Holiday World 8/18

[welchce]

I realize that it's over 3 weeks from when we went, but it just took that long for my brother to put the pictures on the internet and I didn't want to create my report without them. That being said, on with the show...

Many of you out there have at least heard of and have probably been to Holiday World in Santa Claus, IN. I was very excited that after most of the summer had past that I finally got to go to Holiday World. We, for future reference, is referring to my brother (Thane of Price Hill), my girlfriend, and myself. And at first, we had some troubles.

About an hour into the 3 hour drive to Santa Claus, we stopped for needed gas. As my brother was filling up the car, he noticed a troubling sight; there was a nail of considerable size in the front drivers side tire. Not wanting to risk a blown tire in the next 5 hours of possible driving to and from Holiday World we made our way back toward our house. Luckily my mother was home and loves us because she was willing to meet us with her van around the airport which saved us about an hour.

So we were back on our way to Holiday World and in true nerd fashion we (my brother and I) listened to a couple podcasts from www.coasterradio.com while my girlfriend slept after a long night of work. Some where in between the 'Nati and L'Ville we stopped at a rest stop to eat our packed lunch and picked up some brochures for Holiday World. This was our first taste of HW before we cruised through Louisville and saw a billboard for HW.

Finally we took exit 63 for IN-162 toward Santa Claus and I could barely sit still. We drove our way into Holiday World's parking lot across the street which was mostly gravel but it was FREE. Right next to the parking lot was...

After we took the tunnel underneath the street we came upon Holiday World's first roller coaster right in front of us...

With our Pepsi cans in hand we got our $2 discount for a final entrance fee of $35.

If you couldn't tell from the sign on the Raven, Holiday World is very proud of their awards. Right after the entrance in the Christmas area is a fountain with two hands together signifying an Applause Award they were bestowed.

We wanted to make sure we got rides on all the coasters so we first went to Halloween.

We were about to ride the Raven right away but I saw a Pepsi Oasis in the corner of my eye so we headed right for it. This was amazing. For those of you not familiar with Holiday World, they give out FREE Pepsi products. Not only did they have Pepsi, Diet, Dr. Pepper?, and Dew but they also had Gatorade. I dabbled in between the caffeine of Mountain Dew and the electrolytes of Gatorade. The Oasis was right by the Legend so we decided to go there first.

Back to Holiday World being proud about their awards, you can see where it says that the Legend was the #1 wooden coaster in the world.

And now comes probably the worst part of the day for me. Being a Saturday I was expecting some lines but I was not expecting how narrow the queue is at the Legend. I tried to measure how skinny it was and it was about 3 park map wide (which is about 3 feet). On top of that it was about 1pm so it was really hot and my contacts were bothering me. So I was feeling claustrophobic, hot, and could barely see but by goodness I was going to ride that coaster. The only good part about the queue was that the coaster wrapped right around it.

So after about a 30-40 minute wait we finally got to the station. We weren't really sure where we were going to put my brother's camera but remember this is Holiday World and not KI. There were FREE lockers in the station. So we just put it in the locker, removed the key, and took our seats in the back half of the train. So after around a close to 4 hour trip to Santa Claus with the car troubles we finally got to our first ride.

Even though my vision was still impaired from my contacts bothering me, I still had a good time. There were nice hills with air time and a good double helix right before heading for the station. I can see why it was rated the #1 wooden coaster.

After I fixed my contacts we decided to hit up some flat rides since their lines were shorter. Next up was...

Just my girlfriend and I rode and we had a fairly good time.

We walked over to the next adjoining land for some more rides.

Of course I had to ride Eagle's Flight. I usually got going pretty well and then went sideways...

So since one of the main reasons we were there was to ride the Voyage we decided to head off toward it.

If you are not sure what voyage this is referring to you are quickly told by the themeing it is the voyage of the Mayflower.

Right below the station they built a huge queue which I was very surprise was empty.

We were stopped right outside that extra queue and to make us even more excited to ride they added an interesting element.

Yes, an underground tunnel which doubles as a fly by the line... great idea. Once we entered the station we once again placed the camera in the FREE locker and sat in the 2nd and 3rd last rows respectively. Right before the hill theres a dip, kinda like you're splashing into the ocean. Then comes the hill.

The hill has a 66 degree drop. What that meant for us in the back was that we didn't touch our seats till the bottom of the hill Then were two more great out-of-your-seat hills.

Then you drop into multiple tunnels and make awesome twists and turns around the Indiana woods. Not only are there 24.2 seconds of airtime (the most of any wooden coaster) but there are also three 90 degree turns.

