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I guess the midnight days didn't do well but in all fairness, the weather was pretty nasty on those days if I recall Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

This year it's Cal Ripken. You know, it could also be for financial reasons. Who knows how much Dollywood paid to sponsor (if they paid) and maybe someone else decided to pay more? (Ripken built a new facility in the area late 2016) Lots of factors could come to play here. Maybe the city wanted to change the theme of the parade, they are changing the name of the parade to music in the mountains, so why not the theme? Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Yearly parade in the area, it has nothing to do with Dollywood. It's basically a local parade, but Dolly is always in it. Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

And yes the pantry is open to anyone for those who might not of know Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Exactly and like I said in an earlier post, looking at Google Maps, that area is the closest area to the service road where the new area is being built making it fairly easy (with landwork of course) to link it there.. Who knows though, but several of the Dollywood hub areas have a large show venue around that area! I have always felt like the show areas was Dollywoods way of separating the different themes! Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Yup, I'd imagine it will also be the hub leading to the new area in 2019 as well Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

I think tomorrow is their last operating day so hopefully they can open one last time this season! It's supposed to be fairly cold tomorrow as well Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

I do know a lot of folks do stop and eat in that area so resting area would be nice there. I'm guilty of eating on the old porch that was there Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

It was kind of an eyesore so a flat would be nice in the area, but also out of place.. I'd imagine they just plan to renovate more this off season (like last season) so probably putting a new shop or restaurant there or something but who knows! Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Applejack's has been leveled for some time now this season. I noticed it during the harvest festival but it could of been leveled longer.. they haven't used the building for a while now so hopefully they will replace it with something useful Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Also Ripley's has a deal for tickets online right now 25% with code gingerbread Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Ripley's Aquarium is open, not sure about their other attractions and it's actually one of the best aquariums around Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

It's very common to be busy this time of year in pretty days. Several times last year the park was parking guest at Splash Country during the Christmas event, especially on mild or sunny weekends Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

On busy days, most people are there for the shows. I have been in line 30 minutes early and still was turned away. If the park is busy, you need to be in line at lest 60 minutes early. If you get the timesaver, it would be good to use for the shows also. Typically, I have seen them fill the timesaver seats about 5-10 minutes before the show starts. So even with the timesaver, I would try to get to the show at lest 20 minutes early. Now if we can only convince Dollywood to add a timesaver line for the cinnamon bread. That's because, at times, they will start filling the time saver seats with regular guest right before the show starts if the theater is full.. if they see they are going to have plenty of timesaver seats. They don't always do this but have in the past Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Arrive early.. I have seen them fill up even on slow days.. if a show gets full they might, but don't always, start filling the timesaver seats with regular guest. Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Yah I have personally seen LR run below 40 so I'd bet the snow has got it closed down. Last year there was a day that LR and Wild Eagle were the only running coasters Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Yes they did use to stop the train for a short show but at one of the stops it would have to stop for an extended period to get prepared again.. meaning it could leave the main station, stop at the loop and drop folks off pick new folks up then start again without much of a break but when it got back to the main station they would have to fill with water, and get it prepared again which might take 30 mins or so. That's where it would lose it's efficiency. For example, Disney trains run every 20 mins or so at each station but it would still probably take Dollywood 45 mins to an hour to get back to the second station even if it could make one trip fairly quickly But the train coupled with a "ski themed chairlift" which is another rumor I heard, could combined, provide an effective transportation system for those who weren't able or didn't want to walk up the hill. Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Well the snow park that Dolly wanted to build could create snow even during the hottest summer.. heck I think Ober can make it up to 70 degrees now and they don't even have the best snow equipment so the snow park would be a year round attraction itself Also I didn't even think of it being an answer to year round operations but you might be right! The park president said last year, during an interview, that the park would be open year round if it wasn't for the fact they needed a few weeks to get the park ready for the next season.. he mentioned that he felt the park could do something unique to keep the guest coming even during Jan and Feb. A snow park would do just that! Even if it only means Dollywood would be open on the weekend during the "off season" and maybe the snow park portion would be the only part open or they would only have select attractions open elsewhere.. There are a lot of church retreats and other conferences doing the off season that keeps the area busy on weekends.. Dollywood could easily draw a decent crowd say 12:00 - 6:00 during the winter.. I know when I went on chruch trips, we used that time for putt putt and the other small parks in the area because Dollywood was closed. Something kind of fun to think about Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

I know last year, when LR was running on cold days, it was actually one of the last coasters to close... I made a post last year that when I left only it and wild eagle were still running... Later in the season, as it got more consistently cold, it didn't run very well but was that due to the cold or something else? We will never know Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

I have visited about 4 times over the past few weeks, mainly to eat.. I haven't seen any issues with LR.. been running fine but know that I have visited on the warmer days so not sure if cold will mess with it or not Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

I got a similar e-mail today but the dates offered for half off are during the off season after the park is closed. I made the mistake of going to the area in January and everything was closed, even the shows in the area. The place was a ghost town. Being local, I love that time though haha! This is also the time of year locals get into a lot of attractions for $5 or $10 You still have the Aquarium in the Smokies that's open, the Mountains, the Island, and most dinner attractions, at least the large ones.. Dolly's lumberjack one was closed last winter because it was changing, but the others in the area should of been open like Comedy Barn, Hatfield's, and Dixie Stampede.. the museum's are open, again most of the area should of been open unless it was a smaller attraction.. it's nice visiting those places when it is a ghost town. A lot of church conferences going on during Jan and Feb, along with other conferences that keep the place in business But again, that's why I said not sure how good of a deal it was.. it is smack dab in the heart of the off season haha What did you want to go to that was closed last winter? Or whatever winter your visited? Aside from Dollywood? Because even most shows are open daily, although they may only have one show during the off season Edit: I think Hatfield's might of closed for a short period last winter or maybe the winter before for a small renovation but it wasn't closed all winter. Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

She does Cyber Monday deals! I got an email about 50% off bookings at Dreammore! Lol, not so sure how good of a deal it was but hey, it said it was a Cyber Monday deals in the email Currently they have the free "tickets" (bring a friend tickets) with season passes as their main promotion.. I never get to use them because they have to many blackout dates! I have never had the December friend passes though so they may not have all the blackout dates Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

If it's over 40 degrees, all coasters should be open. Only the water ride are closed Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Depends on the weather.. it really does. Mild Christmas and it will be packed that week.. if it's bone chilling cold, who knows haha.. same for the few days before Christmas. Here is a sample of the weather here after Christmas last year when you visited. nearly 70 degrees on the 26th haha.. the year before I was almost as warm.. that temp combined with people being home is what makes Dollywood so packed on those days. If it's 35 degrees who knows what the turnout will be. Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Rumor has it and Pete himself, several years ago mentioned one of the accesses would be the service road beside firechaser.. a lot of us here think the other access will be where river battle was and the new stage area is being built.. that would make a nice hub area Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk