gatorchomp83 Posted May 24, 2007 Posted May 24, 2007 Trip Report: May 17, 2007 thru May 23, 2007 Holiday World HoliWood Nights Cedar Point Indiana Beach Last year in May, I made my way back to Santa Claus, Indiana. I had planned a 4-day trip to Holiday World and Beech Bend the week of HoliWood Nights, although I had not planned on attending. By week’s end, I did not want to leave so I opted to stay with some friends at Santa’s Lodge for two extra days and the enthusiast event at HW. When all was said and done, I vowed to be back this year for HWN again. It truly is a not-to-be-missed affair. Plans were finalized back in March for the trip, and me and my good friend Chris booked our airfare to Chicago where Corey and Scott were to pick us up for a 6-day trip that included 2 days at Holiday World; 2 days at Cedar Point; and a day at Indiana Beach. This was also the first coaster trip Chris would have ever taken, so it was exciting to bring a long a good friend who had never experienced anything out of Orlando and Tampa. We arrived in Chicago on Thursday night and spent the night touring the city. We spent a few hours out at night at The Ivy Bar near Wrigley Field. Had a great, late night and met some cool people. Friday morning we ended up leaving Chicago around 12:30pm and arrived in Santa Claus right after ERT began. We checked in at Lake Rudolph and headed straight to the park. RAVEN The ride was running INCREDIBLE the whole weekend. I think I was getting the best rides on her as I’ve ever had. Raven was FLYING. Chris had only been on Gwazi as far as wooden coasters go, and judging by his reaction on Raven, it was going to be awesome watching him on all the coasters, especially Voyage. Total rides: ~10 LEGEND Legend was flying, as well! The double-up was giving GREAT air, and the Four Corners of Death was actually slamming you to the side again. The laterals out of the helix were very pressing, as well. Total rides: ~10 VOYAGE I didn’t think it was possible. I did not think that this ride could ever get faster than it was last year. I was wrong. Voyage was running absolutely out of this world. Chris told me he gets bored easily re-riding the same rides, but with Voyage, he could not get enough. It was running absolutely ferocious, and by the second night of ERT, it was downright scary. The ride is just so incredible, that it exhausts you, beats you up and throws you around, but you can’t help but laugh your way throughout the whole layout. By the end of each night, we were so burnt out from Voyage that final couple of rides were spent, as we coined it, ‘defensive riding. Total rides: ~20 The crowds at HWN were pretty much non-existent. The longest we waited was about 25min for the front row on Voyage. Other than that, everything was essentially a walk-on. My friend, whose only previous wooden coaster was Gwazi, came away absolutely blown away by Holiday World. He told me that he was worried it wouldn’t live up the hype I gave it, but that it blew his expectations out of the water. Sunday was spent driving to Sandusky, and Monday we hit Cedar Point for the whole day. I had only been to CP once, and that was opening week of Millennium Force. I hated the park and didn’t have any intention of ever going back but I’m SO glad I did. Once you sit back and take the park in and realize just what it is, you understand it. If you try to run around and get everything done without relaxing and enjoying your time, you’re going to hate it. I still think CP is more quantity over quality as far as coasters go, but I have a newfound appreciation for the park. We ended up getting two rides on Millennium, 2 on Raptor, 1 on Mean Streak, 1 on Mantis, 1 on Corkscrew, 1 on Wicked Twister, 1 on Transport, and 1 on Gemini. I sat out the Mean Streak and Gemini rides to just relax, but everyone other than me and Corey rode. Chris and Scott also rode MaxAir but I didn’t feel like yacking so I passed. Oh yeah, and 2 on Dragster. I’m terrified of heights so I was scared to death about riding. I absolutely LOVED it. The launch is just ridiculous and the top hat is downright stupid. Cedar Point ended up keeping Dragster open an hour after the park closed and we finished the night on it. Monday we spent about 2 hours at Indiana Beach and got everything in that we wanted to. I loved the park! The setting was awesome, Cornball was incredible. Superstition Mountain was SO MUCH FUN, and Frankenstein’s haunted house scared the bejeebus out of me. The false/fake/tilting floor FREAKED me out cause I was first. Overall, the trip was a GREAT success! So many good rides, a ton of good times, a lot of new friends and a great reprieve from Florida. Onto the pictures! And we bid you adieu!!! Back-row on Millennium! But Corey got it the worst! And Chris got Sac Tapped! Annnnd I got Sac Tapped! Scott got Sac Tapped! Gotcha! Randomness at Cedar Point Don't look so excited, fellas My best new friend from the trip And the park was PACKED It was amazing how much they fit in such a tiny area Me and Corey, burnt, on Tig'rrrrrrrrr Cornball had some GREAT air in the back! Cornball over Hurricane...I agree! Scott agrees Superstition Mountain was AWESOME Hoosier Daddy? I LOVED Indiana Beach! Gotta represent everywhere we go Kinda reminds you of Bates Motel, no? I left my camera in the car for Cedar Point because the weather sucked in the morning, so I didn't get too many pics...Oh well. Dragster is such a rush! Speaking of sick... Actually seeing this ride up close, you really appreciate just how SIIIICK it's going to be. So depressing We got one front and one back row ride and they were both incredible. Millennium Force-y goodness Blue Streak is such a fun ride! Raven at closing on the second night "It's just SO STUPID!!" Scott took a quick nap in the middle of the day and didn't wipe. We didn't tell More mmmmmmm Mmmmmmm Santa loves us even if you don't Raven!! Running SO incredible. Giving Santa some love. Firewood was at a premium so we opted to go for this branch... "I believe I can fall..."(and get stuck) "I believe I can fly..." Me and Scott boxed Chris into the bathroom in our RV at Lake Rudolph right when we got there with a couple mattresses. More nighttime Voyage-y goodness "It's so STUPID!" at night Chris and Corey "enjoying" Legend. Chris, yes. Corey, not so much. Me laughing at Corey, who had broken ribs the whole trip and still decided to ride most of everything. It provided mucho hilarity throughout the whole week. Possum Junction, baby! Outside of a gas station in Indiana My first experience with snow! Corey saved a cooler full of snow from a few months before and we had a nice little snowball fight in his living room. Wrigley Field...We partied on the first night right down the road. Downtown Chicago...They were filming the new Batman movie somewhere around here...
Canadmos Posted May 24, 2007 Posted May 24, 2007 haha, awesome trip report. It looks like you all had a blast.
gatorchomp83 Posted May 24, 2007 Author Posted May 24, 2007 Oh it was a GREAT time. I've got my buddy hooked now. He wants to do a 2-3 week east coast trip next year. It's hilarious!
kennywood!007 Posted May 24, 2007 Posted May 24, 2007 Great PTR, glad to know no one was left out of the sac tapping.
rollocoast Posted May 24, 2007 Posted May 24, 2007 I seriously can't wait til the next trip. EDIT: LOL! I love how an empty keg is in the back of the snow pic. Goood times.
gatorchomp83 Posted May 24, 2007 Author Posted May 24, 2007 SEPTEMBER! Oh and dude, the best part of the snow picture is if you look closely, it's alllll over my left side. Hilarious.
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