Dollywood Discussion Thread

[STDog]

I guess no one here has been to the area yet? No reports for Fri or Sat.

I went up Friday afternoon.. Business as usual on the strip, haven't been up in the mountains yet. It was actually fairly crowded when I was up there.

 

Good to hear. was worried people would be slow to return.

[DoinItForTheFame]

I'm hoping the drop tower surprises me.

 

Not overly enthused by the specs.

 

How does a 200ft tall drop tower not make you enthusiastic??

 

I mean, it could be an 80ft tall tower like SDC got.

[coasterbill]

I don't get that either. Honestly it'll be worth riding for the view alone. People rave about the view on Wild Eagle, this will be the same height and offer a view in all directions for a longer period of time. What's not to love?

[STDog]

How does a 200ft tall drop tower not make you enthusiastic??

 

I mean, it could be an 80ft tall tower like SDC got.

 

It's only 200ft. Better than 80 sure, but 350-400 would have been nicer.

Having done 180ft starting 920ft in the air looking at Vegas, 200ft isn't much thrill.

And several ~200ft Space Shots

 

I drive past a 140ft S&S space shot 5 days a week. Rode it a few times and even with the view of a Saturn V rocket and a Space Shuttle the ride didn't impress.

 

Honestly it'll be worth riding for the view alone. People rave about the view on Wild Eagle, this will be the same height and offer a view in all directions for a longer period of time. What's not to love?

 

Sure great view though it won't clear WE with the hills, but you will have the view longer.

I'd love 350 ft a lot more.

 

Don't get me wrong I'll ride it. Especially when the lines are long.

I rode the original Freefall at Magic Mountain in the mid 80s and had a blast, but I was ~12 at the time.

 

Between WE and LR I was hoping for a bit more wild/extreme.

[coasterbill]

I'd love 350 ft a lot more.

 

Yeah, but you can't judge rides like that or you'll never be satisfied with anything... "Top Thrill Dragster? I mean... it's okay, but I'd love 800 feet a lot more". I mean, I've ridden Zumanjaro, Falcon's Fury, the towers at KD and KI, Lex Luthor and a ton of other huge drop rides but my favorites are Demon Drop (131 feet) and StraosFEAR at Knoebels (148 feet) so personally I think there's a lot more to these rides than height. Plus all drop towers are fun regardless of height, I don't think I've ever ridden one that I didn't like. I'm sure I'll even like this stupid crap that Hershey is building.

[dstephe9]

I guess no one here has been to the area yet? No reports for Fri or Sat.

I went up Friday afternoon.. Business as usual on the strip, haven't been up in the mountains yet. It was actually fairly crowded when I was up there.

 

Good to hear. was worried people would be slow to return.

This time of year it gets fairly slow in Gatlinburg anyways.. most stores are about to go to their winter hours (meaning a lot will close at 6).. Some will close all together for "renovation" (I feel some just say that to save labor money by not opening at all in the winter and just pay rent)

 

So for a Friday afternoon all seemed normal crowds wise.. wish I could have stayed later or went on Saturday when it's normally more crowded and get a better idea if crowds are lighter or not.

 

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[ytterbiumanalyst]

I'd love 350 ft a lot more.

 

Yeah, but you can't judge rides like that or you'll never be satisfied with anything... "Top Thrill Dragster? I mean... it's okay, but I'd love 800 feet a lot more". I mean, I've ridden Zumanjaro, Falcon's Fury, the towers at KD and KI, Lex Luthor and a ton of other huge drop rides but my favorites are Demon Drop (131 feet) and StraosFEAR at Knoebels (148 feet) so personally I think there's a lot more to these rides than height. Plus all drop towers are fun regardless of height, I don't think I've ever ridden one that I didn't like. I'm sure I'll even like this stupid crap that Hershey is building.

I have to agree here. I've been on Lex Luthor (not sure if that or Zumanjaro is the tallest, but without nitpicking, they're basically the same height), and it was fun. I've been on S&S towers and Intamins, the Gyro Drop at Kings Island--but my absolute favourite? Zero-G, the ARM tower at Beech Bend in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Only 80 feet tall, but it scares the sh*t out of me in a way some of those bigger ones don't.

 

On a side note, I really want to ride Demon Drop. It's basically the reason I want to go to Dorney.

[mordecai-75]

You also have to factor in that Dollywood "technically" has a height restriction of 200ft, however they seem to get around it a bit here and there.

[Midgetman82]

I've been on S&S towers and Intamins, the Gyro Drop at Kings Island--but my absolute favourite? Zero-G, the ARM tower at Beech Bend in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Only 80 feet tall, but it scares the sh*t out of me in a way some of those bigger ones don't.

Zero-G is 140ft. That and the 120ft ARM tower at KK are my favorite drop towers ever for the same reasons you stated! I'm excited for Dollywood to get a drop tower! The park's uniqueness stands out even further with getting a Funtime Skyfall instead of an ARM, Intamin, or S&S tower. I saw some videos of them and they look pretty great.

[Gunnar2017]

Does anyone know at what temperature the coasters/rides close at Dollywood? I plan on going Wednesday, and temperature will be hovering around 40 during the day, and then drops to 35 at night.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

I'm going to return my measuring tape, then. It's obviously defective. But yeah, this one at Dollywood is very interesting. I'm hoping it's running by the time I get there this summer, but if not, that's fine too.

[I Like Theme Parks.]

I´m pretty curious to see how this tower compares to the other types. I agree that the Larson/ARM towers are some of the best. Even the small portable ones are better than your average Intamin 2nd-gen and S&S towers. Intamin 1st-gens are insane as well. Larsons and Intamin 1st-gens are easily the best towers aside from Zumanjaro in my opinion. Tower of Terror would also rank above them, but I consider it as more of a dark ride. But yeah, I never tried a Funtime drop ride.

[BigBad]

Why do you say that 1st generation Intamins and Larson/ARM drop towers are the best? The ones I've ridden (at least lately) have all been S&S or Zumanjaro, and I really like the ejector air on the S&S turbo drops.

[I Like Theme Parks.]

^The seats and OTSRs are pretty minimal so you actually float a little, there's a bit of a hood on the top of the vehicle so you can't see the tower when you're sitting on the ride, you don't stop at the top so the drop has some extra surprise factor, and the lack of a pause also gives you a little bit of extra air. The best part is how it doesn't brake until you're at the bottom of the tower, so it feels like you jumped off a building and slammed into the ground and broke your spine and died.

[STDog]

Does anyone know at what temperature the coasters/rides close at Dollywood? I plan on going Wednesday, and temperature will be hovering around 40 during the day, and then drops to 35 at night.

 

Officially I believe it's 36, but they will close at higher temps is icing is likely, or it's really slow.

 

Lubrication is another issue and it's possible that some rides need higher temps.

[RAWKIN_coaster38]

My boyfriend and I are looking at going to Dollywood this Saturday. Neither of us have been. Any recommendations for us?

[STDog]

Neither of us have been. Any recommendations for us?

 

What do you like?

 

All the coasters are fun and unique. Ride them early before the temps drop.

How acclimated to Ohio weather are you? May want something to cover the ears on the coasters (and of course coats and gloves). I use this style: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41p2RXnCkmL._SY300_.jpg

Like weight but block the wind well. The bands made for skiing would work well, but I don't like stuff on my forehead.

 

Eat lots of cinnamon bread from the Mill.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Does anyone know at what temperature the coasters/rides close at Dollywood? I plan on going Wednesday, and temperature will be hovering around 40 during the day, and then drops to 35 at night.

 

Officially I believe it's 36, but they will close at higher temps is icing is likely, or it's really slow.

 

Lubrication is another issue and it's possible that some rides need higher temps.

Oddly they don't list that on their site, at least that I've found. SDC has an FAQ that details exactly, helps with planning. Their stuff goes down anywhere from 32 to 42 degrees, so I would expect Dollywood would do the same. In my experience, B&Ms tend to have the highest temperature guidelines, so that plus its location, I'd say Wild Eagle will be first to shut down.

[STDog]

Oddly they don't list that on their site, at least that I've found.

 

Not sure why it's not on the site. In cold weather they put out signs that say 36 (or have in the past).

But others here have mentioned seeing things closed at higher temps (search the thread).

 

I usually deal with the cold issues in March. Haven't been in December.

[middle_keeny]

 

Sure great view though it won't clear WE with the hills, but you will have the view longer.

I'd love 350 ft a lot more.

 

Don't get me wrong I'll ride it. Especially when the lines are long.

I rode the original Freefall at Magic Mountain in the mid 80s and had a blast, but I was ~12 at the time.

 

Between WE and LR I was hoping for a bit more wild/extreme.

 

 

Actually, I did some basic calculations using google earth and 200' from the top of the tower will be a little higher than the loop on WE but not quite as high as the lift hill. So YES it will clear the hills and get you a pretty good view. My biggest complaint of WE is that you dont get to enjoy the view for too long. This should do the trick.

[middle_keeny]

 

Sure great view though it won't clear WE with the hills, but you will have the view longer.

I'd love 350 ft a lot more.

 

Don't get me wrong I'll ride it. Especially when the lines are long.

I rode the original Freefall at Magic Mountain in the mid 80s and had a blast, but I was ~12 at the time.

 

Between WE and LR I was hoping for a bit more wild/extreme.

 

 

Actually, I did some basic calculations using google earth and 200' from the top of the tower will be a little higher than the loop on WE but not quite as high as the lift hill. So YES it will clear the hills and get you a pretty good view. My biggest complaint of WE is that you dont get to enjoy the view for too long. This should do the trick.

[Gunnar2017]

You also have to factor in that Dollywood "technically" has a height restriction of 200ft, however they seem to get around it a bit here and there.

 

What do you mean Dollywood has a height restriction?

[coasterbill]

Apparently Dolly is holding a live telethon now on the Great American Country channel (which I just learned was a thing and apparently we get it) and on the Nash Fm stations.

 

You can text "Dolly" to 501501 to make a one time $10 donation. That's my public service announcement for the day.

[STDog]

Apparently Dolly is holding a live telethon now on the Great American Country channel (which I just learned was a thing and apparently we get it) and on the Nash Fm stations.

 

GAC is a music video channel. Came about after Viacom ruined CMT (was CMTV).

It's also on RFD TV, AXS, Heartland, and at least one Nashville TV station (WATE). Streaming on Facebook too.

 

It was announced back on Dec 3.

http://wate.com/2016/12/03/dolly-parton-organizes-nashville-telethon-for-sevier-county-fire-victims/

[dstephe9]

Does anyone know at what temperature the coasters/rides close at Dollywood? I plan on going Wednesday, and temperature will be hovering around 40 during the day, and then drops to 35 at night.

 

Officially I believe it's 36, but they will close at higher temps is icing is likely, or it's really slow.

 

Lubrication is another issue and it's possible that some rides need higher temps.

I was there a few weeks ago and it got down to 35.. only ride that closed was Mystery Mine. 35 was the reading of my car thermometer so give or take a few degree's. MM actually closed when it was slightly over 40 degrees but closed at first as a Temporary Closure according to the app.. but never opened back up..

 

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Edited December 14, 2016 by dstephe9