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someone wake me up when something other than dumb shit about kites - that I don't care about - gets posted.

Seems like a weird thing to just kind of...not announce. Sure $7 isn't much money and a lot less than seperate gate waterparks usually charge. But I can forsee a lot of disgruntled people and negative reviews being left.

We visited the park last Saturday. Operations in the park ranged from pretty good at Twisted Timbers to "meh" at Racer, Dominator, and Reptilian to absolutely terrible at i305 and Flight of Fear. I've always liked KD but if I had been living under a rock for a year and you told me Six Flags bought it, I'd believe you. We had the benefit of FL+ as we do pretty much everywhere we go, so we still got as many rides as we wanted for the most part. It was also my first time riding i305 since 2019, as we were unlucky enough last spring to visit on a weekend it was down. i305 is still a religious experience and a top like 3 coaster. But wow were operations appalling and the coaster looks like crap. Almost every time, they'd just be locking restraints when the other train stopped in the transfer block. There was no station control whatsoever so the wait for Fast Lane was about the same as the regular line. Getting into a row was a shit show. Half the day, the person at the entrance either wasn't trained in the loose articles policy or didn't care, so bags kept making it into the station, causing conflicts between guests and staff that could've been avoided and making the wait time even longer. i305 also looks like it's aged 10 years in 3. The track paint is badly faded and the trains looked like they needed a pressure wash or 3. However, i305 was running amazingly, so if all their budget goes into keeping it running well, who cares about the paint. We got about 5 rides throughout the day and I can't believe how smooth it still is 12 years on. I really hope Intamin manages to sell another Giga coaster one of these years. I also always seem to forget how wild Dominator is. It has an intensity unmatched by any other B&M flourless and generally kicks ass. Same thing here, though. The trains and restraint covers looked like they'd just been shipped in as used items from Six Flags America. Operations here were better but the crew still got flustered if there was any situation such as someone not fitting in a seat, and operations would slow to a stop for a few minutes because of it. It's like all the training went to the employees running Twisted Timbers. They'd count down the gates closing, instruct people to do the usual "seat belts first, lap bars second", and 4/5 times they'd be dispatching by the time the other train was returning. I also finally found a way to enjoy the coaster a lot more. I love airtime as much as the next person but there's a repeated violence to TT that's always been a bit much for me. If you ride in the second to last car, it becomes way more re-rideable. Now, some photos. The entrance plaza, signs, and Eiffel Tower with trees in full bloom. I accidentally made my bf a little bit nervous to ride i305 for the first time, so we warmed ourselves up by getting Dominated first. I love this coaster so much. Parks think we want more B&M Gigas, but what we really need is more of these. Nothing like a little booze to take the edge off the shit operations. Getting Twisted after getting a little twisted. This cat just hanging around in the park was the highlight of our day. Another view of Dominator. This seriously blows the rest of the B&M floorless coasters away. We actually forgot to get the credit on Tumbili. But from what I've read it wasn't on Fast Lane anyway. It's a photo finish! I love i305 so much and overall we had a good day at the park. But they need to do some serious work with employee training. And Cedar Fair should give them some paint/pressure washing budget.

