Park Review
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Santa Claus, Indiana June 14, 2001 I made my first trip of 2001 to Holiday World, so I thought I'd write up a quick trip report. There really isn�t much new at the park this year. The Rough Riders Bumper cars are still in the same location, but they have been outfitted with all new bumper vehicles(?). I call them vehicles because they look pretty lame, IMHO. They were actually not vehicles at all, but rather designed in the shapes of buffaloes and horses. I thought they would have looked a lot better on a carousel, not in a bumper car pavilion! The bumper boats had a little more "get-up-and-go" to them this year, due primarily to the squeeze throttles now found on each boat. (At least, I don't remember the bumper boats having a throttle last year.) I realize some people on this list couldn't care less about the entertainment at amusement parks, but personally, I always enjoyed the shows. Discovery Institute (at the Holiday Theater) was kind of neat, a funny show, and an entertaining way for the kids to learn a little bit of science at the same time. The Great American High Dive Team is back again this year; and it was absolutely uncanny how much the one guy looked like Rick Schroeder. (Now we know what he does when he isn't filming NYPD Blue!) On to the coasters.... I'm not going to go into great detail here. Suffice it to say that the Raven is still my favorite woodie. It was running great, with floater air on each and every hill. I also really enjoy those misting spray novels at the bottom of the first hill, and just before the fourth hill (right-hand turn). It's a great way to cool off on a hot day, while not getting absolutely soaked (as in Raging Rapids!) I got in three rides. I also got in three rides on the Legend. I've always contended that HW has two great woodies, the Raven being better in the back seat, but the Legend, IMO, is a better front-seat ride. You don't get as much airtime on the Legend (even in the back); it's more about the laterals, and the great hand-chopper effects in each of the four tunnels. Other than that, I got in a ride on the Banshee (falling star), a fun ride with airtime galore at the top and a really great view of the Splashin' Safari Water Park. But, every time I ride one of those falling star rides, I am rather painfully reminded of how much I need to lose about 30 pounds! As so many others have stated so many times, HW is just a really great little park. It's extremely clean park, and the staff is second to none. Everybody, from the ticket takers, to the ride ops, to the food-service employees has a smile on their face. They are all happy to see you, and they all really seem to enjoy their jobs. The unlimited free soft drinks are still available this year, also (tell me when we'd ever see that at a Six Flags Park!!)
Later,
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