are in school, I’m not taking them out of school to go to a theme park . We were thinking of Disney but I sooo don’t want to go and the French schools are also out that week. Was hoping this would be a good alternative. So far, we’ve only done Legoland with the eye wateringly expensive qbot that cuts queue time in half and it was still quite challenging in term break (very crowded and noisy).

"Can you get there without a car at all?"

Yes. I've found Belgian transport fairly straightforward (We ended up driving in the Netherlands as trains seemed pricier for the size/age of our family).

www.efteling.com/en/contact-route/public-transport

Following closely as we are planning on a visit to Efteling next August, along with a stay at Beekse Bergen safari park.

I'm researching accommodation now and the cost of staying onsite at Efteling for 3 nights (which ties in with dates for ferry and Beekse Bergen) are pretty does staying onsite really add to the magic? I can see it might be more relaxing, I can imagine doing a lot more to-ing and fro-ing if staying elsewhere which would detract from the fairytale experience. Plus if you stay onsite you do get entry included which you wouldn't elsewhere...maybe I've answered my own question?!

We’ve been doing baby switch so DH will queue and I will go and get an ice cream or playground with DCs, then they give DH a fast pass for me to use when he gets off the ride. Depends how old your dc are but perhaps that would be a plan (they don’t have to see the baby!)

I wouldn’t come in peak season. You can see from the queue places how long they can get. I can’t stand queuing. We’re lucky as living abroad we have different holiday dates.

Taco we got a pass for DD last year when she was 10. We literally just walked into the exit for most rides. The wheelchair users glared at us every time but if we were there first the staff always let us go first.

The only dodgy ride for that is Symbolica, the new one. Queues are really long so we used the pass. Firstly the disabled waiting area is dark, which really freaked DD out. We were in there ages. They have only one dedicated disabled "boat" which they fill up (takes 6), so you only get to do the green ride (there are 3 different ones to choose from) and people with mobility difficulties have to sit in the front, which is where the controls are. DD wasn't impressed about sitting with a spare grandad!

You can go on as single riders to beat the main queue, (we didnt because she wouldn't ride alone) and also when the main line splits we just picked the shortest queue.

@Acunningruse the chalet park is very pricey but utterly enchanting! Really beautifully designed, proper houses that look straight out of a fairytale. The hotel is also really cool - no idea if that's cheaper than Bosrijk.

I'd stay on site in bosricjk, there are a few options though, apartments, houses all different prices.

There are rides, carousel rides when rest of the park is busy. We rarely queue at efteling. Use half hour in am for any rides we want, then later on in day when day trippers gone.

Plenty of things to do in between eg carousel Square.

@smoothieooo

What was europa Park like I was thinking about that for next year.

To be clear.

The efteling Hotel is at the opposite side of the park to bosricjk and loonsche land.

I'm not personally keen on its position its not as magical in the wood by lake as bosricjk.
However I would splurge on fairytale suite in there if we ever had the money.

Loonsche land has its own hotel and houses round it, holiday feel in sand, its own small farm, mini lakes, very light coloured...

Bosricjk is the area with most charm though, and I like use of little pool.

Has anyone stayed in a woodland or lakeside cottage? And is the only difference with the luxury ones That you get a sauna?

We stayed in a loonsche land lakeside room. Our dd loved the massive sand dunes. Tbh she could have just played on those for an entire day!

The room really was just a hotel room, looking like a house. If I stayed again I would definitely get a house as you get a kitchen and sofa and more space.

But as hotel rooms go it was lovely. Super clean, lots of towels and comfortable beds. Excellent black out blinds and curtains.

It was fun going to breakfast in the main part of the hotel through the sand dunes.

Placemarking

Spooky i was looking at Efteling yesterday! Is it easy to get to by public transport?

Sorry another question. Are there quiet areas in the park too? For chill out time when it all gets too much?

When is the quietest time to go??

Wizzywig yes there are. There are lots of seats to sit and rest.

@wizzywig Yes, very easy to get to by public transport. There's a dedicated bus that goes from Tilburg or Den Bosch ('s-Hertogenbosch) stations. Say if you flew into Schiphol, it's 1 hour on the train to Den Bosch, then get the bus. Or Eurostar to Brussels, then train to Den Bosch, then bus. Den Bosch is the bigger station, trains from pretty much every Dutch city go through there.

www.efteling.com/en/contact-route/public-transport

Wizzy it's very spaced out lots of play areas, the steeping stones and whole of land of the laffs.

Sit in carousel Square, have proessco... Watch the dc

Bit late with my response Morethanthisprovincallife but Europa Park was fantastic - something for everyone. It's split into areas by country - i.e. there's a big roller coaster in 'France', a football themed play area in 'England' - my DS's are 18 and 19 and we had a ball - even in the magic kingdom section aimed at younger kids. Relatively short waiting times (no longer than 25 mins for the big rides - and that's because it was a busy day). Hotels on site are pretty expensive but we stayed in a lovely little hotel 5 mins away from the entrance.

@smoothieooo

Thank you. Sorry to cut in op.

How many days do you think and were there any discounts on tickets. On site hotels don't even seem to include tickets

Yes, apologies Ofitck that I'm waxing lyrical about Europa Park on an Efteling thread!

2 or 3 days to see everything the park has to offer and I checked but there are never discounts on tickets apparently (which is a shame as they ain't cheap)!

This thread has got me all excited! Now just to persuade DH...

I wondered: are there ever special offers on tickets/accommodation (aside from those once you've already been?) that anyone's aware of, or best to plan cost-wise for next year, based on what's on their website now?

I looked online for a visit in the last week of our school holidays. Very last minute, but it was about 600 euro for a few nights in a loonsche land room.
It's usually around 800 or 900 euro.
But the boat/ Eurotunnel would probably be expensive on a last minute crossing

I loved it as well, I completely bought into it (and I was in my twenties when I went!).

We pretty much walked onto rides (except Symbolica). I freaked out on Vogel Rok though — it went much faster than I was expecting it too! There was a fantastic photo of me and DP on the Dream Flight that I really regret not buying — I was smiling and wide-eyed and obviously entranced, he looked vaguely disgusted.

Thanks @holidaylady. It's a bit swings and roundabouts really. I mean it's not horrendous anyway compared to Disney.