Dollywood Discussion Thread

[robbalvey]

Leave it to Dolly to stand up to the big boys. Take that, Six Flags. LOL

 

LOVE DOLLY!!!!!!!

 

I like X-Flight's layout better (control tower keyhole and inclined first drop). SF did just fine.

I don't think DenDen meant specifically SFGAm or even X-Flight. He was just saying that even a park like Dollywood, which doesn't often go head-to-head with the "big boys", is upping their game with this coaster.

 

That's at least how I took his comment. Not a personal attack on your home park.

 

Am I right Den?

[robbalvey]

Boomsday 2011 was an amazing show! Huge thanks to Dollywood for rolling out the red carpet to Theme Park Review!

[John Knotts]

I imagine we'll see the return of the "high terrain versus low terrain" debate that split fans when Tatsu was announced. Put me in the category that likes flying over the trees as opposed to among them. I do agree that at least on paper, the SFGam ride looks more interesting, but I have to say these wing riders as a whole look FAR more interesting and fun than the flying coaster, even though Tatsu is my favorite modern B&M looping coaster up to now.

 

Wow, how many times did I twist and turn on that one!

[televisedconfession]

I'm so happy for Dollywood. This will be a great addition! Go Dollywood!

[coasterdude5]

I'm very happy for Dollywood. This coaster is a smart move for the park. I think if the park wasn't already on the map already, it will be with the opening of Wild Eagle.

 

With that being said, I'm not blown away by the layout. I was envisioning more of a ground-hugging layout with few "above the treeline" moments, along with perhaps a few unique elements. I was hoping there would be some "Iron Butterfly 2.0."

 

Maybe there will be more themeing elements that weren't included in the concept art. It wouldn't be the first time!

 

Needless to say, I will be visiting Dollywood at some point in 2012!

[dragonskeep]

I wouldn't drive there for it but I was already planning to go, so it's a good bonus.

[Rastuso]

I gotta agree with others regarding theming. If Dollywood is the only of the 3 wing riders with no keyhole elements, that is really surprising, and disappointing.

 

However, Dollywood is definitely high on my list for visiting next year. I haven't been for about 10 years.

 

-RO

[thrillerman1]

Thank you Robb, Elissa, and TPR for carrying the Wild Eagle announcement in style and grace.

[Andrewoplis]

That ride looks short but sweet! The lay is a more traditional B&M layout, I wonder if it will act more like an old school B&M?

[Mr. Starr]

Looks like an amazing addition for Dollywood! Can't wait for details on the New Hotness trip!

 

As for the SFGAm vs. Dollywood question, they will be be very different experiences, with different first drops, layouts, locations, themeing, etc. So I think it's very hard to say now which one was the better addition, as they both look stunning!

[Shavethewhales]

To me, the layout really suggests that they were trying to emulate both SDC's Wildfire and Carowind's Intimidator. It will tower above the park like Intimidator, but it's short, inversion-filled layout with helix finale is very much reminiscent of Wildfire. The more I look at it the more I'm sure that's what the primary influences were for this ride.

 

In fact, it almost seems like this may have originally been intended to be a floorless or sit-down model like Wildfire, but they changed it to use the Wing Coaster trains when they became available. This ride has probably been in development longer than the other Wing Coasters that have been announced this year, which may explain the more traditional layout.

 

For a cool $20 million though, I have to say I was hoping they'd get a bit more bang for their buck, but I guess all that earth-moving is pretty expensive. Wildfire was only $14 million, and there isn't all that much more to it than this.

Here's the 3D layout btw. Gives a better impression about how it will actually fit.

[Jerrykoala2112]

As much as I love X-Flight, judging from the pictures, this one looks amazing too! I'll definitely be stopping here sometime next year

[carolinacaniac]

^That picture makes this ride look even better! I cannot wait to see what it is like to be on it above the trees.

