originally posted on 5/12/2025
Photo: Jamey Frank. View full-sized image.
Springfest 2025 at Gardaland and Movieland near Verona, Italy, was challenging to plan, because parks were not responsive. Tera Žáková did some helpful advance work, however, so hotels were lined up and meals scheduled, even though the minimum required for a group discount was not reached. The group was small, with eight people, and consisted of two Germans, two Dutch, two Portuguese immigrants from the U.S. (including yours truly) and two Americans.
Italy is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, and Gardaland and Movieland did not disappoint. The two parks are very different from each other — one a more traditional, ride-based park and the other based almost exclusively on movie themes with just a couple of thrill rides. Although not as well known as some other parks, these two parks are definitely sleepers and well worth a stop when visiting northern Italy. They’re both easily accessed by train to Peschiera del Garda station, about an hour from either Milan or Venice, for a fraction of the cost of a car rental. Free shuttles take guests to the parks, and from Gardaland there’s a free shuttle to the Gardaland Hotel.
Gardaland hosts two B&M coasters — Oblivion: The Black Hole and Raptor, which was the firm’s first wing coaster installation.
Photo: Jamey Frank. View full-sized image.
Photo: Birgit Schuette. View full-sized image.
Shaman is an older Vekoma that received new trains and replacement of much of its track in recent years.
Photo: Jamey Frank. View full-sized image.
Gardaland is home to seven coasters including Raptor, a Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) wing coaster; Mammut, a Vekoma steel mine train coaster; Oblivion — The Black Hole, a B&M dive coaster; Shaman, a Vekoma double loop corkscrew; and Blue Tornado, a Vekoma suspended looping coaster. Dragon Rush, a spinning wild mouse, and Ortobruco Tour, an extended Wacky Worm, round out the family coasters. Movieland Park is also home to two coasters, Diabolik, a Vekoma steel inverted boomerang, and Bront’O’Ring kiddie coaster, as well as amazing live shows.
The park’s smaller coasters like Dragon Rush, Ortobruto Tour and Mammut were popular with attendees.
Photo: Jamey Frank. View full-sized image.
Photo: Jamey Frank. View full-sized image.
Photo: Birgit Schuette. View full-sized image.
The weekend started out chilly with a mix of rain and partial sun, but the weather never spoiled the fun. Gardaland is a small regional theme park with beautiful landscaping and the previously mentioned seven roller coasters. New this year is an amazing dark ride, Animal Treasure Island, with exciting special effects and projection technology, along with animal pirates. The park was very busy on a Saturday, and most of the event participants signed up for Express Pass, although there were technical glitches using it. A tasty lunch was enjoyed at a Persian-themed restaurant that served Italian food and lots of espresso. That evening, the group met at the Gardaland Hotel buffet for a major feast.
Photo: Jamey Frank. View full-sized image.
Attendees enjoyed Movieland Park’s two roller coasters including Diabolik, a Vekoma inverted boomerang.
Photo: Birgit Schuette. View full-sized image.
Sunday at Movieland Park began chilly and rainy as well, but everyone was dressed for it. Appropriate dress helped later when riding a couple of very wet rides, including a high-speed boat ride, The SuperJet, and a safari ride with water effects. As the day wore on, the sun came out, and more rides opened. In addition to the coasters Diabolik and Bront’O’Ring, Movieland also features a classic Intamin drop ride, Hollywood Tower.
Movieland park features three tram rides including Expedition Pangea.
Photo: Birgit Schuette. View full-sized image.
The main features of the park, however, are movie-based experiences, including three tram rides. Expedition Pangea is a four-person jeep ride during which the riders drive the jeep themselves (never in America!) through steep ravines, over streams and through tight turns (although at very low speed); Magma 2.0 is a thrilling safari truck ride driven by professional stunt men through floods and eruptions; and Disaster The Blockbuster Tour is a tram driven through an incredibly immersive tornado outbreak.
The U.S. Army Stunt Show is one of Movieland Park’s entertainment offerings.
Photo: Jamey Frank. View full-sized image.
Lunch was at Alfonso’s, a delicious Italian panini and salad restaurant. The day was topped off with the exciting “U.S. Army Stunt Show,” complete with a Rambo character fighting evildoers. This made for some hungry folks, so the weekend ended at a relaxing outdoor restaurant overlooking Lake Garda, eating some yummy pasta and drinking wine. A much-appreciated feature of ACE Europe trips is the camaraderie and the way groups tend to stick together and meet up for meals.
Although Summerfest 2025 is sold out, day trip options will be offered for Grönalund (Sweden) and Linnanmäki (Finland). Information on how to join the day trips can be found on the ACE Europe Facebook page. Hoping for a large attendance at Summerfest 2025 in Sweden and Finland!
— Jamey Frank, ACE Europe Assistant Regional Representative
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