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all too soon, it was time to head back to the airport and back to Texas. but not before I snapped a few final pics of the Smoky mountains and our view from the decks. Dollywood isn't open during the week, so the "smoke" in these pics are really why these mountains got their name. in the car on the way back, we passed by this factory with the HUGE smokestacks. I've never seen any that tall, so snapped a pic. the flight was uneventful, and tho the evening after getting home was a complete and total Cluster (won't get into it, but it involved notifications received about charges to my deceased Spouse's credit cards received when I took the phone out of airplane mode - that I had to deal with immediately. Will just say that by the time I was done dealing with things, the food I had picked up on the way home was way cold, and I didn't get to throw in laundry or even unpack anything until well after midnight - with getting to bed at 3am - after landing at 7pm). anyways. . swag bought. I didn't get the Dolly face Tshirt, as I liked these better (this one for the color) Front: back: this one for color and design: and this one for the design: bought this magnet from the giftshop at DreamMore another magnet I loved a magnet that matched the design on one of the shirts that I liked and those magnets that I tried for 2 days to get, but finally did. . and the saleswoman had pulled one for each color for me. I gave two as gifts and kept 2 all in all? it was a trip I'm glad I took, and hope to go back at some point in the future - tho maybe not in the wintertime

"Tis The Season .... to post Late TRs, ho ho ho! Actually, this report isn't too late. It's the one day (Thurs.Sept.03 which would have been "Out At The Fair" Day for us, as in the past few years). David and I went to the annual PNE, which then includes Playland (and mucho raised ride wristbank/single tix prices). They had expanded the exhibition site from last year's Fair, now including all the buildings at the East end of the park (or front-of-the-Fair, when you look at a map of it all). So the Showcase was back in the Forum Bldg. And the Rollerland bldg. had something different: The PNE Prize Home. Although not exactly The Home itself. They decided to forego having the actual home onsite, allowing walk-thrus by the gp, and instead recreated a couple of it's rooms, and used a lot of media to show off the house itself. So this was a quick one for us. We literally tried not to backtrack anywhere, and headed to the Livestock Bldgs. Nothing new there, so I took no pix. But, we missed the Central "Foodtruck Alley" that others walk thru and figure out what they want to eat. I think we missed a couple of trucks with food we wanted to try. Our loss. We next headed to Revel District where our BBQ was. Two of them, this year. Both good BBQ and sides. We liked both. Couldn't choose between them, lol. After that, it was up through Playland, noting that SkyBender never opened for the Entire - Fair. I got to ride it back in July, but geez ..... Anyway, checked out Coaster and sure enough, set belts were on. Also found out from an older couple nearby, that their grandson "waited up to two hours to ride this thing." I laughed. So we had entered at the Main GAte. And we left the PNE at the Playland Gate. Here we go... the Front Gate Entry. And immediately to one's left, is the MARKETPLACE bldg. Which we immediately entered! This was a cool find. Pre-mixed for veggie/protein/vegan dishes. We bought a few of them. I love these kinds of "greeting cards". Brilliant, really. More of these lovely cards. I didn't buy any, as there is a place downtown I like to support, buying their cards. Still ....really lovely work. A Piece of The Map, on display again. It's from a HUGE plywood creation. The original was wonderful to see. Red line is the Canada-US Border. We're all north of it. We find something we wanted to try: Deep Fried Oreos. We got a 5 piece. How they looked. Not bad. But thy really needed a nice cold glass of milk with them. Lotsa BLING for sale here. Amusing to watch people freak out and fall off these things. This IS "Reality Entertainment"! This was neat to watch. She rolled clay, basically, combining colours, then cutting and melted in the basic oven (!) and .... .... to make these ... or ... ... to make THESE beautiful creations. I bought one of the round tin boxes, like the ones in that bowl there. An exhibit area to show more of what's happening all around our city. Many, many exhibits here. And a lot of stuff for kids to do, too. I'm not too sure if this was mainly for kids, or families or ... ? Didn't stick around to find out. Best. Onsite Food truck. Ever. We really get a lot of food trucks here at the PNE. For a good number of years, now. Awesome! Henri's BBQ was there, too. Always tempting, but we do have a lot of great chicken cuisine, beyond the PNE. One of our finds was this taco truck. with (it's at the bottom there) PHO BEEF BRISKET. We ordered those ones. Not much left of it. But they were good tacos. Big display of motor homes etc. here. Awesome to check some of these $$$$$$$$ out. (o: Pretty. We didn't queue for it. We're fine where we are, thank you very much! And this part of the TR ends, with A Big Chair Photo. (To be continued...)

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 !

Universal Studios Hollywood has announced that Super Nintendo World will open on February 17th, 2023! https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/web/en/us/super-nintendo-world SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™ takes you into the world of Super Mario™. Battle Team Bowser on the groundbreaking Mario Kart™ ride. Play interactive games throughout the land and track your score with a Power-Up Band™. Dine at Toadstool Cafe™, meet Mario and friends, and purchase exclusive merch at the 1-UP Factory™ store. Opens at Universal Studios Hollywood 2/17/2023. Mario Kart™: Bowser’s Challenge Ready to experience Mario Kart™ like never before? Put on the special goggles and battle Team Bowser on iconic Mario Kart courses alongside Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach. Collect coins and throw shells to win the Golden Cup on the groundbreaking Mario Kart ride with cutting-edge technology. Keep score, complete challenges, collect coins with a Power-Up Band™. Elevate your adventures with your Power-Up Band™! Use your band to keep score throughout the land as you take on key challenges, collect digital coins, and more. With your Power-Up Band, you’ll experience a new way to play. Power-Up Bands will be available for purchase in the land as well as at a number of retail locations in Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk. Toadstool Cafe™ You’re not imagining things. Inside the Toad House is Toadstool Cafe™. Step in to indulge in fun, tasty dishes crafted by Chef Toad and enjoy playful scenery of the Mushroom Kingdom from the windows. 1-UP Factory™ Find the perfect souvenir at the 1-UP Factory™ store. This super-fun store is where you can find all sorts of items from the Mushroom Kingdom! Browse souvenirs and wearable merch to level up your experience at SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™.

I feel no one is talking about anything is because there really isn't much to talk about. It's too many "vloggers" who think they know everything there is to know about the park till it's best to have a wait and see for real info and concrete evidence to rear it's head. See what happen to that knotts giga. . .