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dstephe9

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Everything posted by dstephe9

  1. Mines just feedback for the park, if they listen.. just responding saying they are listening goes a very long way. And while I do agree, Facebook isnt the best place for reviews, not all companies get bad reviews on Facebook.. I work for a very young retail company, I'm newely hired here, but been here for 5 months now.. we are one of the most successful retail companies in malls right now and or Facebook has nearly 5 star reviews.. over 3 thousand of them. Our overall rating is a 4.8 Our values are 1.) Love on the guest from the time they enter the store 2.) Love on the associates That's all we do and it shows.. so yes while Facebook is a cesspool of reviews, first impressions I'm sure will fix it. Open more ticket windows and have more parking available and I wouldn't of been in a bad mood the entire visit last Saturday Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
  2. At least hide the empty trams at Splash Country if your not using that lot or those trams.. folks in line saying "I can't believe they have empty trams all over the place with long lines" Again, they are creating a negative image locally and to folks travelling. They are driving guest away. (Folks turning around asking for refunds) You guys defend everything the park does but you aren't here, you don't see this stuff in person.. I posted about it last week.. Another local person, one who is heavily involved in the tourism industry locally is posting about it.. this is a major problem they are experiencing.. a problem that looks like poor management, if it isn't a lack of staff. Allow the overtime (employees say they aren't allowed overtime but would like it).. simple fix! The park can start hiring earlier.. their first job fairs shouldn't be three weeks before the park opens.. Dollywood opens up two weeks before spring breaks are in full swing, two weeks before I am sure some of their busiest weeks of the year.. there is no excuse not to be fully staffed by then, it creates these negative impressions of the park. Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
  3. Simply put, last Saturday Dollywood was being ran like Six Flags.. that might be their intentions to save money but if they want to be like the Mouse they are going to have to do a better job, even if it cost money.. I was hoping they just miss judged crowd's but they can't use that excud forever. Disney has a shift sight were folks can take sifts on days it's busier than expected.. Dollywood needs a solution as well. Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
  4. It's not about reducing the crowds it's about handling them.. opening only 25% (half the old window area and that was it) of the available ticket windows isn't a solution.. parking attendants saying "there's 25 slots in there somewhere" isn't a solution. Running out of food and saying it will be 45 minutes isn't a solution.. Having half the trams in sight, visibly parked but no drivers, and the tram line backed to the ticket windows isn't a solution.. these are the issues I saw in person last Saturday. These are the issues on their Facebook.. these are the issues I was hoping only a one time issue but sounds like ACE is hearing about the issues locally and saw them in person again himself. On my visit, only the ride ops were handled well and nothing else. I have been there when parking was at splash and every was handled better. It looks like lack of employees or cost savings to me. You have to remember, the first impression means alot and when parking was so effed up last Saturday people were leaving asking for their money back.. a simple solution would be open the splash lot or the preferred lot that was almost empty.. long ticket window waits, just open up more windows! Call in staff if need be, move staff around.. there were plenty of overstaffed places when I was there Saturday. Get people to the front and make a good first impression and folks will probably be happier all day Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
  5. Another comment, how many ticket windows were open? Last Saturday only half were (at the old ticket area).. none of the windows at the old season pass area were open and that caused the waits.. Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
  6. And the sad thing is, the crowds have been worse.. they just aren't doing a good job managing them.. it's sad, I was hoping the day I was there was just a bad day for Dollywood.. I guess not.. I had to ask for help parking bc the lot was full and was just told to drive around.. I suggested they open the splash country lot and they said "there 20 empty spaces here somewhere" Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
  7. They have taken all the promotions for after three free down at the park, other than that, I'm not sure Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
  8. Even though LR was listed as "closed for the day" and never opened while I was there, according to the app it is open now so I guess they got it running? Last year, of it was listed as closed for the day, they normally never opened it. Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
  9. We are heading out.. they still don't have large crowds figured out yet.. tram lines backed up to ticket windows, yet empty trams setting unused.. parking nightmares.. bottlenecks.. frustrated staff ( staff that even telling at guest). Out of food at some places and so on.. they could do a lot better when crowds are this big. At least hide the unused trams haha. I mean it's not a bad train, ride ops were actually good even with long lines. Shows are fine and so on lol. Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
  10. According to Dollywood it runs fine so probably not. Lol Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
  11. LR is closed for the day and hasn't been open. Other lines are bad.. LR hasn't been running well this week at all.. I have been here two times now this week and my first visit it had a lot of down time Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
  12. It's a madhouse today and they won't open splash Country parking. Thirty minutes to find parking Don't listen to parking attendants. We had no luck following their advice and found empty slots in c and b. Both of which they told us was full. They only full lots are d/e and f! But lots of folks still coming in (a lot just leaving and asking for parking refunds to lol) Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
  13. Building up or around mountains is great for coasters but Dollywood was in desperate needs of new areas for flats And while it might take you by shock, it may not.. I have been two times now this year with various groups and neither even noticed much of a difference lol.. we do because we are watching it but most didn't Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
  14. The newer areas of Dollywood to me do look like an amusement park, or fake, or whatever.. they look like created lands, created to fit the theme they are building.. The newer parts of the park have never used the land and trees as well as the older part of the park BUT I think the newer areas are still beautiful and well done! As for changing the name, idk, the area was never a true ca yon and the new area and while walking up into timber canyon (remember, it starts right past the buss enterance) it's still built up on both sides like walking into a canyon. Also, the new area still isn't level with Timber Canyon so it's still built up on both sides. While I hate that Dollywood has to tear down so many trees and level areas to expand, it's the only way to do it.. There is still plenty of beauty in Dollywood and plenty of nature in the areas surrounding Dollywood. It's either move mountains or stop growing.. I find it amazing that Dollywood is essentially moving a mountain to grow. Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
  15. Yes local schools will be out for spring break.. if it's a pretty Saturday and if tradition holds, that is the Saturday Dollywood will have a record breaking day.. we are talking 30 thousand or more folks.. Dollywood has a very strong weekend during the local spring break, especially if it's pretty and sunny Right now the weather has it a very pretty day.. 60s and sun shining. Being the day before Easter though, the following weekend might be the busy one and not this Saturday Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
  16. Go during the week and you should be fine.. for example this past Monday, walk on for everything!! Beautiful day to. It's to early in the season for school trips. Dollywood missed the two largest spring breaks in the area (the week before the opened).. Dollywoods local school system isn't on break until the first week in April So signs point in your favor! Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
  17. I don't mind the memberships and you can get them on sale as well.. I have had mine for years and it started as a regular membership and a gold membership for under $10.. the gold was $5 and regular was $3.. it's gone up a bit but still slightly less expensive than 1 regular season pass and 1 gold season pass. Plus, never have to renew Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
  18. To be fair, it did happen at the Mountain Laurel Home store (or whatever the name is for the new store). I had no issues anywhere else It's a pretty neat store! Although the company I work for offers the same type stuff in our stores, actually some of the home decor was exactly the same. Surprisingly Dollywood is a little less expensive than my company though! Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
  19. I used to never have issues.. I think it comes down to 1 bad scan and they never rescan.. Barcode readers can be funky at times.. Both times it's happened (2016 and yesterday) they scanned the barcode once (never tried the magnetic strip).. System said invalid card (or whatever it tells the clerk) they look at the date and then start questioning if the card is good or not.. Something guest services says shouldn't happen. Never retried the card, and just manually put the discount in. Essentially, it probably comes down to a lack of training for the merchandise team. Also, magnetic strips go bad on cards all the time, especially if you have a magnet in your wallet (magnet money clip) but my magnetic strip is good. My 2016 card was very old, it was made the year they made all pass holders get new cards. Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
  20. I had issue with mine in 2016 so last year I got a new card.. didn't figure I would have issues with it this year but first store said it wouldn't scan and asked if it was a good card or not because of the date.. She then went on to say "I'm going to give you the discount this one time but that's it" Guest Services told me they are to never ever go by the date and are to swipe the card if it doesn't scan and then to call someone. They are to never assume anything about the date. This didn't happen yesterday or in 2016. Both times the clerks jumped to the date.. she didn't even try to swipe or rescan the card. Sounds more like a training issue on Dollywoods part so I did report the store it happened in and showed them the receipt so they had all the clerk's info. I'm sure if the card had a current date, they would of never said a word. Mistakes happen, I understand, I'm more upset the ticket window wasn't willing to help and I had to stand in line, the only line of the day, for guest services Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
  21. If you ever have any issues like that don’t ever be afraid to go to guest services by the ticket center. The only issue with guest services was today it was nearly a 15 min wait to get to the only open guest service window. No wait for ticket windows or rides haha. That's why I went to the ticket window to get my season pass corrected but they weren't willing to help out.. Now they might not be allowed to override the $15 replacement policy and if not, shame on Dollywood for not allowing it. I had no issues at the guest service window though. He even said "they are told to never ever go by the date, even if the system says the card isnt valid" and I was like "well she did and same thing happened two years ago so I'd rather just get a new card with new date. As you can see, I normally select renew online and keep the same card, today is my first visit this season so it's not like I am trying to cheat anything" No issues, he got me a new card ASAP.. he never even tried to charge $15 but the ticket windows should of been able to do it. I agree though, guest services is friendly and will get you taken care of though. From now own though, I'm always getting new cards.. Also, anyone know why the new season passes say winter on them? Because of winter pricing maybe? Or do you think they might be coming out with a discounted summer only pass? Both my new one and my wife's new one say winter on them.. I have her old one from last year and it doesn't say winter.. i wasn't allowed to keep my old one (she wanted a new card anyways so when I ordered, hers wasn't a renewal) Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
  22. It's iffy, a lot of the staff is great but there are still bad apples out there.. I again, renewed my pass this year and it didn't work at one of the shops for my discount.. the lady almost didn't give me my discount.. I went to a ticket window to get my passed changed and that lady scanned it, said it works, if you want a new one it's $15... I went to the window beside her and that man made me a new one, no questions asked.. the window beside her was guest services so that's probably why but you should never have to wait in line for that. Guest services line was long, ticket lines weren't So yeah, while some are great, some aren't willing to help or try LR was running great! Walk on, but they did have a row blocked off. Someone lost their phone on the ride before me but they didn't close it down to check the track like they have in past seasons. Also not sure if anyone ever confirmed this or not but Wonder Wheel is gone.. Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
  23. So far all the rides are having a rough start.. waterfall dead on DD Falls, fire effects and firework effects on fire chaser are dead, waterfall inside Blazing Fury isn't working.. Looks like they did add new LED lighting to parts of Blazing Fury which is nice and adds to it, they also repainted the outside of it. The new plaza area is very nice but wasn't it supposed to be a show venue? I guess small acts can perform on the grass area lol.. it is really nice though. Festival of nation's food is better this year! Especially the deserts I know last year a few folks on here, including myself said they were lacking. They also have a few vendors back for the festival of nation's, last year they didn't have any vendors so that's nice! Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
  24. I can officially confirm the quality of Aunt Grannies is back! Real catfish, real turkey, delicious veggies.. no more fish sticks.. it's very good! Great cobblers/pies.. Same price to.. might actually be cheaper.. total was $33 for two people after the Gold Pass discount or roughly the price of Ryan's. Note for folks with kids though, no more hotdogs or taco bar that I saw and they didn't mention it.. Update: Waterfall is broken on DD falls again and turned off. While a lot of the park looks great and there are improvements, a lot of the rides look like they were ignored during the off season Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
  25. At the park today, very low attendance today.. just parked in B and C is only 20% or less full.. I guess the threat of rains is keeping folks away Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
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