The real "What is Holiday World up to?" thread

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Charles Nungester said:
Swoosh, Id say over 20 percent increases in attendance over at least the last three years is pretty good.

Considering the best CP and other big parks can get is between 2-5 percent with spikes for major additions.

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On my first visit to HW back in 1998 they had just hit 500,000 visitors a year and the way they're growing they will probably break a million next year. That is exceptional growth especially for a mature business that has been around for 59 years.

Factor that growth with what Will said on his online seminar a year or so ago that people spend more time at HW than most amusement parks and spend more there per capita and I'm certain the books look really good and that there is a healthy return on investment.

"All that money" is coming from a million happy guests who can't wait to return....and they'll do their share to help pay for these additions.

HW *is* a business too...they're just better at it than most...;)

Looking longer-term is why HW is not only still open but THRIVING, while many other independents are *barely surviving*...and some aren't even doing that.

^Agreed. It's takes more than a couple of killer woodies to thrive. It's SO much more than that with Holiday World. :-)

-Tina

<-----not intentionally starting a HW *love* thread. I think that has something to do with the new attraction instead. :-P

*** Edited 6/24/2005 2:27:07 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

Hey if it is an Arbour day section, does it make sense to tear down trees for a wooded coaster? I thought the whole point of the holiday was to plant them. *** Edited 6/24/2005 2:37:01 PM UTC by Jesusfreak4ever***

I guess we should be thankful that it is not going to be Arbour Day.

Who says that Holiday World wont plant more trees especially in the new holiday theme section of the park? I would guess that they just might have to add trees! I would also have to guess they will keep on having significant growth in attendance for the near future as they add more rides...especially if they keep the park as family friendly as it is now. Word of mouth is their biggest advertisement I am sure. As more people here about how nice Holiday World is more people will come and they will tell more people...and so on.

Not to mention the extreme reasonablility of their pricing. I have no problem buying a T shirt at HW for 12.99 while corporate parks are charging 20.00.

Food in most cases is $6 or less per person, Drink included not the $9-$12 corporate parks are charging.

Just like Kennywood, I ate in the park and even had a snack or two when I visited and of course some fudge to take home.

Other than keeping the ownership group living well they have no dividens to pay, Yet do so by helping their community. Im also sure Santa Clauses property tax is far less than say Sandusky.

Will said it a few years ago, You keep comming and I'll keep building. Well im going back and not only that, Im telling people about it. I bet I've sent about 200 non enthusiast people to HW to visit and I haven't had a bad report yet. Need proof? goto www.americanaamusementpark.com and read the post *Well people, I have the answer* By Dan. I have 10 other people here at work I've sent there, A couple with children who dont even ride Raven or Legend and they love the park and have gone back several times themselves. One of my friends takes a vacation every year at Lake Rudolph.

Making and keeping people happy is no accident at HW, They work very hard at it and at least comming from me. It's very apreciated!

Chuck

just like a freak to come on here and start attacking without even visiting. The park only two years ago planted over 500 trees. The area the new section is going in was a corn field at one time and HAD NO TREES but Im sure that is going to change. The park plans very hard to save as many trees as possible and even changes the layout of thier coasters to save them.

Now Jesus Freak, You should ask for forgiveness for that careless post.

Chuck

I spend much less money at Cedar Point than I spend at Holiday World because the prices at HW are much more reasonable. Not to mention the money I would normally spend for drinks goes toward games and merchandise. Of course, I could go broke eating those deep fried oreos!

HW does everything right, they keep their guests happy, and happy guests are willing to spend more money. My coaster buddy compared HW to a smaller version of Disneyworld, and for someone who is water and bathing suit shy, had a great time in the water park. My teenage son, who I thought might be bored with only two coasters (even if they are two of the top rated wooden coasters in the world), was enjoying himself so much, he didn't want to leave.

I'm already making plans for next year to rent one of the cabins and spend a couple days.

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CPLady said:
I spend much less money at Cedar Point than I spend at Holiday World because the prices at HW are much more reasonable. Not to mention the money I would normally spend for drinks goes toward games and merchandise. Of course, I could go broke eating those deep fried oreos!

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The Oreos rock but my new favorite thing to eat at HW are the Cheese Filled Breadsticks (with a little garlic butter to dip them in) at Bahari Snacks.

Kudos to everything written about HW on this page of the thread. Living just less than an hour from the park, I know that HW has a great reputation in this area. For my two teenage kids, going to HW is like going to the ballfield down the street or to the pool. (Thank goodness for season passes.) Thus far this summer I believe that they each have been there at least once a week. It's not like going to an amusement park, it is like going out to play with their friends. Will, Mrs. Koch, Paula and all the staff make you feel at home. After a day at any other park, I am beat and need a day or two to recover. A day at HW is not like that, when you leave, you feel relaxed and ready to do it all over again the next day. For me, HW is "The Happiest Place on Earth!"

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Kraven the Raven said:
Kudos to everything written about HW on this page of the thread. Living just less than an hour from the park, I know that HW has a great reputation in this area. For my two teenage kids, going to HW is like going to the ballfield down the street or to the pool. (Thank goodness for season passes.)

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I second that Thank Goodness for season passes! Hey Kraven if you happen to see me at the park come on by and introduce yourself as it'd be nice to put a face together with the name.

Have Fun

Paul Drabek

FYI, I'm in Santa Fe, NM on business and word on the street here is that HW is adding...well, actually no one knows here either ;)

mOOSH

There is ZERO corporate greed at Holiday World! :-) How many other parks will willing to show their food menus on their website? Not too many because if they show their prices it would scare people away and make them not want to visit. Holiday World knows that their prices are fair and reasonable and you NEVER see them cut corners on anything. They may look at the least expensive options such as building a woodie in house versus an extremely expensive steelie. Also I believe that is why Raven and Legend was built so cheaply because they saved money building the rides in house. But they still turned out to be good quality rides. And woodies are man's greatest inventions!

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Charles Nungester said:

Now Jesus Freak, You should ask for forgiveness for that careless post.

Chuck

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This has to be one of the funnier lines I have ever read in a forum.

If it is somehow Arbor Day, I certainly hope they have a 'Nebraskans Get In Free Day', since we invented the holiday....which is ironic, considering there aren't a LOT of trees in Nebraska....corn maybe, not trees....

That's why Arbor day started in Nebreaska. It wasn't so much about saving trees as it was about planting them. In fact, I believe it started in response to the Dust Bowl as a way to stabalize the land and prevent the topsoil from blowing away.

Maybe somebody will look it up for sure...

Millrace,

Your theory is correct, but, the dates are wrong. Arbor Day started around the 1870s when J. Sterling Morton decided that Nebraska, and many other places, needed more trees. Officially, it's the last Friday in April in Nebraska, but, that could be different in your state, depending on the change of the seasons. I think Arbor Day is the only holiday that is different from state-to-state, but I am uncertain of that.

(user reads the Holiblog)

Ah. I've got it!

Recall that there is also an expansion in the waterpark for next year. I think we know now what it is: It's going to be a new version of the Zoombabwe slide, only you ride it in fully enclosed rafts so that you don't get wet!

Just another example of Holiday World giving their customers exactly what they ask for!

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

What everyone is saying is so true about HW. I even sent them the following e-mail

"I just wanted to send a quick Thanks! to the all the people who make Holiday World/Splashin Safari possible.

It is really nice to go to a place that does not charge an arm and leg for everything. It makes it possible for a family to afford a nice day together. This is my second time to your park, and my kids love it. We live in Michigan so it is about a 7 hr drive each way! There are at least 3 different amusement/water parks closer to us but my kids and I prefer your park. Please keep up the great work!"

And Paula sent the following back:
"Thanks so much for your kind email – I’ve forwarded it to our owners and staff of directors.

We’re so glad you enjoyed your visit! (Sorry it’s such a long drive!)

Paula Werne"

What is the possibility that the SS expansion will be a Master Blaster type of attraction? If it is (and I hope so), then it will probably be the biggest in the world, based off their habit of being the biggest and/or first(Zoombabwe,Zinga,Jungle Racer).