Holiday World 2006

[LongLiveTheSmurfRide]

Now that my body has had time to recover, it's time to write a quick trip report of my Holiday World visit of almost a month ago.

This was my first visit there in a while. The last time I was there was the year before they started adding second trains to the Raven and Legend. I can't remember which one got the first 2nd train.

I think the newest stuff I had yet to ride were the Voyage (obviously), Hallowswings, Liberty Launch, and the Gobbler Getaway.

I was pretty psyched about the Voyage, so I wanted to ride that right away. But something told me I should hit the Raven and Legend first, lest I become jaded and unappreciative of them upon my return.

So we got there, my buddy Adam and I, and the park didn't seem too crowded. This was the last weekday of operation, and I advise all who wish to go to Holiday World in the future to mark this day on the calander because it ended up being empty.

We walked right onto Raven when we got there, all coasters had 1 train operation that day. The Raven was still fun and got me ready for more.

Then we walked right onto the Legend. Same great coaster I remembered. I did seem to notice the lack of speed I've read others mention in trip reports. It was still a crazy coaster, but wasn't the monster I thought it was once before.

So then we were primed and ready to hit my most anticipated coaster since Millenium Force, The Voyage. It wasn't walk-on at that point. We had to wait about 4 trains, and it was excrutiating. Like I said, there was only 1 train operation, and that 1 train seemed to take its sweet time getting back every trip while we stood there sweating. (It was a very very hot day)

Finally our train came. We were in the very last seat. Off we went and the ride was a blur. I couldn't believe what just happened when we got back. It was the most action packed coaster I'd ever been on. Easily became my #1 wooden coaster. I held back on giving it an overall rank until I'd ridden it a few times. It's so intense for so long, and I've heard people say that it's rough, but I thought it was great. It is rough and forceful, but not in a Son of Beast type way. This thing is not rought because of poor design and layout, it's rough because it's a monster.

After the first ride we went over to the Gobbler for some much needed air conditioning. It was a walk on and I found it to be a pretty fun little ride. The targets were not being as kind to me as they were Adam so he pounded me. The only thing I found that could be improved would be if the sound was a little louder because I don't remember much of the soundtrack or the musical number at the end.

We then hit the Eagles and the bumper cars which are still the fastest and hardest hitting cars I've ever been on. I can see why you're not supposed to go head on at someone. They'd need to install airbags if that were allowed to reduce fatalities.

At that point the park seemed to show its emptiness as we were told by the OP that we could stay in our cars for another round, which we did. At the end of that one she said we could do it again, which we did. I think we did 4 rounds of bumpers before we finally left on our own accord.

Then we hit Liberty Launch. I wasn't expecting much, having been on Power Tower, but that thing was pretty cool how it shoots you and jerks you back down a couple times.

After that we rode the Raven again. It was a walk on and they said if you had nobody waiting in your queue, you could stay on, so stay on I did. I rode 3 times in a row, while Adam could only take 2. Then we hit Frightful Falls where we were, once again, told we could stay in our boat if we wanted, so we did and rode again.

Then we hit the Legend again and were able to stay on so I did for 2 more rides while Adam said 1 was enough for him.

I have to admit, at this point my body was feeling a little run down. I think between the bumper cars beating me around and riding the Raven and Legend so quickly so many times, I felt tender areas begining to develop on the sides of my legs where the forces on these coasters were constantly pushing me against the lap bars and on my arms which were taking the majority of the blows against the sides of the cars.

So, perhaps unwisely, we headed back to the Voyage. At this point it was a total walk on. We decided to hit the front seat this time. Once again, a great ride. My body was really starting to feel it now.

So we went back around and rode Voyage again, this time in the middle-back area. Now my legs felt every lateral G as they slammed against the bar, but when we got back to the station and nobody was in our queue, I couldn't help but ride again. Adam bolted in pain, but I stayed, knowing this could be my doom. It was a painful ride and I was glad when we finally got to the end. I felt like I had just been through a major workout, and I didn't think I could do another, so I bid the Voyage a fond farewell for this year.

I may be getting old, but I think the main reason I left Holiday World feeling like jello was because it was such an empty park day. I don't remember getting so beat up on their coasters before, but then I never had been there when everything was a walk on and I had no time to let my body recoup.

Upon reflection, I do love the Voyage. It's one of the only coasters I don't think I could marathon on without needing to be taken out on a stretcher. I could never marathon coasters like SOB or Mean Streak because they're just badly kept coasters. But the Voyage is a different animal. It defies all laws of coaster logistics and actually seems to get faster and more intense the closer it gets to the end. When the station is in sight and the end near is when the Voyage pulls your bones out of your skin and puts them back in upsidedown.

Regretfully, I forgot to grab a ride on the Hallowswings, though they did look pretty cool.

So, yeah, that brings me to the end.

Good times.

[Avatar]

LongLiveTheSmurfRide; I thought that your avatar was a Smurf but after reading your Trip Report to Holiday World, I see that it really is your self portrait. . Well; at least you still have a smile on your face! I enjoyed the report and I hope that when we go next year that it is a walk on for us too.