Dollywood Discussion Thread

[Moose]

^Merlin chronically overhyped their attractions.

 

After looking at the layout picture, I notice that the backwards track is different from the forwards. I thought the opposite from the video.

[JonnyRCT3]

Best Family coaster I've ever seen. Two launches (one backwards). Lengthy, terrain hugging, and some intense elements for a family coaster.

 

From the video alone: this seems to be the Maverick of Family Coasters. Every park needs something like this. Well Done Dollywood!

[ahhculdee]

The layout has blown me away, and now I'm officially excited for this roller coaster. Dollywood once again has failed to disappoint.

[arby]

Love it! This is a great addition to Dollywood.

[Wes]

Maybe if Alton Towers had advertised Thirteen like this as a decent family coaster instead of the way they had, it would have been better received by a lot more enthusiasts.

 

Maybe Dolly has a viral campaign for Firechaser that says it kills 100 people a day.

[Hotrod93]

We are at Dollywood this week. They said spraying for the bees or wasps is prohibited because they are a delicate part of the areas eco system! They told us "there's 200 of them up there and they get angry if we run the ride".....This is baffling to me but whatever. Thunderhead was running but Wild Eagle and the Ferris wheel were down all day and they said we could try early in the morning. Sad they have to shut down their flagship coaster for insects! I hardly think they are endangered.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

^Glad to see we've got an entomologist on the board.

[tntornadox]

We are at Dollywood this week. They said spraying for the bees or wasps is prohibited because they are a delicate part of the areas eco system! They told us "there's 200 of them up there and they get angry if we run the ride".....This is baffling to me but whatever. Thunderhead was running but Wild Eagle and the Ferris wheel were down all day and they said we could try early in the morning. Sad they have to shut down their flagship coaster for insects! I hardly think they are endangered.

 

The real issue is what happens when a rider who is severely allergic to stings gets stung? People walk past safety signs every day telling them not to ride for various reasons, so just warning them would never work, I assure you.

[Jew]

We are at Dollywood this week. They said spraying for the bees or wasps is prohibited because they are a delicate part of the areas eco system! They told us "there's 200 of them up there and they get angry if we run the ride".....This is baffling to me but whatever. Thunderhead was running but Wild Eagle and the Ferris wheel were down all day and they said we could try early in the morning. Sad they have to shut down their flagship coaster for insects! I hardly think they are endangered.

 

I'm not a treehugger by any means, but I applaud Dollywood for wanting to make sure they don't do any more damage to the natural ecosystem out there than they have to.

[Ccron10]

We are at Dollywood this week. They said spraying for the bees or wasps is prohibited because they are a delicate part of the areas eco system! They told us "there's 200 of them up there and they get angry if we run the ride".....This is baffling to me but whatever. Thunderhead was running but Wild Eagle and the Ferris wheel were down all day and they said we could try early in the morning. Sad they have to shut down their flagship coaster for insects! I hardly think they are endangered.

 

The real issue is what happens when a rider who is severely allergic to stings gets stung? People walk past safety signs every day telling them not to ride for various reasons, so just warning them would never work, I assure you.

When I went to BGW a week ago, the ops. at Apollo and Griffon were warning each train over the mic about wasp nests at the top of the lifts and that those who are allergic shouldn't ride. They also made the point that if you don't bother them, they won't bother you. Out of all my years of riding coasters, I have never heard of a giant bees nest ending up on a lift hill, but given the hot climate and being only open on weekends would probably give those little buggers enough time to build one. If they were easily angered, I can see why Dollywood would choose to keep those attractions closed as I would absolutely would not want to get hit by one of those things.

[2012jarrett]

Honestly, all this talk about bees/wasps/hornets/yellow jackets has put this image in my mind. Imagine a HUGE hornets' nest (like, the big gray papery ones the size of a basketball) getting built on an invert's layout and the train being run and smashing it to pieces (abandoned, of course) and just making a huge mess. I don't know why, but I feel like it would be HILARIOUS.

 

Okay, back to being serious. I hate stinging insects (I actually spent most of my childhood terrified of certain restaurants and stores and such that decorated with hornets' nests because I couldn't look at one without going into panic mode and freaking out and while I do better with the nests and such, I still hate bees) but I do commend Dollywood for not just turning a can of Raid on the situation without evaluating it. I'm no ecologist by any means but I'm glad they looked into what harm it might cause to the environment. I know that Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known for the wildlife and when I heard of the bees, I remembered that they make honey that the area's famous black bears supposedly eat (not sure how true that is but I thought bears really ate honey) so that could be an important part of the ecosystem that attracts all the tourists to the area. Props to Dollywood for caring about nature!

[bkwjjm]

We spent the day there Friday and got our rides on Wild Eagle early in the morning, as we anticipated the closure. The park looks great, the construction on Firechaser Express is moving along nicely with lots of footers everywhere. I tried the Cinnamon Bread for the first time (based on the raves I've read here) and was blow away. It was AWESOME! I have to say that while this park is finally receiving some of the recognition it deserves, I think it remains way underrated. The beauty of the park alone nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains is just so worth the effort it takes to get there.