 

-Gary

[Kumbarider1993]

Can someone exlain to me why people are disappointed about this ride not having the keyhole element. That makes this ride unique. Every other wingrider has it. It will increase the feeling of flight and openess not having it i think.

 

P.S. - I think this will follow the terrain, but not strictly. The 3D art on the official website shows it being built right up against the hillside, but i can imagine the ride will poke out above the treeline a little.

[flizt]

What's up with B&M's new coasters and their long drawn out brakes at the end. Ride looks amazing btw

[tntornadox]

I am fairly sure the long brake run is for blocking purposes, note the ride has no momentum-killing MCBR so it has to compensate somewhere else.

[ernierocker]

Just got home from Boomsday. Had an amazing night! Thanks to Robb and Elissa for letting us represent TPR for the night!!! We will have more photos of the event up soon, but for now here is a teaser!

 

 

What an amazing way to announce a new ride!

[ZackBack™]

I have seen some posts of people saying that they might remove Blazing Fury and/or Tennesee Tornado, since it doesnt mention it on the new site (http://dw-2012.com/ ). Does anyone know the answer to this seemingly impossible question??????

[Shavethewhales]

^Nothing is being removed next year. These are the kind of wild rumors that pop up from the general public with every new ride announcement.

 

Can someone exlain to me why people are disappointed about this ride not having the keyhole element. That makes this ride unique. Every other wingrider has it. It will increase the feeling of flight and openess not having it i think.

 

P.S. - I think this will follow the terrain, but not strictly. The 3D art on the official website shows it being built right up against the hillside, but i can imagine the ride will poke out above the treeline a little.

 

Well, this kind of ride just lends itself so well to those kinds of theming interactions. I don't think anyone is disappointed about the lack of a specific keyhole element so much as we are disappointed about there being apparently no theming at all. I expect more details and surprises to pop up as this thing is built, but what we are currently looking at is DW's most "plain" coaster yet, and it just happens to belong to a type that is being used extensively with theming. Very out of character for the park, but we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

 

Right now it certainly looks like they are making a careful effort to keep the trees as close as possible, so these will make up for some of the lack of thematics if nothing else. They won't be too close because of how far the reach envelope will have to be from the track, but at least it'll be shaded.

[MARK]

The brevity and elements of the layout remind me of Wildfire.

[coasterfreak101]

The 3D layout helps picture this a lot.

 

I really hope they get some pieces of theming up in the mountains for the trains to fly through - maybe an old wooden shack or something? It should be pretty cool regardless to be so close to the trees though, assuming they're keeping plenty!

[Fooz]

I like this one more than X-Flight from the renderings at least. I'm sure it will be great.

[Gigalyte]

Imo just judging by looks X Flight looks the best of all the wingriders so far, imo this ride looks like it was suppose to be your average floorless coaster. They just decided throw wingrider trains on it and an insanely long brake run. I'm sorry but for 20 million this ride couldn't be more vanilla imo. Sure it will be fun, sure it will be good for the park but for the hype that was built up around this thing I'm disappointed. I could care less about a key hole the ride just looks flat out cookie cutter B&M, I will say it still doesn't look as boring as Raptor so I guess that's a good thing lol.

 

WTH is up with B&M and these outrageously long brake runs, Levi was like um ook but this one is down right ridiculous lol

[Geauga Dog]

Typical of me to be late to the party...

 

First, I love the logo even though it reminds me something you'd find on the back of a motorcycle gang's jacket.

 

I think the disappointment in the ride is that it doesn't fit with what so many had hoped or expected the ride to be. Consider the terrain this ride is being built on. X-Flight appears to do more since it won't be restricted by any hilly terrain. Wild Eagle may look like a run-of-the-mill B&M but the inversions seem very oversized to give you a greater sensation of flying.

 

I applaud Dollywood for adding something you'd only expect the big boys to build.

[rosscoe]

Think a trip back to Dollywood is in order, one of the worlds great parks!