Friday, July 26, 2024

πŸŒŸπŸ’΅Save Money - Current Promotions for Dollywood & other Pigeon Forge Attractions πŸ’΅πŸŒŸ

Hi Everyone,
Let's check out the current promotions that Dollywood is offering - as of TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2024.  

🟒🟒2 DAY TICKET FOR PRICE OF ONE - FOR HARVEST FESTIVAL - ENDS OCTOBER 28, 2024
🟒🟒I HIGHLY recommend checking this out - There are several various types of offers available at the moment - Dollywood.com's Offers Web Page - you may see an offer you like! - Click Here


πŸ”΅OTHER PROMOTIONS FOR THE AREA

🟒🟒

ALCATRAZ EAST MUSEUM - DEAL FOR LOCALS - ENDS SEPTEMBER 22, 2024


The deal for Alcatraz East is a little hard to read, this is what it says...
⛰ Local Appreciation Days 🚨
Alcatraz East is spreading the love to locals! Residents who work or live in Blount, Cocke, Jefferson, Knox, or Sevier County, and State Welcome Center employees, can get $12 General Admission tickets from September 13-22, 2024.
All adults must present a resident ID or current pay stub. This discount cannot be combined with any other discounts or promotions.

If you know of any additional discounts, please let me know in the comments below.  I will update this post when I have updates.












Link to dollywood.com for tickets and more info - click here.





πŸ”΅Blog Posts with other Helpful Trip Planning information - 

🟒🟒🟒

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

🌺🌻New Videos - Flower and Food Festival 2024🌸πŸͺ·

My Blog Post Title

Hi Everyone, hope your summer is well.  It sure is flying by, it seems.  I was able to get my awesome day at the Flower and Food Festival videos published.  There's Two Parts, one and two.  Check them out below!





Thursday, June 13, 2024

πŸŽ‚Happy Birthday to Lightning Rod! You're 8 Years Old Now!πŸŽ‚

Hi Everyone,
Today is Lightning Rod's 8th Birthday!  Lightning Rod has been, in its own cute way, the 'problem child' of Dollywood.  

Emerging from Rocky Mountain Coasters as the inaugural wooden coaster equipped with an LSM lift hill launch, Lightning Rod has thrilled riders with an experience unique to itself. 

Spanning 3,800 feet, with a drop of 165 feet, a top speed of 73 mph, and a G-force of 3.5, you're at the pinnacle of many roller coaster enthusiasts' lists!

Nearly every amazing roller coaster attracts many fans, and more than a few have been quick to point out differences and changes.  I love these comparison videos of Lightning Rods changes over its eight years of life.  




Lightning Rod has had a lot of modifications to it.  The biggest of course is switch from the LSM launch to a traditional chain lift at the end of the 2023 season.  It opened up on day one of Dollywood's 2024 season, a testament to Dollywood's desire to have more uptime for this ride.  You can see my video of LR that day below.


My feelings about it...I think its a win win.  So far this year it has had very little downtime, which was a huge objective for Dollywood.  I also liked that I was able to look around and take in a great view while going up the lift...where previously I would white knuckle the launch.  Many will disagree and there's nothing wrong with that.  I still feel like all the ejector air is still there in all its glory.  For me, the key to enjoying LR is being positive my pockets are completely empty.  I have seen stuff in my pockets that I was so certain were secure, float in front of my face on the quad down, which was not a good feeling at all...so, I need empty pockets so I can relax, lol.   A friend I was with lost car keys on it one time - nightmare!  The storage cubbies in the station hold larger items like backpacks and big purses, as well as smaller items for hats, glasses, phones - use them.

After the 2020 season, Dollywood decided to replace over half of the track with the more durable Ibox Track. Originally constructed with Timber Topper Track, consisting of six layers of lumber and a metal topper, the new sections are now entirely steel, providing a long-term solution. A picture from Wikipedia distinctly illustrates the differences between the two track styles.



Dollywood has an excellent coaster on its hands and in my opinion, they've made many improvements that lead me to believe it's going to be with us for a long time.  So happy 8th birthday LR, and it looks like you're going from problem child to a golden child. 😊

🟦🟩VIP Tour Info-Roundup for 2024🟩🟦

My Blog Post Title
Hi Everyone,
 

I have written blog posts about the VIP Tours at Dollywood as details for each tour became available. However, I would prefer to create a single post dedicated to VIP Tours and update that post as new information emerges.

The Dollywood VIP tour program has recently expanded to include the Dolly Parton Experience and the Summer Celebration Tour. For more details on these offerings, follow the links provided below to visit dollywood.com.

Dollywood has a couple of articles written by Insiders that you might find helpful...

These are very popular Experiences for Dollywood.  I have a friend that insists on always dipping a candle every time we go.  How about you, which experiences do you or your family and friends insist on doing each visit?  Let me know in the comments.

PREVIOUS VIP BLOG ARTICLES





Wednesday, June 12, 2024

🌺🌻Summer Celebration Tasting Pass🌸πŸͺ·

My Blog Post Title
Hi Everyone,
Dollywood has unveiled the details for their Summer Celebration 2024 Tasting Pass. The event is scheduled from Saturday, June 15, to Sunday, August 11, 2024, providing ample opportunity to sample everything. Let's explore the offerings!

Here's the link to ''BUY NOW'' - click here to do that, if you wish.


If you're a Gold & Diamond Passholder, take advantage of your discount entitlement.




Previously, I would share a map highlighting all the Festival Food locations, but now there's no need for that (or for this festival), as Dollywood has incorporated them into the park map. Simply use your Dollywood App or grab a brochure at the entrance to find all the locations with ease.

Spot the Festival Dining Location Icon next to my arrow.  The heaviest concentration of locations is in the Showstreet and Rivertown Junction areas.

ALSO! You may be interested in checking out my popular blog post that lists ALL of Dollywood's Menus with Prices.  Check that out HERE.

What are your thoughts on the offerings for the Summer Celebration Festival? Share your opinions in the comments.




Monday, June 10, 2024

πŸ₯³HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLAZING FURY - 46 LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!πŸ₯³

Hi everyone,

June 6, 2024 marked Blazing Fury's 46th Birthday!πŸ₯³


Happy Birthday to Dollywood's Blazing Fury.  46 years looks good on you!

Built in-house back when Dollywood was known as Silver Dollar City Tennessee, Blazing Fury has been transporting riders to safety through the fire riddled 1880's town since June 6, 1978.


The cast of characters that you encounter have some things to say in all the Chaos!

"Now Molly, I've got a weak back" - "Weak back or not Luthor, here I come" - "You look like you've been kissing that steam train" - "Fire in the hole!!" - How many times have you recited those lines on your trips over the years?


The ride featured a splashdown at the rides end until 2013 I believe it was, when they removed it and updated the control systems for the 2014 season.  In 2015 we learned that Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) was trusted with replacing the last one third or so of track, which included the falling bridge, the second dip, and the finale dip that leads into the station.  Simultaneously, RMC was also building Lightning Rod in Jukebox Junction.


At one time there were four trains.  Each train has a 7.5 hp motor that utilizes an electric current from the track, similar to how a model train operates.  Around the burning bridge scene, it mostly switches to gravity to get everyone to the station.


Coincidentally, Dollywood's sister park Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri just this year replaced their version of Blazing Fury, known as Fire in the Hole.  They trusted RMC with a brand-new iteration of the ride and so far, has been a hit with those who cherished the old ride, as well as the next generation of riders.  Check out my popular blog post on SDC's version to see artwork, behind the scenes construction, and more.  Check that out here.  As far as I am aware, there are no plans for a Blazing Fury 2.0.  Given all the work on it in the past decade or so leaves me to believe that it is going to be at Dollywood in its current state for a while, but you just never know with Dollywood.  They keep their plans quiet.


Happy Birthday Blazing Fury!  I know for a fact that you are a beloved part of Dollywood! 


What are your favorite memories of Blazing Fury?  Let me know in the comments.



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Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Updated Blog Article! πŸ”΄A Guide to Mountain Coasters and Other Similar Attractions in Sevier County, TennesseeπŸ”΄

My Blog Post Title Hi Everyone,


I've updated the pricing information and added some additional pictures of ''other types'' of coasters in the area - aside from the more traditional alpine coasters, like the suspended Mountain Glider at Ripley's in Gatlinburg - stuff like that.

