Dollywood - Is it worth it?

[Squid2]

I'm planning my annual rollercoaster vacation, (June 3rd - June 13th) and I'm trying to work in a side trip to Dollywood at the beginning of the trip. Now I know that Thunderhead is a great coaster, and I want to ride it, but I'm wondering if the whole park is worth the side trip out of the vacation, not to mention the extra time and money? It looks like it would cost about $300 or so and an extra couple of days.

Is this something I should do as part of a larger vacation, or should I try and hit Dollywood later in the year?

Squid2

[Harpo]

I only had a couple of hours available when I visited Dollywood about 3 years ago, but I'd wished I'd had more time. From what I saw during that brief visit, I think it looks like a very enjoyable park.

It definitely appears to be more of a show park than a ride park, so that should be a factor in your decision. If you only want to go for the rides, 3 or 4 hours would be enough time. But, if you want to catch the shows, it looked like you could easily fill one or two full days. That's where I wished I'd had more time -- I would have liked to have seen at least one or two shows. But, I did manage to get on all the rides of interest to me in my short visit.

[tinaalsgirl5]

If it's even remotely as awesome as its parent park of Silver Dollar City (SDC), it would be worth going to. I myself have never been to Dollywood, but seeing as how it once was SDC over Tennessee... well, it *must* be good.

Joy

[coasterdude89]

Dollywood is awesome. Thunderhead is the best wooden coaster. Tennessee Tornado will make the back of your head stand up when you see it, it might not look that scary but just wait untill the tunnel! Daredevil Falls is so much fun. High for a water ride, going about 55 mph without any restraints. Plus it is fun to get on/off since it doesn't stop. A must ride to ride is the water slide that goes down the mountain. The ride is fast you get soaked, and you feel like your going to flip out on the cruves. Country Fair is fun, they re did it this year so I can't help you out their. Click here for some pics! (http://www.carowindsconnection.com/community/index.php?showtopic=899) Smoky Mountain River Rampage is fun too! You will enjoy it there. Gone the past two summers. I recommend going to Splash Country too. It is a great waterpark. It was named the best new waterpark in the world when it opened. The people are so nice at both parts. They are the friendliest people that you wil ever meet with great Southern hospitatlity. Alot of peopel go to it everyday, the parking lot always if full, but once inside the park, the lines are not that bad., Plus, they have signs that tell you how long the line should be. I strongly recommend you go. If you do go, get the three day, unlimited visits to both parks. It is well worth its money. And while your in the south, head over to Carowinds in NC. It's about 30 minutes away from me and is my my "home" park.

[Squid2]

Well, we won't have three days to spend on this portion of the trip. Second, the alternative park to this is Carowinds.... this is, of course, assuming that we don't cut this portion of the trip out of the vacation.

On the water rides... what type are they? It sounds like one is a river rapid and the other is a river boat ride... can you tell me which is which? I don't think we'll have time to hit the water park... we're already considering BGW's waterpark in Williamsburg.

Squid2

[coasterdude89]

Smoky Mountain River Ramage is a white water rapid ride.

Daredevil Falls is a water ride. Your travel along the coruse, then go up a lift hill, then go around a curve, and drop down a tall, steep hill. When it was built, it was the tallest a fastest in the world. Th best part is no restraints!

Mountain Slidewinder is a water slide that you walk up the mountain, and then come down it! It is so much fun! It has been named the best non rollercoaster ride in the world several times!

Tennesse Tornado is a looping roller coaster. It has three loops. It was the worlds first spiro-looping coaster. Watch out for that
70 mph tunnel drop!
\
Thunderhead is awesome.

The best part about Dollywood is that it is all themed. From waht the employees where in to the rides. There is nota single non-themed section of the park. You will enjoy it!

For more information, visit the parks official website by clicking here! (http://www.dollywood.com/)

[Harpo]

From my recollection, doesn't Blazing Fury also get the rider wet? RCDB calls it a roller coaster, but it was more of a dark ride with a roller coaster-like feel in places, and, as I recall, some water encounters.

[coasterdude89]

Yeah Blazing Fury does get you damp on the front, midly wet in the back. It is actaully a fun ride, especially if your skinny, (like me!) and ride with somebody who is big (in the belly at least) then you can pop out of your seat a bit (for the best ride, ride in the very last seat) When it was built in the 70's it was considered advanced. It's a little outdated (scenery wise) but the coaster is fun. And it can hall a** with a full load going down some of the hills (at least for the size of the coaster!)

[tinaalsgirl5]

From pictures I've seen, Blazing Fury looks the same as Fire in the Hole from SDC, so I guess it probably does get people a little bit wet at the end; the front (based on FitH) has always been the wettest for me.

I really am interested in someday visiting Dollywood; I get 50% off a one-day ticket there with my SDC season pass, so that'd be cool...

Joy

[Harpo]

Blazing Fury and Fire In The Hole are similar in theme, but, as I recall, the ride experience is noticeably different between the two. I don't believe they have identical track layouts. However, there was a 1 year difference in time between my riding each of them, so I could easily be wrong about that. Regardless, I thought they were both fun rides.

[Joshua H]

It would be a tough choice between Carowinds and Dollywood for me.

I lived in Knoxville for the last 6 years and would often visit Dollywood. Dollywood is always a fun day. You're in the woods, the mountain air is great, and the people are frendly, and it's a relaxing fun day. Thunderhead is truely one of the best wooden coasters I've ever been on. It's a close tie between Thunderhead and the Beast in my book of favorites. Tennessee Tornado is a fun ride, but short. Blazing Fury is probably the freakiest ride I've been on, it's scary, but not because it's frightning. It's a dark ride with some coaster elements. Favorite line from the ride is something like "looks like you've been kissin' that steam engine." And Mountain Slidewinder is a unique water slide. There are a lot of shows, and it's just a take-your-time kinda day. Also, Dollywood has the best amusement park food of any park I've been to.

Carowind's is more of a traditional amusement park. Great rides and lots of large coasters. Vortex is a good stand-up coaster, the hurler and Thunder Road are 2 good wooden coasters, and Top Gun is an excellent inverted. They have a water park section, and also the Super Saturator is a really fun suspended roller coaster that lets each person dump 4 gallons of water on people waiting in line under the track. The new Borg Assimilator is a good flying coaster, but I rode it when it was "Stealth" at PGA.

I think it depends on the kind of day you want to have. Hope this helps....