Belgian/Dutch people. Have you been to Efterling?

[kreecherlivesupstairs]

DD is generally pretty much in her own little world. Yesterday we went to Delhaize and she picked up a leaflet about it and was keen to go. This morning I went back and bought the three items necessary to get reduced entry.
I am thinking I may take her there when DH is away scuba diving.
Is it worth it or will it be too babyish for her. She is ten and I was put off by the magic wand sprinkling pixie dust on the website.
Opinions please.

It is supposed to be fantastic. We nearly went at Xmas next year. The reports I read were that it is better than Eurodisney and less commercialised. Apparently it is what Walt Disney based the original disneyland on.

It's fantastic! (Called the Efteling by the way - no R).

And I don't even like theme parks!

Took my son cos a crowd from work went and got a lift down there. He loved it and so did I, especially the Dreamflight!

www.efteling.com/EN/EN-Home/thepark/thepark-Attracties/thepark-Attracties-Droomvlucht.html

Brilliant, DD collected some stickers from Albert Heijn when we were shopping in Holland but didn't realise what they were for. She spotted the leaflet for this when we were in our local supermarket.
I think I'll suprise her. Can't wait.

We've been lots of time and it's my favourite park. I love the dreamflight (I can still remember the first time I took the boys on it - we were all "awww") and I'm sure your daughter will like it but maybe just not as much as she would have done when she was younger.

Just a word of warning, as it's an older park (Porto, indeed the one Walt Disney based his on) there is quite a lot based on walking around looking at things, mostly fairy tale stuff. I personally much prefer it to the loud, pure ride parks (even though I'm quite happy to get dragged onto go on most of them) but I would say that's a question of taste.

However, these days there are quite a few rides for older ones. The new Raveleijn looks good (it was being built last time we went there), the Bobbaan, the Python, Joris en de Draak and the Vogel Rok are all good fast rides.

If the French community holiday (27 September) falls on a weekday, we go then as it's less busy. We went last year for the first time in a while (27th had been a weekend for two years) and it poured down all day :(.

Porto, book 27th September as a holiday and we'll go together!

Oooh, and when walking around you'll see the Laaf people who are great. Make sure you see the nursery of babies all hanging on the wall! I found it really difficult to find last time for some reason.

(Disclaimer: the Laaf people are NOT real. No cruelty to babies in the park - honest!)

(and it's real name is actually De Efteling ;) )

I don't live in the Netherlands but have been to De Efteling 3 times. It's lovely and charming but don't go the last saturday in August as it is heaving.
Got to know my DH there so has special meaning for me

Yes it's really good. Some big rides as well. It's the only theme park in the area that I have any interest in visiting (NEVER go to Plopsaland!)

By the way my DD was 11 and DS was 13 (I think) when we last went and there is plenty for them to enjoy.

Thanks for the toptips. I was slightly concerned at the idea of babies hanging on the wall.
belgo, I did consider plopsaland, it is on the way to the ferry. My initial idea was to drive down, go to Plopsaland stay overnight somewhere then on to Dunkerque.
I don't fancy the name Plopsa to be honest.

27th September it is then Longtime! Good plan!

It is brilliant, a mix of fairy tales and rides. Also, steam train, cars, all kind of stuff, great day out, highly recommend.

I went twice as a kid (similar to your DDs age) and I LOVED it
it was nearly 30 years ago though! I would love to take my kids.

I am going at the beginning of August, first time for my DCs!
Been lots of times when I was young and even as an adult (without kids). Uni in Tilburg which is down the road from the Efteling.

Take packed lunch as food is a long wait and quality not great.

Porto and I are going together on 27th September. I'm very excited! And we might take our dds too :)

Anyone else interested?

We went last summer with ds age 10 and dd age 7. It was fantastic. We all had a great day. For me it was a chance to reminisce as I went there with school when growing up in The Netherlands.

The dc would go back in a flast

And yes, no 'r'

flast? What is one of them then? I mean flash!!
And no, not babyish, there is a sprookjes wereld (fairy tale land) based on Dutch fairy tales. This was the bit of my childhood I wanted to revisit. But there is now also a large selection of great theme park rides - which was the bit dh and ds enjoyed

We used to go often when I was growing up - I was a few years older than your DD when I last went, and I still loved it.

Hey Belgo, what's wrong with Plopsaland ???? We haven't been for years but our neighbours went the other day and really enjoyed themselves. They have season tickets for Walibi and Bellewaerde so in fact I was quite surprised with their positive feedback.

We love Duinrell in South Holland, it's just outside den Haag, only an hour from Antwerpen Kreecher. We love it because it's a theme park, water park and accommodation all together, where the children can go swimming or to the huge playground after the theme park area has closed for the day. It's definitely worth a day or weekend visit.

Some day we will make it to Efteling, but as we also have season tickets for Walibi and it's only a 20 minute drive and also now has Decathlon nearby too, we just keep going back there - already in 2 months we have made 5 visits, for a total price 36 euro per person for a whole year and we also get an entry to Parc Asterix near Paris in that price - yes I love a bargain!!! It's probably a bit later for Kreecher, but for anyone else living in Belgium, Zuid Holland or Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Walibi passes are great value.

natation - firstly, the price. They go by height with 1metre being the cut off point. My dd was below 1metre (97cm) but they measured her wearing her shoes which brought her up to 1m. This meant we had to pay full price, but she still couldn't go on all of the rides because the cut off size for the rides was 110cm.

Queues were way too long, the Bumba show rubbish, and it just wasn't that good compared to Efteling.

I am Dutch and yes I've been to the Efteling several times. It is huuuuuge. With small children you can go to the fairytale park. It's magical and doesn't have that Walt Disney sphere.

For older children (and grown up children) there are a lot of other things to do, roller coasters etc. Summer is reeeaaaaallly busy with long long queues.

They also have the winter Efteling, which starts in november and ends in FEbruary. VEry nice sphere. I would go for that..

Am I the only misery who thinks it's all rather 1950's Butlins?

I think its charming. It remains my favorite theme park. The first time I went was back in 1987 and I had just got back from orlando the week before.

We had a great time! ABsolutely magic! And even years and years ago, when I was a student, I went there with friends and had a super time!! Defnitely something for all ages. I hope the weather is good for you and that you'll have alovely time :)