Holiday World 2011

[Diamondback96]

Someone asked when 2011's ride will be announced on Facebook, and HW said that the date hasn't been set. http://www.facebook.com/HolidayWorld#!/HolidayWorld?v=wall&story_fbid=400575759537&ref=mf

What do you think this means? Will HW get a new coaster, a new flat, a new slide, or what?

[Avatar]

Someone asked when 2011's ride will be announced on Facebook, and HW said that the date hasn't been set. http://www.facebook....75759537&ref=mf

What do you think this means? Will HW get a new coaster, a new flat, a new slide, or what?

I don't know but I think they could use a new flat ride attraction.

[kiruler102]

If they end up getting a coaster i would like to see another wooden coaster. They do wood good, so i would like to see another world class wood coaster.

[Beast1979]

I wouldn't mind to see a GCI in the field near Pilgrims Plunge, or a Prowler-type one in the woods behind Splashin' Safari. I agree, before I went to Holiday World I thought they needed a steel, but after going I think they should stick to wood.

[Guest Millennium]

A steel coaster would completely ruin the feel of the park, not to mention HW doesn't have enough $$ to get a nice B&M coaster.

I would LOVE a GCI similar to Thunderhead. But by the field next to PP would be bad. After being to HW so many times, everytime I fall in love with their terrain coasters a bit more.

[DropZone99]

HW will probably never get a GCII. They are very close to Gravity Group (and back in the day- CCI). Like others have said, I always wanted HW to get a major steel coaster, but once I finally went to HW again I realized I'd rather have another woodie there. I do prefer wood over steel, and I think HW should stick to wood, but if they did get a steel I would NOT complain!

[Guest Millennium]

Just because they have stuck with GG in the past and CCI does not mean they will not be working with GCI ever, but I do think they have worked with GG because GCI has outrageous prices.

I mean, Prowler cost 8M, which is less than 100 feet tall, and GG charged about the same for Voyage, which is much longer and taller.

[DropZone99]

Just because they have stuck with GG in the past and CCI does not mean they will not be working with GCI in the future.

True, but chances are HW won't do that. It's like if your best friend owned Meijer and you always bought your stuff from there, than you decided to buy something from Walmart which is the competition store.

[bkroz]

A steel coaster would completely ruin the feel of the park, not to mention HW doesn't have enough $$ to get a nice B&M coaster.

Voyage = $8.5 million + the cost of the new trains.

SheiKra = $13.5 million

Some B&Ms are not that expensive. A Dive Machine that doesn't top 200 feet would theoretically be even less expensive than SheiKra, and every park on Earth should have a Dive Machine if you ask me. It could fit very nicely into the park!

[CincyMan98]

I don't even see them getting a new roller coaster anytime soon. Regardless of what it is. They may have three big coasters, but those three are the best collection out of any amusement park, as though it seems.

[Guest Millennium]

I would love a Screamin' Swing at HW. I'm not really a waterpark guy, so a new slide wouldn't interest me much.

[The Interpreter]

A steel coaster would completely ruin the feel of the park, not to mention HW doesn't have enough $ to get a nice B&M coaster....

I beg to differ. Holiday World could easily afford a B & M, but I seriously doubt that would be the most effective investment in the park. The Kochs are very wise people. They will do what is best for the park...of that I have no doubt.

[CoastersRZ]

Remember, that it is not always about getting the coolest new ride. If there is no ROI there, then it doesn`t make much business sense to get that cool new ride.

A very simplified example follows. Why spend $10,000 buying a new arcade game that generates only $100 in revenue, when you could buy a game for $1,000 that generates $300 in revenue. Now, clearly by example is grossly oversimplified, but it illustrates the point of deciding on the best capital investment that produces the best ROI.

And on the subject of GCI and GG. Its kind of hard to compare the two, as they offer somewhat different wooden coasters. Great Coasters is like the B&M of wooden coasters. They are arguably the top of the line in terms of designs, comfort and from what I`ve heard, maintenance. On the other hand, Gravity Group rides are usually cheaper, and thus more parks can afford them. Because they are generally cheaper, maintenance may tend to be more on an ongoing basis. Each company has its own perks. I absolutely LOVE the Voyage, and I also adore Thunderhead.

[DropZone99]

^I guess Gravity Group is like Intamin, the cheaper more innovated, intense version of B&M.

[Pillsberry123]

Whatever happens, I would hope that the new ride will be put in the field next to the Pilgrim's Plunge. Nothing worse than having a collection of old, traditional rides with a brand new, modern thrill ride towering over them. Holiday World has one of the nicest collections of traditional flat rides I know of. No steel coasters either. Holiday World is a traditional park, B&Ms don't fit the bill.

I don't think the new ride will be a coaster. I just don't see it happening. The Voyage still has national attention and attracts people on road trips to visit the park. Adding a new coaster would really seem redundant. Management seems determined to expand the water park and build new water rides, since that is the park's main draw. With that being said, they've given us two new water rides for the past two years.

I don't know if they'll keep with that or if they'll build something different. A new flat ride would fit nicely in the Thanksgiving section.

[The Interpreter]

Next year's plans and budget were already in place before Will's untimely and sad passing.

[Guest rcfreak339]

I would also love a S&S Screamin Swing...I think it would fit in well and they are just so very fun and thrilling.

[Dbfan]

Am I the only one that thinks HW is growing a bit too fast?

Since 2006, they have added significant additions each year, and another hopefully coming in 2011. I really enjoy Holiday World, but I hope it doesn't lose the family atmosphere with too many large additions.

[The Interpreter]

Be careful what you wish for. The future of the place is forever changed. That which would have been in the future will now be something else. Except next year. How it will be different than what would have been, we will never know.

[KIfan1980]

^I guess Gravity Group is like Intamin, the cheaper more innovated, intense version of B&M.

and both have been struggling with ride vehicles in 2011. Hope GG gets theirs worked out soon.

[The Interpreter]

Don't assume that INTAMIN has theirs worked out...I seem to recall back rows of something or other not being occupied...

[gad198]

I mean, Prowler cost 8M, which is less than 100 feet tall, and GG charged about the same for Voyage, which is much longer and taller.

I'm not sure if you've ridden Prowler yet, but the ride is excellent IMO. Prowler filled a huge hole in their coaster lineup and is an absolute joy to ride to boot. It's also much more tolerable for the GP than Voyage and is thus much more re-rideable. Worlds of Fun hit a home run with that coaster and I'd say they got their money's worth.

On a quick tangent, I'm hoping that the success that Renegade and Prowler have enjoyed leads Cedar Fair to really take a hard look at adding GCIs through more of their parks. I realize that Valleyfair and Worlds of Fun don't get the traffic that bigger parks in the chain like Cedar Point or KI get, but the GP would eat up a good GCI coaster.

[Guest Millennium]

I'm sure it is an awesome ride, just 8M for such a small coaster feels like a big check.

[Shaggy]

I mean, Prowler cost 8M, which is less than 100 feet tall, and GG charged about the same for Voyage, which is much longer and taller.

I'm not sure if you've ridden Prowler yet, but the ride is excellent IMO. Prowler filled a huge hole in their coaster lineup and is an absolute joy to ride to boot. It's also much more tolerable for the GP than Voyage and is thus much more re-rideable. Worlds of Fun hit a home run with that coaster and I'd say they got their money's worth.

On a quick tangent, I'm hoping that the success that Renegade and Prowler have enjoyed leads Cedar Fair to really take a hard look at adding GCIs through more of their parks. I realize that Valleyfair and Worlds of Fun don't get the traffic that bigger parks in the chain like Cedar Point or KI get, but the GP would eat up a good GCI coaster.

There's also the obvious difference between GCI's Prowler and HW's Voyage... Prowler is a true, 100% wooden coaster. Voyage is not... it's a steel structure... and that allowed them to go higher and farther... physically and monetarily.

Shaggy

[Fear the Four]

Steel structures are more of a maintenance thing. It's up to what the park chooses if they want a steel structure or a wooden one. It also depends on how the ride interacts with the enviroment.

[Shaggy]

Steel structures are more of a maintenance thing. It's up to what the park chooses if they want a steel structure or a wooden one. It also depends on how the ride interacts with the enviroment.

I have to disagree. Although things like maintenance and enviroment may play a part, ultimately a steel structure coaster is much more budget concious. I guarantee that the lowered cost of installing a steel structure was why Will chose it for Voyage. He wanted more bang for his buck.

Overall, from what I have witnessed, steel structures become much rougher much sooner. Because the steel structure has much less give, then the track must take on more of the flexibility. That causes more wear and tear on the coaster running boards, and causes roughness.

I have ridden many, many steel-structured woodies that suffer from this same roughness. Voyage, IMO, is a wild and very intense coaster. It's not re-rider friendly (again my opinion) due to the intensity of the design, and inflexibility of the structure.

Shaggy

[Fear the Four]

I agree with that. Your still getting the same amount of maintenace with a wooden structure in my opinion. The structure won't give as much but the trains will and it will tear up the track like most PTC's do. It's mostly up to the park and what The Gravity Group recommends. Which you probably knew lol

[Shaggy]

I agree with that. Your still getting the same amount of maintenace with a wooden structure in my opinion. The structure won't give as much but the trains will and it will tear up the track like most PTC's do. It's mostly up to the park and what The Gravity Group recommends. Which you probably knew lol

A great example of a steel structure comperable to Voyage was Villain.

Villain was installed as part of a giant rides package when Six Flags branded Geauga Lake as Six Flags Ohio. It was built with a steel structure in order to allow the park to install a very large wooden coaster while keeping cost lower (to spend on other upgrades to the park.) The first year, Villian was an incredible ride. By year two, not so good. After that, it became virtually painful to ride.

Obviously this was partly due to the horrid Gerstlaur trains. But even so, the coaster became terribly jarring and unenjoyable very, very quickly. Most significantly, the "flying carpet" trick track section during the 1st half of the ride was literally like riding over gravel. That's because it was on a steel structure very close to the ground/footings. The steel didn't flex, the track had no where to go... so that inertia had to be absorbed elsewhere... thus the train shuddered riders throughout the whole section. It was like going over those warning divots on the side of the interstate.... you know the ones that vibrate your car when you drift too far to the shoulder? But worse...

To see for yourself... watch this video. Pay attention at the :18 to :23 portion.

Shaggy

[Erosarrow05]

... ala - a rumble strip

[Shaggy]

... ala - a rumble strip

Bingo! That's the term!