Leonland - Leon Barnard
Chapter 2 > The Efteling
I took a day off with my former roommate to go to De Efteling, one of the largest theme parks in The Netherlands. The best way that I can describe it is as the Dutch Disneyland. Most of the attractions revolved around fairy tales, so it had a fantasy world feel.
Even the entrance looks like something from a fairy tale.
This was the first ride we went on, it was a rollercoaster that rode around in the dark. It had been forever since I had been on a rollercoaster, so I really enjoyed it.
This doesn't have much to do with the park, but I thought it was cool anyway. It's an ATM machine cleverly disguised as a giant couch.
Here's something I've never seen anywhere else. It's a revolving carousel that raises about 300 feet above the park, it offers a great view.
And here's some of the view from the carousel. It's a pretty flat country, huh?
Long Neck Jan, in the Fairy Tale Woods.
A typical house in the Fairy Tale Woods, where anything is possible.
I don't know the story behind this, but it sure looks cool. It reminds me of something out of Star Wars for some reason.
Again, I'm not totally sure what the deal is with this. You put money in and the donkey launches a toy out of his rear. Why? I don't know. If you look closely you can see the shiny toy flying towards the people.
This was my favorite park of the park, there's a ride called Dream Flight, which is one of the coolest rides I've ever been on. It was really beautiful and magical. I'm not usually one to get all excited about fairies and gnomes and things, but this was really well done.
Some floating castles on the Dream Flight.
More floating castles. There was dreamy music too, which added to the experience.
An attraction that we didn't have time to visit that I thought looked cool.
Posted by Leon on October 13, 2000 01:43 PM [Top of page]
Comments
The donkey refers to a story by the Grimm brothers.
Full story can be found here
http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~wbarker/fairies/grimm/036.html
Posted by Luc on December 9, 2005 02:01 AM
the story you don't know was het volk van laaf. it made by an emegineer from the efteling. it's only here in the netherlands
Posted by marco on April 10, 2006 10:42 AM
Too bad you didn't visit Fata Morgana (the last photo). It's even more enchanting than Dream Flight!
Posted by Bert on April 10, 2006 10:47 AM
"It's an ATM machine cleverly disguised as a giant couch."
It's a joke. A couch in dutch is 'bank'.
Posted by Decken on April 12, 2006 03:02 PM
Hey! It's so funny to see people from all over the world visiting our little country... The Efteling is my favourite park! We're really proud ;)
Anyway, the attraction you couldn't visit was Fata Morgana. It's a darkride, with a boat you go through an arabian world. A city, with his good and bad sides and jungles. It's kinda scary when you're a little kid, though.
If you want some more info, please mail me, I'll be delighted to tell you more about de Efteling!
;)
Posted by Efteling-Fairy on April 29, 2006 09:16 AM
this is so coowl i like the efteling i love it verry wel
Posted by mandy on August 29, 2006 07:24 AM
The donkey is also about a fairytale. Its about a kid whos dad says that he has to learn a profession. He learns to be a miller. When he´s done he gets a donkey who "shits" money.
The visitors put in money and then the donkey "shits" money.
Posted by laszlo on July 24, 2007 06:59 AM