Woodie Warrior

I think the main question was how the modern day farm themeing played into the story.

So I'm going to try and decipher what all the clues meant now that the ride has been announced: Day 1- This was just a way to start off the 66 Days campaign, there were no real clues in there pertaining to what the ride might be. Day 2- Thunderhawk is beautiful, but might look a little intimidating as well. Your feet do not touch any floor (aka land) for the entire ride since it is a wing coaster. Day 3- The bird references the wing coaster trains. Day 4- The children (coaster enthusiasts) are begging to know what is coming and are dreaming of possibilities. Day 5- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 6- The barrel is a reference to the barrel roll at the end of the ride. Day 7- According to the podcast, there are keyhole shapes in the holes of the clouds. Day 8- This is a red herring. Paula wanted us to think that there would be a chain lift. Day 9- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 10- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 11- Either there were Thunderbirds in these clouds, or Paula just wanted to post pictures of pretty, puffy clouds for us to look at. Day 12- The "prosperous wind" is a reference to the launch. Day 13- According to the podcast, there are no hidden shapes in the mastiff. Paula just thought it was neat that there were dogs on board the Mayflower. Day 14- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 15- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 16- The wailing of Oceanus may have been a reference to the B&M roar. Day 17- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 18- The children once again represent those coaster enthusiasts who stayed up late at night wondering what was in store for Holiday World. Paula is also excited about the new ride. Day 19- There are Thunderbirds in the clouds. Day 20- You might get motion sickness from all the inversions on Thunderbird. Day 21- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 22- Thunderbird features four inversions- some might be afraid of the inversions, but the coaster enthusiasts (the children) will have a great time. Day 23- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 24- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 25- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 26- The first storm may represent Thunderbird's first inversion- the Immelmann. Day 27- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 28- We coaster enthusiasts (the children), had to stay patient for the whole 66 days. Day 29- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 30- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 31- The part about the trees may be a reference to the terrain element at the end of Thunderbird. Day 32- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 33- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry, Paula just liked the pretty picture of the moon. Day 34- The force of the wind might reference the forces that you'll experience while riding Thunderbird. Day 35- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 36- Yes, Paula. By the time 36 days had passed, we children had been growing pretty restless. Day 37- The whole 66 Days campaign was a pretty long guessing game. Day 38- "Don't worry enthusiasts, this is not a stand-up coaster. We're not idiots!" Day 39- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 40- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 41- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 42- This second storm may reference Thunderbird's second inversion: the loop. Day 43- The vertical loop is very dizzying. Day 44- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 45- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 46- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 47- "Nope, enthusiasts. This project IS NOT going to be leaked. Be patient!" Day 48- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 49- This third storm may either reference the horseshoe and elevated spiral combination, or maybe the zero-G roll. Day 50- Thunderbird has a mighty B&M roar, but it will not deafen the screams of those on board the coaster. Day 51- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 52- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 53- According to the podcast, those were pictures of the bolts that will be going into the supports and footers. Day 54- This is a red herring. Paula was kinda hinting at a wooden coaster, but really she just wanted to show us a nifty picture. Day 55- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 56- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 57- Holiday World is all in on this new coaster- there is no turning back now. Day 58- Not only are the coaster enthusiasts (the children) getting impatient, but so are the Holiday World employees. Day 59- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 60- The word "steel" is used. That one's pretty obvious. Day 61- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 62- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 63- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 64- I don't think there were really any clues in this entry. Day 65- The most obvious hint of them all: there is a Thunderbird shape in the clouds, and the entry gives some background on what a Thunderbird is. Day 66- The journey is over! Time to ride!

So the theme of the ride isn't the Thunderbird leading the Pilgrims to the New World. The theme is that the Thunderbird that saved the Pilgrims is now flying over Indiana. At least that's what I think it's supposed to be. what Lol I'm a little confused on the themeing too. But whatever. It's a shiny new coaster.

I have to disagree with one thing you posted (even though I agree with the rest): This ride was for BOTH the enthusiasts and the GP. Both groups have been asking for a steel, and even though some enthusiasts don't seem to be open to changing their minds about wing coasters, many enthusiasts (like myself) like wing coasters and are super excited about this addition. And the entire campaign was targeted at the enthusiasts.

