Dollywood Discussion Thread

[Guy T. Koepp]

Oh, sorry,

 

#Itllneveropen

[PhantomPoster32]

TAER IT DOWN!

 

No seriously get it open as it is making my vacation planning next to impossible.

[Gerstlauerguy]

ill be there on friday

[dkeith]

Just heard from a guy at the park, they just ran a train half full of people (GP). So I am speechless. Literally, my hands are up.

 

Sorry for any inconvenience the closures and testings have caused any of you however, to clear things up, there was never a train ran half full today. Empty trains yes but none with people. Hope everyone enjoys their holiday weekend!!!

[ImNotOneOfYou]

well what do you expect, it's dowillood.

 

dowillood

 

Is there something I'm missing? Did this ever become a thing?

[Wily J]

 

"The 'ItllNeverOpen' people are ruining my life!"

Edited May 30, 2016 by Wily J

[mordecai-75]

^ She either just had a really bad experience, or a REALLY good one.

[Wily J]

^ She either just had a really bad experience, or a REALLY good one.

 

 

 

[dstephe9]

By that logic, Lightning Rod isn't late, because they only ever advertised it as opening Spring 2016. We still have 3 weeks of spring left.

My Mug says March 2016 not Spring

 

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[Wily J]

All kidding aside, I think it's far better for Dollywood to hold off opening the ride until they are confident it will consistently run.

 

Short term it looks bad; but long term it would be better than having a TTD-type situation where it's constantly breaking down with people waiting in hours long lines in the heat and maybe not getting a ride.

 

I'm sure they'll figure things out- patience is a virtue.

[tuxedomask5432]

The problem is we've been patient now, for the past three months. I suppose i'm feeling miffed since we were teased with a soft opening as well as a Dollywood website alert that STILL says the ride is under a technical ride rehearsal. Now i'm headed to the park tomorrow, and it's back to not even running again. Mark my words, someone will get the axe for deciding to try and "save" some money on the launch system.

 

I seriously considered calling Dollywood and asking for my season pass money back since I've already missed 2 months of Dollywood's season, and we had already cancelled our plans (twice) to go. I get the food is great, and there are other world class attractions, but I've been to Dollywood and done everything there is to offer. This is the closest and (would be) first RMC for me, and is practically the only reason I would get a season pass to Dollywood (considering I live almost 4 hours away).

 

But I know there are others who are trying to plan their trips now that live much farther away. Summer is officially here now that Memorial Day is here, so what are we talking about Dollywood? Two weeks? Two Months? Six Months? Inquiring minds want to know. Maybe wooden coasters were never meant to launch? #itllneveropen

[tuxedomask5432]

The problem is we've been patient now, for the past three months. I suppose i'm feeling miffed since we were teased with a soft opening as well as a Dollywood website alert that STILL says the ride is under a technical ride rehearsal. Now i'm headed to the park tomorrow, and it's back to not even running again. Mark my words, someone will get the axe for deciding to try and "save" some money on the launch system.

 

I seriously considered calling Dollywood and asking for my season pass money back since I've already missed 2 months of Dollywood's season, and we had already cancelled our plans (twice) to go. I get the food is great, and there are other world class attractions, but I've been to Dollywood and done everything there is to offer. This is the closest and (would be) first RMC for me, and is practically the only reason I would get a season pass to Dollywood (considering I live almost 4 hours away).

 

But I know there are others who are trying to plan their trips now that live much farther away. Summer is officially here now that Memorial Day is here, so what are we talking about Dollywood? Two weeks? Two Months? Six Months? Inquiring minds want to know. Maybe wooden coasters were never meant to launch? #itllneveropen

[tuxedomask5432]

Sorry, not sure why there was a double post. I was taken to another window where it suggested I review the thread before posting.

[Dar]

Why would they give you money back for a season pass? They've not done anything to prevent you going for the first 2 months, you've just chosen not to go until Lightning Rod is open.

[brenthodge]

Lightning rod Monday .... Well.... Maybe.....

[Gerstlauerguy]

Why would they give you money back for a season pass? They've not done anything to prevent you going for the first 2 months, you've just chosen not to go until Lightning Rod is open.

if you dont go to the park at all theyll refund it. we got a super pass one year and never went to splash country and they refunded our money, and we didnt even ask might i mention

[Wily J]

The problem is we've been patient now, for the past three months. I suppose i'm feeling miffed since we were teased with a soft opening as well as a Dollywood website alert that STILL says the ride is under a technical ride rehearsal. Now i'm headed to the park tomorrow, and it's back to not even running again. Mark my words, someone will get the axe for deciding to try and "save" some money on the launch system.

 

I seriously considered calling Dollywood and asking for my season pass money back since I've already missed 2 months of Dollywood's season, and we had already cancelled our plans (twice) to go. I get the food is great, and there are other world class attractions, but I've been to Dollywood and done everything there is to offer. This is the closest and (would be) first RMC for me, and is practically the only reason I would get a season pass to Dollywood (considering I live almost 4 hours away).

 

But I know there are others who are trying to plan their trips now that live much farther away. Summer is officially here now that Memorial Day is here, so what are we talking about Dollywood? Two weeks? Two Months? Six Months? Inquiring minds want to know. Maybe wooden coasters were never meant to launch? #itllneveropen

 

 

I get where you're coming from and understand your frustration, but you have to know that you aren't the 'typical' DW guest.

 

The vast majority do not get a season pass for mainly one attraction; they don't follow every bit of news on how the attraction is progressing and that it's having issues; they may know there is a new coaster coming, but not that it's a RMC or has a unique element or care if they do.

 

I also get the fact they soft opened and then shut it down again sucks; but I'd bet 90% of the public doesn't even know that took place, and I'd bet that's the 90% Dollywood are most concerned with. I'm sure they are stressed over the situation, but I doubt they see it as a huge P.R. nightmare in the long term.

 

And I didn't mean to come off as condescending with the 'patience' remark, it's just that. . . well, here's an example of what I meant: The new attraction I'm most looking forward to this year is the 'King Kong' one at IOA. It's supposed to open June 24th. Am I going to plan a trip to be there that day? That week? That month? Nope. In fact I'll probably wait until Fall 2017.

 

Why? Because the ride might not open that day, week or month. Because it might end up sucking. Because it will probably have a lot of technical glitches and down time. Because even if the ride turns out to be the best ever and it runs flawlessly, likely the crowds will be huge and standing in line with a mob in the Florida heat is not my idea of fun.

 

No, I'll be patient and let the 'new' wear off and go in the off-season because with the time, effort, and money needed to make the trip, I want to give myself the best odds of having a positive experience.

 

 

Again, I'm not unsympathetic to anyone frustrated with the delays; I've just seen this type of thing happen with new attractions enough times to not be surprised.

 

I hope it opens soon; it sounds like a cool ride.

[Mossed]

^ I think setting up a trip 3 months after the ride is supposed to open, and being a little miffed that it still isn't open during that trip is more than justified. It doesn't matter if he's a typical Dollywood guest or not, everything he said in regards to the ride and others is accurate. I'm just thankful I decided to switch up my plans for the summer, or I'd be in the same boat he is.

 

In the long run Dollywood will be fine. Short term, I can't imagine anyone is happy (RMC, Dollywood, or guests)

[tuxedomask5432]

. . . And I didn't mean to come off as condescending with the 'patience' remark, it's just that. . . well, here's an example of what I meant: The new attraction I'm most looking forward to this year is the 'King Kong' one at IOA. It's supposed to open June 24th. Am I going to plan a trip to be there that day? That week? That month? Nope. In fact I'll probably wait until Fall 2017.

 

Why? Because the ride might not open that day, week or month. Because it might end up sucking. Because it will probably have a lot of technical glitches and down time. Because even if the ride turns out to be the best ever and it runs flawlessly, likely the crowds will be huge and standing in line with a mob in the Florida heat is not my idea of fun.

 

No, I'll be patient and let the 'new' wear off and go in the off-season because with the time, effort, and money needed to make the trip, I want to give myself the best odds of having a positive experience.

 

Again, I'm not unsympathetic to anyone frustrated with the delays; I've just seen this type of thing happen with new attractions enough times to not be surprised.

 

I hope it opens soon; it sounds like a cool ride.

 

That would certainly take a lot of patience for me to wait to ride a new RMC slated to launch in March of 2016, until Fall of 2017

 

We've already decided that if they're not holding technical rehearsals tomorrow, that we'll go ride the Smokey Mountain Alpine Coaster for the first time.

 

However, my frustration stems not from having a flawless product (as we've all come to expect from Dollywood), but the huge lack of communication from the park in regards to what they're seeing, or how long the delays will last. I don't remember I-305's 1st year being a total Media Blackout.

 

We all knew very well what happened to that ride, when it happened. But we were given an idea of how long it would take to add brake fins to the 1st hill, which served as a nice band-aid for a longer closure that the park could prep it's customers for.

 

I'm still excited to go to Dollywood, and ride some coasters that I haven't been on since fall of 2014. My friend still gets to ride three new rides, so he's plenty excited as well. We're keeping our fingers crossed that the park could be holding technical rehearsals tomorrow since it will no longer be a national holiday.

[Wily J]

I agree with you about the lack of communication from the park.

 

I hope you have a great trip and everything works out.

[Samuel]

Well, it stinks when these things happen. I understand preaching patience and "look toward the long-term good" optimism, but I'll be driving through the South this week with one day to hit up a park -- that park will be Carowinds. I know both parks sans their current star attractions, so I'm bummed that my spirited "Fury or Lightning Rod?" trip planning topic isn't going to happen.

 

Unfortunately, I don't plan on rescheduling to Dollywood this year. I enjoy the park and have sympathy for the situation, but between other priorities and living in a different part of the US, this week would have been my chance. Even if there's a tiny shot for a rehearsal day, the big ol' green hornet is calling my name.

 

I'll get you next time Lightning Rod...next time...!

[Mrenata]

One of the first things I learned in college was that shit is going to happen to every businness every once in a while, and what really separates the wheat from the chaff is how they deal with it. And Dollywood is dealing poorly.

 

I planned an international trip to visit Dollywood (among other parks) for the first week of April because the park stated the coaster would be open by then. One would assume that if there was any change the park would come to public a few weeks before (so anyone with plans to visit the park could still cancel/change those plans) and let them know about the delays and apologize. That's not what happened.

 

Then they said, back in April, that the coaster would open to the public in a few short weeks. One would imagine that if it was not open in 3/4 weeks, they would come to public to apologize and ask for a bit more patience. That's not what happened.

 

Then the coaster soft-opened. One would expect that the park would come to public and let us know what their expectations are, how long it will take until a full opening. That's not what happened.

 

So I'm going to the US again in July, and planned another trip to Dollywood, since the coaster was about to open, according to the park. Let me remind you I'm from Brazil and Dollywood is not exactly an easy place to get to, even though I'll be visiting other parks on this trip. Thank godness I learned from my mistakes and haven't paid for hotels yet. Either way, it's an international trip and it sucks that I have to have plan A and plan B just because the park won't tell us the truth.

 

If they don't know what's wrong with the coaster or how long it's gonna take, they should be honest, apologize and tell the truth. Just because us, coaster enthusiasts, represent just a small percentage of Dollywood's public that doesn't mean we don't deserve to be treated with respect.

 

So just to be clear (so Dollywood fans don't start bashing me and calling me self entitled) : I'm not blaming the park for their issues with the coaster. I'm blaming them for being shady and not giving us any concrete or real information. If they don't have one, say "sorry, we wish we knew but we don't". Just don't pretend everything is under control and the coaster will be open in a few short days/weeks when they already know it won't.

[brenthodge]

As of 3 today lots of " we really plan on testing sometime today but we can't tell you when"!they are telling people who ask about an actual opening "we don't know. They are just tweaking a few things to make it perfect"I think it's beyond "tweaking" at this point. There's no way with this almost three month delay there was any way this was going to open at the beginning of the season. I see no reason for digital billboards in the pigeon forge area that be easily changed are promoting the coaster when as everyone loves to say " there are tons of other reasons to go to Dollywood. I agree. Highlight those instead of a coaster that is STILL VERY CLEARLY NOT READY TO OPEN. They sure are trying to get as much mileage out of this as they can and bordering on deceptive advertising hyping the heck out of a ride on the general public then only when you at in line to park or on line do you get the "not ready" message. They are advertising a product they do not have.

[Jaykethekid]

I saw a post in my Facebook feed that was just posted 30 minutes ago of guests riding it. It could be an old post, but it was from someone who just today posted that they were at Dollywood. Guess it's not broke as bad as y'all think

[coasterdude5]

Looks like it's running with guests:

 

¯\_(ツ)_/¯