dstephe9

I left before it got dark, I wish I stayed to see the lights on it! Running up and down waterslides though, wears you out Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

I was talking to my grandmother sometime this afternoon about when we are going down to Tennessee, and there were a few rides closed for weather when I checked the ride times on the app (because I am a nerd like that). Probably the same time they closed the attractions at Splash then.. like I said, sun remained out and it was only closed for 15 mins, but enough to make people "run for the hills" because they thought a storm was coming.. my GF and I just got a pizza and relaxed beside the lazy river until we could get back in haha.. after that, everything, even tailspin was a walk on and slide! Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

I think it's safe to say it's false.. several of us that have ridden it more than 4 or 5 times tested it today plus with IOE saying they know nothing about it and would have to be told or involved with the process, that's pretty much a given that it is false.. they where also the ones who debunked it last year and told everyone it wasn't being trimmed.. Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Went to Splash today and went over to Dollywood just to ride LR.. there doesn't feel to be a slowdown! The ride has always slowed down before the crest, but it's not trimming.. also, I rode two times and both times the GPS on watch read between 75 - 76 MPH, which are consistent with my readings last year. Give the margin of error GPS has and you are looking at 73.. I was in swim trunks so didn't have my phone with me to use it for a speed app. On another note the had a Phantom Lightening strike somewhere within their warning zone about 4:45ish and that cleared out splash country!! So I ended up staying there much longer than expected due to being a ghost town after! Lol the attractions where only closed for 15 mins and the sun never went under the clouds.. I guess the lightening was somewhere in the mountains.. Did any of the coasters close at Dollywood during that time? I didn't have my phone with me to check haha Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

I'm on my way there now to but will be at splash firsh Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

If it's true, I'm sure they only did it to slow it down to the speed the ride was designed for, so the only folks loosing anything are the folks who rode it while it was overspeed. I doubt they slowed it down much Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

So if the launch has truly been slowed down at the top, that means there was a possibility that the ride was going way above speed.. With that being said, I think the trim break rumor also surfaced some last year and the programming company said there weren't any trims at the top (or said those where just for emergencies or something if there are some) and the slow down you felt was just normal because the launch wasn't installed all the way to the top of the lift.. I'll have to look up the post later when I have time, I just remember they spoke of it Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Blame it on the park, both reports came from supposedly ride ops.. With that being said, last season I said someone should take a GPS on the ride and see the readings when this rumor came about, I actually did that and I don't believe I ever posted the results (maybe I did, I can't remember) Disclaimer: Consumer GPS should never be considered a scientific way to measure speeds.. I know that. I used 3 devices to test, but still not scientific! All devices other than the watch where in zipped cargo pockets for safety! 1.) Outdoor GPS (Highend Consumer model that cost about $400) 2.) Nexus 6P with a speed tracking app (I'd post the screenshot of the app, but unfortunately that phone has shattered and expanded due to a bad battery)(in my car this app always reported 2 - 3 mph higher than my cars speedometer) 3.) And a GPS enabled watch with on board GPS and speed app (Used as a control device that had direct access to the sky while the other two devices where secured in sealed cargo pockets which could possibly interfere with readings) All devices had max speed within 3MPH of each other Over 10 test showed max speed of around 73 - 76 MPH, so give or take the margin of error, that's 72 - 73 HOWEVER two test did show a Max speed of nearly 80.. Never over 80 as far as I can remember though, not an official test so I wrote those off as "Flukes".. take the 3mph margin of error and the rides max speed was well under 80. Again, not an official test but interesting readings nonetheless.. Keep in mind, this was after the first closure and took place during late summer/early fall.. the rumor was well before that time so any issues could very well have been fixed at that time. I in no way every think the coaster can reach 90! Lol.. if anything, given my phone always reported 3 MPH faster than my cars speedometer, the ride might actually be slow at times clocking only 71 - 72 Also keep in mind, the vertical movements could also interfere with GPS speed, so this is definitely not a speed gun test my any means Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Pffft, that rumor again!? That' so 2016. LSMs require such ridiculous precision and control that there is quite literally no way that would be able to happen. Also, the company that designed and programmed the ride control system (Irvine Ondrey Engineering) confirmed this rumor to be false when it was first circulating in June of 2016. Now I'm not saying that the ride is going 90 and don't believe so, but last year's rumors had more to do with the ride reaching 90+ MPH sometime during the course of the ride.. While the LSM require precision, they are definitely not launching the train at 90.. With that being said, a lot of other factors could cause the train to reach 90 during the course of the ride, such as train weight, rider weight, type of wheels (also why Dollywood changes wheels during the winter) and so on.. With them testing the ride with various different weights, that could suggest that on some rides the train was going to fast.. 90, probably not but over speed yes.. Also, if their is a failsafe to shut the ride down if it gets to those speeds, that could also suggest this might be happening. The control system company just said the launch wasn't causing those speeds and couldn't. Again though, you can't really trust ride ops with anything lol Also, with Dollywoods confidential agreements, that's up to the employees to actually keep those.. we have seen employees post here then quickly delete, meaning they probably had a slip in their mind and did it on accident.. Also, it's hard to prove someone "really" said something on the internet from an HR standpoint. My HR team at work hears "I was hacked" at least once a year. Even though TN is a "At Will" state when it comes to jobs, as soon as the HR team hears that, it gets very complicated and normally the complaint against whoever ends up having to be dropped. With that being said, sensors could also be reading the wrong speeds, which is very possible.. so while I personally don't feel the train is doing 90, it is a possibility that this might be the issue, just like all the other possible issues we have heard.. Rumors are rumors though and you can't trust employees with anything (this is true with any job).. just yesterday the clerk at Best Buy told me all video games where going up to $89.99 this Christmas and that Nintendo had discontinued the Switch (which is why it's out of stock) when I went in to buy Arms.. I know that's not true but hey an employee said so lol Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

This is true, someone puked on Wild Eagle once when I was next to get on it. They cleaned the train which took about 10 mins because the ops couldn't do it.. they called someone in to do it, after they cleaned it they ran it once or twice to "dry it off" is what we where told.. I'm sure it was just a test run. Entire process took 15 - 20 mins and the app had it TC the entire time Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Is it in technical rehearsal or is it just staff? Technically it's not been officially closed if you go by the sign out front and the statement on their site.. This has been posted on the site and out front of the park for a few weeks now.. they aren't calling it technical ride rehearsal though and haven't been.. but other than listing it for weeks as CD in the parks app, the park never officially closed the ride so they could open it to guest at anytime I'd imagine With this being said, I doubt they will open it today with the app saying CD.. they very well could open it tomorrow though. IMPORTANT NOTE: As Lightning Rod’s manufacturer, Rocky Mountain Construction, is working to improve the operational consistency of the ride and elevate its performance to Dollywood’s high standards, Lightning Rod’s running schedule will be irregular and subject to periodic closures. We apologize for any disappointment and inconvenience. Please enjoy Dollywood’s newest thrill, Drop Line or one of our other family attractions Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

During BBQ & Bluegrass one of the cooks told me that people got offended by the roasting pig so they didn't have a grill any meat in the open like they used to do. As to LR, I overheard the Dippin Dots lady say the 17th. Wonder if this is true or just another cost cutting thing. With the other food changes, I'm not so sure I believe it. But that's just me lol I will say the BBQ didn't taste fresh like it has in the past.. it tasted like Cade's Cove heat and serve BBQ lol Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Just spent about three hours in the lazy river at splash country, headed over to Dollywood now as the crowds look very low today and check a few things out So LR is still testing.. BBQ in market square isn't the good BBQ they have had in the past. Actually, they are making nothing fresh in the seasonal booth (where the stir fry was cooked and where BBQ is normally cooked) it has smoothies and salads.. Overall another food quality downhill issue for Dollywood Other than that, it's been a great day so far Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

I have gotten soaked on it before and sometimes not a drop.. just depends Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Six Flags just does a piss poor job about updating it's site.. I mean, they have promotions sometimes on their site that expired three years ago lol Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Well in less than two weeks they extended hours until 10 everyday.. I guess they just wanted to start fireworks early this year before the summer hours lol Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Black Mountain will probably bring you down I-40 a lot of the way. That's the mountain between Johnson City and Asheville.. but I'm just guessing haha Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Exactly, looking out my window now, the wooded areas are fairly dark.. not black, and you can clearly see but it would be a decent night ride.. open areas, where the sky can be seen, has that "sunset" "dusk" look so plenty of visible light Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

This Saturday Dollywood is only open until 9. You're not really going to get a true night ride then. Sunset ride, yes, but it's still fairly light at that time. This time of year, being right beside the mountains here, it's fairly dark at nine.. yeah not pitch black or anything.. with that being said, you will pretty much have to ride right at 9 (closing) to experience a fairly dark ride.. but dont expect pitch black yet.. Sun drops pretty quickly between 8:30 and 9:00 around here though Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

They said that a lot last season lol Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Call Dollywood.. I had a friend once who had a quality issue with something, they called Dollywood and they replaced it over he phone.. I'd imagine they might be able to sell you one over the phone to? It'll be a few weeks before I'm back to Dollywood (very busy month at work) or I'd love to help you out.. I bet Dollywood can take care of you though! Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Where did you end up having lunch and how was it? Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

If the chicken truck down around LR is open (it's only open about 50% of my trips) it had very good chicken.. food truck quality chicken so greasy deep fried chicken breast and good fries.. I enjoy it anyways but I have always enjoyed unhealthy food truck food anyways haha Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

It was asian about 4 weeks ago but now that BBQ festival is actually over (I didn't realize it ended this weekend) it probably is back to asian Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk Darn! I thought it was next weekend for some reason, was looking forward to seeing that. Oh well. I did to! But it was May 26 - June 4th.. I can't believe I missed it.. been a busy few weeks lol Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

It was asian about 4 weeks ago but now that BBQ festival is actually over (I didn't realize it ended this weekend) it probably is back to asian Last summer though they kept BBQ most of the summer.. bummer if they don't have it in Market Square this year.. another food quality drop Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk