Hard Rock Park Vs. Dollywood

[jarmor]

While reading this... this blog post I decided to share this with you guys. I would love to see what some of you who have been to both parks have to say about the comparisons. While I have been to both parks in recent years, I personally feel there is no comparisons at all. Sure they are both theme parks but Hershend parks are in a genre of their own and HRP is, how I put it, in its planning stages but is currently open to the public (ie: price switching every month or so).

 

So what do you guys think?

[BeemerBoy]

I gave up after the second paragraph. It was just after the point where I read this:

 

So DW has two metalies and one woodie.

 

I think this is one of those cases where even having only been to Dollywood, and only seeing several quality trip reports of HRP, I can already form a fairly knowledgeable opinion on each. And with that said, it's easily DW for the win. Better atmosphere, better coasters, and most importantly...better food. Game over.

[alpengeist04]

At this stage of HRP development it's not even close, Dollywood is a much better park in almost every aspect. IMO Dollywood is a top 10 park (in the US), while HRP is a long way from cracking the top 20. Again, people should give it some time before comparing HRP to any other park.

[SharkTums]

I refuse to even read a comparison. Like others have said, there is no comparison!

[Monkey King]

All I can say about this Hard Rock Blog is what in the sam hill have they been smoking and drinking cause I sure want some. I was abit speechless after reading what one of the owners of the site had to say that Hard Rock Park had better shows? I wonder if the seeing eye dog was drunk also?

 

By the looks of her comment towards one of the mods over at Coasterfanatics in that Blog, she goes into major defense mode on his comment that he made. I thought I have seen some wild crap on coaster boards but this is abit out there.

[tnguy]

Wow. I could post a lot of comments about this, but I think I'll just stick to what everyone else is saying. There is just no comparison.

[TheRapidsNerd]

Maybe it would be better to compare both parks a a few years down the road. This gives HRP a chance to really grow and come into it's own. That way there's more to compare. Right now, as we see, comparison is difficult.

[kraken613]

I dont know how you can try to compare!

 

Dollywood is obviously the better but they arnt even the same kind of atmosphere.

 

Dollywood up in the mountains flowing with the terrain. A well developed park.

 

HRP is flat at the coast going for a whole different theme. It opened a few months ago too!

 

The whole overall is Dollywood from what ive seen and heard of HRP is the better. I dont see that changing.

[TheRapidsNerd]

Anything can be compared. How well and the end result you're after, are the real question. Here, it's a very difficult comparison.

 

Example:

An alligator vs an apple. Some see no comparison, others see "They're both from nature, both edible." Depends on your perspective.

[Shavethewhales]

I have to say that parks really loose their appeal when you start getting this critical. I mean, obviously each park has it's ups and downs, but comparing them like this just doesn't really work. You can have a fantastic time at either DW or HRP, you just have to kick back and enjoy it all. If you let things like cheesy animations turn you off (read the comments), then you're doing it wrong.

 

As long as we are comparing though, I prefer DW. Some of us actually like the crazy layout, and the atmosphere really takes the cake.

[Kalepi_Konei]

Wow, Hard Rock Park just looks like an idiot doing this. Its bashing HRP more than it is DW.

 

Oh and I came along this little quote in there.

 

"HRP boasts a $400 million dollar price tag while DW has invested $162 million dollars since its first operating season."

 

Wow, so the money that HRP has put into its park couldve been put into DW to make it 2 times better then it is now. This really proves HRP doesn't know how to spend money compared to DW.

 

And I will state this again for those who do not get what I'm saying because your just not reading this whole thing DollyWood is the best!

[kraken613]

Woah! Did it really say that Dollywood food is just average theme park food?

 

DOLLYWOOD FOOD IS AMAZING!

[robbalvey]

Maybe it would be better to compare both parks a a few years down the road. This gives HRP a chance to really grow and come into it's own.

I would agree with this statement. Personally I liked what Hard Rock had to offer, but IMO it wasn't enough. And certainly not enough to justify a $50 entrance ticket.

 

It's like I said in my closing statement of our trip report:

 

"....overall the park has a LOT of potential. If they can figure out a way to pack 'em in, and maybe do with one more "major" attraction, I think they could have a very good future!"

