A Disney Lover’s Guide to Holiday World

My name is Alli and I am a Disney Fanatic.

I go multiple times a year to Disney World and we do at least one week-long trip as a family each year.

We love the rides. We love the food. We love the entertainment.

That being said, it isn’t always feasible to fly down to Florida to visit my buddy Mickey in a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Finding the Disney in Holiday World

So the best place for my family to get our theme park fix is Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari.

From the start of the day to the finish, I can find ways to experience some of my favorite Disney activities right at Holiday World.

The first theme park rush I get when I’m at Disney World is “rope dropping.” That’s when you get to a theme park as soon as it opens and making it as far into the park as you can before you are blocked by a rope. Once official “park open” happens, the rope “drops” and you can proceed straight to your favorite ride.

The benefit to this is likely experiencing a very low wait time for a ride, relative to what it would be later in the day. In the spirit of the holidays, imagine rope dropping as a Black Friday rush to your favorite ride, right when the park opens! Not only is it exciting, but it is a great way to get a ride done that may typically have an hour or more wait.

Character Meet & Greets

My son’s favorite thing to do at Disney World is meet the characters!

At Disney, we’ve waited literally hours to meet my son’s favorite characters, Woody and Buzz Lightyear.

Two times this year we walked into the park and were able to immediately meet all four Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari mascots. Whet it’s Holidog, George the Eagle, Kitty Claws, or my son’s personal favorite, Safari Sam. Both times we had very little, if any wait to see them!

Moving Between Parks

At Disney you usually pay extra for the Park Hopping option. This allows you to leave one theme park and go to another later in the day.

It involves leaving one park, getting some form of transportation, and going to the next park, going through security and park ticketing again.

One thing we LOVE about Holiday World is that we can “park hop” at no additional cost by simply walking into Splashin’ Safari. Once we are done at the water park, we can seamlessly go back to Holiday World.

It’s a Park Hopper’s dream!

Food & Snacks

My husband’s favorite thing at Disney is the snacks and treats.

His favorite treat at Disney is located in Adventure Land and is a Pineapple Dole Whip!

He was so happy to see that the same treat is available in the 4th of July area, by the outdoor theater, at Holiday World! It’s a fun, refreshing treat, and a nice way to beat the heat!

Entertainment

To end our evenings as Disney World, we gather by the castle and prepare for the fireworks.

At Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, they have a similar party going on for Holidays in the Sky Drone & Fireworks Spectacular.

Just like Disney World, this show celebrates all the theming enjoyed throughout the day at the park and is the perfect nightcap to a great day.

I love my trips to Disney World, but it is so great to have a theme park so close to home that provides great entertainment and enjoyment to my family.


Enter to Win A Pair of Tickets to Visit Holiday World in 2024!

Be sure to follow the adventures of the HoliBloggers. Each of their blog posts will have a giveaway where you can enter to win two tickets to visit Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari.

There are several ways you can be entered to win. Click any option below to get more details to gain those entries. You can enter to win through some options daily!

Entries accepted through Wednesday, December 6 at 7pm Central.

 

Reminder: Holiday World will never comment on a social media post telling you that you’ve won our giveaway. When our giveaway is over, the winner’s first name and last initial will be displayed in the giveaway above. Winners will be contacted at the email address they provided while signing in to earn entries.

This blog post was written by HoliBlogger Alli A.

Alli is a mother and a wife, a medical assistant, a traveler, and a lifelong Hoosier. She enjoys seeking out new experiences, spending quality time with her husband and toddler son, and using her platforms to share the adventures had. Her guilty pleasure is watching The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. However, she gets great satisfaction utilizing her Instagram to share tips and tricks of travelling with small children.

Three Ways to Skip the Season Pass Processing Line

Skip the Line! Process your Season Pass online now!

Are you a Season Passholder who is looking for ways to skip the early Season Pass processing lines? If so, you’re in luck! As soon as your passes are paid in full, we can process them!

If you’re a first-time Passholder, welcome! In order to make your voucher valid, you’ll need to have a Season Pass printed with your photo on it. You can have your Season Pass processed starting at 9:30 AM Central Time any day we’re open, but lines can form early in the season, so we provide several ways to process early and skip right to the fun!

