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  1. Part 2 (August 16): Dollywood on National Roller Coaster Day! We got to go to Dollywood on National Roller Coaster Day! On my last trip four years ago, I wanted Lightning Rod to be open but it was closed all day. Hopefully my third trip would be the charm, especially given what day it was. As we rode the Pigeon Forge trolley to the front gate, I looked at Lightning Rod for any signs of life and saw two trains waiting on the track. Once inside the park, I joined its growing line outside the entrance. Just before the 10:00 opening time, I saw a train launch! Things were definitely looking promising. Finally, at 10:00…Lightning Rod opened!!! I finally had a chance to experience this ride, on National Roller Coaster Day nonetheless! Better yet, I discovered its Single Rider Line just inside the entrance, so I took that and ended up getting paired with another single rider in the FRONT ROW! I did not plan any of this! What an amazing start to National Roller Coaster Day with riding in the front row on Lightning Rod’s first train of the day for my first ride! To say I was awed was an understatement. Once I was seated in the front row, all I had left to do was enjoy it. And I made sure I did. Once the 45-mph launch kicked in, I had my hands up the whole ride, from the first drop to the quad down to the last turn. I finally rode Lightning Rod, five years after it opened! The line was growing fast, though it didn’t matter much since I had the Single Rider Line. In case Lightning Rod went down later (since it has AMAZING reliability lol) I rode again. This time I was in row 11, the second to last row. As expected from the back, there was great ejector ESPECIALLY in the overbanked elements and quad down. I didn’t care where I sat as long as I was ON the ride, because I was finally riding Lightning Rod!!! After those two rides, we headed into Craftsman’s Valley where I walked onto Blazing Fury. Though I wasn’t surprised at the short wait due to its high capacity, this made a great case for making this Dollywood trip my first without buying a TimeSaver. Could I do it? Right after Blazing Fury came the first Arrow looper I would ride in roughly eleven months. My last ride on an Arrow looper was on Corkscrew at Cedar Point on September 13, 2020. Though my plan was to ride my must-rides at least once each before any repeats, I knew two rides were in order for Tennessee Tornado once I reached its nearly empty station. Despite running only one train (and Train 2 being nowhere in sight) the most I would have to wait today for most rides was one cycle. My first Tornado ride in four years was in 2-1 since I didn’t bother to wait for the front. The 128-foot first drop feels a lot like Vortex’s 138-foot drop, as it felt rather familiar when flying through that mountainside. I sent my hands up as I flew through the two loops and sidewinder at 63 mph. Even though Tennessee Tornado is shorter in length than Vortex (2,682 feet vs 3,800 feet), it is taller (163 feet vs 148 feet) and faster (63 mph vs 55 mph) so it packs the mega-looper experience into a shorter layout. I still wonder to this day what the ride would be like if it were able to have a larger layout. I walked back around and rode again, in 5-1. Not that the magic seat matters as much on an Arrow looper as smooth as Tornado, but the back rows were taken and this row was open. Another smooth, 3-inversion, 63-mph ride ensued! Firechaser Express’ line didn’t look too bad so I went for it. Though it is a family coaster, I simply love the fact that it includes a backwards launch. My 20-25-minute wait wasn’t so bad though, especially since it included a pleasant conversation with some other guests in line. I ended up in the front row and it was as fun as I remembered it from last time. Now it was time for Wild Eagle, which was my first B&M wing coaster when I rode it in 2013. I'm thankful that this was a fairly common sight today! I rode it twice, once on each side, in case I didn’t get back to it later. My first ride was row 6 on the right. I expected some airtime on the drop (like my back row rides last time) but it didn’t quite match my recollection. But I still had fun and was glad to be back on Wild Eagle. My second ride was in row 2 on the left. While it had more positive forces characteristic of any ride toward the front, it also reminded me of why I prefer the back. Either way, Wild Eagle is a fun coaster for what it is. It finally came time for me to visit Wildwood Grove in person as we walked over the late River Battle’s footprint (good thing I got three rides on that on my last trip!). I enjoyed getting to see a kids area themed to something other than Peanuts, complete with beautiful scenery, a variety of rides, and a handful of costumed characters. Of the rides, the Mad Mockingbird flying scooters were the first I rode. I came rather close to snapping but I am not sure if I did. Still fun as always from a ride of this kind! I’m usually not one to prioritize family coasters or chase after them for the credit, but I had always wanted to check out Dragonflier. As a next-gen Vekoma family coaster, I knew it would be wildly different from the Flying Ace that we’re used to. There was a line but I was on within 5-10 minutes, in row 2. I will say that, like Firechaser, Dragonflier gracefully dances the line between thrilling and family-friendly. In other words, kids love it but adults enjoy it too. I became one of those adults as the train zipped through its layout. Not only was it quick and fun, but it was SO SMOOTH! I already like Vekomas old or new but Dragonflier is without a doubt the Smoothest. Vekoma. Ever. (at least out of the Vekomas I’ve ridden) I hopped in line again and rode (in row 5 this time) to relive what pleasant surprise I had just experienced and to confirm Dragonflier as my new favorite family coaster, something I never thought I would enjoy finding! Mystery Mine had a longer line than most of the other rides while I had walked past it to Wildwood Grove, so I decided to come back to it later in case that changed. Fortunately, most of the line had disappeared when I returned, and I found a full station wait. I noticed a difference in operations compared to my previous visits: they were loading only one car at a time as opposed to two at a time from my previous visits. The length of the line made for a roughly 15-minute wait, but my being a single rider helped shorten that if they needed an empty seat filled. The only tradeoff was riding in the second row with the obstructed view. I was okay with that, though, since I didn’t need a TimeSaver Pass to ride Mystery Mine in a short wait time this time around. The modified part of the layout fit in with the rest of the ride; however, I already missed the beyond-vertical drop and following horseshoe turn that were the casualties of this modification, as that was my favorite part of the ride other than the end. But still, Mystery Mine is still quite fun and is still so “Dollywood.” (side note, I enjoy seeing these wait time screens around the park. They helped me make sure I was at the lesser crowded rides!) Drop Line was a walk-on, literally, as I walked right on to the ride. Due to no line, the operators were telling us to sit wherever we wanted – a first for me on a Drop Tower! I picked my seat and enjoyed the view of the park before plunging back down to earth. I was once again back at my first GCI, Thunderhead! On my first visit it was one of my top favorite rides at the park along with Tennessee Tornado and Mystery Mine, but on my second visit it underwhelmed me slightly. But I remembered how much I enjoyed it at first and I still looked forward to riding it again! Thanks to its absence of a line, I got three rides in rows 12, 1, and 7. Thunderhead is another coaster I find good in any row, and I don’t care where I sit even with the slight nuances that may make other rows different. I welcomed Thunderhead back into my trio of favorite Dollywood coasters as I careened around each curve aboard partially-filled trains. I find it too different to compare with Mystic though I find both these GCIs quite fun in their own ways. (another side note: it seems I did not take any more photos, even after adding the HEIC photos. Shows how focused I was on getting my last rides...and keeping my phone dry from rain I did not see coming ) Now that we were back at the front of the park, I returned to Lightning Rod. Between my first two rides and now, it had gone down for maintenance and had since sidetracked one of its two trains. The Single Rider Line was still short, but it took a little longer to get a row and load. I didn’t complain, though, since it was still operating in the first place! I would ride three more times, in rows 6, 3, and 8. That 45-mph launch up that hill is definitely a unique feeling! The launch and the quad down are my favorite parts! At the end of my third ride, it started sprinkling. I decided 5 for the day was a good stopping point and went to meet back up with my mom where she was waiting. My decision to meet Mom at Reds Drive In where she was waiting proved a good one. Seconds after finding her, it started pouring! I headed inside to get a cheeseburger, fries, and a strawberry milkshake for us to share. They were good! I found during my research that Reds was a recommended choice, so I am glad we ended up here when this small storm came. I checked the Dollywood app and virtually all the rides were closed for weather. I wanted to ride the train but it was down for maintenance. Meanwhile, we took the time to enjoy our food. The storm passed, but all the rides were still closed for weather. That is, all the outdoor rides. Blazing Fury still showed as “open” on the app, so I headed back up there while Mom hung back at Reds. Surely enough, Blazing Fury was indeed open, and it had only a station wait! I got two more rides in, during which the crew announced that the park’s ongoing lightning ban was just lifted and we should see the other rides opening shortly. I headed to Tennessee Tornado but it had not yet reopened, so I checked Firechaser Express in hopes of nabbing another ride without waiting as long. Surely enough, it was open and I waited only 10-15 minutes! In half my previous wait time, I got a bonus ride. Mystery Mine was virtually a walk on. The switchback in the station was nearly empty. The crew had just loaded a car and closed the gates, when I happened to tell the separator/grouper that I was trying to ride in the front, if possible. There happened to be one open seat in the front, so they graciously let me on to the aforementioned car so it would be full! Thank you, Mystery Mine crew! I wanted to ride Wild Eagle one more time, in my favorite row from last time (back left). I had loved this row because the first drop feels like Diamondback’s first drop (but obviously shorter) in terms of the forces and whatever little airtime I get with those vests. That was what I got this time. Wild Eagle may not be the biggest or most forceful B&M wing, but it doesn’t have to be for it to be the plain fun ride that it is! Plus, it was my first B&M wing coaster, and I can’t argue with sentimentality! (and a corkscrew on ANY wing is fun!) It was once again time for my obligatory mini-marathon on Tennessee Tornado to end the trip. On my previous two trips I had cut it pretty close to where I had just enough time for one, maybe two rides at the end of the day, so I made sure to allow more time this time. Despite running only one train, it remained rather easy to get a seat on the next cycle. I returned to Tennessee Tornado just before 5:30 and was able to get 4 more rides, in 6-1, 7-1, 5-1, and 7-1. I loved each ride, as always, and I loved getting to ride an Arrow looper again and of course I made great use of that chance (and the one to follow; stay tuned!). For the last ride, the crew held operation around 10-til-6, after which they waited for any more people who would come during that time. I am a fan of this as it takes away the worry of attempting one more ride and then being too late for last train. They did this on my previous visits, so I was glad to see it was still a thing. Plus, it gave me a few minutes to just chill aboard the train and appreciate this Arrow. At 6, LROTNOTT was underway, and we cheered on our way out of the station. I took in the 63-mph excursion through the massive loops and sidewinder for one more time until next (hopefully sooner than another four years from now!), hands up the whole time. Unbeknownst to me, Mom waited out the line at Grist Mill during my mini-marathon and bought the two of us a loaf of cinnamon bread. I had expressed interest in it earlier but was fine with forgoing it if neither of us cared to wait. What a pleasant surprise to find the quintessential Dollywood snack in a paper bag she was carrying when we met back up! Until next time, favorite theme park! Lightning Rod, thank you for operating fairly consistently on this National Roller Coaster Day! +Lightning Rod: 5 +Blazing Fury: 3 Total: 7 +Tennessee Tornado: 6 Total: 17 +Firechaser Express: 2 Total: 3 +Wild Eagle: 3 Total: 8 +Mad Mockingbird: 1 +Dragonflier: 2 +Mystery Mine: 3 Total: 10 +Drop Line: 1 Total: 4 +Thunderhead: 3 Total: 9
    3 points
  2. Update the park posted yesterday. We can see some of the details going into the front facade of the organ. https://www.instagram.com/p/CblBUaNJUyV/?utm_medium=copy_link
    2 points
  3. Looks nice for Carowinds, hopefully now Kings Island can get their Flying Eagles ride back, since they will have enough flat rides now with this expansion. We can hope.
    2 points
  4. September 30, 2007. After hearing countless accounts of my brother's visits to this place called "Kings Island," I got to see the park for myself courtesy of my mom who had won a drawing for two tickets at a blood drive. Son of Beast's massive lift hill was the very first thing I saw. The Grand Carousel was the very first ride I rode. I knew all the different coaster types thanks to RollerCoaster Tycoon, but I realized that building them in a game and riding them in real life are two completely different things, so I rode mostly the smaller rides. I remember seeing a red train rolling backwards over Racer's many hills, and sadly I wasn't willing to try it under the assumption that I would eventually ride it in a future year (that aged well). I stood in line for Dodgems but didn't ride it because the totally normal sparks of the car's poles rolling along the grated ceiling was unsettling to me somehow (I made weird assumptions as a kid ). I first laid eyes on Vortex (one of my brother's favorite rides) and watched it for at least 10 minutes before deciding, "Someday, I'm going to ride this...just not today." I already knew Vortex would be a special ride to me but still wildly underestimated the epic decade that would follow of my history with it. Finally I found myself in Nickelodeon Universe, home to more rides that better suited my preferences. I did ride Little Bill's Giggle Coaster (3 times) and Backyardigans' Swing Along, but the main attraction happened to be the Fairly Odd Coaster. My mom rode with me the first few times since I was nervous, but eventually let me ride by myself when I got more used to the ride (hence my riding again repeatedly - a technique I would go on to use on bigger coasters ). I remember the operator on the mic encouraging us to put our hands up at the start of the ride, as well as the male-voiced spiel "Welcome to Cosmo and Wanda's Fairly Odd Coaster. Please remain seated..." During another ride, I found a 2007 brochure under the seat in front of mine, which I read cover to cover on the way home. I have a mental note of this attraction they kept calling "Tomb Raider - The Ride" but thought nothing of it (including the fact that 2007 was that ride's last season as such). By the end of the trip I had amassed roughly ten rides on Fairly Odd Coaster alone - my first marathon! We ate some pizza by the fountains before we went home, to mitigate my sadness over leaving. But I knew I would return. Side note, during the '07-'08 Cedar Fair ride name change en masse, I thought it was normal for the park to change their ride names each year so needless to say I was confused when all the names remained the same after the 2008 season, while also being aware of the arrival of our favorite B&M rattlesnake. But that's a different story for a different time.
