Dollywood Discussion Thread

[coasterbill]

A bird must have flown in the mine again...

[jarmor]

A Canary. . . lol

[Nrthwnd]

^ My thought exactly!

[dstephe9]

According to Screamscape the park will be closed Tuesday-Thursday beginning August 11

 

https://www.screamscape.com/html/dollywood.htm

I had heard this rumor as well way before the schedule adjusted, I had actually heard it may happen in July but I guess they postponed to August. Due to the very low attendance, especially during the week

 

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[TEDodd]

Surprised no one posted this yet.

https://www.dollywood.com/Tickets/Season-Passes/Passholder-Reservations

 

 

No more reservations for Dollywood pass holders. Still needed for Splash though.

[dstephe9]

The email just came out this morning, at least I just got mine today. My theory is this it to help with backlash when people start noticing the new August schedule

 

To Our Season Passholder Family,

 

Even in these unique times in which we find ourselves, families are visiting Dollywood and having great time.

 

After much careful preparation, we opened Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country on June 15. Since that time, we have welcomed tens of thousands of loyal Season Passholders and general admission guests. Based on our learnings from operating in the current environment, we have made some adjustments we believe will help make things a little easier as you plan your trip. Additionally, this is an ever-evolving situation, and we ask for your patience as we adapt to make your experience memorable while also ensuring we remain socially-distanced.

 

We hope the following changes help provide a more seamless experience for your visit:

 

Reservations are no longer needed for your Dollywood visit. We have learned we can maintain social distancing on most days without Season Passholders making a reservation for each visit, so this limitation has been removed. Additionally, there are no longer any restrictions on the number of times Season Passholders may visit each month. Passholders can visit anytime, subject to capacity limits on some days.

 

To maintain social distancing, Passholder reservations are still required for Dollywood’s Splash Country.

 

One-Day tickets and Multi-Day tickets are now valid for your use during a five-day window following your original selected date. You won’t have to worry if your plans must change at the last minute or if the weather doesn’t cooperate; just come at another time during that five-day window. Your paid ticket guarantees access to Dollywood and/or Dollywood’s Splash Country on the day you choose.

 

While masks are required in Sevier County, we have created a number of mask-free break zones throughout the park which offer a socially-distanced space where you may remove your mask. Additionally, masks do not need to be worn when eating or drinking in the park, or on water rides and high-thrill attractions. At Dollywood’s Splash Country, masks only must be worn when in restaurant queue lines or situations where social distance cannot be maintained.

 

Again, we thank you for your continued patience and ask that you give us the opportunity to navigate this challenging time. We appreciate you and look forward to welcoming you back!

 

 

 

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[TEDodd]

The email just came out this morning, at least I just got mine today.

 

Well it was after 9pm. I got the email around 3pm yesterday but didn't see it until later.

I was on FB looking for info on the chain/MM and saw it posted there.

[neilnky]

I just watched theme park worldwide’s Tripsdrill video. The park opened two Vekoma coasters. However, all the theming wasn’t complete. That may be a great idea. Open a coaster the first year then add the theming the next. That would be like two coasters especially when the theming is a building with effects around the coaster. That may help rake in money the first year to pay to complete the rest of the ride the second lol

[Nrthwnd]

^ Hansa Park in Germany, did it all the time. At least with two coasters I know of.

[neilnky]

^ Hansa Park in Germany, did it all the time. At least with two coasters I know of.

 

Makes sense. The European parks are so themed! If you do the coaster and run it a year or two to get the open experience: then, have following years with intense theming so it can be an entirely different experience. The home crowd will have the memories of both! People may travel to experience the coaster before the buildings are added. I think it may make good sense but I'm no theme park professional!

[megan]

I personally think that’s a bAd idea when the ride system is intended to be supplemented by a themed environment. It results in a sub par experience for the first while, and if “successful” gives little incentive to go back and finish adding the elements later. I can’t see herschend operating this way

 

Imagine mystery mine as just a gerstlauer euro fighter plopped there for a few years then “ hey now it’s a mine ride”

Don’t see it happening. Do it all the way or don’t do it.

[Hilltopper39]

I just watched theme park worldwide’s Tripsdrill video. The park opened two Vekoma coasters. However, all the theming wasn’t complete. That may be a great idea. Open a coaster the first year then add the theming the next. That would be like two coasters especially when the theming is a building with effects around the coaster. That may help rake in money the first year to pay to complete the rest of the ride the second lol

 

Weren't those two coaster at Tripsdill originally payed for another park then something happened so the project got moved to Tripsdill? I feel like I read that somewhere recently, which might explain the staggered themeing.

