Dollywood Discussion Thread

[Canobie Coaster 199]

Haha thanks. I haven't given up all hope. Just half of it.

 

I know I'll have fun tomorrow and will be there with a friend who has never been, but I know the day would even better if the doors to the gas station open up for once.

[Erik Johnson 7]

They have already placed it in CD mode this Saturday morning.

[Mastalucky23 0]

What a joke, oh well. Still going to enjoy my day. Or pick a chair close to the entrance of the que and watch people get pissed off. This coaster isn't worth the stress of not knowing if it isn't going to be open or not.

[Canobie Coaster 199]

Well that was fast to list it as CD. Can't believe I'll miss it again.

[rebelrailroad 0]

I don't think Timber Tower even had this much downtime in its first two seasons. Dollywood ended up in a lawsuit against Huss after repeated downtime (and of course the media frenzy of watching ladder trucks retrieve stranded riders for a few hours).

[Canobie Coaster 199]

Lightning Rod has one train on the track today. So it looks like it's not them trying to use the 2nd train. Maybe they kept it closed if the ride truly has issues in the heat since it's the hottest day of the year?

 

Then again they have everyone's favorite RMC sign out front again.

[TBpony414 3]

Lightning Rod has one train on the track today. So it looks like it's not them trying to use the 2nd train. Maybe they kept it closed if the ride truly has issues in the heat since it's the hottest day of the year? Then again they have everyone's favorite RMC sign out front again.

 

This is so depressing. Sorry bud. I'm trying to remain positive a la Boldikus but really am just bracing myself for the same experience (err, lack thereof) in 8 days.

 

Are the ride wait times really this low? App is saying Blazing Fury 5 mins, Daredevil Falls 10, FCS 25, Mystery Mine 20, River Rampage 35, Tornado 15 and WE 5 mins. Seems like minimal times to me for it being a Saturday in the summer! Perhaps the heat is keeping the GP away or maybe they're all sardine canning it up in the shows?

[eltoro 0]

Lightning Rod has one train on the track today. So it looks like it's not them trying to use the 2nd train. Maybe they kept it closed if the ride truly has issues in the heat since it's the hottest day of the year?

 

Then again they have everyone's favorite RMC sign out front again.

 

Don't see RMC venturing into launch coasters for again for some time. The profit they made on LR is surely getting eaten into big time by having to come back time and again for repairs. Not to mention, RMC has other great products that haven't had issues so there is no need to deal with headache of putting launches on RMC coasters.

[eltoro 0]

 

Are the ride wait times really this low? App is saying Blazing Fury 5 mins, Daredevil Falls 10, FCS 25, Mystery Mine 20, River Rampage 35, Tornado 15 and WE 5 mins. Seems like minimal times to me for it being a Saturday in the summer! Perhaps the heat is keeping the GP away or maybe they're all sardine canning it up in the shows?

 

 

Short wait times seem to be common across a lot of parks, I always go to parks on weekdays so I initially thought I was just getting lucky, especially in my June visits. Things don't seem to have picked up to the level they should be in July. I have a feeling earnings report next quarter are not going to be good for many parks. Attendance appears to be down anecdotally everywhere or everyone I talk to are picking all the lucky days.

[SharkTums 380]

Lightning Rod has one train on the track today. So it looks like it's not them trying to use the 2nd train. Maybe they kept it closed if the ride truly has issues in the heat since it's the hottest day of the year?

 

Then again they have everyone's favorite RMC sign out front again.

 

I'm pretty sure there's a picture out there with two trains from a few days ago? Maybe it's making progress back with one train?

[Chasehat 0]

I know TTD and Ka were nightmares when they first open but we're they ever this bad 2 years after they opened? At least with CP you could still go ride Millennium Force or at Gradv El Toro and Nitro. Here a lot of people are planning their trips around LR and are constantly being disappointed.

[Canobie Coaster 199]

Lightning Rod has one train on the track today. So it looks like it's not them trying to use the 2nd train. Maybe they kept it closed if the ride truly has issues in the heat since it's the hottest day of the year? Then again they have everyone's favorite RMC sign out front again.

 

This is so depressing. Sorry bud. I'm trying to remain positive a la Boldikus but really am just bracing myself for the same experience (err, lack thereof) in 8 days.

 

Are the ride wait times really this low? App is saying Blazing Fury 5 mins, Daredevil Falls 10, FCS 25, Mystery Mine 20, River Rampage 35, Tornado 15 and WE 5 mins. Seems like minimal times to me for it being a Saturday in the summer! Perhaps the heat is keeping the GP away or maybe they're all sardine canning it up in the shows?

 

Mystery Mine and Firechaser were 40 min at one point. But the two longest waits were Daredevil Falls (45 min) and the rapids (70 min).

[beenagins87 0]

I know TTD and Ka were nightmares when they first open but we're they ever this bad 2 years after they opened? At least with CP you could still go ride Millennium Force or at Gradv El Toro and Nitro. Here a lot of people are planning their trips around LR and are constantly being disappointed.

 

Dollywood has a hell of a stellar lineup without LR. I mean TN Tornado, Firechaser, Wild Eagle, Thunderhead and Mystery Mine are all really good rides, plus you have a new Drop Tower, tons of shows and awesome food. I mean yea Lightning Rod is a can of kick ass and a great ride, and makes any day better, but it's not like if it's not opened people are being forced to ride a lineup of awful rides.

[Canobie Coaster 199]

I agree the rest of the park is still awesome, but when this has happened three straight times, especially when the ride was down my last visit to get it operating consistently for the rest of the summer, it's frustrating to say the least.

[LukeFlynn 0]

Dollywood is indeed great without LR, but it's really sad that the park's spotlight, highly acclaimed coaster has such poor operational consistency. I understand occasional, even frequent downtime... but even operating only a few hours out of the day would be better than being closed for 20 days only to go back up for 10.

[coasterbill 974]

I know TTD and Ka were nightmares when they first open but we're they ever this bad 2 years after they opened?

 

They were pretty close, but they weren't quite this bad.

[Jcoaster 0]

Yea, its already listed as CD for the day.

[Canobie Coaster 199]

Sadly not shocked after there was no activity by the ride yesterday (that could be seen).

[DoinItForTheFame 36]

Yea, its already listed as CD for the day.

 

My hopes for getting to ride it this coming weekend are diminishing more and more...

[robbalvey 151]

I mean yea Lightning Rod is a can of kick A$$ and a great ride, and makes any day better, but it's not like if it's not opened people are being forced to ride a lineup of awful rides.

Right. But... there are a lot of people, including ourselves who are making a special trip JUST for Lightning Rod. In the case of our visit next week, A SECOND TRIP. I'll be honest, we would not have made a stop at Dollywood this year had we missed out on Lightning Rod last year. And we would not have made the stop this year if we had thought they would have been having just as many problems in their 2nd season. If we miss out on it again this year, I'm not going to continue making excuses for the park.

 

It's a great park, sure... but sometimes you aren't there for the "great line-up of older rides."

Edited July 23, 2017 by robbalvey

[Jcoaster 0]

Yea, its already listed as CD for the day.

 

My hopes for getting to ride it this coming weekend are diminishing more and more...

 

I have a little over 3 weeks before I arrive for them to figure it out.

[Canobie Coaster 199]

I can still have fun at Dollywood with Lightning Rod down, but I don't think I'll plan another trip until I see Lightning Rod running reliably. And I know that could be a while.

[LukeFlynn 0]

I'm only about half an hour away from the park, and even I don't go nearly as often when LR isn't running consistently. I'm just not willing to wait in the humidity for anything less honestly... as much as I love the other coasters, I've ridden them all dozens and dozens of times more than LR (and I'm close to 30-40 rides on LR).

[Erik Johnson 7]

It is listed as TC this morning. Let us see what today brings us.

[Canobie Coaster 199]

Every time I miss Lightning Rod, it reopens 2-3 days later so if it reopened today that would be par for the course.