Electerik

Well, besides the obvious things, I think it's important that you don't have to wait around forever for a train to come by. SheiKra!

^ Well, y'all did a great job! In other news.... While I was snapping photos, Smisty videoed the Christmas Parade! Unfortunately, I did not realize that she was doing this--which is why you can hear me singing like a moron in the background. [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=DW_Xmas_Parade_uxci[/coastertube]

I actually think HISTA is better than Captain EO. But it's still a good move, because I'd rather watch EO again right now than HISTA, only if just for nostalgia. Plus, EO is a better fit for Tomorrowland, being all future-y and whatnot. And let's face it: It's a cheap "replacement" that they can probably get some good mileage out of.

Thanks for the update! For some reason, I assumed this was for the other Intimidator, and became really confused when the built track didn't look like the layout artwork.

Here at last, what will probably be my last update of the year, Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas. A few words about this update: I knew I wanted this one to be different/special, so I set for myself the goal of only using night photos. This was, of course, an incredibly stupid decision, as both Misty and I only have point-and-shoot cameras, and neither of us owns a tripod. As a result, a lot of time and effort went into making this update relatively blurry-free. So feel free to say nice things. As with all my updates: If you're just looking for 15 photos of each major coaster, you're likely to leave disappointed. I'm much more about the total park experience, which is what I try to capture. Still with me? In the exit gift shop, Misty gets our custom Dollywood ornament for this year. Memories worth repeating, indeed. Back at the front of the park, just in time for one more ride! Sparkly "Twilight" reindeer! Except, at night. So never mind. "I'm a happy gingerbread man! Hug me! I won't electrocute you!" The path that connects Timber Canyon back to the front of the park. Cold, but awesome. Thunderhead is the least decorated of the park's big attractions. Probably to accentuate the whole "riding in the dark" aspect. A UFO? Thunderhead's always rather temporary-looking gift shop has been removed (not sure why), and all of its merchandise transferred over to Mystery Mine's. Mystery Mine gift shop tree. There seems to be a bit of a smudge on the midway there. Buzz Claws? River Battle is, of course, closed. But Mystery Mine isn't. Sky Zip is open, but check out the hours. More carefully hurled lights. Tennessee Tornado exit theming. (Not really Christmasy, but still....) Not that it makes all that much difference, in terms of night photography. (Can you spot the train in this photo??) I don't think the ride way actually running when I took this one. (It has to be at least 40 degrees outside.) Its traditional way being, "lights just thrown everywhere." As is Tennessee Tornado, in its tradition way. This inside of the old schoolhouse is decorated for Christmas, too. Kudos to the entire Blazing Fury crew. They really outdid themselves. Hopefully, this will become a tradition. Fire in the hole!!! And it's pretty much just the first two-thirds. (Outlets were apparently the problem with going farther with it.) Still, very, very cool. Of course, they're impossible to photograph in a way that really conveys how awesome it is. Yes, Blazing Fury has Christmas lights! It's my understanding that the crew decorated the inside of the attraction on their own (although, of course, Dollywood signed off on it). For me, the highlight of this year's Smoky Mountain Christmas has been Blazing Fury. The blacksmiths have created their own "smelt tree." Looks just like it. Dollywood has their own Ne'Qwa ornament for sale. (Knowing what I'm talking about is probably a bad thing, right now.) Inside the glass shop. I've always thought it humorous that this huge building houses only a drink stand. All the more so, now. The usual "Christmas Pyramid" display, in front of the Grist Mill, has been replaced with this giant snowman. Leaving Train Town, we pass by the Lucky 7 Mine, which has the this rather interesting tree in it. ...for some pizza soup! Parade's almost done already. Then to Victoria's... Mostly because it's short. (Less than 5 minutes.) This is the best parade ever. People lining up for the parade. Care to get your picture taken in period costume? I can never remember what this area of the park is called. Let's just call it "Train Town." Super fast carousel! I've no idea how I did this. Looks kind of cool, though. The Veggie Tales kiddie coaster is decorated nicely. Yes, Dollywood does have bumper cars. "Demolition Derby." You can't go wrong with wacky cutouts. (Psst. If you look on the right of this photo, you'll see the true main attraction in Santa's Workshop.) Pictures with Santa. While Misty made a Christmas shrinky dink and a crazy ornament! I wrote my letter to Santa. (Why not? It's free.) ...toys, and activities. Inside are lots of pretty decorations... Santa's Workshop is located is the Country Fair section of the park. Even the prizes at the games are Christmasy! ...as well as many of the trees. Pretty much all of the buildings are decked out... I post only the very best photos of my Smisty. This is where Dolly sleeps when she's in town. And I do believe it's time for dinner. The green and yellow building is Aunt Granny's. "Carol of the Trees." Lights, music, trees. It's kind of like pancakes: all exciting at first.... Now leaving Jukebox Junction. Why not lights out on the course? Or at least a big Christmas tree? Rockin' Roadway got a few lights on the building, but I think they could have done more. ...complete with an Elvis tree. Walker's is in the Christmas spirit... Dolly's Closet should always look this way, don't you think? And I become even more five. The motion simulator becomes The Polar Express. I'm really proud of myself; I made it almost halfway through before leaving! Since I'd heard so many good things about it, we decided to see a show. This tree sits in what is normally a fountain. Dollywood's de facto "main midway." While Dolly...um.... Smisty decides to play with Mr. Percy instead. But I prefer peppermint ice cream. Candy is dandy (especially when it's freshly made). The Sweet Shoppe looks inviting.... The flower butterfly gets a high-tech upgrade for Christmas. A penniless, cookie-less customer looks on longingly. If many of Dollywood's other special events come off as a bit half-baked, not so this one.

Um...did you see the four birds a-calling?? Anyway, I always picture flutes, myself. I shall write the mayor immediately!

While I certainly respect your opinion to like what you like..."balanced"? A good mix of coasters and trash cans, perhaps? /Cedar Point is like Wolverine. //Figure that one out.

^ I guess he will, now. So...this company just buys other companies? And then...runs them? That's their whole purpose as a company?

Distinct from the other light displays (in that these are taken down at the end of December, whereas the others stay up until March) are The 12 Days of Christmas. Merry Christmas, from Erik & Smisty! And a partridge in a pear tree! Two turtle doves, Three French hens, Four calling birds, FIVE GOLDEN RINGS, Six geese a-laying, Seven swans a-swimming, Eight maids a-milking, Nine ladies dancing, Ten lords a-leaping, Eleven pipers piping, Twelve drummers drumming, On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me...

^^ Looks like I'm a go for the super-unofficial Dollywood meet-up on Sunday, December 20th. Misty's probably not going to be able to make it, though. But the current weather forecast is for a high of 40-degrees that day, which puts coaster operation at "iffy."

Not that. Below that: /Confused me too, at first.

Disney still just can't give up the idea that less time in line means more money spent in shops. (Of course, even if that's true, the problem is that "less time in line" has never yet been achieved.) I'm all for the kid's playground/meet and greet line idea, though. /Waiting to see what new evil they'll spread through the industry. //Still haven't forgiven them for Fast Pass in the first place.

The Pigeon Forge Trolley Tour of Lights runs Monday through Friday evenings, November through January, and costs $5.00 per person. Imagine if you’d never heard any nursery rhymes before, and you were driving down the street and saw this. I think I would turn around and go back home. ...Mother Goose's Fantasy Lane. And now, let’s swing over to Teaster Lane, also know (during Winterfest) as... For the very first Winterfest, Pigeon Forge had exactly one display, which looked very much like this one. This is Pigeon Forge’s largest light display. But only now does it occur to me that there’s almost no sense of scale in this photo. So…you see those sticks in the background? They’re not bushes; they’re the tops of trees on the hillside behind. Okay, how about this? Each one of those light-trees is about twice as tall as you are. The "train station" recently got toppled by high winds...but here’s what it used to look like. But the main focus is the city-built light displays. As well as a private home or two. ...and less tasteful. The tour also provides views of many of the town’s Christmas-decorated attractions, both tasteful... Okay, we’re off. Let’s get oriented, shall we? Our narrator (Winterfest sweatshirt) and driver (Christmas tree hat). And I'm wedged into my seat. (These tours are very popular. So the trolleys will almost always be full.) We have our tickets! So, of course, this is where you have to go to partake of the Tour of Lights. As mentioned earlier, Patriot Park doubles as the “Fun Time” Trolley Center. That's it for Fantasy Lane, and for the Trolley Tour of Lights. Pretty snazzy, eh? It doesn't show up well here, but a little mouse runs up and down the clock.

As preposterous as it often was, the old Thrill Ride was still awesome. Screamscape does the same thing responsibly (and is great), but sometimes "what if" is just more fun.

Well, I can't say that I expect much out of this. But it certainly isn't bad news. /Loved Miracle Strip.

As you said, very hard to sum up a whole park in one photo. But I enjoyed the attempt. Great job!

That's interesting. GCI's aren't really my type of coaster. I mean, I like them--but none are close to being top ten material in my book. Thunderhead is marginally my favorite out of all the GCI's (with Millennium Flyer trains) I've ridden, but mostly they're all just kind of the same. And so was Kentucky Rumbler. I guess my point is, that just thinking Kentucky Rumbler is much better than Thunderhead--or vice versa--seems weird to me.

I'm going to go with 'found from another site,' with that other "site" being RR-C. Of course, this was back before the forums existed. Amazing how much those have transformed TPR.

^^ Indeed. And look at James Bond. They ran out of Ian Fleming books a long time ago (Casino Royale notwithstanding), but they're still cranking out movies. /Or Sherlock Holmes.

So would one assume that all that amazing Ice Dragon/Fire Dragon stuff inside the queue has been gutted in favor for Harry Potter props? Maybe. But Dragons' load station queue already kind of looked like a big tent. Replace the old spell book with this goblet thing, and voila!

^^ Sorry. What I meant was, that photo was the weirder-ness. Not that it got weirder from there. Because, as you say, that would be impossible.

20 years ago, the towns of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville all got together to discuss their mutual problem: the complete lack of tourism during the winter months. A solution was quickly agreed upon: lights! For the first twelve years, all the lights were turned on, in all three cities, at the same time. But in the thirteenth year, this caused a county-wide blackout. So now the three cities all have their kick-off events on different nights. Pigeon Forge's 20th Annual Winterfest Kick Off actually occurred back on November 5th. But it's taken me this long to decide that it would be more merciful to do three or four smaller Winterfest updates, rather than one great big one. That's it for Patriot Park and Pigeon Forge's 20th Annual Winterfest Kick Off. I do see more photos of lights in your future, though! The riverboat display and the Little Pigeon River. This one is a bit overexposed, but it does show off how the eagle swoops down from the mountain and scoops up a fish. He does this all night, but never gains any weight. Know why?? A southern plantation represents the backwards, racist part of the country (where we are). Though there are light displays set up all through town, the ones at Patriot Park are patriotic/nationalistic in nature. Let there be lights! Great moments in fail: All 85 members of the Duggar family are brought back to Pigeon Forge in order to flip one switch. ...and free pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus were given out. Reindeer were brought in for petting... Oh, don't worry--it got weirder. There was also a stage, used primarily for underage school girls to dance on. For the kick off, several tent-booths were set up to sell food--as well as Winterfest apparel. Christened Patriot Park in 1993, during Operation Desert Storm, the park features this family-friendly missile as its centerpiece. Patriot Park is the location of Pigeon Forge's central trolley station, as well as the grounds for most outdoor city events.

Yeah, but all the rides were closed. So there's that to be taken into consideration. It was probably more cool for me than it would have been for someone just visiting.

^ And Universal. Flying Unicorn/whatever-the-hell-it's-going-to-be-called-now has (and runs) two trains.

^, ^^, & ^^^ Thanks for the compliments! I agree that they're beautiful pictures--but all I really did was be there at the right time to take them.