Phantasialand engages kids; new play areas encourage exploration

AT: Tim Baldwin

tbaldwin@amusementtoday.com

BRÚHL, Germany — Phantasialand is known for its fantastical, immersive environments. In a creative move, the park has used a previous enclosure to create an attraction that is big and bold: Avoras.

Avoras is located in the Fantasy area of the park. Looming large, an iconic giant bird is actually an enormous play structure supplied by Kinderlandparks.

With entrances into its various climbing nets and zippy tube slides on various levels, it is engaging new fun for families. As there is no queuing to enjoy the attraction, the fun is immediate.

“Avoras is an attraction that allows basically the whole family to have fun from the get-go,” said Christina Herrmann, communications, Phantasialand. “Kids from all ages can climb the majestic bird from its feet to its wings all by themselves — over and over again. Avoras is built in a way that invites our guests to explore it any way they want. From bottom to top, from top to bottom, by walking along the winding pathway around it or by climbing through its body or over its wings. This makes Avoras not only a lot of fun for guests of all ages — it also allows for instant fun without waiting in line or having to rush through.” 

Thanks to a constant stream of new routes and various levels of difficulty, Avoras beckons spectators — from junior explorers to ace climbers and thoughtful birdwatchers.

The creativity of the attraction takes it beyond simple play elements. The bird motif, ready to soar into the sky, invites a sense of wonder as children — and adults — climb into the multi-story structure. Smiles are immediate, as are the photo ops.

Of note, while the attraction rises to various heights, the surrounding tower spirals its way up, avoiding a barrier of stairs, letting everyone get to the top.

While Avoras is new for 2024, the surrounding structure has been in place for some time. Previously, it had housed a Zamperla flat ride.

“The space where Avoras is now spreading its wings was formerly the location of the attraction Wolke's Luftpost (Magic Bike), which has been relocated to a place nearby in the themed world Fantasy," explained Herrmann. “This relocation opened up the chance to use the tower-like space next to Wuze Town to its full potential from the ground all the way up to the sky — without having to change its general structure. Just like we did with our Deep in Africa — Adventure Trail, which was built quite literally right into the middle of our inverted coaster, Black Mamba, in 2022. This is what defines Phantasialand and our aim: We always want to deepen the immersion, add new levels of adventure and fun — and surprise our guests with views and pathways they would not have expected.”

And speaking of the Deep in Africa section, the very youngest children have a new place to climb and discover. Mopti’s Monkey Depot is a climbing playground that inspires adventurous imagination with its crates and ropes.

Heavily themed to the African area, the crates and netting blend into the environment, but the challenges are more welcoming for the smaller children away from the roaring Black Mamba coaster.

Adults can sit back in an adjacent themed relaxation area. Quite often, adults can be overlooked in children’s areas, so having a place to recline and rest is a thoughtfully designed perk, particularly as children are burning off energy.

Deep in Africa — Adventure Trail catered to bigger kids. With Mopti’s Monkey Depot, kids of differing ages now have places to play that fit their size and imagination.