Holiday World (HW) Discussion Thread

[prozach626]

It's not just Legend's jack hammering that makes me hate it. The laterals are brutal, too. The first couple of trips I took Raven was pretty smooth and really fun without being too intense. On my last two trips it wasn't crazy rough, but too uncomfortable to enjoy.

[ZeroGravity55]

I'm sure the locals aren't happy about it being closed since that's one of 5 major attractions closed for the rest of the year on top of the water park now being closed.

 

Yes and no. For me it's a yes. I had a trip planned for the 26th of October centered around getting night rides on The Voyage. Now I'm planning on going to Kings Island. The GP locals probably aren't that concerned about it. Having been to HW's Halloween event, it's really a glorified pumpkin patch to me. The GP eats that crap up. Last year, The Raven lot was full and half of The Legend lot was full. That corn maze and kids activity stuff they put together sucked the capacity right out of the rides. The longest wait was in the morning for Raven right at opening and that was 25 mins. Everything else was 10 or less. Since it was only families mostly, they all left before sundown and every coaster was a walk-on from 6-8 pm.

[coasterbill]

I only had one ride on Raven and Legend but you would have had to pay me to ride either of them again.

[southpuddle]

Which is a shame, because a decade ago, Legend and Raven were both smooth and re-rideable. Voyage was so-so. Maintaining 12,000+ feet of wooden coaster track is no easy task. I really wish something besides pouring money into standard wooden coaster maintenance would be done to Voyage that would allow the park to have three good woodies rather than three one-and-done woodies (in a lot of people’s opinions).

[grsupercity]

When we visited I thought Legend and raven were fine. Voyage on the other hand was the roughest coaster I have ever experienced. I am hoping to check this park out again. It was a dark thunderstorm day we went and we were underwhelmed. We went the day after Kentucky Kingdom which was a beautiful sunny day. Holiday World had a short dark gloomy day. I love gravity group and really need to give Voyage a second chance

[mark549]

Voyage is probably my favorite conventional wood track coaster. (El Toro has better airtime but the plug and play track is different ...). I also like the setting in the forest and the topography. I've only ridden it in the springtime on wet days and it wasn't rough then.

 

If RMC was brought in perhaps they could install topper track on some hard-to-maintain sections. It doesn't seem to need a full I Box redesign and I doubt the park would do that (sentimental and budgetary reasons).

 

Tremors at Silverwood has two topper track sections that are impossible to notice during the ride unless you're watching closely from the front seat. A relatively cheap fix, I presume. Spendy up front but not much maintenance once installed? And much cheaper than full RMCing a wood coaster.

[Coastard69]

I only had one ride on Raven and Legend but you would have had to pay me to ride either of them again.

 

Raven can't be that bad now. Sure it's been over 10 years since I last rode it, but it was one of the best coasters I've been on. Unless it got Villain/Mean Streak/Boss/Ghostrider/Cyclone rough I don't see how it could possibly be that bad.

[coasterbill]

Other than Boss and Cyclone depending on which one you're referring to I've been on all of those and found them all to be smoother and better than Raven (though I did ride Villain in it's early years).

 

I'm honestly struggling to think of wood coasters that I like less than Raven. Mighty Canadian Minebuster, Blue Streak at Conneaut.... maybe a few others but I'm drawing a blank, I don't even know. It was pure crap when we rode it a few years ago.

Edited September 30, 2019 by coasterbill

[PKI Jizzman]

I only had one ride on Raven and Legend but you would have had to pay me to ride either of them again.

 

Raven can't be that bad now. Sure it's been over 10 years since I last rode it, but it was one of the best coasters I've been on.

 

This is a hilarious reply coming from someone behind a site called 'Your Favorite Coaster Sucks'

[ytterbiumanalyst]

^ OMG, that is a real site. And a podcast!

[prozach626]

Other than Boss and Cyclone depending on which one you're referring to I've been on all of those and found them all to be smoother and better than Raven (though I did ride Villain in it's early years).

Third car front seat. Hips back lean forward. After a few beers that tactic it's awesome. Cap it off with night rides on Screamin Eagle and a dark AF ride on B:TR. If you come back I'll even buy you a delicious Bud Light!

[JT325]

Driving home the other day... I forgot we had this street here. Made me miss Holiday World! I oddly didn't make it to the park this year. Even thought I'm headed to Knoebels in 2 days... a year just doesn't feel right w/o HW. Love Raven, but Legend is still my favorite

[Coastard69]

^ OMG, that is a real site. And a podcast!

 

Sure is, thanks for the support!

 

I only had one ride on Raven and Legend but you would have had to pay me to ride either of them again.

 

Raven can't be that bad now. Sure it's been over 10 years since I last rode it, but it was one of the best coasters I've been on.

 

This is a hilarious reply coming from someone behind a site called 'Your Favorite Coaster Sucks'

 

To be fair (to be faiiiiiiir)…most do.

 

Also, big ups Chicago. I’m in the 312 also

 

Other than Boss and Cyclone depending on which one you're referring to I've been on all of those and found them all to be smoother and better than Raven (though I did ride Villain in it's early years).

 

I'm honestly struggling to think of wood coasters that I like less than Raven. Mighty Canadian Minebuster, Blue Streak at Conneaut.... maybe a few others but I'm drawing a blank, I don't even know. It was pure crap when we rode it a few years ago.

 

Dang you must’ve lucked out, all of those were absolutely violent and nasty when I rode them. Well I guess I’m really due to a return to Holiday World now, and not just for the T-Bird credit. Disappointing if they’ve really let it get that bad, because it was soooooooo good when I first rode it and subsequently in 06 and 08.

 

Other than Boss and Cyclone depending on which one you're referring to I've been on all of those and found them all to be smoother and better than Raven (though I did ride Villain in it's early years).

Third car front seat. Hips back lean forward. After a few beers that tactic it's awesome. Cap it off with night rides on Screamin Eagle and a dark AF ride on B:TR. If you come back I'll even buy you a delicious Bud Light!

 

Doesn’t seem worth the try for the beer

[ytterbiumanalyst]

^ OMG, that is a real site. And a podcast!

 

Sure is, thanks for the support!

I think you confuse rubbernecking for support.

[Vonni]

I wonder how long it will be until HW puts in a new coaster. I know there was quite the gap between Voyage and Thunderbird, but I'm not sure if that is something one could really go off of with this incredibly unique park.

[Midgetman82]

I almost consider myself a regular to Holiday World, but I made my second (third?) visit of the year just this past Saturday, as per my average 2-3 visits per year. I consider the coasters to have their... good and bad months. Legend had some jackhammering in some spots and Raven was running fine, but seemed like one spot near the end will probably need some attention for similar, but lesser jackhammering.

 

With Voyage alone not operating, there definitely felt like a huge chunk of the park's thrills was missing, but I do think the other two woodies still hold their own in terms of that out-of-control thrill folks seek. Can't wait for the refurbished Voyage for next year, and huge props to the park for the upkeep on the monster of a coaster!

Honorable mention to Gobbler's Getaway as being awesome.

A++ for still maintaining fully functioning "turkey callers" and targets, like they should be.

[neilnky]

I normally go to Holiday World at least once or twice every year. I just happened to realize their park schedule is more like a water park schedule than a regular theme park schedule. Part of me thinks since they are in Santa Claus, IN they should really have a full blown big Christmas festival to cover November and December like Dollywood and Silver Dollar City. I wonder if they have looked into it and found it not feasible. Just curious if anyone had any info. I have to admit Splashing Safari is so awesome I bet it is the biggest draw of the two parks.

[prozach626]

Although you could overcome it, one thing that comes to mind is that the park is incredibly hilly. Of course it goes without saying that ice and snow on pavement is generally not a good thing with a hilly terrain such as Holiday World. Also, HW only has so many locals who visit. I don't think you're going to bring people in from far away for that kind of event. Before anyone starts to argue that last point; Holiday World is not Dollywood or Silver Dollar City, and it's not in a tourist destination area.

[neilnky]

Although you could overcome it, one thing that comes to mind is that the park is incredibly hilly. Of course it goes without saying that ice and snow on pavement is generally not a good thing with a hilly terrain such as Holiday World. Also, HW only has so many locals who visit. I don't think you're going to bring people in from far away for that kind of event. Before anyone starts to argue that last point; Holiday World is not Dollywood or Silver Dollar City, and it's not in a tourist destination area.

 

 

I was thinking the reason was it is not in a tourist area so that makes sense. But boy if it was I can imagine the Christmas festival it would have being in a town named Santa Claus lol

[mikeykaise]

I bet if the city and park were to put their heads together and come up with something and promote it nationally and promote the hell out of it they could create a huge big time affair.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

^ They'll probably want to have a second hotel in the town before they attempt that.

[jynx242]

Can someone here give me a basic overview of how Hollywood Nights works? I'm tentatively planning on going next year and really have no idea where to begin. Isn't it usually late spring?

[Canobie Coaster]

HoliWood Nights 2020

 

HoliWood Nights 2020 is on May 29 and May 30. If it's the same as past years, Friday will start with ERT at the water park and then the park has all the coasters open until 11. On Saturday, the park will have all the coasters open until midnight. All of Holiday World's coasters are great at night thanks to their setting, but the star is Voyage since it runs trimless.

 

During the day on Saturday, there will also be photo walkbacks for the coasters. The park also keeps you well fed with a dinner on Saturday and lots of snacks.

 

It's an awesome event and I can't recommend it enough! I met a lot of cool people last year.

[Midgetman82]

It's also a mostly-afternoon/evening event too. The second day admits you to the park for the whole day from park opening until midnight, but the event stuff doesn't begin until the afternoon, in case you just want time to take in the park at your leisure or just sleep-in (which is something I really appreciate, compared to other events I've done going from early a.m. until late in the evening each day).

 

Two nights each of three solid hours of endless ERT on 4 roller coasters will never feel like it's not enough, and experiencing the insanity of Voyage at night needs to be on every coaster junkie's bucket list to try.

[jynx242]

^I got an "almost" night ride on Voyage several years ago and it left me wanting more. That's the main reason I'm thinking of doing this event next year! Is the Santa Claus In still the only hotel in the area??