The kids have been saving their money for months so they could go back to Prater. It is like a carnival/fair/amusement park. We went in the Spring and the kids loved it so much that they decided they wanted to save 100 Euro and go back again. Chris told them that if they could save 100 Euro by the time Nana and Grampy came to visit that we would match their 100 Euro and so would Nana and Grampy. Elora put in her birthday money, Easter money, and did lots of chores around the house. The other kids also did some chores, but they definitely only made it to their goal because Elora was working so hard and encouraging everyone else to do the same.
The big day finally came and we all set off to Prater. The kids had to pay for everything, including food. We had tickets for the Reisenrad from our NiederOsterreich Karte, so we went there first.
The kids thought it was too slow, but I love the Reisenrad because I enjoy seeing the views of the city as you go up and around. I also love the history of the city that is presented before you get on. It was a nice way to start our day because we could see most of the Prater and the kids all picked out rides they really wanted to go on while we were up at the top looking out over the Prater.
We love the bumper cars. All the kids can ride it and we always have such a good time. I sat with James and he giggled the most adorable giggle the whole time. Oliver said he has a hard time driving, so he was happy to jump in with Elora. Even Grampy joined in on the fun.
The hardest part was that the big kids wanted to ride the bigger rides that the little kids can’t go on… meaning that sometimes I had to go on some rides that were not my favorite. This was a big water raft that is lifted super high on an outdoor elevator and dropped onto the water slide where you spin the whole way down. I felt a bit sick by the end, but the kids loved it.
The kids all really wanted to go into a fun house. This was so surprisingly fun. The kids all had a great time climbing funny stairways, walking in sideways rooms, through tunnels, mazes, rollers, and the end was a big maze of glass walls. There were several head thumps as kids ran right into the very clear glass walls. Luckily no one was permanently injured. I thought it was pretty funny and also impressive, because I really couldn’t see some of the walls and almost ran into several.
The kids were excited to ride this older kid roller coaster which featured characters from fairy tales and also scary clowns. After their car disappeared into the back room, another car with a scary mannequin came out and parked. It didn’t move for a long time, and we could hear the kids talking behind a wall but couldn’t see them, and the weird mannequin with a dragon just sat in front of the exit for a long time. Eventually the scary mannequin car drove away and our kids came out. I was glad Nana went with them because I found it slightly freaky to have my kids disappear from view for so long with scary clowns and mannequins on the loose. They loved the ride and got to pick out a small toy as a prize at the end.
Oliver really wanted to ride the tall swings, and by the time we got to it Elora really wanted to go to. As it turns out, you have to be 10 years old. Poor Oliver was so disappointed. We found a fun car driving ride nearby and let him ride it three times since all the kids really enjoyed it. They were especially excited that the cars had real car company logos on the front. Audi, Ford, Volkswagen, oh my!
We ran into our friend Sarita with her girls at the Prater, which was so fun! The kids were excited to see each other and go on a couple rides together.
I thought it was really cool that they had an old fashioned carousel that is pulled by horses. The Prater is such a fun place with cool rides intermingled with years of history in a really amazing city. Marion was so excited to ride on one of the horses while James and I rode in a horse drawn carriage.
This fast, circular pirate ride might not have been the best ride for me to get on, and when the operator kept asking, “Schneller?” Chris and the kids would say, “Ja!” Marion and I felt a little sick by the end because it got pretty fast! But it was still pretty fun. There was a sign about the history of the ride. It used to tour all over Europe to different big events, and eventually found its home here in the Prater.
We found several really fun rides involving driving cars, trains, and planes that were all a big hit with the kids. At this point in the day we were counting out our small change and trying to save enough money to go to dinner together, so the kids picked out one last ride to go on.
Our last ride of the day was an old roller coaster that is a dwarf mining train. It is about 65 years old. The kids all really love it, and I think it is pretty fun too. The kids especially liked the part were water sprays at you and Grampy got sprayed because no one warned him to duck. We relaxed at a park for a little while and then headed to dinner. The kids decided that instead of eating at the Prater we would head to Schnitzelwirt, their favorite restaurant.
Who needs rides when you can ride the U-Bahn with dad?
The kids bought us dinner and even had some money left over! I need to find something else cool for them to save for, now we are back to spending money on popsicles and candy…
