HolidayWorldFTW

Paula must be very satisfied that she has successfully driven enthusiasts insane. She's particularly good at that. Lol don't I know! At least it's really good music that I ENJOY listening to. Just wish I could download an MP3 of it lol.

Also, Paula - I've been listening to the Thunderbird Theme Song almost non stop and I still can't tell what the chanters are saying. What are we missing? lol Your driving me crazy here!

What's all this I hear about stopping on the mid course? (Not trying to start an unnecessary discussion that will probably ensue regardless of me saying so.) I have NO doubts whatsoever that HW didn't take into account the guests, the rides, the safety, or the park in general when making that decision. I don't think they just randomly decided to do that for no reason. There had to be clear reasons, and they had to be good ones at that. Despite not making a big todo about it, they just don't take changes like that lightly at all. Not their style.

It surprises me as well about the complaints people have with The Voyage. Until Thunderbird, its always been my favorite and remains my #2 there. But everyone has opinions though! I don't have any worries that Holiday World will do ANYTHING to The Voyage that is not necessary. They have my full faith and trust when it comes to doing whats right for their park, rides, guests, and safety.

I love Holiday World very dearly, but I do want to point out that they did scatter two of their billboards mere walking distance from different sides of Kentucky Kingdom! There's an extra along the highway near the airport as well. Holiday World Advert Outside KK by Marcus Dorsey, on Flickr There are also numerous HW billboards around Bowling Green. I don't think it necessarily has anything to do with competition with other parks (Beech Bend shouldn't be a concern), but more so with targeting heavily populated areas in close proximity to the park (Bowling Green is 1.5 hr from HW and theres about 100,000 people in the area plus a decent amount of tourism). I live in the Evansville area and we've always been flooded with HW billboards. Of course HW is actually technically part of the Evansville metro Tristate area and not Louisville's. HW is in Evansville's media market as well.

Wait wait wait... Just listened AGAIN with the speaker right up against my ear, are they saying Santa Claus? Like San-TA. CLAUSE... CLAUSE..... SAN-TA? Like in the chanting manner they are singing?

It's really amazed me how much this park has transformed in just one season. I wonder if they realize there at HW just how amazing of a job they did on the Thunderbird project, and what exactly this means for the park. I said this a month or so but I'll say it again, this is another HUGE historical and pivotal point in the parks history. They have had a few, but Thunderbird I think is going to be even more impactful. When KK billboards are LITERALLY advertising "we have fun rids again", you know that they won't be hurting HWs business anytime soon, if ever now. Also Paula, I LOVE the Thunderbird Theme Song, and have listened to it prolly a MILLION times in the past year. Now you have me on another listening spree looking for that clue! Arggg your so sneaky and good at what you do! Btw, any chance we could see some video from whatever group that is that does the Thunderbird routine with flags and drums? It would not surprise me ONE BIT if the clue in the song doesn't relate to their project for next year, or in the future. Paula, and HW, are just REALLY REALLY REALLY good and detailed like that. When I seen them practicing the Thunderbird routine when leaving the media day, I knew there had to be something else about that song. Also, when will we able able to get an MP3 of it? I've been wanting it FOREVER! Lol

I could REALLY go for some Holiday World right now! (yes even at 12:25AM!) Glad its so close! So I know this post is random, but anyone heard of when they plan on stopping production on Thunderbird Ice Cream? (Paula feel free to answer too if you can! lol) I really don't want to miss out on the last run of it. It's some of the most amazing ice cream.

The Rock the World tickets would be awesome... But that really is becoming a HUGE deal/crowd pleaser/hit. I dunno how feasible it would be to give free tickets to that away. It would really sell some premium season passes in this area I think though. Rock the World is quite an experience and they are able to bring in pretty big names too.

Yea the two are NOT owned by the same people. They are both owned by relatives of each other. Two completely separate entities.

I'm kinda pee-shy myself and I've ever experienced this issue in the past there. However I could see this being an issue if attendance really is way above normal this season. Probably just another "growing pain" that I'm sure they will fix/deal with.

I rather enjoyed this trip report as well. I've never had a bad experience at the park in my prolly 29 years of going, but I'm also a huge HW fanboy so I can appreciate when things don't go quite right for someone who isn't going to be as biased as I am. So, very nice job on the trip report, I just wish things would have went better for you. In looking at the history of the park, and its growth. I see very very clear points in time that were pivotal for the park. Times(or years or new attractions) when something kinda of really magical happens and the park changes in a huge and positive way as a result. The first one I remember was when it changed from Santa Claus Land to Holiday world. Adding the different holidays and themed attractions changed the park forever and made it more than just some little side road attraction. This came with some issues with the layout of the park, and a uptick in guests that it wasn't quite ready for yet. Guess what happened? They adapted and changed and improved VERY quickly, like in one season. They took the entire parks operations up a few notches and everything fell in line and it became a nice little regional attraction doing everything right. Then came Splashin" Safari. It was something really new to this area that was clamoring for someplace to cool off and have fun in this area in the extremely hot and humid Indiana summers. It was a HUGE hit right off the bat and became something that people in the region went to instead of the local swimming pool. Again, this came with some of the same drawbacks of increased crowds and the need to do some things different to distinguish itself and keep everyone happy. (things like free sodas, ect) . That was a huge pivotal moment for the park. The park again reacted quickly and the park forever brought things up even a few more notches. Then came the Raven.... and we all know what happened there.. it too, was another pivotal moment in the parks history. Honest The Legends addition was kind of both an answer to and part of that pivotal moment all in one. After that, it was all about the water park. I knew from the beginning they would have to focus a lot on it because it was an instant success when they opened it at first. So they made huge strides that took many years to give people what they were demanding. It was not dry rides, it was all about water park rides. This again transformed the park and they had to react (again quickly) to keep guests happy, keep the park improving and moving forward. (free sunscreen, record breaking water rides, ect.) Then came The Voyage/Thanksgiving project. This was the first time many people finally viewed the park more than just something for this region. Now they were attracting people from a much larger radius in the midwest. It was no longer your fathers theme park. The next pivotal moment was The Wildebeest/ The Mammoth. These aren't rides even other larger parks had. Crazy fun, brought a more thrill aspect to the park, and balanced everything out in the water park yet while still complimenting their roller coasters. The last pivotal moment is obviously Thunderbird. They have done everything right and as far as I can tell has made this a national park. It's no longer a small park, and after this year I"m not sure they could be considered a mid sized park anymore either. There is more for me to do at Holiday World than I ever had at any Six Flags park I have ever went too with way more balance between the types of rides and experiences they offer. Just like in their past pivotal moments in history, they WILL respond, they will learn and improve, they will continue to build of their past successes and take things up a few more notches. I totally get that they might be experiencing some major major growing pains this season. For Holiday World, what they added this season was a very historical moment. They don't have the experience of having this type of park as some huge coaster parks too like Cedar Point or Six Flags, but, just as they have in the past, they will learn extremely quickly and surpass their competitors operations with the same magic and class as they have in the past. This is another HUGE opportunity and turning point for the park that would cause anyone some growing pains. So although I really hate hearing some of the not so great experiences this season, I think it is very understandable and does not have me worried about the parks future operations, quality, or charm because they have an excellent track record of getting this things right. I'm not worried or concerned at all, actually, it makes me very very very excited for what they will pull out of their never ending bag of amazing tricks next. EDIT: I apologize for the wall of text. I just started typing and the thoughts just kept flowing.

It's crazy saying this, but anymore this is a two day park. They have so many must dos in both parks that to really get to it all you need a day in one park and a day in the other. I realize most people from out of town don't have this option, but going on the weekdays really is awesome. On another note, we all know Holiday World generally hates long lines for their rides. But really what the heck else could they add to the water park to help with capacity? It amazes me that BOTH Wildebeest and Mammoth are pulling in those crazy lines. I mean they are fantastic rides, but wow. I'm just not sure with rides as popular and amazing as they are putting in these days that they can really avoid it.

Gnome - it's safe to say we DO indeed know how lucky we are. Even the non enthusiasts around here known how amazing this place is and how lucky we all are. Way back in the day it was taken for granted... But then they started adding their coasters and built Splashin Safari and that all started to change. I might add that Holiday World has always seemed to be more about quality rather than quantity. It's evident that it's extremely important to them that all their rides (even the flats and kiddie rides) deliver a fun experience. I remember when they first got Liberty Launch and rode it. Before riding I was expecting to be disappointed because it wasn't nearly as tall as other similar rides elsewhere.....then I rode it and realized that it doesn't have to be a billion feet tall to be incredibly fun. After that I actually enjoyed it more than its larger and taller sister rides in other parks. And that isn't even one of their big rides! It really is all about one word to them - FUN. If it isn't a blast, they won't build it, regardless of how many records it may break. I seriously challenge people to go there and not have a blast. It's next to impossible.

This is how surprised I am that they have had to hire additional staff due to the success of Thunderbird: It really is the talk of the area. Just going around town here in Evansville/Newburgh you hear a lot of "Have you been on Thunderbird yet? you need to!" I can tell this is a HUGE win for the park....like HUGE. I still don't hear any mention about Kentucky Kingdom(not that they compete) and the only advertising I've seen from them is a billboard that states "we have fun rides again" I kid you not. As far as severe weather, those guys really know what they are doing. I've been there when being asked to take cover before and they have it down to a science. People around here know tornados well so usually there are no problems anywhere with people heeding the warning. I am once again amazed at their guest service though. I think they state on their website they don't issue rain checks or anything due to weather. So for them to go above and beyond and offer that is incredible! As far as lodging... I really see them getting into the lodging business sometime soon. It's becoming an issue I think. I would suggest anyone try getting hotels here in Evansville as you can find every chain imaginable all up and down the scale of prices. Some even right off the interstate so getting to the park is super easy. Plus if you have the extra time there are a BILLION cool things to do and see in Evansville.

I'm guessing they'll expand the water park into that area (I'm hoping for a trapdoor speed slide complex), and hopefully add some (non-fluffy) "locking storage receptacles" that are closer to Thanksgiving and Kima Bay (unless there are some over there already that I didn't know about). Funny you mention this but I have an older brother who thinks the water park will expand out in that direction also. He even thinks maybe almost like a 2nd water park.... (duplicate rides for some things). He mentioned this to Matt at the media preview and Matt's response was "You never know!" lol

I like the more out of control feeling of the Mammoth but the Wildebeest itself it's absolutely amazing. I completely get why they built a 2nd water coaster.

Well there's a perspective for everyone asking about how rideable Voyage is this season. Agreed, also shows that the MCBR really isn't detracting from the ride at all.

The amount and quality of food they served us for media day was also insane. They for sure know how to feed people! Lol glad everyone is enjoying the park! It makes me smile really big to hear people enjoy the park and its operators as much I as do! And that Thunderbird... Wow... Glad my feelings on the ride are now being echoed from some coaster enthusiasts rather than just me being a park enthusiast.

The connection is decent enough. It's not like LTE speeds but good enough to do most things. It truly is available in the entire park, and like all the other little extras, the wifi too is free.

The cummins trucks have never not been hooked up.

I think you got the story pretty correctly. Either way personally myself I think the Thunderbird plaza does put of a Thanksgiving type feel. It feels like a town that might have been created by pilgrims or even in Indiana when people started to explore Indiana and settle. The story is presented on various posters on the walls in the queue presenting the story while you wait in line. When I went I believe I did hear bits and pieces of the story being told on the speakers in the line but when I was there Thunderbird was a walk on the entire time so I never spent enough time in the queue to hear the full spiel. I do remember hearing the Thunderbird theme music a lot as well which really adds to it all I think. I LOVE that music. Wondering and hoping that at some point Holiday World will offer it as a download.

I too really think we will see something happen with the Pilgrims Plunge old spot and around Hyena Falls. I just don't see some thing in the 20 million range happening again, lol. But I also think it will be something more... Exciting than like just new cabanas and the such. The problem with that area is with all the new construction from Thunderbird in the area it will be hard to tell ahead of time if anything really IS going on over there until it's obvious. Miss Paula - You are MORE than welcome to help us out here a bit if you want! Lol

This is probably going to sound absolutely crazy to even think about right now, but I'm curious when we might hear what's in store for 2016? Of course I don't expect anything even remotely close to as huge as Thunderbird, but they always add at least something. Anyone notice anything interesting going on anywhere in the park yet? I keep reading for hints and or clues on the Holiblog but haven't spotted anything yet. Paula - you can go ahead and hit me upside the head with a frying pan for even THINKING about 2016 already lol. I know I know I'm prolly WAYYYYYY jumping the gun here. Lol

You mean for the start of 66 days? I thought the same thing, lol. Like we should have each day went over the clue for that day or something, lol.