Here is the video from www.ThemeParkReview.com I find the song very appropriate.

c2xfVb-yf58

My thoughts on the Voyage... The best ride I'd ever been on. Great air, great turns, great use of tunnels, and great speed. It is everything I thought a wooden coaster should be. Easily better than any of the other coasters at Holiday World and The Beast, IMO.

Now the Voyage wasn't the only thing they added to the Thanksgiving area. They added two rides, a place to eat, a Pepsi Oasis/Bathroom, and a smoking area. The rides were Turkey Whirl (a themed tilt-a-whirl)

and Gobbler Getaway (a shooter ride that was closed when we were there).

The food area had a Thanksgiving style spread which wasn't what we were looking for for dinner but still a good option for others.

So we rode the Voyage a second time since the wait was still only like 10 minutes and then rode the Turkey Whirl. I wish we would've rode the Voyage more right then but more on that later...

So we walked back to the rest of Holiday World and hit up the vintage cars since some place doesn't have them anymore.

When we got off a car that was four in front of us stalled Remembering that we have still yet to ride the Raven we went to it.

Here is the Raven in a nutshell: Lift hill, 1st drop, tunnel, back up, drop and turn by lake, some air through woods, turn, a little more air, end brakes. There is some nice air and every thing but it's so short it feels like you should be allowed to go twice. So we did hope back in the 5 minute line and go again. #1 wooden coaster in the world? Uh, it's a stretch but I guess. It's fun but I just wish there was more to it.

We, my girlfriend and I, wanted to go to the water park since we heard how good it was but decided to wait till the late afternoon/evening because it seemed really crowded whenever we walked past it. We really didn't do that much there since it was still kind of crowded and because my brother was just sitting around. So all we did was hop in the wave pool, laid in Congo River, did the Oto and Ron tube slides of Otorongo (which were pretty fun), checked the line of the Jungle Racers and Bakuli and then hoped back into the wave pool and left. They do have a really really nice line up of tube slides and other water attractions but I don't remember seeing any body slides which I love doing. O yeah, and there's also the FREE sunscreen at the water park.

After an hour at the water park we decided it was about time for dinner. We went to Kringle's Cafe in the Christmas area. So my brother and I got bacon cheeseburgers which were at least 6 bucks, fries which cost over 3, and a drink which also cost over 3 so we each spent at least 12 bucks for dinner... Wait a minute, we're at Holiday World not KI. We got the Bacon Cheeseburger combo which was a 1/4 bacon cheeseburger with a large curly fry and a cookie (and of course FREE drinks) for under $5. That's under half of what we would've spent at KI... Delicious.

After dinner we decided to check out one of the shows in the park. My brother saw a bit of an earlier one when my girlfriend and I were on some flat ride and apparently it's just the same three guys and three girls doing the singing for several of their shows. They're not bad but it's no KI.

So after walking around a little we got back in line to do the Legend again and then were planning to just ride the Voyage for the rest of the day till we left. However, when we got in line for the Legend the guy behind us said something about the Voyage being shut down. I was completely devastated. I wanted to drop kick someone in the face. I did calm down a little after a great ride on the Legend (this time I could actually see) but I still wanted to walk back to Thanksgiving to see what was going on.

We walked back to the Voyage and there was, we were told, a maintenance problem and the ride most likely wouldn't open again that day. Being as mad as I was, I almost didn't by a Voyage shirt like I said I was going to after our only two rides. But this might be one of my only trips down to Holiday World for the next several years because of co-op so I decided to anyway.

So it was past 7 then and because of the time change it would be technically a four hour drive back. With nothing else that we really wanted to do, we just left back for Cincinnati after having a great time.

And something Holiday World's parking lot has that KI's doesn't (beside no charge)...

So in recap of the day/review of Holiday World's awards...

Friendliest staff in the world: Sure, I didn't have any problems with any of them.

Cleanest park in the world: I didn't see any trash on the ground or any other sort of unclean sight.

#1 Woodie in the World, Voyage: Yes, most definitely.

Raven ranked higher than Beast: Not in my opinion.

Legend ranked lower than Beast/Raven: Uh, not so fast. I feel the Legend is better than the Raven and possibly better than The Beast, but that's probably just me.

#2 Water park in the world: I like the themeing at Blizzard Beach more than Splashin Safari but SS has a better selection of rides so I guess I give the edge to SS even though we didn't spend that much time there. I have yet to go to Schlitterbahn so I really can't compare it to that.

