Leaderboard

So Sunday we woke up and the weather cooperated in that it wasn't wet. . but it HAD gotten very cold. Park opened at 11. . but no one was in a huge rush to get to the park (all wiped out from yesterday) and besides, we were watching the temps and waiting for it to climb up high enough that things would actually operate. so I killed a little bit of time taking some morning pics. these were on almost every light switch, and I hadn't noticed them until this morning. OH MY! a better shot of the spiral staircase leading up to the upstairs loft (with the queen bunk beds, bathroom, pool table, deck, and arcade game) in front of the cabin keeping Amy company while she smoked view from the parking spot. from our decks we saw Flying Eagle start to cycle, so we headed to the park - with Cinnamon Bread on our minds - and got there just around 12:15 if I'm not mistaken. as we were headed to the Cinnamon Bread, we saw Lightning Rod had a 5 minute wait. . so we detoured over that way, and got in line. and as we climbed the stairs, heard a groan from above us, and people started exiting past us out of the line. We asked what happened, and LR had a roll back. and the people were stuck at the launch. we waited a moment to see if they could resolve, but when they started walking out to the train to evac? we called it and just went over to get Cinnamon Bread (as the digital signs in the park said LR was temporarily unavailable). got pics of the train sitting at the bottom of the launch tho - not blurry, as it wasn't moving how had I not seen the weird statues thruout the park yesterday?? kids riding on trees all over in this section while headed to the Grist Mill for Cinnamon Bread there was still a line - even tho the park was EMPTY (due to the cold). . but way shorter than last night. So we got in line. YUM!!! it was so cold, we actually went to the BarBQue place across the walkway - with the heated dining area- where some in the group bought food, so we could sit and eat in the heated area. so good! (and reheated well. . since I ended up taking 1/2 of my loaf home and it still tasted great 2 days later, after 5 minutes in a 350 oven). proof I had official Dollywood Cinnamon Bread we continued around the park, and I think we may have stopped at Blazing Fury for another ride. . but today really was about getting the few things missed yesterday, and Londyn shopping and riding the kiddie stuff. so really 1st on the list was Firechaser Express. not a walk on, but only 15 minute wait today. it's a fun family coaster, that looks way more extreme (and high) than it is. The backwards section is short, but memorable, and I enjoyed it. Didn't think it was great enough to get back in line to ride again, but I'm glad I got to ride it. Amy had missed out on Mystery Mine last night, as only Joseph and I had ridden it - so we headed that direction next. stopping for Photo Ops as I passed them tho, of course the old section of track still remaining is behind this tower. That "U" shaped wave turn. it's weird they left it.. but also, I kinda like it. we didnt' get to ride tho, because as we walked up, we saw them walking people from the back area (a group of girls) and the front of the ride was closed off. hurm. . . Oh well, I had gotten to ride it yesterday, and the only thing I really had remaining on my list was DropLine (which is close by). No one else wanted to ride, so I got in the walk on line. . and the group of girls we had seen coming out of Mystery Mine ended up right behind me. So I asked them if they had been evacced, and they freaked out telling me yes! and from the Vertical lift. that they had used a cherry picker to get them out of the train, and it freaked them out. but the park had given them skip the line passes. (not that it mattered, it was so cold park was dead). So that's two now that had to have people walked from down coasters - I have to assume the cold weather was affecting? anyways, DropLine was fun - tho very short. and it does have the added seatbelt restraint now. And oddly, the operator was discussing the Orlando drop tower incident with the guys sitting next to me on the ride (it came up because one of them was telling his friend someone had been injured on this ride and that's why it had been closed earlier this year). more polar bears around DropLine's setting. . which I hadn't noticed yesterday, as they were just glowing blobs by the time we came by here in the evening. I like this pic tho as you can see Thunderhead and the new Bear Mountain coaster in the background (along with the flyers). it really was a bit too cold to ride anything, and folks were just meandering. . . . luckily LOTS of photo ops all