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Everland

Theme Park Guy Rating: 3.53.53.53.5
Date Visited:
February 18, 2009

Review

Everland is one of the world's most successful theme parks with regards to crowd levels, on a par with the Disneyland and Universal Studios parks. I don't understand exactly why*.

The park has a nice setting in between forest-covered mountains and contains all the standard theme park features like roller coasters, water rides, themed villages, flower shows and animals, but there's nothing distinctive which makes this Samsung-owned venture deserve its outstanding success. When South Korea's Universal Studios and Paramount Movie theme parks see the light of day, Everland might suffer.

My personal highlight was a safari bus tour through lion and bear territory, where real bears walked upright next to the bus like next-generation Disney animatronics. I visited in winter time and nearly all major rides (the two main roller coasters and all the water rides) were closed. That might have spoiled my experience and offended my value-for-money sensibilities! I will return in summer time and review my review.

*Now I know why. Update 2010: Returned in summer time, rode the wooden roller coaster and was very, very impressed - one of the world's best coasters. Increased the rating.


Everland, South Korea Everland, South Korea

Everland entrance Everland entrance

A scenic theme park A scenic theme park

Lots of theming! Lots of theming!

Charming little fairy tale village Charming little fairy tale village

Lots of attractions are closed during wintertime Lots of attractions are closed during wintertime

Flume ride (was closed when I visited) Flume ride (was closed when I visited)

Everland's legendary wooden roller coaster (closed on this photo) Everland's legendary wooden roller coaster (closed on this photo)

Ferris wheel Ferris wheel

Much older and less legendary coaster sitting on another hill Much older and less legendary coaster sitting on another hill

Safari bus Safari bus

That's a real bear! That's a real bear!

Animals counted Animals counted

Friends for life, or just for the moment? Friends for life, or just for the moment?

Korean school kids Korean school kids

Photo session. Look at that foreigner! Photo session. Look at that foreigner!

Everland history exhibition Everland history exhibition

Everland in wintertime Everland in wintertime