Dollywood Discussion Thread

[mordecai-75]

I took off work on August 7th just to be there for the announcement. Should be a wonderful event. I will try to get as much information as i can to you guys as soon as possible.

[wildthundernado]

Has anybody been to Dollywood lately ,and if so how are the coasters running. I was at the park in early April and Mystery Mine and Tennessee Tornado were down all day. I'm just curios because I want to go to the park, but if the coasters aren't running I'd rather go somewhere else.

[chickenbowl]

I'd like to make my final prediction before opening. I think it will be all Topper Track (like Outlaw Run and Goliath), colored brown like Outlaw Run. I also think it will launch. I also think It won't have any inversions. I also don't think it will have a single track and be near 4000' long. I think it will be mostly terrain based with a few elements that reach high above the ground (similar to Helix). I also think it will be pretty tall (from highest to lowest point) somewhere near 170'.

 

What are everybody else's predictions?

[glouthan]

^Still staying with this, haha - it's pretty much a terrain hugging coaster for some of the layout, which if it ends up like that I'll be happy.

 

 

I definitely think it will have inversions though - I mean, why not?

[Dollywoodlover20]

I think it will be a mix. Both a terrain hugging coaster in certain sections then in other sections having some tall sections. I do think this coaster will have inversions, like says above what's the point in having an RMC and not do an inversion when the capability is there to do almost any. I would love to see a flying launch up the mountain into a diving zero g roll where the train disappears into the trees and we can only see the rest of it at certain points. I like a coaster that's hidden from the public. Makes it more of a surprise when you ride.

[chickenbowl]

I don't think it will have inversions cause I think it will be marketed slightly more towards families than an "Extreme Coaster". I think Shot Rod will be the coaster in between Thunderhead and Mystery Mine in terms of thrilling factor (with Wild Eagle being the most thrilling). Although I also think that Shot Rod will easily be the best coaster at the park, and maybe even top 5 wooden coasters in the world!

 

I also don't think it will have a lift hill in addition to a launch.

[ZeroGravity55]

It'll have inversions unless the park requested that they didn't want any, which I don't why they wouldn't. From a marketing standpoint, I would want inversions, especially on a wooden coaster. Alan Schilke's has said not only does he want you to ride his coasters and go "WTF JUST HAPPENED", he wants you to look at them and go "WTF IS THAT AND HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?" You get that with inversions on woodies, especially from a gp perspective.

[mordecai-75]

I can't see it being anything but a hybrid coaster simply due to the fact that this coaster is most definitely gonna have a launch element. A wooden structure is physically not able to support that kind of abuse day in and day out. "Has anyone saw footage of the rattler before it became iron rattler, that thing was dangerous with no launch involved " i believe there will still be a lift hill somewhere, we all know we want one. And lastly, i believe that this will be the fastest coaster at dollywood, "all of their hints have been speed related ". Tall , fast, and mean! I think dollywood is gonna cater to the non-child visitors with this one.

[chickenbowl]

It'll have inversions unless the park requested that they didn't want any, which I don't why they wouldn't. From a marketing standpoint, I would want inversions, especially on a wooden coaster. Alan Schilke's has said not only does he want you to ride his coasters and go "WTF JUST HAPPENED", he wants you to look at them and go "WTF IS THAT AND HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?" You get that with inversions on woodies, especially from a gp perspective.

 

I agree with what you're saying, I love RMC inversions, but I am not going to change my prediction I think having the "World's First Launching Wooden Roller Coaster" is more than enough to market! I'm still predicting that there will be crazy elements (overbanks and wave turns), but I think we won't be seeing any full inversions on this one. Wait and see I guess!

 

I can't see it being anything but a hybrid coaster simply due to the fact that this coaster is most definitely gonna have a launch element. A wooden structure is physically not able to support that kind of abuse day in and day out. "Has anyone saw footage of the rattler before it became iron rattler, that thing was dangerous with no launch involved " i believe there will still be a lift hill somewhere, we all know we want one. And lastly, i believe that this will be the fastest coaster at dollywood, "all of their hints have been speed related ". Tall , fast, and mean! I think dollywood is gonna cater to the non-child visitors with this one.

 

You cannot assume that a wooden structure is physically not able to handle that. Trust in RMC, if they want it to happen, it will happen! I'm still banking on topper track the whole way (and generally family-oriented while still being thrilling).

