dstephe9

So it is listed as closed on the Dollywood website if you look at attractions and "view all".. if you filter by "thrill" or anything, lightening rod doesn't even show up.. but again, you have to dig for it.. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Exactly my point.. I check apps, I'm a geek like that.. I have apps from parks I have never visited that I check.. but 75% of us probably don't even download the app until we get to the park.. I'd say 90% of that 75 probably doesn't even know about the apps at all until they arrive.. Parks know this as well, they have to.. Announce it on Facebook or your website if you really want people to see.. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Also, don't you find it odd, that even closed for season, they haven't posted it on their site yet? Just the app and lots of people don't download the app until the arrive.. they still have a few days of operations left Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

So your theory is that Dollywood keeps people hanging on the line to increase ticket sales. But the truth is that Lightning Rod's problems probably kept a lot of people from making a trip to the park this year. Im sure it both hurt and increased ticket sales at the same time but lots of people did visit just for LR this season.. The park has received several BBB complaints due to them listing it as open but it never actually being opened (you can find these complaints on the BBB website at least 2 of their 13 lifetime complaints are about LR) plus unhappy post on Facebook all prove several people traveled to the park just for LR. I know, Dollywood always worked hard to get it opened but they did leave people hanging a lot of times.. There have been times this season, times on my visits even that had it listed as TC but there was 0 chance of it opening those days.. 2 times, there weren't even trains on the track or workshop but the app had it TC and nothing on their website had it listed as closed. The coaster group that said it "rolled back" also visited just for LR and the launch failed on them. So yeah, it works both ways! It kept some away, I have seen people post here that called off their trips for it, but I have also seen people who traveled just for LR. I'd be willing to bet more traveled for it than it kept away.. Radio Commercials, TV Commercials, billboards, all brought traveler's in, travelers that don't frequent forums like this to know it was closed or having issues. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Of course they finally announced it as closed for season. Supposed to be rainy this weekend, temps start dropping tomorrow so while still pretty tomorrow, today was probably their last "projected" busy day due to it being so warm and sunny.. now they feel closing it for the season won't hurt ticket sales [emoji14] I know, all of this is a conspiracy theory but hey! I'm actually glad they finally announced it as being closed.. no need to waste people's time who plan trips just for LR.. I know Dollywood is a great park.. out of my 40ish visits a year I only ride the rides 50% of those visits.. the other visits are to walk around, eat, and spend time with my GF.. We just enjoy spending the evenings there.. But not everyone comes to Dollywood for that. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

I mean, thunderhead being a 30 minute wait should show you how busy it is.. even on the busiest days, it moves quickly and usually is less than 10 mins Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

It backs up way out the door down into the sidewalk in front of the outfitters store usually.. very pretty day locally, it doesn't surprise me that Dollywoods packed Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Yes, that is correct. We wouldn't send a train to an area that is currently faulted. -=CoasterBP Senior PLC Programmer Irvine-Ondrey Engineering Thanks for the info, one other question you may or may not be able to answer. We have discussed the new patented way that LR stores energy for the launch.. If there wasn't enough energy for that Launch, would it throw a fault into your system before the train left the station? Not allowing it to even leave the station? Like for example, you said the launch tells your system it's ready.. Does that mean it has enough power for the launch at that time or does it start charging when the train leaves the station? (I know you didn't work on the launch but I figured you would know if the launch is 100% ready meaning charged before it tells your system to send the train) Just curious Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

At least they aren't toying with you today.. they have it listed as closed all day and none of that it's temporary crap like days past.. ha-ha, I didn't give it much faith being open today.. I have visited several times this season on rainy days and can only remember 1 rainy day it was open.. and then, it was up and down all day! Thunderhead looks to be open today to, I know at least half the day yesterday it was closed.. Hopefully the lines aren't as bad today, I know yesterday most everything was 60+ mins for a lot of the day Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

So if the train leaves the station, at that point all systems are go? The launch is ready to power up? All sensors are checked? So if the ride is shutting down something is happening between the station and the launch? I ended up at the park yesterday evening and saw a few successful launches but the ride never opened.. Last week at the park I don't believe I saw a single successful launch, Unfortunately today is all rainy and wet and during my trips to the park LR has only ran one time during the rain and it was up and down most of the day Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

I mean honestly, there are six days left in the season.. the ride hasn't ran most of December.. stop wasting people's time and money like the above poster that drove 9 hours to ride it.. Just close the ride for the season, list it as closed.. it hasn't been closed temporarily, it has been closed pretty much the entire month of December although Dollywood list it as only a temporary closure.. I have over 20 rides on it this season, so I am fine. I have visited the park let's say 30 - 40 times this season.. LRs track record is maybe 50% up this season during my visits.. But listing the ride as TC gets people's hopes up while Dollywood delivers the same thing everyday.. a few failed launches in the morning then nothing else. I commend Dollywood on trying, but we also need to realize that Dollywood isn't a park for everyone and LR is what is bringing some folks to the park. And updating my signature like you did is pretty mature for a 32 year old just saying, I'm sure you make your parents proud Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

