Dollywood Discussion Thread

[prozach626]

4 minutes ago, JJLehto said:

I’ve no idea if spring break is happening

It is here.

[AmyUD06]

Queue Times is predicting moderate crowds: https://queue-times.com/en-US/parks/55/calendar

Looking at past Aprils, there always seems to be one week where it's pretty busy, likely in conjunction with local spring breaks.

Big Bear was fun but it is decidedly a family coaster.  Queue Times says the average longest wait time was 60 minutes, and that takes into account weekends, so if you call an hour "long" then yeah it's a long line.

[TEDodd]

3 hours ago, JJLehto said:

I’ve no idea if spring break is happening

Sevier County Spring break Apr 14-18.
https://www.sis.sevier.org/28455_2

But looks like the surrounding counties had spring break last month. Several will be out for Good Friday though, and it's not uncommon for many students to miss the Thu before or leave at lunch.

[tndank]

Park closes on Tuesdays and Thursdays again starting next week.  Slow season til mid May when school trips start up again.

If getting a Timesaver, make sure you review the options.  They switched them up a bit this year.  Very unlikely it's needed unless you're there on a Saturday or  maybe Sunday.

 

[JJLehto]

Oh! Was part of a very busy trip so never did follow up. 

Everything was 45 mins (maybe 50 but eh) or under. Exception was Tennessee Tornado Hour 25 but they were running 1 train ops!? Mustve been an issue, cant imagine why they would on spring break and when nothing else was. Given it was spring break not bad actually! I'll gladly take 45 mins and some were only 20-30. So all in all not bad! 

New cred for Big Bear Mountain, perhaps the gift of low expectations but was solid and surprisingly fun! 
LRod, got 6 rides. Once or twice did feel a little weird at first but I became a normal human and got over the chain lift. Rest is great and far as I can tell unchanged from before. Especially when it warmed up...early morning was great but late afternoon/early evening it was hauling and kicking ass. In the back a helluva ride. Oh also I got 6 rides. It opened with the park and ran all day. So that alone is ya know, pretty big. 

This park may have one of the best lineups. There's no bad coaster. Even calibrating for the fact "this is a family ride" Firechaser and Dragonflier are fun little rides. I know Mystery Mine is divisive but I still quite enjoy it and though not worth that long, I forgot how much ass TT kicks, Thunderhead ran great, Wild Eagle remains a low key good wing coaster. Another good visit to this park, it probably is cemented in my top 5 by this point. 

[AmyUD06]

Glad you had a good time!

[Hilltopper39]

12 hours ago, JJLehto said:

Oh! Was part of a very busy trip so never did follow up. 

Everything was 45 mins (maybe 50 but eh) or under. Exception was Tennessee Tornado Hour 25 but they were running 1 train ops!? Mustve been an issue, cant imagine why they would on spring break and when nothing else was. Given it was spring break not bad actually! I'll gladly take 45 mins and some were only 20-30. So all in all not bad! 

New cred for Big Bear Mountain, perhaps the gift of low expectations but was solid and surprisingly fun! 
LRod, got 6 rides. Once or twice did feel a little weird at first but I became a normal human and got over the chain lift. Rest is great and far as I can tell unchanged from before. Especially when it warmed up...early morning was great but late afternoon/early evening it was hauling and kicking ass. In the back a helluva ride. Oh also I got 6 rides. It opened with the park and ran all day. So that alone is ya know, pretty big. 

This park may have one of the best lineups. There's no bad coaster. Even calibrating for the fact "this is a family ride" Firechaser and Dragonflier are fun little rides. I know Mystery Mine is divisive but I still quite enjoy it and though not worth that long, I forgot how much ass TT kicks, Thunderhead ran great, Wild Eagle remains a low key good wing coaster. Another good visit to this park, it probably is cemented in my top 5 by this point. 

Glad you had a good time, sounds like it was a solid day.

