Free Sunscreen! Free Soft Drinks! Free Parking!
If you live in the St. Louis area you have likely heard this enthusiastic chant during the Holiday World commercials on the radio. Curiosity got the best of us and we ventured out for a day in Indiana. We had a fantastic time so I am here to share the details for you to have a great day as well.
For our first first trip to Holiday World, we went with a total of three brave moms and eight elementary-aged kids. We met at 6:30 am to get on the road, and, with just a couple of stops, we were at the parking lot of Holiday World right as it opened at 10:00 am. We spent time at the regular amusement park and Splashin Safari and left the park at 8 pm. We grabbed some food at Holiday Foods and checked into Lincoln Pines for our overnight. In the morning, the kids enjoyed the pool at Lincoln Pines and we were back on the road heading home by 11:00 am. Was it a whirlwind? Sure! Was it a blast? Absolutely!
Have the commercials and billboards piqued your interest and are you interested in planning a Holiday World trip as well? Here’s some information to consider.
Can I make the holiday world trip in a single day?
It is three hours each way so it is doable. The lodging isn’t plentiful so it is sort of costly to stay the night. If staying the night feels too expensive a day trip is definitely possible.
Where should I stay?
There are not many hotel options in Santa Clause, Indiana and they tend to be expensive. We found Lincoln Pines to be a great little cottage community. Tip: If you only have one night to stay, click on the link to find one-night options available. Santa’s Cottages has the same feel as Lincoln Pines. There is also a campground with more rustic cabins right next to the amusement park.
What should I eat at Holiday World?
We packed a ton of food for the kids. We ate an early lunch before we went into the park and gave them snacks throughout the day. There are regular dining options throughout the park that we found to be average pricing. We all got dippin’ dots before leaving the park. We opted out of dining out with that many kids and instead grabbed food at the grocery store to heat up on return to our cottage. There are definitely dining options around if that is more your speed.
Are tickets expensive?
Research before you buy. There are plenty of deals for tickets. If you are planning on next summer there are extremely cheap ticket deals the week of Thanksgiving. If rides close for inclement weather for more than 90 minutes you are given a ticket for another day of the season.
How do I do the water park and amusement park?
We started with water clothes under our clothes. When we were ready to play in the water park, we put the rest of our stuff in a locker we rented. After our time in the water park (we stayed until it closed at 6 because we had a blast) we changed back into dry clothes and enjoyed the rest of the amusement park for two more hours.
Is the drone show cool?
We didn’t make it to the drone show. There is a delay between the park closing and the drone show starting and we were just too tired at that point in time. I heard it is great though.
Are the soft drinks and sunscreen really free?
Yes! and our kids took full advantage. The kids would run up to each stand (they have them positioned all over the park) and grab a cup to fill with lemonade, Powerade, or the soda of their choice. They loved this perk. The sunscreen is also positioned throughout the park in big pumps to use.
Is it worth it?
Absolutely yes! Every kid on that trip has begged to go back this summer. We are doing a day trip and taking dad this time around. It was a highlight of the summer of 2023.
If you have been to Holiday World I’d love to hear about your experience. I am sure there is a ton to do besides the amusement park, but so far, we have just traveled to Santa Clause, Indiana for the free parking, free sunscreen and free soft drinks!