To receive your Season Passes by Christmas, be sure to submit your information online here by December 8.

Here are three ways to help you get straight to the rides on your first visit to the park:

Reminder: In order to use any of our early processing options, your Season Passes must be paid in full. 

 

1. Mail Option – Online Only 

Easiest option for most Passholders

Between now and April 15, if you purchase your Season Pass in advance, you can upload your photo online and have your Pass mailed to you, and take your Pass straight to the front gate! Click here for the page to submit your photo. Please note the photo requirements above before uploading. 

Please note: Pre-K Passes cannot be processed via mail, as we will need to verify them with an age-confirming document (see below).

2. Pick-up Option – Online Only 

Easiest option for families with Pre-K Passes

If you prefer to pick up your Season Passes onsite, or if you missed the mail-in deadline, you can use our online processing form to submit your photos and we’ll have them ready for pickup onsite–just don’t forget to bring a photo ID. You can pick up your Passes during our Early Processing Dates (see Option 3), or pick them up in our designated ticket booths any day we’re open.

As we get closer to the start of the season, please allow 10 days for us to print and process your Season Pass before you expect to pick it up.  

Please note: Pre-K Passes can be processed for onsite pickup, just remember to bring an age-confirming document (see below) to pick up your Pass. 

3. Early Processing Dates

Easiest low-tech option

If you prefer a low-tech option, visit us before we open during our Early Processing Dates from April 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, and 27-28 (4 pm – 6 pm CDT each day). Please bring your Season Pass email confirmation and a Photo ID, and we’ll take your photos and print your Passes. Those who selected “Online Pickup” on our Season Pass online processing form may also pick up their Season Passes during these times. 

Pre-K Passes
The newest member of our Season Pass family is just the right size for the preschoolers in your family. Our new FREE Pre-K Season Pass allows admission all season long for four- and five-year-olds. Getting ready for the 2023 season is as easy as learning your A-B-Cs:

  1. Add the Pre-K Pass to Your Online Cart*. You can add it while purchasing Season Passes for everyone else in your group. We’ll get a little information about the Passholder to help you with the next step. 2024 Pre-K Passes must be processed by September 2, 2024.
  2. Bring the Right Paperwork to Holiday World. You’ll need age-confirming documents to process your Pre-K Pass, such as a birth certificate, passport, or green card. Originals, copies, and digital versions are acceptable. Children born in 2019 or 2020 qualify to be Pre-K Passholders. The last day to process a Pre-K Pass for the 2024 Season is September 2, 2024.
  3. Carry Your Pre-K Pass at All Times! You never know when you’ll want to stop by Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari. Visit HolidayWorld.com/Hours to see our full calendar!

* Note: Pre-K Season Passes are only available online. They must be added to your online shopping cart, registered with Passholder information, and then processed with age-confirming documents at Guest Relations on your first visit of the season. Pre-K Passes cannot be registered at the park or over the phone.

Plus, check out some Frequently Asked Questions about our Pre-K Season Passes.

Our team begins processing your pass as soon as it’s paid in full. No matter what you choose, you can upload your own photo to use for your Platinum Season Pass, Season Pass, Summer Fun Card, or Pre-K Pass right now and we’ll start getting it processed. Click here for the page to submit your photo: https://www.holidayworld.com/spinfo Please note the photo requirements above before uploading. 

By taking advantage of these tips, you can make your first visit to Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari a breeze!

Three Chances to pack the sleigh with Holiday World Deals!

Light it Blue - Christmas Fountain

‘Tis the season to be jolly! Get ready for our sleigh-load of amazing deals this 2024 holiday season!
Holiday World has exciting promotions for the upcoming holiday season that you don’t want to miss, but even if you do, we still have you covered. 

Black Friday ONLY Deal

Starting with Black Friday, we’re bringing back our popular 2 Any Day Tickets for $75 deal.
You can get up to 8 Any Day Tickets at $37.50 each. This offer is only available on Black Friday, November 24 with the promo code: HOLIDAY75. Click here to type in the promo code. 