 

We went early in March during Spring Break, on a Tuesday the first week the park was open and man it was crowded. We still had a nice time but it was by far the worst day I've ever had at Dollywood. Lines were an hour plus for almost everything all day, and the wait times were all over the map as far as what was posted and what the wait was. I got in line for Lightning Rod when it was posted at 50 minutes, then in line it went from 50 to 90 to 220 and back down to 80 and I think I ended up waiting around 100.  I also noticed that the TimeSaver lines were insanely busy all day long, even on rides like Big Bear and Lightning Rod where the premium Time Saver is only a single use, those rides still had timesaver lines out the building. At the platform for Lightning Rod they were loading an entire train from TimeSaver and like 2-4 seats from standby. I don't know if the new resort means double the people have TimeSaver included with their stay now or what but we really felt it slowing down the ques considerably more so than in years past. We didn't get a TimeSaver because we've been there a dozen times and have never ever needed it but lesson learned this trip.

Big Bear was a new credit for me this trip as well and I thought that thing was great, just an awesome family coaster. We only got 1 ride but it was a night ride after the park closed so that was a nice way to end the trip. 

We still had a really nice day, just not as nice as previous trips. I still absolutely love this park and will visit every chance I get, but it shockingly busy for very early in the season.

 

 

 

[jedimaster1227]

Dollywood has begun to tease their new addition for 2026, expected to open in the Wildwood Grove section of the park!

[AmyUD06]

4 hours ago, jedimaster1227 said:

Dollywood has begun to tease their new addition for 2026, expected to open in the Wildwood Grove section of the park!

If it's not too early to speculate, I'm predicting one of two things:  B&M Wing or the new-generation Vekoma flying coaster (like F.L.Y. at Phantasialand).  Either design will be low-to-the-ground and follow the terrain.

Edit:  I somehow completely forgot about the existence of Wild Eagle.

[jedimaster1227]

^I wouldn’t bet on a B&M Wingrider considering they already have Wild Eagle. My money is on a flying theater like Soarin’ or SkyFly: Soar America.

[AmyUD06]

1 hour ago, jedimaster1227 said:

^I wouldn’t bet on a B&M Wingrider considering they already have Wild Eagle. My money is on a flying theater like Soarin’ or SkyFly: Soar America.

LOL I completely forgot about Wild Eagle.  I do like your idea of a flying theater though; it fits with the theme of the teaser.

[prozach626]

That trailer doesn't seem very intimidating for a large scale intense roller coaster.

[tndank]

2 hours ago, prozach626 said:

That trailer doesn't seem very intimidating for a large scale intense roller coaster.

Neither does the relatively small 5 story building that will house this new ride.

[TurnOfTheCentury]

Hit Dollywood yesterday.  I had been there once before in summer 2020 (Covid time).

I forget how pretty the park is: they have done a great job preserving so many trees and greenery (except for by Big Bear Mountain - see below!).  It's just lovely to walk through those hills and among those trees and not really be able to see what's around the bend.

Super friendly customer service, but slow ops, especially on Mystery Mine (the one ride that could use quick ops!).  They could take a lesson or two from Holiday World.

Very solid, diverse coaster line-up.  Couple observations:

Thunderhead.  Wow!  I don't remember being as impressed by first trip, but I friggin' LOVED this ride.  It was mostly a walk-on and so I got about 7-8 rides on it.  Not a bad seat to be found, although I preferred the front end (and I am normally a back of the train rider.). Fantastic layout.  It sustains speed the whole time, with great curves and transition.  Tons of air, including a glorious sustained floater moment on a low profile speed bump near the end (after the station fly-by and left turn).  And it was running GREAT.  Super smooth, but still forceable.   Don't know what Dollywood or the designer has done, but this thing runs gloriously.  My favorite ride at the park.

Mystery Mine.  Horrific operations.  3 people to check 8 shoulder harnesses and they still stacked 5 trains repeatedly -- because they were having conversations, not running the ride.  Love the theme.  Love the song.  Really enjoyed the ride, even though Gerst stuff feels "junky" to me -- I can't believe they spent $17.5M on it in 2006(?), even if the theming?  But very effective drop and ending.  Fun.  Keep your head back.

