MECALODON

In November 2025, Mecalodon received a more technical follow-up story. Looopings reported on a Theme Park Science special in which coaster expert and engineer Jurnan Schilder explains what happens if the launched coaster fails to clear a hill. The subject goes straight to what makes Mecalodon interesting: three launches, lightweight Gerstlauer trains and a long layout that must manage speed efficiently. Schilder explained that lighter trains require less steel and less launch power, leaving more budget for a longer track and allowing shorter launch sections. At the same time, designers must account for temperature differences: warm trains run faster than cold ones. The article also described how speed graphs for fast and slow runs are used to stay within safe limits. If a train does stop, the launch system must be able to get it moving again. For enthusiasts, this added rare technical context to the ride experience.

In August 2025, Mecalodon drew attention for a different reason: not speed or theming, but the handling of lost items. A guest complained in a later-deleted TikTok video that her bag had fallen from the train during a ride. According to Looopings, passengers on Mecalodon were required to take their bags into the train and clamp them between their feet. When the bag ended up beside the track, Walibi Belgium asked 145 euros for a targeted search after closing time. The park explained that the fee covered two staff members searching for up to one hour in restricted red zones around attractions, areas not accessible to guests. The article is relevant because it exposes a practical side of the ride experience. Mecalodon has no inversions and is considered suitable for bags, but the combination of speed, open ride vehicles and a waterside setting still makes loose items a sensitive issue for visitors.

Not every story around a new attraction is about construction or ride experience. In mid-April 2025, Mecalodon became part of a striking merchandise issue. Walibi Belgium had produced new coaster magnets featuring technical specifications and track layouts, but several details turned out to be wrong. For Mecalodon, the most eye-catching error was the listed height: the magnet claimed the family coaster was 55 metres tall, while the real height is 15 metres. The article matters because it shows how closely fans watch the details around a new coaster, especially when a park has just opened a major investment. The mistake did not affect the ride itself, but it did affect the way the attraction was presented. Mecalodon was being promoted as the largest family coaster in the Benelux, and in that context accurate figures carry weight. Reactions from fansites and visitors made clear that merchandise is also part of the perceived quality of an attraction.