I had visited holiday world twice previously this summer as it is the closest park to my house. It is three hours away! I sure envy people that live close to theme parks, they are so lucky. At any rate, the first trip in May was a good doggyilly and the second trip in June was a very rainy day. I had ridden the Voyage the first time on the May trip but was so scared i closed my eyes halfway up the hill and kept them shut the entire ride. This resulted in an uncomfortable ride that caused a neck crick and back pain! I was determined to redeem myself so I took a vacation day Friday 8/1/08 and took a friend with me back to Santa Claus, IN. The following is my report.

Friday 8/1/08

I was so eager to get there we were an hour early! We ran into the big purple bus that carries employees to holiday world and so i followed them to the park. Since it was so early i wanted to eat breakfast. We stopped at the Candy Castle to get tips on where to eat. There honestly isn't that much in the town. I would think more businesses would pop up as a result of Holiday World's success. We ended up entering the park and eating at goblin burgers for breakfast! It was very good I must say.

After eating it was time to have fun! Since splashin safari wasn't open yet we looked around and watched the first "holidazzle" show of the day. It was fun, sparkles was fun to watch. This show is mainly for kids but I'm a kid at heart. I took some ribbing from my friend for making him sit through it though! After the show, we made our way down to splashing safari to get a locker. We hit the water park. I love the water park!

Bahari River - My favorite is the bahari river. I floated around it several times, first the long way, second the short way. I made sure i floated under every water fall there was!

Bahari Wave Pool - After leaving the river i hit the wave pool. It was fun just wading out and letting the waves wash you back in. I had relaxed and was feeling good. I hit the pepsi oasis and had some free drinks. I wanted to do the bakuli but the line was too long for me at the time.

Zoombabwe - Then it was time for some excitement. Me and my friend walked all the way up for zoombabwe ,the tallest enclosed water slide in the world and the golden ticket winner for second best water ride. It is scary looking over the fence way up there! The ride down was great! All the twists and turns plus the encounters of the light faces created from holes in the slide.

Zinga - Man what a rush! I think this drop gets me more than the roller coasters. You walk up the steps to the platform, get in the big inner tube and off you go. The enclosed tube curves and you are in the dark then wham! a steep drop into the funnel. It was so funny I think my friend about had an anxiety attack, he wasn't expecting that! He was very alert afterwards!

Kima Bay - I know this seems mainly for kids but I had to try it out! I got in there amongst the other adults and slew of kids and traversed the steps and rope paths. I got splatterd by the big emptying bucket and loved the slide back down to the ground! Bakuli was still too long of a wait so i went over to the original wave pool next.

The Wave - The wave was fun. It isn't as fun as the Bhari wave pool but is still worth a wade!

Congo - Then it was time for a float around the congo river. As with the wave, this river isn't as easy on the eyes or as fun as bahari but it is still fun and relaxing.

Bamboo shoot and Amazoon - These slides are fun, i went down both of them once. It was a rush.

Well it was time to hit the holiday world side. Since we were wet we figured we would head for the raging rapids in boulder canyon.

Raging rapids - This rampage ride was fun. It was very entertaining and it was ok to get wet since i was already wet, lol. I was able to speak with a family there from England. It was fun.

Revolution - I went for a spin on revolution. It was fun and helped dry me off! I passed on the liberty launch. I am not much for drop towers.

The freedom train - I know this is for kids too but i love trains and wanted to ride the freedom train. It was funny two grown men cramped in a little compartment going aroung the children's area. I took some more grief from my friend for making him get in it, lol.

Gobbler getaway - I headed over to the thanksgiving section. Boy was the voyage imposing! I intended to get to it but this wasn't the time. My friend does not do roller coasters. We hit the gobbler getaway and it was great. I am a big fan of dark rides. I shot alot of turkeys and saved thanksgiving!

Frightful falls - I had never done frightful falls. I love flume rides so me and my buddy hit it. The line moved very fast and off we went. It was a fun ride and we got splashed of course. It was time to eat again. We ate at kringles cafe and it was off to splashin safari again.

Bakuli - It was time for bakuli. I didn't care how long i had to wait. It took about an hour i think but it was worth it. Finally up on the loading platform, i watched everyone get in thier floats and scream as they entered the dark tunnel. I couldn't wait. It was worth the wait. Floating down the dark tunnel, making the twist, then Swoosh! almost straight down into the bowl. This drop wasn't as intense as zinga but it was fun. You then float around the bowl twice i think and Splunk! down the drain you go! If the line wasn't so long i would have done it again.

Well, me and my buddy took another float around the bahari and then headed to the remaining things we hadn't done.

Watube - This unenclosed slide is a fun twisty adventure.

Ottorongo - These three slides are so fun. I did two of the three. I didn't to the middle one. I like the twisty ones.

Monsoon Lagoon - I wandered in monsoon lagoon and got drenched by the large bucket of water, climbed up into the structure and slid down a slide. It was time to conquer the roller coasters. I thought i was prepared since I had experienced steep drops in frightful falls, zinga, and bakuli. I was pshyced up and ready and intended to start with the smallest coaster and work my way up.

Raven - This ride is short but sweet. I had a blast. I kept my eyes open and remained loose and flexible. That made the ride so enjoyable and thrilling. The only complaint is this ride is just too short! It seems that way anyway.

Legend - This coaster was great. It was much longer than the raven and again i kept my eyes open, remained loose and flexible and rode with the wind! I was more than exicted to make my way to the voyage.

Voyage - The time had arrived. As i stood in line for about 30 min I would watch the voyage in action. I love the part where you are standing in line and only glass separates you from the voyage as it takes riders through one of the tunnels. As i made it onto the platform i was nervous, that first hill is so tall. I kept my eyes open and made myself look around. It was thrilling. That first 66 degree angle 154 foot drop was a doozy. Then two more 100 foot drops right after followed by the tunnels and the whole track twisting up 90 degrees. The ride goes on forever! I rode with it and enjoyed every minute. I even bought my picture to prove I had done it! It was time to head home feeling like i had conquered the world!


The day was fun. I didn't see any other shows and spent most of the time at splashin safari. I didn't do the jungle racer slides or a few other things. The free drinks and free parking was great. I already bought my season pass for next year since I know I should go several times. Like i said it is the closest park to me. You also get it so cheap if you buy it before october. Hope you enjoyed the review. I just recently joined this board and wanted to give reviews of where I had been this summer. Holiday world is great. I just wish there was more around it!


peace everyone!
neil


















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