Dollywood Discussion Thread

by **Double0Kevin** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 1:39 pm

This is the first wing rider that actually looks thrilling and worth it to me. The others look like great GP pleasers but this one looks like it's good for everyone. I guess we really shouldn't have doubted that Dollywood would deliver anything less.

Youtube · by **robbalvey** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 1:53 pm

Dollywood sent us some amazing off-ride footage to go along with the POV we posted! Check it out....

Off-Ride Shots and Rider Cam POV:

YouTube Videolink

Front Seat POV:

YouTube Videolink

by **DJeXeL** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 2:01 pm

Looks to be a hit. Dollywood did a great job on this beast. Robb & Eric what are your impressions?

Youtube · by **robbalvey** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 2:02 pm

^ I unfortunately, wasn't at the event. Eric will have a report up soonish, though!

Youtube · by **chrisdanger** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 2:10 pm

Very cool indeed man...I may need to take a trip to the smokeys here sooner than later...

Youtube · by **spinning man** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 2:10 pm

I wonder how that loop felt like. After riding the swarm, I have even more interest in all the wing-riders, and the roar from wild eagle is lovely.

by **DJeXeL** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 2:12 pm

^^^We will be patiently waiting......

by **Reuschini** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 2:16 pm

Wow, this is the first wingrider POV I've seen where I would actually want to ride this thing!

Very cool and looks like one of the more intense ones out there.

by **r3vo** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 3:27 pm

Well, I just got back home from the park and will say that Wild Eagle definitely doesn't disappoint. My only ride on it took place on the rear left outside seat and the first drop was INCREDIBLE. The inversions have great pacing to them. The zero-g doesn't hang as much as it looks like from off-ride, and definitely not as much as The Swarm seems to. There is a nice pop of air you get coming out of time immelman, and the flat spin is a really cool inversion especially with the way you are seated on the wing riders. The little bunny hop doesn't give as much air-time as I would like. The figure 8 has some nice forces to it, especially the last turn. Overall I would say that Dollywood and B&M did a great job creating a family friendly ride that can be enjoyed by all.

I will also say the retracking Dollywood did on Thunderhead is appreciated, and it was running GREAT today! Love that ride! :airtime:

On a side note, anyone know why one of mystery mine's trains was stuck in the final inversion?

by **ernierocker** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 3:28 pm

Hey guys! I just got back from an amazing day at Dollywood! Starting with my first media event representing TPR at the Boomsday Announcement, I was anxiously awaiting for the opportunity to attend this morning's event! And now it has finally gone and past. It has been an absolute blast to bring you an inside look at Dollywood's latest creation and I am thankful to Robb and Elissa for allowing me to represent you guys. Also, a TON of thanks to Pete Owens, Brian Angello and everyone else at Dollywood for inviting us down the park and giving us this amazing coverage! Now, all you guys can head to Tennessee and see it for yourselves!

So, how was Wild Eagle you ask??? I was able to get two rides this morning. Once in the back right inner seat and once in the front right inner seat. The set-up for the day didn't really allow me to get a TON of rides, but I feel I got a good taste of the experience. My first ride on a Wing Rider was a lot of fun! You really fly up the lift hill and all you can see is lift hill and sky. Seriously, it is a steep lift hill! As you would expect being in the back seat you are absolutely flung over the lift hill. What a drop!!! It really took my breath away and I actually completely forgot to take a second to enjoy the views on top of the mountain! After that, it is the four loops which are all taken with decent forces and flow well together. I didn't get any air whatsoever on my first ride through the air time hill and the ride was actually a little dull during this portion. But the final twist at the end had a lot of forces comparable to Goliath's helix at SFOG. Another surprise was how fast you go from the first brake to the holding brake. You actually get some decent forces on the left turn back towards the station!

My second ride in the front seat was a totally different experience! While the first drop wasn't nearly as forceful, I quickly realized one of the benefits of a front seat ride on a Wing Rider was. Leg choppers! Through each loop, it feels like you are narrowly missing the track supports just below your feet. Really adds an extra dimension to the ride. Not to mention you get close to some of the trees along the outside of the ride. Will be nice to check this out when the trees start to fill in with leaves. I actually got a tad bit of floater air through the airtime hill on my second ride. Will see how this changes as the ride breaks in more.

I have to say I enjoyed my front seat ride more than the back seat one. The ride seemed to pack more of a punch throughout the ride rather than just the first half of the back seat ride. I have been told that the left side is a totally different experience than the right side (like you would expect and has been speculated on here before) The lateral forces are supposed to be much stronger as you are on the inside of all the inversions. I will just have to find out for myself next week!

To conclude, Wild Eagle is another fabulous addition to the Dollywood coaster family. You will not be disappointing so head on down here and ride it!

Okay, enough jibber jabber. On to video & photos!

Off-Ride Shots and Rider Cam POV:

YouTube Videolink

Front Seat POV:

YouTube Videolink