Tips for first timers
Check the crowd calendar ahead of your visit to see how busy it's likely to be
Check to see what's closed for maintenance. Come in early. You can enter the park an hour before it officially opens. At this time you can grab a paper map, access the Efteldingen souvenir shop, a few toilets and the Fabula savannebar. If you buy any souvenirs ask for souvenir express to send it to the entrance so you don't have to carry it around all day. Buy your parking ticket on line via the Efteling app or at the ticket machines by the main entrance. |
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Take a picture of the sign near your car so you don't forget where you parked.
Download the Efteling app. Use it to find the current queue times or the expected queue times of the rides, use it to locate the nearest toilet or the best route to your favourite attraction. You can also use it to collect any action photos you wish to purchase.
The digital photo pass is a pretty good deal if you're wanting the action photos.
Photography wise there are apps that will tell you when golden hour is and when blue hour is for extra magical pictures.
If you rent one of the old fashioned pull carts remember to secure it with a bicycle lock. Some people assume they are free to take. If someone does take yours you can get a replacement back at the entrance if you've kept your receipt.
The park has various places to get food. Enjoy one of the terraces or have a seat on the grass and have a pic nic.
Locate your nearest or favourite restaurant on the Efteling app or reserve your table.
This page may be useful to peruse for getting an idea of what kind of food you might expect and what they might cost for budgeting purposes.
If you don't want to download an app you can also see the queue times here
The Efteling is full of magic moments. From the thrilling to the fairy tale esque.
If you have the time take the time to do the whole fairy tale forest from start to finish. Enter through the witch gate and leave through the garden. Try to stick to the wide red paths and only take a short cut if you need to leave the forest or make a beeline to the toilets or food outlet. Allocate about half a day.
Then come back when it's dark and see how different everything looks lit up. Also come and see it in the winter season when they're dressed differently.
Take your time to notice all the details if you can.
There are many little interactive things in the park that are easy to miss. There is a list of them here if you don't mind spoilers.
If you want a souvenir but don't want something expensive or heavy that takes a lot of space in your suitcase I recommend getting a pin badge from the Smithy gacha machine on the Anton Pieck Square if you can find it. If you can spend a bit more and carry a bit more I highly recommend getting at least one of the Efteling's fairy tale books.
There are several places where stories are told in Dutch over audio so this translation booklet may come in handy
Staying at Efteling accommodation usually works out good value because park entry is included so you don't need tickets.
This site has information which can help you choose one.
Plus you get early access to the park and a discount on the theatre show. If you book at least 4 months in advance you get an early booking discount
When you get back home you usually get a discount code to use on your next trip too.
If you're only wanting a day ticket, the NS usually have deals on tickets if you go by rail
Or if you sign up to the Efteling newsletter you get a discount code around your birthday
Download the Efteling app. Use it to find the current queue times or the expected queue times of the rides, use it to locate the nearest toilet or the best route to your favourite attraction. You can also use it to collect any action photos you wish to purchase.
The digital photo pass is a pretty good deal if you're wanting the action photos.
Photography wise there are apps that will tell you when golden hour is and when blue hour is for extra magical pictures.
If you rent one of the old fashioned pull carts remember to secure it with a bicycle lock. Some people assume they are free to take. If someone does take yours you can get a replacement back at the entrance if you've kept your receipt.
The park has various places to get food. Enjoy one of the terraces or have a seat on the grass and have a pic nic.
Locate your nearest or favourite restaurant on the Efteling app or reserve your table.
This page may be useful to peruse for getting an idea of what kind of food you might expect and what they might cost for budgeting purposes.
If you don't want to download an app you can also see the queue times here
The Efteling is full of magic moments. From the thrilling to the fairy tale esque.
If you have the time take the time to do the whole fairy tale forest from start to finish. Enter through the witch gate and leave through the garden. Try to stick to the wide red paths and only take a short cut if you need to leave the forest or make a beeline to the toilets or food outlet. Allocate about half a day.
Then come back when it's dark and see how different everything looks lit up. Also come and see it in the winter season when they're dressed differently.
Take your time to notice all the details if you can.
There are many little interactive things in the park that are easy to miss. There is a list of them here if you don't mind spoilers.
If you want a souvenir but don't want something expensive or heavy that takes a lot of space in your suitcase I recommend getting a pin badge from the Smithy gacha machine on the Anton Pieck Square if you can find it. If you can spend a bit more and carry a bit more I highly recommend getting at least one of the Efteling's fairy tale books.
There are several places where stories are told in Dutch over audio so this translation booklet may come in handy
Staying at Efteling accommodation usually works out good value because park entry is included so you don't need tickets.
This site has information which can help you choose one.
Plus you get early access to the park and a discount on the theatre show. If you book at least 4 months in advance you get an early booking discount
When you get back home you usually get a discount code to use on your next trip too.
If you're only wanting a day ticket, the NS usually have deals on tickets if you go by rail
Or if you sign up to the Efteling newsletter you get a discount code around your birthday
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At some places in the park you get a free little something to take home with you if you buy certain things or for certain events.
If you order from the kids menu at Fabula you get the Gromm plates. At 't Poffertje you get a Symbolica style plate to take home At Polle's Keuken you get a magnetic tic tac toe game with the kids meal and you get to keep the light up glass if you order the magic water. At Het Witte Paard, De Hongerige Machinist, Frau Boltes Küche and Smulpaap the kids meal includes a mushroom style bowl and a music box The kids meal at Kashba (La Place) comes with something too window stickers perhaps or an activity book. At De Koetshuys the Dance Macabre candy floss comes with a conductors baton. At Pinokkio's the lemonade can come with a special Efteling cup you get to keep. At the Raveleijn dinner experience small children get a pin badge/magnet if they attend the secret meeting. There are also special reusable drink cups available for use at the various freestyle machines. |
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At Python you can get a certificate for your first ride.
At Carnival Festival first timers sometimes get a special passport
At Joris & De Draak the winning colour gets a sticker sometimes
At De Oude Tuffer first timers sometimes get a driving license which you can get stamped at De Oude Tuffer, the Kinderspoor and the Laaf monorail
If it's your birthday you can pick up a free birthday badge at guest services
At Bosrijk you get a Sandman plate with the kids pizza delivery.
If you eat at the restaurant you get a free little colouring book and mini colouring pencils too.
Kids can mix their own drink and get to keep the sandman themed cup afterwards.
At the Bosrijk accommodation they leave little nightcaps and a storybook for you to keep. You can exchange the storybook for an English one if they left you a Dutch one.
Loonsche Land's restaurant and Grand Hotel's restaurant also provide a free little colouring book with mini colouring pencils too.
At the Efteling Wonder Hotel you get a special passport that you can have stamped at breakfast and dinner.
At Efteling Wonder Hotel's restaurant you get a a free magnet if you order the kids menu and kids get a special passport if you stay there.
At the Efteling Grand Hotel kids who stay there get a little suitcase to fill with memories.
Lastly dress for an adventure! Comfortable walking shoes, windproof, waterproof clothing and layers will help make weather changes less of an issue and it will also help you enjoy wet rides like Pirana. You may also want to carry a dry pair of socks just in case.
At Carnival Festival first timers sometimes get a special passport
At Joris & De Draak the winning colour gets a sticker sometimes
At De Oude Tuffer first timers sometimes get a driving license which you can get stamped at De Oude Tuffer, the Kinderspoor and the Laaf monorail
If it's your birthday you can pick up a free birthday badge at guest services
At Bosrijk you get a Sandman plate with the kids pizza delivery.
If you eat at the restaurant you get a free little colouring book and mini colouring pencils too.
Kids can mix their own drink and get to keep the sandman themed cup afterwards.
At the Bosrijk accommodation they leave little nightcaps and a storybook for you to keep. You can exchange the storybook for an English one if they left you a Dutch one.
Loonsche Land's restaurant and Grand Hotel's restaurant also provide a free little colouring book with mini colouring pencils too.
At the Efteling Wonder Hotel you get a special passport that you can have stamped at breakfast and dinner.
At Efteling Wonder Hotel's restaurant you get a a free magnet if you order the kids menu and kids get a special passport if you stay there.
At the Efteling Grand Hotel kids who stay there get a little suitcase to fill with memories.
Lastly dress for an adventure! Comfortable walking shoes, windproof, waterproof clothing and layers will help make weather changes less of an issue and it will also help you enjoy wet rides like Pirana. You may also want to carry a dry pair of socks just in case.
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Ideas for things to bring to the Efteling:
- A spare dry pair of socks in case you meet an unfriendly puddle - Good walking shoes - Waterproof jacket - Blister plasters - Any medicine that might come in handy like paracetamol - Sunscreen - Mosquito repellent - Sunglasses - Ginger sweets & crackers for nausea - Snacks - Tissues - Wet wipes - Antibac hand gel - Travel wash - Plasters - Lip balm - Phone power bank - EU Power adapter plug - Reusable water bottle - Tea bags if you favor a particular kind or brand - A bicycle lock for the pram or pull carts - Something to carry extra layers of clothing in that may or may not be required - Maybe a print off of the translation booklet Where to charge your phone:
There's a table at Kashba that has plug sockets down the middle of it and at Backerij Krumel there's a counter with sockets. Also at the Eastern Station among other areas at De Rustende Reiziger toward the back there are some wall sockets. There's also one or two covered ones at the Carousel palace and several in Het Witte Paard mainly along the outside walls. (see video to the right) |
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