jimmiemac02

^My home park is Dollywood and I go to Smokey Mountain Christmas every year! So that makes my off season only 3 months since Dollywood opens back up the last week in March. Those three months consist of school, school, and more school.

Timber Tower at Dollywood was a mistake from day 1. It was really well themed but the ride was very "meh." Also it kept breaking down and was eventually removed a couple seasons later. Now all we have to remember it by is a patio...

I'm a Theme Park enthusiast so the obvious answer here is Walt Disney World. Unfortunately my parents hate theme parks, and all my friends are broke college students, so I wont be going anytime soon.

I technically live closer to Carowinds, but I consider Dollywood to be my home park. I've only been to Carowinds once, but I've had a season pass to Dollywood for 15 years.

The flyers at Knoebels are my favorite. SO MUCH SNAPPING!!!!!

Dollywood. I've had a season pass for 15 years and have been 38 times.

My first was Firechaser Express on opening day back in March. My last will probably be Thunderhead in mid-December.

In my opinion, weekdays are always better than weekends. As for hotels, I've stayed in the Pigeon River Inn and the Comfort Inn that is closest to the park. Both of my stays were very enjoyable and the rooms were nice. Enjoy the trip and don't forget the cinnamon bread!!

I think part of the reason Flying Turns won was because of the uniqueness aspect of the ride...it is the only wooden bobsled in the world. Is it the best new attraction? I don't think so. Gringotts should have won that. My issue is with the best water park list. I have been to Splash Country, Typhoon Lagoon, and Blizzard Beach, and I can say that both Disney water parks are head and shoulders above Splash Country, better rides and better overall theming. My other issue is that Dollywood won best food (my home park believe it or not). This summer I went to Knoebels, and I can say without a doubt that their food was better and there were many more options than Dollywood, not to mention how much seating there was...

Not screaming on a roller coaster will make you pass out... I mean I guess if you hold your breath long enough.

Went to Knoebels for the first time today with my parents (they hate amusement parks so a big shout out to them for going with me). Knoebels is definitely the best amusement park I have ever been to and now my new favorite amusement park. Going into the day, from what I had read, I expected every ride to be a walk on except for Flying Turns. Everything had about a 15 minute wait, which was ok, just not what I was expecting. I never got to ride FT, I got in the line about 10:45 and I heard someone say that it was over an hour wait, which made me get out of line and I never had a chance to ride it the rest of the day. We rode the motor boats and the bumper cars next. Without a doubt those were the best bumper cars I have ever ridden!!! We then rode the Flyers which almost made my dad have a protein spill. For comparison, last night I rode the flyers at Hershey and they didn't even compare to the flyers at Knoebels. Knoebels flyers are so easy to snap the cables and you get so much air! I rode Phoenix next, no seat belts and lots of airtime makes for a great coaster. My mom and I rode the flume next. She got soaked and then was mad at me because she got wet. I tried explaining the concept of a water ride but, she didn't get it. I rode Black Diamond next. It was fun and made me jump a couple times. We played Fascination for about 30 minutes, which was a good way to pass the time and it was a really fun game too. I then marathoned on Phoenix since they added a second train which reduced the wait considerably. As for the food, it was all really good and Knoebels provided plenty of space for us to eat in. My favorite treat I got was the fried cheese on a stick (the pizza was good too). Dollywood is my home park and I'm not sure why Knoebels and Dollywood are tied for the best food in the golden ticket awards. Knoebels is head and shoulders above Dollywood because of the price of food the food and the quality. Overall it was a really good visit to Knoebels and I hope that I can return someday.

When I was at Thrills in the Hills, Pete Owens told us that BF got an entire new control system during the offseason.

Hello Knoebel's experts! I am headed up to the park in a few weeks and I was looking for some advice. I know Flying Turns should be my first ride but what else do I need to get out of the way early in the morning? I have heard that the motorboats can have long waits and maybe the antique cars?? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

First, I really enjoyed this trip report (as well as all of your other adventures). Second, I am doing the Hershey Park at night then Knoebels in the morning trip later this summer. Which days of the week did you go to Hershey and Knoebels, and how were the crowds?

That stinks...I guess this is just another reason why Dollywood is one of my favorite parks in the world. Thanks for a great TR and really nice photos!

It being Daredevil Falls. When I was there for Thrills in the Hills it did have a long line. The line was stretching out of the entrance.