So, in conclusion, this is a great park and if you have yet to go to Holiday World you should go. Everything is reasonably priced: entrance, food, shirts, and the FREE drinks / sunscreen / parking / entrance to the #2 water park in the world / inter tube rentals (how can FREE not be reasonable?). They do have nice congruent themeing unlike another park I know of in Mason, OH. Even the Dip-N-Dots stands went with the different areas. If I am in town next summer, I'll ponder getting a season pass to Holiday World because I'll definitely want to go back more than once. Maybe even KIC can make their way down there

[DropZone99]

I miss Holiday World, i haven't been there in years. I should be going this summer. I shure hope they build another awesome coaster! Nice pics by the way.

=]

[BoddaH1994]

Great trip report!

I think you hit some nails on the head about Holiday World and didn't even know it.

Let's begin, shall we?

Raven is the #1 wooden coaster in the world? Uh yeah.. no. The Raven is a boring little ride. When I went down last year, I would have been rather disappointed if it weren't for the Voyage living up to its hype. I honestly think the old lady paid somebody off.

Legend over Raven ANY day of the week.

Voyage is better than The Beast? I suppose one could argue that forever, however for as much as you might tilt your hat to the Voyage for its air time, you have to do that equally so for The Beast's environment. If I was offered a trade, I'd keep The Beast.

Friendliest park? I think you hit the nail on the head with the whole, "sure... whatever" thing. I mean, yeah, they're pretty friendly and all, but hell... that's their job. Just don't forget, every time someone makes a bad trip report on here about HW, that Paula lady conveniently posts a link to something bashing KI in her blog. Can you say retaliation? Yeah, very friendly.

You mentioned admission and food prices. Of course they're going to be lower than KI... HW is what? Maybe 10 acres? Kings Island is a vast and versatile entertainment complex which offers a LOT more than Holiday World. You really get what you pay for.

I wasn't impressed with their water park. I mean, it's pretty good but nothing special. I think it's a little better laid out than most, but isn't nearly as fun as Boomerang Bay or even Great Wolf Lodge.

For most of us (and when referring to 'us' I'm speaking for people between the ages of 12 and 30 mainly) Holiday World is a GREAT deal with low prices and free stuff. Unfortunately, now that word has gotten out I think that it really has turned into a low-rent redneck park. Guests can REALLY dictate the direction of the park and if they're attracting a lower class crowd who may pinch pennies to the point of event packing meals in their cars for Holiday World, the extra expense is going to go into the food and other amenities.

Oh yeah -- The Voyage was down. Do you want to hear something interesting? You know how people always compare KI to HW saying that HW is so much better because their rides always open on time? Well, HW did NOT increase the size of their wood coaster maintenance division and since they're always working SO hard to get the Voyage open on time, guess what? The Raven and Legend sometimes open late.

In conclusion, I'd go back to Holiday World. I wouldn't drive there, but if someone else was going, I'd ride with them... I would probably pay full price for a ticket. The Voyage alone is worth that. Then again, that's THIS year... who knows how that thing will age.

Ryan

[The Interpreter]

Who knows? Apparently the park does. You see, they've installed trim brakes on it...recently, too.

[welchce]

For most of us (and when referring to 'us' I'm speaking for people between the ages of 12 and 30 mainly) Holiday World is a GREAT deal with low prices and free stuff. Unfortunately, now that word has gotten out I think that it really has turned into a low-rent redneck park. Guests can REALLY dictate the direction of the park and if they're attracting a lower class crowd who may pinch pennies to the point of event packing meals in their cars for Holiday World, the extra expense is going to go into the food and other amenities.

Yeah, I can remember a conversation between two guys behind us in the final brake on the Legend where by the subject (hunting or trucks or something like that) and by their accents that they were rednecks. However, I think we only saw one mullet

But back to talking about the shows... When we were watching the Retro show my brother talked about the country show he saw and he said that it was standing room only and the applause was much louder and more people were singing along. It is definitely a much different clientèle than Kings Island.

Who knows? Apparently the park does. You see, they've installed trim brakes on it...recently, too.

When and where were they installed? I don't remember any.

[The Interpreter]

They were installed in late July/early August. I understand they have the most effect on the triple down, though some guests don't notice them.

[Stewart32]

Based on HW's map, seems like there is no dedicated water park/everything else. All the attractiions seem to be mixed together. I would visit this park... next season.

[The Interpreter]

If you mean is the waterpark a separately gated upcharge attraction, it is not. It is a discrete area of the park, though.