brenthodge

I agree that all the Dollywood Christmas shows are a tad too long (“it’s a wonderful life” clocked in easily a full hour a few years ago) I guess I was meaning “a proper feeling show” that if it was interesting and full of production numbers with several set changes, you wouldn’t mind if it clocked in a bit longer than the magic 25 min mark.

Tinsel Town has been weak since the first year they added it when they had the overhead garlands like a real 50’s downtown. Coney looked best the first year they “improved” the light show as well. It’s barely been synced to the music the last 2 times.

But does it, really? I still say that’s a waste of a theatre with a full fly rail to have a unit set that doesn’t use the fly other than to hold up some windows. Tinkers didn’t work in festhaus - as I don’t feel any show with a “plot” does since it’s such a loud, high turnover location. I even felt The 70s show and Swinging into Christmas were both about 10 minutes too long for the space -would rather see a shorter 15-20 show with different playlists more frequently so the stage was almost in constant use. But I think that KI theater needs to be used for a much more produced, longer (40-45 min) show, then move Tinkers to a renovated International Showplace (the existing iron work even looks like the original set) and bring back a modified Charlie Brown Christmas Spectacular in the peanuts theatre and find a new home for Sounds of the Nativity-which is also a bit of a waste of a performance space with lots of covered seating and better production capabilities than needed for a 4 person vocal combo with a petting zoo.

It wasn’t in FestHaus in 2022.

I think I hear the thumping sound of someone beating a dead horse. LOL

Just wish the visuals were better (to align w the audio) shiny green and orange steel coaster in a field doesn’t scream “mountain”

I was able to "book" a weekday stay. I didn't go through to payment (as I was just testing) but seemed to be open. Where did you see that were only open weekends?

There are other venues the music could move to in needed as well. Peanuts theatre, The Holly Holiday set behind Hanks, Mistletones stage…again, I think a lot of it comes down to wanting to get people moved to one area of the park by 11:45 or so.

Agree that smaller “temporary stages with live acts would be good. I think they honestly don’t want too much spread through the park though since the goal is to funnel people down to I street by 12 so they can get the park empty and closed. Maybe a stage in front of Festhaus and use the stage from 4 drummers for another act.

Dollywood runs through the last WEEKEND of the season. Like if new years falls on Tuesday they would still be open till Sunday of that week. This year with where the holiday fell, they just ended on the 1st.

As others have said, the rides do have to close (great that they didn’t do a “hard close” at 10) but I agree on the shows. I think they definitely could do one more, the problem is the tinkers cast do the countdown-balloons riot at 9:30 and wouldnt have time between parade and that. This year they also had to move over to FestHaus and SWINGING wouldn’t have a place to do a later show with the switching around of shows. Last time the tinkers cast could do the countdown and could’ve done another show right after at 10:30.

I agree on the Knotts thing. I’ve talked to Mike a couple of times this season and every time I mention how I love seeing a shift to embrace a bigger picture with more entertainment, experience, theming and less focus on JUST ride stats he always gives a very “knowing nod” and agrees that is the way they see more long-term success and “brand building” going forward. I feel like the CF parks have the operational resources to fill in some of the blanks where I hear the Herschend parks are struggling (sadly) right now. Great job to you and all you did this season. I’ve offered “constructive observation” on things you may have been involved with, and you’ve provided “in the trenches” context around that, but know that those comments are only based on the incredible strides I see the park making, and the excitement I feel in seeing what you guys are truly capable of. Keep up the GREAT work.

GORGEOUS night with a sheen of rain on the pavement reflecting the lights. Koontz lit the tree tonight, and it was a pleasure to catch him right after to give him and the ENTIRE TEAM props for the best season I personally have ever seen at this park. I missed the “glory days” but based on what I’ve seen this year, we haven’t been too far off with some of the best entertainment, ops, food, and EXPERIENCE at any regional park. Do I wish we could hit Knotts level? Sure, but darn him proud to call this “my KI” these days!

I think it’s the angle of slope that’s the concern. I think it they redid the “tent roof” into something more hard-even if they had to add support poles and enclosed the sides like they do with coney BBQ and added heaters, they could have a decent most year round theatre. Of course they also have a decent covered performance space with donkeys and goats in it back in Plant Snooped that has great vocals wasted in a petting zoo.

It would be cool if you could work the show and food TOGETHER in FestHaus like a “feast of Christmas” with 3 seatings pr night (5:30, 7, 8:30) but I can’t see people wanting to commit to the 45min-hour it would take to make it make sense. You’d have to get rid of the buffet lines and do more of a “pre fixe” like Stampede or Pirates Voyage and it would definitely have to be an upcharge, but Winterfest might be an ideal time to try it as long as they added additional indoor seating for dining and shows someplace else.

Do you mean “must stay in KI theatre? It WAS in Festhaus. I agree about “swinging” it just didn’t gel for me. It wasn’t really “big band”. Mistletones sort of have that vibe. but then Bruno Mars thrown in it was was too much like Cool Yule. It was just… weird and not different enough. Almost would’ve been cool to somehow have over in TinselTown area and use the Mistletones as more roaming entertainment now. I’ve often said that FestHaus is really hard to do anything BUT just song and dance though since it’s just a really odd performing space and most people are just eating and talking. I think they really need to redesign the international showplace to make it usable for Winterfest with less sloped seating, better coverage and even heating to do something there and in the KI theatre more “scripted” then do the review type thing like swingin into Christmas in festhaus. Since it is German, would be nice to actually do something more traditional, but with todays crowd it would probably be even MORE tuned out if it wasn’t loud and upbeat. It was fine and talented cast and b by and. I just don’t like that it took the spot of a more produced show when we also lost Charlie Brown Christmas Spectacular with more production numbers. It doesn’t seem like the kind of show that needs full production capabilities.

They announced the closure BEFORE they opened the gates, so it seems YOU are the one that cannot read, as their post went public at 3:30. Well in advance of a 5 pm open. Were you privy to any conversation that might have occurred between shift supervisors and staff in advance of that public announcement to assess who could safely or not safely come in and stay until the posted closing time? You clearly want to be so right on this, but you aren’t. Yes-costs to remain open past 8 were I’m sure weighed against anticipated revenue. But there were I’m sure many factors that were considered as well such as safety concerns AND public perception of staying open as many other businesses closed early. As for the name calling, I’m simply basing my opinion on your on going rant that is incorrect, and seems fully motivated by your own need to be right and get what you want-a park that never closes once it is open- circumstances be darned.

Due to water line damage in multiple locations through the park because of the extreme temperatures. I'm sure its only a matter of time before some entitled folks jump on here and somehow blame it on attendance and fault the park for being horribly managed LOL. This is probably the restrooms as most of those facilities were never designed for year-round use. Remember the first go-round of WinterFest didn't use that much of the park. Now with pretty much the entire park open, lots of facilities that may have even had the water mains turned off on are now open and in use on some very cold nights.

Maybe you SHOULD think twice about traveling to the park on questionable weather days. The more you rant the more silly you sound. They “didn’t close for rain”. They communicated 2hours in advance of opening that they would be closing early for the safety and comfort of staff and guests. If you chose to come AFTER that was publicly stated, that was on you. You might want to drop it soon, you really aren’t strengthening your case LOL!

The thing to keep in mind is there are some selfish, juvenile folks like “super7” that dont get that there is ANYONE ELSE other themselves that factors into deciding anything. I’d hate to see how self centered they were about anything REALLY important instead of something as fairly trivial as when a theme park closes. I’m thankful the team was able to provide what they could Thursday. I’m impressed the park clearly communicated expectations well in advance of closing, and I’m impressed they seemed genuinely concerned about their staff. The park management seems to get the big picture WAY more than sone folks around here.

They pulled no trick. They posted at 3:30 on a day they were opening at 5 that they were closing at 8. The forecast shifted from shifting to snow at 10-11 to earlier. Sorry their actions don’t fit your made-up narrative.

Pretty much none of that is what happened. They announced Fridays closure on Tuesday when it became clear it would be unsafe to open. They adjusted Thursday’s close and published it BEFORE open at about 3-3:30 when it became clear that the rain would be hitting about that time and rapidly changing to snow, then dropping temps. Did anticipated attendance after 8pm factor in? I’m sure, but to say it was done “on a whim” doesn’t seem to have been the case. I’m sure the opportunity to make $$$ the last two nights before Christmas was seriously weighed against the cost of doing business, potential staffing challenges, and possible liability to guests and staff being open in unsafe conditions. Your “if you open you stay open” policy takes none of that into account as any well run business looking out for their bottom line should.

Contracts are probably written for performers. Sone of the shows are produced by outside companies, and I doubt you could easily explain to the GP the isduecc C with the rides not running. I’m sure they build a day or two of “losses” into the budget knowing each season there may be a cancellation or two. I think there was at least 1-2 late closed and a full cancellation last year due more to rain and storms during the week of nightly ops.