Photo TR: Holiday World 7/29/05

[disneygurlz2s]

OK... so, 30 some years ago, when I was a little girl here in Cincinnati, they would show this place called "Santa Claus Land" on the afternoon cartoon shows or something. I wanted to go there really bad!! I picked up a brochure at an Indiana rest stop a few years ago for "Holiday World", and when I started reading it, I realized this was the same place! One thing lead to another, and eventually I ended up here at TPR and I knew that I needed to finally go to "Santa Claus Land". So, last Friday, I did!

 

I was up at 5:15 (I would never get up that early on a work day!!) and my little girl Sam and I were on our way to pick up Grandma (my mom) by 5:45. I hadn't had a very good night's sleep...my sinuses were killing me plus Samantha had woke me up at 1:30 to tell me "her stuffed Scooby looked like a hairy man, and, oh, by the way, was it time to leave for Holiday World yet?". Despite the poor night's sleep I was pretty excited, so with Grandma in the car (and Grandma's 100 pound wheelchair of death in the trunk) we were off to Indiana.

 

The drive from Cincy was a breeze. We stopped for breakfast at about 8:30 at Cracker Barrel (yum) and through the magic of the Central Time Zone were at Holiday World at 9:30. Since my mom has a handicapped parking thingy, we got to park about 10 feet from the front gate (reason #1 why we brought Grammy) and we immediately see Santa standing there. Samantha freaks and announces she "Does NOT want to go talk to him". Okey dokey...apparently she has a few reasons to fear her current status on his list.....

 

Sam and I got got in free, thanks to comp tickets my husband earned working at PKI, so that was a bonus! When they pulled the rope at 10, I promptly dumped my mother, Sam and the 100 pound wheelchair of death (what was she thinking when she bought this thing???) in Rudolph's Reindeer Ranch kiddie area right inside the park and I head for the Raven (#2 reason for bringing Grammy along).

 

Now, I will tell you, this was going to be big test for me because after my most recent experience on The Beast (two words-brain aneurysm) I was starting to think my coaster days were over. I am quite pleased to say that is not the case, and this is a great ride. For a wooden coaster it was SMOOTH!! I do have to be honest and say that I was not as "impressed" with the ride overall.... it just didn't have enough elements or something for me???.... as I thought I would be, but it was definitely awesome and restored my faith that I am not growing too old for coasters!

 

Once I got my ride on the Raven, I collected my family and we headed to the back of the park to Holidogs Fun Town where Sam played in the wet and dry play areas, but opted not to ride the kiddie coaster, The Howler, as she said "it doesn't do that much, Mom". From there we went on The Revolution, which is one of the parks newest rides, a "super-round-up" ride where you stand and it spins and you stick to the wall. Sam had never been on one of these before, so I talk her into riding, and this immediately became her new favorite ride. We hit the Raging Rapids ride next (from which you can see....DIRT! The Thanksgiving area is being build behind this ride) and then headed to the Splashin Safari waterpark area.

 

I think 3/4 of the parks visitors were in the waterpark at this point, which was a little frustrating as the lines for the slides were 30-45 minutes long. Sammi really wanted to ride Zinga, because at HW she meets the height requirement, at PKI she does not, however, the wait was 45 minutes. We opted instead for Zoombabwe, which is a family raft ride in near total darkness. It was a blast. From there we went over to Bahari, their new wave pool. This is billed as a giant wave pool, because of the size of the pool, but it also describes the waves...they were HUGE. I thought I was going to drown because the waves in the 3-foot depth were probably 6 feet! Of course, my little daredevil was just jumping right in and going for it, which made me a nervous wreck, but she was loving it. We let her play in the other "kids areas" for a while, and then dried off and got dressed. I would have really loved to have had more time (and less crowd) in the waterpark. Trying to push my mom through that crowd of bare feet was a little stressful. Plus my mom was wishing she'd have brought a swimsuit :shock: so that will be something we do differently the next time. I noticed that by about 5:30, the waterpark had about half the people as it had at 1:00, so the next time we'll wait and hit it later in the day.

 

After the waterpark we made a circle hitting a lot of the classic rides, including Revolution again, the Tilt o Whirl (one of my favorites) and the antique cars (which my mom could ride). I rode the Liberty Launch, which is like a baby Power Tower, and was a lot less intense. We also rode the bumper cars, which were the cutest bumper cars I have ever seen. They are called the "Rough Riders" and they are in the 4th of July section. Instead of cars they are horses and bulls. Too funny. It was great, too, because kids could ride with their parents, so this is the first time Sam and I have ever gotten to ride bumper cars together. The area you drive in though is pretty small, so they could have done better with a few less horses!

 

I finished up my day by buying the girls some ice cream (less than $2.00 each!!... but more on that in a second) and heading off to ride The Legend. This coaster was a little rougher than Raven, but only a little..and, in my opinion, a lot more fun. It just had "more" to it. I really loved both the coasters, but pick Legend as my favorite of the two.

 

When I got back to the gals and told them it was time to go, Sam started to cry, so I told her if she dried it up she could choose one more ride and, of course, she picked the Revolution! Following that, we made a quick stop at the gift shop for the required "t-shirt and stuffed mascot" purchase, and headed on our way home.

 

I have to say that this park totally lived up to everything everyone has said on this website and theirs. It is so amazingly clean. No smelly trash cans, no ghetto looking employees or guests.... very nice family atmosphere. The park map is deceiving, because you don't realize how nice the park is laid out or how much "terrain" there is (a few less hills would have been nice though, given I was pushing the wheelchair of death). And, the best part, is how affordable it was. With the free parking and free pop, I spent less than $40 all day (I felt like Rachel Ray!!)

 

On a side note, I really noticed a HEAVY safety emphasis. I am not sure that it would have seemed as obvious to me had I not been aware of what happened a couple of years ago, but I found it really interesting that you cannot wear a fanny pack or even a sweater/shirt tied around your waist on the coasters. Ride ops were really on top of things, and as a mom, I like that. I also liked that they had a nice place to stow your stuff (I usually carry a backpack) and were happy to take your bag and put it there for you...not be all "this isn't my job and I am not responsible for your bag" like they are at PKI.

 

I highly recommend this park, especially to those of you with kids. I love parks where there are rides that everyone in the family can ride, and that have kids rides mixed in with the "big rides". The coasters are great and I can't wait to ride Voyage in 2006!

 

Shari "Makes me not want to go to PKI anymore" Shoufler

Sam took this photo, which has nothing to do with the fact I look stupid in it!

Sammi's new "best ride ever", The Revolution.

"When Fountains Attack"

Me in my TPR shirt (the check's in the mail, Alvey's) that NO ONE commented on all day

Sam with the Holidog Mascot

Here's Sam, Big Max and the hundred pound wheelchair of death as we prepare to begin our awesome day at HW!

[CoasterFanatic]

I hope that you do give the Raven another chance one day. You probably rode it in the worst possible timeframe (early morning). Unfortunately, Raven is one of those rides that really comes alive later in the evening.

 

Looks like you had a great time. We kind of lucked out with the waterpark lines when we went.

[SharkTums]

Glad you guys had a great time!

 

You're going to have a photographer in the family with that cute slightly slanted photo that Sammy took!

[Hattuchili]

Nice photo TR. It looks like you had a good day! However, what is with the girls beside you (last pic)? She looks so stupid!

 

--Sören

[disneygurlz2s]

I hope that you do give the Raven another chance one day. You probably rode it in the worst possible timeframe (early morning). Unfortunately, Raven is one of those rides that really comes alive later in the evening.

 

You know, I wondered about that.... I kind of walked off and thought "WTF?? This is one of Robb Alvey's favorites??" But, unfortunately, time didn't allow for me to ride more, or in different parts of the train (I was in the second row, although typically I prefer the front anyway). I will definitely be going back and making a longer trips in the future. This was kind of a situation where I made it a day trip and wished I could have stayed longer.

 

with that cute slightly slanted photo that Sammy took!

 

No, actually...that's how I look..... slightly slanted

 

However, what is with the girls beside you (last pic)? She looks so stupid!

 

Wimpy teenage girls can't handle the hot sun. Me on the other hand, I looked like I tomato and felt like I was going to melt, but I just kept on going!!!

[coaster1]

Yeah Raven is a late ride, and the back is where all the action is.

 

You deff want to make sure to hit the Raven at night or as late as possible in the very back, at SRM, the Raven at night is a religious experience .. much like the Legend.

[EpcotLova]

Holiday World looks really fun. I will take a trip up there with everyone else next summer for The Voyage.

 

I am so happy you got to go to Cracker Barrel. I LOVE THAT PLACE. Everytime I go I just delight in the food and that little tee game placed on the table. Of which I fail miserably everytime.

[pianojohn]

I finished up my day ... heading off to ride The Legend. This coaster was a little rougher than Raven, but only a little..and, in my opinion, a lot more fun. It just had "more" to it. I really loved both the coasters, but pick Legend as my favorite of the two.

 

I am with you there! I did ride the Raven in the afternoon as well as early evening, but the Legend REALLY impressed me more. I could never tell where it was going, and it seemed to just pick up speed towards to end. A great ride in my opinion!

 

I also went to PKI a few days before Holiday World, and like you, I don't care if I ever go there again! However, I have been telling EVERYONE about how awesome Holiday World is, and I cannot wait for next year's visit!

 

Glad you enjoyed it as well!!

[AllisonY2K]

I want to hear more tales at HW with the 100-pound wheelchair of death! :shock: great TR, great pics!

[coasterdude5]

Great TR! I wish I could go there!!!

[disneygurlz2s]

I want to hear more tales at HW with the 100-pound wheelchair of death!

 

My mom is the best, and I love her to death, but she is almost 80 and can't get around very well anymore. She had been using a wheelchair off and on for the last year or so, but it was one she borrowed from a family member and it didn't work real well on certain surfaces. She got it in her head to go buy one of her own with some bingo money she won (!!). So, she went out and picked this damn chair, with no consideration for how freaking heavy it was for us to lift into our cars. I nearly have a hernia trying to put it in my car everytime we go somewhere.

 

Shari "but she thinks it's wonderful" Shoufler

[stljason1]

Nice TR, I too was at holiday world my first time a few weeks ago. It really is a very nice little park. I cant help but agree with you on your opinions on Raven/Legend, even after a night ride on Raven(which was much better then the day ride, I'll admit that), I think Legend is a much better ride...especially at night, in the back row...that thing was INTENSE, I got caught totally off guard due to the fact that I couldnt see where it was going.