I love this park so much. I thought Hershey might be my new favorite park until I stepped back into Dollywood. The atmosphere, the people, it is just amazing. I really wish it was my home park as the park is just outstanding.
The rides…
Barnstormer is a great S&S Screamin’ Swing and these are probably my favorite flats anywhere. I wish this one ran as long of a cycle as the one at Kennywood or Cedar Point, but it is still very fun! A+
Blazing Fury is a very unique ride aside from its sibling over in Missouri. Very corny ride that really doesn't make sense, but the last three drops provide some pretty good airtime in the back seat. I really wish they kept the water, but it is still a very fun ride. 10-15 minutes, B-
Drop Line is Dollywood’s new drop tower and I think it may be my new favorite. I love the rotations on the way up and it has a very nice, forceful drop, unlike the S&S towers. It is in a great location and fills the Timber Tower spot. 1-2 cycle wait.
FireChaser Express was much better than I remember it last year. It is like the perfect new version of the Arrow Mine Train and my only thing wrong with it is the really short trains and the awkward back up into the station. Other than that, it is a very solid family coaster and looks great in Wilderness Pass by Wild Eagle. 25 minutes, C+
Lightning Rod was the reason I got to come back this year for free so I knew I had to get on it once. Got in line right around 11 and waited longer than I have for any ride ever. 2 hours and 32 minutes. It was painful. One train and knowing it could go down at any moment. Not gonna lie. The ride was kind of a disappointment for all the hype. The launch is okay, but the first drop has floater air, and the quad down is the only other airtime on the entire ride. I would say two were ejector and two were strong floater. You just can’t enjoy a ride worrying your entire vacation that it is going to break down again. While it is a very fun ride, it is currently my least favorite RMC and is my second favorite ride at Dollywood. A
Does Goliath have a steel transfer?
Mystery Mine is really Dollywood theming at its finest. The ride, unfortunately, is very rough and Dollywood needs to invest in some new lap bar only trains for it. It is very awkward with lots of stopping and starting, but the finale of that ride is absolutely spectacular. 20 minutes, C
Got evacuated off Mystery Mine last year and walked down these stairs.
Tennessee Tornado would be an amazing ride if it was about 700-1000 feet longer. This is my favorite Arrow and it shows what Arrow could have done if they were able to survive. The loops provide insane hang time and the first drop into the tunnel provides some really nice air into that tunnel. This is my favorite steel at Dollywood and I love how it is built into the mountain. 10 minutes, A
Thunderhead is a really fantastic GCI. It has tons of airtime and the giant banked turns are great. It is running on the rougher side and I would assume that would be because all of the off season work went into Lightning Rod, but this thing is still a great ride. I also love the station fly through, but I’m sure the employees absolutely hate it. 5-10 minutes during day, walk on later, A+
Wild Eagle is a really fun and smooth ride that does a great job diving behind the mountain. It gives great views and it is different as it has just a regular drop, rather than the wing over. Not as good as Gatekeeper or Thunderbird, but I like it better than X-Flight. I just really wish they would unlock the vests to make it more enjoyable. 25 minutes, A-
Dollywood has really good food.
Really cool section of Dollywood with all the Eagles.
This looks so much better than Bucky Battle at Great America.
This makes me happy. Gotta love cinnamon bread.
Dollywood is a fantastic park that really seems to excel in all categories. I really want to head out to Branson again as I was really little the last time I went to Silver Dollar City, especially because of the something new they are already building. Herschend is doing something right and the thought of Dollywood just brings a huge smile to my face.
Lol.
Scorecard
Barnstormer 1
Blazing Fury 1
Drop Line 1
Firechaser Express 1
Lightning Rod 1
Mystery Mine 2
Tennessee Tornado 3
Thunderhead 5
Wild Eagle 1
Total 16