I love DW

My 280th post. A.k.a. .028% of all posts.

In the Hall of Memories photos the first picture you asked about is a boat from the "Flooded Mine" which was located where Daredevil Falls is currently. Flooded Mine operated from 1977 to 1997 and was actually built in house by Silver Dollar City. Random fact; one of the men who helped build the Flooded Mine still works at Dollywood as the Master Craftsmen of woodcarving. The second photo is a car from the "Thunder Express" roller coaster which was located where Tennessee Tornado is now and operated from 1989 to 1998.

Here is the official press release about Dollywood, Dollywood's Splash Country and Dixie Stampede's "Dolly Helps Nashville" fund raising weekend: Source: http://www.dollywood.com/press-c1-Press_Release_Listing.aspx So basically all admission tickets from Dollywood, Dollywood's Splash Country and Dixie Stampede will go to help flood relief in the Nashville area! Dolly will be appearing both days at Dollywood and Dixie to thank people for there support. As of today there has been an estimated $2 Billion worth of damages done to private property due to the flood. If you can't visit the parks May 22nd and 23rd go to http://www.dollyparton.com to donate any amount you can! Fundraising page YouTube video Facebook Page Twitter account

Well I guess it could be worse. At least Edward, Isabella, Cullen, etc. are "normal" names. However it is still sad parents name there kids after movies and other stupid things. What's worse is their children will be the ones who will have to live with people thinking and mentioning that it is the same as the movie characters for many years. Another thing I find odd is how so many celebrities decide to name there kids all kinds of crazy things. Such as Keith Urban and Nicole naming there kid "Sunday" seriously who names there kid a day of the week! Celebrities of all people should realize that easier names are better seriously there famous it's all about your name!

Still seems odd to me that right after coming out of bankruptcy Six Flags replaces the CEO that I thought they had done fairly well under (maybe I'm wrong?). However best of luck to Dr. Weber, hopefully the parks can return to greatness again (and dare I say a return to where they are theme parks once again and not just one giant corporate billboard).

SkyZip is a lot of fun, you should plan about 1 and a half hours for the entire experience. (If you decide to get a Gold Season Pass you also get 20% off of SkyZip as well). Also to note Dollywood's military discountfor "active or retired military, disabled veterans, and military reservists, spouses and dependents when valid military personnel IDs and dependent IDs are presented" is 30% off at the gate making the tickets $39.10 after tax. So make sure you don't pay more than that since he is in the military. Also to note those tickets can be used for the "After 3 offer" and are eligible to be upgraded to a Season Pass for the same price as if you paid for a full price admission ticket, I think (may want to check for sure).

Are you interested in cabins? When in August will you be attending? If your looking for cabins Dollywood Vacations has some really amazing deals on Dollywood and Dollywood's Splash Country. I do believe you can get discount Dixie Stampede tickets through them (and possibly Ripley's Aquarium tickets, but you would have to check that by calling them as well). Here is the link to their special offers: http://www.dollywood.com/vacations-q10171-c10000-Special_Offers.aspx You may want to sign up for the park's email list if you have not already. Dollywood Vacations send out an email every few weeks with new offers, the current one is "Stay in May, Dollywood is on us." They always have length of stay passes (up to 7 days) available for the same price as a one day ticket (55.90 with tax for adult), always free parking, and they have recently started a complimentary one day pass to Dollywood's Splash Country as well. You also receive a coupon book for the parks ($600 value) when you stay with Dollywood Vacations. Season passholders receive 20% off cabin rental so it may even be beneficial to buy your season pass online now and then call once you receive them and save 20% on your cabin (you still receive the coupon book and such I believe), if you do have season pass you have to call to get the discount instead of reserving online without one. If you are choosing Dollywood Vacations I recommend calling early because they book pretty quick. Since your going in August and if you don't already know their doing "DOLLYWOOD NIGHTS" this year August 2 - 8 the park will be open 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. (which they are only normally open 10-7 then) it is also the only time before Smoky Mountain Christmas that you can ride the coasters in complete darkness. So if it's possible to go then it would be a great time. That is typically a busy week as it is the last week before school starts but with 3 hours extra each night it will make it better. Also the "Arrive After 3, Next Day Free" offer is still valid then (if you do not choose the Dollywood Vacations option.) Hope this really long post helps.

