Dollywood Discussion Thread

[Dollywoodlover20]

Well . . . Lightning Rod is delayed. Everybody just PERK UP and HAVE FUN watching this parody between Lightning Rod and Storm Chaser. Maybe this'll help bring a smile back to your faces. If not . . . I TRIED! LOL! I HOPE YOU ENJOY!

 

 

I literally laughed out loud and enjoyed that! The "I wonder when my trains will come" part got me. But yea, Dolly is working on her new album along with a new world tour so they also have to work around her schedule when getting her to open up these rides and kick off the seasons. For she's going to be there next week (the 24th) the coaster may be running by then, only time will tell.

They have The Pines Theater in Jukebox Junction but it's on the side closer to Adventures in Imagination. They could easily block the area off. Here's the thing though, when the park opens people will be standing around watching Lightning Rod like crazy taking pictures and videos of testing. Unless the park prohibits it somehow. So that's a plus, we'll get to see a video of the quad down and inverting half loop, and it's enormous trust me.

[Superbatboy]

Oh my, that train is tearing through the track! I guess by now we shouldn't expect anything less from RMC

[mordecai-75]

Well . . . Lightning Rod is delayed. Everybody just PERK UP and HAVE FUN watching this parody between Lightning Rod and Storm Chaser. Maybe this'll help bring a smile back to your faces. If not . . . I TRIED! LOL! I HOPE YOU ENJOY!

 

 

I ENJOYED!

[Mrenata]

If Dollywood had the amazing customer services that some people claim it does, they would give each paying customer who visits the park before Lightning Rod opens a free ticket to return to the park later this year. At this point that's the least they can do.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

^ I'll do you one better. They give every single person who wasn't completely happy with their visit a free ticket to visit later. They've had that policy for decades.

[Mrenata]

^ I'll do you one better. They give every single person who wasn't completely happy with their visit a free ticket to visit later. They've had that policy for decades.

 

Cool, however this policy is published under "groups" (https://www.dollywood.com/Groups/Satisfaction) so it's unclear whether it's valid for regular single guests or not. I hope it does cause I'll definitely ask for one.

[TB305]

Dollywood needs to start reimbursing my poor planning decisions!

[Farley Flavors]

First, the idea of opening a bank account just because Dollywood and it's sister park SDC are not prepared to deal with international customers is just insane. Specially because those were the only 2 parks in the US where I had this issue. Even the smaller parks (and I mean, the really small ones like Quassy or Andretti Thrill Park) are able to process a simple international transaction (Paypal?).

For what it's worth, I purchased a Silver Dollar City season pass online using a UK credit card a couple of months ago without any problems. (I'm only going for one day, but the offer included a bring-a-friend ticket which made it cheaper than two daily admission tickets.)

 

Remarkably, I got the pass in the mail around five weeks later.

 

I say "remarkably" because the dozy buggers neglected to put the country on the address label

[jarmor]

Well . . . Lightning Rod is delayed. Everybody just PERK UP and HAVE FUN watching this parody between Lightning Rod and Storm Chaser. Maybe this'll help bring a smile back to your faces. If not . . . I TRIED! LOL! I HOPE YOU ENJOY!

 

 

I ENJOYED!

I guess I'm different how can I get my minute plus of life back?

 

If Dollywood had the amazing customer services that some people claim it does, they would give each paying customer who visits the park before Lightning Rod opens a free ticket to return to the park later this year. At this point that's the least they can do.

 

Are you trolling now? You can't be serious. It's all dollywood's fault. You don't see yourself at fault for haphazardly planning a trip so far out without a 100% guarantee the coaster would be even finish construction. If you are the enthusiasts you claim to be then you would know that anything can happen before a ride opens.

 

The issue is we live in a time of self entitlement. Me me me . . . The world revolves around me me me.it's as if dolly herself promised some of you personally she will hammer and nail the coaster herself just to make sure it will be ready just for you. We all need to face reality and realize we will not be launching from 0-45 on opening day. Maybe I have cool friends. All who were planning to go are still going regardless being the park is great without having lightning run ready.

[Ape]

There is a lot of boo hooing going on here both ways about this. I get why people would be upset about it not opening but be real here you knew it was a possibility of it not opening. It would be nice of Dollywood to offer tickets for a return trip but it is a bit ridiculous to expect it. I am pretty sure I went to Cedar Point for four days in June the year dragster opened and it was down all four days, we didn't receive or expect free tickets back. If you're not happy don't go at all, I am sure Dollywood would be fine without one less pessimist dragging their feet through the park. If the thing opens a week or two late it really is not that big of a deal when it will be up and running for years to come.

 

For me I will keep watching this testing video over and over and wait patiently for a new one.

[deguy123]

While it sucks for the people who planned ahead to go to Dollywood, you STILL will have an amazing time there! If you are a true coaster/amusement park enthusiast then you'd know to wait if you live far away. How often does a prototype ride open on time? I plan on waiting till July-ish to make a trip to Dollywood and even I know there is a possibility it might be closed then.

[Garet]

Try not to let this end too many of your lives. These things happen and in the grand scheme of things your life could be much, much worse than missing a roller coaster that will be at the park for 20+ more years. This is affecting Dollywood much more than you personally and think about those poor people in PR and GR dealing with this.

 

We've all been there. We've missed credits, we've been at a park before a coaster opened or seen it testing or seen it right after it closed to the public. It's okay to be bummed out, but don't let it ruin you. You'll get on the ride at some point and it will be great.

 

This one is definitely worse, I spent 6 years doing visiting Everland and always took pictures and looked around Eagle's Fortress for the Korean TR's for TPR since it was what people always asked about, knowing I was just a little too late to ride it, before they finally tore it down.

 

For you guys, that coaster you will see but can't ride will have a pretty huge time-frame of many years for you to get another chance of re-visiting before it closes down.

Edited March 16, 2016 by Garet

[Mrenata]

Yeah, I'm not gonna argue anymore..Trying to have a conversation with coaster fanboys is like trying to discuss politics with a Trump supporter. It's just not worth it.

[Ape]

So you want everyone to jump on the hate train with you because you had a bad experience?

[rosscoe]

I hadn't planned a trip to Dollywood this weekend, but since Im in Australia, I should ask the park to pay for my airfares, tickets, hotels and I might as well add spending money, cause six weeks ago the thought crossed my mind that maybe I should be there opening weekend. See how farking stupid that sounds when you say it out loud!

 

The world is not ending cause this coaster is not opening, went on a TPR to Texas to ride Texas Giant, some woman got thrown out three weeks before the trip, coaster closed end of story, trip was amazing.

 

 

For those who's life isn't ending this weekend who will be at Dollywood, have a great time.

[pianojohn]

Yeah, I'm not gonna argue anymore..Trying to have a conversation with coaster fanboys is like trying to discuss politics with a Trump supporter. It's just not worth it.

[PCW_Nut]

I still remember, like Ross mentioned, finding out before the Texas/Mid-America trip that the RMC's were going to be down cause of the woman falling out of the New Texas Giant how much it sucked but knew that my life would not end cause a couple rides were down. It happens.

 

A park doesn't owe you an explanation yet it still gave one. I get people booked hotels/airfare/etc, but at the end of the day you should NEVER expect things to be 100% opening weekend for new OR existing rides. "Buyer beware" is an expression that comes to mind.

 

Dollywood and the area is amazing and anyone still going will have an amazing time!

[jarmor]

Yeah, I'm not gonna argue anymore..Trying to have a conversation with coaster fanboys is like trying to discuss politics with a Trump supporter. It's just not worth it.

[Invertalon]

Relative to this being a "new technology", why does this ride being wood make any difference in regards to the launching technology? I hardly see how this is new when a few other rides have launches up hills and LSM/LIM's at this point are quite an established technology. Is there something unique about this launch system compared to the dozens of others in existence?

 

It's cool that it's on a wooden coaster and all, but in theory it's really no different than any other ride. Looks like they just ran short on time and need a few more days/weeks to finely tune the system (obviously!).

 

Bummer it’s opening late though… We had planned to be at the park next week (wed-sat) but now that is in limbo… At worst we detour elsewhere and come back later on in the season once it’s up and running. This isn’t a B&M, so I expected the chance of opening on time slim to be honest, lol.

[linearinduction]

Relative to this being a "new technology", why does this ride being wood make any difference in regards to the launching technology? I hardly see how this is new when a few other rides have launches up hills and LSM/LIM's at this point are quite an established technology. Is there something unique about this launch system compared to the dozens of others in existence?

