Bellewaerde 2020 - Wakala: Gerstlauer Family Coaster

Well this is interesting, plans for a new family coaster have been uncovered for Bellewaerde:









Looking at the plans, this looks like a Gerstlauer Family Coaster with a small backwards section at the end. Something in the vain of FireChaser Express at Dollywood or Pegase Express at Parc Asterix. Looking forward to seeing how this turns out.

Source: http://pretparken.be/NL/article/2067/Be ... e-achtbaan

So after the application was initially withdrawn, it has now been approved. Construction should be starting soon with the coaster due to open next spring.

By the way, the following quote has been translated:

The Belgian amusement park Bellewaerde may start with the construction of a new roller coaster. In the spring of 2020 the amusement park will open a roller coaster in the Canadian theme area. At the beginning of this year a permit was already applied for.

Moments later, the application was withdrawn following a discussion about the number of trees that should disappear. The permit has now been granted. Bellewaerde chose a family roller coaster, suitable for almost all ages. This is an investment of 7.5 million euros.

"We will start with the ground and foundation work this fall," says a spokeswoman. "The process is tailor-made for Bellewaerde." The roller coaster is supplied by the German manufacturer Gerstlauer, known for example from Gold Rush in Slagharen Amusement Park, Tiki-Waka in Walibi Belgium and Fury in Bobbejaanland.

Red roller coaster
"This addition immediately means the largest investment in an attraction since 1999," the spokeswoman knows. Earlier this year Bellewaerde already opened the doors of a large indoor swimming paradise. The new family coaster will be located next to the red roller coaster Dawson Duel, which opened in 2017.

Bellewaerde is part of the French group Compagnie des Alpes, just like Walibi Holland, Walibi Belgium and Parc Ast??rix, among others.

Source: https://www.looopings.nl/weblog/12846/V ... ouwen.html

Track is on-site

More images of the track currently onsite:







Also, in these images, you can just about see that the ride has gone vertical through the trees:





Sources:

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php? ... 4828486340

https://forum.coastersworld.fr/coasters ... ellewaerde)-nouveau-coaster-familial/msg354567/#msg354567

It is official. The name of Bellewaerde's new Gerstlauer Family Coaster will be Wakala. Due to open spring 2020:



Here is also some concept art:













Sources:

https://twitter.com/Bellewaerde/status/ ... 6414885888

http://www.parcplaza.net/2020/01/wakala ... velle.html

Between this and Huracan, this park may have the best one-two punch of themed family coasters outside of a Disney park.

[Dirk_Ermen]

When I saw the coaster name, the first thing that popped into my head was this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSr9md3Y9Po

Wakala has begun testing:

Wakala is now open to the public

Onride