Also, I agree with James. Voyage is a one of a kind.
I am now trying to plan a summer trip out to Indiana just to go to this park that so many people are raving about. I think this is exactly what this tournament and this site is made for, not just to rave about the major parks but to help the lesser known ones shine as well.
Kudos to this site and everyone who makes this place so great.
It is sites like this that need to bring attention to these places and readers cannot call themselves a true theme park insiders unless they visit these parks too.
ROBERT NILES: Please find someone to cover the launch party for SKY ROCKET at Kennywood. This is their first roller coaster in almost 20 years and really deserves its own article on your wonderful site.
Also if Knoebles gets the FLYING TURNS up and running this year, please have someone cover that too. I wait with baited breath. Love Liz -Washington DC.
In actual athletic Tournaments such as the NCAA, teams upset because they exhibit moments of greatness and execution that exceed what they were supposed to be able to accomplish given their ranking. In some cases they ride that new found enthusiasm deeper into the tournament, continuing to upset higher seeded teams that should have beaten them easily, becoming a Cinderella story.
That's something that can't happen here. It's not as if an attraction can miraculously pull a ride element out of its back side and cause an upset because it exceeded what it normally does day in and day out. It would be like the Coney Island Cyclone as a 16th seed winning because in the 1st round it somehow grew a cobra roll, and then dominated the second round because out of nowhere it developed a 100 foot loop, consecutive corkscrews and an onboard sound system and fire effects. An attraction can't rise to the occasion like an athlete, it can only do what it is designed to do, no more, no less. However, attractions can under perform, as was the case with Expedition Everest being knocked out early do to a static Yeti. Fix the Yeti before next years tournament, and the ride now steps into the battlefield wielding all of the weapons it can muster to advance deep.
I take no issue with The Voyage winning as it is a fine woody, deserving of its praise and performance in this competition. Heck, I'm pretty sure I voted in favor of it almost, if not all of the rounds. I applaud Holiday World for the relationship they share with their fan base, and given the way that things happen in this tournament, they played the game the way it needed to be played to advance their champion through to victory. But really, this situation is about as comparable to an actual athletic competition as American Idol is.
Also, it was pretty obvious that the winner of the themed ride/roller coaster matchup was going to win. I don't care how good it is, all shows and films take a backseat in a theme park. You go to the theme park to ride, and the shows are just a nice supporting attraction. If you want shows, go to the movies or broadway.
Food, game, and souvenir prices aren't based on statistical analysis of how much money the average visitor has their pocket throughout the day.
There's no need for an insider's guidebook because Holiday World prints great tips on their website and doesn't go in for the proximity pricing where drinks are worth more at different locations.
Taking cues from the staff, patrons also tend to be polite, friendly, and helpful.
The prices aren't so high that you see angry parents hell-bent to "get their money's worth."
Entering the park doesn't require jockeying through metro-area traffic.
The park has an immaculate and lovely air-conditioned room (with glider rockers) for nursing mothers.
Oh, and the rides? They totally rock.
Thanks for backing me up that Knoebles and Kennywood needs more love. I do really hope their rollercoaster lauches this year are covered here.
@Niles and TPI.com: Need someone to do it for you. *ahem* :)
I agree with the Duke / Butler theming. What more can you say!