Danse Macabre at Efteling (Kaatsheuvel, The Netherlands) is one of the most anticipated new rides for 2024. It is set to be an immersive show ride, utilising a first-of-a-kind ride system, and is based on its long-running predecessor, Spookslot. Today the park confirmed the attraction’s official opening date.
Danse Macabre replacemes the iconic Spookslot (Haunted Castle), which opened in 1978 and was the first major attraction for Efteling outside of the Fairytale Forest. It consisted of a large animatronic show that took place in the courtyard of a haunted castle, set to the music ‘Danse Macabre‘ by French composer Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns.
Efteling announced the closure of Spookslot in January 2022, revealing the 4th September as its final day of operation before it would removed for a new indoor attraction. In May of that year, the park officially announced its successor as Danse Macabre, named after the music that will again be featured, which has today been confirmed to open on the 31th October 2024.
Danse Macabre will be a brand new show ride, taking many cues from Spookslot. The ride will utilise a never-before-seen ride system, created by Intamin Amusement Rides, consisting of a large revolving disc with six gondolas that also spin around their own axis. The gondolas are shaped like church benches, seating three rows of six people. The whole disc can move up and down as well as tilt.
The ride system is unique, but is similar to new types of simulators that can best described as motion theatres. Rides such as Chasseurs de Tornades (Futurscope, France), Hulk Epsilon Base 3D (IMG Worlds of Adventure, U.A.E.) and Hickhack um die Harzburg (BurgBergCenter, Germany) already use such technologies.
Efteling has been teasing the new ride a lot over the past two years. They have released several ‘making of’ videos with updates on construction and added a street act with the Charlatan-family, who will play a centre role in the attraction. Efteling collaborated with Dutch writer Paul van Loon to write a book with the new story of the ride. The book Danse Macabre – Het Begin is also set to be published in October.
