It's been 50 years since the kangaroo brand, pioneer of the one-way ticket in Europe, has held the top spot among Belgium's theme parks. A true love affair celebrated with the creation of a new world, Dock World, and a new attraction, Mecalodon.
By Béatrice Demol
Memories, memories. The ski lift on the lake beside a sandy beach, the Grand 8, bumper cars and ponies rented at the Wavre fair. It was a time of floral bathing suits, long-haired teenagers and welcome picnics. For the first time, you only had to pay once, at the entrance, to climb on all the machines. At first, it was basic, but the carts and laser pistols of the Temple of the Sun, followed by the splashes of the Wild River and the inversions of the Tornado, won over the Belgians who had already been around Meli Park and Bobbejaanland so many times. This incredible economic and recreational saga is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Ever more thrills
Just listen to the young people in the queue. Their vocabulary leaves no doubt as to their objectives. Airtime, drop, camelback, bunny hop, batwing, cobra roll, spike, ...
Translation: stomachs in knots, buttocks off the seat, fear in the stomach, double inversion, looping, bumps, adrenaline discharge, nausea, « a real killer »according to a ten-year-old insider.
We know they're heading for the Kondaa, the highest and fastest coaster in the Benelux, the Buzzsaw, which turns the head upside down, the Pulsar, 45m vertical drop, the Psyké Underground, or the Big 8, which does more and more, or the Vampire,head down at ground level.
With the Loup Garou, the ancestor considered uncomfortable by young people even though they can't resist its 4G acceleration, the Dalton Terror and its breathtaking fall and Tiki-Waka, family coaster par excellence, the classics are always popular. Especially when it's wet. Visit Flash-Back with its vertiginous descents and the mythical Radja River, with its big buoys and wild waves, is always full to bursting, and the Belgian weather never stops thrill-seekers.
Above 1m30, It's deadly!
Walibi is divided into a number of relatively delimited sites, some of which are called worlds, others zones. The focus is clearly more on rides and shopping than on worlds. The aim of the star attractions is clearly to provoke the strongest sensations, to get passengers out of their seats, to link the most inclined turns and roller coasters, the steepest slopes, rotations, loops, ever more excessive speeds, twists and turns. In short, the most intense thrills.
Anything reserved for people over 1m30 is « mortal » - advice from the same insider. You need to know this, and if you haven't studied the website (a real tip), don't hesitate to ask those in line before you decide to take the plunge. Some of them are very pale and shaky, are made all the parks in Europe, and are true specialists.
Fast entertainment and Fast food
Conditions of access to amusements are clearly indicated at the entrances but, in my experience, there are few checks when it comes to climbing into a carriage or shuttle. The waiting corridors are unscripted, and the attractions focus more on the sensations they skilfully deliver than on the scenery and environment.
While thrill-seekers are particularly under the microscope when it comes to creating new attractions, the little ones are as pampered as ever, and there are attractions to suit them throughout the park. After all, they're the ones who bring in the families, and therefore the big budgets.
Numerous photo stations cover the most popular attractions, contributing to the financial overbidding - only one was so funny we bought it... The same goes for the fast food, which doesn't systematically respect the themes, while the queues are as long as for the attractions and the prices as hair-raising as the Dalton Tower. A special mention goes to Delhi'cious at Karma World.
A world of attractions
Karma World
Cobra for grown-ups, Flying Carpet for kids, Palace of Genius for all. This is where you'll find the family-friendly Radja River and the delightful Popcorn Revenge, where you can shoot laser guns at hordes of popcorn in super kitsch Indian movie settings.
Adventure World
Far West atmosphere, with sometimes crazy trains and always ponies - but electric. On the shaking side, the Calamity Mine is worth more than it looks, and we confess to a fondness for its old-fashioned, friendly side. In the recent Siverstone, you can choose the inclination of your seat for more or less effect. All this in the shadow of the legendary Dalton Terror, which leaves even the most daring speechless, and the Buzzsaw, the giant swing that seriously shakes up the body, unmoved by the frightening screams of its passengers.
Exotic World
The softer world, with a family rollercoaster, the Tiki-Waka, and the Tutankhamun Challenge, where mummies and monsters still thrill even those who are «afraid of nothing». The kitsch of the Flying Carpet in both languages seems to amuse only the very elderly. The rest of us have the Kondaa to enjoy.
