A request for advice
We just received a sweet email from 11-year-old Matthew.
He says he and his dad are planning a visit to Holiday World & Splashin' Safari. They made a pact to ride every single ride while they're here.
Matthew admits he's a little nervous about riding The Voyage and would like some advice.
I suggested he keep an eye on this post, as I'm sure our readers will come up with lots of great tips in the "Comments" section.
I'll start with my tip: Keep your eyes open, Matthew. If your eyes are closed, you won't "go with the flow" of the ride. Plus it's an incredible view from the top of the lifthill!
Okay, your turn. Click on the "Comments" link just below this post and help Matthew out.
posted by Paula at 2:59 PM
20 Comments:
Do not ride with your hands up. You will be more comfortable holding on. The ride looks a lot scarier than what it really is. It is always good to remind yourself that those nice ride operators at Holiday World would not let you ride, if they thought that it would be unsafe. I have ridden the Voyage more times than I can count and I still think it is a whole heap of fun!
6/14/08 4:05 PM
I was really scared too when I rode my first rollercoaster - which was the Raven. I almost didn't do it, but I'm so glad that I did because now I love all the big rides, especially the Voyage.
My advice is: don't close your eyes (this is what I did, and it just made me freak out when I could hear the rush, but couldn't tell where we were going), do scream (because it's fun and it makes you less nervous) and do focus on the fun rather than the fear.
6/14/08 5:08 PM
Hey Matthew, when you ride the Voyage just have fun. It's a big scary roller coaster because roller coaster are supposed to be big and scary or they wouldn't be fun, right? So keep your eyes open and hold on and be sure to scream when you feel like it. Don't get tense, just let your body go with the flow and you'll have a great time!
6/14/08 5:57 PM
you have to keep your hands up- ask any veteran coaster enthusiast! I have rode both in the front seat and in the back seat, and in my opinion, the voyage is definitely a back seat coaster- from the front seat, you can see whats coming before you experience it. I personally like the element of surprise.
6/15/08 12:05 AM
Matthew, the first drop is the most scary part, but once you are over that hill you will have the most fun you have ever had! Hold on around the curves and scream as much as you want! Enjoy all the airtime and just have fun! Oh and be sure to check out your on ride photo afterwards!
6/15/08 12:11 AM
One tip I have, which seems to be pretty simple: Hold one hand to the Lap Bar, and one hand on the Grab Bar, sounds odd, but throughout the ride the Lap Bar may shake and move, making any rider feel uneasy, but this is totally normal, holding on to the Grab Bar keeps the feeling that everything is completely non-moving.
Basically, what I'm saying is, hold on, but hold on to two different locations, its easier to hold a triangle up than a "skinny rectangle"
if you feel nervous, squeeze the handle bar, do not lock your body, if you are tense, you will not have an enjoyable experience.
Remember that the "Seas get Rough" so don't expect a smooth ride, because it is designed to be intense and wild.
Enjoy your Voyage!
6/15/08 7:18 AM
if you don't look down it will be less scary
6/15/08 9:19 AM
The Voyage is intense, and my only advice would be...eat the delicious and filling turkey dinner from Thanksgiving land after you ride and not before. We road it last weekend and spent two full days in the park. It was fabulous and I know you will have so much fun!
6/15/08 12:27 PM
Keep smiling even if you don't feel like it or you will have a funny looking picture like I did the very first time I rode it. Hold on tight. Scream loud.
6/15/08 9:11 PM
When boarding for the first time, head for the middle of the train. Not only will the wait be shorter, but the ride is less intense here.
If you like it (and I ASSURE you, you will!), progress towards the front, and then end the day with a back-seat ride. You won't be disappointed!
6/16/08 12:22 AM
It's true that The Voyage is a big, long ride - but it doesn't mean it is something to be scared of. When you ride, you just need to think about having FUN! Riding The Voyage is sort of like riding the Raven about three times or the Legend twice. When you pull into the brakes on those rides you probably think, "Let's do that again." With The Voyage you can! By the time the other coasters rides would end, The Voyage just keeps on going. It's like getting more ride per wait in line - BONUS! So have fun with your family and enjoy an E X T E N D E D roller coaster ride.
Now my question is this: does anybody have any advice on how to ride the Turkey Whirl? That's the one I'm nervous about riding.
6/17/08 8:34 AM
For the Turkey Whirl my advice is don't eat right before you go on it and don't close your eyes
6/17/08 9:57 AM
My advice...work up to it slowly...start out with the Raven, and you'll be wanting more. Then ride the Legend, and you'll be wanting more...THEN ride the Voyage...and you'll STILL be wanting more!
6/17/08 11:54 AM
Matthew,
I took my 8 year old son to Holiday World for the first time in May. He was terrified to ride the big rides. I offered him money, he was still nervous. I can tell you what worked for him. He held on to me, and the lap bar. He screamed as much as he possibly could, and we laughed about it all the way home. It was a great experience for him, and it will be for you too. I agree that you should work your way up to the Voyage. Start smaller and then go big. You won't regret it.
6/17/08 10:43 PM
dear matthew, when im scared i think about the fun rides that you have already been on. I one time went down a roller coaster and my cousin was scared so I talked about other rides going down the hill. She loved me talking to her beacause when we went down the hill I sounded weird and my cheeks were going everywhere. so my advice is to get a laugh durring the scary parts.
6/20/08 12:32 PM
I was scared to ride the Voyage when i saw it i almost didn't ride it. Now i am glad i did not back down cause it is really fun!:) The ride is not as scary as it looks! So give it a try!:)
6/20/08 5:20 PM
Matthew my advice is just be calm and know that if the ride was bad then they would'nt let you ride it!I haaven't rode a coaster yet but I'm going to here in a couple days.Just don't freak!!
6/22/08 10:15 AM
Matthew,
Thank you. Your request for advice along with the advice given gave me the courage to ride the Voyage. The one thing that I thought would scare me the most--the first drop didn't. Sitting in the middle must of helped.
Enjoy your ride.
6/23/08 9:36 AM
I think that the best thing you can do is don't think of how high it is or about how awful the drop is. Think about how awesome the drop will be and how you can tell your friends that you did and they will be impressed.
6/24/08 4:23 PM
I'm a little late in posting, but I hope you still see this, Matthew! The most important thing to remember when you're in line to ride that great big coaster is that, really, nothing bad can happen on it. The very WORST thing that could happen is that you don't have fun for a few minutes. And if that happens, well, it's not forever. It's not going to hurt you, or follow you home, or call you names at school. :) If you don't like it, so what? It just means you wasted a few minutes, and you can have a soda and then go ride something you like. At least you can say you tried it. But if you DO like it- and I think you will- you'll have the time of your life. It's not much of a gamble, is it? My nephew was 8, too, when he rode the Voyage for the first time. He saw how big it was and was scared- then he realized there wasn't much to be scared of. When they built it, they made sure nothing bad can happen. Now it's my nephew's very favorite! And mine, too!
7/1/08 12:15 AM
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