Holiday World 5-13: Voyage and Gobbler Getaway

Some friends invited me on a caving trip in Southern Indiana on Sunday (the 14th), so of course I couldn't resist a side-trip to Holiday World on Saturday. I drove the 6 hours south on friday, and stayed at the comfort inn Ferdinand (which I recommend, it has a great location and is a new hotel with friendly staff, an indoor pool, and free breakfast). I got there a bit early and didnt have much to do so I drove around for awhile until I found a Chinese restaurant for dinner. On the way back to the hotel I stopped off at a liquor store to grab a beer, and the guy at the counter started talking to me about the "nice Mexicans" who built the new coaster. He was saying they came and bought beer there a lot, and one of them even got a DUI once. Hmmm... maybe that's why the Voyage is so crazy, because the builders were drunk? He also said they builders told him they made $1200 a week, and travel to wherever they're needed to build various coasters.

So I woke up pretty early because I was having a hard time sleeping with the Voyage only 7 miles away. I waited in "line" (about 10 people) until tickets went on sale at 9:30, and got my ACE discount ticket. Saw the Koch's wandering around helping people out. Once in the park, at the 4th of July section there was a cord blocking the path until 10PM, then it was a stampede towards the Voyage. Mind you, it was a very minor stampede, mostly one group of teenagers that was running fast and the rest of us were walking fast. There was a slight delay as they finished testing the trains, then it was time to ride the Voyage. I went straight for the back seat based on what I've heard.

What a ride! The first drop is the best I've seen on a woodie, and the rest of the ride is full of airtime and crazy turns. I must admit though, after that first ride, I had Voyage in my top 5, but certainly not my new #1 coaster. That would change slightly later. After a handful of rides on Voyage, I checked out the Legend, which I hadn't yet ridden with the new PTC trains. It's still a good ride, but has a few slow spots and focuses a bit too much on laterals instead of airtime. Next it was on to Raven, which is one of my favorites. It was running a tad slow, but it too would warm up later in the day. Raven is still one of my favorites, and is intense yet very re-ridable. I love the layout, too.

After a spin on some other rides and the coasters a few more times, I noticed people were starting to go into Gobbler Getway. It was supposed to be closed that day, but in the mid-afternoon they opened it up as a "preview," with signs out front saying not all of the effects were working yet. After less than a 10 minute wait (the line moved very quickly) I was on the ride. It was a fun time, and I was surprised at the level of detail and creativity. There were a few targets that were clearly not finished, but overall the ride was excellent and a great fit for holiday world.

Splashin Safari was technically open that day, although I saw maybe 5 people in there, due to the cold weather and looming rain. Luckily, it never did rain more than a slight sprinkle, but the forecast still kept most of the crowds away. In fact, after about 5PM or so the crowds really started clearing out, to the point that I took a ride on Legend in the front seat and the only other people on the entire train were 2 guys in the back! A few consecutive spins on Raven (running as good as even by this point), then off to the Voyage to end they day.

Now, I mentioned earlier that after my first ride I would put the Voyage in my top 5. Then the sucker kept speeding up all day. By evening, it was FLYING. Insane speed and airtime through the whole ride, with just that slight breather in the mid-course. I'm not sure I could marathon on this thing, it's almost too intense. I ended up riding it 17 times that day, although I talked to someone who rode it 39 times. Luckily Holiday World has the wonderful policy that if nobody is waiting for your seat you could just stay on, so I spent the last half-hour of the day sitting on Voyage. There was a slight delay when somebody on the other train threw-up... I suggest HW should setup some buckets and be ready for this, because the Voyage has so many directional changes it will tend to make certain people vomit. After riding on the last train of the day at 7PM, everyone clapped and cheered and it was off to the near-empty parking lot.

Overall, an excellent day at HW. The park was spotless, the employees exceedingly friendly, the rides spectacular... you just can't talk this park up enough. I would say they're really going places, except they are clearly already *at* that place and somehow managing to step it up a notch every year. You guys are going to have a blast at Holiwood nights.

Well sorry for that super-long TR. But the verdict is in, my new top 3 wood:

1)Phoenix

2)The Voyage

3)The Raven

Yah, I was just noticing Gobbler is now opening. Hoping for some more detailed trip reports with pictures soon! Good TR though.

^I asked if you could take pictures on Gobbler, and they said no. As far as more details, I'll give it a try, but I only went on it once so don't remember everything. The queue has windows that face out towards the Voyage, and does a few switch-backs in front of the old lady anamatronic. It sounded like she was describing how to use the turkey call and in general the story of the ride, but it was hard to hear what she was saying. Shortly after passing the lady you're ready for loading. The cars seat four people. If I remember correctly, there was a single-riders line, but it wasn't open.

I don't remember all of the scenes on the ride, but the entire thing was very brightly colored and black-lit, without being gaudy. Basically turkeys were hiding in things and behind things and they would pop out when you hit the targets. There was one narrow hallway with windows on either side, this was one of the effect that wasn't working yet, but I imagine the windows will pop open to reveal turkeys. towards the end there is a cute scene where the family is at the dinner table, and they're eating pizza for thanksgiving. Then the final scene is the flashiest, with tons of turkeys and tracer lights, and the happy thanksgiving song. All of the families I saw getting off this ride were smiling, so I think HW has a hit on their hands.

Just curious, do you remember how long the ride was? I'm sure Paula is going to be abel to fill us in on a lot of this at some point.

Great TR! I am really looking forward to my first trip to HW the day before BeastBuzz. It's a shame that I haven't been there before!

I don't remember exactly how long the ride is, but it was longer than I thought it was going to be. Looking down from the Voyage, the building looks small, but they must use every inch of it because the ride was just as long as most dark rides are.

You know...that liquor store salesman used to be a Dippin' Dots guy.

I'd take what he said with a grain of salt.

Paula

Is the Dippin' Dots guy the Holiday World equivelent of Cedar Point's Lemon Chill guy? :)

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I'd take what he said with a grain of salt.

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Mmm. Margaritas.

^Mmmmmmmmmm! :)

I'm having a mental margarita right now ;)

^I'm not sure if I should be worried or not.

It just means I'm chilling, Matt ;)

Cool, Moosh. Cool. :)

^Hey maybe HW should put in a cinco de mayo section and have margaritas in the pepsi oasis. Just a suggestion. ;)

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matt. said:
Yah, I was just noticing Gobbler is now opening. Hoping for some more detailed trip reports with pictures soon! Good TR though.

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There are some photos from a walk-through on that unmentionable site (legally obtained of course, as The Maven could attest to). It was a very cool darkride, it will be really awesome once it is finished. I loved the callers, so unique and cool :)

Oh yeah, Voyage rocked too.