We had intended to travel from Orlando to Charlotte to visit Carowinds for my birthday weekend. Unfortunately the weather and Spirit airlines had other plans on Saturday evening and $600 later we were rerouted the next morning. Spirit customer service was pathetic and there were practically no seats on any flight out of Orlando on any airline for the next morning except Richmond or Knoxville. Eager to get on Pantheon, we opted for the former and booked the expensive JetBlue flight. We checked into the Courtyard early and headed to the park on Sunday arriving around noon. Thankfully they still had preferred left for my Platinum Pass and we were quickly in the park. Guest services honored the 50% discount on Quick Queue that I couldn’t seem to buy online so that was appreciated. We spent 8 hours in the park on Sunday and were gifted and extra 6 hours in the park on Monday due to a delayed flight home on our dear friend Spirit. Here are some highlights: - I’ve always preferred this to the Tampa park. I think Tampa might have a slight edge in the coaster line up, but Williamsburg is significantly better in every other area. - Sunday was fairly quiet but QQ still came in handy and well worth the $65. We managed to snag a ride on Pantheon fairly quickly first thing both days. We had a ride in car two row 1 and I’m car 4 row 2. Not surprisingly, I preferred towards the back of the train. The ride was about what I expected based on the reviews I had read. First portion is…fine… kind of awkward. The swing launch is fantastic. The backwards ejector airtime isn’t a sensation I’ve felt on any other ride. The top hat and outer bank are fun but are taken a little too slow. The stall was better than I expected and the ending was pretty good. Definitely the best ride in the park but not at the same caliber as Iron Gwazi or Velocicoaster. - Alpengiest is my #2 in the park. Unpopular opinion, but I think the cobra roll is outstanding and the ride is a solid 8/10 on the smoothness scale. Objectively, Montu is probably the better coaster but I prefer Alpengiest’s setting. - We enjoyed Verbolten and Tempesto for what they are. I don’t particularly care for how Tempesto looks against the skyline and think Tigris fits in better at BGT comparatively. - Invadr is very underrated and I prefer to White Lightning. Had some Thunderhead vibes to it minus the straight first drop. - Apollo’s Chariot is my least favorite of the B&M hypers but the setting is easily the best. The elements are a tad drawn out and with Mako down the road back home, the airtime particularly in the front is very mild. - Loch Ness Monster was one of the coasters that got me hooked as a kid. This and Alpengiest are probably the two most nostalgic rides in the park for me. Still a well-maintained ride with character that has a certain magic about it similar to The Beast. - Operations we’re pretty solid given the crowds. I was pleased to see coasters running multiple trains even on Monday. SeaWorld has been guilty of dropping to 1 train on Mako on some weekdays had me concerned we’d have some long lines without QQ on day 2 but that wasn’t the case. - Staff was definitely above average. Everyone seemed confident without that deer in the headlights look you get when you ask someone a question. - Food was definitely better than Tampa. Some interesting options for the food festival although the matcha Ice Cream made me gag. Overall we had a wonderful time. As much as I would have enjoyed binging Fury325, I actually think we had a more “full” trip visiting BGW instead. The park looked gorgeous and we had all the rerides we wanted with the exception of Pantheon. It’s such a refreshing change from the manufactured feel of the Orlando parks. Thanks for reading!

It appears that Arizona is finally getting a new park. MATTEL AND EPIC ANNOUNCE ADDITIONAL BRAND EXPERIENCES FOR UPCOMING MATTEL ADVENTURE PARK EL SEGUNDO, Calif., – May 24, 2022 –Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) and EPIC Resort Destinations, LLC. announced today that Mattel Adventure Park in Glendale, Arizona will feature additional brand activations from Barbie, Masters of the Universe, and Mattel Games when it opens in 1Q 2023. These Mattel brands join the previously announced Hot Wheels roller coaster and go-karting experiences and Thomas & Friends indoor theme park. “Mattel Adventure Park will be even more engaging and entertaining at launch, with the addition of these iconic Mattel brand experiences,” said Julie Freeland, Senior Director, Global Location Based Entertainment, Mattel. “The expansion of this flagship attraction brings together the largest representation of Mattel’s beloved brands in a live space as never before.” The additional brand experiences planned for Mattel Adventure Park will be highlighted by the Barbie Beach House, designed to be a must-visit destination for Barbie fans of all ages. The Barbie Beach House features the Barbie flying theater, taking riders on a journey from deep underwater to outer space; the Dream Closet Experience, where Barbie, through state-of-the-art hologram technology, is brought to life to help curate the ultimate wardrobe; and the Barbie Rooftop where guests can enjoy a selection of signature pink beverages perfectly paired with sweet and savory snacks while enjoying panoramic views of the property. Mattel Adventure Park will also feature a nine-hole mini golf experience that translates the Mattel Games portfolio into an immersive environment. Families can putt-putt while battling Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, or through a life-sized Pictionary game board with additional games featured throughout. The #1 card game property, UNO, will be represented as a larger-than-life climbing structure where guests can jump on oversized UNO cards and race to the top. Master of the Universe’s iconic Castle Grayskull has been transformed into a 4,500+ sq. ft. state-of-the-art laser tag arena where fans “have the power” to fight for Eternia. A Laser Tag experience will bring the world of Eternia to life and invites guests to join an epic battle to regain the power of the Universe. “We are extremely excited to add Barbie, Masters of the Universe and Mattel Games themed attractions and rides to an already outstanding offering in development at the first-ever Mattel Adventure Park. We have spared no expense to bring these iconic brands to life in ways that will delight visitors of all ages for years to come.” Said Mark Cornell, President, Epic Resort Destinations. About Mattel Mattel is a leading global toy company and owner of one of the strongest catalogs of children’s and family entertainment franchises in the world. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain, and develop children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic brands, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends®, UNO®, Masters of the Universe®, Monster High® and MEGA®, as well as other popular intellectual properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include film and television content, gaming and digital experiences, music, and live events. We operate in 35 locations and our products are available in more than 150 countries in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering children to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. Visit us online at mattel.com. About EPIC Resort Destinations EPIC is a resort destinations developer specializing in Intellectual Property driven resorts and location-based entertainment. We are guest obsessed and, on a mission, to create, develop, and operate world-class destinations and attractions that are extraordinary, safe, and fun places where epic memories are created and shared. Our unique blend of family-friendly fun is created by combining time proven “wind in your face” themed rides, globally iconic brands with multigenerational emotional resonance, and immersive theatrical experiences featuring original media content. Current developments under construction include Mattel Adventure Park, Barbie Beach House, and a flying immersive theater in Glendale, Arizona, with future destinations under consideration across North America. Visit us at matteladventurepark.com.

