brenthodge

Actually, "Technical rehearsal" sounds better than "The ride isn't officially open so we don't have any obligation to open it for you whatsoever, but we're being generous enough to open it on days that we can do some tweak & adjust, which we could probably do with water dummies or empty trains, but we are trying to get as many people on the ride as possible, so stop being ungrateful." Except for about a week it was actually"open" then the recall and it went back into tech rehearsal. Pardon me for trying to logic and reason to explain something. I forgot that quite a few contributors to this thread and shown that they are not smart enough to understand that. I understand both logic AND reason, and am quite smart. Just stating that the ride did shift from tech rehearsal to "open" then back to tech rehearsal. I'm sure there was both logic and reason to that decision, though I can see where it would be confusing to some people planning visits to the park. As the moderator of this forum who ctiticizes other for making disparaging remarks to others, aren't you kind of doing the same here by responding to two quotes with an insult to their intelligence?

Actually, "Technical rehearsal" sounds better than "The ride isn't officially open so we don't have any obligation to open it for you whatsoever, but we're being generous enough to open it on days that we can do some tweak & adjust, which we could probably do with water dummies or empty trains, but we are trying to get as many people on the ride as possible, so stop being ungrateful." Except for about a week it was actually"open" then the recall and it went back into tech rehearsal.

Thanks for asking. I love the overall experience at Dollywood. I feel the people overall are a great representation of the brand and the theme that the park is portraying. I love that the park still invests in theme appropriate costuming for individual locations. I love that the merchandise selections are generally unique and appropriately theme to each retail location. I feel the food is overall a great value (quality for the price) and reflects the care and thought that goes into the theme. I feel the overall park is a great value (level of themed entertainment for the cost). I am impressed at the rapid growth of this park, and as a native Tennessean, am proud that they are beginning to receive national attention for their efforts. I have numerous time complimented the management and front-line associates for their great dedication to their jobs, the quality of the experience I have had there and the overall experience they provide. I have written several positive reviews on Trip Advisor (which I am aware is not this forum) about the experiences my family has had there. I am also a vocal brand advocate for the resort - telling people that I feel would enjoy the experience that the resort provides all about it. I am also a retail professional and the Director of Merchandising and Brand Experience for a regional retail company. My job is to craft engaging, unique experiences. Every day I challenge myself to look at what I have created and ask "what could I have done better? What would have elevated this experience?" I am incredibly detail oriented, and strive for excellence in my own work, and recognize when others are striving for that as well. To that end, I do make observations about attractions and marketing - guest experience opportunities. Since you are familiar with all of my posts (better than I) I can only assume some of the past ones are in regards to the incredible opportunity I think the park has to leverage the Imagination Library into an immersive dark ride that the entire family can enjoy together and will draw attention to that great cause. Maybe my past negative posts are observations that as the park has elevated the theming and quality of the ride experience, legacy attractions like Blazing Fury begin to pale in comparison, and make (or solicit) blue sky ideas as to how these attractions could be made more in line with the high quality the park aspires to (and ensure their longevity.) Maybe my negative posts are my very observant nature seeing that a queue that has gotten almost no use (Lighting Rod) is already showing signs of wear and tear on wonderfully themed details because of questionable materials choices. Yes, my "negative" posts also extend to the way the opening, soft opening, hard opening, shut down, soft opening of Lightning Rod has been handled. As a professional responsible for guest experience, I do see ways that "I think" it could have been handled differently. I have not said the way people did it was wrong, but that maybe in my experience I would have handled it differently. I have never on "trip Advisor" or any other travel review forum complained, or given poor reviews to Dollywood, as I am proud of the growth the resort has made, and want to see them continue to succeed for years to come. I did think that on this forum - that concerned itself with the discussion (and obsession with the details of) theme parks - that there would be room for constructive observations and even some "I would have done it this way" blue sky thinking. I though most posters here were passionate about Dollywood and wanted it to be as amazing and recognized in a positive light for all the great things that it offers, but were also realistic in their comments and ways they felt the experience could be made even better., I know that was a SUPER long post, but since you want to know "what EXACTLY" I felt is best to be specific. Hope this answers your questions.

PEEL OUT NOW....or not. So sad its funny - so funny its sad.

SHOCK! Ok - my two cents - I rode it finally last week. It was great coaster BUT: The lift for Wild Eagle - while certainly not as fast, was quite speedy, and I think a "high speed" chain lift would have worked just as well for a few reasons: 1 - the launch REALLY feels like it "dies" when the LIMs stop close to the hill - to the point that the crest almost felt anti-climactic. 2 - the downtime has been beyond silly for "new technology". There doesn't even seem like a reason to promote it as OPEN IN 2016 when at this point the regular 2016 season is almost half over and you could probably fit the total run time into one week or so. 3 - the need to be "first" as a marketing tool has given them nothing to market (or a product to market that isn't really there for most of the customers) leading to lost (or delayed revenue and poor publicity of the park, and Im sure playing hell with payroll. You have ride attendants show up for a shift - only to be sent home (or other places) in a few hours because the ride has so much down time. 4 - It doesn't even seem like it is only the lift for a lot of these problems so maybe other issues were at play, but really...what is so NEW about any of this? A LIM launch? The fact that it goes uphill? The fact that it is on wood? Im not being pissy - really just asking... what about this ride is so "new" that is has caused this much delay?

Has it operated at all today? Nope "extended commissioning" this is the most commissioned ride I've ever seen.

Well a few days with spotty operations annnnnnnnd we're closed again today. Not out of those woods yet guys.

2:45. 2 trains. Seems to be consistent operation. Now after almost 5 month delay and three trips I can say we did it. Awesome ride. Have to do it again to really get a feel for it. So much happens so fast. Few details (and I know the focus has just been on getting the damn thing to run, but worth pointing out because they are the details that take it from ride to "themed attraction" sound effects were not on today. Or at least for as long as I was in earshot. Queue looks AWESOME with all the details but I'm concerned they cheaped out on the construction. Most all of the surface treatment is styro and stucco which is already being damaged- especially where they used that instead of concrete for the window ledges. Those areas are going to get way too much wear with people leaving on them to be made of that. The queue has seem very limited traffic and a lot of the finishes are already damaged. Most of this is character paint with washes that won't be easy to just "touch up". Good thing it's supposed to be a grungy factory because I'm afraid it will look like that sooner than later.

Oh no no. According to this thread there are NO PR nightmares and saying anything negative is insulting and whining. This park and RMC has gotten the biggest "get out of jail free" card on this NOT DEBACLE.

See I know there is more of this than we read about.. i know LR is clearly hurting Dollywood right now so I really hope it's open fully soon I know my girlfriend and I have cancelled three separate trips to the park. The first time, we decided to go to Six Flags Over Georgia and Lake Winnie. The second time, we went to Carowinds. And for the final time about 10 days ago (right after the recall was announced), we frantically changed plans at 4am the last day possible to cancel hotels without penalties, and the day before we were trying to leave. We then traveled to Busch Gardens, Hersheypark, and Six Flags Great Adventure instead. We both have a Dollywood season pass and we have yet to use it once. I know, I know. The park is wonderful without LR. And it is. We just want to make sure their new ride will be open before we travel the 5 hours to go to the park. I VERY cautiously optimistic about next Wed-Fri when we are planning on being there. Hopefully "Lightning" strikes this time for us (Not May or June)

We're going next week as season pass holders for a third attempt at Lighting Rod (and to enjoy the park in general) but if it looks like it will still be down, we will most likely cancel and rebook (maybe) later at the Dreammore resort. I have a feeling that is starting to happen with others - resulting in lost or delayed revenue. Hate to see it, and I know its "unavoidable" but this big boost may have become their "albatross around the neck" this year - especially when you look at the projections that I'm sure they made with LR being factored in as a driver. I have a feeling their % increases are going to be WAY off plan this season. My concern for the park is that yes, they will get it running consistently (?) some day, but the initial ROI will be lost. Im sure not many people are buying Lighting Rod t-shirts to commemorate their "standing and looking at the structure"

That was my point - some people are just highlighting what seem to be "less than wonderful" handling of the situation by the PR department. I don't recall any recent "these idiots don't know what they are doing" type remarks - just that the park has not had to handle a situation like this in the past, and they have seemed not "totally prepared" with their consistent message at all times across all platforms as the on going situation has unfolded. Nothing wrong with making critical observations when they are based on truth.

I haven't seen anything insulting to the PR team in the last posts. Just stating that they seem unprepared to deal with this problem. I don't see that as an insult. I see it as a well founded opinion based on the way the situation has been handled from March 18 on.

Nope. There this morning.

Agreed! Lightning Rod was closed when I was there last year, and I still had a great time! Great. But Lightning Rod wasn't "open" and being heavily marketed last year. It was a construction site - now that you think about it... That's actually pretty similar to this year after all.