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The Rides (in no
particular order)
The Dragon Roller-coaster.
The models in here looked very similar to those at Windsor,
although they are still some of the best in Castleland. The roller-coaster
section here is definitely not as varied as at Windsor, where you
get a big drop and various turns and curves, at Billund it is merely
a mini-loop going round and round (horizontally).
I also like it here because, just before
the loops, when it speeds up, people waiting to go on get a glimpse
of the 'dragon' zooming up in the background.
It is also a shame that those who don't
go on the ride don't get to see the great models, but then that's
just their fault!
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The Family Boat Ride / Mini
Boats
"What on earth are you mentioning that ride for?"
you say. Believe me, you can have great fun on this ride.
You sit in one boat and a friend or relation
sit in the boat behind. Now as you go around, weave from side to
side to slow down, and then let the other boat catch up. Finally,
let it pass by on a wider bit, you've swapped places. Also, try
wedging the boats together in a block at the end, having a race,
overtaking on a narrow stretch or swapping boats. This ride definitely
deserves at least three goes.
As for the serious side of it, some of
models here are pretty good as well. Especially the temple and White
House.
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LEGO Canoe
This is quite a good ride, similar to the Pirate Falls at Windsor.
Some of the models here are also pretty cool, my mum liked the popup
ferrets (which I think squirt water). The bear model was also really
impressive.
Writing this a year since I went, I'm
not sure if you get wet at all, but I seem to remember that very
little water splashes into the canoe.
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Mine Train / Gold Mining Train
This little train chuggs around really well created scenes of
Lego miners and real wooden and metal props. Some great models and
animation parts to see here.
A really nice part here was the falling
coal / rocks, which made my mum jump. I think that it was a cool
idea.
Note: This ride is situated beneath the
absolutely awesome sculpture of 'Chief Sitting Bull'.
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Timber Ride
This is a mini-roller coaster which has the carts as large logs,
hence its name. Surprisingly, this ride is actually quite fast and
jolty, although it is also a little short.
On the way round, don't forget to check
out the great mural of bison and red Indians, carved with Lego bricks
into the rock wall.
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Jungle Racers
I don't quite know what this ride is supposed to be called,
the name given in the brochure, Jungle Racers, doesn't quite sound
right.
This ride was my brothers favorite, because
the Adventurers are his favorite Lego series. The general, tactic,
which everybody soon learns, is to stay in close to the base, then
quickly turn the handle to swing out pretty fast.
Generally (unless it rains) you don't
get wet on this ride. However, if you are unlucky enough to get
hit by a water sprayer, then you could get very wet.
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The Lighthouse
This ride is pretty basic, well actually, it's quite boring.
Pull yourself up, 'abseil' down. I didn't like very much, and only
went on it to see what it was like.
Far more famous are the birds nearby,
pictured on the right here. They seem to appear everywhere, in both
brochures, the guide book, etc...
Please, please, please don't bother waiting
more than 10 minutes for a go.
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Pirate Boats
In contrast to 'The Lighthouse', this ride is far far better.
In fact, it is one of my favorite. The models in here are really
cool (okay, I am a bit biased as the 'Black Seas Barracuda', my
pirate ship, gets featured). Check out the man singing under the
water fall. My Dad liked it.
Other cool things here are the cannon
balls which drop down, the sharks and the man swinging from the
bridge just before you go into the caverns.
In case you don't understand what is
happening in there, the pirates have taken the fort, and the 'soldiers'
have taken the pirates' ship.
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Pirate Carousel.
An average ride, the Pirate Carousel (Danish: Piratkarrusel)
is like the Spinning Spider at Windsor. The thing that makes this
worse than at Windsor, is that it is very hard, if not impossible,
to spin the chairs themselves.
Not really much more I can say about
this ride.
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Caterpillar
Just like the Boat Ride, the Caterpillar seems at first glance
to be some sort of Duplo trash for under 3's. Believe me, it's not!
I love this ride. It's, well, I'll let
my brother do the talking:
"You hurtle round through 360 degrees at approximately
30mph with centrifugal force pulling at the skin around your face
like a NASA G-force machine." Legoweb site-master's
brother, 2002
You get the idea.
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LEGO Safari
Although more of a young kids attraction, I still had a go on
the safari. The models here are incredible, and the sculptured detail
of animals such as the giraffes and elephants is well worth a look.
Personally, I think that such amazing
models should not have been used for a mere safari ride. However,
the models can still be seen by other people from the side.
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LEGOTOP
Although LEGOTOP doesn't have the thrills of the Dragon or the
models of the Pirate Boats, what it does do is give a unique and
interesting view of the park.
It's also a great place to shelter on
a rainy day!
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Traffic School
Unlike Windsor, the Billund traffic school is much more organized,
with a booking scheme to use it. Another great feature is the fact
that there is an instructor telling you, in your own language (notice
the flag in the front of the car), when you do things wrong and
when you do some good driving.
The major bad thing about the Traffic
School here is that the layout of the roads is not as varied as
before, and the traffic lights can be quite confusing as several
lanes are let to go at once.
Finally, I like the licenses here as
they have room for motorbikes and other vehicles, should Lego ever
decide to expand the school...
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And finally...
There are still several rides which I have left out, mainly because
I never went on them (the majority are in Duploland). However, here are
some more pictures which I took of those rides.
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