Europa Park

Yesterday, we went to Europa Park with some friends. It's in Germany, just over 2 hours away so we went for the day. The kids had a great time, especially since our most recent trips were more adult-oriented and sightseeing than "fun" for kids.

Europa Park is a combination of Cedar Point and Disney World. It has tons of rides and each area is themed on a different country in Europe. There was England, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Holland, Spain, Portugal, Russia, Greece, and Scandinavia. It kind of felt like the World Showcase in Epcot Center. It was pretty authentic in decor too, as we've been to a few of the areas portrayed. In the France area, there was a replica of the river and buildings we saw in Colmar with my mom. The Swiss village area looked exactly like Zermatt, and in Germany we felt like we were back in the English Garden in Munich. They did a great job "theming" the park. The rides even went with the theme. There was a bobsled coaster and Jungfraujoch plane ride in Switzerland. In England, they had a London Bus ride and the train station was Victoria Station. In Greece we rode the "Pegasus" kiddie roller coaster, and in France we rode boats through a marionnette show in a park.

Many of the rides are just like those in the other parks, just with different names. Like this one in the picture below that made my friend Becky and me laugh so hard we cried: It's one of those old-fashioned car rides that the kids can drive, but it's called "Oldtimer Fahrt". Hilarious! Other than that, they had the "Koffee Kopjes" in Holland (the same thing as the Teacup ride in Disney), roller coasters just like those in Cedar Point, Jungle Boat rides, and interactive shows like Disney's. You can tell the same ride manufacturers sell to all the parks! But it was fun to have the themed rides and the thrill rides. They even had characters wandering around for pictures and autographs.

Here are a few more pics of the day:
At the entrance

Swiss "glacier flyer" ride.

EuroMaus is the mascot of the park. Does this remind anyone of Mickey, perchance?

Aidan, Lainey, and our friends' kids, Ben and Joe (who are also from Michigan!)

Lainey steered this ride as she sat on my lap. She said "mommy, this is just like bumper cars!" and I responded "only when you steer!" since we just kept going toward one side, hitting the rail then going the other, hitting the rail, and so on!

Ben and Aidan in front of one of the rides in Greece.

Daddy, the beefeater! Can you tell Lainey has her face painted? Sparkles and all. What a Fancy Nancy.

Seriously, this is the same ball as EPCOT! The ride inside is like Space Mountain.

Leaving at the end of a fun day!