Go check it out HERE.

Thursday, May 16, 2024

PRIVACY POLICY FOR WHATSUPATDOLLYWOOD - BLOGGY VLOG

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Tuesday, May 7, 2024

πŸŸ‘πŸŸ‘πŸ”΅πŸ”΅Dollywood's Menus 2024 πŸ”΅πŸ”΅πŸŸ‘πŸŸ‘

My Blog Post Title
Hi Everyone!   I see a lot of requests on social media for Dollywood's Menus, so I have just the blog post for you!

Here are the Dollywood menus for 2024.  You'll notice that the 2023 or 2024 pictures will say 2023 or 2024 in the bottom-left corner.... just so you're sure what you're looking at is current or older info.  

Please Note, Dollywood can close restaurants, change the menus, the items, and the prices at any time.  I will sometimes notice price increases throughout the season, and I try my best to update this post as I discover changes.



If you want to see this same post from previous years, click the year:  2022 | 2023



Friday, May 3, 2024

πŸ₯³ Happy Birthday Dollywood πŸ₯³

My Blog Post Title Hi Everyone!

Happy Birthday Dollywood!  38 Looks Good On You!

According to Wikipedia... 

On May 3, 1986, Silver Dollar City Tennessee reopened as Dollywood. The new Rivertown Junction area included Smoky Mountain River Rampage, a whitewater rafting ride; Back Porch Theater; Aunt Granny's Dixie Fixins' Restaurant; and Dolly's Tennessee Mountain Home, a replica of the cabin that was Parton's childhood home. Also new was "Rags to Riches: The Dolly Parton Story," a museum displaying articles and mementos from Dolly's life and career. "The Butter Churn" (a Trabant ride) was removed at the end of the season. Park attendance doubled to more than a million guests during the first season as Dollywood.[11]

 

I have a lot of pictures of Dollywood in my Archives.  Many of which I have swiped off the internet with no idea who to credit the photo with.   Here's a few from very early times at Dollywood.  I'm not positive these are all from 1986, but certainly around that time period.  At the bottom I have a video to share if you would like to see inside Dolly's Apartment - featured in some of the photos below.









A more recent picture of Dolly's Apartment, that was above Apple Jack's Restaurant, and was razed several years ago.

Dolly's Apartment, when it was new to Dollywood.  I read a comment recently from someone who said they lived in ''Dolly's Apartment'' house as a child.  They mentioned Dollywood bought and moved the house to this location.

Again, Dolly's Apartment and Smoky Mountain Rampage under construction.





If you want to see inside Dolly's Apartment, you should watch Graham Norton's Dollywood Special where he takes a look inside.  It's a hoot.  He is a seasoned talk show host in the UK.
Cue up to 5:03 to see the Apartment, or click here.




38 Years - What a great success with no signs of slowing down anytime soon.  For me, in my opinion, Dollywood began it's impressive decades of expansion in 2004 with Thunderhead, which is 20 years old this year.  That was both a major attraction addition, and also the beginning of a whole new area of Dollywood.  It just continued from there with Mystery Mine in 2007.  In 2008 they added another area, Wilderness Pass, to connect to the top of Craftsman's Valley to Timber Canyon.   Then just more explosive growth through today.  

It's a lot of fun for me to Vlog and Blog about it.  I mentioned that in my very first blog post a couple years ago, where I share some nostalgia for Opryland - and also where my obsession? or fascination with theme parks and the mechanics of rides really got going.  That moved over to Dollywood when I moved from Nashville to Knoxville.

Cheers to Dollywood and I look forward to many more years of enjoyment!

Correction!  in my initial post I wrote that Dollywood turned 39, which was incorrect.  I woke up in the middle of the night realizing what I had written, and I have since corrected it to 38.  2024 minus 1986 is 38, but it is Dollywood's 39th Season, which is prob what I was thinking about when I wrote this.



πŸŽƒ Dollywood's Harvest Festival 2024 - Tasting Pass, Park Info + More! πŸ‘»

My Blog Post Title Hi Everyone, Dollywood has released information related to the Harvest Festival, including the Tasting Pass and...