In the design of Efteling’s rides, restaurants, shops, and other architecture, there is a lot of attention to details. Every element has a purpose and is chosen for a specific reason. All of this is done to ensure guests can fully immerse and practically lose themselves in this magical fairy tale world. This and more all fall under the category of visual storytelling. If you want to learn more about how theme parks in general use this technique, read the ‘A Picture Worth a Thousand Stories’ article, in Step 6 of Tour 2 - Efteling: The Dutch Disneyland.
In each of the five different realms, Reizenrijk (Travel Realm), Marerijk (Fairy Realm), Ruigrijk (Adventure Realm), Anderrijk (Other Realm), and Fantasierijk (Fantasy Realm), every building and ride is crafted to match the overall theme. In Symbolica, for example, the castle and interior are created with a very obvious fantasy tone in mind (Anstey, 2017). In the video below, a small part of this attraction can be seen. On top of the architectural design, particular use of lights, color schemes, and animatronics are chosen to match the aesthetic of the rollercoaster or other attraction.
A preview of the Symbolica ride in Efteling, specifically the parts where Pardoes is present to show Efteling's use of visual storytelling
Several attractions stand out for their exceptional use of visual elements to engage visitors and tell a story. First, the Droomvlucht (Dreamflight). This slow ride through a magical fantasy fairy world utilizes many different characters and backgrounds to show different worlds. Efteling’s newest addition, Danse Macabre, takes guests on a musical horror journey (Anstey, 2024). During this ride, the special effects and animatronics are applied in creative and surprising ways.
Preview of Droomvlucht
Efteling's newest attraction, Danse Macabre, shows the use of lights and design
Just like these, every single attraction in Efteling has special elements that make it unique. This is why the theme park is so loved by people of all ages. There is simply something for everyone.
3D model credits: