Holiday World Pilgrims Plunge Boat

[raptorcp21]

Here is a video of a man to unwarpped the first pilgrims plunge boat.

here is a video of a man discussing in detail about the different parts on the pilgrims plunge boat.

[tycoonrebel7188]

These boats look pretty nice. I might have to make my first trip to Holiday World summer.

[The Interpreter]

And the man is Will Koch, of Holiday World!

Thanks for posting!

[goofywdw]

Those are great! I love the lap bars. I also like the 2 across seating rather than the other boats that are 4 across. Can't wait to see some footage!

[dare-to-fly]

These boats look pretty nice. I might have to make my first trip to Holiday World summer.

If you haven't been to Holiday World, you should definitely go. Don't miss a single one of the coasters either. Then you will understand why I insist about dwelling on how much I hate the use of trim brakes at...certain parks.

[Ki Man]

I'm on a boat!

[goofywdw]

I'm on a boat!

Ahahaha! I love that song! Andy Samberg is amazing.

[BavarianBeatle]

These boats look pretty nice. I might have to make my first trip to Holiday World summer.

If you haven't been to Holiday World, you should definitely go. Don't miss a single one of the coasters either. Then you will understand why I insist about dwelling on how much I hate the use of trim brakes at...certain parks.

I must agree. And the free drinks and parking, relatively inexpensive food, and the small park atmosphere make it well worth a trip. We went for the first time last year and will absolutely be going back more than once this year.

[dare-to-fly]

I'm planning to be at both events there this year. Holiwood Nights and Midwest Autumn Airtime both sound appealing to me. HWN is amazing - went last year.

Are you planning to go to either of those, or just make casual trips?

[BoddaH1994]

These boats look pretty nice. I might have to make my first trip to Holiday World summer.

If you haven't been to Holiday World, you should definitely go. Don't miss a single one of the coasters either. Then you will understand why I insist about dwelling on how much I hate the use of trim brakes at...certain parks.

I must agree. And the free drinks and parking, relatively inexpensive food, and the small park atmosphere make it well worth a trip. We went for the first time last year and will absolutely be going back more than once this year.

With a park that's a fraction of the size of KI, but costs pretty much the same, I think you're paying for parking and soft drinks as soon as you buy your admissions ticket.

[CoastersRZ]

Yep. Holiday World just transferred the cost of parking and soft drinks and added it into the general admission cost. However, the result of that is that most guests think that they are getting a great value with the free soft drinks, even if they are paying more at the front gate for that perk. Once they are in the park, they do not have to fork over large sums of money for soft drinks, which make it seem like the park is giving them something for nothing.

[King Maple The Tree King]

^Yup, it's a brilliant strategy. Another great amusement strategy playing out these days, and one that seems likely to continue this season, is how Six Flags has been slowly reducing food prices throughout the recent seasons and reported higher in park spending among guests, while other park chains continue to raise food prices and report decreases in per cap spending in their conference calls. I'm still amazed that I have to spend nearly four dollars for a Coke at Kings Island, but only two dollars for one at Disney. And at Disney I'm guaranteed fast and friendly service, where as Kings Island I'm lucky to if the Coke isn't flat.

Pilgrims Plunge looks interesting. It will certainly be interesting to watch and see if this new concept spurs a new age of water rides. I'm more excited for the elevator ride up than the actual drop.

[The Interpreter]

And to add to that, the real difference in food service at Kings Island vs. Disney is not just in quality, but what happens when something does go wrong. At Disney, a manager comes out, makes it right, apologizes to beat the band, and usually does something unexpected in addition. At Kings Island, all too often the bored food service employee shrugs their shoulders, says, and I quote, "It's supposed to be like that. Go to Guest Relations if you don't like it." I did. Most guests....don't. But they remember, and spend less the rest of the season and later on...or don't come back. A park is an experience. Every part of it matters. To that guest at food service, there is a critical moment...one where Kings Island can delight and exceed expectations, or where the guest can end up thinking "Kings Island? Where else?"

[gigacoaster2k]

And to add to that, the real difference in food service at Kings Island vs. Disney is not just in quality, but what happens when something does go wrong. At Disney, a manager comes out, makes it right, apologizes to beat the band, and usually does something unexpected in addition. At Kings Island, all too often the bored food service employee shrugs their shoulders, says, and I quote, "It's supposed to be like that. Go to Guest Relations if you don't like it." I did. Most guests....don't. But they remember, and spend less the rest of the season and later on...or don't come back. A park is an experience. Every part of it matters. To that guest at food service, there is a critical moment...one where Kings Island can delight and exceed expectations, or where the guest can end up thinking "Kings Island? Where else?"

Every time I've gone to eat at KI's Stunt Crew Grill, the customer service has been top notch and my food has been hot and fresh. They have never once grabbed me a plate from under the light, they always go back in the kitchen and make it. The one time it wasn't fresh, they were extremely apologetic, threw out my whole plate and made me a fresh one with more fries than last time.

I'm aware that some of you are probably thinking it's not "the nicest place to eat at KI" and refuse to eat anywhere else other than Wings.. well, I don't care if you're the most famous, cleanest and classiest restaurant in America. If the customer service sucks, it will be my last visit there.

[Shaggy]

Humor me while I toss my two cents in here...

First let me clarify that I have no ill intentions toward the hard-working folk at Holiday World. They are kind, good people. But I also have to admit that I do tend to see well behind the curtain when it comes to HW.

But I digress...

My personal opinion of Pilgrims Plunge is... eh.

First off, water rides tend to fall into that category of attractions that hold a much smaller audience. Much like coasters with loops, a soaking water attraction (unless in a waterpark) likely only attracts a ridership of less than 50% of the gate attendance. With Pilgrims Plunge, you have not only a soaking attraction.. but a large and visually intimidating ride. The visual of the tall drop will likely scare many off... as will the looooong trek to the very farthest corner of the park to ride it.

Pilgrims Plunge is, IMO, too big and too cold a ride for HW. In addition, I guess I've been to enough parks to witness the lacking appeal of Diamond Falls, Congo Falls, Mile High Falls, Snake River Falls, etc etc etc. I can't help but recall the fact that they routinely operate with minimal ridership even on the busiest (and hottest) days of the year.

HW is a small park. Well, it's a small park that the owner wants to be a big park. So in my opinion, it has a confusing and non-uniform feel. The charming parts are the smaller, more intimate ones. When you step foot into "Thanksgiving" however, it's nearly like stepping into Action Zone at Kings Island... believe it or not, with fewer trees. It doesn't work for me. PP just adds height to that disconnect.

But then, a number of things at HW have caused me to scratch my head over the years. One of the biggest "Huh?" reactions I had was the year that Thanksgiving was added. Of course they premiered the multi-million dollar "Voyage" that year, but in addition also added a $3m throw away ride.

"Gobbler Getaway" got virtually no attention. Quite frankly, GG is a far more pleasant and enjoyable attraction than Voyage... and fits HW to a "T." But many forget it's even there. IMO, that could have been a capitol expenditure that could (or should) have waited and been promoted as a new attraction in it's own season.

I like Holiday World... but I don't love it. I enjoy the rides there... but I don't love them. Call me odd, quirky, old, whatever... but I'm just not enamored. Curious... but not enamored.

Shaggy

[gad198]

I like Holiday World... but I don't love it. I enjoy the rides there... but I don't love them. Call me odd, quirky, old, whatever... but I'm just not enamored. Curious... but not enamored.

Excellent post, and that sentence sums up the way I feel about Holiday World as well (although I personally love the Voyage). I had a good time at the place, particularly on the woodies, but I just felt as though the park was a little on the random side when it came to the way it was put together.

[mrsteele]

I like Holiday World... but I don't love it. I enjoy the rides there... but I don't love them. Call me odd, quirky, old, whatever... but I'm just not enamored. Curious... but not enamored.

Excellent post, and that sentence sums up the way I feel about Holiday World as well (although I personally love the Voyage). I had a good time at the place, particularly on the woodies, but I just felt as though the park was a little on the random side when it came to the way it was put together.

Agreed on the randomness of the park...can definately tell when they started to grow they didn't put alot of thought into how big they wanted to be in the future so they could have mapped out accordingly, and instead ended up just throwing stuff into vacant holes and land and running paths to wherever instead of a nice flow. Maybe someday when they grow enough they can make things flow together, but I really doubt it with the way it is going. Regardless, it still has some decent rides and a pretty nice waterpark.

[Gordon Bombay]

I like Holiday World... but I don't love it. I enjoy the rides there... but I don't love them. Call me odd, quirky, old, whatever... but I'm just not enamored. Curious... but not enamored.

Excellent post, and that sentence sums up the way I feel about Holiday World as well (although I personally love the Voyage). I had a good time at the place, particularly on the woodies, but I just felt as though the park was a little on the random side when it came to the way it was put together.

I wholeheartedly agree with the both of you. I went to Holiday World once, at the end of my senior year of high school. Voyage was great, but the Legend and Raven were pretty passive. Gobbler Getaway was a great dark ride attraction, but other than that and Voyage I really felt like I had wasted my entire day driving that far. With Pilgrims Plunge I have no desire to go back to HW this season. I had walking around parks soaking wet and someone mentioned they like the two person boats better than the four person boats, but I just see this thing as a capacity nightmare.

One other thing that irks me about Holiday World is the fact that they are really, really bad about single train operation. Usually, the only times I can make it to Cedar Point are at the beginning and end of it's season. During the day CP will run decreased number of trains, but increase the amount of trains running as the day progresses and attendance goes up. When I was at HW, there were school groups and long waits. Raven and Legend ran one train, Voyage ran two....the entire day. I loved Voyage and would like to have ridden it more, but the wait was ridiculous.

[RailRider]

Yeah Holiday World does have a funky layout, but still I enjoy the park. I dont find the layout nearly as screwed up as Hershy Park, with paths on top of paths. I really enjoy the waterpark at holiday world and find it is an overall enjoyable park with some nice rides and friendly staff, but it has the eclectic charm and atmosphere of a much smaller park and I have found most smaller parks have strange layouts.

[dare-to-fly]

One other thing that irks me about Holiday World is the fact that they are really, really bad about single train operation.

Okay...I'll have to give you that one! I hope Kings Island never takes on that approach. They're usually very good about having all the trains on the track...and I LOVE that.

As another thought...what's random about Holiday World?

[The Interpreter]

All kinds of things. Where's the carousel? Where's the Ferris Wheel? Where's even a moderate sized steel coaster? What coaster has even one inversion? Why do all the rides look like they were just dropped randomly into place like someone building a park in Roller Coaster Tycoon? There's a lot to like about Holiday World, but there's just a certain disjointedness about the place that has become more and more apparent as the years since Pat Koch was THE major influence in decisions made at the park grow more and more distant.

[XGatorHead 8904]

Where's the carousel?

Here's the carousel.

[dare-to-fly]

Where's the carousel?

Here's the carousel.

Thanks for pointing that out. It was installed last year in the location that used to hold the bumper boats.

Maybe I'm easy to please, but I think a certain amount of randomness is good. The families that have a wide range of members can all ride something at the same time without having to cross the park.

Example: Kings Island - those who want to ride the carousel at KI have to have their family members wait outside the gates, then the other family members might have to wait outside the lines for Drop Tower. At Holiday World, those that want to ride the carousel can do so while the enthusiasts among them ride Liberty Lauch.

Here's a more practical example: Thanksgiving. The Gobler Getaway is certainly a family ride. The enthusiasts in a family can ride Voyage, while those that are not up for an untrimmed coaster...I mean a big coaster may ride Gobler Getaway. The same is true with Legend and Scrambler/Hallow Swings. I can go on. There are many examples that I can think of that make having many of the rides mixed together as and advantage, rather than "randomness" as it is being called. That really brings out the fact that this is a family park.

For the record, yes the Holiday World admission strategy is a good one, but if it's worth it to people to pay the admission, what's wrong with that? Someone always has to find fault with those who are successful. And not every amusement park needs a coaster with an inversion.

[The Interpreter]

I know there is a carousel, but where is it? Is that the most logical place for it? Or is it, as I submit, just randomly placed....

[dare-to-fly]

I know there is a carousel, but where is it? Is that the most logical place for it? Or is it, as I submit, just randomly placed....

Okay...seeing your point now. But, is what I said above true or false?

[The Interpreter]

Yes.

All because it is a matter of opinion...and the votes that count are those of the customers....they've made their choices known, with the great success the park is currently enjoying. These are hard times for every park. With all that being said, I agree with Shaggy, I think Pilgrim's Plunge is one of the least wise choices Holiday World has made in a very long time. Time, and paying customers, will tell.

[74Gibson]

Thanks for the info on HW. I've been planning to go this summer so its nice to have a bit of a heads up of what may be annoying.

I really have no interest in Pilgrim's Plunge, it's certainly not drawing me to the park and I don't see it as the best investment. They're geeting a good reputation for coasters so why not just wait a bit and put in a quality steel one. If the line is short I'm sure I'll ride it out of curiosity but It's just not that interesting to me.

[dare-to-fly]

Yes.

All because it is a matter of opinion...and the votes that count are those of the customers

I give up! Even with the facts and logic, I still get Terpied!

[raptorcp21]

Here video of first day of testing...

[coasterguy15]

I'll be honest. That's no where near what I expected the size of the splash to be. This may be due to the perspective and the fact that it's the first test, but that's just my opinion.