MannekenPis
Roller Poster
I realised Walygator Grand Est was on my route from Brussels to Strasbourg, and as I had childcare covered and all day to make the journey I decided to stop there rather than try and find a decent lunch.
I didn't have massive expectations for Walygator based on some things I've read, but it's 3 coasters (or 4 with the Wacky Worm), en route, and cheap.
I think it's important to judge it for what it is and what it costs. My ticket was 27.50 euros through carrefour, and I paid an extra 5 euros for parking (there might have been free parking but worth it to be under the shade of the solar panels anyway). So below £30, it's not a premium park but it doesn't charge like it.
So within that context, the park is actually a pleasant place to be, lots of plants and flowers. Theming is simple but it exists, it feels like a theme park.
No queue times, but the park was very quiet. I imagine the cattle pens are not pleasant on a peak day, but today everything was walk on.
First thing I came to was a log flume, rive sauvage, and I had enough time to not have to be a pure cred run. It looked quite small, but I got utterly drenched. It was meant to be western theme I think, but honestly, it mainly felt themed to overgrown plants.
Round the corner was Anaconda, I walked on to back row. It's a very funny looking thing, construction looks like a house of cards. Very minimal theming in the station but it was tidy. I liked the snakeskin seat covers, nice touch. The tracking on this is crazy, it's so all over the place. Very funny, I got a couple of pops of air in the back. I do know that I like a rattley old woody more than most, but I think it's a bit overhated. A good wooden coaster for kids and worth riding. Later I rerode towards the front, still made me smile.
Monster is visible round the corner, so I headed there. I guess this is the coaster that tips the park into worth stopping at. Waited 1 train to get front row. The station is actually nicely themed, but the rest of the ride is themed to 'we mowed the lawn' (still beats 'we didn't mow the lawn' on wild river). The ride is a really good length, very intense G force. There was a bit of headbanging on my 2nd ride in the backrow though, not as smooth as I expected. A proper coaster no doubt, but didn't quite do it for me, just a bit uncomfortable.
I skipped the Wacky Worm so final coaster was Comet, an ageing Vekoma. Again I did front and back, waiting a train to do so, otherwise walk on. Very rough, required defensive riding to avoid being bashed about. Short and no theming. I did reride so not totally beyond redemption but close.
Before the rerides I went on the raft ride. Actually some nice dinosaur theming, the ride looked very innocuous, but be warned I got utterly drenched.
I wanted to go on the air race but it was down. I went in the haunted house, it's a walk through, I thought it would be a scare Maze but actually just effects. Quite a good effort though.
Food and drink expensive and not promising so I had a pepsi and a pretzel.
That was the park done. I feel like I've done it down a bit. It cost me less than £30, I had 6 walk on rides on proper coasters plus a couple of water rides and the haunted house. So the price compares favourably with a funfair. The park, despite generally not extensive theming, was a pleasant place to be. Not worth a trip but certainly worth the 5 minute detour on the way to Strasbourg.
PS I've mentioned elsewhere that it doesn't look to my non expert eye like Caicos Expedition (formerly Treetops at Oakwood) will be ready this summer.
I didn't have massive expectations for Walygator based on some things I've read, but it's 3 coasters (or 4 with the Wacky Worm), en route, and cheap.
I think it's important to judge it for what it is and what it costs. My ticket was 27.50 euros through carrefour, and I paid an extra 5 euros for parking (there might have been free parking but worth it to be under the shade of the solar panels anyway). So below £30, it's not a premium park but it doesn't charge like it.
So within that context, the park is actually a pleasant place to be, lots of plants and flowers. Theming is simple but it exists, it feels like a theme park.
No queue times, but the park was very quiet. I imagine the cattle pens are not pleasant on a peak day, but today everything was walk on.
First thing I came to was a log flume, rive sauvage, and I had enough time to not have to be a pure cred run. It looked quite small, but I got utterly drenched. It was meant to be western theme I think, but honestly, it mainly felt themed to overgrown plants.
Round the corner was Anaconda, I walked on to back row. It's a very funny looking thing, construction looks like a house of cards. Very minimal theming in the station but it was tidy. I liked the snakeskin seat covers, nice touch. The tracking on this is crazy, it's so all over the place. Very funny, I got a couple of pops of air in the back. I do know that I like a rattley old woody more than most, but I think it's a bit overhated. A good wooden coaster for kids and worth riding. Later I rerode towards the front, still made me smile.
Monster is visible round the corner, so I headed there. I guess this is the coaster that tips the park into worth stopping at. Waited 1 train to get front row. The station is actually nicely themed, but the rest of the ride is themed to 'we mowed the lawn' (still beats 'we didn't mow the lawn' on wild river). The ride is a really good length, very intense G force. There was a bit of headbanging on my 2nd ride in the backrow though, not as smooth as I expected. A proper coaster no doubt, but didn't quite do it for me, just a bit uncomfortable.
I skipped the Wacky Worm so final coaster was Comet, an ageing Vekoma. Again I did front and back, waiting a train to do so, otherwise walk on. Very rough, required defensive riding to avoid being bashed about. Short and no theming. I did reride so not totally beyond redemption but close. Before the rerides I went on the raft ride. Actually some nice dinosaur theming, the ride looked very innocuous, but be warned I got utterly drenched.
I wanted to go on the air race but it was down. I went in the haunted house, it's a walk through, I thought it would be a scare Maze but actually just effects. Quite a good effort though.
Food and drink expensive and not promising so I had a pepsi and a pretzel.
That was the park done. I feel like I've done it down a bit. It cost me less than £30, I had 6 walk on rides on proper coasters plus a couple of water rides and the haunted house. So the price compares favourably with a funfair. The park, despite generally not extensive theming, was a pleasant place to be. Not worth a trip but certainly worth the 5 minute detour on the way to Strasbourg.
PS I've mentioned elsewhere that it doesn't look to my non expert eye like Caicos Expedition (formerly Treetops at Oakwood) will be ready this summer.