Lightning Rod

Someone above mentioned the jolt at the bottom of the first hill. Does that suggest the bottom of the lift? Jolt by acceleration? Or at the bottom of the first drop? A bump in the track induced jolt?

To be fair, just because no one is visibly working to get a ride running doesn't mean there's nothing happening. Might be waiting on a parts order, or something...

I've been trying to plan a DW trip for months (well, almost a year really), and just can't see making THAT long of a trek without it running *reliably.* But I think that level of expectation means waiting for next year, after the park has had an offseason where they're not concerned *at all* about having the ride operable for guests and can really do a full work-up.

That's really strange that Dollywood isn't giving a ticket to return or something because they did just that when I was there because they weren't running Wild Eagle for half the day in 2012...

August Mueller said:

Someone above mentioned the jolt at the bottom of the first hill. Does that suggest the bottom of the lift? Jolt by acceleration? Or at the bottom of the first drop? A bump in the track induced jolt?

The jolt is at the bottom of the first drop. The easiest comparison is if you were driving at 75 mph and you ran over a small pothole. I didn't feel it when I rode in row 11 but I did feel it in rows 2 and 12. It may just be a wheel seat (even row) thing, but it is very noticeable. It's something they would be wise to fix in the offseason.

Was there in mid-August, one day it was up, the next day it was down. The jolt is at the bottom on the first drop and only felt in certain rows. Even numbered, especially seat 10, has a noticeable chunk, seat 10 crunches you painfully hard, but the rest of the ride is fantastic if you can position the restraints in a good spot. My daughter and I found the seat belt connector digging into the top of our thighs/hip under the lapbar (which they make sure is tight), while my husband and another male friend of ours didn't have that problem because the connector hit them more towards the side of their hip so it wasn't under the lapbar.

Go Intamin said:
That's really strange that Dollywood isn't giving a ticket to return or something because they did just that when I was there because they weren't running Wild Eagle for half the day in 2012...

They did give us return tickets but they are only good for this year and the ride hasn't been reliable enough to go back down there to ride it.

They gave return tickets to 99.9 % of their visitors this season?

^I think during "enthusiast events" - yes.

I'd think/hope they'd extend the offer to next season on those "bouncebacks" if there's a practical way to accomplish that...given that LR hasn't really been fully operational this season.

Down all day Wed and Thur this week, 3 trips down one to go this year (in a month) and still no credit, sigh. The Smokies were gorgeous though with the Tenn side of newfound gap road at peak color. It was also warm enough for me to ride the log flume which I did not expect.

Can't wait for my Christmas trip.

Thrills in the Hills has been rescheduled (coinciding with the ACE event on Nov 19), but it still doesn't sound like they're confident that Lightning Rod will be working consistently that day. The event itinerary lists ERT as occurring on either Lightning Rod & Thunderhead OR Mystery Mine & Thunderhead. It also makes a point to mention that the behind the scenes Lightning Rod tour will take place whether the ride is running or not.

Yeah, I saw that invite. IMHO anyone who travels to Dollywood for Lightning Rod alone is crazy at this point.

Perhaps their 2017 announcement will be "We've fixed Lightning Rod"?

I had a trip planned for this week then cancelled after I called the park and the agent said it didn't operate the previous two days.
The website has removed the window advising visitors the status of the ride. It's now listed as a regular, open for business attraction.
I also noticed a page where DW proudly lists their recent Golden Ticket awards- friendliest, shows, Christmas, etc. And notably absent from the list was "Best New Ride" which they won for Lightning Rod. So, I guess not even in their own estimation...

And please don't let me find out that ride ran all day today. My head will fly off.

Dollywood and the Smokies are worth the visit with or without Lightning Rod you know, I don't think I've ever cancelled an overnight trip to a park just because one ride is down.

Oh, yes. And make no mistake, I'm quite familiar with Dollywood and all the fun it has to offer, thank you.
But I didn't want to spend the money and a five hour drive to get there just to repeat the experience I've had at the park on several visits this season already. Waiting, hoping, and praying the ride would open.

Think I'll wait til.... whatever, whenever. In the meantime they've lost me.

And I'll be at CP on Sunday, lord willing, so hopefully I'll get my coaster fix for the week and maybe for the season. And we've got great fried chicken here, too, if I feel the need for some of that.

It's all good.

I had assumed it was up and running consistently now. Attempts to get it running that are better than described here could get me to visit before my pass expires.