Theme parks are the delight of children. And Disneyland is a real brand. However, not many can afford to get there and enjoy a real stay. The good news is that there are much cheaper and very entertaining and educational options close to Romania.
There are only two months left and the big holiday for Romanian students is coming. Many families want to find educational as well as fun activities for children. And the theme parks are in the top of the preferences of the little ones.
Obviously, Disneyland Paris is every child’s dream destination, being the largest and most visited theme park in Europe, with over 375 million customers in 2022 alone. The park covers an area of 22.3 square kilometers and has numerous attractions for families. However, few Romanians can afford a truly authentic experience at Disneyland Paris.
And this in the conditions where a visit can exceed 350 euros, per day, per person, without transport costs, for a complete experience, including accommodation and tickets. Costs vary significantly depending on season, lodging options (Disney or outside hotels), and tickets chosen (1 or 2 parks).
For a family with one child, a three-day package at Disneyland can vary between 1000 and 1500 euros, including flight tickets, accommodation and entrance tickets. To all this is added the meal, plus the toys or souvenirs requested, most of the time, by the little ones. However, there is also good news for theme park enthusiasts who don’t have a fabulous income. There are sensational, entertaining, educational and much cheaper theme parks in Europe, much closer than Paris. Exceptional alternatives to Disneyland for families with children.
A fairy tale world of Central Europe
One of the most sensational theme parks in Central Europe, a possible alternative to Disneyland for many Romanians, is “Legendia”, from the Polish region of Silesia. Actually, “Legendia” is located in the city of Katowice, in a picturesque forest. It has an area of 26 hectares and is located around a huge lake. The park is divided into five areas, each with its own unique atmosphere, on different themes: Magic Village, Valley of Dreams, Magic Forest, Magic Mountains and Adventure Valley. Each features a story world with over 40 different attractions, from easy for younger children to adrenaline junkies.
Amusement areas are top, say bloggers and visitors, especially those with roller coasters. “Roller coasters are definitely the main attractions of Legendia. One of them is ranked among the best in Europe and truly deserves its reputation. We would happily ride it again and again! Another, smaller one has been around for a while, but still provides a solid dose of adrenaline”say the bloggers from “Gopass”.
In addition to the fun of the carousels and exploring the fairy-tale themed areas, with many educational activities for children and very interactive, tourists can make a real immersion in the middle of nature.
In the park “Legendia” there are more than 800 species of plants, including huge trees, flowers, but also numerous birds. Basically, it’s like a magical forest where you meet characters from the stories and have fun in the areas with many merry-go-rounds and good-tasting merry-go-rounds.
If you’re hungry, don’t worry. In “Legendia” there are 11 restaurants and stands with food and drinks. From fast food to hearty feasts, with local and international specialties, to tasty sweets. “The food was delicious. I tried the meatballs with mushroom sauce and fries and it was superb. You can order from the menu or you can eat buffet style with dishes like schnitzels, potatoes, rice or fish. On the other side of the park you will also find restaurants and snack stands”specify those from “Gopass”.
The most advantaged are the Romanians from the north of the country, who drive only nine hours to Katowice. That is, if they leave in the morning, from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. they have a chance to be in Katowice to check in. To get to the Polish city you have to cross the western corner of Hungary, but also Slovakia. Accommodation is plentiful in Katowice at decent prices, either in hotels or with individuals offering apartments or houses as hotels.
The entrance ticket for an adult is around 100 lei per day, and for children, it is usually cheaper. In other words, a family with two children pays around 350 lei for the entrance.
The journey costs, for a car that consumes 7.5 liters per cent (depending also on the evolution of the fuel price), around 1100 lei, leaving from the city of Iași, for example. So the road and the entrances can amount to 1500 lei, for a family with two children. Accommodations start, for the same number of people, from 150 lei per night to, obviously, luxury prices for exclusive resorts.
Total lakeside fun
Another famous amusement area that can rival Disneyland is Gardaland. This is an amusement park in Castelnuovo del Garda, Province of Verona, Italy. It is an amusement theme park with great tradition, having opened on July 19, 1975. It has a huge area of more than 520,000 square meters.
With approximately three million visitors annually, Gardaland is ranked eighth in the list of the most visited theme parks in Europe. Actually, it is a land of stories and amusements located on the shores of the picturesque Lake Garda. As a result of a global deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment, a variety of attractions, restaurants and hotel rooms have been developed at Merlin theme parks around the Jumanji film franchise, with specific mazes, adventure areas and carousels.
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The park has many themed areas, such as Fantasy Kingdom, Western Street, Dragon Empire, Peppa Pig Land, Prezzemolo Land (with a medieval theme) and Animal Treasure Island (with a pirate theme).
At the same time, within the park there are also incredible themed hotels, which will surely fascinate children. For example, the Gardaland Adventure Hotel, with rooms divided by different themes, such as Arctic Adventure, Wild West, 1001 Arabian Nights and many others. Furthermore, within the themed areas there are impressive carousels. Among the major attractions of the park are Mammut, Jungle Rapids, Fuga da Atlantide, Shaman, Blue Tornado, Raptor and Oblivion or The Black Hole. The park’s mascot, Prezzemolo, was popular in the Italian licensing market in the 1990s and 2000s. The park is also home to a multi-section Legoland with fun and dedicated shops. As an educational part, there is the water park area with spectacular sea creatures, giant aquariums and even an ocean tunnel that takes families on a foray into the world of the deep. Not to mention the large number of restaurants, spaces for small children and fun events. A full day of fun at Gardaland for an adult costs €44. The price includes all attractions and amusements of the park.
Accommodation can be found either in Verona or in Castelnuovo del Garda. By car, from Iasi, for example, it takes 18 hours to reach Verona. By plane, obviously, time decreases. “With an area of 26 hectares and attracting almost three million tourists each year, Gardaland Park is one of the most popular and visited theme parks in Europe. It’s a family-friendly place, with attractions, carousels and shows popular with children and adults alike. Thrill-seekers can ride the Blue Tornado roller coaster, while younger children will enjoy the various themed attractions and meeting Peppa Pig at Peppa Pig Land. The Flying Island ride will also give you a great view of Lake Garda. After you’re done in Gardaland Park, you can go to other parks in the complex such as Legoland and Sea Life”say those from TripAdvisor.
“Land of legends” in Ottoman lands
One of the coolest and most luxurious alternatives to Disneyland is undoubtedly the “Land of Legends” in the resort of Belek, Antalya, Turkey. It is the largest theme park in Turkey and consists of three sections: “Adventure Land”, “Land of Laughter with Masha and the Bear” and “Nickelodeon Land”. The park was opened in 2016 and attracts millions of visitors. It also has many international awards, including “Best Theme Park in Europe” at the World Travel Awards in 2017 and 2018. Among the most popular theme areas are “Nickelodeon Land”, dedicated to the famous character SpongeBob SquarePants, “Paw Patrol” and “Star Trek: Prodigy”.
The SpongeBob SquarePants indoor section includes Sally Dark Rides’ “SpongeBob’s Crazy Carnival Ride,” the first SpongeBob dark ride to open outside of the United States. Among the roller coasters there are also extreme ones, with speeds exceeding 86 kilometers per hour.
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“Do you want adrenaline? Then this is your place. There are several roller coasters, for the super brave. Imagine what it’s like to fly upside down on rails, at a high altitude, at over a hundred kilometers per hour, on the 1287 meter long Hyper Coaster, or speeding down the Typhoon Coaster at 86 kilometers per hour and into the water. There’s also Ferris wheel – Sky Fighter, Twister – you quickly descend into a spinning waterfall, from 9 meters, Tagada – a spinning board and many other entertainments for which you need self-control and cool blood”say the “Basketball Travelers” bloggers. The park is really huge and, in addition to the themed sections, with all kinds of carousels and activities for the family, there is also a huge aquapark with spectacular slides for adrenaline junkies, areas for children, numerous swimming pools, beaches with palm trees, secluded places where you can enjoy cocktails. Last but not least, there is also a pool with artificial waves.
Over 2000 square meters of intense water fun. There is also a ‘Dolphin Kingdom’, an area with dolphin shows and marine life in general. The park also has a cultural-artistic side, with music, theater performances, spectacular productions. Obviously, there is an area with hotels, restaurants and shopping. “Thrills and adventure await at The Land of Legends Theme Park, a theme park full of thrilling rides, roller coasters, animal encounters and incredible shows. Explore the unique Aqua Land, Adventure Land and Masha and the Bear Land of Laughter areas and enjoy a day of fun for the whole family”TripAdvisor also shows. Practically, by plane, the “Land of Legends” is an hour and a half from Romania. The entrance costs, for an adult, about 100 euros per day.
