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I'd imagine it was probably designed to be 63mph but it hits faster than that at times.. Maybe when they advertised it as 65 they where using an average? Now they advertise it at 70 because it hits close to 70 on some runs depending on train weight and whatnot? Is still imagine it averages around 65 but that's still faster than the original 63 Just a thought Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

They have actually changed the sign to 70. But yes, they do announce it at 70 now. Even the Dollywood website list its max speeds as "Nearing 70". Wikipedia still has the original speeds Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Yeah exactly.. maybe they just "modified" the layout to better fit their budget or to a layout that maybe had less of a tunnel? The description doesn't match the current layout but the other specs do (aside from the speed which is now much faster) Over the years I have seen them advertising three different speeds.. the original 63, then 65, now they advertise 70. (Worded as "nearing" 70 on their site but worded as "70" in park) Edit: Another Theory I just thought of (I say theory because none of us know if any of this is true). What if they did plan to run this along side Thunder Express like another member was told? If so, they probably didn't plan so much space between the station and lift? (Because they wouldn't have used the old thunder express station).. That would probably give enough room (track length) for possibly one more element? Especially with the little bit of extra straight track before the brake run.. Just an interesting thought. Reusing that station probably saved a lot of money but maybe that was never part of their original plans. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Not 100% sure how true that is considering, if I remember correctly, Thunder Express was removed before TT construction started and TT uses both the same station and maintenance bay as Thunder Express had Unless they decided early in the process that they couldn't afford both and as a cost savings they sold Thunder Express and decided to reuse the station and maintenance bay to save more money Interesting theory though I wish they still had the old Arrow Mine Train though.. I love those rides and always make sure I get several rides on the one at SFOG.. I can always go to Arkansas I guess and ride Thunder Express [emoji14] unless they finally got rid of it Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

The description does make it sound like it was supposed to have a few more loops after the iron butterfly.. and a few more turns.. as it ended up being built, it basically ends after the butterfly. Unless they consider the "spiral" as more loops but I have always considered that part of the butterfly. But who knows, it's hard to go by description only but the ride vs the description does sound like it was cut down at some time Very interesting! Thanks for finding it.. I was to young to actually pay any attention to the announcement when it happened.. all I remember is seeing the area being cutout for it and saying yay new coaster probably haha Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Yeah, it was so dead that weekend before the Grand Opening that it made it worth buying the overpriced swim trunks and beach towel from the park lol Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

It's technically "all dropping" from the lift so good question.. I'd personally imagine it's the drop after the banked turn into the tunnel thats 162 ft but they might be measuring the turn and drop.. not sure Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

The only time I was able to enjoy the water park portion of SFOG was during their soft opening the weekend before the Grand Opening of Hurricane Harbor.. I was lucky enough to be at the park and noticed it had an unannounced opening.. I purchased some trunks and enjoyed it for half a day that day.. it even caused me to increase my stay and visit one more day that weekend BC it was open again that Monday.. It was dead because it was unannounced.. now though, even the wave pool is to crowded to enjoy lol Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Well, like I said above, when I talked to a few people at the park that had been there for years, it sounded to me like the element that was removed had possibly been removed before the ride was announced so I believe that might of been the case as well. It was probably axed before the design or manufacturing process if it really was. The reason for the removal might still be due to the tunnel, you never know.. When they started looking into the groundwork they might have seen it was going to cost more than originally thought during the earlier design process Or like you say, it might all be rumor.. back then, it's not like they released designs online like the do now.. it's not like they had YouTube announcements.. Probably just a little in park advertisement, maybe a short spot on the local news, and then billboards closer to it opening It's probably one of those things we will never officially know unless someone involved with the park and helped design the coaster mentions it in a interview or something Interesting to think about though Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Yeah, it probably wasn't really cut in half.. probably just another element or something was all that was planned And heck, we may never know! That was way before parks did all this online stuff like give us ride layouts and what not Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

I'll see if I can find something "hard" about it.. I had actually read it in this thread originally As far as I officially know, it's mostly rumor but after I had heard it I did ask some folks at the park and they said it was mostly true and was originally planned to be longer.. no idea when the length was cut during the planning process though. Most I had talked to actually made it sound like the cut was made before the ride was even announced and very early in the process so I am not sure you can even call that an official cut or not but I was to young to even remember an announcement for TT. That was way before social networking or anything lol Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

