Holiday World (HW) Discussion Thread

[gp1086]

So excited to go to HW for the first time this Friday! Assuming my GF and I get to the park at opening, would it be feasible to ride all the roller coasters, ride a few more rides, eat lunch dinner, and go to the waterpark in the same day? Also, which shows are worth seeing? Thought I remember hearing about high dive or something but didn't see on website this morning. Easy to get from HW to SS?

 

Current plan:

 

Breakfast at hotel

HW at opening for roller coasters

SS mid afternoon

HW when SS closes for a few more rides and fireworks

Oh yes. There are only four big coasters, so it's easily doable in one day with the waterpark. Dive is very much worth seeing. I watched it twice when I was there for Holiwood nights. It's that good. Splashin' Safari has two entrances, one by Voyage and the other by Legend. Only the main entrance (near Legend) has fluffy bunnies, though, so if you're needing those, enter there. They open just the fluffy bunny area of the waterpark at opening time for the theme park, so it's easy to go put your stuff away, go ride a few rides, then come back and change into your swim gear. I'd recommend doing Raven and Legend in your first hour, as most of the crowd seems to rush to Thanksgiving at opening. Then go to the waterpark right when it opens and ride Mammoth, Wildebeest, and Zoombabwe. Those are the best three slides. Hit up anything else you like in the waterpark, then into the afternoon come back to the ride side for Voyage and Thunderbird, as the lines will be much shorter in the afternoon.

Thanks for the feedback! Will definitely have to check out Dive!

[Nwstone]

Ok so I'm just going to talk about my experience at the park on Sunday. I just want to start off by saying that this had been a highly anticipated trip that I had thought about since Thunderbirds announcement in July 2014. So Thunderbird had some large expectations to fill, and it filled them alright. Everything about this ride delivered. The launch was sweet, it was extremely fast paced, the hang time was awesome coming out of the final barrel roll. There was no room to breathe launch to break run. You also can't forget how breathtaking this coasters looks are. It looked even better in real life. Many people won't agree, but I enjoyed this coaster more than voyage. It's fun, it's re-rideable, it's forceful, it's Thunderbird!!!

[DILinator]

Many people won't agree, but I enjoyed this coaster more than voyage. It's fun, it's re-rideable, it's forceful, it's Thunderbird!!!

 

Some of the people I was at Holiwood Nights with felt the same way, so you are not alone!

[Brassinthegrass]

This info is great! I too am a first timer to the park. I have a water park question for the locals:

 

How is the shower / changing situation? Is it private, or more like old school High School showers situation?

[DILinator]

This info is great! I too am a first timer to the park. I have a water park question for the locals:

 

How is the shower / changing situation? Is it private, or more like old school High School showers situation?

 

They have both benches out in the open, as well as private changing rooms! I think the showers are all out in the open, however...

[kyleparks77]

I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure there are private showers

[Brassinthegrass]

Paula, any chance you can shine some light on this?

[kyleparks77]

Meanwhile, Kentucky Kingdom has announced a hybrid RMC for 2016. With this, what're the chances one of the woodies at HW gets at least some sort of RMC work?

[jonskinny12]

Meanwhile, Kentucky Kingdom has announced a hybrid RMC for 2016. With this, what're the chances one of the woodies at HW gets at least some sort of RMC work?

 

Not going to happen, and it's not needed anyway. Holiday World's woodies are fantastic the way they are and they put a lot of work into maintaining them.

[Guy T. Koepp]

I would love for Voyage to get the Iron Horse treatment. I would want to ride it again. As it is, it's intolerable.

[Ape]

I would be sorely disappointed if anything with Voyage changed. As it is perfect to me the way it is.

[rcjp]

I would love for Voyage to get the Iron Horse treatment. I would want to ride it again. As it is, it's intolerable.

I have no idea how much it would cost but if some complain it's rough (I haven't ridden it) while most really enjoy the layout, wouldn't it be nice to see RMC replacing the existing track with topper track maintaining the exact same layout?

[jonskinny12]

I would be sorely disappointed if anything with Voyage changed. As it is perfect to me the way it is.

 

I'm with you on this. I rode it 27 times over the two days I was there for Holiwood Nights.

[SFOGdude25]

I would love for Voyage to get the Iron Horse treatment. I would want to ride it again. As it is, it's intolerable.

I have no idea how much it would cost but if some complain it's rough (I haven't ridden it) while most really enjoy the layout, wouldn't it be nice to see RMC replacing the existing track with topper track maintaining the exact same layout?

I've been saying this for years. To me, the Voyage is amazing (still my favorite woodie), but its level of roughness just a little too much for me to handle say more than 3 rides in a row. Topper track is the way to go with this one.

[Shavethewhales]

I would be sorely disappointed if anything with Voyage changed. As it is perfect to me the way it is.

 

 

I'm guessing you know how to ride it in the "right seats". I was so disappointed when I first rode it because I got a wheel seat in the back and it was almost too rough to enjoy. Later on I marathoned it in the front seat and it became my favorite coaster. Ideally every seat should be a good seat.

 

With topper track, the only things that would change is that it would get smoother and maybe a little faster. It would still feel more or less like a wood coaster, but a better one. Really though, it's worth it just for HW's maintenance costs. I'm sure they're on the waiting list.

 

Raven is pretty good as is, though if they needed topper track there as well for maintenance that would only be an improvement as well. Legend, on the other hand, could be a candidate for a bit more improvement. Maybe the don't want to go full RMC-complete-rebuild on it, but adding some additional banking would go a long way to making it a top notch coaster again.

[kyleparks77]

How about this: a brand new RMC (similar to Outlaw Run) in 2017?

[ratdogg68]

I would love for Voyage to get the Iron Horse treatment. I would want to ride it again. As it is, it's intolerable.

I have no idea how much it would cost but if some complain it's rough (I haven't ridden it) while most really enjoy the layout, wouldn't it be nice to see RMC replacing the existing track with topper track maintaining the exact same layout?

 

It could be the second, behind Storm Chaser for this new Hybrid of Coaster

[RollerManic]

I'd definetly like RMC to use topper track and thus the Voyage could still hold its wooden titles.

[ZeroGravity55]

I'm a supporter of topper track on all three woodies. I think the only coaster that might receive topper track would be The Voyage. In my opinion, this will only happen when the park decides that there is nothing they can do make the ride better in terms of retracking and using the MCBR to slow the train down. I think HW takes great pride in taking care of their coasters and doing it all in-house. It's one of those small things that separates them from everyone else. I don't think the park will I-box The Voyage, as the ride means too much to them to alter the design in anyway. I only say that because Will Koch is listed as one of the designers.

[DILinator]

It's funny... I am one of the first people to discount a coaster for being too rough, but I love The Voyage, and have it as my #1 wooden coaster! The Legend? I just can't enjoy that coaster. Tolerate, sitting in the very front, is the best I can do. But with The Voyage, I love it anywhere: front, back, middle. It's just an amazing, awesome coaster to me, and the intensity is part of what endears it to me, rather than puts me off! I only hold both hands up when I'm going over the airtime hills, the rest of the time I hold on with my inner side hand, and put the hand on the outer side in the air. While riding it 20 times over the course of Holiwood Nights this year, and riding it this way, I realized it did a pretty good job of simulating what I imagine riding a bucking bronco or bull would be like!

 

The diversity of opinion regarding The Voyage once again just goes to show how subjective, rather than objective, everything about the coaster riding experience is! Different coasters hit every person differently, based on that particular individual.

[Ape]

I would be sorely disappointed if anything with Voyage changed. As it is perfect to me the way it is.

 

 

I'm guessing you know how to ride it in the "right seats". I was so disappointed when I first rode it because I got a wheel seat in the back and it was almost too rough to enjoy. Later on I marathoned it in the front seat and it became my favorite coaster. Ideally every seat should be a good seat.

 

With topper track, the only things that would change is that it would get smoother and maybe a little faster. It would still feel more or less like a wood coaster, but a better one. Really though, it's worth it just for HW's maintenance costs. I'm sure they're on the waiting list.

 

Raven is pretty good as is, though if they needed topper track there as well for maintenance that would only be an improvement as well. Legend, on the other hand, could be a candidate for a bit more improvement. Maybe the don't want to go full RMC-complete-rebuild on it, but adding some additional banking would go a long way to making it a top notch coaster again.

 

 

Not at all lol. My first ride was a front seat ride and i had no idea what to expect with layout. It threw me all over the place. It is the only roller coaster that had drool flying out of my mouth hitting the break run it was so crazy awesome.

[mike541x]

In about a week I'll be visiting Holiday World for the first time, so I got a few questions. What kind of crowds should be expected on Monday (27th)? Best place to eat at the park? And besides the coasters what other rides are worth checking out? Thanks in advance!

[Brassinthegrass]

Before someone replies to that, I'm going on Sunday! What other "dry park" rides should I check out? I know SS is a must, but no one talks about the flats!

[kyleparks77]

Before someone replies to that, I'm going on Sunday! What other "dry park" rides should I check out? I know SS is a must, but no one talks about the flats!

Mayflower is surprisingly fun; you get some serious weightlessness. Gobbler Getaway is great to get out of the sun and always fun. Hallow Swings goes higher, faster, and longer than any other classic swing ride I've been on (although they might shorten the cycle on busier days).

Liberty Launch is a good double shot and if you sit on the "back" side, you get a great view of the park.

Frightful Falls gets you just wet enough to cool off but not completely soaked.

Crow's Nest gives a great view of Thunderbird and the plaza.

Everything else are your classic "spinning" attractions (scrambler, flyer, carousel, etc).

[Koasterking48]

In about a week I'll be visiting Holiday World for the first time, so I got a few questions. What kind of crowds should be expected on Monday (27th)? Best place to eat at the park? And besides the coasters what other rides are worth checking out? Thanks in advance!

1) Not too bad, manageable crowds.

2) Honestly, I can't pick a favorite. The Alamo and Pilgrim's Rock are both very good choices for Holiday World and Wildebeestro is great in Splashin Safari. All of the rides list in the post above me are good as well.