Which is arguably the best part!

I really enjoyed this episode of Undercover Boss it was nice to see a theme park company selected. I've watched, read and listened to a lot of interviews from Joel, Albert (Silver Dollar City) and the Ride the Ducks Captain and I really think the show was a genuine thing. Maybe the people were meant to be picked maybe they weren't but everyone does have story really. What I found interesting was this episode was NOT shot by CBS at all. When this episode was filmed in the fall of 2009 it was an independent crew and it was just a pilot series no network had picked up the concept yet. So Herschend Family Entertainment signed on to do it prior to it becoming the big hit it is on CBS. For all they knew the show may never air at the time it was shot.

Great photographs! I'm not sure what I am more jealous of though, all of the roller coasters, or the warm looking weather

According to their website Snow Mountain is open weekend through March 7th.

I have never ventured into Gatlinburg for the parade or fireworks however if you plan on going to Dollywood July 4th is the best day really (may be hard to believe but its true, historically not nearly as many people visit on this day). July 4th in the past has been one of Dollywood's least busiest days for the month of July. The park does not do fireworks and closes at 8 therefore many people don't visit on the 4th. Patriot Park has fireworks on the 4th if you do not want to venture into Gatlinburg. You could ride the Trolley from Patriot Park on the 4th into Dollywood then leave the park around 7:30 and catch the trolley back to Patriot Park for the fireworks.

Thanks you for the download! Can't wait to watch it!

Erik if Jizzman comes near you with sharp objects RUN!

If someone is no longer a follower is that like committing twitercide? Yeah that was a lame one. Lord I apologize for that.

[sarcasm] Theirs a thread? What thread? Where is the thread? Can someone point me to the thread? [/sarcasm] These are good tips. A couple of my friends upload pictures and I really just want to look at them and say "do you honestly think after college any employer who looks at your Facebook will hire you?" At least make your profile picture a good one and keep the stupid stuff just in your albums! Don't let something dumb you do now ruin your career down the road!

Great photos as always! I love pictures of Christmas decorations with snow. Just wish I lived closer to Dollywood so I could have been there from open till 6 taking pictures!

I was 992 on follow TPR. Only 8 more to go!

I still have until January 2nd to finish my 2009 season. My opening for the 2010 season will be March 27, 2010 when Dolly will be on hand for Dollywood's opening day.

I'm glad Dollywood's Splash Country won the award, the park has really grown to be a very nice place in the last 9 seasons. Seems as if Dollywood is doing well at IAAPA this year. HFEC has already won 3 awards in the first two days at IAAPA this year 2 of which for the Dollywood Company (and the results have not been released yet from tonight's Big E Entertainment awards yet either), so possibly more awards to come.

Ok first off good job on still getting a two Dollywood plugs into a post about the Old Mill with both the worker and brochures! Neither. What's worse is parents actually buy them!

Great TR! It's just a rumor from Screamscape but supposedly Thunderhead is getting some re-tracking done during the off season, so if you ever get a chance to go back it should be smoother.

Now that you've got all the coasters done, next time start with SkyZip. It is a blast! A few lucky people even get to zip on "Cougar Plunge" while Tennessee Tornado is at the top of the loop. I got to and when I turned myself towards that direction I saw Tornado do the entire loop and a Mystery Mine car on the trestle drop in the distance. Great experience! Just for a little bit of an odd fact I will add this: If you look at the map in your photograph of SkyZip between the Cougar Plunge and Bald Eagle Swoop lines what you walk between the two actually follows the Dollywood property line on that side of the park.

Ring Racer opens in Germany and takes over the title as world's "fastest coaster" speeding in at 134 m.p.h.

It can never hurt to give season passes a try. I think $99.95 is a bit steep however I can see why they are setting it that high to try and get people to purchase 4 or more for the reduced rate of $49.95 so they can sell a larger quantity. When you click on the purchase link (https://webhost.corecashless.com/indianabeach/ticketsales/?p=is12t4ym) they offer "Cool cash" as well. This is a beneficial perk that I would like to see more parks do. Below is the table they show for "Cool Cash" amounts: $25 Cool Cash gets $27.50 in Value $25.00 / each $50 Cool Cash gets $57.50 in Value $50.00 / each $100 Cool Cash gets $120 in Value $100.00 / each