Futuroscope -
What to see
and do
in the:
CHARENTE
CHARENTE-MARITIME
DEUX-SÈVRES
VIENNE

What's for lunch?
Futuroscope is a full day out, which means that at some point you will need to refuel. If you’re watching your budget, you can take a picnic – your ticket allows you to go in and out of the park so you can return to your car to pick up supplies or drive to a nearby supermarket to stock up. Back at the park all you need to do is find yourself a grassy knoll and tuck in.
If you prefer to have someone else do all the hard work, you can choose from a number of eating places, from those offering take-away sandwiches to restaurants where you can enjoy good quality fast food from hamburgers to tapas.
Menu du jours at other restaurants range from €15 per person (adult) for a three course meal to one costing a €20 (adult) for an all you can eat buffet. For a nouvelle cuisine meal take a seat at up-market le Cristal restaurant where the chef does ‘cuisine moléculaire’ – fancy a macaroon that has you blowing smoke out of your nose when you eat it?
Futuroscope doesn’t stop when all the rides are completed and the films watched. In the evening, after the sun has set, the park puts on a fantastic show (included in the ticket price) that centres around its lake and fountains.
This year’s show, called The Blue Note Mystery, has been created by the man behind the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics and is an extravaganza of lights, music, laser special effects and fireworks.
Have a great time!

DANCING WITH ROBOTS
By (fortysomething) Michael Streeter
It’s dancing, Jim – but not as we know it. As soon as you arrive in the auditorium you know you are in for something different. The air is filled with the excited screams of teenagers – and that’s before they have gone on the attraction.
You are led to the end of a raised platform where you take your place inside the ‘module’ on the end of a robotic arm. I’m reminded of those films where astronauts are strapped into their seats inside test sites to discover the effects of zero gravity…except they don’t have pop music in the background. In this case the strains of ‘Staying Alive’ have just ended. Rather appropriate, I thought as I prepared for take off. Instead I get La Bamba, though as I am about to discover you don’t get much time to appreciate the music.
We’re off! I have rashly chosen level 3 – the highest – and my fillings start to rattle as I’m hurtled from side to side, round and round and then upside down. Now I see why we were asked to leave our belongings back at mission control. I start to tell my companion to stop shouting but then realise the noise is coming from me. The world is a blur, my eyes unable to focus on anything as I’m whirred around by the robotic arm. I feel like I’m falling from a great height, then suddenly soaring upwards again.
And then, just as suddenly as it started, it’s all over. Drained, I stagger out from my seat, collect my belongings and head for the exit. I no longer feel like an astronaut but a character from Top Gun. I’m walking in slow motion, music blaring in the background. A mild form of elation takes hold of me. I’ve danced with a robot and survived.
Mission accomplished.

A KIDSEYE VIEW
By Emily Dobson, age 11

As you know, Futuroscope is a huge park with lots of attractions and cool things to do. When my family went there recently – my Mum, Dad, and sisters Jenny and Sarah - we made sure that we got there before the park opened so when it did at 9am we could get to Arthur and the Minemoys (the new ride) before the crowds. It was well worth it. Walking through the doors, we felt like Minemoys ourselves with giant flowers and objects towering above us. As we were the first there, we only had to wait a couple of minutes before it was take-off time! We strapped in, put on our 3D glasses and we were off on our adventure. With all the effects, we really felt part of the flight – my Dad even got motion sickness! It was better than I had imagined and we all enjoyed it (apart from Dad!)
After a few relaxing shows (so Dad could recover!) we went to the kids area where there are water games and other fun activities so make sure you take your swimsuit if you don’t want to be wet all day – this is a really unique part of Futuroscope as you don’t have to queue and go on rides all the time, you can run around and relax too.
For lunch, I think it’s great that you can go and get your picnic from the car and then eat it where you want. If you don’t want to do that there are lots of places to eat as well which didn’t seem too expensive.
After lunch, I really enjoyed the ride, Vienne Dynamique – they have a fabulous new water presentation at the beginning and the ride is fantastic and really funny. We saved Dances with Robots until later when everyone else was eating their tea so the queues were very short. Even if you have to queue, there are lots of fun robot things to look at and play with. The whole hall has a real buzz about it so by the time you reach the robots, you are really excited! We went on the top level, Level 3 (even my Mum!) and were thrown round and upside down on the robot arm, all choreographed to the music. My sisters and I went on it at least five times but Mum wimped out after 1!
Finally we had a late tea, went to the shops and waited for the Note Bleu show to begin (we managed to sneak in a couple more Robot Dances whilst Mum and Dad held our seats!) The show is cleverly projected on the water and the firework finale topped a fabulous day.
I’d really recommend Futuroscope for all ages: there are lots of wild things to do and plenty of relaxing things too!

DETAILS

Address: BP2000, 86130 Jaunay-Clan, near Poitiers.
Tel: + 33 (0)5 49 49 59 06
Tickets: €35 (adult); €25 (child). School groups are welcome.
Many of the attractions at the park give access for the handicapped and those in wheelchairs. Wheelchairs can also be hired (subject to availability) 
For more information, see the park's English-language website


Words: Rachel LOOS

Photograph: Coyright Futuroscope