Dollywoodlover20

Literally from that first block the train speeds up and gets propelled up that hill extremely fast. That's way faster than I expected this to go. I'm glad, hopefully this will be a coaster that has a real WOW factor to it and not just a fun factor to it.

Actually open? Hmmm. I was down just the other day and just saw the March 2016 or Spring 2016 ones. What did this one say? Lightning Rod Now Open or Now Open Lighting Rod can't remember. It was on I-40 EB just off the I-75 interchange in Knoxville. I'm curious on this one because it is electronic so it would be easier to pull or change. You're right, with electronic signs they can just change them then and there. For it to have the words "Now Open" in there leads me to think a weekend opening or early next week? If you could, try and get some launch video for us so we can see exactly how fast this thing is going now to settle this 80mph dispute. Funny you should ask, got this when we entered the park. I'm really thinking this weekend, and by some luck today. They don't bring catering in the day before... Edit, sorry for the mp4, at the park and uploading by phone. YES!!! The audio is on now!!!! Cool thing is, the speakers are lined all the way up the launch so we'll be hearing that all the way up. I've heard something about strobe lights too but I don't know where that would come into play at. I just love that sound and how this is turning out. As far as opening, this weekend looks pretty bright!

Actually open? Hmmm. I was down just the other day and just saw the March 2016 or Spring 2016 ones. What did this one say? Lightning Rod Now Open or Now Open Lighting Rod can't remember. It was on I-40 EB just off the I-75 interchange in Knoxville. I'm curious on this one because it is electronic so it would be easier to pull or change. You're right, with electronic signs they can just change them then and there. For it to have the words "Now Open" in there leads me to think a weekend opening or early next week? If you could, try and get some launch video for us so we can see exactly how fast this thing is going now to settle this 80mph dispute.

Actually open? Hmmm. I was down just the other day and just saw the March 2016 or Spring 2016 ones. What did this one say?

Guests are reporting seeing local news stations at the park this evening around Lightning Rod while testing. Also groups of people (not sure who they were) took some rides with the dummies. Could this weekend be possible? Dolly is going to be in town tomorrow for Lumberjack Adventure. Yes I know that has nothing to do with anything, except for she could do some press interviews who knows.

Update: I did check and see if the train was being removed or what, it wasn't being removed it was being placed back on. So water dummy testing and placing back of the (assuming) second train? #ItWILLopenwithhope #Dreammore #HOPEMORE

Good news, I see water dummies in trains! But the removal of one of the trains was happening not sure why. Water dummy testing is a step forward though?

Well I found this. It's from that show I was talking about, the woman looks terrified lol. Now if they would just take those cameras and turn them around the other direction and upload to YouTube, perfect

Could be The Willis Family....they performed at Dollywood on Sunday and have a TV show. Would be some decent advertising for Dollywood. Dolly is scheduled to be back in town this Friday to cut the ribbon on the new Lumberjack Adventure at 11AM. From a PR standpoint, it'd make sense to have her officially "open" Lightning Rod while in town. At this point, I can't imagine they'd just "open" it one day without a PR opportunity like that. I did hear they were originally shooting to open it when she was in town for the parade, which obviously didn't happen...so my assumption is they held out for her next trip to Pigeon Forge. I'd be REALLY surprised if we make it through the weekend without hearing SOMEthing from Pete and the Dollywood team if it doesn't open...especially with the "season" kicking into full gear after next week. Could be the Willis crew, I just went to Twitter and searched Lightning Rod Dollywood" and found the tweet, the talked to the guy a bit. With the opening with Lumberjack Adventure, I could see that happening. Kill two birds with one stone and attract double the money. Especially with Memorial Day weekend approaching. Pigeon Forge during that time is equivalent to a Rod Run, maybe worse. If it's not open by Memorial Day, I could see a bit of major backlash happening. Joker opens on the 26th I'm thinking so it's looking like Lightning Rod will be the last RMC to open.

So a TV show (not sure which one I think Home&Family TV) was apparently at Dollywood yesterday and today and let 10 people on LR in order to film their show. So my question is if they can film the show and let 10 people on, what's the hold up?

Oh forgot to say that they placed a test seat outside the entrance, and my legs fit! Into the test seat that is. Dunno how RMC's test seats go with accuracy. With Wild Eagle my friend got into the test seat but didn't on the actual train? So if a test seat is there guests can imagine the ride. Dolly is all about imagination you know. Lmao And Brent, yes it was.

