Dollywood Discussion Thread

[CoasterLine]

Might be confusing, but if I'm guessing if it did say "now open" it was probably referring to the park itself, rather than Lightning Rod.

 

That said, I haven't seen the commercial, so I have no clue.

[Brent York]

I'm 100% sure it said the coaster was open. It gave the "-est" stats, then said "Now open at Dollywood".

This is in Nashville on WKRN. 3+ hours from DW.

[michaellynn4]

I'm sure it was just a commercial pre-scheduled to run before the delays happened and a message got missed somewhere on the station's end.

[prozach626]

Oh God, it's a commercial. Who cares. The way everyone is talking, I'm half surprised there isn't an angry mob of nerds protesting at the front gate.

 

edit: Or maybe that's what I saw... I just thought they were LARPing?

[Ape]

I think they are more concerned with the potential of an angry GP than the coaster nerds being upset sir.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

What you say in a commercial matters. It's one thing if it's a campaign with obvious hyperbole; it's another thing entirely if they make a plausible claim. People can rightly be criticized for believing they might actually grow wings upon consuming an energy drink, but if they buy tickets to Dollywood after seeing a commercial that says the new ride is open, that's on Dollywood, not the ticket buyers.

[dstephe9]

Exactly.. It's not false advertisement or anything (there are laws that protect places from marketing mistakes) BUT it could cause people to come to the park bc of it

 

Now if they buy their tickets online they should see the banner.. But again, Dollywood does a lot of their tickets sales from the windows..

 

I can see it upsetting some.. But people really should fully research their trip before going.. I do, and do, and do.. I'm usually checking the site of all my planned visits nightly until the day I leave.. It keeps me excited haha

[coasterdude5]

I just saw the "now open" Lightning Rod commercial in Nashville. Crazy...it can't cost that much to make an alternate version that says "coming spring 2016." Or at least pull the commercial to avoid false advertising.

[FaithPlus1]

There is too much siding with Dollywood here. I would not be mad if the ride didn't open on time. I remember showing up to ride MF at CP on the second day, and it valleyed and I didn't get to ride. Not Cp's fault. I also remember when Maverick's heartline roll had to be removed and opening was set back. It sucked a$$ but once again, not CP's fault. However, if there is an advertisement saying a new ride is open and you show up and find it's not open and wasn't even planned to be open, that is false advertisement.

I love Dollywood and I'm as much excited for Lightning Run as anyone else, but it is complete BS if they are saying it's open, when it really isn't.

[A.J.]

This is a huge misunderstanding, and we're the only people who are choosing to blow it out of proportion. I can't even remember most of the ads I hear on the radio, and I drive rental cars twenty hours a weekend as a part time job.

[FaithPlus1]

^Marketing is a large part of this business. When it comes to products I care about, I remember the advertisements.

[coasterdude5]

This is a huge misunderstanding, and we're the only people who are choosing to blow it out of proportion. I can't even remember most of the ads I hear on the radio, and I drive rental cars twenty hours a weekend as a part time job.

People (not just enthusiasts) will blow anything and everything out of proportion. Just look at the "visitor posts" section of the park's Facebook page. And plenty of people do believe what they hear and see on TV, radio, print, etc. That's why the advertising industry is so lucrative. While I doubt the FTC is interested in going after Dolly, I would be willing to bet people will see this commercial and make plans to visit the park solely for Lightning Rod. Either way you spin it, the spot shouldn't be running.

[michaellynn4]

Reading where this thread is going and I'm all like:

 

[Guy T. Koepp]

Whaaaaaaaa!

 

We drove all the way from Nashville today to visit the park tomorrow and Lightning Rod still isn't running? But I saw a commercial on Monday and It convinced me to disrupt the family unit and drag them to Dollywood.

[rosscoe]

This thread is full of same S H I T, different day. Dollywood would have payed for this ad space months ago, when every one thought it would be opened.

[coasterdude5]

You guys give American TV consumers too much credit.

 

Dollywood would have payed for this ad space months ago

Do you think that's when they were required to submit the actual commercial? That's not how the television works.

[Guy T. Koepp]

^No excuses!

 

In leiu of Lightning Rod, the Ohana's require...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...wait for it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Shubbery!

[AdventureJack]

Reading this thread lately.

[Dollywoodlover20]

Just saw it here on my local station as well. So I'm not sure if they're running them both at the same time or what has happened. If it has reached me, it's reached out to the VA and majority of KY as well. Let the GP attacking Facebook begin. Already seen a comment on the new ice cream saying "I heard they're having problems with the lids, so you won't be able to open the ice cream anytime soon". Then that started a swarm of "You can promote ice cream but can't fix a ride" comments. I was literally staring at my laptop. No wonder they don't have anyone to reply to those questions anymore. Those people are RUDE!

[Nrthwnd]

...A Shrubbery!

 

Uh....fixed?

[blk_mamba]

I just saw the "now open"* Lightning Rod commercial in Nashville. Crazy...it can't cost that much to make an alternate version that says "coming spring 2016." Or at least pull the commercial to avoid false advertising.

 

*Now open for testing... lol

[rosscoe]

You guys give American TV consumers too much credit.

 

Dollywood would have payed for this ad space months ago

Do you think that's when they were required to submit the actual commercial? That's not how the television works.

 

 

Of course not they would have payed for airtime, than sent the ad.

But the sad part is this thread is now about ads that are being played around the surrounding area.

[DoinItForTheFame]

Reading where this thread is going and I'm all like:

 

 

Same.

 

This thread went from "coaster enthusiasts knowing anything and everything about Dollywood and RMC coasters."

 

To: "Coaster enthusiasts knowing anything and everything about TV advertising, and how paying for commercials works."

 

SMH. . . This thread makes me need a drink.

[DoubleDown]

Well all Dollywood needs to do is get this ride open and all their problems will be solved!

 

What an absolute nightmare it must be to work at Guest Relations right now...

[linearinduction]

Reading where this thread is going and I'm all like:

 

 

Same.

 

This thread went from "coaster enthusiasts knowing anything and everything about Dollywood and RMC coasters."

 

To: "Coaster enthusiasts knowing anything and everything about TV advertising, and how paying for commercials works."

 

SMH. . . This thread makes me need a drink.

What's really funny is when you know someone who has been a producer for multiple TV stations, even one owned directly by a network, and you hear how things really work. Not sure how big the Market is where these ads are airing, but in the Market I'm in, the specific ad and airtime can be pulled from the air. If the ad in question is Indeed specifying the Ride is Open, not just the Park, someone somewhere dropped the ball, and it would most likely be the ad agency. It would not be uncommon for an older and/or alternate ad to be shown in the airtime slot that has been purchased.

 

It also sounds like the public in general may be foaming at the mouth over Lightning Rod like locals here in Utah did after Cannibal didn't open until July 2nd. Of course, after it opened, there were no more insane comments about a "class action lawsuit for false advertising" on Lagoon's Facebook Page and on Local Media comment sections. lol