cgodsey Posted July 30, 2006 Share Posted July 30, 2006 Night of Thunder 3 Flyer All, Night of Thunder 3 has been finalized. The specifics are below. The price is a little higher than last year because the park is now requiring us to pay for the Thunderhead ERT. We will also have 30 minutes of ERT on Timber Tower. During our group meal, the park will have representatives on hand to discuss the new for 2007 coaster Mystery Mine. The flyer will be released shortly. Hope to see you there! Chris Night of Thunder 3 September 30th, 2006 8:30am- Registration 9:00am- Park opens TBA- Group Meal TBA- Group photo in front of Thunderhead 7:00-7:30- ERT on Timber Tower 7:00- ??? ERT on Thunderhead Prices: Season Passes RW member $30 Non member $35 Regular Admission RW member $60 Non member $65 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 This event was a lot of fun last year. If anyone is thinking about making a trip to Dollywood this year, I would suggest trying to go to this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noyzz Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 hmmmmm, I smell a road trip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParkTrips Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 heh I would have thought this would be cheaper than the ACE event... looks like I'll hold out till next spring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cgodsey Posted August 1, 2006 Author Share Posted August 1, 2006 Considering the park is also making ACE pay for ERT, I would imagine their event will be in the same price range. Their last event was $55 if I remember correctly. I thought the $5.00 increase was pretty reasonable considering the ERT cost ($500). This event is small enough where you could easily marathon Thunderhead and Timber Tower with no lines. Oh well, you can't please everyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 ^ Nope. And you just hope the ones you do please will show up as they'll appreciate it more anyway! --Robb "The biggest misconception with putting on these events is how much things actually do cost!" Alvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreatOne Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 While I appreciate people putting on these events, being a college student, I can't justify paying $65 when I could pay $40 (with discount) and get ERT in the middle and ends of a regular operating day on Thunderhead anyways. It also hurts that hotels in that area are really expensive. -Bryan "marathoned Thunderhead during 'peak season' and loved it "Wood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParkTrips Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 Oh well, you can't please everyone! In all seriousness, I was really hoping this event would be cheaper, especially since I won't be going to the ACE event in Nov - Joe, who will do like Bryan and just pick some random day to go... I've never seen Thunderhead more than a 2 train wait anyways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
65skylark Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 Well, for someone like me who lives accross the country and would love to get as many rides as possible on one of the best woodies on the planet, this event sounds awesome. I would gladly spend a few extra dollars to be garanteed ERT with a small group than to take a chance of it being busy on a regular visit or go to the ACE event with 5 times as many people. I hope to be going myself but I still have to wait a bit before I will know for sure. Justin "I think Rideworld is great" Saxe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coaster1 Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 I agree .. this sounds like a decent event .. now if Germany falls through .. I know where I'll be looking that weekend as Chris's events are great and DW is great as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carnage Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 The original NoT was great, and I hope to come back for this one. Though with no vacation time left I won't have the time to drive, and probably shouldn't spend the money to fly. Then again, the Visa and Mastercard fairies are whispering in my ear to book that flight to ATL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 Proximity that someone lives to the park does play a high factor as to the decision some people will make to go to an event, but I really don't think it's a fair reason to critisize Chris for the cost of the event. If you can go on your own on a day that's not busy for cheaper, GO FOR IT! That doesn't make Chris' event bad or even expensive, it just makes it "not for you." --Robb "Exactly the reason why we want to position our Mid West trip towards our international readers." Alvey ps. Remember that the face value of a one day Dollywood ticket is $47.50, so paying $12.50 for ERT, a meal, some inside info on the new coaster, and a chance to hang out with friends at an organized event that someone else went through the effort to put together is NOT a bad deal. And if those things aren't your bag of sugar smacks, then why are you complaining in the first place? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jew Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 I bet you had to haggle to get the "Free Timber Tower ERT with every Thunderhead ERT purchase" deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParkTrips Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 haha, leave it to a jew to think about the bargaining end That doesn't make Chris' event bad or even expensive, it just makes it "not for you." Who said it was bad? I dont think anyone said it was, and neither Bryan nor I would have legitimate basis for making such a statement. If this was an ACE event, and I mentioned it was too much for me, would I be criticized like this? - Joe, who loves Dollywood, but thinks it is a bit expensive on its own Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterFanatic Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 It also hurts that hotels in that area are really expensive. Ever stay in the area the area that time of year. Not too expensive at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 ^^ I said "bad" because I basically assume that anytime someone is dissing something that other people put effort into organizing, and couldn't be bothered to attend for a difference of $12.50 over the face value ticket price, there must be something they thought was not a good value for money. I guess I don't understand the point in criticizing something when you're not interested in going. Sorry, I guess "bad" was the incorrect word to use....my bad! --Robb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreatOne Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 It also hurts that hotels in that area are really expensive. Ever stay in the area the area that time of year. Not too expensive at all. The same hotel I stayed at earlier this year for $39.99 is $59.99 that night. Might not seem like a big deal, but I'll just be recovering from shelling out money for books and tuition. I'm not bashing the event, I too, was hoping it would be a little cheaper. I was hoping to attend because I heard good things. I was just hoping I could go, I wasn't trying to cheapen the value of the event. $65+$50-60 for hotel plus gas just isn't going to work for me. -Bryan "guess I'll have to wait until April" Wood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
65skylark Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 It seems to me the point Robb is trying to make - and maybe I'm wrong - is that we are literally talking about less than 20 bucks. I don't believe anyone can "afford" to go for 47.50 but not "afford" to go for 60.00. And even though I'm sure bashing the event wasn't anyone's intention, it did come across that way. I personally know Chris puts a TON of his own time and money into these events and I'm sure it is frustrating on his end when it seems someone may be criticizing one of the events he worked hard just to make happen at all. Oh, and Paul, those stupid credit card fairies have been whispering to me also. If I go, I'll be flying into the ATL also to spend a day at SFOG. We'll have to meet up if it works out for both of us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterFanatic Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 Whoa. Didn't know that SFoG would be open that Sunday. Catrina has been kicking me in the crotch all summer to go there. Interested in a carpool? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImAPrincess Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 Whoa. Didn't know that SFoG would be open that Sunday. Catrina has been kicking me in the crotch all summer to go there. Interested in a carpool? What can I say? He created a monster! The only SF park I haven't been too thrilled with is SFMM. I even liked SFA! But then again...I've liked every Vekoma ride I've been on! (Including the SLCs!) I'm thinking Dollywood might be on the to-do list this fall... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carnage Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 If I decide to go I'll definetly be interested in a carpool Ted. I'll probably think about it over the next few weeks. It's alot of money for me to fly, but then again I did just spend alot on the UK, so what'sa bit more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeemerBoy Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 The wife and I may be down for this event. You guys could always make that a full size suv and we'll jump in on your way past Dalton towards DW. In fact, I might even be able to arrange some accomodations for a small group of us near the park. I got friends who live in the area. I could give 'em a call and look into this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterFanatic Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 Paul and interested parties: Right now it looks like if there was to be any kind of "carpool". It would leave ATL around 10pm on Friday and return to ATL some time Sunday evening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
65skylark Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 It looks like we will be flying into Nashville as it is much cheaper than Atlanta from Portland. Tentative plans: Fly out early Friday morning. Sight-seeing in Nashville Friday afternoon and evening. Dollywood-NoT3 Saturday SFOG Sunday Fly home Monday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cgodsey Posted August 2, 2006 Author Share Posted August 2, 2006 I totally understand the college student with no money situation. I was definitely there once. Especially now since gas is so high, I can understand how the extra money could put a student in a pinch with school approaching. As far as event costs, more and more parks are moving away from the "free ERT" that clubs used to get due to the high cost of staffing the coasters before and after park hours. Its just something that the event planners have to factor in their event cost. At first, I was just gonna eat the ERT costs but after examining the books, I have spent a HUGE amount of money on RideWorld this year and I couldn't justify the extra $500 for the ERT. If I raised the club dues or start running pop up ads, I am sure I could cover the ERT. But since the site, the club, and the events are a labor of love and not a source of income, I WILL NOT resort to counting on the site to generate large amounts of revenue. Our events are usually attended in small numbers which allows for truly fantastic ERT sessions. That is a blessing and a curse because if the events were heavily attended, I am sure the parks would work with us more. But, we have to play the hand we are dealt and I do it because I love the hobby. I honestly like having small events and seeing the "usual suspects" who we have grown quite fond of! (you know who you are!) Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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