If you missed Black Friday, deals are still available!

Starting Saturday, November 25 and running through Cyber Monday on November 27, our Black Friday deal increases to two Any Day Tickets for $85. That’s only a $5 per ticket increase over Black Friday, and still a great discount! The promo code for this deal is GRAVY85

If you missed Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the holiday promotions STILL don’t stop there!

From Nov. 28 through New Year’s Eve, you can take advantage of the SANTA100 Christmas promo. This deal offers a discounted Any Day ticket rate of $50 per ticket, with a minimum purchase of 2 tickets and a maximum of 8. This offer will run through December 31, and the promo code will be: SANTA100

Don’t miss out on these amazing holiday promotions from Holiday World. If you’re looking to treat your family or friends to a fun day out, these deals make it more affordable than ever. So mark your calendars for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and all the days in between, and get ready to have a blast at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari!

We’ve got the holiday spirit, and we want to share it with you. So, grab your loved ones and head over for an unforgettable time! Happy holidays!

As a reminder-NOW is always the best time to purchase a Season Pass! With three pass options and our Free Pre-K Pass, there’s a pass for everyone! Learn more at https://www.holidayworld.com/ticket-options/season-passes/ 

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Top 10 Best Souvenirs That Won’t Break the Bank

Looking for the best Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari souvenirs? We’ve got you covered.

Whether you have spent a thrilling day on heart-pounding rides or a relaxing day by the water, it’s time to take a piece of this holiday-themed wonderland home with you.

In this guide, we’ll share the best souvenirs that will let you keep the magic alive, from festive apparel to ride-specific memorabilia.

Why Souvenirs Matter

Souvenirs aren’t just keepsakes; they’re cherished memories captured in tangible form.

My kids jump at the chance to shop for them. There is just something about the feeling you get walking out with a little memory for the road. Souvenirs can also be used as gifts for family and friends or even collector’s items.

Top Souvenirs at Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari

After talking to the retail director for Holiday World and the staff at each retail location, we developed a top 10 list of the best souvenirs.

  1. Holiday World Shirts and Hoodies – Wear a T–shirt or sweatshirt to share with others where you visited. You may also need them to keep you warm at night. Nights in Indiana can get a little chilly and you might find yourself looking for a sweatshirt.
  2. Ride Specific Merchandise – Show your rollercoaster pride with t-shirts, posters, keychains, 3D models, and mugs. Check out the discontinued ride shirts for last chance merchandise. The new rollercoaster, Good Gravy, also has items available to purchase before it’s opening day in early 2024.
  3. Jewelry – Accessorize with jewelry. There are tons of cost-effective necklaces and bracelets for both girls and boys. Each of my boys got a shark tooth necklace on our last visit.
  4. Magnets – Purchase magnets of the park and individual rides. My teenager wants to collect magnets from each place that we go now and display them in his room.
  5. Bubble Wands – Catching bubbles might be the best past time. These bubble wands are a hit with the little kids. Besides the lights and bubbles, they also sync up with the drone shows at night.
  6. Splashin’ Safari Gear – Grab swim shirts, towels, and water toys to enjoy in the waterpark then bring them home.
  7. Souvenir Drink Cups – Invest in a refillable drink cup that you can use at home or school.
  8. Photo Memories – Display your captured photo memories in Holiday World frames. The photos taken with the Photo Pass during the rides make a great option to document memories.
  9. Ornaments – Collect ornaments for your tree that are Holiday World themed or ride specific. I know families that have a travel tree filled with ornaments from the places that they visited.
  10. Festive/Seasonal Accessories – Celebrate the holidays with festive merchandise. You can find pumpkin glow necklaces, Santa hats, headbands, plush stuffed animals, cups, and more.

Shopping Tips

It is inevitable that someone in your family will want to stop by a souvenir store and get something to take home.If your family is like ours, we have a budget, so we want to get the best souvenirs for our money. Here are some shopping and money-saving tips.

  • Budget Smart – Set a budget before you go to the park. Assign each kid an amount and if they want to spend more than they can bring allowance or earned extra money.
  • Hunt for Limited Editions – Keep an eye out for unique and limited-edition souvenirs. They add that exclusive touch to your collection.
  • Leverage Discounts – Look for extra discounts and deals. If you are a season pass holder, then you can get 10% – 20% off your purchase. Discount racks can also be located throughout the different stores.
  • Grab Bags – Grab up those mystery boxes. The boxes are wrapped items for boys, girls, and the young at heart (adults). These are a surprise and contain discounted items.
  • Transporting Items – Take advantage of Free Package Pick up. Shop throughout the park, then send to Holiday World Services to pick up on your way out of the park. It’s that easy! 

 

Places to Shop

Holiday World offers a variety of places to shop, each offering its own unique merchandise and souvenirs. Here are the top places to shop at Holiday World.

  • St. Nick’s Trading Company – Located just past the front gate to the right. This is the largest gift shop in the park. Stop back here at the end of the day to grab snacks for the drive home.
  • Liberty Bell Shoppe – Found in the Fourth of July section where you will find all the red, white, blue and more.
  • Voyage Photos & Gifts – While checking out your photos taken on the ride, shop ride specific merchandise.
  • Hevron’s Mercantile & Thunderbird Photos – View your photos from the ride, then pick out ride specific items along with some other general park merchandise.
  • Safari Outpost – Forget a towel? Grab a towel, swim shirt, water shoes, or anytime else you might need in the gift shop.
  • The HoliShop – Holiday World also offers an online store where you can purchase park merchandise and souvenirs from the comfort of your home. Bonus, these make great Christmas gifts, too. The staff has plans to widen the variety online so check back often.

As you leave the holiday spirit behind, remember that your visit to Holiday World lives on through these souvenirs. So go ahead and embark on your hunt for the best item and may the magic of your time at Holiday World stay with you, wherever you go!

Happy Souvenir Shopping!


Enter to Win A Pair of Tickets to Visit Holiday World in 2024!

Be sure to follow the adventures of the HoliBloggers. Each of their blog posts will have a giveaway where you can enter to win two tickets to visit Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari.

There are several ways you can be entered to win. Click any option below to get more details to gain those entries. You can enter to win through some options daily!

Entries accepted through Monday, November 27 at 7pm Central.

 

Reminder: Holiday World will never comment on a social media post telling you that you’ve won our giveaway. When our giveaway is over, the winner’s first name and last initial will be displayed in the giveaway above. Winners will be contacted at the email address they provided while signing in to earn entries.


This blog post was written by HoliBlogger Trina H.

Trina Hopkins is a Midwest-based lifestyle blogger, content creator, and photographer behind Coffee and Confetti Mom. She aims to empower women and families to be intentional in creating memories and a home that they love.

As a mother of three boys, Trina created a blog in 2019 to share holiday traditions, home decor, party planning, and DIYs. She quickly realized she wasn’t the only one trying to create memories that last a lifetime. Through the years, she has also incorporated local family-friendly businesses and family travel destinations. Her goal is that you feel encouraged and confident to try new ideas and places too.

When she isn’t working or creating the next project, Trina enjoys the chance to get away for date nights with her hubby, long walks with her dog (or, let’s be real, snuggling on the couch), watching her boys play sports, and golf cart rides around the neighborhood visiting friends.

A Message from the Capitol

HoliWood Nights Tickets Available at 11am Central.

To purchase tickets: https://www.holidayworld.com/tickets/buy-holiday-world-tickets-now/?keyword=HoliwoodNights24

 


If you find yourself in the category of, “people who don’t care about the theme and just want to know what’s new for HoliWood Nights 2024,” please click here to skip to the “Please don’t make me read that nonsense” version.

A Message from the Capitol

Dear Spectators Enthusiasts,

I am pleased to share that this year’s HoliWood Nights theme is The Gravy Games, and the event will be held the first weekend after Memorial Day, May 31 – June 1. This two-day event will hold all the splendor of the Capitol—from our finest fudge to luxurious night rides sans trims on The Voyage. From the charm of an adorable Grandma’am’s home, to the most decadent sauce-based boomerang the world has ever known. We hope you’re already hungry for this year’s event.

