From 67.79.142.210 on August 3, 2010 at 11:15 AM
Great review of Holiday World, Robert. Glad to see you're taking your family to Harry Potter land. Although I saw you at the Potter media preview, I failed to stop and say "Hello." Your review was great and did the new attraction justice. Hope your kids enjoy Potter as much as you did.
- Brian

From Paula Werne on August 3, 2010 at 11:40 AM
Robert ... it appears you answered your own question regarding one-train op at Raven. We "borrowed" the second train when it became apparent the new Timberliner trains wouldn't be ready for the heart of the season as had been anticipated. (Timberliner testing resumes after August 15 when we're back to weekends-only operation.)

Back in May, we made a video with Will Koch explaining the adjustments we made on the Raven train so that it could be used on Voyage's track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Lpc8L77qkA

Also, for future reference for you and your readers, we do advise waiting till mid-afternoon to ride the coasters, especially The Raven. More tips are here on our website: http://www.holidayworld.com/visit/tips-better-visit

You missed our 64th birthday by just one day -- thanks for visiting!

Paula at Holiday World

From Stacey VanDyke on August 3, 2010 at 11:43 AM
There is a blog posting on Holiday World's page dated for May 20, 2010 with Will Koch explaining "Plan B" for the Voyage since the Timberliners are out.

From Erin B on August 3, 2010 at 12:29 PM
Robert, the last news I heard concerning the Timberliners is that they won't resume testing until the park goes to weekends-only operations. I'm assuming that between Will's passing & summer crowds, there's not much time for Timberliner testing right now.
When I visited Holiday World at the end of May/beginning of June, I rode both trains & didn't notice too much of a difference in the roughness. What did affect the ride was whether or not I was on a wheel seat. The wheel seat was significantly more brutal, but keeping my back off of the seat helped eliminate any pain.

From Robert Niles on August 3, 2010 at 12:36 PM
Ugh, you're right. I completely spaced that news about the Raven/Voyage. My bad.

So perhaps you've got a choice here folks: Voyage Classic = Blue train. Voyage Extreme = Red train. Take your pick.

From 208.47.92.61 on August 3, 2010 at 1:47 PM
I am headed there this weekend, where on earth do you get the fried oreos?? I've GOT to have them!!

From Joshua Counsil on August 3, 2010 at 2:59 PM
Great report. I'd love to visit Holiday World. You made it seem more appealing than Cedar Point.

From Will Chilcote on August 3, 2010 at 3:05 PM
The food looks amazing. All that for less than 9 dollars, wow, at most diners you would pay more than that.

From 216.252.0.117 on August 3, 2010 at 3:25 PM
you go to the funnel cake factory stand for the deep fried oreos (or as my mom calls them, a heart attack on a plate)

From 74.112.212.15 on August 3, 2010 at 5:00 PM
I agree that Holiday World has always had a good value on their food. I have been eight times this year and didn't know they had fried oreos. Where are they?

From James Rao on August 3, 2010 at 5:59 PM
So, Robert, did you get a chance to check out Wildebeest or any of the water park rides this time around?

From Rod Whitenack on August 3, 2010 at 6:53 PM
Never hit the Raven first. Everyone does that. Just go straight back through Christmas and into the Fourth of July first unless you want to go the the Water Park. After 1 - 2PM there won't be any wait, and there will be much less wait for the Legend too. The Voyage still has a pretty good line all day, and it seems to never get up and running until after noon, so generally don't run there first or you'll just be sweating and disappointed. Also, the ABSOLUTE WORST time to try and ride the Voyage is just about the time the Water Park closes when hundreds of people will leave the Water Park and IMMEDIATELY line up for the Voyage. It's better to get there before that happens.

From Ray Schroeder on August 4, 2010 at 11:00 AM
Food looks great. But where are your veggies? :)

From Andy Guinigundo on August 6, 2010 at 6:57 AM
After my first trip to Holiday World last year, I've been itching to get back there. Living in Cincinnati, I've had to ask myself - what took me so long?

Two things holding me back from returning this year. I really want to ride those Timberliner trains. The Gravity Group (designers of the Voyage and the Timberliner trains)resides in West Chester, OH the northern Cincinnati suburb right next to mine. Secondly, I am waiting for my 2nd budding coaster fan to grow to 48 inches. The 5 yr old rode Everest 4x this past May!

Do yourself a favor - if you haven't been, make the trip to Santa Claus, IN. Stay next door at Lake Rudolph. You won't regret it!

From 66.186.101.154 on August 8, 2010 at 10:53 PM
Just a little thought about the red and blue trains on the Voyage. The blue train was manufactured to fit the Voyage's track design while the red was modified to fit the track design. So if you were to ride both you would prob. notice a significant difference in the smoothness of each train with the blue being smooth and the red being rough. On a side note, when the red train gets put back on the Raven you would think that with the train being pushed to the limit on the voyage on what its able to do on the track that it would fly threw the Raven just as smooth as before.