dstephe9

Exactly and when it goes down it might be a day or two.. or it might be a week.. the longest was almost a month this year? So yeah, very hard to tell.. last year though, late September, early October, it ran the best! Maybe you will get lucky and the same this year Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

It's been running fine recently.. I mean there might be a day or two it's down but it's running as good as it can I guess haha. Only running one train though Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

I'm not getting my hopes up about the food.. I was let down for festival of Nations, let down for BBQ and Bluegrass, so not getting my hopes up.. I will be sure to try the food and I hope the park has taken feedback from guest about the food issues this year so maybe it will be better Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Looks like everything just closed so it won't be closed long, it's just about time for totality here Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Haha that's what happens when Dollywood decides to TC rides because of this.. I am glad they are though, the employees deserve to see it Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

But that same news source also said that the eclipse, due to the moons magnetic pull, could cause pregnant people to go into early labor.. I was like WTF, the only thing different about the moon today vs any other day is that it blocks the sun.. Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

I heard one news source this morning saying NASA is making it worse than it really is, to help them and other people sell "NASA certified" Solar Glasses.. it's up to individual people to believe that or not though haha Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

I for sure would have my glasses on. The park is very close to totality.. Nasa is actually up and Clingmons Dome today, that's one of their filming locations

The looking at the sun stuff is overkill though haha.. looking at it with your bare eyes at anytime can cause cells in your eyes to be killed which is what leads to the damage.. During solar eclipses people just look at the sun for extended periods of times which is why it causes even more eye damage.. Its like an article I read about bringing your pets inside during the eclipse.. The answer was, its not needed because pets don't look at the sun, even on normal days so to them the eclipse wont make any difference. Yes, during an eclipse the luminance from light rays change quicker than normal, making it a little harder for eyes to adjust which might speed up the process a little but not by much. But the main damage is looking at it for extended periods of time.. You can cause the same damage from looking at the sun right now for a minute or two without moving your eyes off it. Like for example, the video you linked to was shot on a regular sunny day. Its like the camera video a camera shop shot.. I burned up a camera sensor one time on accident on a normal sunny day haha I mean, I understand Dollywood taking precautions but the sun shouldn't be able to cause anymore damage today than any other day (Aside from the luminance changing quicker, which will cause your eyes to focus at a different rate) unless you look at it for extended periods of time

I see no issue with them TCing for it, their employees deserve to see it to but what safety concern? The park is open during the night all the time so darkness is no issue.. The only safety concern I see is that employees will be distracted? Why not just admit it and say it is so the employees can enjoy the eclipse lol Lights you would think would be automatic

Or an employee that was WAY to early to the punch which is also possible.. I really can't imagine Dollywood not announcing anything for next season.. I mean, I know things can change but why take a break from their 10 year plan? I can't recall the original announcement about their 10 year plan but I do recall them saying we would see things constantly being added to one of the three properties (Dreammore, Dollywood, or Splash). Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

This was definitely the case a couple weeks ago. I checked the app constantly throughout the days we were there and both LR and MM were constantly trading the TC status. You guys are all going to kill me but we didn't get on DDF. In fact, I didn't even see it. What is it near, specifically? It's hidden by itself in craftmans valley. Up in a back corner. Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Well we aren't out of the woods yet! Last year Dollywood surprised us late in the season with ride announcements so they might do the same later this year lol Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

No announcements yet? Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

I almost posted this exact comment yesterday! Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Wild Eagle is 200+ ft tall but doesn't have a 200ft drop! But it looks massive standing there.. a 200ft drop coaster would be awesome though Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Or maybe HFE has purchased the starflyer for Dollywood it would bring the amazing heights to the fair side of the park.. Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

They also put an S&S swing in at Wild Adventures didn't they? Or was it already there before HFE purchased them? I bet they buy in pairs to keep price down, similar to why Six Flags builds so many "Cloans" Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

A lot for Dollywoods rides are kind of "hidden".. to an extent, I feel they plan it this way. During Christmas you would never know Slidewinder or DDF is even around unless you look for them. Maybe it wasn't planned, but Dollywood does pay attention to the small details Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Maintenance. Dollywood, from what I heard, tries to refurbish at least one coaster train a season.. last year it was one of Tornados trains. The entire train disappeared, about this time and was gone for a couple months.. so I'd bet it's being refurbished.. I doubt anything will happen to Thunderhead unless they do plan to RMC it but I doubt that, especially at this point.. maybe 10 years down the road but not now Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Early in the season, it had a lot of CD and temporary closures and it was hot outside so it wasn't weather related.. This summer it seems fine, although it closes early everyday.. rumor has it, that's just because it's dark back there and they close before dark which I understand.. it does still have several TCs during the day, but honestly all rides probably have a few Temp Closures for safety checks and whatnot Edit: I think your response was actually directed towards the Thunderhead comment.. he must of posted same time I did because I didn't see his post Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Maybe they have just been bandaiding DDF this season and it has much larger issues than we know so they have decided to close it? With that being said, there are much older falls rides out there and DDF is one of the best ever built! I hope it's not going away Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Also for demonstrations, they have a working gristmill, blacksmith, and other old stuff like that.. Usually only on weekends so you might need to call.. all the demonstrations are in the old village about halfway around the loop road Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Officially no but I see dogs on the Abrams Falls trail all the time.. Leash it and you might be fine.. here are the official park rules on dogs "Dogs are allowed in campgrounds, picnic areas, and along roads, but must be kept on a leash at all times. The leash must not exceed 6 feet in length. Dogs are only allowed on two short walking paths—the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail. Pets are not allowed on any other park trails. Pet excrement must be immediately collected by the pet handler and disposed of in a trash receptacle. Pets should not be left unattended in vehicles or RVs." Official Link https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/pets.htm Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

I agree with the prices and made that point earlier in the season and a lot of folks didn't agree.. a lot of the demonstrations Dollywood offers can be seen for free at Cade's Cove (which has been bumper to bumper pretty much all summer).. The shows they offer are good, but imo, not worth the price of a daily ticket. So I agree with all your points about the price increase.. Look at Six Flags parks or Cedar Fair Parks, you can get the equivalent of Dollywood gold pass for under $150 and that includes both amusement parks and waterparks at most locations. You can get daily tickets for those parks for $50ish or even lower with promos.. The shows alone won't bring in the people wanting to pay the big ticket prices anymore..they will go elsewhere in the area or like I have heard more and more say this season "we put our Dollywood fund towards a week at Disney" I have heard that more and more this season.. The fires didn't help either but the area seems to be pretty crowded with a lot of hotels full during the weekends.. I have seen a lot of "No Vacancy" signs this summer so while the fires hurt, I don't believe it is as bad as some think.. But who knows haha What it comes down to, Dollywood is not Disney so they don't need to price themselves that way.. the insiders program is taken straight from Disney but I agree, that money can be spent better elsewhere.. Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk