I've heard the complaints from some readers: That this year's tournament is diminished because The Voyage, a roller coaster from Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana, has made the finals and, given its strong support from fans coming to the site from Facebook and Twitter, might win the whole thing.
And those critics have a point. I mean, come on, a 5-seed from a tiny location in Indiana shouldn't possibly hope to make the finals of the 64-team tournament, to face in the finals a 1-seed from the biggest name in the field, representing an institution that starts with the letter "D"?
That never happens in real life, right? ;-)
Maybe this *is* destiny. Maybe "Hoosier Hysteria" lives again.
Or maybe this tournament represents something a bit more fundamental than that. Let's not discount what Holiday World's fans are saying here. Let's listen to them, instead.
First, let's set aside the idea that The Voyage got this far simply because Holiday World's PR person rallied its fans via Facebook and Twitter. Other parks, with larger social media fan bases, tried the same and didn't get past The Voyage.
Holiday World's fans turned out not only because The Voyage is a great ride (I rode it last summer and instantly became a fan, too), but also because of the relationship that Holiday World and its fans have with each other.
In all the fuss we make about storytelling, setting and ride systems, we must not forget that theme parks are first in the hospitality business. When we enter a theme park, we want first to be made to feel welcomed. We want whatever experience we encounter within that park to provide good value for our money.
Holiday World excels at hospitality. We've mentioned many times on this site the park's free parking, free soft drinks and free sunscreen - expenses that, together, will set you back $30 or more at most other parks. But Holiday World extends its hospitality to its guests beyond the park gates.
Plenty of theme parks have Facebook pages and Twitter feeds. But few will retweet or acknowledge posts from fans and independent websites, such as this site. Count Holiday World among those. Not only that, Paula Werne, Holiday World's PR person, posts here on Theme Park Insider in response to readers' questions about her park. To Holiday World, social media are actually, well, social - a conversation between the park, its fans and the people who cover the park - and not just another one-dimensional channel to distribute the park's PR, as it is for Disney and Universal.
Because readers feel part of that conversation with Holiday World, when the park asks them to rally for one of its attractions, they respond. But let's not forget that Holiday World established the foundation for that conversation by providing great value and strong in-park hospitality, as well as three world-class roller coasters, with The Voyage the highlight.
When fans cast the votes for The Voyage, I'm hearing a message that goes beyond their enthusiasm for this individual ride. I'm hearing people express their support for a park that values their business. For a park that doesn't nickel-and-dime them at every opportunity. For a park that treats them as *people* online and not simply as prospective sales.
And I'm hearing fans that crave an opportunity to let other people around the country, and the world, know those things. Disney fan sites don't cover Holiday World, or provide an easy channel for its fans be heard. Roller coaster sites too often segregate discussions into steel vs. wood, pigeon-holing Holiday World as a "woodie" park, and not enabling its fans appeal to a broader audience.
At Theme Park Insider, I don't care which company builds or runs a theme park. I don't care whether a roller coaster is steel, wood or a hybrid. All, I care about is whether a park provides a great experience, at great value, for its guests.
Let's not forget that Disney does that. Fantasmic! is one of my favorite shows, and would be a worthy champion for this tournament. I'm not counting it out, and no fan should. (The final vote is Monday from 11am-7pm ET, 8am-4pm PT.) But this tournament provided a forum for Holiday World's fans to draw your attention to their beloved park... and they took it.
And I couldn't be happier. No, Holiday World isn't a Disney clone. Its park lacks the immersive detail of a Disney park. But it's wonderful fun, with thrilling attractions, tasty food and great value. Located outside any metro area, you won't find it filled with locals who hang around simply for convenience. Holiday World instead draws a delightful crowd of knowledgeable theme and amusement park fans, who had to make the effort to drive out to Southern Indiana to visit.
If this tournament convinces a few more such folks to discover Holiday World, or any of the other great themed attractions that don't get the attention that Disney and Universal enjoy, then I will consider this tournament to have been a great success.
Oh, and by the way... Go Butler!
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Also, I agree with James. Voyage is a one of a kind.
I am now trying to plan a summer trip out to Indiana just to go to this park that so many people are raving about. I think this is exactly what this tournament and this site is made for, not just to rave about the major parks but to help the lesser known ones shine as well.
Kudos to this site and everyone who makes this place so great.
It is sites like this that need to bring attention to these places and readers cannot call themselves a true theme park insiders unless they visit these parks too.
ROBERT NILES: Please find someone to cover the launch party for SKY ROCKET at Kennywood. This is their first roller coaster in almost 20 years and really deserves its own article on your wonderful site.
Also if Knoebles gets the FLYING TURNS up and running this year, please have someone cover that too. I wait with baited breath. Love Liz -Washington DC.
In actual athletic Tournaments such as the NCAA, teams upset because they exhibit moments of greatness and execution that exceed what they were supposed to be able to accomplish given their ranking. In some cases they ride that new found enthusiasm deeper into the tournament, continuing to upset higher seeded teams that should have beaten them easily, becoming a Cinderella story.
That's something that can't happen here. It's not as if an attraction can miraculously pull a ride element out of its back side and cause an upset because it exceeded what it normally does day in and day out. It would be like the Coney Island Cyclone as a 16th seed winning because in the 1st round it somehow grew a cobra roll, and then dominated the second round because out of nowhere it developed a 100 foot loop, consecutive corkscrews and an onboard sound system and fire effects. An attraction can't rise to the occasion like an athlete, it can only do what it is designed to do, no more, no less. However, attractions can under perform, as was the case with Expedition Everest being knocked out early do to a static Yeti. Fix the Yeti before next years tournament, and the ride now steps into the battlefield wielding all of the weapons it can muster to advance deep.
I take no issue with The Voyage winning as it is a fine woody, deserving of its praise and performance in this competition. Heck, I'm pretty sure I voted in favor of it almost, if not all of the rounds. I applaud Holiday World for the relationship they share with their fan base, and given the way that things happen in this tournament, they played the game the way it needed to be played to advance their champion through to victory. But really, this situation is about as comparable to an actual athletic competition as American Idol is.
Also, it was pretty obvious that the winner of the themed ride/roller coaster matchup was going to win. I don't care how good it is, all shows and films take a backseat in a theme park. You go to the theme park to ride, and the shows are just a nice supporting attraction. If you want shows, go to the movies or broadway.
Food, game, and souvenir prices aren't based on statistical analysis of how much money the average visitor has their pocket throughout the day.
There's no need for an insider's guidebook because Holiday World prints great tips on their website and doesn't go in for the proximity pricing where drinks are worth more at different locations.
Taking cues from the staff, patrons also tend to be polite, friendly, and helpful.
The prices aren't so high that you see angry parents hell-bent to "get their money's worth."
Entering the park doesn't require jockeying through metro-area traffic.
The park has an immaculate and lovely air-conditioned room (with glider rockers) for nursing mothers.
Oh, and the rides? They totally rock.
Thanks for backing me up that Knoebles and Kennywood needs more love. I do really hope their rollercoaster lauches this year are covered here.
@Niles and TPI.com: Need someone to do it for you. *ahem* :)
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