Energylandia

Energylandia is the largest theme park in Poland, covering a 26 hectare site in the town of Zator, around 30 miles west of Kraków.

The park only opened in 2014, but as of 2019 it boasts 12 rollercoasters with four more due to be added for the 2020 season, including what will be Europe’s largest RMC hybrid coaster. Energylandia’s massive growth has been possible largely due to EU funding – the argument having been successfully made that a huge investment would give a much needed boost to tourism in the area.

Of course, quantity does not always equal quality. Energylandia is at times an odd mix of world class theming and attractions with some badly thought out tat and strange decisions. Take for example Speed, the park’s Intamin Water Coaster. It’s a wonderful ride with a unique vertical lift, and I wish more parks would add them. The station theming is hugely detailed, but then boats end up floating down a horrible concrete water channel past some very fake looking rocks. Worse, the ride music is the theme from Pirates of the Caribbean (definitely totally licenced, right?).

Although some of the park’s rollercoasters are not great – people rate the spinning wild mouse with overhead restraints as even worse than the Vekoma SLC (another weird decision – why would you equip a brand new park with an SLC??), some of the other coasters are fantastic. I really enjoyed Boomerang, the Vekoma Family Boomerang; Dragon Roller Coaster, the Vekoma Suspended Family Coaster; and Formula, a Vekoma Space Warp with a smooth as silk LSM launch.

New for 2018 was Hyperion, king of Energylandia’s rollercoasters and a real icon for the park. The 250 foot tall Intamin airtime machine dominates the Energylandia car park, sitting beside the main road which runs alongside. It is definitely a world-class ride.

Together with its gigantic ride line-up, Energylandia operates a large daily show schedule. Nothing I saw was overly spectacular, but the stunt show was good and featured the usual variety of motorbikes and cars whizzing around, wheels squealing.

Less impressive was “The Prince of Magic”, a show which featured a number of illusions involving putting people in various boxes and either making them disappear or chopping off various limbs. Unfortunately, seeing the extra pairs of feet lurking beneath curtains, and the spike that had supposedly just pierced through a glamourous assistant sticking out of her at completely the wrong angle, rather ruined the illusion. Still, I guess he might improve before he becomes “King” of magic.

If you’ve ever wondered what the EU does for its citizens, take a visit to Energylandia. While not everything about the park is perfect, overall it is very impressive. With 12 rollercoasters and growing, it’s a coaster counter’s heaven. If you’re not into whoring creds, you can afford a more relaxing stroll through the park to take in the higher quality attractions, of which there are still enough to easily fill a day.

Attractions

Shows and Entertainment

More on Energylandia

• Trip: ECC Party in Poland (24 May to 27 May 2019)