mordecai-75

^^ Dollywood just celebrated their 30th anniversary last year. (not even close to 50) As far as i know, In And Out Burger doesn't exist in the great state of Tennessee. (however we do have a whole lot of Chipotle franchises that are closing down due to the fact that their food can potentially kill you)

A question, so Wild Eagle has the larger seatbelts on row 4, simple logic leads me to ask why they can't have the larger seatbelts on all rows? I've seen children that barely meet the height requirement ride in that row, and i have seen a single person that most likely weighs more than me and a companion rider in other row's (guess they fit just due to the specific shape of their body) I'm most definitely not trying to be mean with this question, i'm just curious. I know someone knows why, just need that knowledge myself.

^ Since it's a Monday, If you get to the park at opening and give it about an hour then go check out the Country Fair area. If it's packed with folks that means it is gonna be a busy day. It will cut the wait times significantly. However if LR is open by then you may wanna splurge on one just for that. I know i will be even on un-busy days,

How old was this OP? HAHA.. I figured no one would still be around Dollywood that worked there when the tornado was built.. Back when that coaster was built, I just imagine Dollywood was "Testing" the grounds with coasters.. It was their first large scale coaster.. But who knows He was younger, but he did talk about it with a since of confidence like he learned the knowledge from somebody else. I bet Pete know's, if he could take a bit of time from what i'm sure is an extensively busy schedule for him this time of year to maybe let us know about it. Thanks Pete for the fan in Firechaser's loading station, it will be a blessing later this season.

This is kinda random, but while riding Tennessee Tornado on season passholder day a ride op was in the back car with us. While going up the lift, me and my family members were discussing how much we love the ride but it would be so much better if it was a bit longer. (I know that can be said about any coaster, but this one really applies) So, the ride op starts telling us that the reason for that is when the were putting in the footers for the ride they ran into what he called a "ground split" and had to modify the ride from original layout to prevent the supports from slowly sinking. Does anyone know if there is any truth to this or was this guy just full of poo?

^ Beautiful

I ENJOYED!

Everyone please just calm down and just be thankful that Dollywood provided the world with this beautiful ride that will be enjoyed by all who ride it for many decades to come. (It's not like they had to or anything)

I'm looking at the positive's of it not opening on time, one being that the season passholder day crowd just got alot lighter. I really can't think of any others though, but YAY all day walk-on's!

I believe the running clock has been removed from the website, at least i couldn't find it. Not a good sign.

I think that LR will bring more guests to a park that was already high on a theme park travelers list, but to be compared to Ceader Point in that way, you have to realize that the two parks have very different agendas in terms of how they do things. I have never been to Ceader Point, but by god i'll get there one day. As a man with a young child, alot of the more family orientated parks seem to be the ones that best suit a vacation for us. We're doing Hershey and Knoebels this June. Next year i'm highly considering Kennywood and Waldameer as our trip. That is the appeal Dollywood want's to keep. (does Dollywood need a Millennium Force, Skyrush, Fury 325 type ride? Heck ya they do) I feel they'll get there one day, they have tons of room to expand, they may have to pay more to do it then most parks due to land work, but the land is there, and i know they got the money. Ceader Point is all about intensity, and god bless them for what they do. (they will take my money someday) Just saying that they are two very different types of parks.

Thanks for all the positive feedback ya'll. The main focus of this trip was initially Knoebels, i have a 4 year old son who is between 42 and 48in, and he is a ride fanatic (just like dad). I began planning a Kentucky Kingdom - Holiday World trip, there weren't any really large coasters for him at those parks, so i happened to find out that Phoenix was a 42in restriction and i was surprised and delighted by the fact that i could take him to ride what is widely considered to be one of the best woodies in the world. HW and KK will be there next year, and most likely only be better by then. So plans immediately changed to Knoebels, the next step was to find our second park (it would be silly to go to such a coaster rich part of the country and just do one park). I inquired about Dorney and really was planning to make that our second park until i saw how many larger coasters he would able to ride at Hershey (and even get to go upside down), that instantly sold me. The reason i plan to stay multiple days at parks when i go is because i like to say that we really "did" the park, and i spend the better part of each day making sure that he gets to ride the stuff he wants to several times, he's a marathoner (just like dad) his mom is not big on riding very many things, so i'm his companion throughout the day. She enjoys the heck out of watching his excitement though, I do my solo riding in the later part of the day and it is just something we all love. I truly think this is going to be a trip of a lifetime for us. While at Knoebels i predict me and the boy to have several mini marathons on Phoenix and Twister. I got 28 rides in on Fury 325 last year at Carowinds. my goal for Hershey is 30 on Skyrush. Again, thanks for all the positive feedback, these are the kinds of conversations that make me really enjoy the forum.

I'm going to Pennsylvania myself in early June, already have my schedule down, 4 days at Hershey and 2 at Knoebels. I inquired with fellow TPR'ers about the other in area parks and came to the decision that this is how my family will do our first Pennsylvania trip. Although i am worried that after all the hype, 2 days may not be enough for Knoebels.

^ I agree, that is pretty!

It's sad that you can't even go out and ride a coaster anymore without having to worry about being shot at. I know it was just a pellet gun, but if it would have hit her in the right spot, it could have did some serious damage or even killed her. Thank God she'll be ok, I hope they catch the piece of sh!t that did this. They'll get what they deserve in prison. (if you know what i mean)

I highly doubt the removal of Tennessee Tornado is going to happen (at least not for decades) it is one of the latest built Arrow custom loopers, and widely considered to be the smoothest. The park has plenty of room to expand in other areas (more than most people think) if anything, they should extend the ride. I know thats just your prediction though, no harm in that. It would just truly be a sad day if it came to pass.

said the man who reigns over Silver Dollar City.

^^ The best way i can describe the fellow in that video is that he is a bag that mostly contains water and vinegar.

^^^ Oh, It'd be alot cooler if they did though! Sad Day.

^^ They said they would be back with more about thier 70th birthday, I wouldn't dismiss Millennium Flyer's so quickly.

Firechaser Express, as long as you lean right, and hold on to the front of the car your in. (although that may not work when you're going backwards) hmmmm?

If i were to visit hershey in very early June, are the crowds gonna be light? I did my research and schools are still in session up there during this week, the majority of time i'll be in park will be monday though wednesday. Will all rides be walk-on?

this....

The simple answer is to take a stroller. Even if your kids don't need it, it makes for a lightweight buggy to conveniently transport your belongings, purchases, won prizes and such around a park. Most of the time they have their own nice little parking area's and everything. Another perk is that generally your stuff will be safe, as only a complete waste of human life would steal something from a child's stroller.

It is truly impressing to see the extensive care this park takes in keeping their rides in optimum shape. Way to go Waldameer! I hope to visit there someday.