Holiday World or King's Island?

Interesting observation Playa!

I too get the feeling of same park, different city be it SF, CP, Paramount. Sure each has a few unique attractions but the long lines, pricing, general layout ect are the same.

If you want different, Friendly and fun.
PICK HW. You might not need the full day but I can easily spend a full day or two at HW and it's in a different setting (Hillside and shade) Afordable, Meals for under 7 bucks and friendly staff.

I used to visit on some regular days when long lines and single train operations detered from the day at HW but most of that has been resolved with the Thanksgiving section and more trains. Raven may go down to one train later in the day but you'll see why.

For most rides, Hit the majors around 3 oclock. Last year on July 3rd we could have ridden voyage 10 times in a hour if it haddn't gone down. We did get 4 in and a couple earlier in the day.

Have fun. While I think PKI would create some memories. A few laps on Voyage are UNFORGETTABLE!

Chuck *** Edited 7/17/2007 2:59:40 PM UTC by Charles Nungester***

Like I said before, I was just at Holiday World Saturday, and it was still a blast even with no event. Sure the wait is a bit longer, but the times that I have been there, the lines are still way shorter than Cedar Point, and Kings Island lines.

Personally, I think Kings Island smokes Canada's Wonderland. I just went to Canada's Wonderland 2 weekends ago and I was SO disappointed with the park. There was only 2 coasters that I felt were worth even attempting to re-ride.

halltd... here is what I said before so you can avoid the 7 hour hike to Cedar Point.

"Here's what I think you should do...
Depending on what time you are getting to Cincinnati on Thursday, you could head to Holiday World and most likely ride each of the coasters a few times each within a few hours, then head back to Cincinnati and go to Kings Island on Friday, then just drive to Sandusky Friday night and get a hotel."

If you were to do that, you would only have about a 3 hour drive from Cincinnati. to Holiday World. Then the same drive drive back to Cincinnati (Kings Island).
That way when you are done with Kings Island on Friday, you would only have about a 3 hour and 45 minute drive to Cedar Point.

I brought up the waterpark angle, because they'd likely have more time to work it in at HW than they would at KI. I love KI more than most enthusiasts it seems and could easily spend a day or two there by the way. Yeah, it really comes down to what sort of attractions you are more interested in. Sounds like your friends may be happier at KI. But get yourself to The Voyage as soon as you can. :)

I do like that plan a lot. Good idea, and thanks. But, I'm not sure we'll be getting to Cincinnati in time to drive to Holiday World and even be able to enjoy just the coasters. Plus, I want to hang out with college friends that still live in Cincinnati on Thursday. Ideally we would have done Holiday World Friday, KI on Saturday and CP on Sunday. But, it didn't work out that way with everyone flying in from out of state (or country). Plus, we're driving to Cincinnati from Akron, so the entire trip (Akron to Holiday World) would be seven hours too. Do it Thursday or Friday, it's still a long-a$$ drive.

We're getting the "coaster park" on Saturday, so maybe Holiday World is a better bet for Friday? Laid back, do some flats, just chill, etc...

Thanks for all the suggestions. :)

Having done 3days atKI and 2 days at HW during Coaster Con I thought it was too much for both parks. So having done both if I had to choose which one that would give you the most for a full day of fun I would have to choose KI they have so much more to offer. I did not find lines that bad at all at KI and they move them pretty fast. I also think you will be very tired from the driving and you don't want to be burned out for your day at CP so you can enjoy it. Yes I do think that HW has the best woodies but you can only ride them so much as they are all intense and then you would be bored with the rest of the park, I only rode 3 flats at HW the Flyers,Gobbler Getaway and Turkey Whirl. I also watched the diving show and that was really it. I did not go into the water park at either one due to the cast on my left hand so I can't comment on those.

Voyage is worth the drive alone. ;) How about doing HWN Thursday and KI Friday instead? You said you don't have to be to CP till Sat. morning right? :)

-Tina

if at all possible, i would do HW in the morning (10-3), and then take advantage of the twilight nights at kings island from like 5-10. that seems like a pretty fun filled day to me

If The Voyage is not worth the drive to you, you need to find a new hobbie.

