Photo TR: Holiwood Nights 2012 (Holiday World)

[Midgetman82]

This was my second time attending the Holiwood Nights roller coaster enthusiast event at Holiday World. Last year was very hot with temperatures reaching above 90 degrees (Fahrenheit). This year was the opposite, with temperatures reaching as low as 52 degrees. I knew this even before I came, so I knew this was going to be a very interesting change.

 

Caution: This is a photo-heavy trip report.

 

The day started with a 1 1/2 hour drive north to the park.

 

I arrive 1 hour before the event started. Hmm, what to do...?

Oh, yeah! I re-rode Liberty Launch a few times.

Then I got to ride the new Sparkler. First time riding a tower swing ride, and it was great!

A gentle ride around the tower multiple times. The only thing I wasn't a big fan of was the wide buckle between your thighs, but other than that, I really liked it!

I still had time to kill, so I decided to sail away on a Voyage into the wilderness.

The ride was noticeably smoother out back, which made it a heck of a lot better this time year. Now they just need to work on the figure eight around the station.

Still had time to kill, so I re-rode this! I can never get enough of it for some reason!

THEN it was time to meet. I saw many people from many different clubs, including ACE, Thrill Network, Coaster Fusion, and Theme Park Review.

Gahh! Blurry Photo! Pat and Dan made an entrance as a coastbuster and a marshmallow monster. Pat was even equipped with a marshmallow gun. (Video proof coming soon)

After going over safety and chanting the coastbusters theme song a few times, we dispersed from the pavilion.

I wasn't in any big rush since I've been on all the coasters before. So I went to see people on the new Sparkler.

(I know, I used a fisheye again. Please don't kill me!) The light package on it looked very nice. I wish ERT on it lasted longer though. Would have been nice to see this in darker light.

I also wish this ride was open during ERT. I would totally marathon this!

Tried getting artsy with this one.

*Wolf Howl* "Don't look back."

The first coaster of the night for me was the Raven.

Benefit of ERT, no lines.

The chilly night weather also added to the fun imo.

Next up was my favorite wooden coaster of last year.

I re-rode twice without getting off. There was less people to be found here.

Next up, I ventured out to the park's monster-of-a-coaster, Voyage.

I got lucky with this shot! No wait for any seat!

Soon they had Turkey Whirl up and running. Not as many people here as there were at Sparkler.

"Stop this crazy thing!"

After riding Voyage a few times, I came back to legend. Before riding it, I tried being artsy again.

After riding Legend, I went back to Raven!

By the time it was nearing the event to end, people had the idea of re-riding Voyage until the day ended. I joined them for only one ride. This brought me to 5 rides this night.

Many hung out in front of it. Probably letting that complimentary soda, pizza, and block of fudge settle before trying another coaster.

I went back to legend to get in another ride, bringing it to 7 rides. I rode alone in the third car, which was really creepy because of how dark it was out there.

And then I ended the day with being on the final train on the Raven, bringing that to 4.

This night turned out fun, but tomorrow promises to be more interesting.

Hypothermia, more Sparkler images, walk-backs, and more on Day two! Coming soon!

Edited June 6, 2012 by Midgetman82

[Midgetman82]

I woke up the next morning with my cell phone telling me it was 48 degrees outside. Luckily it felt about 60... time to hit the water park!

 

We arrive, we walk in, we put what we don't need in our cubby with lockable doors on them, and then head to the slides. I brought my camera this time to take photos of the water park.

 

Carrying those heavy rafts onto the slide.

What did they call it again?

This ride really is big.

About here was when I took the time to ride the slides, starting with Wildebeest once, then hitting Mammoth once. Why didn't I attempt to marathon both slides like I did with Wildebeest last year? Maybe it was because the water was FREEZING! I was literally shivering after each ride! I rode Mammoth with one guy that brought his own wetsuit, and even he said it was still cold! I was told that Splashin Safari's water is stored in a tank overnight. So since it was around the low 50's the night before, the water was cold this morning.

 

Mammoth is amazing! Compared to Wildebeest, it is less intense in terms of the amount of airtime it doesn't give. But Mammoth gets you more soaked than Wildebeest and you have the capability to rotate during the ride, which makes it more fun to ride with a group.

 

Then it was time for the walkback tour of Mammoth.

The uphill section didn't have that subtle yank-feeling when the magnets kicked in. It was smooth the whole way up.

There's Wildebeest. Sure it's more intense, but it sits under Mammoth's shadow now.

The station with the continuous moving conveyor belt. (High capacity FTW!)

And then there's this, which you wouldn't be thankful for unless you've walked up the stairs of Bakuli, ZOOMbabwe, or Zinga.

Speaking of Bakuli, we had ERT on this as well. I didn't do it since I didn't have a partner to ride with. I also didn't want to leave my camera bag laying just anywhere.

A small pano after scaling the stairs.

Also new for this year was the Cabanas, which I thought looked really nice. Every single one was already reserved, which meant that they are probably selling great.

The amusement park opened by now, we had one hour before they let the guests in the water park.

I didn't spend much time riding water slides anyways, so I was done with the water park.

Since I didn't feel like waiting in line for Voyage, I gathered some turkeys...

And ate them for lunch!

I thought about riding Pilgrims Plunge, but decided against it due to the temperatures.

One of these turkeys is not like the other...

Soon, I did wait in line to ride the Voyage... I probably could have provided a better photo. =-/

Then, there's Sparkler!

I rode a few flats in the Fourth of July section multiple times.

Oh, and I attempted to marathon Liberty Launch! One of the ops recognized me after, I think, the fourth re-ride.

I forgot to mention that I rode Revolution yesterday. As much as I like Revolution, it's hard for me to do any re-rides on it. I know my face look really silly because of the g-forces.

Back to here.

Gahh, glare!

Ho Ho Ho!

Next up will be the walkbacks. Stay tuned!

[IrishBuckeye]

nice pictures so far. thanks for posting.

[Midgetman82]

^Thanks!

 

Are you ready?

Are we ready?

Let's do this.

I know you've all seen the same photos of the same things back here, so I'll save you the trouble and post the more interesting ones.

Hey, hey, hey! Stay out of my shed!

Us doing what we do best.

If you need any help, good luck getting there!

After all was said and done, I went to the Voyage walkback. Last year I wasn't able to do it due to a cramp.

They seemed to be shooting a commercial while we were there. They even had a film crew in a low flying helicopter circling the park.

I probably should have taken more photos of me at the event. Oh well. Here I am.

Hmm, how am I gonna take this home?

Getting ready for that special shot.

Here, to be exact.

Can you give us a lift?

No...? Okay, we'll walk.

Oops.

After the walkback, I spent the rest of the time resting up. Ate some funnel cake, rode the freedom train for the first time.

I also watched the dive show, which was way better than I had expected it to be! Lots of laughs to be had!

After riding a few flats and seeing another show, I come back to the pavilion for dinner.

Then we had our last ERT session.

I didn't stay for much longer since my dad and I didn't want to be driving home by 12.

So this ends my trip report, thanks for reading and viewing!

Coaster count for this day: Voyage:3; Legend:2; Raven:1. This brought me to 8 rides total on Voyage, 9 rides on Legend, and 5 on Raven. Voyage bumped Legend off as being my favorite wooden roller coaster at Holiday World thanks to the refurbishment!

 

The event was awesome, I was glad I did it again this year!

[IronWolfman]

Shed.mov reference = Awesome.

 

Great Pictures! I might have to do this one day...