Dvo Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 So after nearly 3 years of nothing but good reviews of The Voyage, I was dying to go to Holiday World at some point this summer. I've been there before, and experienced The Raven & The Legend, but never Voyage. Anyway, earlier this summer I came great news... CoasterBuzz Club was having Fall Affair at Holiday World. The schedule: Morning registration, then pizza and fudge dinner at 5:30 (yum!), and then ERT. From 6:30-7:00, Raven and Legend, then from 7:00 to 7:30, VOYAGE! It ended up not working out this way, but more on that later. I picked up my uncle around 8 am, and we headed to the park. We got there around 10:00 Central to find a nearly deserted park. Everything was a walk-on... to the point that even during single-train operation, there were plenty of empty rows on Raven & Legend. I remembered Raven being fun, but wow that thing never gets old. For not being very tall, that thing is super fast. Gotta love that last big drop. Incredible airtime in the back. The Legend is fantastic too... Between the insane turnaround at the far end of the track, and the dizzying double-helix, that ride is flat out intense. So after riding the two of them, and hitting several flats along the way, we came upon The Voyage. I don't think I could hide the excitement if I tried. We sat in the 2nd last row after a 1-train wait, and we were off. Up, up, up... and then WOW! Three fantastic drops in a row, followed by what can only be described as utter chaos. That thing is simply astonishing. Some insanely fast turns, sharp banks, and quick transitions. And then you crest a hill and slow down for a second... only to do not one, not two, but three drops in a row and all of a sudden you're FLYING again. The chaos continues and after being tossed, turned, and lord knows what else, you finally hit the brake run. Incredible. So throughout the day we got several rides on everything, and I do mean everything. Gobbler Getaway, Pilgrim's Plunge, Liberty Launch, Scrambler, everything. Then just when we were almost bored, it was 5:30. Time for dinner. We got to the banquet hall, and got our pizza, veggies, and Fudge! Very tasty, and very relaxing after a long day of riding. But then came the bad news. One of the park's workers got on a microphone and told us there were thunderstorms in the area. So instead of starting the ERT at 6:30, they were starting right away, i.e. NOW. So I scarfed down the rest of my food, and out the door we went. ' There was a group of about 25 that we joined with, but they went straight to Voyage. I wanted one more ride on the other two first. We were the first people in line for The Raven, so we got on the front seat. A good ride, but I left wishing I had ridden in the back. After that, we got on The Legend, 2nd seat to the back. Fantastic. And better news, at this point the sky was just cloudy... not too dark. So on to Voyage we went. I met up with my friend Ryan on the ride, and we got a ride in. That thing is unbelievable. But going up the lift, the sky was becoming noticeably dark... Whatever. I went again. This time, as we departed the station, we felt a few drops of rain. Whatever, a little water never hurt anybody. But now the sky was REALLY dark, and almost right on top of us... Another great ride. But my sides were getting a little sore, haha. KEEP GOING! While waiting in line for the 3rd ride (one train wait), we see the rain picking up a little bit more. Uh oh. Nonetheless I got in the train and fastened the restraints. And literally the minute I did so, we just heard a big ssssSSSHHHHHHH outside. It was POURING. Absolutely torrential downpour. That was the most ridiculous roller coaster ride of my life. We couldn't keep our eyes open because of the rain, and The Voyage was just relentless. I was scrambled like eggs. Beaten like Rihanna at Chris Brown's house (no offense). And yet that was one of the best coaster rides of my life. After I got off, I was ready to call it a night. We made the long walk out the front gate, and were on our way to the tunnel that goes to the lot across the street... and then we find that the tunnel is FLOODED! The water was up to our shins. But at this point we were so soaked, it made no difference. We forded that river with no problem. With sopping-wet shoes and socks, a hoodie that weighed about 20 lbs with the water, and some saran-wrapped fudge, we departed from Holiday World. Heads hung high, and extremely content. After all, that day couldn't have been any better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 You are my kind of people! I love that last line. Just reading it makes me happy! Bad weather and events at Holiday World all too often go hand in hand. Terpy, who remembers the year of the tornadoes during what was then Stark Raven Mad, and an hour spent in a gift shop. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gigacoaster2k Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 I am so glad you had such a great day, David. I knew you would love Voyage! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dvo Posted September 28, 2009 Author Share Posted September 28, 2009 yeah Voyage is amazing. No question about it. I forgot how much I liked that park until I went back yesterday. The atmosphere is great. I love how well-themed the different sections are. Not to mention free soda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom76257 Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 Glad you enjoyed your day and experienced that The Voyage truly is amazing! After reading your trip report, I'm missing Holiday World even more. It's only been a week since I've ridden The Legend, but I REALLY want to lap that lat-filled thing of beauty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gad198 Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 Very nice report! The event was truly a blast, lines non-existant and rides plentiful. The pizza was good (I know opinions on this vary) and their fudge was outstanding. It was funny when Will Koch came in and made the announcement about the weather and ERT moving up. It was almost as if some people knew that announcement was coming and were practically out the door rolling to Voyage immediately after he finished speaking! One of the reasons why I love Holiday World is the fact that they allowed the Voyage to run in that weather. I think most of the people there were secretly hoping for a shower or two to grease the track, and they got it. The thing is, it wasn't just a shower! The description of it being a torrential downpour is right on the money, and I can't think of any other park I've been to that would have allowed coaster rides in those conditions. Holiwood Nights this year was very similar with the weather, and the Voyage rides there were epic too. I'd be curious to hear if it's your #1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dvo Posted September 28, 2009 Author Share Posted September 28, 2009 It's hard to say what's my number 1 coaster now.. Millennium Force is still my favorite steel, and Voyage is definitely my favorite woodie. But it's hard to compare the two.. If it came down to it and I was forced to pick one, I'd probably still take Millie. But wow. That's a great ride they've got at HW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gigacoaster2k Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 Holiwood Nights this year was very similar with the weather, and the Voyage rides there were epic too. Well said, my friend. NOTHING I've ridden will EVER beat those pitch black night rides on Voyage.. ..in the rain, ..with lightning bolts flashing in the sky, ..and the train FLYING over the MCBR as if it wasn't even there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KI Kevin Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 Who doesn't like the Voyage? Well I know Terpy likes others more, but it's an undeniably great ride. The airtime is awesome, and I loved the spaghetti bowl almost as much as the airtime. IMO, Voyage is true coaster perfection. My #1 Overall coaster, without a doubt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyGuy4KI Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 Sounds like you had a great time! Thanks for sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beast1979 Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 After reading yet another Holiday World trip report, I'm trying not to throw a temper tantrum! Glad you had fun Dvo! It was nice meeting you on Friday, too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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