From the Thunderbird microsite: So the theme of the ride isn't the Thunderbird leading the Pilgrims to the New World. The theme is that the Thunderbird that saved the Pilgrims is now flying over Indiana. At least that's what I think it's supposed to be.

Also about the cost of the ride: I know the Voyage's construction cost was very little compared to $22 million. But I'm guessing the annual retracking has probably tripled the amount by now. Steel coasters don't ever require retracking.

Anybody know who the guy interviewing the audience before the announcement was? He was hilarious!

If they go all out with the Twister Twins RMC refurb, I'd return to the park. I don't feel the need to go back next year for T3, I'll be at Holiday World, riding a much superior coaster.

I really hope this is complete sarcasm. Like, seriously. It's been less than two hours. And people are already nitpicking the ride and talking about how they'd rather have a flying coaster. Edit: Did not mean for that to come out rude. I just don't see how a flying coaster would be better than a wing coaster. Thunderbird looks spectacular. The best coaster EVA? No. But will it be a game changer for both Holiday World AND B&M? Hell yes.

The "teaser video" is amazingly put together. I love the animation and the editing. That Thunderbird is freaking BAD A$$.

I'm sure they all did. And they all went, "Oh sh!t."

There is no way I'm not attending HoliWood Nights next year. And if we "coaster crazies" are invited for media day, I might have to attend that as well.

Live stream isn't working on my phone. Do they normally post the entire podcast online?

Did anyone else hear the part about how they are really going to focus on themeing this ride?The station and keyhole look really cool! I honestly can't wait to ride. Unlike a lot of people, I really liked GateKeeper and can't wait to ride Thunderbird: which looks 10000000000000x better. Paula, I can't believe you were able to keep this secret for SO long.

If that were to happen I would laugh my a$$ off... And then I would just sit there and cry for a few hours

We rode in the second to last row of the blue train. The rattle was very noticeable.

Yes, there is a grouper on Goliath. It's how they're keeping the single rider line operating smoothly. Hank seems to be following Cedar Fair's example and is phasing groupers and single rider lines into the park. I guess all of those surveys I took really did get through. We were actually able to choose our own seats today. I chose the back row and was super happy about it. Goliath was a pretty good ride. The drop and zero-G stall were amazing. The rest of the elements were okay, but nothing to write home about. It'll most definitely end up in my top 5, but Outlaw Run has it beat and the Voyage is probably going to remain #2 as well. It's probably the best ride in the park, though. Edit: My last visit to the park was in 2010. I took a night ride on Raging Bull and was completely blown away. I put it as #1 on my steel list. Over the years, I've kind of forgotten how much I loved it, and it dropped more than a couple spots down my list. I got to ride it again today. I love the first drop (even though Goliath's is slightly better), and the layout has great potential. Even the trim brakes didn't bother me at all. The only thing holding Raging Bull back from my #1 spot is it's rattle. It rattled A LOT. But I think I'm going to move it back up a few spots, because it has a great layout and some nice airtime.

They announced the date at the end of HoliWood Nights this year. I think it is the last weekend of May again.

Anybody know if there is a grouper at the station telling you where to sit? After waiting this long I'm hoping we get to choose where to sit.

Yeah it didn't make much sense to us. But it's all okay, the line is definitely not a three hour wait like the sign says. It's been about an hour so far and we are almost at the shaded part of the queue.

At the park right now, in line for Goliath. We had a group of three and decided to switch to the single rider line so that we could all get on faster. When we told the guy we were fine being single riders and not riding together, he just told us "We can't send groups up, you have to be alone, even if you guys would all ride separately." Meanwhile, trains are sent out with two or three empty seats each.

I'm at SFGAM right now and saw a family point at Superman, saying "That's the new ride, Goliath!"

You just answered your own question.

Yeah, no, no, they're not going to do that. That would be one of the stupidest decisions that Six Flags could make.

I have some fun memories from Scooby-Doo and will make sure to ride it a few more times before it closes in September. But I couldn't be more excited for Justice League (if that is really what is replacing ol' Scooby)