jamesdillaman Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 So begins the immense task of resizing, renaming, and posting my 100+ photos for this TR. Day one part one will begin now, with updates to follow roughly "whenever I can get them done" throughout the next week. We're leaving today for the last day of our trip (Holiday World) and then it's on to St. Louis to visit my cousins, so the updates may be slow until I get back home. Day 1 Part 1: Dollywood We parked at the pigeon forge trolley station (something I really recommend for everybody) and took the trolley to Dollywood for 50 cents. Good deal! when we got there there was some girl scout ERT happening at Thunderhead before the park opened, but it's okay, they were all cleared out basically by the time 10:00 rolled around. As soon as we walked in the park, the first thing I noticed was the sign: Timber Tower is Closed Today!! Sad, sad, I was so looking forward to my first Huss Topple Tower, but it's closed as they wait for Huss to send them a part from Germany. Oh well, as the sign said, there's still much more going on. Thunderhead was amazing, as always, with good floater air in the front and in the back. My favorite thing about this coaster is it doesn't let up from the moment you leave the lift until you hit the brakes. Wow. Julia and I did the Lumberjack Lifts, a fun little do it yourself ride right by a huge construction site on the side of the mountain. Yes, that's right, construction has started on the mystery mine. There was even an animatronic Vulture telling us about the legend of the Mystery Mine. We then went to Blazing Fury (Coaster, or darkride? you decide!) and Tennessee Tornado, a great arrow multi-element. One of my favorite arrows around still. The end of Dollywood and construction photos from Indiana Beach and Cedar Point are yet to come, so stay tuned. On to the pictures! -James Dillaman and Julia Smith (With some help from James's Mom) Look at all the people going to Thunderhead, it really is like TTD at Cedar Point, everyone goes to it first. Awwwww... Yay! So we parked for free, and then for $1.50 all three of us got transportation to Dollywood, sounds good to me. This must be the place... Hmmm.... Hello, Dolly! Yeah, Guy, I got those credits! My chariot awaits! Our room at the Holiday Inn Express was at traffic light 1 right in pigeon forge
jamesdillaman Posted June 13, 2006 Author Posted June 13, 2006 Day One part 1 continued: We were going to visit Clovis and Dolly, Back to the front of the park to go to the other side, as the path isn't continious around yet. Not mcuh to see, yet, but from what I understand, most of this coaster will be underground. AND it gives a great view of THIS! The mystery mine construction. It wasn't hard to lift up at all, no matter how much weight is on the ride. Actually it was pretty fun, though. WTF? This ride was weird OMG, Thunderhead THROUGH THE TREES! What a great ride, breathless describes it best. Favorite coaster trains, EVER! It just doesn't get any better than this for me Mmmmm, GCI goodness
jamesdillaman Posted June 13, 2006 Author Posted June 13, 2006 End of Part one, more to come from Dollywood soon, as well as construction photos from Indiana Beach of Splash Battle and of course Cedar Point (yes they're building a new coaster if you haven't heard) -James Dillaman Julia, you're such a WHORE! I love you, honey. This time's Different!! That's right, last time I was here I wasn't going to stoop to being a credit whore and ride this. Dollywood still has a credit for me... OMG, Verticle loop through the trees! Love this coaster! This Vulture told us all about the legend of the Mystery Mine. Nice touch if you ask me. Why couldn't you be open? *sniffle* But instead found "Spongebob Turbo Action Ride" Yes its the same film from the Paramount parks...
jamesdillaman Posted June 13, 2006 Author Posted June 13, 2006 Sorry, Ed, I'll work on that, my photo resizer goes by filesize, not picture size, haven't figured it out yet. I'll try and be better next update.. -James
kennywood!007 Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 Cool PTR! Dollywood looks like such a great park. Nice photos BTW too.
