STDog

Any pass that will get you in the on a normal operating day. Regular pass or gold pass, Dollywood or Super Pass. Never been very crowded when I was there. I don't recall any special hours, just regular Friday hours. Maybe someone who got a notice about it has the hours specifically. Edit: yep, regular hours,10-7. http://www.dollywood.com/themepark/Guest-Services/Passholder-Page

I believe the prices are already a little higher for the 2017 season passes but don't fall for the prices go up trick.. Have to check a few time through the season to see if anything else changes. I've never done so. So, I wrote down the prices back in Dec after this post. Then I just checked them today. Everything went up $4. 2017 Season Passes (Quantities 1-3) (Super Regular) $148 $152 2017 Season Passes (Quantities 1-3) (Super Gold) $200 $204 2017 Season Passes (Quantities 1-3) (Regular) $99 $103 2017 Season Passes (Quantities 1-3) (Gold) $151 $155 So was getting emails about prices going up again. Now I got a message that the "offer" w extended til March 19. Interested to see if there's another increase after opening weekend. I don't think I've seen that done before. Usually just one increase per season. Guess I'll have to check next week and see if they really change again.

I'm hoping it warms up for the last week of March. I'll be camping at Elkmont in a small popup.

Reviews I saw were mixed, though generally positive. Lots of mentions of not able to get in. I wasn't overly interested though as it seamed they went even more towards show and less lumber jack than the old feud. I'm not convinced this was because of poor sales. It may just be a big idea and best to use the space they already have to get it up now. I know it's not cheap to get any space on the parkway.

I think they were light the times I've been, even when Dolly was around. Generally a bit chilly for much of a crowd.

I've had good responses on FB. That's messaging, not posts on the page or comments. Never tried email though.

I don't think consecutive days is a requirement, but recommend you call/email/facebook message and ask.

My 12yr old, who's favorite rides are WE, LR, and FCE, rides the Dizzy Disc, Waltzing Swinger, and Ferris Wheel at least once each trip.

I've been for the passholder day a few times. All rides up and and most shows though limited schedule. Usually not very busy. Usually​ email ads to passholders, but closer to opening weekend. It's really aimed at locals who only need a few days notice. But it's always the Friday before official opening day (Saturday).

It's just a nice relaxing stroll, at least on the not so busy days that I'm typically there. And it harkens to a different era of the park. Like life, it seamed simpler then. Maybe add a separate path for those just wanting the fastest route from A to B. But DW isn't about fast paced A - B movement like so many other parks.

Hope they don't ruin the walk up to Thunderhead. Wider is OK, but the straightening worries me some. The point wasn't to be fast, but an enjoyable walk.

It's cheaper than a lot of places in town with comparable quality. No, it's not Paula's or Applewood or Alamo or JT Hannah's, but it's as good as other $10-15/person places.

Well, Six Flags (at least the few I've visited) treat food as an afterthought. DW has 4 sit down restaurants, 2 are buffets (all you care to eat). Add in the Mill (Cinnamon bread) and the bakery and you see they take food a bit more seriously than most theme parks. They also add in special food for the Festival of Nations and BBQ & Bluegrass.

Not everyone is like that. Way too many don't get it, to the detriment of others. I don't drink beer and refrain from alcohol when out in the heat. That's exactly what you can do. (Except the mill as I mentioned) Walk up and ask for a cup of water, w/ or w/o ice as you prefer. The last few visits, that's all my wife has put in the mug she carries. We took frozen bottles of water in a small insulated bag. They thawed slowly through the day, but we generally had cold water form 5 or 6 bottles all day. Did the same at DW in the past, before the bag check nonsense. Don't know if they would balk now or not. Haven't been when it was that hot. Since we always have the park mugs with us, the small cups don't matter.

I said change, not kill. I'm sure it would change things, and not for the better. At 95* you didn't need something to dehydrate you further. And you paid for water? It's free at any place with soda fountain (well except the Mill where they apparently have a screwed up fountain that only dispenses carbonated water)

Voluntary fee before the city forced it (or shut it down completely) because of the problems it was causing. Likely to occur in PF before long. I expect Wears Valley to hold out much longer. I can't comment on effects at Theme Parks, but I have seen the results in other venues and adding alcohol often is detrimental. Not every place has to serve alcohol. I'm sure many would like for Taco Bell to sell margaritas too, or beer at burger joints. Beyond that though, alcohol in the summer heat isn't a good mix anyway. I've seen lots of dehydration cases due mainly to alcohol consumption. I wish parks offered more non-soda options. I live in a dry county and a town that consistently votes dry in wet/dry votes. Yet my house is well stocked. I enjoy cocktails before meals, and wine with meals. But adding it to a theme park is just not necessary. Yes I enjoyed the drinks at Disney/Epcot, especially the tequila, but not having them wouldn't have made the experience bad. For that matter, prior to 2016 when they started bag checks and crap, you could have brought in what ever you wanted.

I'm perfectly fine with the current alcohol policy. Too many can't handle alcohol properly and the vibe there would change for the worse. I'll just wait til I'm back in my room for the day for a drink or two while I unwind.

I'll be shocked if we see a big coaster at DW for '18 or '19.

Wikipedia has 70 MPH. RCDB has the original 63 MPH. I do wonder why the advertised speed has been increased over the years. One would assume they has some reason for doing so, and not just because they wanted a higher number.

As dstephe9 mentioned a few posts back, the advertised speed has increased over the years. They now advertise it as 70 MPH, but the RCDB entry still has the 63 MPH from the original announcement.

RCDB say 128ft drop and still has the original 63MPH. https://rcdb.com/534.htm Need a speed gun to actually measure. I'd like a similar measurement done for LR, WE, and TH too. Regardless of the actual drop or speed, it still a fun ride. And I don't think there were ever real plans for it to be longer or have more elements. Maybe in the initial planning more was considered, but by the time they were serious in the engineering it

Yet the speed, time and track length are pretty much what we got.

That's not how they are normally spec'd. Drop is the longest single, continuous fall. The fake out on TT wouldn't be included because of the curve that interrupts.

If it was planned to be longer, I'm kind of glad it's not. I've been on plenty of longer rides that weren't as fun or memorable. Compare to rides like the Vekoma Boomerang coasters from the mid 80s. Same 1:48 ride time but only 47MPH vs the TT's 70MPH. Or other Arrow loopers like Drachen Fire, 1:46 and 60MPH, or Carolina Cyclone, 1:30 and 41MPH, The original Corkscrew design that was 1:15 and 32MPH. The Double Loop that was 1:30 and 36MPH.

I'd like to see some more info on that. I'm not familiar with other Arrow loopers, but I know there were a lot of short coasters (by today's standards) in the past. I just figured that was why it was short.