Walibi theme park has undergone major transformations since the announcement of a 100 million euro investment plan in 2017. While the health crisis, floods, and energy crisis have delayed some projects, the park continues to move forward. 2023 marks a year of relaunch for Walibi’s projects.
One of the upcoming projects includes a 1,000m² expansion of Aqualibi, which will accommodate a 25m high tower featuring four new slides in Benelux. The water park is also committed to becoming carbon neutral.
A new family attraction inspired by the Wild West will be unveiled in the park’s western area, near the Dalton Terror. The attraction, named “Silverton” after a 19th century mining town in the Rockies, will showcase immersive theming.
In 2023, Walibi plans to expand its opening schedule and will be open during the Christmas holidays for the first time in its history. Additionally, Walibi aims to extend its opening times during the Carnival holidays in 2024, bringing the park towards becoming a year-round attraction.
Meanwhile, Halloween remains a popular event at Walibi, with thousands of visitors coming to experience the park’s terrifying areas, shows, and haunted houses. This year’s event will take place during the autumn holidays from October 23 to November 5, 2023.
Ticket prices have increased by €3 for adults and children in the past year, with a family of two adults and two children now costing €170 compared to €158 last year. Aqualibi costs €25 for adults and €9.50 for children under 1.2m, while parking is an additional €10 per day.
Walibi’s reopening in 2023 will not coincide with the Easter holidays, resulting in staggered holiday periods. This new schedule may benefit the park if the weather holds up.
Walibi has been transforming since 2017 and the announcement of a 100 million euro investment plan. Since then, new attractions have sprung up, as well as several themed areas. And if the health crisis, the floods of July 2021 and now the energy crisis have slowed down certain projects, all is not at a standstill. 2023 even marks a year of relaunch for the Wavrian park projects.
First, work is to be expected at Aqualibi, as we already talked about a few weeks ago. “In December 2023, Aqualibi will expand by 1,000 m² to accommodate a 25 m high tower containing 4 new slides in Benelux! In addition, several actions are carried out in line with the water park’s carbon neutrality trajectory. Overall cost of the project: € 30 million”, recalls the amusement park.
Silverton, a new attraction near the Dalton Terror
But that’s not all. A new attraction will be discovered in the coming months. “This summer, Walibi Park will host yet another new family attraction – the theming of which will immerse visitors in the heart of the Far West. It will therefore be located in the Western area of the park, a few steps from the Dalton Terror. Its name – chosen by the community of park fans after a competition – refers to the train serving the 19th century mining town of Silverton, lost at an altitude of 3,000 m in the Rockies (Colorado )”, we learn.
At the end of the year, Walibi will open its doors for the first time during the Christmas holidays. This is only a step towards longer opening times in the years to come. “In 2023, Walibi is also expanding its opening schedule. For the first time in its history, the park will open its doors during the Christmas holidays. An opening that will allow – among other things – the strengthening of the event offer. Then, in 2024, Walibi also aims to open during the Carnival holidays, thus evolving towards an activity accessible throughout the year.
Finally, we don’t forget Halloween, which over the years has become an unmissable event in Walibi. “For more than 20 years, Walibi has redoubled its ingenuity to scare its visitors through a Halloween event of the highest quality. Terrifying areas, shows, haunted houses… Every autumn, thousands of visitors rush to Wavre to get a little or a big scare. This year again, the park will offer a “soft” horrific atmosphere during the day, which will worsen at nightfall. Halloween Walibi will take place during the autumn holidays (Toussaint), from October 23 to November 5, 2023.
In practice: tickets on the rise, reopening on April 1
This year is a bit special for the Wavrian park since the reopening will not coincide with the Easter holidays. If the Flemings will be on vacation on April 1, this will not be the case for the Walloon and Brussels pupils who will only take advantage of the holidays in May. We will therefore have to wait to draw the first assessments, even if this staggering of holidays can be beneficial for the park, if the weather obviously follows.
In terms of prices, they are on the rise. In one year, we went from 42 to 45€ for an adult ticket, and from 37 to 40€ for a child. Three euros more in one year is a lot, knowing that the price had only increased by €0.50 from 2021 to 2022. For a family of two adults and two children, we therefore climb to €170 this year, against €158 last year. We can add parking at 10€ per day, for those who go there by car, and there are many of them. For Aqualibi, it costs €25 for an adult and €9.50 for a child under 1.2m. Note that the prices of the two parks had already been increased during the 2022 season. There is therefore no new increase this year, but the prices are higher there than at the start of last season. We must therefore expect a rise in prices during the season, again this year.
Big news, however, on the calendar side: for the first time in its history, Walibi will be open during the Christmas holidays.
As we wrap up this article on the exciting developments happening at Walibi, it’s clear that the park is not resting on its laurels. Despite the various challenges of the recent past, Walibi has continued to innovate and invest in its attractions and facilities, with ambitious plans for the future. From the expansion of Aqualibi to the opening of a new family attraction and longer opening hours, there’s plenty to look forward to. And with Halloween and Christmas events on the horizon, there’s no shortage of seasonal fun to be had. Of course, as with any theme park, visitors should expect a rise in prices, but for those who appreciate quality entertainment, it’s a small price to pay. With Walibi’s commitment to sustainability and visitor experience, there’s no doubt that the park will continue to attract crowds for years to come.