arrowfanman Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 Thanks for posting man! They didn't fully fit on my screen, but I feel like I got the just of it! Dollywood seems like a VERY nice little park. They look like they operate the way most parks should. -Jahan
jamesdillaman Posted June 14, 2006 Author Posted June 14, 2006 Here's the much anticipated Dollywood Part 2: Electric Boogaloo. After hitting most of the rides, we decided to eat, watch a couple shows and check out the shops in craftsman valley. Here's my pictures. Indiana Beach will be up next. -James Dillaman to HillBilly Golf!!! This course is awesome. Another recommended attration from J&J After dollywood we went into gatlinburg to take this incline railway... Awesome steam engine at dollywood Even ducks love Dollywood here's DW's ferris wheel the longest wait all day was for this ride The kinfolk show is another of those "musts" so did this hottie! So I scored some fashionable new duds at the leather shop. we decided to ride the mountain slidewinder, this is the result. This guy or gal never did get finished, I had to go soooo bad... Anybody wanna loan me some money? Their disko, we didn't ride it, though. Line was too long for us The Birds of Prey show is a definite must for any dollywood visit. How often do you get this close to a bald eagle? The ACEr special
Guy T. Koepp Posted June 14, 2006 Posted June 14, 2006 Hey James, It looks like you are having a great time on your trip. Thanks for the phone call after getting off "The Voyage." It was great to hear from you. I'm looking forward to the rest of the "BIG PHOTO" TR. Guy"The better to see you with." Koepp
phazan Posted June 14, 2006 Posted June 14, 2006 I would love to go to Dollywood someday, it looks pretty cool. Has anyone noticed that in almost every trip report, there is always a picture of a duck?
Guy T. Koepp Posted June 14, 2006 Posted June 14, 2006 ^That's cause ducks are cool. And they carry diseases. Yes, Dollywood is easily IMHO one of the best Theme Parks in the US. I really think "Mystery Mine!" will put it on the map as a destination resort. They just do things right. Great atmosphere, great themeing, awesome food, everyone that works there is so nice. If it wern't for the overly stated Cristian ethics. This park would be perfect. Guy "Thank you for riding Thunderhead. Have a pleasant day and enjoy the rest of your stay at Dollywood. And remember, Jesus loves you!" Koepp
jamesdillaman Posted June 15, 2006 Author Posted June 15, 2006 After a day of driving and rest (we ditched my mother for Julia's cousin Scott and his friend Paul), we set off for days 2 and 3 of our 4-day mini-tour. Day 2 is Indiana Beach. This is easily one of my favorite themeparks and easily one of the most photogenic IMO. Although the clientel is, as Scott describes it, the "Grit-r-done" crowd, many in need of showers or more, the rides are fun. There's also a construction site in here: Splash Battle. I can't wait for this ride as it will be a great fit for this little park. The site is the old Tank Battle site, so it's readily accessable from the boardwalk and the chairlift goes right over it, so I got some good photos for you. Well I know nobody reads these anyway, so on to the pics! -James Dillaman The, "no restraints necessary" Tig'rr coaster Another look at the boardwalk Indiana Beach's ferris wheel My posse for this trip: Julia, Paul, and Scott Easily the best Antique Cars I've ever been on. The Hoosier Hurricane, one of 3 woodies. This is such a great park, rides wherever you look. No Photo TR to Indana Beach would be complete without a suspension bridge shot. Indiana Beach, through the trees!
jamesdillaman Posted June 15, 2006 Author Posted June 15, 2006 Here's the rest, with the much anticipated construction update! -James Dillaman Catch anything? "Just some CCI goodness!" Layout pic, with Scott and Paul. Can you find them? Not to be confused with Water Wars, near the front of the park Splash Battle! Not sure yet what these are for The new ride for Indiana Beach here's what you've waited for You really are great, but don't let it get to your head, Scott Yeah buddy, 1st skycoaster We had to remedy that Scott had never been on a Skycoaster before Paul and Scott didn't know what happened until like the 3rd time they rode. A little rough, but the cars are heavily padded This is a great ride Lost Coaster of Superstition mountain, the coaster that takes the most time to type.
jamesdillaman Posted June 15, 2006 Author Posted June 15, 2006 So we're off to Cedar Point. Updates to come, but maybe not until Saturday, as i'm in St. Louis and to get to the internet everyday I have to go to the cafe. I'll leave you with some pics from our trip that didn't fall into the coaster catagories to tie you over. -James I think it's this way! must be "Cool Jules" Julia Smith! Not Scott, either It isn't paul I thought I'd take a break from driving on the way to cedar point. So who's driving my car? Paul's all "Why is Cornball Express such a great coaster with such a stupid name?"
verticalzero Posted June 15, 2006 Posted June 15, 2006 Nice photo's of Dollywood, i would love to ride GCI's "Thunderhead" Can I make a suggestion: for your next set of photo's can you make them smaller, so they can fit the screen size and everyone does not have to scroll to the right hand side to view the whole picture. Thank you
Guy T. Koepp Posted June 16, 2006 Posted June 16, 2006 Great photos James! It looks like you all are having an awesome time. Have Fun!
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