Robb Alvey's 2009 Scandinavian Parks Photo Trip Report

[robbalvey]

Hey everyone!

This year's "Big Europe Trip" for Theme Park Review was Scandinavia! We visited pretty much every major (and some not-so-major) park in Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Norway.

There are a TON of photos (and we also took a lot of HD video that will be posted soon), so be prepared!

Enjoy the updates!


KLM = Scandinavia? Well, not quite, but we'll make a quick stop at Amsterdam on the way!


Yes, KidTums is only 2 years old and yes she has her very own iPod already!


OMG! OMG! LAND HO!!! (heh...I said ho)


Tivoli Gardens!!! We'll be seeing you in just a few days.


Yay! Our airport van has arrived to pick our lazy butts up!


Except our "van" ended up being a FULL SIZED COACH!!! TPR only travels in style!


Many of the usual suspects await in the lobby.


Our first stop...some traditional local cuisine at Freestyle Music Cafe.


Wow! KidTums says "Scandinavian Mac & Cheese tastes just like Kraft!" (No really, she talks now, she ACTUALLY said this!!!)


Ok everyone! Look at the camera and do something uniquely Scandinavian!"


Our next stop.... the land of the DOG FART COASTER!!!!


Big Mike's transportation has arrived!


Hello world! Meet this year's round of TPR travelers!


I love how we are traveling through Denmark following a giant American Cadillac!


"Welcome to Bon Bon Land - We hope you enjoy our farts, poops, and boobs!"


Is there any better way to start off a TPR trip than with ERT on the Dog Fart Coaster?


Please meet Henry, the most popular farting dog in theme park history!


"Ok everyone...get ready to be farted on!"


WATCH OUT FOR FLYING DOG POOP!!!


The spinning wild mouse was new from our last visit...actually, this is a spinning "Wild Cat"...and how do we know?


It's CLEARLY written on the side of the car!


You guys ready for the ... ummm ... "Wild *****?"


"Hey everyone! I have KidTums-sized rides ERT!"


And we round out our 2 hours of ERT on the world's first Euro Fighter!


Smiley Face = GOOD!
Sad Face = DEATH!


Pleasure or Pain? You decide!


Hello worlds first Euro Fighter!


Yay! It's awesome!


GRRRR!!! I'm the ANGRY worm! Gimme some apple!


Yup...peeing ant is still here.


"No hearts or embryos can be carried on this ride."


Could this be the worlds longest coaster train?


Yay! For long coaster trains!!!


For this being one of those Zierer family coasters, this ride totally kicked ***!


"Hello giant ant! How's it going? Mind if we slide out of your butt?"


"No, of course...not at all!"


"Bon Bon Land is KidTums friendly!"


"I'm King of the NERDS!"


The official TPR Scandinavia tour T-Shirt!


Check out Big Mike's BIG ...um... beak?


"It's themed to a giant chicken...DUH!!!"


"Welcome to Bon Bon Land" says the slightly intoxicated duck.


Anth has found a very comfortable place to sit down.


Jumpy, Jump, Jump, Jump, Jump!


The most important ERT of the day!


Hello Roller Coaster Tycoon!


KidTums is EASILY going to win this race!


OMG! What exactly is Big Mike doing to Chuck?!??!


Yes, you are seeing that correctly...that is a seagull crapping in an Alligator's mouth!


Bon Bon Land is based on candy produced by the company of the same name. The candy is themed around dog poops, boobs, and farts! No, seriously! It REALLY is!


"Thank you Bon Bon Land! We had an AWESOME day!!!"


Back at the hotel is the start of a new TPR trip tradition...the "Candy and Snacky Snack Snack Snack Snack Trading!"


Don't even THINK about touching Divv's Doritos!


Robb got Double Deckers and that is ALL that matters!

Thanks again for reading... Next Stop... Tivoli Gardens!

[vfire]

Scandinavian TR and just in time as I was planning a trip there, though I'll be giving Bon Bon a miss. Curious to see the Tivoli Garden TR and hope you went to Legoland as well. Thanks as always.

[robbalvey]

Tivoli Gardens is what I'll post next, and yes, we did go to Legoland!

--Robb

[robbalvey]

Today was Tivoli Gardens. The park was AWESOME! They treated us like royalty!

Our day started off with an hour ERT session on the "Rutchebanen" or the Scenic Railway...the classic traditional woodie built in 1914.

We then got to take a very in depth behind-the-scenes look at the ride, the work area, train shed, and climb all over the coaster...all while it was RUNNING!!!

We had some free time in the park and then was treated to another hour of ERT on Daemonen, the B&M floorless which could only be described as "cute." In fact, the ride is so cute that you just want to reach out and pet it.

But don't let it's cuteness fool you, it is very intense! It's almost like a "Floorless Batman."

After an hour riding, we had some local television crews with us to do interviews, etc and we got some ERT on Vertigo...the parks new INSANE flat ride that pulls 5 G's, flips you every way possible. It's just crazy.

Did I mention the park is insanely beautiful?

Anyway, onto the photos...


Another day, another TPR group photo!


You guys ready for some classic woodie ERT?


TAKE THE TUNNEL!!!


TPR ERT is always CRAZY!


Helllooooo brakeman...please don't kill us!


Get ready for some crazy airtime!


Theme Park Review loves the Rutchebanen!


Hey Lou! Watch that craaaazy hair!


Big Mike! SIT BACK DOWN!!!!


So THAT is what happened to that guy...


Would you let this man touch YOUR brakes???


Who would have thunk we could have so much fun on a ride that is nearly 100 years old!


Guess who they let be the "guest brakeman" for the day?


Welcome to your backstage tour TPR!


The backstage tour took us all over the ride!


Trainy, Train, Train, Train, Train!


Flanged wheels anyone?


This train is going NINETY DEGREES!!!!


"C'mon on in and check out this giant motor!"


"Ok everyone. Pretend like there is NOT a train going by!"


Robb's TV interview #1!


This machine is pure EVIL! Mum! Dad! DON'T TOUCH IT!!!


They look happy, but only because they have very relaxed sphincters having just emptied their bowels.


Another park that is "KidTums Approved!"


B&M ERT! YAY!!!!


Even though Daemonen en is "little" you get a nice view of Copenhagen from the top.


COASTER PORN!!!


LOOP - DEE - LOOOOOP!!!


There goes Lou with her crazy hair again...


Nice photo! I wonder if Hanno took that one?


Front seat - every expression from "I just sucked on a lemon" to "Wow! Crap is flying out of my pants!"


This...THIS is the most INSANE thing ever!!! It's called "Vertigo" and, you see, you can "control" it with a joystick....


And when you go into "Turbo" mode, all hair breaks looks!


Big Mike says "I rode it...and Jay Leno would be proud of me!"


You get 1 minute that is 5 g's worth of "Turbo Boost" and then 1 minute each on the joystick to turn the thing every direction possible.


Hot Fuzz Rich is just trying not to think about what is happening to him right now.


Can you spot the camel toe in this picture?


"Daddy, I've only been on the car ride 25 times...can I go again?"


KidTums CREDIT!!!!


Terry "OMFG, my hymen just popped" credit!


TPR take over at the bumper cars was pretty deadly...but not nearly as deadly as....


...the TPR takeover in the FUN HOUSE!!!


How many TPR members can we get on this rotating disc?


Assume the position!


"OW MY A$%!!!"


Dinner at Wagamama was amazing!


Here's to Tivoli Gardens for another AMAZING DAY! THANK YOU!!!!

Next Stop... Bakken!

And, oh yeah, I forgot to mention, we made DANISH TV! Check it out:
TV 2/Regionernes netTV

[robbalvey]

Apologies for the lack of updates the past couple of weeks. We spend 21 days in China and Japan (those updates will be coming soon!)

Anyway, here is Bakken!


Just in case you forgot what park we were at today.


We arrive at the park and a pretty girl shows up to greet us. What could be better?


OMG! It gets better...they give us a pretty girl and FOOD!!!!


There's a joke in here about Craig and his two meaty balls or something, but I really can't be bothered to go looking for it.


After a nice presentation by the park, we were treating to an hour of ERT (Exclusive Ride Time) on their Scenic Railway (the Rutchebanen!)


This woodie had some SERIOUS airtime and for being like 80 years old, that was pretty amazing.


Lots of open mouths hoping to catch some Danish flies.


Mark demonstrates the "OMFG! My balls are smashed against the lapbar" expression.


Mr. Brakeman has the coolest job in the world. I think I'm going to apply to take on that position.


I got the job!!!


No, I'm totally serious! There is me being the brakeman through the entire ride!


Yes, that is Robb...playing the role of Mr. Brakeman...with everyone's lives on the train in his hands...and they all seem to be "OK" with it!!!


What started out as a "TPR Takeover" at the mine train turned into a mini-ERT session with the ride's owner giving us 2 or 3 laps for everyone in our group!


"Let's hear it for our third ride in a row!"


"OMG! I just saw Ethel Merman!"


Big Mike's tounge gets the Mine Train credit!


KidTums! ATTACK!!!!


TPR Takeover of the bumper cars!


Yes, that translates into "Afro Cups!"


"Yo Elephant...I'm gonna pop a cap in yo ***!"


The "mouse trap" game???


Let me introduce you to one of the most insane, intense, awesome, and "EVIL" coasters ever! Tornado!


DO NOT BE FOOLED by this looking like your "average spinner." The lift hill "launches" you over the top and OMFG with the right weight balance you won't be able to see anything for the next 45 seconds!


They allowed us to mount our cameras to the ride...let's have a look at some rider reactions to that lift launch, shall we?


Steve gained 500lbs getting launched over the hill.


Right seat - punched in the nuts
Left seat - Castrated by a blast of wind


These guys look the most calm, but they spun the most!


Jes does popeye, and OMFG Lou! Where did those veins come from? And that HAIR?!!?


KidTums Frog Hopper credit!


The Bakken Frog Hopper is KidTums APPROVED!


WTF IS THAT?!?!?


So far, all Scandi parks have been KidTums approved!


Bakken has that "traditional park" feel to it. Lots of older style buildings, food everywhere you turn around, and TONS of rides.


Big Mike & Josh are having a good ride on the mine train, but I'm more interested in what Divv and Andrew are about to do in the seat behind them!


Strike a pose!


WATCH OUT FOR ATTACKING LOCUSTS!!!!


Another credit for KidTums!


It's a good thing she likes roller coasters!


"Hi, I'm cute....I'm REALLY cute. You should send me something because I'm cute. If you want to send me stuff...whatever...it doesn't matter. Send it to: KidTums Alvey, 24707 Riverchase Dr #7203, Valencia, CA 91355. Send me lots of stuff! I'm CUTE!!!"


The ghost train was quite heart attack enducing. Watch out for the guy in the ski mask!


And we leave Bakken with Kidtums getting another credit! I think she now has more internationsl credits than US ones!


On the bus we watched episodes of "Yo Gabba Gabba!"


Our journey tonight included a ferry over to Germany.


At the Duty Free shop we stocked up on some nessesary supplies.


At the hotel we had a group dinner... "There's a party in my tummy...so yummy, so yummy!"
(ps. I find it amusing how they put USA flags on the tables even though only about 60% of the group was American! Oh well...it was the thought that counts!)

Next up! Hansa Park!

[DefinitiveDetour]

One day I'll have enough for my GF and I to go on one of these trips.

Nice to see Rob is on Micechat!!!

[robbalvey]

I've been lurking here and posting our TR's quite a bit! This is my favorite of all the Disney related sites.

--Robb

[flynnibus]

great photos - thanks for sharing.

how much did that trip set everyone back a head?

[cositaluvsmickey]

Very nice and its quite intersting to see other countries and their own amusement parks..just the pics of the rides look intense :o

[robbalvey]

Originally Posted by flynnibus

great photos - thanks for sharing.

how much did that trip set everyone back a head?

The trip cost was $3500 per person. While that sounds like a lot the entire trip was 16 days and that included 15 nights lodging, all transportation, all park admissions, 3 ferries, 2 meals per day (sometimes three), lots of ERT, backstage tours, and a bunch of other stuff!

--Robb

[NeverNeverland]

I missed all of this, thanks for posting more. Love it
Your kid is adorable! And brave

What is an ERT and what is a credit?

BonBon Land looks awesome!

[robbalvey]

Originally Posted by NeverNeverland

I missed all of this, thanks for posting more. Love it
Your kid is adorable! And brave

What is an ERT and what is a credit?

BonBon Land looks awesome!

ERT is "Exclusive Ride Time" and that is when a park opens up a ride before or after the park operating hours just for our group. A lot of times ERT will also be accompanied by back stage tours or other behind the scenes presentations.

A "Credit" is just simply the count of coasters, rides, or whatever you choose to keep a talley of.

For example "This park has 10 coaster credits", "We flew out of Haneda which is a new airport credit for me", "Yay! We're in Denmark! A new country credit to add to the list!"

In this case, though, it mostly referes to roller coasters and how many total a person has been on.

--Robb

[NeverNeverland]

Thanks for the info!

[vfire]

My son was playing Roller Coaster Tycoon the other day and I saw your name as a lead credit. You get around.

Have you ever done or been approached about doing a TV show/series about theme parks around the world? You'd be a natural.

[robbalvey]

Originally Posted by vfire

Have you ever done or been approached about doing a TV show/series about theme parks around the world? You'd be a natural.

Funny you should mention that...