Save the date: Dollywood, Saturday, May 19, 2012

OK... this is super preliminary. This can change. It might change. We're tentatively looking at Saturday, May 19, for our event at Dollywood. Also subject to change, ERT on Wild Eagle and Mystery Mine, and backstage tours.

Details will be fleshed out in the next week, and like I said, it's all subject to change. I just wanted to give everyone a heads up as soon as possible. Very excited for this one!

Crap, Jordan has a softball tournament that weekend. grrrrr

May 19th?

Now you're talking dates that daddy can do. :)

Gotta say, having never been there, I'm pretty excited about it. They have several rides in categories I'm into. The Gerstlauer rides excite me, and I'm anxious to see how B&M's new thing rides. Thunderhead is an obvious +1.

Would love to go as I've never been to Dollywood too, but that's the ACE spring conference weeekend at Cedar Point

Well, you can go to CP and ride stuff you've been on a million times, or you can come ride Wild Eagle with us. Just sayin'. :)

Knowing a little of what you value in a park experience (learned from here and PointBuzz), I think you will be very pleased with Dollywood, Jeff. My step-son is turning 7 on the 16th of May....hopefully I can stretch a few more inches outta him and he will be ready for Mystery Mine at least. Any guesses on ride height restrictions for wing-riders? Anyone know what Raptor's at Gardaland is?

Also if anyone has questions about lodging or other things to do in that area, feel free to ask. I'm in that area a couple times every few years. More than welcome to offer any advice.

Seems safe to bet that any B&M is going to be 54 inches.

That was my assumption too.

Oh wait! This Dollywood page says 50 inches.

Gardaland's Raptor has a height requirement of 140 cm, which works out to about 55 inches. However, there's an *age* maximum of 99 years. :)

They also warn you that the ride has "poorly lit areas and a high possibility to create panic, fear, vertigo and/or claustrophobic reactions." O RLY?

Jeff said:
Gotta say, having never been there, I'm pretty excited about it. They have several rides in categories I'm into. The Gerstlauer rides excite me, and I'm anxious to see how B&M's new thing rides. Thunderhead is an obvious +1.

Mystery Mine is an excellent ride, I bet you'll really like it. From what I understand, some former Disney folks were on the creative team for it, and it really shows. Oh, and the last one and a half barrel roll has TONS of hang time since it moves through it rather slowly. Don't miss Blazing Fury either, even though you most likely won't like the ride. It's one of those things where you get off and say "What the heck did I just ride?" and scratch your head for the next hour trying to figure it out. Rode it three times in a row and came off thinking the same thing every time.

Did I miss something, or is it my pain meds kicking in? I thought Fire In The Hole was at Silver Dollar City, and that Dollywood's was Blazing Fury (which I actually liked quite a bit)

Not the pain meds....you are right. I liked Blazing Fury too, although its been a few years since I've been on it.

I believe SDC's ride came first, and benefits from the "Bald Knobber" theme - the dark ride portion tells a kind of comic version of a story involving an infamous group of Ozarkians. (<?) Dollywood has basically the same ride but no regional connection to the story line, so it's either different or maybe even gone all together, I can't remember. Might seem like a small thing, but for me DW's ride was always a little bit lacking compared to the original.

At any rate, I agree that they're two of the strangest rides you can find, and worth waiting in line for. I haven't been on Golden Nugget yet, I wonder if it doesn't kind of hit the same groove?

Mike Gallagher said:
Did I miss something, or is it my pain meds kicking in? I thought Fire In The Hole was at Silver Dollar City, and that Dollywood's was Blazing Fury (which I actually liked quite a bit)

You're right, of course. I have a tendency to switch the two around.

Mystery Mine is likely the ride we'll be able to tour in the morning, and that sounds pretty interesting.

Tyler mentioned sharing a cabin in the area to me, so that might be a consideration for lodging. We may also spend time with my in-laws, near Asheville, NC. Overall, just looking forward to spending time in a region that I've mostly driven through and not stopped.

That is my Birthday weekend - for the big 40. What to do what to do....

I highly recommend the Dollywood Vacations cabins!

DW is one of the best of the best!

I've stayed at Econolodge Riverside and it was super for the price. The indoor pool is fantastic.

I am taking my Mother to Pigeon Forge in April, but maybe I'll come down again in May and hang out.