And don't forget... like most woodies, the 3 will be slightly faster at night ;)

King's Island has become a "C" class park over the years. Lack of flat rides, mediocre coasters, poor theming and lack of atmosphere.

the beast and flight of fear are the only excellent coasters, and the beast varies on opinion. racer, italian job, scooby doo/odd coaster and top gun are ok. the others are either not re-ridable or just not that exciting. a few good flat rides - troika, pirate ship & giant frisbee. *** Edited 7/17/2007 4:52:40 PM UTC by super7****

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halltd said:

Has anyone on here been to Holiday World for a "non coaster event"?

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I just went over the weekend and posted a TR about this. Personally if I were to pick between the two as a "non-enthusiast" I'd pick King's Island because of the number of rides. However, seeing that I appreciate good rides, I would pick Holiday World.

Good luck!

~Rob Willi

I love the fact that SFKK is not even concidered here.

Otherwise the trade of is the type of gratification you're looking for.

Are you and your friends true coaster fans? If so HW is definately worth the drive and forget about KI. You can go there later since it sounds like you live a lot closer to it. If not true fans and you just want to go to a park and go on a few rides...KI.

But remember, HW closes at some early hours too. When I was there they shut down at 8:00 on a Friday. I'm not sure if that is a regular thing (check site) because I was there for the ACE Con. If so it can get you on your way north that much quicker.

Think of this: CP is the "Mecca" of parks. HW is like going to church. It is so clean it you want to pick litter off the ground yourself and makes you afraid to spit. Free pop is a sure plus. Food was great and well priced. Very unique and worth going to. Oh, and the coasters are all great. KI is quantity over qualtiy.

I guess, reading back...go to Holiday World! What you don't get for not going to KI will be made up for at CP anyway.

I'd say Holiday World. I don't understand your friends logic by saying he wasn't impressed with HW when he stated he liked the coasters, food, free parking, free drinks etc. That is basically saying you liked the whole park right there.

Anyway Id do HW the woodies really are amazing as well as the atmosphere. KI is fun but aside from FOF, Top Gun & Firehawk I wasn't overly impressed with the rest of the coaster lineup.

Tim, we'll probably cross paths this weekend. I'm taking a week long trip with mother and kid, doing Kings Island Thursday - Friday, Holiday World on Saturday & possibly Sunday. Also hitting SFKK, Beech Bend and maybe Coney Island.

Hey Mike, I don't think you'll cross paths with Tim, as his trip is in August, but I might cross paths with you if you're at HW on Sunday. I'm taking a friend of mine that's never been to HW. We're going to Indiana Beach on Sat afternoon, HW on Sunday, and probably SFKK and KI on the way home on Monday.

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cyberdman said:

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Mamoosh said:
Only a cre-ho goes to Holiday World "just to do the woodies" ;-)

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.. or people who do not like flats or water parks.

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Or that We did Beech Bend first then the long drive to HW.
We also did the flats but didn't have time for the Water park which I would have loved to have done.
Next time

Yeah, my trip is about a month away. From all of the comments (and thanks for all of them), I think we'll stick with the original plan. I guess there's a reason I've never felt the desire to go to King's Island even after living in Cincinnati for six years during college. :) No sense going now I guess.

My friends and I are coaster fans, yes. We're also park fans. We absolutely adored Hershey Park. But, they also had a really good collection of coasters too. We've already done Great Adventure, Hershey, SF New England, Disneyland, California Adventure, Knott's and Magic Mountain this year. So that's why we weren't really considering Kentucky Kingdom. There just wasn't anything there that interested us. There are a couple of things that interest us at King's Island, but since my family still lives in Ohio, I can go there easier than HW.

If we get bored with Holiday World, I guess we'll just start the trek to Sandusky sooner and get a good night's sleep before our day there on Saturday.

Oh yeah, the free soda is irrelevant to us because none of us like Pepsi. :)

You won't get bored at HW, The three coasters alone are enough to keep you busy and when you learn how to ride voyage (Basically put your hands down after the fifth hill and go with it) You can reride it all day.

Chuck

Duuuuhhhh. *conks head*. Next time I'll read the thread better.

Mark, maybe we'll bump into you at HW. If you see a tall, overweight, unkempt guy with a beard and glasses in a coaster shirt, good chance it's me. ;)

You will simply have a much better time at HW if you take into account all that's been mentioned above. KI is my homepark, (has been my entire life, and then some), but I would absolutely trade KI for HW without a second thought. The Koch's do an amusement park the way it should be done.

You'll have half as many rides at HW, but the word from earlier comes up again...quality!

I've done HW in a days time easily in the past with a 3 1/2 hour drive each way. No promises, but I think you could do it too. And you'll thank yourself for making the decision to go.