Die ''Europa-Park'' Macher

The start of the anniversary year at Europa-Park means, above all, tinkering, renovating, and renovating in every nook and cranny before the season opens in March. Ed Euromaus, the meter-high landmark and mascot that greets park visitors, is getting quite old and is to be repainted by painter Daniel Klausmann. CEO Roland Mack was initially unhappy with the idea. But now he's excited to see the results. The Rulantica water park features a new light show, in which the diminutive artist Hammou Bensalah enchants the audience with soap bubbles. Roland Mack's infamous inspection tours through the park are not without consequences and provide insights into what makes the founder of Germany's largest theme park tick. So, there's a lot of construction work, and the opening of the anniversary year is inexorably approaching. But amidst inspections, creative decisions, and extreme time pressure, the special spirit of the large Europa-Park team is also evident.

Europa-Park is undergoing repairs and improvements during its winter break. When the theme park reopens at the end of March, everything should shine brightly for its anniversary, including the many figures. Jasmin Dietrich is the head of the figure workshop. She and her team are overhauling the animatronics, the elephant in "Batavia," and the horses and cows on the "Matterhornblitz" roller coaster. One of the pirates is getting an upgrade – a hand with movable fingers. The daily float parade is now receiving new floats. But technical problems and narrow passageways aren't exactly making things easy for Carolin Kirch and Maren Dreher. The founding Mack family will also be watching closely at the dress rehearsal. The question of the park's future is an emotional one: Roland Mack is in his mid-70s, and his daughter Ann-Kathrin will become the first woman to join the management team in March. Together with her brothers Michael and Thomas, she will continue her father's legacy.

Europa-Park is planning major innovations for its anniversary. The "GRAND PRIX EDdventure" is set to open, a state-of-the-art 3D dark ride where guests can hit targets using virtual reality to collect points. The attraction has been planned for years, but there is only a narrow time frame for its implementation. The shell construction, installations, and computer technology are all running in parallel. Jasmin Dietrich and her team are also installing new animatronics. However, the manufacturer of the figures has not adhered to the specifications. Europa-Park CEO Roland Mack demands close coordination and conducts the first test run. Everything is on track – but the night before the opening, a malfunction jeopardizes the premiere.