A visit to Efteling
One day at Efteling sounds like a lot, but the hours fly by. Before you know it, you've spent half the afternoon walking back and forth between the themed areas, or you're suddenly standing in the longest queue in the park.
With a bit of preparation, you'll get much more out of your day. Below you can read how to go about it, from the moment you arrive to your final lap of the park.
Prepare your visit well
A good day starts at home. Check the opening times and the expected crowds for the day of your visit in advance. That way you know how much time you have and roughly how much you can do.
Also check which attractions are closed for maintenance. Nothing is more disappointing than a child who has been looking forward to a ride for weeks, only to find it closed that day. Then make a list of the attractions you really don't want to miss. Those are your fixed points; everything else is a bonus.
Is this your first time? Then read up a little on the history of Efteling. You'll see the park through different eyes.
Arrive on time
We recommend arriving at the park around 30 to 45 minutes before the official opening. You still need to park, walk to the entrance and get through security. If you've done all that in time, you can head straight to your favourite attraction as soon as the park opens.
That first hour in particular is often worth its weight in gold. The queues are still short, and you'll have done a few rides while others are still parking. Not sure how best to get there? Take a look at the best route to Efteling.
Choose a smart route
Efteling is divided into themed areas. You'll save a lot of time by working through one area at a time instead of criss-crossing the park. That way you spare your legs and have more time left for the attractions themselves.
Love roller coasters? In Ruigrijk you can ride big names such as Baron 1898, Joris en de Draak and De Vliegende Hollander one after the other. Do them all in one go before moving on to another part of the park.
How to avoid long queues
Queuing is part of a day at a theme park, but you can be smart about it. Ideally, do the most popular attractions early in the day or later on, when some visitors are already heading for the exit. Around lunchtime, lots of people are sitting down to eat, so queues can turn out to be shorter than expected.
Don't mind not sitting together in the same car? Then check whether there's a single rider queue. Not every attraction has one, but where there is one, it can make a big difference. There's never a guarantee of short waiting times, though. On busy days, you'll still need some patience.
Plan your breaks wisely
Try to eat outside the usual lunch hours. An early or late lunch means shorter queues at the restaurants, and often quieter queues at the attractions while everyone else is eating.
You're also welcome to bring your own food and drink. That's handy for your wallet, and you can picnic wherever and whenever suits you. A short break on a bench works wonders on a long day, by the way, especially with little ones.
Don't forget the atmosphere
Efteling is much more than a row of attractions. Take a leisurely stroll through the Sprookjesbos, look out for the details in the themed areas and set aside time for Aquanura, the water show on the lake.
Don't try to tick everything off at all costs. If you rush from attraction to attraction, you'll miss exactly what makes Efteling so special. Looking for great photo spots? Check out our tips for the most Instagrammable spots at Efteling.
Ready for your day at Efteling
With good preparation, you really will get more out of your day. Still, soaking up the atmosphere is at least as important as the number of rides you go on.
So grab your list today: put your top three attractions at the top, check the maintenance overview and set your alarm a little earlier than usual.
