Dollywood Discussion Thread

[Shavethewhales]

On the subject of staff, I wonder if DW is experiencing some of the same "modern age" pains that SDC is going through. It used to be common for SDC to have a plethora of staff who had been at the park for 10, 20+ years. They still have quite a few, but more and more are being switched out for young, cheap, moved-in-from-out-of-state workers. I mean, it's not a "problem" but it is a change. The older, quirkier, friendly staff who used to be a bigger deal when the parks were small are now kind of getting lost in all the modern corporatism and expansion of HFEC. I hear a lot of stories...

 

I have a feeling you just ran into a few bad eggs on a bad day though. Or they simply came off differently to you than they meant. I've seen lots of that too where yankees from the north simply won't get what some of the SDC employees mean when they are kidding with them.

 

Overall though, HFEC still does a good job with their employees from a large theme park chain standpoint. They still outperform CF and SF parks bar-none in my book.

[Jhcbiinoc]

I have to chime in here: Dollywood (and SDC) to me has always exemplified what I feel Customer Service as well as overall experience at a theme park should be, and after just one weekend at Dollywood a few years ago, they quickly became my new favorite theme park that truly understands creating an overall experience accessible to all members of the family, from people who don't do rides at all to thrillseekers (Thunderhead is in my top 5 wood coasters, and Wild Eagle in my top 5 steel). The rides are all great, the way the staff truly seems to care and go above and beyond really sets it apart, the food is above average, and the attention to detail is wonderful.

 

If you had a bad experience-I would chalk it up to one bad day as I have never had one at the park. SFOG is my home park, only a couple of hours from me, whereas Dollywood is a little over 4 hours away-yet I have found over the past few years I enjoy Dollywood more. I get the Gold Pass every year and have been doing so since 2012, and plan to again next year.

 

Although I get both the SF Season Pass and the Dollywood pass each year, my visits to SFOG are hit and miss...but the Dollywood ones are always great. I think they knocked it out of the park as far as a family coaster with Firechaser, excited to see Dream More open, and hopeful that they have their own Outlaw Run on the way in the coming years!

[prozach626]

Guys, maybe I just made it sound worse than it was. We didn't experience any staff that were overly rude, but just an abundance of staff who were extremely cold. Like "I hate my job" cold. I expected something more like Holiday World, after reading all of the reviews.

 

We still had fun at the park, but I really wish they would serve alcohol. Maybe just a few local TN craft beers. I'm no alcoholic, but my wife and I really enjoy having a few beers at a park during the back half of the day. It makes my wife, who really doesn't care much for parks like I do, lighten up a little. I know DW is a family park, but I've rarely encountered people who are obnoxiously drunk at other parks that do serve alcohol. I'm good at spotting drunken problem situations in public, since I do it for a living, and I've yet to see that at a park.

[coasterchitchat]

I went two years ago and they have some of the best staff I have encountered with. Maybe it's just a cranky person.

[CPSFMMCW]

I love the staff uniforms at Dollywood. Overalls and flannel shirts.

 

I found them to be very nice both times I went. Must've just been an off day for them, I guess.

[2012jarrett]

How stingy are they on the rain, particularly for FireChaser? I've had a few close calls with rain at Dollywood but nothing shut the rides down on me. What do they do if it rains?

 

Though two years ago, we rolled in during a storm. After it passed we went to the park and I got my first Wild Eagle ride as the rain was evaporatin off the mountains, it was gorgeous.

[DW1986]

It isn't the fact they they hate their jobs. Dollywood is approaching the end of their Great American Summer festival and hosts are scheduled for 7 weeks from 9:00am-10:30pm which of course they are not going to be used to when the park usually closes at 7pm the weeks before the festival. The hosts at Dollywood all love their jobs from what I have known, they are just getting run down and exhausted from being out in the heat for 13 hours a day back to back!

[jarmor]

hey guys...is there anywhere to get tickets for cheaper than the online price??

 

Thanks in advance...

[CPSFMMCW]

How stingy are they on the rain, particularly for FireChaser? I've had a few close calls with rain at Dollywood but nothing shut the rides down on me. What do they do if it rains?

 

Though two years ago, we rolled in during a storm. After it passed we went to the park and I got my first Wild Eagle ride as the rain was evaporatin off the mountains, it was gorgeous.

It rained the last time it was there. They will close the rides if there is thunder in the area, and will reopen them once the rain has stopped. At least, that was the case for me. I have yet to ride their coasters in the rain, as they always close down in the rain!

[prozach626]

How stingy are they on the rain, particularly for FireChaser? I've had a few close calls with rain at Dollywood but nothing shut the rides down on me. What do they do if it rains?

 

It rained a couple times when we were there and nothing got shut down. There was a steady light rain when we rode Fire Chaser and the staff didn't seem to be concerned with it at all.

[ernierocker]

How stingy are they on the rain, particularly for FireChaser? I've had a few close calls with rain at Dollywood but nothing shut the rides down on me. What do they do if it rains?

 

It rained the last time it was there. They will close the rides if there is thunder in the area,

 

^This. If there is lightning within a certain radius of the park (10 miles I think?) then they will shut down the outdoor attractions. Otherwise, they are very lenient with keeping the rides open during rainy conditions. Basically, as long as there isn't a significant storm in the area with either lightning or heavy rains, the rides will stay open.

Edited July 27, 2014 by ernierocker

[DW1986]

Dollywood rides close for lightning when it is within a 10 mile radius and still operate in the rain. Now if the rides start having issues due to the rain such as FCE then that would be the only time they would close.

[CPSFMMCW]

blazing fury will stay open when every other ride in the park closes. But be warned- that line WILL be long if it is the only ride open. you'd be better off staying in line for a coaster, as many people will leave the line, making your weight shorter.

[beenagins87]

blazing fury will stay open when every other ride in the park closes. But be warned- that line WILL be long if it is the only ride open. you'd be better off staying in line for a coaster, as many people will leave the line, making your weight shorter.

 

 

When I was there on June 21st, Blazing Fury went down, then 10 minutes later, the whole park went down because of thunderstorms.. Talk about crappy luck.

[dstephe9]

The flat rides usually stay open longer than the coasters during storms. Thunderhead is usually open a few minutes longer than the metal coasters.

 

But usually storms come in fast so everything shuts down close to the same time but if the storm is missing Dollywood don't be surprised if the coasters are closed and the flats are open. Once the storm is close all rides will close except for blazing fury. When it storms ask the host their policy. Most will tell you the same thing.

 

As for rain, I have been on thunderhead while it was pouring!

[Schwarzillard]

Are there any other parks that have the lumberjack lift style ride?

[ytterbiumanalyst]

^ Yes! Silver Dollar City has the exact same ride, called High-Low Silos. It's right next to the Giant Barn Swing, near Outlaw Run.

[Zcev5454]

Are there any other parks that have the lumberjack lift style ride?

Darien Lake has a version of it in their kids area.

[Rollercoaster Rider]

Are there any other parks that have the lumberjack lift style ride?

 

 

Legoland has it called "Kid Power Towers"

[2012jarrett]

Thanks for the help, all! There are thunderstorms in the forecast for the 2nd and Sunday but between my getting there at 3 and my Q-Bot I should be fine. All I need is FireChaser, but I want to do Eagle and Thunderhead, preferably at night, if possible. Anybody know how the park should fare on the 2nd, though? It's supposed to be the only day I'm there but if it comes to using my "get in after 3, next day free" and popping by Sunday to ride it I'll do it.

[DW1986]

It is the last day of the Great American Summer festival with 10-10pm hours and fireworks. It should be very crowded and the temperatures here in East Tennessee have been in the low 70's and have been driving boatloads of people to Dollywood this week. So I would expect high crowds!

[2012jarrett]

It is the last day of the Great American Summer festival with 10-10pm hours and fireworks. It should be very crowded and the temperatures here in East Tennessee have been in the low 70's and have been driving boatloads of people to Dollywood this week. So I would expect high crowds!

Good thing I've got a Q-Bot reserved then, huh?

 

I was more concerned about the weather but the hourly forecast is showing it holding off mostly, so there's another thing I don't need to worry about.

 

Honestly, though, I nab FireChaser and get to ride Wild Eagle anytime and Thunderhead at night, I'll walk out a happy boy.

 

Probably a dumb question, but can I get refills in drinks if I bring a cup from last season?

[Firechaser]

Probably a dumb question, but can I get refills in drinks if I bring a cup from last season?

You wan't be able to get free drinks with the old cups but I think you might be able to get a refill for a dollar.

[Big Papa]

The drinks with the souvenir cups were never free. This years cups are $1 refills, and I'm pretty sure previous years cups are $4.

 

I'll be in Pigeon Forge next Monday through Thursday. Definitely going to Dollywood on Monday and hopefully Wednesday for a little bit as well. Does anybody know if the counties/cities near Pigeon Forge are going back to school next week? I'm hoping for some short lines.

[jimmiemac02]

Does anybody know if the counties/cities near Pigeon Forge are going back to school next week? I'm hoping for some short lines.

 

Sevier county goes back August 15th.