I will agree that TT was pretty amazing, for what it was! However, it DID feel like half a coaster, as it was SO short! Still, I'd heard it was the best of the old Arrow loopers, and it did not disappoint! My favorite coaster at DW was, of course, the ever-elusive Lightning Rod! (I tend to think of myself as generally unlucky in life, but I was able to get on LR 5 times, so I guess that's got to count for being at least somewhat lucky! [emoji38] ) However, the competition for second favorite was tight! I think, in the end, I give the nod to Thunderhead, especially since it was also a night ride, and it seemed absolutely out of control! I agree, however, that DW doesn't have a bad coaster in the bunch! It is actually "half a coaster".. From what I have read and heard, the tunnel killed the budget and the coaster had to be shortened from the original plans.. Remember, it was built before Dollywood really started upgrading to much larger coasters so they probably didn't have the wiggle room on budgets they have now Now I will say the Vekoma Trains made night and day difference on Ninja (Now Blue Hawk) at SFOG vs the old arrow trains.. that ride is now enjoyable for me. But I don't see how they could help TT.. heck, hey might even slow it down because the new trians are so big and bulky vs the arrow dynamic Arrow Trains.. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Most parks are getting Vekomas only if the old arrow coaters where beating people up. TT is actually very very smooth Plus Dollywood just sent one of their arrow trains off for refurbishing this year.. no idea why they would refurbish if they had plans to replace Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

They really need a lazy river.. a large one like Dollywood Splash County which takes about 15 - 20 minutes to get around! They are great at "eating people" and allowing anyone to cool off without a wait. (Assuming it's long enough) Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

MM has always been my fav ride at DW.. it took me by surprise the first time I was on it and that stuck with me and I still love it I have always felt that a lot of the roughness on MM actually add to the theme of a runaway mine car. Maybe this is why a lot of people say it has "strange" jarring at places. Maybe some of it was planned? As for comparison between mm and DDD at SFOG, I love them both and both are unique in their own ways. I do wish Dollywood would switch to the lap bars (if possible) but I still love both rides.. DDD is intense the entire ride, high speeds at every corner like a dive plane which is it's theme.. While MM is much slower paced until the end which adds to it's theme of a mine car that loses control due to the gas buildup and "explosion" That's the nice part of Dollywood, they try to match the entire ride experience to the theme, even if that makes part of the ride slower than what you would imagine on a coaster. Also, Firechaser is my least ridden ride at Dollywood, but it is a great ride and I recommend it to anyone visiting the park, even if you only have one day planned! The line does get long, and that's why I don't ride it often, but you have to experience it! It's great even though it's only a family coaster. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Well overall change for next year's passes is close to a $10 increase now.. stepping it up this way, makes it not as noticeable though which is a good thing.. Just makes me wish I renewed already haha! Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Guess they weren't bluffing this year! Lol Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Hopefully they are trying to increase capacity at lumberjacks.. it was always very busy and they tried moving the location where you pay and order to the front this year, but I'm not so sure that helped much.. they also had the slices precut this year and I know a lot of folks didn't like that because it didn't seem as fresh as when they used to "cut" it in front of you. Believe me, it was just as fresh haha Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Talking about spring break, I live in Atlanta and was thinking of coming up for a few days in April. Looking at hotels, it looks like a pretty busy time, are the lines ridiculous during the week of April 10-14 which is Atlanta plus a bunch of suburbs spring break. Looks like Knox is earlier, not sure about other districts. Thanks Most of the district's around here are earlier than April, actually what you could hit in April are school field trips. These make for crowd's almost as bad as local Spring Break crowds would be Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Hopefully lumberjack pizza is going to remain the same style pizza! I love that large slice of pizza. It's my number one restaurant there.. He didn't mention much about either, just that they are doing the most off season work they have ever done as long as he has been there. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

From what they say, the wasp migrate, but I still don't know how tops would even help.. I would just think it would give more places for regular wasp to build nest lol like my front porch Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Yup that looks like it.. not much about LR except that they are having RMC rewire the trains this off season and that it should help with most of the issues. Guess train sensors are causing most of it? Also, not really sure how I feel about the wasp prevention structure on the top of wild eagle. I'm afraid it will harm the view at the top but I guess more people would like it to be open rather than having a view haha. And what cracks me up is he is talking about night rides and staying open later during "spring breaks" but they are still missing the areas largest Spring Break. He probably meant "fall breaks" because of the October Festivals. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Nothing to be seen, like all Disney projects, everything is hidden behind walls. But nothing major visible yet. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Just returned from a trip and was told by several cast members that star wars land was scheduled to open before toy story land. No exact dates given but said it would be about 2.5 years before star wars (he gave a "season" but i forgot) opens and then toy story.. was also told that after toy story opens they planned something "big" at Epcot. This was told to us by a bus driver and a Cast Member at tusker house (in Animal Kingdom) and finally was told this by guest services at Hollywood Studios. I know park staff isn't the most reliable source for info like this but letting you know what I heard and that three different cast members working in different locations gave the same story so either the rumor spreads like wildfire or they have had an internal announcement with rough dates. The bus driver was almost like he was reading a script "don't forget to return for this and then this and then this" Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

I know, Knox County, plus many surrounding counties do it mid March now.. During college, I had some as early as first week in March Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk