What do you think about the idea that Walt Disney got his inspiration for Disneyland from Efteling? It amuses you? Why? First of all, Disneyland was opened in 1955, while Efteling was opened in... 1952. Secondly, Walt Disney really travelled to Europe a few times in the early 1950s and visited tourist attractions. Third, a brochure from the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, states that Disney "spent a great deal of time studying Pieck's work at Eftling before beginning his own parks."
After my own enjoyment when visiting to the park this year, I'm willing to believe that Eftiling is The First (!) but... The rumor was discredited by Efteling: one of the causes of the rumor was an off-hand remark by a PR person for Efteling, who had dropped to reporters that Disney could well have visited Efteling... The reporters have created a legend. Who knows? I know exactly: the person inspired to create a park like Efteling was close to God. As for Efteling, this is an historical fact.
In 1933 two priests, Father De Klijn and Father Rietra, had the idea of setting up a sports park to the south of Kaatsheuvel. In 1952 The Fairy Tale Forest (later Efteling) was opened on the territory of this old sports park.
Efteling was opened in 1952
Who created this World of Wonders?
In 1950, Efteling Nature Park Foundation (Stichting Natuurpark de Efteling) was founded by the mayor of Loon, R.J. van der Heijden, the filmmaker and very talented inventor Peter Reijnders, and the designer and
Artist Anton Pieck
Since its opening in 1952, the park has evolved from a nature park with a playground and a Fairy Tale Forest into a full-sized theme park. Efteling now caters to both children and adults with its cultural, romantic and nostalgic themes and its variety of amusement rides. It is twice as large as the original Disneyland park in California.
I am not sure that one should to compare Efteling and Disneyland. Lots of people may prefer to know facts and to get evidence rather than trust their own experience. For these people, I have a few more facts:
- Efteling is the largest theme park in the Netherlands and one of the oldest theme parks in the world.
- It has received over 100 million visitors.
- Efteling won the 2004 Thea Classic Award, the highest honor awarded by the Themed Entertainment Association: Efteling had, as it turned out, been nominated by Tony Baxter, senior vice president of Walt Disney Imagineering. (But Walt Disney didn't visit Eftiling... During his aforementioned tour he visited Madurodam in the Hague.
Efteling today and "Listen to English"
And finally! We got to eat Poffertjes! I wouldn't have known about Efteling's Poffertjes were it not for my friend Atara. She assured me: "It's worth the extra calories!"
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