over the park. i particularly love this pic. Thru the trees! I wanted a daytime ride on Thunderhead even tho it was cold, and others were willing. . .so we headed over that way to get our ride. Londyn was excited because Whistle Stop Chaser is right next to it. . so she got to ride that 3 times. . . riding with most of us in the group. here's my turn. . pic courtesy of Xander. and then we go to go on Thunderhead. SUCH a great coaster, tho it was running a bit rougher during the daytime than it had been the night before. I still think it was fantastic, but some in the group said it hurt their back a bit. whee!!! more photo ops. . . we knew with the light crowd today, we wouldn't have any issue getting into the "headline" show, and sure enough, it wasn't a full auditorium for Christmas in the Smokies. it's an indoor theater, for an ~1 hour show. . so we went for it. very well done, with some really nice voices, and carols. (and way less Jesus-y than I had expected (I thought it was the story of Jesus, really). . . Amy said for that we'd have to watch the Nativity show) the show is. . . odd tho. it starts out with a story - folks coming home to the Smokies for Christmas, and visiting family, and singing. . then they all go sledding. . . then there's a cabin inside a church. . then Jesus is born (I think?). . then they are all Angels. Or something? I was told by a show aficionado that the "storyline" has been the same since it started, and yeah, it makes no sense as a complete story. I just took it as "they all died while sledding and came back as singing Angels" regardless, it was very entertaining, with some Broadway style set changes, and great voices for the most part. this cabin "unfolded" on the stage for a giant indoor set. . the show finished. . and we swung by the Emporium where I finally was able to purchase the Magnets I wanted (long story. . but it took multiple tries, as they were sold out EVERYWHERE in the park, and had to keep checking to see if they restocked. . but the ladies knew I was looking for them, and pulled some aside for me and had them ready for me when we came in). Lightning Rod was showing a 5 minute wait, so we excitedly headed over that way. . only to see: yeah. ok then. we decided to hang around the area and do some shopping - back into Dolly's Closet and the other stores over here. Londyn wanted to ride the cars that were over here. . and we needed a toilet break. . which are right next to LR. while coming out of the restrooms, saw it start testing. . .. . so we hung around, and a few moments later, they took the sign away and opened it back up and we rushed with the small crowd to get in line. it was a fun ride again, and when we got back there was NO line. So I said "let's ride again".. we're here, it's running. . let's! the others begged off (Jonathan and Xander had to head back to the airport, and Amy was just too cold).. but since Londyn was on the cars with Jamie anyways, I got back in line. . and as a single rider, got put in the front row! yup. .I got a front row ride on Lightning Rod. (and froze my face off). . . LOL Came off Lightning Rod so cold..everyone was pretty much done with Rides, other than Londyn - who wanted to go back to the Country Fair section to ride a few of the family rides. So we headed that way to do that and do some shopping. . snapping a pic of the lovely (and very Pink) Dolly's Closet as we passed by oh look. .they sell Genital Lice (Crabs) in the Squishmallow store! I really was tempted to buy it, as it looks so happy . .LOL as we headed towards the front of the park to pick up some fudge, and shop on the way out (it really was simply too cold to ride anything more, and tho we stopped and listened to some performers as we passed by, the moment you stopped walking the cold just shot thru you). . I said to Amy: "oh. . I never got to see Dolly's house. .it's supposed to be here, right?" and I asked that literally as we were walking by it - something we had walked by multiple times in the past 48 hours and I just hadn't noticed. so good timing on my part, and we swung in to take a look. by then it was close to 7 and we were ready to be back at the cabin, so we went down the main street so I could get some pics SO pretty at night. . and you can see from the "crowds" how busy it was this day. In the sweet shop, I felt seen and then we waved our goodbyes to Dollywood. .it was a great experience, despite how cold and I'm so thankful for my friends for encouraging me to go in honor of Nick. End result was that I *did* get on every coaster at Dollywood at least once, and a few of them multiple times. So a very successful trip, and 9 new coasters for me! next up. . swag !