To all Cedar Point Fans!!! Wicked Twister Lives On!! Well at least part of it, my home park is Valleyfair. Stopped by yesterday and noticed that they have a seat from WT at the beginning of Steel Venom's cue to serve as a test seat. Sorry, I don't have a pic but though you all would like to know.

Several of us got to participate in a photo/video shoot for Sally Dark Rides on Wednesday. And we got lots of rides in the process. Sworn to not reveal details on the 4D Volcanu-Quest for the Golden Idol but I'll say this....It's the best dark ride I've ridden. Very immersive and people are going to love it. Things are still running a bit behind in the park but they're making good progresson construction and detail stuff. . Like everywhere, staffing is an issue too. They still have June 10 on the calendar for opening but that could certainly get pushed.

Hey everyone, so are there days at Cedar Point where it's legitimately dead? Last time I went was June 3rd, 2019 (Monday), I got FP+ for myself, kids were too little for all but the smallest coasters.. but even with FP+ I still had 45 minute waits on SV. Maybe it was because SV was still really new? Or a shitty merge point, I can't remember. It was also the day after bike week ended, I don't know if that affects crowds. But LOTS of people had FP+ Barring forecast for rain/storms that doesn't come true and keeps everyone away, is CP ever quiet where if you don't have FL+ you can have 30 minute NON-FP+ waits for SV and MF? Or is it just packed every day? I read about how Hersheypark is always packed, and I went last weekend.. and it was packed on the Saturday, 1-2hrs waits on any of the big coasters.. we didn't even bother with any of them and figured it would be better Sunday. And what a difference, Sunday we road the 5 big coasters 3-4 times each with barely any waits. Our goal was to just get on each one once, so it was a real pleasant surprise. Just wondering if days like that ever happen at CP, so I can try to aim for them Now that all my kids are 54"+, I can't afford to be forking out for 5 FP+ for the whole family, so I need to try and find the quietest possible time to visit

So great to hear the news! In my book, Waldameer is one of the best parks, period. So much goodness, so well taken care of. No hassle and nice people. 4 long years since my last visit, too long! I can't stop geeking out over the beautiful curved classic Comet station with mag brakes (best of old and new meet, wish other parks noticed!)

What's wrong with you?

Glad to hear you enjoyed your visit on that pretty miserable Sunday. Scrambler's no single rider policy is in line with an updated safety bulletin recommendation from Eli Bridge. Music Express is an electrical issue we are working with Bertazzon to get to the bottom of, and Vortex was having issues with the damp track affecting ride speed and whatnot. Things are coming together around the park, and staffing is dramatically improved so far. As for this..... The statement applies to over 95% of full-time and seasonal employees, so you are not alone feeling that way.

Visited Waldameer yesterday (Sunday May 22) and it was a good visit as usual. The weather was crap as it was constantly drizzling and 57 degrees, but that seemed to keep the crowds away as everything was a walk on. Music Express was down as was Mega Vortex, but all other rides were running. You know this isn't Cedar Point! Ravine Flyer II was AMAZING. Yes, I am biased and have had this ride at or near the top of my rankings since it opened back in 2008. But I don't know if it was the off-season trackwork, the rain or if they put new wheels on the trains, but it was running all out crazy. There's a few spots where the train shakes and jolts, but it's a wooden coaster and that is to be expected. But the speed, airtime and crazy laterals seemed amplified over last season. Definitely a must-ride. Whacky Shack looked good on my first ride as all stunts (including the blinking lights right past the ugly bar lady scene) were working beautifully. On my second ride through, the giant mouse at the end was left in the dark. Weird, and perhaps a little whacky! Pirate's Cove also was in top shape. I honestly got lost in the "jail room" as it seemed really dark in there, and being claustrophobic, I sort of freaked out a bit! I followed the "I ain't got no body" voices and eventually found my way out. I love the final scene of a pirate with his head coming out of a toilet with a flushing sound effect being played. Even at my advanced age, toilet humor still makes me laugh. I rode the train, walked around for a bit and enjoyed the fact that the Gift House had FAR more merchandise than last year, including a boss t-shirt with the old school Waldameer Park and Water World logo on it (which of course I promptly purchased!). One thing I did notice was that, like Knoebels, the ride prices all increased. It looked like the 2 and 3 point rides went up to 2.5 and 3.5 respectively while the 4 and 4.5 point rides went up to 5 and 5.5 points. While that does seem a bit pricey, you do get bonus points for purchasing larger amounts on your Wally Card. Or, you could just pay the approx $40 to ride all day, which if you plan on power riding is probably the way to go. I also saw a "No Single Riders" sign at the Scrambler. I am not sure if that rule has always been in place but as a usual single rider, that is now two rides I can't go on. Mr. Nelson was cruising around in his golf cart so maybe I should have asked, but he really frightens me and I don't want to be one of "those visitors" that complains to the park owner! I didn't stay late to see the new LED's on the Giant Wheel, but I did see the further obstruction of the Carousel as there is a new food stand on the Comet side of the pavilion. Waldameer will always be one of my favorite parks and reading that they have a new "10 year plan" in place makes me excited for the future.

Someone on Reddit shared this photo and... hehe... Michigan's Adventure really does get all of Cedar Fair's trash...