 

It's cool that it's on a wooden coaster and all, but in theory it's really no different than any other ride. Looks like they just ran short on time and need a few more days/weeks to finely tune the system (obviously!).

 

Bummer it’s opening late though… We had planned to be at the park next week (wed-sat) but now that is in limbo… At worst we detour elsewhere and come back later on in the season once it’s up and running. This isn’t a B&M, so I expected the chance of opening on time slim to be honest, lol.

They probably didn't go with a High Quality Dell desktop for the Launch Computer. lol

[coasterbill]

Since customer service has come up...

 

Of all the parks I've been to I've seen the best customer service at Dollywood... even edging out Universal, Disney, SeaWorld and Knoebels (which are all ridiculously great). On our first visit a few years ago we were on the last train of the night on Wild Eagle in December at park close and we had the train to ourselves because apparently boring people don't like riding coasters when it's 38 degrees. We were over by Tennessee Tornado when a ride op showed up who thought we left a souvenir cup in the bin and ran down the stairs, down the ramp and around the photo building to see if it was ours. It wasn't but he gave it to us and said "Okay, well free cup then. Thanks for coming to Dollywood".

 

That guy was amazing. In our other visits to the park we saw things like the Blazing Fury crew opening a bunch of employee gates to make it easier for a 100 year old woman to get into the train. Then they declared her the "Fire Captain" for the train and made a big deal about it so the whole station was cheering and then they opened up a bunch more restricted gates so she wouldn't have to walk up the ramp. We've also experienced over-the-top friendly employees at Tennessee Tornado and Thunderhead and Season Pass Processing.

 

The people that work at this park are world class.

[Comeagain?]

Relative to this being a "new technology", why does this ride being wood make any difference in regards to the launching technology? I hardly see how this is new when a few other rides have launches up hills and LSM/LIM's at this point are quite an established technology. Is there something unique about this launch system compared to the dozens of others in existence?

 

It's cool that it's on a wooden coaster and all, but in theory it's really no different than any other ride. Looks like they just ran short on time and need a few more days/weeks to finely tune the system (obviously!).

 

Bummer it’s opening late though… We had planned to be at the park next week (wed-sat) but now that is in limbo… At worst we detour elsewhere and come back later on in the season once it’s up and running. This isn’t a B&M, so I expected the chance of opening on time slim to be honest, lol.

 

I have a feeling it's less that it's new technology and moe that the three companies involved (RMC, Velocity Magnetics, and IOE) don't all have tons of experience working together on launching coasters.

[rockytopgal]

While I understand disappointment over Lightning Rod not opening, especially for those with travel plans, there was / is no guarantee even if testing was finished that it would've stayed open this weekend with the rain and possible snow showers (can't believe I just typed that word in March) on Saturday and Sunday. I'll admit though, I've no idea what temperature woodies need to be at to run, especially with a launch, nor how much "bad weather testing" they need to be safely up & running.

 

Here's what I personally am going to enjoy on Season Pass holder day!

 

1) Thunderhead, Thunderhead, Thunderhead!! Hoping for lots of disappointed pass holders who will pass on Friday due to LR not being opened, so I can re-ride over and over and over and ... you get the picture.

 

2) Festival of Nations, my favorite of the Dollywood festivals each year! If you haven't seen "Mother Africa" during the Festival of Nations, you are missing an amazing show!

 

3) Wild Eagle, TN Tornado, and Mystery Mine

 

4) Lumberjack Pizza (I'm gluten free, and this is some of my favorite gf pizza anywhere!)

 

5) Sunny spring-like weather before the rainy weekend

 

5) Festival of Nations, my favorite of the Dollywood festivals each year! If you haven't seen "Mother Africa" during the Festival of Nations, you are missing an amazing show!

[PixelRush]

Yeah, I'm not gonna argue anymore..Trying to have a conversation with coaster fanboys is like trying to discuss politics with a Trump supporter. It's just not worth it.

Wow, this is true. Even more true when you try to have a conversation with a "coaster know-it-all" (aka that one annoying person)... They state the most random thing, you correct them, they say their little sibling told them, you show them proof, then they give a great big F*** YOU. #relatable

 

I've enjoyed coverage on grown men/women crying over a late ride!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APxndget9l4

[kickflipbacktail]

So it's a programming issue? That doesn't seem too major. Hopefully they get it sorted out sooner rather than later.