As you attend this premium event, please note that tickets are once again limited, and available on a first-come, first served basis. In order to attend, at least one member of every purchasing group must be a member in good standing with one of our partner clubs. A coaster club member may purchase up to four tickets (including tickets for oneself), which means a member may bring up to three Guests. Tickets will be available on Wednesday, November 29 at exactly 11:00 AM Central Time (though we prefer to call it Capitol Standard Time).

As with every year, significant improvements have been made to the games and the ticket purchasing experience, based on feedback from our beloved Capitol residents. Unlike last year, once you add tickets to your online “carriage,” they are secured for a maximum of 10 minutes. Unfortunately, our engineers are working on the games, and are not able to develop a countdown clock while your 10 minutes elapse, so time will be of the essence. Please make arrangements for your traveling party in advance and work swiftly to complete your purchase as soon as the tickets have been added. You may be put in a waiting room while others complete their purchases. Please do not be alarmed if this happens early on. You’ll get a chance as soon as others are done purchasing their tickets. Also, if you have the flexibility, we recommend finding a location with the highest speed of connectivity you can manage. This will only help shift the odds in your flavor.

Please remember that when you enter the Capitol, you are expected to behave in a certain manner. Interfering with ride restraints will result in immediate ejection from the Games, as well as Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari. Please review our on-ride camera policy before attending. If you cannot avoid the temptation of riding with a camera attached to your hands, please reconsider spending your money on tickets. Finally, this event is sacred to many attendees—please do not participate in activities that may encroach upon another’s enjoyment of the event. If you find yourself in doubt of whether your conduct is encroaching upon someone else’s enjoyment, we suggest you ask a few of your fellow spectators. Please also note that our Team Members deserve to go home at a reasonably predictable time. If a particular line is long, we may close it early. And please leave the unpleasantries to the tributes. If you so choose to dress in accordance with our theme, please leave any weapons in your district.

We are thrilled to share our newest au-jus based coaster with you all. It should be splashing fun with a sweet side of cranberry chutney.

And of course, may the odds be ever in your flavor,

Effie Leah Koch-Blumhardt

 

Please don’t make me read that nonsense

 Version

We’re excited to share our event this year is The Gravy Games. May the odds be ever in your flavor.

Expect a two-day event, with a full schedule to be announced later. Trimless rides on The Voyage are still a thing.

Tickets will be available Wednesday, November 29 at 11 AM CENTRAL time. One person in the group must be a partner coaster club member, and may purchase up to four tickets, meaning they may bring up to three Guests.

We’re still listening to the feedback we get from you, and we’ve made big improvements to our purchase process this year:

  • You will not need to enter Guest information until after you have added tickets to your cart.
  • When you have tickets in your cart, they are secured for you for 10 minutes.
    • Our ticketing partner does not have a fancy Ticketmaster countdown clock, so hurry up and enter your information. Do not wait until you have tickets in your cart to text your friends to see if they’re coming.
  • You may hit a waiting room—we’ve limited capacity in the store intentionally to make sure we have maximum processing power available.
  • If you have the flexibility and you really want to go, we recommend finding a location with lightning-fast internet.

Finally, the same rules as always apply:

  • If you interfere with a ride restraint, expect a lifetime ban
  • Read our on-ride camera policy. If you can’t follow it, maybe this event isn’t for you.
  • We love it when you have fun and get creative with the event. However, please be courteous to your fellow attendees, and make sure it’s not affecting their fun. Also, if you choose to dress up, again, we love it! Just don’t bring a harpoon gun or Katniss’s bow and arrow, or any other weapon-like toy.
  • Our ride lines may close before the E.R.T. officially ends. Our Team Members working the event are awesome and ask to get scheduled for HoliWood Nights… and they still deserve to go home at a reasonable time.

We’re excited to see you, and hope you’re excited for some awesome food, and cheesy as heck fun with Good Gravy! It’s going to be an amazing time.