Wednesday 4th June

Holland Blog Day 3: Phantasialand - The Day We've All Been Waiting For!

Morning parents! Well, what a day we've had - buckle up because this one's a rollercoaster (quite literally)!

Day three of the Holland adventure and we can definitely tell the novelty of early mornings is wearing off. Gone are the eager little faces popping up at dawn - today it was very much a case of the teachers doing the rounds with gentle (and not so gentle) wake-up calls. The excitement for today's main event was the only thing that eventually dragged them from their beds!

You'll be pleased (or perhaps horrified) to know that the Nutella supply was once again replenished overnight, only to be completely decimated by the end of breakfast time. We're beginning to think you might need to arrange daily croissant deliveries when they return home - this has now become a non-negotiable breakfast expectation for this particular group of refined travellers!

After breakfast, we headed for the bus and our much-anticipated trip to Phantasialand. The excitement was absolutely electric - you could practically taste it in the air (along with what we're fairly certain was the distinct aroma of nervous energy). Some of the children had been talking about this day since we arrived, and the reality was finally hitting home.

We arrived at Phantasialand with 'Thunderstruck' by AC/DC blasting over the sound system - talk about perfect timing! This was it - the moment many of the kids (and let's be honest, the adults too) had been counting down to since we left home.

When Miss McCormack handed out the tickets, the children were practically vibrating with excitement. The moment that barrier lifted, poor Mrs Anderson and the park attendants nearly found themselves in the path of a stampede of eager 10 and 11-year-olds!

Once inside, we headed straight for the swings, and let me tell you, there was absolutely no doubt that Towerview had arrived! Picture this: a full ride load of children in their grey jumpers and white polo shirts, screaming and chanting as they whizzed around in circles. We might as well have raised a flag - the entire park knew we were there!

Then it was time for the main attractions. First was FLY - This Superman-style flying coaster had the children lying face down, soaring through the air at incredible speeds. Watching their faces go from terror to pure exhilaration was priceless - though we did have a few who needed a moment to find their land legs afterward! 

Then off to the Chiapas Log Flumes - The classic log flume with a twist! The screams on the big drop could probably be heard in the next county, and let's just say waterproof clothing would have been a wise investment. From here it was off to Raik before lunch.

For lunch - or as we like to call it, "strategic carb-loading." There was pizza, chips, fruit, churros, and sweets. The children were certainly well-fed, though we did start to worry about how all that food would fare on the upcoming rides. Thankfully, everyone's stomachs proved to be as adventurous as their spirits!

After lunch, it was ride after ride after ride. First it was Black Mamba - This one separated the thrill-seekers from the more cautious members of our group, but everyone who braved it came off with huge grins and stories to tell. Then Taron - The sheer speed had some of our more vocal children rendered speechless for the first time this trip!

While some of the group were conquering Taron, Mrs Anderson and Mrs Simpson took others to the Adventure Trail. This obstacle course was all good fun until it was the teachers' turn to show off their skills. Let's just say that both Mrs Anderson and Mrs Simpson managed to get themselves well and truly stuck, much to the absolute delight and uncontrolled laughter of the children. Sometimes it's good for the kids to see that adults don't always have it all figured out! 

We then headed for Fear and Force, Tittle Tattle Tree and Crazy Bats.

Despite all of Mr Beckett's diplomatic efforts to steer the group elsewhere, one ride kept being requested: The Talocan. So off we went - 22 pupils and 2 adults, one of whom (Mr Beckett) had clearly drawn the short straw, and one complete thrill-seeker (Mrs O'Neile) who was practically bouncing with excitement. If you haven't seen this ride, check out the video - it's absolutely insane! Let's just say it flips you in ways that gravity probably never intended.

With only a short time left, we made the questionable decision to end on a high with the entire group heading for River Quest. This water ride was absolutely brilliant, and the kids loved every soaking second of it. However, we're not entirely sure the bus driver shared their enthusiasm when 52 pupils and 6 adults arrived back at the vehicle looking like they'd just survived a tsunami.

Today was genuinely special. It really was amazing to watch. Many of the children face fears they didn't even know they had, pushed themselves beyond their comfort zones, and gained mountains of confidence as the day progressed. Seeing their faces light up with pride and excitement as they shared their adventure stories with each other was worth every moment of chaos. You should be incredibly proud, parents - we certainly are!

On the journey back, exhaustion finally caught up with our intrepid adventurers. Many fell asleep before we'd even left the car park - the day's excitement had been too much for their little systems. Even some of the teachers were nodding off! This was the kind of tired that comes from squeezing every drop of fun out of an experience, and it was great to see.

The evening was a little more peaceful. After dinner, the children settled down with some gentle fun outside, and quality time together as a group before heading off to bed. The usual bedtime negotiations were mercifully brief - turns out nothing beats a theme park for wearing out even the most energetic 10 and 11-year-olds!

All tucked up in bed now, and this is definitely getting easier. There's significantly less chatter coming from the rooms tonight - they're absolutely exhausted after all the excitement, and probably dreaming of roller coasters and log flumes.

Another amazing day in Holland, with 6 very proud adults signing off. 😁😁😁😁😁😁