    2 points
  5. A pretty cool video I stumbled upon tonight that includes a handful of pictures I’ve never seen. Such a rad dark ride. Just wanted to share for those interested!
    1 point
  6. After writing bits and pieces about this wonderful trip in between shifts as well as forgetting about it for a while, I finally present to you my detailed novel of my second trip to The Island in Pigeon Forge, my third trip to Dollywood, and my first visit to Carowinds, thanks to Carowinds' daily op ending one week later than KI's. Let's go! Part 1: The Island in Pigeon Forge On Sunday afternoon (August 15), Mom and I arrived in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. We lounged around in our hotel room for a couple of hours before deciding to check out The Island. I had gone to The Island during our previous trip namely to ride The Wheel and watch the fountain show. I originally wanted to go after Dollywood, but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to use the extra time tonight to go (which would be the right decision since inclement weather kept us away the next night). Five minutes of driving and another five of walking later, we were back at The Island, home to a 200-foot-tall Ferris Wheel that dwarfed everything in its vicinity. I wanted to eat something first as I was rather hungry, so I eventually ended up with an Auntie Anne’s pretzel and honey mustard. Now I was ready to ride some rides. I ended up purchasing the unlimited rides wristband ($35) plus the high ropes course and its jump ($10 + $5) so to get my money’s worth, I had to do at least $50 worth of experiences, including the high ropes course. (spoilers, I didn’t, but I did what I wanted to do). I’m not usually one who rides whatever coasters they can find, but I did just happen to see a coaster of a kind that I enjoy. Spinning Parrots is an SBF Visa spinning coaster. It may have just a simple figure-8 (exactly like Nuclear Rush at Scene75 Columbus), but I like Nuclear Rush so I decided to take Spinning Parrots for, well, a spin. As expected, it was fun for what it was, and I considered it a warm-up for tomorrow. Now came the main attraction, the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel. After four years, I looked forward to riding it again. I boarded Car 35 and got comfy for the roughly-ten-minute ride. Mom did not join me since she doesn’t really like Ferris Wheels or most rides that are high, so she became my personal photographer from the ground. The panoramic view that the Wheel offers never gets old, and I hope I don’t wait another four years before I can do this again (I will say this a lot during our time in Pigeon Forge). One waiver and harness fitting later, I ascended the Island Ropes Course. I figured it wouldn’t be much different than some of my climbs at Kings Island (while also being rather different since the rides usually don’t have ropes on them lol). My favorite part on the whole ropes course were the two ziplines one could ride across on the middle and upper levels. It started raining while I was up there, which made for a rather fun zipline experience, and fortunately the rain didn’t last long. After losing count of zipline runs, I joined the short line for the jump off of the top level. The jump down concluded my time on the high ropes course, as well as my time at The Island as it was starting to get late. I took in the atmosphere just in case we didn’t make it back tomorrow. +Spinning Parrots: 1 +The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel: 1 Total: 2 +The Island Ropes Course: 1
    1 point
  7. Definitely a couple visits throughout the season for KI. Might hit up CP this summer as well as Kentucky Kingdom; possibly Michigan’s Adventure for Shivering Timbers, and Indiana Beach.
    1 point
  8. One can certainly understand the darker colors getting impacted by UV degradation and fading, but one would think the lighter colors should have fared much better.
    1 point
  9. ^The words puke beige in combination isn't against the TOS.
    1 point
  10. As much as I love all they are doing for the 50th, I sure hope DB and Banshee are slatted for paint next year.
    1 point
  11. @CorkscrewMcPuke said the very thing I was coming to say, only my version was "And yet, Diamondback still stands at a young age of 13, looking like a 50 year old hooptie."
    1 point
  12. I don’t think you are being negative at all. My comment about mystic was more to the thought they put into the queue, the way the switchbacks are “hidden” behind the meandering path, and the way they preserved “some” of the old growth tree cover. If they used that idea of “reclaiming an old river side town” for industry and extreme adventure sports, then I’d buy it. I even like the idea of a single rail coaster replacing Vortex and using the idea they did at CaAdv with the dirt bike, explore the abandoned “beast woods”. Develop an underlying story of why this whole town was abandoned. Who found it and realized it would be a great outpost for camping, white water rafting, dirt bike tours and other outdoor adventure, and why being there has angered the “sleeping beast”. As it is, it’s a mess of stuff with vague “western” architecture that we aren’t sure if it’s new or old.
    1 point
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