Today I decided to do what a good coaster nerd does, and go explore the local theme park. I realize this park doesn't get a lot of attention but it has some pretty decent rides! The park is located about 15-20 minutes west of the city of Catania in Eastern Sicily. The water or 'aqua park' seem to be the main draw during the summer months, when the water park will operate during the day and the theme park in the evenings. Currently just the theme park is open. The main entrance plaza Turnstiles were quick and efficient, but this was also a pretty quiet day when the waterpark was closed. Once you enter the park, there is a large lake on the left side where you can drive some boats around. From what I could tell...there didn't seem to be any guide cable or track, so I think you can go wherever you want? Provides some great views of Mt. Etna which has been fairly active this week. Sadly the cableway ride was not open during my visit. Boat Hire mode (where are my RCT2 nerds?) The first main pathway leading to the drop tower. The main attraction is obviously their Mack 'Mega-Lite' called The Storm. which opened in 2013. The ride layout is somewhat similar to the Intamin version and almost a clone of Alpina Blitz at Nigloland. The difference being that this ride has the inline twist at the very end. (which is near impossible to get a good photo of) The park has some decent theming throughout. Not always a cohesive one though.... The Storm has a 'tropical storm' theme on the outside, yet the station features a drum set and stadium lighting. The station queue rows are divided by large 'speakers' playing what I think is an original song called 'Sweet Thunder Love' over and over. (felt bad for those ride ops) Signage Quick lift hill gets the ride started. Lots of views of Etna. This overbanked turn is one of the best parts of the ride. Was unexpected and forceful! Nice pops of airtime throughout the ride. You can see the entrance to the barrel roll at the bottom of this small hill. This moment would be very unexpected for the GP. You can barely see it from anywhere inside the park. This was taken through a gap in the fence. Serves up a quick hang time moment. A few pics from outside the park. Moving on the some of the other attractions. There is a large mountain in the middle of the park that contains the S&S Family coaster 'ElDorado'. This ride packs way more of a punch than I think most family's would be expecting. Nice positive G's in the helix's that wind in and out of the mountain. There is also a cool small guest path that goes inside the mountain under the track where you can see the train fly by in the dark. Sign info The first "drop" Entering the mountain again to fly by the cave you can walk into. Giving some Big Thunder Mountain Vibes. Nearing the end of their rides. Helix through the mountain Emerging from the caves. Station shot. The ride ops were all very friendly but in typical Italian fashion....not very efficient. One of the park midways. Overall the park is very clean and the staff I interacted with knew enough English to communicate. (with my very little Italian thrown in) They also have an S&S Drop tower It seems to run the double shot ride sequence. Gives great views of the volcano from 2 sides. One of the biggest surprises for me was this 'interactive' dark ride called 'The School'. I had no idea they even had a ride like this. I couldn't follow the story, bu the vehicle do rotate to fave various scenes and they have 3 buttons that you can press to make a selection during each scene. Labeled A, B, C with corresponding colors. From what I could tell, each selection you make in the scene gives you a different scare effect after the scene is over. Clever low-tech system that worked surprisingly well! Signage The ride vehicles were simple and ran on essentially a powered coaster track. *NOT A CREDIT* lol Next up was time for a snack! And although all the food and pizza looked great, I couldn't resist some arancini! These are fried rice balls that contain epic deliciousness. The main type you will encounter and almost every snack bar/cafe in Sicily is the Ragu. Its filled with a hearty meaty tomato sauce with cheese and peas. THEY ARE INCREDIBLE. Even the bad ones are still pretty good. It's a handheld food to eat on the go. Photos do not do it justice. Some of the other quick serve options. There are 2 more traditional sit down restaurants in the park and the menus looked fairly standard for an Italian park. Within the 'dry' park they have 4 main water ride. The first and most impressive is the Jungle Splash. The theming is pretty good and consistent throughout the ride. Once you dispatch the station you are in the dark...under the parks footpaths. There are various African warrior style scenes before you get to the turntable and elevator lift. The main drop is fast and fun, and you will get wet. Which is why it's so popular on these hot Sicilian days. The big splash. Trying to be clever with the camera. The station and queue are well themed. The park does have a log flume called Dragon River....but its very much family oriented. The max drop height is about 20ft. Again, some will thought out theming, but not so much on the upkeep/maintenance. This is the main drop. So don't be expecting and massive thrills. Ride sign I think this is why its called Dragon River....cant be sure though. To protect their privacy.... Theming! You don't get very wet on this one. The first small lift. Nice themed station in the background. Next is the parks river rapids 'Crocodile Rapids'....which I did not ride. Most of the ride is hidden from the dry part of the park. They are still dry... The rides finale at the bottom of the hill. They also have a Mack Twist'N'Splash. Not much to say about that one. There is also one other "water ride" which I have never seen before. Its called Aqua-Bum. While the ride vehicle do appear to be Bumper Boats....the pool is basically a circular track almost like a lazy river. I didn't see much bumping happening and people just seemed to be floating around in a circle. Not sure of the appeal. But it must have the worst capacity ever during a hot day. And takes up a lot of space. Signage There are 2 kiddie coasters. Hip Hop coaster (Zamperla) and the Miao coaster (SBF) Signage Small footprint. Not sure what makes it 'Hip Hop'. Cat in a Hat? The kids area is called the Ciclopino Circus. Its basically in the middle of the park and has pretty much what you would expect from a small kids area. Yep Ballon ride. The park has a 4D cinema and some Go-Carts. The park has a few thrill flat rides. A small inverting frisbee ride called Revo-Rock 360. They have a Zamperla Disk-o called Quasar. Like I said, not a busy day. All in all I spent about 4 hours there from park opening at 9:30am. Hopefully the park will add some more rides to the theme park in the future, but it appears most of the draw is to the waterpark and the water rides. The main take-away is this....WHY IS NO ONE ELSE BUYING THESE MACK/INTAMIN MEGA COASTERS? The Storm was honestly a great ride and super re-ridable. Its kind of a perfect blend of height/speed/airtime/helixes. So if you ever find yourself in Sicily...make a stop at Etnaland!