[mordecai-75]

^ we shall see my friend, "we shall see".

[Dollywoodlover20]

Since we've talked about inversions a lot, and speed was mentioned lets talk speed for a bit. Since we can all place money on this coaster that it's going to be launch, and someone said it could be the fastest coaster in Dollywood (that could be true) let's look at Dollywood's coaster's speeds.

Tennessee Tornado- 62-63 mph (but marketed at 70mph Arrow Looper)

Thunderhead- 55mph

Wild Eagle- 61 mph (speed is reached around the bottom of drop or in that area)

Mystery Mine- 46mph (bottom of second drop)

Firechaser Express- 16-20mph

 

Outlaw Run goes 68mph and from the videos it maintains that speed for a majority of the ride, while slowing down through banks and turns and hits them fast. So the question is what can Shot Rod do? I don't think it will be the tallest. Wild Eagle is perched upon that hill at around 210ft above the path and Tennessee Tornado at or around 163-183ft with a 110ft loop. I don't feel as if Dollywood wants two coasters sticking up at their skyline looking like a six flags park.

[Intimidator305]

^ As far as the skyline goes, to be fair the majority of this ride won't even be constructed 'within the park'. However, I don't think it will be a very tall structure anyways. I'm hoping Dollywood goes for a bit more of a terrain-inspired layout this time compared to Wild Eagle and FireChaser. I love both those rides and they look great don't get me wrong, but I felt like the landscapes they were built on provided some great one-of-a-kind layout opportunities that were missed...

Just the landscape architecture in me, move along.

[mordecai-75]

The theme park world is a changin', with carowinds wanting to become the cedar point of the south! Carowinds and and Dollywood are roughly 3and1/2 hours apart. The competition for business will be inevitability present. Hince forth dollywood will have to step up there game in the area to appeal to thrill seekers. Keep in mind that they have only scratched the surface of a $300,000,000 ten year plan.

Edited July 11, 2015 by mordecai-75

[DoinItForTheFame]

If this really does turn out to be the worlds first launched wooden roller coaster... and built by RMC, I have already talked to my partner and we will be there as soon as it opens.

 

RMC + Launch = I can not even imagine the perfection.

[glouthan]

RMC + Launch = I can not even imagine the perfection.

 

Agree completely. This is probably too early to call, but I think it could definitely be the best coaster of 2016.

 

As for the inversions, I'm sure it will have some. RMC's are known for their inversions, and is Dollywood really going to invest in RMC and not put inversions on the coaster? That just seems like it would be a huge miss to me. Also, if this thing ends up costing around 20 million, I don't think it's going to be the "tame ride" specifically geared towards families. After Fire Chaser, it's time for a true thrill coaster to be the best at Dollywood. Shot Rod, with inversions and a launch can do that for the park and round out the lineup with two new things: inversions on a wooden coaster and a launch on a woodie. And even with some inversions, it's not like the ride would be that extreme to ride that kids would come off super scared. Trust me, when I went to Silver Dollar City, there were tons of kids riding Outlaw Run and they just loved it. I don't think that Shot Rod would be much more extreme than Outlaw Run other than the launch. That's just my opinion, though, but it definitely makes sense for the park to add inversions.

 

For the change in the skyline, I think it will go a bit above the tree line, but only one or twice for the lift and drop and possible something else. If they keep a wooden structure which is in the rumors, it wouldn't really be that noticeable. Obviously a huge steel track and supports like Wild Eagle are noticeable, but the wood structure seems like it would blend in with the park and not be an obvious change to the park's skyline. For the rest of the layout, I definitely think it will follow the terrain, kind of like Outlaw Run.

[jarmor]

So to make sure I understand...Outlaw Run uses steel wheels and Goliath uses plastic?

[glouthan]

^Yes, Outlaw Run uses steel, and Goliath has either nylon or poly wheels.

[jarmor]

So...do the wheels determine if its a true wooden coaster or what? The topper track is like the I-beam from the pictures but stacked on wood with the metal running strip?

[sirspud]

In regards to the wooden coaster with inversions talk, I really can't stand them. Inversions can be found on so many coasters, and the joy of riding wooden and hyper coasters is from experiencing a different type of force altogether. There's a time and place for inversions and nearly every park out there with any type of lineup has at least 4-5 coasters whose sole purpose is to give you a variety of inversions. Some have approaching ten. Let's please God save some coasters to give us something different.

[namelikethis]

Hey all. Long time lurker, first time poster.

 

With a $20m pricetag, could we be looking at multiple launches? I'm thinking something like the launches on Cheetah Hunt at BGT.

[DILinator]

Regarding the kids/family friendly issue, I see this talked about a lot by people decrying more thrilling coasters, but I don't see it, personally. Sure, you have those kids (what ages define a "kid" anyway?) who are scared by coasters when they're younger, like my oldest son, and take time to warm up to them (he loves them all now at 11). You also have those kids AND adults who are simply scared of thrilling coasters, as it's some innate thing built into them. However, the majority of kids I've been around over the years, seem to be ready to ride anything, once they are the proper height. Heck, my 8 year old girl and 6 year old boy can't wait to ride ALL of the intense coasters, and are only now limited by their lack of height.

 

All this, to get back to Dollywood (which we'll be hitting for the first time next year, conveniently enough), and this new coaster. While a launched or inverting woodie may be too intense for some kids (and adults), I suspect that a far greater portion of families coming to Dollywood will have every member of sufficient height quite excited to ride it, regardless of the fact it isn't a "family coaster" like Firechaser Express.

[glouthan]

So...do the wheels determine if its a true wooden coaster or what? The topper track is like the I-beam from the pictures but stacked on wood with the metal running strip?

 

Well, there's no official definition for a wood coaster, but with steel wheels, it's more likely to be considered wooden. However, Goliath is still considered wood and it runs with non steel wheels. Yes, topper track is the IBox track essentially, but it has the bottom part wooden instead of the steel IBox configuration. The steel running plate is about the thickness of two wooden boards, and is placed on top of about seven wooden boards.

 

In regards to the wooden coaster with inversions talk, I really can't stand them. Inversions can be found on so many coasters, and the joy of riding wooden and hyper coasters is from experiencing a different type of force altogether. There's a time and place for inversions and nearly every park out there with any type of lineup has at least 4-5 coasters whose sole purpose is to give you a variety of inversions. Some have approaching ten. Let's please God save some coasters to give us something different.

 

I agree with you how inversions can be overused, but on RMC coasters they really feel like hey belong there and are not gimmicky or feel like they shouldn't be there. I don't know if you've been on an RMC before, but what they are doing with a wooden track is incredible - the inversions feel natural, and the ride isn't centered around upside down moments either. There is also plenty of airtime and some wicked sideways wave turns as well as banked turns.

 

Hey all. Long time lurker, first time poster.

 

With a $20m pricetag, could we be looking at multiple launches? I'm thinking something like the launches on Cheetah Hunt at BGT.

 

First off, welcome to the forums!!! I do think that it may be possible to have multiple launches with the budget (that would be really cool!), but the park may use a chain lift and a launch combo instead of two launches. There's actually no way of knowing what combo of systems they are going to use to get the coaster going, but I could see either happening right now. But yes, IMO, I think it would be possible depending on how much the launches would cost and how much more they would cost than a traditional lift.

[GCI Wooden]

In regards to the wooden coaster with inversions talk, I really can't stand them. Inversions can be found on so many coasters, and the joy of riding wooden and hyper coasters is from experiencing a different type of force altogether. There's a time and place for inversions and nearly every park out there with any type of lineup has at least 4-5 coasters whose sole purpose is to give you a variety of inversions. Some have approaching ten. Let's please God save some coasters to give us something different.

 

I agree with you how inversions can be overused, but on RMC coasters they really feel like hey belong there and are not gimmicky or feel like they shouldn't be there. I don't know if you've been on an RMC before, but what they are doing with a wooden track is incredible - the inversions feel natural, and the ride isn't centered around upside down moments either. There is also plenty of airtime and some wicked sideways wave turns as well as banked turns.

 

I completely agree with this. I don't know how to explain it, but RMC inversions are just different, in a very good way.

[ernierocker]

 

(and generally family-oriented while still being thrilling).

 

I am not sure RMC has a "family-oriented" coaster in them. If Dollywood wanted a ride that fit that description, they would of gone with another company. Dollywood is building their version of Outlaw Run here and RMC will likely take things to whole new level with Shot Rod.

[Dollywoodlover20]

I'm on my break at work and decided to check on Instagram, do I see something in the background there? Hmm...