Electerik Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Does the Dolly Trolley no longer take people to the park from the main tram center in downtown Pigeon Forge? In the past, I've always parked my car there for free and taken the $.50 trolley ride to the park. Pigeon Forge still runs that trolley, yes. But I believe Zach was coming from Gatlinburg, on their "pink" trolley that runs from Ripley's Aquarium to Dollywood, by way of the Dollywood Information Center. The two towns have totally different trolley systems. /And by "trolley," we of course mean "bus." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKI Jizzman Posted October 28, 2009 Author Share Posted October 28, 2009 More photos! I forgot to include that I absolutely couldn't find Slidewinder. I looked all over, couldn't find signs, and just gave up This cinnamon sugar, gooey, soft, loaf of bread truly is a piece of heaven! More to come! Train fanatics (Matt) will love Dollywood! This train was legit. You could hear it from miles and miles away These were the only guys I had to share with Dan, I hope your football game was fun! Omg omg omg omg omg! Dollywood is witch friendly. This water trough runs through a HUGE part of Dollywood. I love these newer age log flumes. Thankfully, I had the ride to myself so I didn't make that big of a splash! LOL Everyone get down! This would be Daredevil Falls One top knotch log flume. Beautiful landscaping all around Bunnies, medicine, goo, and RAINBOWS! What makes a watery death all better? I was able to take it over AND get people to take pictures of! Heading through the chasm of death. Name - Jizz Man. Location - About to take over flume. Remarks - Hey Dan, don't you wish you here?! This flume looked too awesome to pass up. Even if it's only about 50 degreese now. Just a great atmosphere. Wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Steel...fire...hm, maybe this is where they made Mystery Mine! Blacksmith shop was something I've never seen before. Dollywood attracts a whole different type of crowd with it's very neat section of the park dedicated to old school arts 'n crafts. Dollywood has a huge collection of bald eagles. It was a very cool exhibit! Awesome food....check. I'm a little lad who loves BERRIES AND CREAM! I love the smell of an open fire Do chickens have large talons? Very cool bird show. Bald meant white haired in the old days! Somethin' good a cookin' yonder. Gotta give Blazing Fury some love! What a great little ride. Hmm...I'm getting hunrgy. Let's go this way. Tornado blends in perfectly with the surrounding valley. It was about this time I wasn't able to see my frozen breath anymore! LOL! After hearing sounds of a tornado on the way, you head on out to the lift Forcast - tornadoes Even though it's a back seat ride, I decided to check out the front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I love DW Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 More photos! I forgot to include that I absolutely couldn't find Slidewinder. I looked all over, couldn't find signs, and just gave up The Mountain Slidewinder was closed, as is the entire Dreamland Forest area that it is in. Both Dreamland Forest/Slidewinder and River Battle closed back in September because you get so wet on/in these attractions. Great pictures! That cinnamon bread has me excited about getting to go in about a month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRapidsNerd Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 JZ, great photos as always and, oh yes, I did enjoy the train when I was there in November last year. AND the "awesome food" too. Wonderful park! Looks like you had a great time. Job well done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKI Jizzman Posted October 28, 2009 Author Share Posted October 28, 2009 ....... The front seat is where this ride really proves its intensity. It's different than other GCI coasters. More pictures, still! There's many spots of airtime on this ride. The single row benches work amazingly. The first drop is quite steep Another look... Fantastic element Now down by the play are to get some up close shots. For the record, I forgot my 55-200mm lense! =( Thanks Thunderhead crew for letting me get such good shots! Hold on tight! I don't know what this is called...but I love it! Pop up, turn and then swoop down. It blends in perfectly with the setting. Thunderhead has nice, shiny, new restaints in the front...and old, orange ones that are VERY worn in the back. GCI gets extra points for pre-lift fun! Another reason why Dollywood is awesome. The op (Ray) saw me taking pictures and asked if I'd like to take some from the ride op entrance. Thanks Thunderhead crew! Down, up and around. Just passing through... One of the best wooden and steel coasters in the south! Trying to find new angles. Take the station fly by! And Thunderhead doesn't dissapoint GCI's are known for relentless speed. No thankssss .. Doesn't get much better than this! Coming up behind Thunderhead One of the best sections of any park I've been to. Gimme some pumpkin pie! Lovely red colors. Just exploring. a few streams flow through I'm ready for Christmas! And it snakes back around to the loading platform. It was pretty tranquill, and I didn't get wet...until the damn cannon at the end! A bit too cold to get wet today. Don't load too many TPR members on this rapids ride! Nice waterfall section Hey Rapids Nerd! I like these disks Walking around, heading to the County Fair section. Just another example of Dollywood's unique beauty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjaco Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Train fanatics (Matt) will love Dollywood! This train was legit. Damn straight it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odene497 Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Oh God I need more of that cinnamon bread. If given permission I will make a nest in the Grist Mill. Glad you had a great time, Dollywood is seriously one of the most awesome places ever. EDIT: Just saw the new pictures. And in regards to the Thunderhead crew, Dollywood's staff is one of the things that make the place so great. Very efficient and super friendly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Divv3k Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Great report! Dollywood just looks stunning. I actually think that out out of all the parks on next years TPR trips I'm looking forward to Dollywood more than any of them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angryemobeaver Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Great PTR Zach, probably one of your best. You took some amazing shots, I especially like the tons of Thunderhead photos. I really wanna go to Dollywood NOW! I want to see the next thing of photos super bad! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebl Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 It's funny how so many people rave about Tennessee Tornado being such a great ride, which I'm sure it is. It makes you wonder why Arrow built such a great ride at the end of its existence, but so many earlier ones are so rough. So far, I've not ridden this ride, but hope to get to Dollywood at some point. Eric "Needs to get out waaayyy more" L. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I love DW Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Those are the best photographs I have ever seen of Thunderhead, good job! You also get extra points for the Christmas light shot! I can not wait for Smoky Mountain Christmas to begin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesdillaman Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Great photos, Zach! It's been a real treat watching your photography develop since you've joined TPR. Keep up the good work, and call me sometime. I never know when it's a good time to call you, what with you being in classes and everything. Anyway, glad you had a good time in the Smokies, not so glad you didn't invite me. You jerk. -James Dillaman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pufferfish Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 You have done a very impressive job covering this park. Your photos are great, and I'm glad you had a great time, sorry I couldn't join. You have made me very happy with the collection of Thunderhead pictures. It is my favorite wooden, and you took a lot of excellent pictures of it. Great job! I am now patiently awaiting the next group of photos... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterfreaky Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 It's funny how so many people rave about Tennessee Tornado being such a great ride, which I'm sure it is. It makes you wonder why Arrow built such a great ride at the end of its existence, but so many earlier ones are so rough. So far, I've not ridden this ride, but hope to get to Dollywood at some point. Eric "Needs to get out waaayyy more" L. That must have been about the time that Arrow put away the wire hangers and started using CAD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginzo Posted October 30, 2009 Share Posted October 30, 2009 Zach, you're clearly taking too easy of a course load if you have time for a weekend trip! If you want less free time, I can suggest some professors who will help you out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolinacaniac Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 Great stuff! I always love going to Dollywood, and am looking forward to making a return later this year for the Smokie Mountain Christmas. It has become a tradition of sorts for me to go, and if I don't, than my season never really ended. It was kind of funny though, as Zach here was in the middle of Hitch-hiking, I was headed to BGE for one last visit this season (may try to visit Christmastown, but not sure if I will), and as the day went on, I was getting live updates from him Big Mike style by text message. Glad to see you enjoyed your trip! The whole area is a blast, and Dollywood is simply a great park! -Gary T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKI Jizzman Posted November 1, 2009 Author Share Posted November 1, 2009 Here's the last batch! And no, Joe, I do NOT need anymore work!!! Haha I brought back a friend! Mystery Mine waas sooo cool. Thanks for viewing and commenting everyone! Thanks for the AMAZING day, Dollywood! Pure masterpiece. Back to Tornado for a last ride. I can't wait to see what type of obstical/challenge/ropes course Dollywood puts together! Lots of swooping and diving...I like it! I should have done this... This photo TR was fueled by VAULT! At the misty, mystery, minneeeee Insert old, creepy laugh. At times, the brakes were rough...but I didn't really mind it. A breathtaking view of Thunderhead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I love DW Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 Now that you've got all the coasters done, next time start with SkyZip. It is a blast! A few lucky people even get to zip on "Cougar Plunge" while Tennessee Tornado is at the top of the loop. I got to and when I turned myself towards that direction I saw Tornado do the entire loop and a Mystery Mine car on the trestle drop in the distance. Great experience! Just for a little bit of an odd fact I will add this: If you look at the map in your photograph of SkyZip between the Cougar Plunge and Bald Eagle Swoop lines what you walk between the two actually follows the Dollywood property line on that side of the park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy T. Koepp Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 Awesome TR Zach! You must get down here for Smoky Christmas! Perhaps you can bribe James into making a Dwood, BBend weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesdillaman Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 ^Could be a possibility, Guy! Although I'd have to have somewhere to stay, because with my wedding coming up soon, got to watch the expense accounts... But if Zach provides that, I'd do the driving... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKI Jizzman Posted November 3, 2009 Author Share Posted November 3, 2009 Park News - (11/2/09) Check out this great trip report from Dollywood posted over at ThemeParkReview this week. I’ve also been told from another reader that Thunderhead will be getting some retracking done this winter. Apparently when you ride it currently, you can see some markings on the track showing off where they are planning to do the work. Thanks Screamscape! -Zach Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginzo Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 Awesome TR Zach! You must get down here for Smoky Christmas! Perhaps you can bribe James into making a Dwood, BBend weekend. Is the Dollywood Christmas event that good? We've been kicking around the idea of spending Christmas down there. The only problem is that's super duper peak season for house rentals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squid Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 Yep, it's that good. They shut the park down for a week so they can install the lights that run throughout the park. The decorations are tasteful, not tacky, and the shows are top notch. I recommend Babes in Toyland if it is running this year. Also they run pretty much all of their rides for as long as they can. They have a fairly solid 40 degree shutoff for safety reasons, (the oils don't lubricate well at that temperature) but if you thought Thunderhead was amazing during the day, wait until you ride it at night. I was lucky enough to ride it at an ACE event on a moonless night before Timber Tower was installed... the only lights on near the ride was the station, the lift hill rope lights, and the brake lights. At one point during the ride, I lifted my hand up in front of my face and I could not see it. Just an amazing experience and an amazing ride. Squid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electerik Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 Is the Dollywood Christmas event that good? It's the best Christmas event I've been to. But is it better than Dollywood in the summer? I'd say no. The Christmas lights are great, but all the water rides are shut down (obviously) and it's usually really, really cold--which takes some of the fun out of the outdoor rides. Not trying to discourage anyone from going, but I wouldn't move Heaven and Earth to get there if I lived far away and had already been to the park this season. Just my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy T. Koepp Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 ^Your jaded! I love this event! Dwood is 3ish hours from tha house and we still get there 3 or 4 times during this season. The family loves it! Shure it's a bit cold. But it's a dry cold. Guy "Cause dry cold is better than wet cold." Koepp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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