Plus think of the whiplash, this coaster goes into a breaking wave into a outward 90 degree banked turn into some more outward banked airtime hills BUT at a speed of 100ish that outward bank would more than likely kill people where it's so abrupt and fast. The quad down would have enough power to possibly break bones or do some serious bruising? Yea going 90 up the hill isn't a good idea I myself don't think.

If they are back working on the lift, it's back to square 1. My hands are up and my party hat is in flames! I don't see the coaster opening until sometime in June, which means it MAY be open by the next time I'm there if I'm lucky. I'm staring to think they would've been better off with just making the coaster taller, a sped up chain, and all. This launch has caused a 2 month+ delay.

So you have not seen any test runs during the time being there? Just asking... We came here knowing it wasn't open and that's fine because we are with family that lives down here and we have passes, also we will be back in mid/late June and July along with random trips. Got here around 12:50ish and its crammed to say the least. I'm mostly enjoying the shows to be honest, lines for the coasters are down to 20-30 mins right now though so we are hitting those up. FCE is still 80, what's new? Earlier Wild Eagle was all the way out into the Midway so I just went to TT and got 3 rides in. As far as Lightning Rod, I've heard stuff around the site but I myself haven't seen anything. Don't know if I'm at the wrong place at the wrong time or what. The site just looks still and that scares me a bit to be honest. I heard that the ride ops haven't even been trained on the controls or anything yet.

Another busy day at the park. Also from what I've heard, I wouldn't look at Lightning Rod opening this week or next week, which puts us pretty much into June. I've not heard anything about anymore test runs with water dummies. I'm just sitting here watching hope fade away.

I do too, but if something doesn't happen within the next week or so I'm gonna start changing my outlook lol

According to people that I have on Facebook, the park is packed. All lots are packed and each ride is up around an hour wait. Honestly I've not seen Dollywood this crowded until around June/July. What's the deal? BBQ and Bluegrass began yes but that's not that big of a festival. I've went and it's still not been this crowded.

That's what I'm saying. Devin Olson also posted another picture on Instagram from the cabins, so he's been at the park again today. Something somewhere is about to happen. I'm just ready to see something as I'm sure all of us are. I mean I'll be down probably around Memorial Day and again in June/July, but I'll be happy with seeing it and people enjoying it.

Well if it's a soft opening for the media or whatever that's a start. It may not be tomorrow it could even be the weekend, but I will be so amused if what my friend heard from ride hosts was true.

Look what I just stumbled upon... Somethings going on.

A friend of mine who lives in Knoxville said she was in Pigeon Forge today and was at Friday's behind a couple DW workers and overheard them talking about a soft opening on Friday. So maybe #ItWillOpen

Yea I was checking my Dollywood App while I was down this past weekend and Mystery Mine kept a constant 1hr+ wait. Tennessee Tornado was around 50 mins. FCE was near 2 hours, Thunderhead was like 20-30, Wild Eagle was 50-1hr. Looked like a pretty packed day.

While I was in TN I heard on the radio from Knoxville, they had someone from PR answering questions and promoting BBQ and Bluegrass. When asked about Lightning Rod the answer was "a couple of weeks". How many times are we going to hear "a few weeks" or "a couple weeks"? I mean I love Dollywood, I do but if they can't get this coaster open and running and it ends up in late June, that doesn't look good on both companies. When you tell people a couple of weeks, they will go from that day's date, at 2 weeks from then which puts LR opening the week of the 23rd. They'll plan a trip and be hyped up. Once they get to the park, and see that big sign that says "Lightning Rod is closed at this time" but they see it running the track, you get pissed off guests. There were again 4 occasions on my weekend trip I overheard people talking negatively about Dollywood for that reason.

In all seriousness though, if they let Devin Olson on there to produce the last part of the documentary (which will also include riders riding it) what should they need 3 more weeks for? (Just throwing numbers around there with the week estimate deal) I think it will open very soon I'm just saying I don't think it needs to be delayed another 3 weeks if film crews are running around the track on it.

Well let's see, the other two guys are probably just in general tired of working on the thing. Fred Grubb is losing money each day this coaster isn't in operation, and plus they're probably thinking "Theres a guy taking a selfie in, what should I do?"