Tim and Paul walk through Efteling to witness the opening of the 31st fairy tale, The Princess on the Pea.
The episode begins with hosts Tim Hintze and Paul Sprangers walking through Efteling to the Sprookjesbos for the opening of the 31st fairy tale, The Princess on the Pea. They mention it is May 14th and note the fairy tale's direct relation to the Efteling Grand Hotel. The hosts then attend the opening ceremony, which includes a countdown and the reveal of Princess Adinda. After the ceremony, they interview Koen Sanders, director of Product Marketing, who explains the strategic choice of this fairy tale to integrate the Efteling Grand Hotel into the park experience for all guests. He discusses the new sung story feature, performed by a Flemish singer, and addresses the inclusion of the first princess of color in the Sprookjesbos. Next, they speak with Sander de Bruijn, head designer, who details the technical design origins, highlighting the mattress movement mechanism developed by Stan Dingemans and Willy Schuurmans. De Bruijn describes the design process, including materialization connections to the Efteling Grand Hotel and references to Anton Pieck's sketches. The hosts then provide a comprehensive walkthrough of the fairy tale's location, noting its proximity to the Troll King and the new entrance for hotel guests. They describe the exterior environment, including the square, plantings, and classic Efteling details like chessboard tiles and Peak benches. The building itself is analyzed for its proportions, plasterwork, copper roof, and decorative elements such as lanterns and a cruiser. Inside, the hosts detail the stack of eight mattresses, Princess Adinda's animatronic, and numerous interior details like travel suitcases, a washing table, and references to Hans Christian Andersen, including scissors and a rope. They discuss the interactive key element that activates the show and the music, which is a carved version of Efteling Symphonica. The episode concludes with the hosts' evaluation, praising the fairy tale as a successful, modest addition that maintains Efteling's classic style while introducing inclusivity. They note minor critiques about visibility and animatronic refinement but overall rate it highly, encouraging listeners to visit and share their experiences.
