STDog

Many are convinced it has to be launch related. Won't even consider other possibilities.

That assumes it can reasonably be done. If they are relying on the capacitor bank power source from Velocity Magnetics to make it a viable (due to power system constraints of small town in the mountains) changing may not be an option. How much space would be needed for an alternative storage system? Does DW have a place to put such a system?

Just make sure to sit in the back or wear sunglasses. I did neither and got an eye full of soot. Very regretful. Coal burners are like that. I think the cinders and soot are vital to the experience [emoji1]

Don't know Hersey's, but as I understand it DW's is more like a virtual wait. You select the ride and it waits in the line for you. Then you can enter anytime after you would have got through the queue. The most recent reports suggest it won't be needed though. 10-15 minute wait generally. To avoid what? All the shows are usually good. I've never seen a bad one. Just depends on your interests. I usually catch the Kingdom Heirs if it's bren a few months. Dreamland Drive In was good, but I've not seen this year's cast. The bird show is worthwhile. Dunno about the current "Summer" shows. They change each year and even during the season.

Then again I have no clue what would be involved with that or what's actually wrong with the ride so I'm not going to speculate too much. That's the biggest part. So many assume it's the launch yet we have zero evidence that's the issue. While it's likely the issue, it may well be something else.

I'll take BBQ over pizza any day. But, much like you and pizza, I'm a bit of a BBQ snob. I'll eat the stuff DW has during the festival and it's OK, but the rest of the time no. Just blah. Then again, that's my opinion on most of the "well known" and "recommend" places I've ever tried. I prefer the little shacks that only locals know about. They don't have websites or any other advertising. They might not even have a phone and only be open 2 or 3 days a week. Give the sit own places a chance next time. It's worth taking 20-30 minutes to relax and eat and cool off/warm up. I usually go off peak (after the lunch/supper rushes) at like 1:30-3:30, or 7:30-8:00 (when the park is open late).

I figure it was just a bad day (under/over cooked crust, 20 minutes to get food even with a short line), but my wife is less forgiving.

I'm a big eater. Backstage is good, just not enough food for the price Same with Ham&Beans. And all the small places too. I just want more food. The buffets vary though. Some days are definitely better than others. Interestingly my wife and daughter prefer Aunt Grannies over Backstage. The daughter likes Red's overall best though.

That's of of DW's strong points. There's a lot of food there that you wouldn't expect at at park, especially the all you want buffet stuff; Aunt Granny's and Miss Lillian's. Backstage Restaurant and Granny Ogle’s (despite the name more than ham and beans) and are also good though I like the buffets better. But even the more standard fare has a bit more flair and better taste. From burgers at Red's to the sandwiches/sausages at the Big Skillet, the lowly food truck chicken sandwich, and Pizza at Victoria's. I haven't tried most of the other places (like Grandstand Cafe or Hickory House), but only the Lumberjack Pizza has been a bust for me. Maybe it was a bad day, but they couldn't get the crust done and it was just blah.

I'm thinking that Is TimeSaver getting set up. Everything in the list is part of TimeSaver. Though strangely, I just checked the app and MysterMine isn't shown. Right no most rides are closed because of weather, yet WildEagle isn't. I understand BlazingFury not closing, but WE?

Missed the stunt show at Universal because of lightning. They delayed a while, then let us in the stands only to delay more. 5-10 minutes after they were supposed to start (even had the cars staged) they finally called it and had us exit. I believe they use a 10 mile range. Never saw lighting or heard thunder the rest if the day. Got a little sprinkle, but not even real rain. Almost didn't see the Transformers that day for the same reasons. One came out late and another left early.

WE, TH, and TT just have shelves. But, I've never had any problems, or heard of anyone else. FCE has lockers available. So does River Rampage. I think LR has some too. I don't recall the other 2 water rides. Bins for stuff in the County Fair area. Same with Barn Stormer.

It was mentioned, along with the temporary closing of the Goat Coaster.

I think I saw some about a pass working as a cash card. Maybe it was in the water park? Edit: wrist band. http://www.dollywood.com/waterpark/Guest-Services/Sunny-Money dunno if they might add it go the main park in the future. But not sure a dining plan would do too well in the main park. There's already the gold pass discount.

How many days are you planning to be there? Just DW or SC too? Do you have any plans to visit again this year? Are you interested in other DW related things, like Dixie Stampede or Lumberjack dinner shows? You can often find deals on combos.

I just would never, ever plan a trip to a park based on one ride. There is always a chance that it will go down and be down a while. Some rides are finicky, some are maintenance headaches, I just have bad luck, etc. I go hoping several will be open, but knowing I may not ride. That was the case in March at DW, and the same was true in June. Both were planned nearly 2 months out. The June trip we went on Thu/Fri (a week after the flood) instead of earlier in the week hoping they'd get it up, but knowing it likely wouldn't be. The timing in June was happenstance. Normally we would have been there a week earlier (when school let out) but needed to be in town for other stuff this year. I've also passed on rides because of lines, and I'm not paying that much extra for FastPass/Q2Q stuff. I used the included stuff at Disney, and it was nice, but I wouldn't pay extra.

I hope not. WE and LR were not orthodox. Both are great rides, and LR will get the kinks worked out. And fitting the rides to the topography/environment is not orthodox.

As long as no lightening, you can ride in the rain Rain in the summer sure beats rain in Nov/Dec or even Mar and I've done both at DW.

Name one park that guarantees any coaster on any particular day. I've never heard of one. Every park website I've ever seen says rides are subject to closure at any point. What if there was an accident that shut it down for weeks just before you arrived? What if a freak of nature closed? We already had a flash flood this year. Should you still be assured you'll get to ride?

I recall the same about wooden coasters and inversions too. It just couldn't be done and a myriad of reasons why. Right, that's why there are so many many wooden coasters with LSM/LIM launches out there. Every park has one now right? There actually is the new power system in this. I've not heard of another that uses switched banks of capacitors to supply the launch power. Solid state energy storage and management system https://www.google.com/patents/US20150091478?cl=en http://www.freshpatents.com/-dt20150402ptan20150091478.php

I think this is the main problem. I have had one or two rides that are similar to what you are describing, but the majority of them, the launch is much stronger and it makes a difference in a fun ride and a holyballsairtime ride. I only rode twice, but both were the stronger versions. I've been confused reading others state the launch let off. Good to see a post that confirms I wasn't imagining it and there actually is some inconsistency. Curious, you said one or two. Out of how many?

As you can see, in 2012 they had cameras in 2 places. There were put on a flash drive at the WE kiosk. The pic from this year was labeled 2nd camera. I was thinking the LR photo guy screwed up and only added one pic, not realizing there were 2 cameras. But they may only use one camera now.

As long as your combined weight is under 375 pounds in dry conditions (330 wet weather). Didn't know that. I've ridden the two on Wears Valley Rd a bunch and don't recall ever seeing 2 adults on one car. Only ever seen kids in the front.

Mine was 8.5 when she first went to any park or rode a real coaster. It was Dollywood, Nov 2012 and WE was her favorite at the time. I think it still is, even though she really like LR last month. She wouldn't ride the outside seats, but did ride both sides. She will now It took me 3 years to get her to ride MM, TT, or BS again though. TH and WE were it til FCE. Do they still take pics at 2 places on WE? She only got one on the photo card in June, but maybe the guy screwed up. edit: Ugh, no small thumbnail option... PS, at 50" she can ride everything in the park. First ride It was chilly that November day Second ride Much colder that evening June 2016, 3.5 years later.

"The victim was the front passenger of a double ride sled and was thrown from the sled." Odd, I didn't think they let adults ride tandem like that.