Day two was amazing, it started off with a walkback tour of Blazing Fury where Pete and the maintenance guy gave us a really good tour. Then we had ERT on FireChaser Express, which ran really well. We had prefered seating at the GAC show, which was really good (better than A Christmas Carol). Then we had a wonderful lunch and to top off the day we saw Vince Gill and the Timejumpers! Now onto the photos... (sorry about the photo quality) We arrived early in the morning to an empty park They were already staring to cook corn and pork for the day. We got breakfast before the Blazing fury tour (muffins and yogurt) Pete Owens was there to give us a tour (it was funny he was wearing an Adventure Mountain shirt) The maintenance guy was also out tour guide. The trains were painted red this season New fireman at the start of the ride Frog Alley New reference in the ride The tavern scene, they updated the fire effects this year to LED lights that were supposed to be used for a water effect New fire effects in the upper window The gun fighter doesn't move any more, also they updated some of the characters in the ride so they were not as bulky Frog Alley reference Graveyard scene Molly is seated now and the updated fire effects in the windows DP...Do I know someone with the initials DP... New horse in the stable New water effect There is some great themeing on this ride!!! Showing the deteriorating cave of the ride Those are some big ants New bear The burning bridge scene Backstage catwalks The Maintenance shop The Maintenance shop NOTED! New Laser effect instead of the water Magnetic breaks. Apparently, if you lay a wrench on one, it takes two people to get it off. ERT on FireChaser Express was amazing. I got to ride in each row of the train, I can say the front and the back give the best rides. We got preferred seating for the GAC show. Had to ride the Slidewinder And they're off!! This doesn't need a caption. Lunch was a BBQ Buffet Yummy BBQ and Bluegrass had just started People really wanted their BBQ Got stuck by the train... Howdy! Saw Vince Gill and the Timejumpers!

This is my first event that I have ever been to and the first day was amazing!! FireChaser Express was running with no problems that I could see today, and the ride ops were amazing at dispatching trains efficiently. Enjoy the photos and more to come tomorrow! I arrived at Dollywood at 2:30 (the latest I have ever come) It was really hard to find a parking spot and the park was packed. I haven't seen this show in about 7 years. It was every bit as good as I remember and they added some new birds I hadn't seen before. Yay freedom!! This is Daredevil Falls line. I have never ever seen it in the back que house, it is always been one of the shortest lines in the park. 45 minutes for FireChaser Express (yes I waited in it) One of the fire extinguishers from American Pickers. Artsy Shot All clear, you're outta here!! BBQ and Bluegrass starts tomorrow with Vince Gill!!!! I got really wet on this ride (not an acceptable amount of wetness) I can't hide my excitement getting a badge. River Rampage's line was in the back que which I had never seen before All the kettle corn you could eat! This event is great!!! My dinner consisted of a Sprite, Dippin Dots, and kettle corn. We also got a free pin There was ERT on thunderhead tonight The events of the weekend The loot.

Exactly. If it's good, I'm OK. As much as people complain about Disney's prices, at least they provide good-quality food at many of their parks (particularly Epcot). For example, a loaf of Cinnamon Bread at Dollywood is $6, but it's totally worth it. Same goes for the rest of Dollywood's food, it's expensive but it's good quality.

This is really the coaster for the lift hill enthusiasts...

I'm a bit rusty (pun intended) on my roller coaster facts, but this coaster looks like death...

How about behind the scenes at Dollywood? They do a bunch of stuff in house that a lot of other parks don't do. For example, they make their own ride vehicles for the mountain slidewinder in their boat building shop. They also run a full scale operational coal fired steam train on a daily basis. They could go behind the scenes with the eagle sanctuary and show how Dollywood rescues/rehabilitates/breeds bald eagles. And of course last but not least, take a look at how they make the Cinnamon Bread and other food at the park.

I was a single rider at JP at USH. I didn't have a choice where I sat so the lady put me in the front row. Little did I know that I was going to be soaked on the big drop and the two little ones coming off the lift hill.

So by that you are implying that the one at Coney Island and the ones in Paris do not count as looping coasters?

My friend posted on Facebook that while at SFMM she rode the "the world's first ever looping coaster." What is the validity of this statement? I did do some research and found that there were looping coasters in France and one at Coney Island before the one at SFMM.