Coaster Kingdom
http://www.ukrollercoasters.co.uk
Vogel Rok (Efteling)
The following review will go into explicit detail regarding the attraction and the surprises it may conceal. If you choose to read on, be warned that it may detract from your first ride on the attraction.
It is fair to say that Efteling is one of the highest regarded parks in the whole of Europe. Kudos so deserved, in fact, that the park is one of only a few in Europe to have won the almost cult-like following of hardcore coaster enthusiasts.
Dream Flight and
Villa Volta are alone the attractions that bring the park soaring high above the
others with regards to quality of theming and plot apparently prompting even the
late Walt Disney to visit Europe’s land of the fairies.
The unswerving
followers were rather keyed up by the announcement of Vogel Rok (Bird Rock), a
ride that completely exuded of promise and potential. This enclosed family
coaster would take shape towards the back of the park, not a million miles from
the other above-mentioned gems.
Aficionados were
fairly thwarted by the finished attraction, something that apparently lacked the
magic of Efteling, a ride lacking the individuality that had become Efteling’s
trademark. This seemed to be something the park later picked up on, making
improvements to both the queue-line, and the uninspiring ride itself.
The entrance to
the ride is like nothing done before – a huge bird stands guard, and big
enough is this bird that you can walk beneath it’s legs under it’s
continually oscillating and craned head, behind the strange baron-land behind
this oversized-fowl before entering the building itself.
Hidden way back
away from view, a conical thatched roof covers the ride. In a baffling
‘flaw’, this spectacular alternative to a corrugated tin roof has been put
so far back, it can only be seen from the service road behind the park.
Inside, the first
view may be pretty apathetic, but it does get better, much better. A hall with a
long zig-zagging queue line will take a good three-quarters of an hour. On the
walls, paladin lighting hidden behind a wave like décor mutedly lights the
room, something which although is nicely done, is hardly worthy of entertaining
you for nearly an hour.
Soon, the lights
dim, and music crescendos to righteously loud volumes as the tale of Bird Rock
is told. Using a fantastically emotional track, a superb display of
choreographed lighting, projections and lasers is used in one of the most
original queue-line shows I have ever seen before.
The queue
continues down to one of the improvements made by mass-grumblings by visitors. A
short darkened window looks onto the ride. The ride though is so dark that it is
impossible to make out the train in the darkness, unless it comes right past,
something it seldom does.
The final part of
this oversized queue takes place in the station in the form of more zig-zagging.
The Arabian theming consists of drapes hanging from the ceiling and amber
glowing lights hanging from arches above.
Two trains settle
in the station at a time, one loading and unloading, and one waiting for riders
to leave. The trains are frequent here, and although the queue may well be fast,
it is not worth the effort to hold back for a front or back seat ride as
positions in the train vary little. When the train arrives, riders leave away
from you and you are able to board.
Seats are
comfortable, and for a so-called family ride, roomy. Riders have separate lap
bars too, so that you can be snugly secured with even the largest of riders
company.
The train leaves
before turning around a sharp right hand bend before the on-board music begins,
swelling as the train starts the silent, tyre-driven lift-hill. The inky
blackness is interjected by a laser fanning the top of the train from behind
prompting many riders to lift their arms up into the air breaking the delicate
beams of light with their outstretched digits.
As you approach
the top of the lift, to your left large four birds are seen swooping in flight
below you, before you coil over the top of the lift and swoop off to the left in
a smooth sweeping turn down towards the ground in complete darkness.
At the bottom you
enter a long helix, at which point a strobe light from the on-ride camera
briefly breaks the darkness.
It takes no time
before you are going at full speed and are beginning a returning curve past a
bird which eerily lights up in the darkness, the same effect which can be seen
(occasionally) from the queue-line and into another turn that sends you
careering into the mid-course brake-run where it is shrouded in a revolving
barrel of lasers that barely envelops the train.
This is an
incredible effect, and leaves you wondering how it was done. Before you can even
ruminate, you realise what little effect the brakes have had before you lunge
out from the brake run sharply to the right.
You plunge into
another spectacular helix, before you pass through a flurry of lasers and
strobes, passing just a stone's throw away from the diamonds before bouncing up
onto the brake run.
When leaving you
try and understand the frustration of Efteling devotees. I find it hard though,
as whilst perhaps by it’s very nature it is slightly inferior to Villa Volta
and Dream Flight, it still carries on the legacy of Efteling to fervent
extremes.
Looking at the
coaster on its own, you see a display of what Vekoma is proficient enough to
create – each curve and turn is well engineered to provide a smooth, potent
ride with enough kick to annihilate any chance of a dead spot.
The effects on the
ride are what have been causing many to come off expecting more. As far as I am
concerned, leaving the ride you feel that you have ridden a dark ride (emphasis
on ‘dark’) with some extraordinary and creative effects, well designed not
to intrude too much on your enjoyment of the ride. Each effect sets the plot,
yet if too many effects were to be used, many would be missed so that the plot
would become unclear.
The queue line
show sends shivers down your back with it’s perfectly measured effects, the
ride is a nice smooth family coaster, no thrills and not too busy. Far more
worthy of kudos than it has been receiving.
3/5 Marcus Sheen