Holiday World: New Map

The new map Paula was speaking about is now up.

http://www.holidayworld.com/quick.html#map

Wow, check out Legend's layout. Looks like it got modified in the offseason ;) I love how not even half of Voyage fits on the map since it's so ginormous. :) *** Edited 4/25/2006 2:38:56 AM UTC by Acoustic Viscosity***

This reminds me of the park maps that PKI and CP had a few years ago.

Fixed link here.

*** Edited 4/25/2006 12:57:00 AM UTC by Mamoosh***

Ugghh.. That's really...ugly IMO.

It looks like Dollywood's map.

I personally prefer this "2D" kind over the cartoonish ones that most parks have now...you can actually use this kind to navigate the park. (That said, I do love the big souvenir maps Six Flags had back in the 70s!)

*** Edited 4/25/2006 1:57:29 AM UTC by Dukeis#1***

I have to agree...like the style of last years park map. Everything seems so spread out, big gaps in between all the attractions.

But then again, it's just the park map. Doesn't change my love for HW. If there is such a thing as heaven on earth...this is mine!

I have to agree also with Duke. I love those huge souvenir maps parks used to have. We had so many of those things for PKI/KI growing up. Me and my brother never seemed to take 'em down, we just kept adding new ones when they came out. Wish I would've kept 'em now. *** Edited 4/25/2006 2:02:14 AM UTC by Floorless Fan*** *** Edited 4/25/2006 2:02:47 AM UTC by Floorless Fan*** *** Edited 4/25/2006 2:03:17 AM UTC by Floorless Fan***

umm..you guys who are calling it ugly...try a little sensitivity. i think ThemeDesigner was the one who actually made that map (at least i know he was trying for the contract to do it), and if he did, i know him well and he works very hard at everything he does. i know its free speech here on the forums and all, but whether it was him who drew it up or not, someone worked hard on it, and certainly dont need comments like that, ok? *** Edited 4/25/2006 2:18:32 AM UTC by vacoasterfreak***

As far as I can possibly care about park maps, I tend to prefer the 'cartoony' 3D style ones over this kind of map.

Oddly enough, I find the cartoony ones easier to follow and actually use as a navigational tool if needed.

Well count me in on the "like it" side. Very easy to read. I can't wait to add one to my collection.

Thanks Tim, but I actually ended up not doing this one. If I had, it would've been the 'cartoony' kind, which I actually think, when done properly, communicated much more clearly and effectively than this kind of map. If you hadn't been there, could you tell me what 'Liberty Launch' is, based on that map? Would you assume Raven was a kiddie coaster? At a glance, can you tell where the main entrance is?

Especially in a place like Holiday World, this to me just lacks 'character' and feels very corporate and sterile... not exactly words that usually go with Holiday World!

At any rate, I've been working on John to let me do the map for several years... looks like I've still got several more years of wearing him down till he finally gives in. ;)

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Ride of Steel said:
Ugghh.. That's really...ugly IMO.

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I'm sure they kept it simple to keep from disrespecting any parks with prettier maps.

It would be unclassy to do otherwise!

While it is a better (more acurate) representation of the park, I will miss the old style. Maybe next they can go with the style that CF:LP uses.

I'd say this is among the worst park maps that I've ever seen. Yes, it is simple, but it totally lacks that "imagination trip" dimension of more detailed maps and reading it actually requires that you are somewhat familiar with the park. Having never visited Holiday World, I get nothing from that map. It looks like a technical drawing and rides and coasters are just lines and squares with some text attached. Water park, coasters, water rides and the antique cars are the only ones that stand out and it's hard to know what kind of rides they are in reality. Like ThemeDesigner pointed out, Raven could well be a kiddie coaster.

If they wanted a simple, top-down map, Kennywood style would have been much better:
http://www.kennywood.com/img/map/KW_05_printmap_1.jpg

I was also very positively surprised by the new park map of my home park, Sarkanniemi in Finland.
zoomable:
http://www.sarkanniemi.fi/tutustu/aluekarttazoom/index.php
pdf:
http://www.sarkanniemi.fi/tutustu/aluekartta2006.pdf

I think that map achieves everything a park map should achieve. It has all the little paths in their right places, it has all the rides drawn in, it's pretty and it's simple.
*** Edited 4/25/2006 6:22:34 AM UTC by Drift***

I'm sorry, but the word "fugly" comes to mind. I'm with the contingent that like the cartoony park maps. They look more amusing...

Personally, I think Amusement Media produces some of the nicest looking park maps. They're realistic, easy to read, and generally nicely organized. However, I know not all parks are willing to make the kind of deals they require to provide a map, and that's obviously their choice. Still, given that most of the small parks in this country use their services, I'm a bit surprised Holiday World does not as well.

I agree with the sentiments above that the Holiday World map is pretty bad, but if that's the biggest criticism I can level against them, then I think they're doing okay. :)

-Nate

Hail CB Warriors,

I'm sorry, I think the new map is horrible.

This is the worst park map I have ever seen.

If "I" were at the park, and had to "try" to use this map, I'd pull the last few hairs out of the top of my head, and leave the park completely BALD!

There is just something REALLY missing from the map.

I "THINK" it may be the "background" color pathways ... but I can't tell ...

The attractions all apear "digitally sized" and not to scale. MAYBE the paths, and attrations ARE 100% to scale, but the end result on the map is REALLY weird in appearance to me.

I agree that Amusement Media's maps, especially their 3/4 view ones, can be a good compromise between accuracy and detail, though to me it's a shame that they all look exactly the same. And they tend to be a little dull. I know that for someone who will never go to Funtown, Knoebels, and Lake Winnie (etc) in their lifetime they'll never know that the maps feel identical, but to me it's another way that individuality and local charm is lost.

I actually will be surprised if they aren't faced with some rather vocal sentiment against the map from 'normal folks' come May. Aside from the poor way it communicates information, it just doesn't say 'Holiday World' to me. Their old map was home grown (by one of the signs guys, who designed the Raven and Legend logos, which I love and think stand up against any coaster logos) and a little unprofessional, but it at least had charm and conveyed a sense of the personality of the park.

The map clearly serves its purpose. It tells an onsite visitor where to find what they are looking for. Nothing more, nothing less.

Don't extole the simple pleasure of Holiday World and its unique place amongst all the coprorate parks, then turn around and whine about one of the clear "non-corporate" indicators.

Free parking, soda and sunscreen, or a "pretty" map? Which of these is truly value added.