prozach626 Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 You're really overstating the comparative hassle and fatigue-factor of a two-hour flight, and understating the hassle and fatigue-factor of driving 10+ hours out of and back to the NYC area. Yeah, that's your opinion. I take 5-6 road trips a year. I know perfectly well what's involved in a 10 hour drive, even to and from the NYC area. I compare a 10 hour drive to my 12 hour shift at work and the drive is much easier. He's 25 years old. He'll be fine. I say Millennium Force, others say i305, and at the end of the day we toast to enjoying coasters. Look, I didn't mean to incite a defense of your driving record or transportation preferences. I won't edit that post, but please understand that I'm not trying to invalidate your thoughts. You had a thoughtful post, and finding savings to put toward the cabin was real good advice. Driving can be a viable option, & if it's all the same to him and he saves money, he should do it! But I don't want to see flying get discouraged from consideration by a concert of subsequent posts that promote driving by way of contempt for airports and flying. In truth, I've had about the same ratio of good drives to good flights. It's a toss-up, and I hope Nitro considers both because airports aren't always nightmares just because that narrative gets propagated. If he finds good flight rates and does some calculations, he might get a great deal to put toward the cabin. Personally*, I love taking a good book, having some small talk on a plane, and then being in Carowinds fresh while my extended family is still back at a rest stop in West Virginia. * Opinion alert k thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parkjunkie Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 Sorry if I'm breaking current discussion but I just wanted to say that I was in Branson this past weekend and finally got to ride Outlaw run... OMG, I CAN NOT WAIT FOR LIGHTNING ROD TO OPEN!!!!.... I can only imagine that if Outlaw Run was that good what Lightning Rod will be like... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CustomMadeGJ Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 Hey guys, gonna visit for the Christmas season and was wondering if there are any tips or tricks to visiting this time of year? Are all the rides open? Anything I should plan for or do to make my experience the best it can be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CustomMadeGJ Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 Hey guys, gonna visit for the Christmas season and was wondering if there are any tips or tricks to visiting this time of year? Are all the rides open? Anything I should plan for or do to make my experience the best it can be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devins3 Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 First off, you are going to have a blast. I cannot overstate how awesome of an event Smoky Mountain Christmas is. The lights are truly stunning, pictures do not do it justice, I have went to the park the past 4 days and would go again today if they were open! Yes the rides are open so long as the temperature is high enough. Don't quote me on this but I believe it needs to be 40 to start the rides and be above 36 to stay open. It was about 42 one night this week and everything stayed open. If the temperature is close Tennese Tornado will be the first ride to close as its highest in elevation . So if it closes get your rides in on the other rides while you can! If you are going to be getting a season pass I recommend one person in your party upgrading to the gold season pass. Parking is free with that and you get 20% off EVERYTHING in the park that is not already on sale, including food. With that said I would recommend getting the Time Saver (qbot) pass on saturday if your going on saturday. The big draw with it is you will not have to wait in line for the shows. The park is always extremely crowded but the rides are not usually that busy especially once night falls. This Saturday was one of the busiest days they had all year and by 7 everything was a walk on. I am not the type of person that is usually into shows but Dollywoods shows are top notch and are worth going to. With the qbot there is no stress, you can select all your shows in the morning and go 10 min before the show starts and get preferred seating right up front. The lines for the shows are HUGE and I would not want to wait for them as you can wait and they could not have enough seats. My favorite shows were Cristmas Carol and Twas the Night Before Christmas. Also with the gold pass the qbot was only 43 bucks for 2 people after tax. I believe it was 25 bucks per person without the pass, well worth it compared to other parks skip the line services. Overall just have a blast, the hospitality at Dollywood is unmatched and they really make you feel at home. I love this park and after going to other parks all year it is very refreshing to go somewhere that 'gets' it and does things the right way everywhere. I was worried when I saw TV screens in the queue lines this year, but did I ever hear obnoxious commercials blasting through them the entire time I was there? NOPE! They just displayed the wait time for your ride as well as the rest of the parks rides! Have fun and if you have any more questions I'll try to help ya out. How could I forget? CINNAMON BREAD! Go to the grist mill and get cinnamon bread, one of the best amusmemt park foods anywhere. Also we eat at Aunt Granny's buffet once a year and it is fantastic food that is reasonably priced. For two people it was 31 dollars with gold pass and they even refil your mug or give you a to go drink to leave with. P.S. I know its been said before but I just wanted to say. Is Firechaser not the best family coaster? The amount of children that I saw that could not have been more than 4-5 years old riding that ride with hands up having the best time ever was awesome. And it is a great ride for me and my wife also, just a perfect ride for what it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dstephe9 Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 I was there last weekend and they made to much cinnamon bread and had it buy one get one free at closing! Loaf for the park and for breakfast the next day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjzadero Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Ahh, sweet thoughts of Dollywood's cinnamon bread. So, I guess we're getting a Lightning Rod POV tomorrow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterbill Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 First off, you are going to have a blast. I cannot overstate how awesome of an event Smoky Mountain Christmas is. Until this year we've always had to go to Dollywood to ride coasters in the winter (which is about a 12 hour drive). Now we can just go to our home park (Great Adventure) so we don't have to go to Dollywood any more for coasters but we're going anyway because Smoky Mountain Christmas is amazing. The lights are amazing, the food is amazing, the rides are amazing and the atmosphere is so awesome and so genuine and immersive that you feel like you're walking through a Christmas card. I believe it needs to be 40 to start the rides and be above 36 to stay open. It was about 42 one night this week and everything stayed open. These numbers are 100% correct. I generally wait until a few days out before we go just in-case but most days the temperatures are well above this. They may or may not close at night, but you can still watch the shows (which are exceptional), eat the food, ride the flats, look at the lights and ride Blazing Fury. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dollywoodlover20 Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Riding Barnstormer at night is both a bit terrifying and will give you wind burn this time of year lol but all worth it. About tomorrow, I read on TPR's post about IAAPA that Dollywood will have a hot rod that will be inside the station (que) so that's a plus and will be cool to see as we know Dollywood goes all out with theming. I hope to see the actual train as well along with POV and learning all facts. I read somewhere that the backstory for this coaster is you walk into Johnny Rev's garage to test out his new hot rod prototype , Lightning Rod along with his secret fuel, and the prototype sends you cruising through the hills of the smokies. Whether that's correct or not, tomorrow should tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vonni Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 ^ Herschend sure loves its reference to secret fuel. There is also Wildfire over at SDC lol! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devins3 Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 The only way to watch the lightning rod reveal I am ready Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadox17 Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 The only way to watch the lightning rod reveal wish i could! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TB305 Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 [youtu_be] [/youtu_be] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n1ch0las Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 I think I speak for the entire enthusiast community when I say holy sh4t. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dollywoodlover20 Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Love the 360 POV. I kept spinning it around just to see the different movements of the train. Still, no answer about the structure on the launch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PVA62 Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 [youtu_be] [/youtu_be] Open this up in youtube. Very cool though, can't wait for this! Should be my first RMC! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterbill Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Okay that's awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blakelemay23 Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 POV looks great! The station is one of the best ive seen, and the launch is going to kick serious ass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Six hour drive...yeah, I can probably make a weekend trip out of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoinItForTheFame Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 At first I couldn't figure out why the pov was nothing but a view of the lapbars... and then I realized when I lifted my phone and the pov changed what was really going on. What anumber awesome way to do a pov!!! And what an amazing coaster this is going to be. I know we already knew this, but the pov made it look even more awesome... as if that were possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TyRush Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Wow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dstephe9 Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Pov looks great! BTW is Dollywood always open the night of Thanksgiving? I just noticed they are this year.. Might stop by before black Friday shopping up in the area!! Lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanTPM Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Great to see a full POV, looks brilliant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlahBlahson Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Serious props on the 3D 360 pov Dollywood. Is that an industry first? I have to find a way to ride this 15-20 times in March. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterlvr Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Serious props on the 3D 360 pov Dollywood. Is that an industry first? I have to find a way to ride this 15-20 times in March. Cedar Point has one with Valravn. and here's the normal version Rob uploaded... [youtu_be] [/youtu_be] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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