Dollywood Discussion Thread

[coasterbill]

Hey as long as it's running, whatever

[Canobie Coaster]

Hey as long as it's running, whatever

 

True! I haven't heard of it going down since the extended downtime all summer.

[dstephe9]

Hey as long as it's running, whatever [emoji38]

 

True! I haven't heard of it going down since the extended downtime all summer.

Yeah same here. No idea why they took the front off unless they saw it was about to cause issues or something haha. I've been to the park a lot and it's ran pretty much everyday, after the extended downtime, with the front until now

 

But hey! It's still running and that's the good news!

 

 

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6003 using Tapatalk

[TEDodd]

Here’s what LR’s trains now look like.

 

I'll bet that's a wild experience.

 

Lightning Rod looks naked without the fronts.

 

Agree.

[KBrylczyk]

Here’s what LR’s trains now look like. He said front row now seems more intense where you get that open view of everything

 

Or just ride it at night. It's like being in a wicked outer space battle with a heroin addict at the wheel. You can't see ANYTHING after the launch.

[Canobie Coaster]

^ Except at Smoky Mountain Christmas you emerge from the darkness to see all the park's lights atop the quad down. Then you're treated to the best finale of any coaster.

[hoppedup]

^^My first two rides on LR were at night. I still have no clue what happened, other than awesomeness.

[Canobie Coaster]

That's the usual reaction of riding an RMC even during the day. And Lightning Rod takes everything to another level with no dead spots.

[triggernel]

Making my third Christmas visit to Dollywood the week of the 17th and wondering how crowds will be midweek. The two Christmas visits I've made previously were pretty dead, but they were much earlier on in the holiday season.

 

I expect the shows will be busier than the rides, but any other advice would be appreciated.

[middle_keeny]

Midweek usually isn't too bad. The only times to avoid the park would be Friday Evenings and Saturdays. The only time it gets crowded mid week is if the temps get over 60.

[dstephe9]

I was there mid-week last week and the park was very dead. B lot, which is very small was full and c lot was only 5 - 10% full. It did pick up a little before dark and around dark, mostly locals looking at the lights.

 

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6003 using Tapatalk

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Dolly's brother Floyd Parton has died.

 

https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2018/12/10/dolly-parton-brother-floyd-dead-obituary/2273088002/

 

Floyd Estel Parton, 61, of Sevierville, died Dec. 6, his family reported.

 

"Dolly, and the entire Parton Family, wish to thank everyone for their kindness," the family said in a statement Tuesday. "Yesterday, we laid our sweet baby brother to rest. We all sang his lovely song, 'Rocking Years,' together as a family at the service to say goodbye to him. He lived a short life of love and beautiful songs. Friends, fans and family may make a donation in his honor to the My People Senior Activity Center in Sevierville, Tennessee."

[A.J.]

Tennessee had some earthquakes last night. It didn't seem like anything major (apart from people's photos being rattled off of their desks and nightstands), but Dollywood was in the affected zone. According to the USGS, Pigeon Forge felt the equivalent of a magnitude 2.5 (out of 10).

 

https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/se60247871/executive

 

https://apnews.com/7d15bfe851284a90a80cc0699f359745

[TEDodd]

magnitude 2.5 (out of 10).

 

Richter (ML) isn't used anymore (though media mislabels the strength in reports) and the moment magnitude (Mm) scale has no upper bound.

[coasterbill]

^ Okay...

[middle_keeny]

I live about 40 miles from where the epicenter was and it felt like my clothes washer was shaking the house. Nothing major. I assume damage was minimal if any at Dollywood.

[RAWKIN_coaster38]

So on the SDC website it says SDC passholders get half-off Dollywood tickets. That was part of what led me to buy a SDC pass earlier this year. Well my pass was stolen a while back and I haven't had it replaced, but I have my passholder number on the SDC app. Do I need to get a replacement pass from SDC first or is the passholder number enough? How should I go about getting the half-off Dollywood tickets or is it a lost cause because I waited too long?

 

I don't even see anywhere on the ticket purchasing website that gives the opportunity to purchase half-off tickets for SDC passholders. Is this something that happens at the front gate?

[TEDodd]

I suggest calling DW.

 

They can advise and my be able to process the discount.

[dstephe9]

So on the SDC website it says SDC passholders get half-off Dollywood tickets. That was part of what led me to buy a SDC pass earlier this year. Well my pass was stolen a while back and I haven't had it replaced, but I have my passholder number on the SDC app. Do I need to get a replacement pass from SDC first or is the passholder number enough? How should I go about getting the half-off Dollywood tickets or is it a lost cause because I waited too long?

 

I don't even see anywhere on the ticket purchasing website that gives the opportunity to purchase half-off tickets for SDC passholders. Is this something that happens at the front gate?

Honestly, Dollywood is pretty old-school on reciprocal agreements, even within their own brands, and normally must see the actual card or ID. Like mentioned, if suggest calling

 

One thing to mention about Dollywood and reciprocal agreements is that you normally need the card at time of ticket purchase and when entering the park at the gate. A lot of employers around here have these agreements and Dollywood needs to see your employee ID when entering and when buying the ticket (or paystub or whatever they need as proof)

 

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6003 using Tapatalk

Edited December 14, 2018 by dstephe9

[RAWKIN_coaster38]

^Thanks for the heads up guys. I called and it does sound like they would prefer the physical card, but SDC said that Dollywood might possibly be able to call them and they could confirm my pass over the phone as long as I have a photo ID. The customer service lady at Dollywood said that might work, wasn't very confident, but if so I should go to Guest Services because they wouldn't be able to do it at the ticket counter. Worth a try at least.

 

Also, the age-old question.... is Lightning Rod open?

[coasterbill]

Amazingly, yes

[dstephe9]

^Thanks for the heads up guys. I called and it does sound like they would prefer the physical card, but SDC said that Dollywood might possibly be able to call them and they could confirm my pass over the phone as long as I have a photo ID. The customer service lady at Dollywood said that might work, wasn't very confident, but if so I should go to Guest Services because they wouldn't be able to do it at the ticket counter. Worth a try at least.

 

Also, the age-old question.... is Lightning Rod open? [emoji38]

My biggest concern is actually getting in the gate without your SDC pass, even if you get a ticket from the ticket window.. like I said, they mark the tickets as discounted and the gate will ask again for the SDC pass (or employee ID if you get a discount for work, or Ripley's pass, basically, whatever you use for the discount). I guess it prevents people from buying discounted tickets and reselling them. This is how it worked last year anyways with a friend who used a zoo pass for a discount. And then the year before with a friend who used his Denso ID (large employer in the area that gets discounts)

 

I mean, I'm sure guest services will clear it up and tell them to let you through, especially if they sold you the ticket haha. Just something to keep in mind though

 

Customer service is hit and miss at Dollywood with the employees but guest services is great so they should make it right

 

And LR is very open, especially the front seat! Hahaha

 

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6003 using Tapatalk

[RAWKIN_coaster38]

Amazingly, yes

I'm not gonna believe it until I see it!

^Thanks for the heads up guys. I called and it does sound like they would prefer the physical card, but SDC said that Dollywood might possibly be able to call them and they could confirm my pass over the phone as long as I have a photo ID. The customer service lady at Dollywood said that might work, wasn't very confident, but if so I should go to Guest Services because they wouldn't be able to do it at the ticket counter. Worth a try at least.

 

Also, the age-old question.... is Lightning Rod open? [emoji38]

My biggest concern is actually getting in the gate without your SDC pass, even if you get a ticket from the ticket window.. like I said, they mark the tickets as discounted and the gate will ask again for the SDC pass (or employee ID if you get a discount for work, or Ripley's pass, basically, whatever you use for the discount). I guess it prevents people from buying discounted tickets and reselling them. This is how it worked last year anyways with a friend who used a zoo pass for a discount. And then the year before with a friend who used his Denso ID (large employer in the area that gets discounts)

 

I mean, I'm sure guest services will clear it up and tell them to let you through, especially if they sold you the ticket haha. Just something to keep in mind though

 

Customer service is hit and miss at Dollywood with the employees but guest services is great so they should make it right

 

And LR is very open, especially the front seat! Hahaha

 

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6003 using Tapatalk

Thanks for the heads up. I'm sure Guest Services wouldn't sell me a ticket and the park not let me in but good to know that it might be difficult. I guess we'll see, I'll pay full price if I have to but the discount would be great.

 

Anyway, is there going to be anyone else there today that wants to hang out since my friends are bailing today?

[sdcfan88]

Check out this awesome "Behind The Scenes" article on Blazing Fury including a "lights on" tour and how it was RMC's "first" coaster done for the park.

 

https://www.coaster101.com/2018/12/16/blazing-fury-behind-the-scenes-lights-on-at-dollywood/

 

Edited December 20, 2018 by sdcfan88

[Jdprince45]

Park was nearly empty today until dark when people came to see the lights. Wait time for LR was 15 minutes, one train running. (Lost my toboggan! ) Christmas lights are beautiful. Track looks complete for the new coaster