calakapepe Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 This report will be more for the visual appeal more than the story. That's what we all wanna have mostly anyhow, yeah? Overall, this park hit a homerun for me, and food quality aside (shocking, I know), I pretty much kept thinking, "I wish Kings Island did this". I've had my eye on Dollywood ever since I started getting into the whole theme park stalking game and I saw the advertisements teasing Mystery Mine... I remember driving through Tennessee seeing brochures in the rest stops advertising Timber Tower. But almost a decade later, I am able to finally climb aboard Mystery Mine, as well as the other many great rides. --- First thing was first.. I, like many others, had to swallow my excitement and accept that Lightning Rod would not be in my immediate future. I will have to make another 5 hour car ride in order to climb aboard this ride. Very disappointing, but I honestly forgot about it not being opened when I was elsewhere.We were there for the final week of Festival of Nations. I didn't try any of the exotic food samplers. We didn't need it, but we had Time Saver, and it came in handy like... 3 times. first up was Blazing Fury. It was a neat experience, nothing I'd care to ride upon my own accord, but it's enjoyable. Tennessee Tornado was next. I was not let down by this coaster. It holds to give an exciting ride with a fantastic first drop, jaw dropping first loop, and very forceful everything else. It's a shame it's so short. We did this ride next as we weren't able to reserve TimeSaver as the device said Wild Eagle was "FULL".. (It was actually because they weren't using Time Saver because of the short lines) Fire Chaser Express is way more fun that I expected it to be. I really enjoyed this one a lot and ended up riding it I think 3 times during our trip This was my all time favorite of the trip. Mystery Mine had all the years to build up my anticipation and I was still very impressed. It was my first Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter and I'll be happy if I ever come to a park bearing one in their coaster line-up in my future! This ride seriously.. they aren't that complex of effects.. but they put Kings Island to shame.. I feel like this is the kind of ride Kings Island could've been a proud owner of had Paramount not ever been bought out and then had they not sold the park.. also had Tomb Raider: The Ride been able to keep its theming.. It's a string of happenings that kept this caliber of theming at our park. We HAD to get the on-ride photo btw..The two scared people in the front were my other half, and my younger sister. I didn't think to debrief them of the ride, but once we got to the first vertical lift, and they complained that I didn't warn them.. I knew the second lift and drop would be extremely fun... for me > --- Oh Thunderhead.. probably my #2 favorite woodie as of now.. It's just my style of coaster! First GCI and man.. those trains are so comfy.. PTC done messed up. GCI oughtta be making new trains for woodies all over in addition to doing all this retracking they've been getting contracts for! We then made our way to watch Las Pampas Gauchos. Entertaining show.. but if it weren't for the funny personality of the mic-ed leader of the show, I'd've lost interest at some points. We also saw Mother Africa and.. that show is simply impressive all around. It made me tear up once.. I'm weird and when I see feats performed that I perceive as "impossible" I just think it's incredibly powerful. *shrug*On the 2nd day we saw Via Romen and listened to this wonderful show. Great music, great energy.Took a gander at the soon to be ready ride and I have to say.. this ride, right now, is anything but "Lighting Fast" We made our rides on Wild Eagle on the second day. Rode once on each side.. and surprisingly enough.. I enjoyed it more that Gate Keeper! Not quite as much as Thunderbird though.. Something about the ride's location makes it very beautiful and the trees wrapping around the ride give it a nice atmosphere to contrast the "top of the world" feeling this ride gives as you soar higher that the rest of the nearby rides and buildings. -- Food experience.. I heard from people that the food from Dollywood was fantastic. Well.. their service was just fine there, especially since it's not a busy day .. But maybe southern food isn't just my cup of tea. I found the food to be a little bland overall. I definitely didn't go around sampling everything in the park, but where I DID end up getting a taste.. I wished I hadn't with haste; It wasn't bad.. just not what I'd say is good; just okay. -- These are just a couple photos to carry my sort of review of the park along. I have many more on my flickr and yeah.. I'm gonna be lazy and just link you over to that page instead. There's random photos of my family and counterpart, but there's also a number of photos I'm quite proud of and some that are just neat to see, IMHO.https://flic.kr/s/aHskygM5yt Thanks for taking a gander at this report and I'm sure I will be taking another trip later this year to ride.. well.. you know. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creed Bratton Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 Thanks for sharing! I love your other pictures on Facebook as well! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
APE Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 If you didn't try the cinnamon bread your trip was a failure. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calakapepe Posted April 20, 2016 Author Share Posted April 20, 2016 Im not a huge fan of food treats for reasons that people probably don't care about hehe but I can try the cinnamon bread next time I go. I saw the trail of people heading into the building, so I know exactly where to go! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.