 

They just aren't there yet.

 

--Robb

[GuardianPsyche]

OK so like most of you I was shocked at some of the comparisons between the two parks. BTW, nice website, came over when I was reading some of the comments on the HardRockParkBlog site. Anywho, so I was shocked too but I was pretty surprised to see some of the comments going back and forth. I wonder if everyone really read both of the articles and completely? Yes they were comparing two different types of parks but I don't think they were bashing either one?

 

But overall, please do not let my critisism deter you from visiting this park. It really is a lot of fun and has more than enough to do for one day. We truly had a good time but I do tend to be over-critical when comparing it to HRP because I really don’t think people realize how good we have it. HRP is a terrific park for its size and age. And we have more than enough to look forward to if the park continues to grow and glean what it can from successful older parks such as Dollywood. With a good amount of innovation and taking what is good and leaving what is not from other parks - its how HRP will grow and continue in its success. But we also have to give it the time and patience afforded to other parks and realize that we have an amazing opportunity and entertaining park in our backyards. Just wait none of us will be sorry! Oh and thank you to Dollywood for taking both my critisisms and praises of its park.

 

I think, and being a resident of South Carolina, people are really critical of Hard Rock too and don't want to give it that time to grow. I've been four times and love it! No its not a Dollywood but it could be! I kinda feel bad for those folks for everyone hating on them now for trying to show us the potential. Maybe they could have gone about doing it a different way but sheesh. Now don't crucify me too please

[SharkTums]

I'm pretty sure that no one here 'hates' Hard Rock, or even strongly dislikes it!

 

We have all said that it needs time to grow. I think the harshness comes from the fact that they opened as a 'full price' park, but most here will argue that they're not a 'full day' park.

 

The parks fine, but again, it shouldn't even be compared to Dollywood. Positive or negative!

[Speeddeamon128]

I've been to both Dollywood & Hard Rock Park (Just got back). I enjoyed both parks. When I went to Dollywood Mystery Mine wasn't built yet but I still had fun. I can't really compare them though. Dollywood is confusing to get around & the free lockers at Hard Rock Park are really it for me to compare. Why can't it be Six Flags v.s. Cedar Fair instead of Dollywood v.s. Hard Rock Park? This is my 100th post

[tntornadox]

If you haven't been to Dollywood in a few years, or even THIS year, you will find that the park is now a total loop at the top. Mystery Mine is directly connected to Tennessee Tornado.

 

I am biased, obviously, but with all of this praise of Dollywood I am hearing, it makes me stand in awe that this is the same park I visited back in the early 90s, when I wasn't but 5-6 years old and all they had rides wise was the rampage, some carnival rides, the Flooded Mine, Blazing Fury, and Thunder Express. The park sorta completely avoided rides altogether back then... yet was STILL a great park with an incredible atmosphere with great food and awesome employees.

 

What's changed? They've added major rides and are attracting a much broader and wider audience.... I am glad the quality has not declined in so doing. I think alot of people would agree, Dollywood has came a long way in a very short period of time and literally came from nowhere to a possible Top 10 Park...

 

I have a feeling the best is yet to come...

[MisterP]

I have not been to, nor have any desire to go to HRP (yet), and even I know the answer to that question. So I won't bother reading that particular blog...

[tnguy]

I am biased, obviously, but with all of this praise of Dollywood I am hearing, it makes me stand in awe that this is the same park I visited back in the early 90s,

 

I feel the same way. It's amazing how much the park has grown in just a few years. I'm hopeful that one day we will see the same thing from HRP.

[jarmor]

Bottom line the article writers are trying too hard to give HRP a name, a place among the top parks and think they can do that by comparing it to big name theme parks. But what they are doing is making the weakness of HRP shine thru more and more. I mean Thunderhead gets more riders in a day than HRP see's in a weeks time lately lol!

[ETapley0687]

LOL! This is funny. I agree there is no comparison between the two. It's obvious which park is better. Dollywood is my home park so I'm of course going to go with DWood on this one. I think that HRP has some growing to do just like DWood did.