Fun World
There's plenty of room for games and rides for the little ones, while parents take a breather. There's even a roller coaster for the little ones, like the Fun Pilot.
Loup-Garou Zone
Where the wooden coaster of the same name can't be beaten by the dreaded Vampire. Flying chairs, small cars and 4D cinema in the pizza area.
If we add Walibi Boulevard, which offers only stores, restaurants and the kangaroo for selfies, and Aqualibi, which is probably worth a paragraph in itself, we realize that a universe is missing... What happened?
50 years, a new world
50 years have passed. And a new world has just appeared in the back of the park, taking with it the Pulsar Zone dedicated to the most popular water coaster of the same name, which, with a 100km/h takeoff and a 45m free-fall, goes by way too fast. This revamped area also features the Turbine, which replaces the Psyké Underground, which replaced the Turbine, which replaced the Sirocco! It's a coherent move, which recycles the area and dusts off some attractions.
Dock World
Inaugurated last April, Dock World appeals to the imagination of a staged industrial port, with cranes, containers, giant buoys and fishing nets hanging from warehouses, small sailboats and a 15m-high lighthouse that also becomes a new landmark in the park. All of this is set against a backdrop of cheerful dockside sounds, with employees dressed in sailor uniforms.
Benelux's longest coaster
This is where the longest coaster in the Benelux takes pride of place, ready to embark thrill-seekers from 6 years and 1m20 upwards. The aerial train of Mecalodon, with shark-shaped carriages, ensures some good airtimes, vouchers launches and a beautiful S Turn on a layout original, according to the fans who were on hand to test it from the very first hour and who comment very seriously on sites dedicated to amusement park enthusiasts. 65km/h, skimming across the lake and accelerating several times to startle fans exactly 14 times along the 925m course.
This new world is also where the Flashback, even more intense than the Radja River, with a splashy finale, and entertainment for the little ones, revamped on the theme: Dragon Boat becomes Stormy and Salsa y Fiesta is now called All in a box since it's still all about spinning in big pots. The food and shopping offer has also been redesigned, with two new restaurants and souvenirs directly linked to the theme.
The age of facelifts
After fine-tuning its offering Halloween and Walibi Winter, Belgium's leading amusement park strikes again with this new proposal. Walibi confirms its mastery of the concept and has clearly and happily set about modernizing it after 50 years of loyal service.
Fans were clamoring for a retrack (refurbishment) or even outright elimination of certain equipment considered obsolete. They are heard. New products are « smoother, faster and better designed ».
Unfortunately, the fierce competition from amusement parks, which drives every brand to push the limits of thrills and offer new products practically every year, comes at a price. And it always leads to price rises as dizzying as the coasters. Families will have to make choices.
A festive summer
Since the beginning of July, the park has been decked out in festive garb, immersively decorating the first zone where the brand's old mascots roam, and reintroducing some nostalgic animations. The film Rokken Roll is shown in the 4D cinema, and a souvenir photo exhibition and vintage merchandising collection delight collectors and older fans alike. Above all, the return of the pedal boats to the lake is without doubt the best souvenir and the best idea for today's visitors when the weather is hot.
Happy Birthday!
Before you leave:
- Access to the park is easy, either by train (the station is 150m away) or by car: boulevard de l'Europe 100, 1300 Wavre. You don't stay at Walibi, but there's plenty of accommodation in the area. The park is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- There is a charge for parking, even when the barrier is up. Only coaches have free parking.
- Book your tickets online or at travel agencies to avoid queuing and higher prices.
- Plan your visit according to the ages and tastes of your group. Anything forbidden to children under 1.30 m tall is considered to be «deadly »They're also very popular with insiders. If you can, avoid weekends and opt for opening days, take advantage of meal breaks to run to your favorite attractions, and don't hesitate to stay until the very last minute.
- Picnics are not allowed in the park, but a picnic area is reserved outside, opposite the entrance. There are still no water fountains, but bring your water bottle - the loops make you thirsty.
- The park does have a few facilities to make it easier for disabled visitors to get around, but this is not one of the park's priorities. On its website, however, the park details in great detail the specific features and conditions of the Easy Pass.
- Bring a waterproof rucksack and even a change of clothes for those who love wet rides (or a poncho and light towel), sun cream in season and a snack if you don't want to double the price of the day.
EN 
FR 
NL 