I rode Mystery Mine...

Again it seems some people are confusing "airtime" with "negative g-forces." Anyone want to take a stab at the difference and which really matters?

airtime: air between tush and seat.
negative-g's: falling faster than gravity alone would suggest.

The former can't happen without the latter. The latter is what matters.

(Did I do good?)

On a related note: Dollywood. Two days or three?
*** Edited 4/21/2007 9:59:39 PM UTC by Brian Noble***

Yup, ya done good. That's why I have to laugh when people say they got no "airtime" on a coaster that has two vertical drops, lol.

Dollywood: two days max.

Looks like we'll have four full days in the area. We'll probably do the three-day ticket thing, with two days at Dollywood and one day at the waterpark. The final day is up for grabs. Maybe the alpine slide at Ober Gatlinburg plus the usual Parkway tourist trap stuff.

We're going to try to soak up atmosphere, though, so one day is not going to be enough I suspect.

If you're going for more than 2 days, I'd recommend looking into the Gold Season Pass. First off, it's not too much more than the ticket price for 2 days. Second, it includes free parking ($7, and you get the $7 back from the first day that you have to pay before buying the pass).. so that saves you $14 right off the back. From there, you also get 20% off all food and merchandise in the park. With all the good food (the steaks, sausages, cinnamon bread, and ice cream!) and any souvenirs, that can add up very fast!

I've only gone 3 days since buying the pass (2 at the end of december, and 1 last weekend) yet I've saved over $400 so far - and that's on stuff that I would have bought anyway!

The three-day ticket is $75 or so, but it also includes the waterpark. The gold superpass is another $50 and I wasn't sure I'd make that back, but it might be a push.

Heck, I might just buy super passes for all of us, and then we can just come and go whenever while we are there. Have to do that this week, though, 'cause the early-season discount ends soon.

After hearing all of these good reports about MM I am glad my cousins live south of Nasheville so next time I visit them I can go to Beech Bend and Dollywood.

Brian - how about spending a day in the nearby Great Smoky Mtn National Park?

I might, but we're spending the July 4th week in Rocky Mtn. Natl. Park.

Totally different parks ;)

Don't forget there's Ghost Town just on the *other* side of the mountain by about a 1.5 hour drive max. It opens Memorial Day weekend.

thrillerman,

I drove past Ghost Town when driving from Dollywood to Carowinds (We took the scenic route). I couldn't believe it when I saw it. I was thinking to myself, "what in the world is a ski lift doing out in the middle of nowhere?" Then I drive past the sign and I'm "oh shoot! Ghost Town is here?"

Too bad it was closed, I really would like to try out that park.

~Rob Willi

Mamoosh: Sure, but we don't need this summer to be the Summer Of The Mountain Hike. I need my quota of tourist kitcsh. ;) *** Edited 4/22/2007 11:54:01 AM UTC by Brian Noble***