I know the weekend was a Holiday but I don't understand why they don't just 1.) Close it for the rest of the season so not to get anyone's hopes up and figure out what's causing the failed launches (better worded as safety features kicking in to cut the launch.. Launch really isn't failing, something is shutting it off) 2.) Or work night and day to fix it.. common occurrence here is that Dollywood list the ride as TC, they try a few launches in the morning and then end up closing it for the rest of the day.. if they really want it running the last few days of the season work night and day and figure it out Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Good news is that LR was running very well with the temps higher, it might run fine today being in the 60s.. cold weather does wreak havoc on sensors so maybe that's what was causing the issues.. I know someone was told by an employee, it was the cold weather.. can't really believe employees but might give you a reason to keep your hopes up! Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Haha it was mostly a rhetorical question assuming most wouldn't know the answer, but I agree, I'd say it's more of a integration issue from the multiple vendors.. Also, I'd say they are already overriding some of the faults Here's why I say this, the original spout of downtime, when the possible Dollywood Maintenance guy said it was sensors, during that time, the train wouldn't even leave the station.. Now it at least gets to the launch before shutting down.. Maybe this is due to a different set of sensors or maybe they have overridden some of the station sensors? Who knows Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

So say it's a safety sensor, who designed that part of the coaster and the software to go with it? Does that fall on RMC? Does it fall on Irvine Ondrey Engineering? Or velocity magnets? Or did someone else come in and do all the electronics system such as sensors? I agree, I feel it's something shutting it down and not an LSM issue as the train isn't even making it to that part of the lift hill and you can clearly see it's shutting down before then. And if that's the case, this has nothing to do with it being a wood coaster or anything.. Whoever designed that portion of the ride should come in and redo it.. no need to scrap a launch system for haywire sensors or buggy software Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

That's the thing, trying to track down an electrical issue, if that's what it is, isn't very simple.. take cars for example, a lot of mechanics will recommend an entire new electrical system if you are having issues with any portion of your electronics Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

The launch on the hill isn't even engaging so wonder if it's not getting power? I'm still leaning towards sensors and software.. I mean, it's not like the launch just isn't powerful enough, the upper launch just isn't going at all and the train gets stopped before it reaches it. I'm guessing Something thinks it's not safe to go and shuts it down? So what's that thing that is popping on the bottom of the hill? Brakes popping up? Looks like the lower launch works and brakes stop it right as it gets on the hill Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Great American Scream Machine, I can see fitting fine. but blue hawk will be out of place easily! Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Yep, rode Thunderhead yesterday, such an amazing coaster. Also it may of not been the launch before, but I'm almost certain the problem with lightning rod now is the launch. I mean, it still might not be the launch hardware itself.. all reports from people who saw it try and launch the other day said it very slowly started going up the hill and then stopped, like, like nothing was trying to pull it up the hill.. One report said it only went a few feet up.. I didn't see any of this myself but it's not like it launched halfway up the lift and just didn't have enough power to get to the top, according to the reports I have read.. it's like it started launching and something stopped it like lack of power, a safety sensor, programming not telling the coaster to launch.. Yeah it's obvious that the downtime is due to the coaster not launching but nothing is saying that the launch hardware is to blame. There's nothing saying that this being a wood coaster is causing the issue, from the sounds of it, whatever is causing the issue would probably be causing it on a steel coaster to.. There was an article written talking about how much power that launch takes (I can't remember the location I read it, but it was posted here somewhere) maybe the coaster isn't getting the power it needs to power the launch? Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

My one concern is that they didn't say they would use all three trains, they just said all three trains will be available.. hopefully they don't keep a third as a backup only.. I know several times this season, one train or half a train has been down so having and extra backup would really help BUT I hope they actually use all three! Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Superman stacks as is meaning if they run all three trains but keep single station operations, it really wouldn't accomplish anything other than people being uncomfortable on the brake run so I'd bet dual station operations Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Actually I have seen Wild Eagle run well below 36 as well, I posted several post back that it's always the last to close or seems like it is.. I actually rode it once last year and it was the only coaster still open.. This was in response to someone saying B&Ms are the first to close so they assumed wild eagle would close first haha Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Good news! I know I saw them stripping the third train and someone else saw it back together so that's why! I wonder how long they will keep it at three trains though? Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

The rollback has been rumored for a few days but the guys who said it was a rollback didn't have videos of it.. the video was just of the coaster at the bottom of the hill.. could be rollbacks, I was there once this summer and it had a rollback but opened back up 15 mins later. It had riders when it rolled back but didn't keep it shut down long I actually sew that rollback Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

So obviously something is keeping it from launching which explains why maintenance keeps pushing it back in the station.. it doesn't sound like rollbacks then, it's almost like something is keeping it from launching all together. Power issues? Sensors? I know the guys on YouTube said it was a rollback but no one has seen it rollback during this round of downtime Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk