On the way to the park yesterday morning, I was worried. The anticipation for this ride has far exceeded that of any new ride since I've gotten into this hobby. The hype surrounding Voyage has been unreal. Ever since the ride was announced, everything just seemed too good to be true. The design... brilliant, the construction pictures... amazing, the on-ride videos... unbelievable. I was starting to think that it might be impossible for Voyage to live up to the expectations that I had for the ride.
Not only did the ride live up to my expectations, it blew them away by a mile. Voyage far exceeded my wildest dreams for what a roller coaster could do. The ride was certainly not what I had imagined. It was WAY better!
Voyage has many great coaster moments. Instead of having one or two signature elements that define the ride, it's a full out onslaught of coaster nirvana from start to finish. The ride is fast, powerful, and incredibly intense. The advertised air time is no joke. It's there in spades. Laterals are littered throughout the entire course. It's smooth, very smooth... for now.
The first few hills are somewhat Timbers-esque but better. The drops seem to go forever. After the third large hill the train hits the first tunnel followed by a SWEET twisted low hill right into the second tunnel. Then another taller hill sets you up for the turn around.
The turn around has a rapid fire series of elements somewhat like Thunderhead, but faster and WAY more intense. The speed is unbelievable. The twin 90s are nice and the reversed banked turn leading into the first is just plain sick! A couple of small but sweet twisted hills lead up into the section of the block break where you can catch your breath for about a second and a half.
The triple down in the tunnel is nice. On many coasters this would be one of the best elements but on Voyage, it's probably one of the tamest. The third drop is deeper than I expected and very good from the back of the train.
As the train rockets out of tunnel after the third drop things just go nuts! The trip back is unlike anything I've ever experienced before. The elements come faster and faster and faster. There's strong air time, on every hill and laterals on every turn (often both occurring seemingly at the same time).
Just before the third 90 degree turn is a small hop that is plain out nasty. It feels like the train just drops about five foot straight down suddenly. Those of you with back problems probably won't enjoy this part.
At this point your thinking it can't possibly get any more intense. WRONG! Following the third 90 the ride the afterburners kick in and the ride moves to a whole new level. The hill back over the lift gives perfect air time and leads right to the tunnel under the station. Out of the tunnel is a beautiful rib crushing lateral air time hill.
The ending sequence of turns and tunnels is just a blur and you're finally up into the brakes. It's a long ride, and it manages to pack every inch with something interesting. There's no dead spots, no wasted track. We were talking with Will at one point and he said there wasn't a single thing he'd do differently if given a second chance. I tend to agree with him, I wouldn't change a thing.
The ride is just amazing. It's SO fast, SO powerful, SO intense! I just can't emphasize the speed enough, it's unreal! There's nothing to compare it to. No coaster has ever done THIS before!
... and this was at 11am. By the end of the afternoon the ride had somehow gotten even FASTER. ... and it's BRAND NEW. It still has some breaking in to do! OMG! Night rides are going to be something else all together. I don't think even those of us who have already gotten our first rides in are going to be prepared for what's about to happen to us in three weeks.
Best
Coaster
Ever!
It's... perfect!
Iggy