[Garet]

^They were originally going to Tayto Park, Ireland until the project had to be redesigned because of neighbor's complaints about the noise levels they would bring.

[xVicesAndVirtues]

I'm probably not going to do a "2020 Adventures Photo TR" as I have in the past, as it'd consist of very few PTRs due to the dramatic reduction in trips I'm taking this year for obvious reasons, so I'm just going to go ahead and post this here.

 

This past weekend, the boyfriend and I took a trip to:

 

Dollywood Yes. You are in the Dollywood discussion thread.

 

I'll just come right out and say that Dollywood is really doing an outstanding job in terms of service and managing things in terms of COVID and you should absolutely pay them a visit if you can, as they deserve your money. Two things that the park did that knocked it out of the park: when you enter any single ride or attraction, the attendant in the station gives every rider a squirt of hand sanitizer before they get on. Other parks should do this. They should even do this when there isn't a pandemic to protect us from the unwashed masses.

 

The second thing the park did really wowed us. On two different occasions, we had a park employee come up to us just to simply ask us how we're doing, ask some basic questions about where we're from/what we do/how long we're in town for, then thank us for being there and wish us and our families well. Such a simple gesture but such a nice touch.

 

Everything was open although most coasters ran one train, spaced a row apart. We did get time saver passes but the employees were definitely hustling to make the process go as quickly and smoothly as possible. The park made announcements about social distancing, had queue spacers, and since people can't follow simple directions, they'd actively make announcements such as, "We have cameras and if you take your mask off during the ride, we have to stop and clean your seat after, making everybody else wait longer". Good, call b*tches out.

 

At one point, we got poured on while riding Wild Eagle, and when a park attendant saw me trying to wring-out my soaked mask, immediately walked up and offered me a new one for free. Good ol' Dollywood hospitality.

Welcome to Dollywood!

 

The park was having their Flower and Food Festival during our visit. We were honestly just happy to make it up here. We had an entire trip planned to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg for the end of March with friends flying in from out of state, a mountain cabin Airbnb, and plans to do both the park and surrounding area, which we had to cancel due to COVID-19.

There was a 60% chance of rain that day. Clearly, Dollywood was prepared.

Mmm yes. It had been a minute since I'd been on an RMC and Lightning Rod is still the best one I've been on. I don't know if it was just the fact that it had been months since my last ride on a really intense coaster, but Lightning Rod seemed particularly insane.

My boyfriend had been to Dollywood once before but he didn't know about the cinnamon bread. Since carbs don't count during COVID, we killed a loaf immediately after buying it and it was heavenly. I don't make the rules, man.

Some of the hedge art making up the horticulture part of Flowers and Food Festival.

This little trash panda was waiting for someone to discard some cinnamon bread scraps.

Whenever possible, the staff was doing their best to encourage social distancing. However, when they couldn't be around...humans, man.

Wildwood Grove was actually new for me, as last year I went before it was finished. I was really surprised by the sheer size of the area. It's a LOT bigger than I expected and seems ripe for new expansion, if and when.

I'm sure this has been said before somewhere, but Wildwood Grove gives some great, never-before-seen views of Thunderhead. Which, by the way, is running excellent and I really appreciate Dollywood's commitment to maintenance on what is such a masterpiece of a GCI woodie.

Do you even vape, bro?

We had a second half-day at the park before we had to head back to Orlando, and after getting a ride on it then doing a loop of the park, we came back to find that Lightning Rod was being very Lightning Rod. Some things never change.

 

Thanks for reading, we plan to return to the park before the end of the year, if possible. Other parks take note- we will literally spend our time and money flying here for the experience and the commitment to guest safety before going to parks in our home market not doing the same.

 

And, for the record, Lightning Rod can still jizz on my face. Stay safe, everyone!

[DBru]

Thanks for the report! I’m taking 3 Dollywood virgins to the park next week and couldn’t be more excited! We’re just missing the Food & Flower Festival but I’m really hoping they leave those umbrellas. Lol

 

We have 2 days planned, just in case Lightning Rod is being a little Lightning Rod-y. Fingers crossed. But we’re also hitting Splash Country (my first time), which should be a super...interesting...experience during Covid.

[grsupercity]

Thanks for the report. Did you ride the new Vekoma?

[SharkTums]

Glad to hear you had a great time. I agree with you about the hand sanitizer on all rides. It just kind of makes sense!

[tanthonyam]

Funny I heard that some thrill rides there allowed you to take off the mask. Im curious what ride did a operator get on speaker and make that announcement?

