Reon

This is so depressing. I just saw him a few weeks ago at HWN and he looked fine! I never would have suspected he was suffering from Diabetes and that he was so close to kicking it. My concollences to Will and all of the Koch family. Truly, one of the greatest park presidents has left us today. RIP, Will.

Looks like a cool little layout for the coaster. My say on Six Gun is nice idea, not enough effort.

I'm gonna have to agree with Rob on this one. I'm pretty picky about my top wood coasters since I've been on some of the best in America, and Voyage is definately up there for me. Its just too bad the park is only open after dark during events. Pitch Black+Voyage=Scariest coaster I've been on in my life! Yes, the ride is rough, and you kind of have to know the layout to brace yourself, but Voyage definately deserves its #1 position with or without Timberjiners. Besides, if you skip out on HW, youll be missing out on Raven, Legend, and Wildebeest aswell, not to mention all the other goodies the park has to offer. I love Holiday World, and would probabbly advise anyone to visit the park whenever I could.

I feel like Chris Sawyer got all his ideas for the food stalls in RCT from Canobie...

I would have rathered it been a bit closer to home like an Indiana/Ohio park, but I DEFINATELY want in on this! I have a place to stay up in Chicago so the trip wont be too bad, and I still need to take care of some unfinished credit whoring at SFGAm....What better way to return to the park than a TPR bash?

It was a lightweight zipup hoodie, so I thought I might be able to get away with it during nighttime ERT...I was wrong. Anyways, I had a blue Voyage shirt and was dragging around my orange Coney Island bag (which lost a strap throughout the course of the day). As for photos, you'll see what I mean when I post my report/resize the photos to TPR standards. I'll probabbly put it in my thread *points at sig*, but first I have to post my Waldameer trip....

Was Orient Express a custom layout? It looks like it crosses over the station in a somewhat figure 8 layout, rather than staying on one side of the station in a n oval with a helix...

It is a pretty fun ride. The forward half is nice, but the thrills really kick in once you start going down the spike....Being pulled backwards and ejected out of your seat while going straight down backwards+almost falling out of the ride as you float upsidedown on the tophat=pure insanity.

I'm really hoping that you somehow had a bad Cornball day. For my 2 visits to the park so far, its performed amazingly. Not as much air as Cyclops, but that might just be since last time I rode that thing I actually popped over the seat divider on the first drop, so its hard to compare to that. Cornball is definately one of my favorite wood coasters in terms of airtime, pacing, and a well placed layout. Indiana residents are extremely lucky to have that and Voyage so close by...

I remember when Wildebeest valleyed. Me and my friends (read: Ted and his Bloomington crew+me) were in the boat in the pre-lift section sitting just outside of the station that whole time...Sad that I never got in any photos, but I didn't really stand out aside from my Voyage shirt and nametag. I tried wearing my zipup TPR hoodie a few times, but it was just too hot for it. Still, I think I got to talk to you a bit on the walk back to our cars, so all is well. Anyways, great photos! I'm so jelouse of all the professional photographers while I'm just sitting there with my little Kodak EasySHare C713. Hopefully you enjoyed the greatness that is Voyage at night as much as I did. It definately secured my favorite non-Phoenix coaster that night.

First Park: Kings Island opening day (keeping my tradition going) First Coaster: Diamondback (which killed my old Vortex tradition...curse you for being so fun, LSHoF!) First Food: Skyline at KI. Love me some Cincy stlye chili First "New" Ride: Boo Blasters First New Credit: Ravine Flyer II First New for 2010 Ride that was actually advertised/speculated over: Wildebeest

Having gone to both parks, I think I should chime in. First of all, RF2. I have to agree with you for the most part on this one. Its pretty fun, but the intensity definately wares off midway through the ride. I thought the 90 degree downward turn gave the ride a second wind, but it doesnt really last that long. As for EK...I dont really know how to rate it. True its smooth, filled with air, and good transitions, but being raised on rides like the Beast and Voyage, I actually prefer my wood a bit rough. Im not dismissing it as a top 10, but it would probabbly be on the lower end of that list for me, just because of all the wood I've hit over the years. Did you hit Mr. Freeze? I'd say its probabbly one of the most fun steel coasters I've ever been on....