 

On a side note, we also experienced the new Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster out on Wears Valley Road and it was spectacular! Do yourself a favor and ride it next time you are in Pigeon Forge.

[cfc]

The real issue is what happens when a rider who is severely allergic to stings gets stung? People walk past safety signs every day telling them not to ride for various reasons, so just warning them would never work, I assure you.

When I went to BGW a week ago, the ops. at Apollo and Griffon were warning each train over the mic about wasp nests at the top of the lifts and that those who are allergic shouldn't ride. They also made the point that if you don't bother them, they won't bother you. Out of all my years of riding coasters, I have never heard of a giant bees nest ending up on a lift hill, but given the hot climate and being only open on weekends would probably give those little buggers enough time to build one. If they were easily angered, I can see why Dollywood would choose to keep those attractions closed as I would absolutely would not want to get hit by one of those things.

 

You always see bees and hornets buzzing around the top of the lift on Skeikra, but I don't recall them being much of a problem on Apollo's Chariot or Griffon. I wonder why they're so attracted to lift hills.

Edited October 16, 2013 by cfc

[coasterfreak101]

^I have seen them flying around at the top of Griffon over the summer, but never Apollo. I also remember seeing a hive up there, but it was one of the first weekends they were open in March so it was probably abandoned over the winter.

[Vonni]

I had to deal with wasps at the top of Gwazi when I was there too

[Wolfman_KL]

^Glad to see we've got an entomologist on the board.

 

Love it!

[tntornadox]

I thought this was cool:

 

(WBIR, Knoxville) - Dollywood kicked off its FireChaser Express Heroes Tour at the Knoxville Fire Department's downtown headquarters Wednesday morning.

 

The tour aims to honor area firefighters for their bravery.

 

It includes a 1941 vintage fire truck that will be making its way across East Tennessee with a ceremonial fire hose.

 

Firefighters are invited to sign the hose which will then be put on display at the family roller coaster set to open next Spring.

 

The tour kicked off in Knoxville this morning where dozens of firefighters took their turn signing the hose.

 

"I hope they see more than just an excited ride. I hope they see the dedication and the commitment that is put into the fire service throughout the state of Tennessee," said Assistant Chief Chris Dyer.

 

Once the vintage truck finishes its tour, it will also become a part of the ride as well.

 

"It does more than create a ride experience. It's about creating an overall environment and to have a story to tell. And certainly the firefighters of east Tennessee and all firefighters have a story to tell," said Pete Owens, Director of Public Relations at Dollywood.

 

FireChaser Express is based around volunteer fire departments from the 1940s who helped protect the Great Smokey Mountains.

 

Link: www.wbir.com/story/news/local/2013/10/23/dollywood-tours-vintage-fire-truck-around-east-tn/3170743/

[Vonni]

Is the building that was once the Inventors Mansion still at the park, or has it been removed now? Also, the Flooded Mine Attraction, where was it located? Is it still in use as another attraction?

[coasterfreaky]

Is the building that was once the Inventors Mansion still at the park, or has it been removed now? Also, the Flooded Mine Attraction, where was it located? Is it still in use as another attraction?

 

The Inventors Mansion building is still there, perched on its hillside. I think its now the ACE Roller coaster museum....it's 2nd season. It's not clear how long it will be there. At one point it was Dolly's museum "rags to riches", before moving to its current location in the Adventures in Imagination area.

 

The Flooded Mine was where Daredevil Falls is today...in Craftsman's Valley.

Edited October 31, 2013 by coasterfreaky

[Vonni]

Thank you for the info! Both of those were attractions before I ever got to go and I was just curious about some of the history.

[Mrlittle]

From Screamscape

Yes, Dolly Parton will appear to park guests at Dollywood as a hologram as the Ghost of Christmas Past during the “Dollywood’s A Christmas Carol” show which opens this Saturday, November 9th

 

A hologram Dolly, the world just got better

[Guy T. Koepp]

From Screamscape

Yes, Dolly Parton will appear to park guests at Dollywood as a hologram as the Ghost of Christmas Past during the “Dollywood’s A Christmas Carol” show which opens this Saturday, November 9th

 

A hologram Dolly, the world just got better

 

Dolly in any form makes tha world a better place!

[SuperShawn]

Dolly in any form makes tha world a better place!

 

Truer words have never been spoken!

[dstephe9]

I plan on going for the christmas stuff next weekend if it doesn't rain!! I hope to get there this year before it freezes bc I love riding the coasters in the dark.. Thats my favorite part of the christmas at Dollywood.. The big problem though, in late December the coasters always close right after dark bc of the temp. Hopefully next weekend they will be open until closing

[USCoaster]

How is the Christmas event at Dollywood? I'm considering making the trip down there and going on December 4th or 5th. I'll be visiting family near Hagerstown, MD and unless the weather is crappy, I'm up for the drive if I think I can get Wild Eagle and the rest of the coasters in.