The next morning we woke up early enough to be at the gates of Dollywood about an hour before opening. This would be my first time visiting in over 13 years, so I wanted to make sure we had plenty of time to experience the additions that the park had made over the last decade-plus. Going into this trip, I decided that no matter the crowds, getting the Timesaver Unlimited would be worth it for our visit. I'd read of reliability issues with Lightning Rod and Firechaser Express, so I wanted to make sure I had the chance to ride each of them as quickly as possible in case they went down for the day (which Lightning Rod ended up doing for a portion of our day). Timesaver Unlimited plus park tickets made this a pretty expensive visit (more than I realized it would be until I really started crunching numbers), but the time we got back for not waiting in the standby queue made our day more relaxed, guaranteed re-rides on Lightning Rod (four rides total in our one day) and allowed us to leave the park a little before closing without feeling guilty so we could spend some more time in Pigeon Forge. I was definitely excited to be back after so many years! It was neat that we were also visiting during Dollywood's Flower & Food Festival. One thing I forgot about is just how many theater venues there are in this park. The entry plaza had this fun touch of whimsy overhead. There was no shortage of flowers to be found throughout the park. My main motivation for planning a day at Dollywood... I'll admit, I'd watched POVs of this coaster way more than most leading up to this trip. Lightning Rod is only my third RMC that I've been on (Steel Vengeance and Iron Gwazi being the other two) and I think each has there own unique elements. I think the launch is a nifty element (though not worth the maintenance/reliability grief it has seemingly caused) but the mountainside setting of the coaster and with the six consecutive airtime moments in the back half being a delight, these are what distinguish it. That said, the coaster definitely feels a little short (it has such available momentum when it hits the brake run), and I was surprised at how shaky/rough it was by comparison to Steel Vengeance or Iron Gwazi--I did a lot of bouncing around on the track, why caught me off guard. Overall, this is a great addition for the park but I was expecting a little more for the hype. It was a little chilly during our visit to consider water rides in our day, but I love that parks like Dollywood still maintain tradition rapids rides in their lineup. The other reason why I planned a visit to Dollywood. I destroyed this loaf of heaven in five minutes flat. Also, don't skip out on adding the Apple Butter as a side for your order. Next level pairing right there. We were able to see a knife being fashioned at one of the park's live demonstrations. Since we visited on Sunday, the chapel was in use for services, free for any guests to attend. You can see candles carved live and you can dip purchasable candles in colored wax for an added price. Dollywood is a home to several bald eagles. Always impressive to see these beautiful creatures in person. If you know, you know. I had forgotten just how kitschy wonderful ride is and I was so glad I had a chance to experience it again. Tennessee Tornado has aged like fine wine. Easily the best maintained Arrow I've been on in the last five-ten years. Pretty ridiculously smooth despite its manufacturer. I love the layout and the non-Arrow-like maneuvers (including that funky vertical loop). I hope this one is keep around for a long time to come. Seriously, this ended up being one of my favorite rides of the day. This was new to me. As was this. Firechaser Express is WAY bigger than I expected it to be. I kind of geeked out when I realized that the station has trains enter and exit from the same side. It seems so simple considering that's part of the unique nature of the coaster, but it was so cool to me to see in person. And there are plenty of angles to watch the coaster fly by from on the ground. I do wish I'd had a chance to experience Adventure Mountain, but Firechaser Express seems like a way more unique use of this space. This was neat. NOT THE BEES! As only the second B&M Wingrider I'd been on (the other being GateKeeper), I was excited to try this one. Definitely a solid coaster. Nothing crazy from a layout standpoint but the location and the views make it a worthwhile experience. Dollywood isn't missing out on the chance to have their coasters sold as CoasterDynamix Nanocoasters. Mystery Mine was one of the newer additions at the park when I last visited. I was curious to ride again having had such time pass. Mystery Mine underwent a slight adjustment in 2021 where the layout was tweaked to remove the u-turn element. The coaster ultimately links back up with its original course. I love that the old track is still there as if it was always meant to be a part of the ride's theming. This element caught me by surprise. This side of Mystery Mine is quite picturesque. The last time I was here this space was used for Timber Tower, which closed a few years later. Drop Line wasn't in operation during our visit. Thunderhead impressed me during my previous visit so I was excited to ride again. Such a clever maneuver! Thunderhead appears to have gotten some love in the offseason with some fresh wooden throughout portions of the layout. And in those sections there was a noticeable difference in the way the trains felt rolling across the track. Mystery Mine is definitely my favorite coaster to watch from the ground here. For a Sunday, the standby wait times weren't unreasonable. I nearly missed Wildwood Grove because the entrance is kind of hidden in a forked path by Mystery Mine. That said, I'm glad I was able to explore the land, because it is full of family offerings and lots of available land for future development. See what I mean? Something tells me it won't be long until we see an addition in Wildwood Grove. Something my son could enjoy on a future visit. Another option for the little ones. If we had had more time, I probably would have given these flyers are try. There's even an indoor play area for the kids. For the love of Larry. This was a surprisingly fun Vekoma family suspended coaster. The first drop is a nice surprise and some of the banking makes this more thrilling than expected. I don't consider myself to be tall, but this netting structure that you pass under to get back to the rest of Wildwood Grove from the exit of the ride requires you to play limbo to successfully get under. Not sure how this got approved... This is quite a view. Wild Eagle looms large over this corner of the park. Because the majority of Lightning Rod takes place behind mountains, trees and/or buildings, it is hard to photograph. Here's one of the few shots I have. Dollywood is home to one of Dolly Parton's original tour busses, which you are allowed to explore in small groups throughout the day. Luxury living on the road. That's how you fit a king bed onto a bus. Just outside of the bus was a "show" where "seeds" would bloom into "flowers" atop poles. It was the most artsy/abstract thing we experienced at Dollywood. They sell two pound apple pie slices at Dollywood but I couldn't dare try it... Another rare photo of Lightning Rod. More flower fun. I stumbled upon the Barnstormer without remember that it was part of the park's lineup. I love S&S Screamin' Swings and I'll never turn down a chance to ride one. Thanks to the Timesaver Unlimited (and despite the fact that the ride was operating with only one arm swinging) I only waited five minutes. "Have you found him?" If it weren't so chilly, I might have considered a ride on Daredevil Falls. I didn't ride it during my last visit either but I hope it will still be around by my next. I was amazed at how popular the park's scenic railroad attraction is... Guests were lining up as early as 45 minutes before each departure on the hour. Dollywood also features a replica of Dolly Parton's childhood Tennessee mountain home that guests can walk through. We tried one of the food options (Korean meatballs) from the Flower & Food Festival and it was solid. With our Timesaver Unlimited we were able to reserve access for a showtime of our choice of the park's "Dreamland Drive-In" show in the Pines Theater. I was pleased to see some Disney find its way outside of Florida and California parks. No photos or videos were allowed from inside of the show but this was an enjoyable jaunt through decades of music with a talented cast. This was the longest show offered in the park, so we figured if we only had a chance to see one, this would be the one to choose. One more Lightning Rod photo for good measure. The Lightning Rod model was tempting but I resisted. The mountains in the model are a neat touch though. That closed out our time at Dollywood... All that would follow would be more kitsch and fun in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg!

They will never redo wildcat because it sits in a crucial part of HP's lineup. LR will also never be redone because it too sits in a crucial part of HP's lineup. If Wildcat does get replaced it will be for a Zeirer launched family or similar. Certainly not an RMC. That area of the park has been themed to an old timey boardwalk since it's inception - wildcat literally perfectly captures that energy. LR does as well. HP treats WC like it's a historic woodie - and if they keep doing that - WC will eventually be a historic woodie . Best one could hope for is replacement of Storm Runner with an RMC launcher. Now that HP has popped their top on very similar rides in the same park Im expecting a B&M wing and B&M dive up next.

Yup. You're old. This coming from the man who watched the Big Bang happen in his 30s.....

Ray Liotta. 67. <shock> One of the 'Goodfellas' and more. RIP buddy. You were a RAWKER!