Lightning Rod.  Had it's unusual downtime, but got about 6 rides in when it opened.  It's a great ride, and I can't remember the changes in the track  - felt the same to me.  It's a great layout, I always love dropping into that valley and seeing the track in there, and the quad down and ending is just epic, out of control greatness.  There IS a big of kink after the second drop, but not terrible.  But, as good and relentless as it is, I found myself enjoying Thunderhead more.  That surprises me.

The Arrow Looper whose name I forget.   Oh wait, Ten. Tornado!  I thought it was excellent.  Love the drop into the tunnel and that MASSIVE loop.  A bit short, but very smooth, and had that Arrow charm from my youth.  Big smiles for that one.

Big Bear Mountain.  Really fun, but I think my expectations were too high.  Fun, great addition to make the line-up diverse, but didn't blow me away, although the second half was especially fun.  Although the interior is well themed, I am really surprised that a park with such great beauty around everything, let this entire coaster sit on an open plot of grass and dirt -- it just looked open and barren.  The ride would look amazing if they surrounded it with trees, which would really increase the sense of speed and surprise.  Puzzling.

BTW, the building for next year's attraction looks HUGE.

[prozach626]

Big Bear Mountain is a family coaster. It's designed for kids 3 foot 3 to enjoy. That's why it didn't blow you away.

The land was cleared to make construction possible. It will eventually grow in.

[jedimaster1227]

Dollywood has announced their new attraction, "NightFlight Expedition," an indoor family hybrid coaster and whitewater river raft ride. This new experience will open in 2026 in the Wildwood Grove section of the park.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250917317294/en/Dollywoods-Newest-Attraction-Revealed-NightFlight-Expedition-Soars-Into-Wildwood-Grove-in-2026

Eager Dollywood guests no longer have to wonder what’s taking shape inside the sprawling new building in Wildwood Grove, as officials today announced NightFlight Expedition, a more than $50 million attraction coming to the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, park in 2026. It is the largest attraction investment in the history of Dollywood Parks & Resorts.

“I’m just so proud that Dollywood has grown so much in its first 40 years that we’re able to add a ride like NightFlight Expedition. I have no doubt it’s going to be a huge part of Dollywood’s next 40 years," said Dolly Parton prior to the event.

NightFlight Expedition, the first attraction experience of its kind in the world, combines four unique features into one groundbreaking thrill ride sure to delight guests of all ages. Created and built by Dollywood, Herschend Creative Studios and esteemed manufacturer Mack Rides, the custom-designed amphibious ride vehicle interacts with vivid multimedia projections, dynamic onboard and offboard audio, as well as special lighting effects, to immerse guests in an extraordinary Smoky Mountain adventure. Mack Rides recently won the 2025 Amusement Today Golden Ticket for Best New Innovation thanks to the ride system utilized in NightFlight Expedition.

Dollywood Parks & Resorts President Eugene Naughton and Herschend President and CEO Andrew Wexler made the announcement on Wednesday morning at DP’s Celebrity Theater. Park namesake Dolly Parton—who had a last-minute conflict and was unable to attend the announcement—sent her best wishes and shared her excitement via video.

As the world’s first indoor family hybrid coaster and whitewater river raft ride, NightFlight Expedition takes Dollywood guests on an unforgettable journey through the Smoky Mountains to search for bioluminescence in the nation’s most-visited national park. During the 5 1/2-minute experience, guests soar on a nighttime flight over the scenic Smokies, enjoy a thrilling whitewater rafting excursion through more than 500,000 gallons of surging water, traverse a mountain ridge on a roller coaster, and navigate a mysterious shimmering lake by boat.

“I’m just so proud that Dollywood has grown so much in its first 40 years that we’re able to add a ride like NightFlight Expedition,” Dolly said about the attraction. “I have no doubt it’s going to be a huge part of Dollywood’s next 40 years. We’re always trying to take the natural beauty of the Smokies and make it part of everything we’re doing in the park, and they’ve definitely been able to do it with this ride.

“A lot of people ask me about my favorite season in the Smokies, but no one ever asks me what my favorite time of day is. Our new ride sends you out into the mountains at night, which is the time that I think they really come to life! Obviously, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known for the synchronous lightning bugs, but I also love to just sit and listen to the owls calling or the frogs croaking, and I love to see the stars sparkling like rhinestones up in the big old sky. It’s pure mountain magic.”

Naughton expects the ride’s distinctive nature to generate significant excitement, positioning it as a must-see attraction for families and theme park enthusiasts alike.

“NightFlight Expedition is truly exceptional, combining cutting-edge technology and immersive storytelling that stays true to the heart of Dollywood and the Smoky Mountains to deliver an experience unlike anything else,” he explained. “As the largest addition in our history, it not only represents a major milestone for our company, but it also sets a new standard for guest offerings.

“The attraction is designed to engage families with its vivid storytelling and to delight thrill-seekers with its innovative elements. This expansion underscores Dollywood’s ongoing growth and evolution, and we’re proud to be considered among the best theme park experiences in the world. NightFlight Expedition allows us to celebrate our rich Smoky Mountain heritage, while creating a ride that helps us deliver on providing a world-class experience.”

NightFlight Expedition—which features a 39” height requirement—is located inside a 44,000 sq. ft., temperature-controlled facility, allowing it to operate independently of the Smoky Mountain weather. At the heart of the ride’s adventure is the search for Secret Lake, the water source thought to provide Wildwood Grove’s Wildwood Tree with its colorful glowing canopy.

Guests set out on their expedition to find Secret Lake with the help of twin scientists, Cora and Jasper Oakley, who just happen to be the niece and nephew of Wildwood Grove’s resident wilderness explorer, Ned Oakley. The twins, who work out of a hangar at Hidden Hollow Aviation, have invented the Bioluminator, a device designed to detect and amplify bioluminescence, the biochemical emission of light by living organisms. Cora and Jasper mount the device onto their family’s one-of-a-kind amphibious aircraft to illuminate the Wildwood Tree’s glowing roots and follow them to Secret Lake.

NightFlight Expedition is anticipated to open in Spring 2026, so adventurers should begin preparing early to join Cora and Jasper on their journey. In recognition of their loyalty, current 2025 Dollywood season passholders can purchase a 2026 season pass now, the earliest time ever in the history of the park. Current passholders who renew now will be given the opportunity to experience NightFlight Expedition before it opens to the public.

Non-passholders interested in a 2026 season pass can pre-register now through Oct. 5 at Dollywood.com/NewPass. Pre-sales for those registered begin Oct. 13. Season passes go on sale to the public on Nov. 1.

Dollywood’s 40th anniversary season continues with the Harvest Festival presented by Humana (now- Oct. 27) which celebrates the beauty of fall with thousands of carved pumpkins, spirited performances from talented singers and the fun of Great Pumpkin LumiNights. Great Pumpkin LumiNights, which has been named the best theme park harvest event in the world, features elaborate displays that are fun for every member of the family. Creative culinary items, accomplished artisans and fall fun in the Smokies make this a picture-perfect time to enjoy Dollywood.

Several headline artists visit the park during the festival including Triumphant Quartet (Sept. 15-19), Keith Anderson (Sept. 20-21), The Grascals (Sept. 22-24), Lee Roy Parnell (Sept. 28), Sidewalk Prophets (Sept. 29- Oct. 3), Rhonda Vincent & The Rage (Oct. 5-7; Oct. 13-14), Emily Ann Roberts (Oct. 8-12) and Dailey & Vincent (Oct. 15-19).

The industry’s Best Theme Park Christmas event—Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana (Nov. 1- Jan. 4, 2026)—concludes the park’s 2025 season with six million lights, festive holiday shows and the warm Christmas atmosphere guests have come to expect during this joyous time of year.

For more information about Dollywood events, please visit Dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app. For more information about NightFlight Expedition, please visit Dollywood.com/NightFlightExpedition.