First of all, props for the Skyline reference. As a Cincinnati resident, I'm proud to say I'm addicted to that delicious crack. Anyways, thanks for posting this PTR. I'll be making a road trip at the end of July/beginning of August, and the last leg/final turnaround will be SFOG/Lake Winnie. Do you have any tips aside from the obvious? I know the terrors of Superman fail from Chicago, but I'm willing to give this SUF a try if theres time...

I was just at Waldameer last Friday....I think those machines at the bottom were for recharging points. I think admission also sells cards that you can charge with a certain amount of points, then you go to those machines to put more on. Anyways, how did you like Thunder River?

I noticed that too. Missed my chance to get ERT on it Saturday in favor of several LSHoF laps and claiming first ride of the day on Firehawk, but it was definatly down most of the day....Maybe its trying to teach it's sone a lesson?

I'm going 23 years and counting with not but a single date, and look at me now...................pathetic

I was checking off of Waldameer's suggested hotels/motels, and then google searching the area...Right now I've found a few cheaper/shabby places, but the one important factor will be to find the place. I'm going to be arriving around 10:30, long after it gets dark, so once I get into town I need some light. Unfortunately my car's headlights are dimming a bit, so I can't see well without turning on the brights when I'm in a non-lit area. Update: I'm going to be staying at the Riviera Motel. Its pretty cheap and well reviewed, not to mention right next to the park...Anyone have any other general Waldameer/Erie PA suggestions?

I'm not that big of a drinker, but might be something to check out thursday night. Of course, unless I leave CP early I'd be getting to Erie around 10:30ish... Housing wise, I'm looking at a few places around Presque Isle. I think the key right now is that I'll be arriving in the dark, so it would be nice to find the place easily...

Yeah I saw those, but none of the sites actually list pricing for anything! I kind of think the Riviera would work, but I dont really understand the room and Waldameer combo, since Waldameer runs a pay-per-ride, or wristband deal.

^Do you have any recomendations for lodgings for a poor college student thats starting up another season of being a ride operater in a few weeks? I can go this friday as long as I find a place to stay thursday night.

Sounds about right to me.

^I'm just getting started Quick KI update (no pictures), and general update. KI first... I went up to the park on Saturday like promised, but the crowds were so bad I sort of came and went throughout the day. Got 3 rides on Diamondback (once each in front/middle/back). Just like I remembered from last year, theres no "bad" seat on our B&M hypercoaster friend..its more a preferance of WHERE you want you're airtime. After that, I waited for the rope to drop and got to be 1st rider of the day on Firehawk Not as fun as I remember from last year, but still one of my favorite flyers, and the front seat ride was always welcome...Next up was Flight of Fear x2, because its worth it. FoF was running with only the red light on, so it was mostly dark, and only light where it made the ride look like it was still themed. Blocks were on, but I actually LIKE going from a dead stop to falling sideways out of the seat, especially in the front. Then I went back to BS Coaster to see if opening day was a fluke....yes. 1st launch was much faster, and all the effects were on. Thats when crowds got huge. I went on a few more coasters of little to no consiquence, confirmed SoB being history, and left after a few rides on BBoBH (its so much fun,and a full line takes maybe 20 minutes to get through). Huge crowds+Good weather+Saturday+Groups=Me not staying that long, but mission accomplished. And now for the other update: I'm making my first Cedar Point trip of the season on Thursday. Will probabbly be sporting ye olde magic TPR hoddie unless its too hot, and probabbly some sort of coaster appeal. If I can finalize plans by tonight, I'll also be adding on an excursion to Waldameer on friday

So this week I'm heading up to see some of my college friends and hit some parks. I plan to be in Columbus tomorrow, CP on Thursday, and if I can finallize plans by tonight (points at description), then Waldameer for half of Friday, before I head to Bowling Green OH to see my other friends. My funds are a bit limited at the time, but fortunately, the only thing I actually need to pay for is a motel by Waldameer, and the actual wristband. That being said, any cheap motels/hotels around the area? I've been looking online, but I cant find prices listed for anything. I'll be driving up to said h/motel thursday night before I go to the park friday if thats any help.

Quick question to any Waldameer locals/fans. About how long does it take to get through everything on a friday? I'm going to see if I can convince my parents to let me have an extra travel day this week to go up there. (CP on thursday then drive up to Waldameer for some motel, hit the park friday and try to make the 4 hour drive to Bowling Green OH). Any suggestions?

Looks pretty interesting. I kind of want to try it...I'll have to see if I can get a day off work when they're at Kings Island, or go some day to Cedar Point....