[xVicesAndVirtues]

^We heard them do it twice on Tennessee Tornado and once on Thunderhead. Lightning Rod was kind of a tough one to keep your mask fully in place for obvious reasons, mine got pushed down a few times by the forces. However, they were holding every third train to clean, then they’d dispatch empty to dry it out. This was also the case at other coasters as well.

 

Thanks for the report. Did you ride the new Vekoma?

 

Yes, we did, and found it to be a great family ride! Had some good moments for the train to pick up speed and the turnaround was fun as well. This park’s commitment to being a well-rounded destination is great!

[TEDodd]

Lightning Rod was kind of a tough one to keep your mask fully in place for obvious reasons, mine got pushed down a few times by the forces.

 

While I won't be riding any rides with a mask on (or visiting any park requiring them) I certainly wouldn't worry about moving a mask around during the ride. If it moves, so be it. Further evidence of the futility of a mask on the ride.

 

The mask is already detracting from the ride, sure not going to mess it up even more fighting to keep a mask on just right.

[VaCoasters]

Lightning Rod was kind of a tough one to keep your mask fully in place for obvious reasons, mine got pushed down a few times by the forces.

 

While I won't be riding any rides with a mask on (or visiting any park requiring them) I certainly wouldn't worry about moving a mask around during the ride. If it moves, so be it. Further evidence of the futility of a mask on the ride.

 

The mask is already detracting from the ride, sure not going to mess it up even more fighting to keep a mask on just right.

 

You should probably reserve your judgement on riding with a mask until you’ve actually experienced it. Personally, I forget that I’m even wearing the mask. The experience feels no different that normal.

[dstephe9]

I'm just glad Dollywood changed their view on pass holders! They've been treating us like royalty recently! Especially during the week/evening where it's super dead! Two times this week, they told my wife and I to go park in "A" when we pull in (for those unaware, "A" is handicap and close to the front door). They have also been using A some for preferred parking and with a gold pass, that's where they are sent us

 

Wife and I went two times this week around 4ish. One night the park actually closed at 6:00is because a storm ran nearly everyone out of the park. Even though they closed early they still let my wife and I eat at aunt Granny's (because they still had tons of food, the closing wasn't expected) so we didn't exit the park until close to 8:00 that night. The rides never opened back up after the storm and most shops stayed closed.

 

We stopped another day for funnel cakes and they had very low crowd's! Hit a few rides in a matter of a few minutes and grabbed our funnel cake and went home. LR was closed on this day so no riding it

 

As comparison, when they had the reservation system, evening reservations couldn't be made so wife and I would make them for noon and come in late. They always let us in but put up a fight everytime

 

I believe more parks, aside from Disney who has said they aren't making much from their pass holders, have realized their pass holders are their lifeline right now while the parks are dead. Wife and I have spent at least $80 this week at Dollywood, and while that doesn't sound like much, that's a lot just for two evenings out.

 

PSA: Soon, Dollywood is going to weekend only ops. Well Friday - Monday due to low crowd's. I believe this starts Monday. I don't believe Dollywood has gone to such a slim schedule in the past 15 years or so. If you had trips planned, please check their schedule!

 

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[TEDodd]

Lightning Rod was kind of a tough one to keep your mask fully in place for obvious reasons, mine got pushed down a few times by the forces.

 

While I won't be riding any rides with a mask on (or visiting any park requiring them) I certainly wouldn't worry about moving a mask around during the ride. If it moves, so be it. Further evidence of the futility of a mask on the ride.

 

The mask is already detracting from the ride, sure not going to mess it up even more fighting to keep a mask on just right.

 

You should probably reserve your judgement on riding with a mask until you’ve actually experienced it. Personally, I forget that I’m even wearing the mask. The experience feels no different that normal.

When I ride a coaster my hands are free, not holding anything. Reaching to my face to adjust a mask is going to detract. Period. No question.

 

I don't even wear my dog tags on a coaster because I don't want to catch them when they fly out of my shirt. (Been there, done that)

 

I don't ride with my glasses either. Straps tight enough to hold them still are uncomfortable so I just don't wear them.

[DBru]

After visiting 9 parks over the past 2 months, I’ve had to adjust my mask on maybe 3 rides. It’s truly not a big deal. And anyone here who’s ridden a coaster with me will tell you that I don’t ride...conservatively. Lol

[WolfBobs]

Between all my rides at CP and KI this season I have yet to adjust my mask once regardless of if it was a paper disposable mask or a cloth one. As long as it fits properly and you're wearing it correctly it's not a big deal.