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

I think I'll be going back that way, but coming down via North Carolina.

The northbound lanes are not significantly impacted outside of losing one of the three northbound lanes to the southbound crossover traffic. It is possible that by May a new arrangement could be in place through that corridor.

Wouldn't the northbound side have the same problem as the southbound side? I assume that eventually all of the people that are going south have to go north at some point. So if two lanes for north works fine why would two lanes for south cause a problem?

I drove down from Cleveland and didn't hit that area until around 10. It didn't really slow us down as the lane shift is only for a few miles. North bound wasn't really a problem oher than having almost nothing seperating the north and south bound lanes.

Shades said:
Wouldn't the northbound side have the same problem as the southbound side? I assume that eventually all of the people that are going south have to go north at some point. So if two lanes for north works fine why would two lanes for south cause a problem?

As of right now there is only one southbound lane that shifts over, so the southbound traffic has to merge from two lanes down to one and then cross over to the other side. Time of day is a big factor in how much things slow down, so it is possible to get through that stretch somewhat easily if you time it well.

Yeah, when I was driving down to Florida a few weeks ago it was a minor annoyance, but thankfully traffic was fairly light and it wasn't much of a time sink. I find the unending construction in and around Dayton on 75 a much more significant and regular issue.

We drove through there this past Saturday afternoon. We took the marked detour along 25w (not the truck detour). It was actually a very nice scenic drive. It only added half an hour to the drive, and there was no traffic to speak of.

Yesterday we hit Dollywood. It was crazy crowded, but we had a fantastic time. I found Wild Eagle to be an awesome coaster... Not jaw dropping intense but unique, smooth, and an amazing setting. Dollywood did such an amazing job with the station and entrance plaza. You are even greeted with a verse from the Bible as you enter the line... Must be a first.

The other 3 coasters are very strong too...especially Thunderhead.

Have fun at the Coasterbuzz event everyone!

buckeye brad said:
We drove through there this past Saturday afternoon. We took the marked detour along 25w (not the truck detour). It was actually a very nice scenic drive. It only added half an hour to the drive, and there was no traffic to speak of.

Good to know because that's exactly what I plan on doing if it looks like it could be iffy when we get to that area.

Now that we're hooking each other up on road condition updates, we need to start tipping each other off to speed traps. ;)

None that I noticed, of course, I typically only do five over unless its that stretch between Chattanooga and Atlanta, where you're going to be run off the road if you're doing anything under 80-85 and the cops are casually passing you (along with the left lane or two) at 90!

Of course, as with all roads, your mileage may vary. ;)

buckeye brad said:
You are even greeted with a verse from the Bible as you enter the line... Must be a first.

I'm going to guess the psalm about soaring on the wings of an eagle.

I was kind of surprised when I remembered that Behemoth and Leviathan were the two beasts in the book of Job after Canada's Wonderland announced their new coaster.

We hit that stretch two Fridays ago around 3:30pm. It took us over an hour to go eight miles.

Lord Gonchar said:

buckeye brad said:
We drove through there this past Saturday afternoon. We took the marked detour along 25w

Good to know because that's exactly what I plan on doing if it looks like it could be iffy when we get to that area.

If that's your plan, keep in mind the lane shift is only a few miles long around mile 144. But, the wide load detour is about 24 miles long taking you from Exit 160 to exit 141 via Route 297. If you want to take the detour, the traffic may not be evident that far North. Once you pass exit 160, there is no where to get off until you get through the lane shift.

The 25W route takes you from 160 to 134. That seems worse than route 297. Though I guess it depends on how many trucks are using the route 297 detour. Personally, unless it's rush hour, I'd just stay on I-75.

Good guess Andy... The verse is Isaiah 40:31.
Bonus points for anyone who can find Genesis 1:1 at Dollywood... (it's not in the chapel).

Jason Hammond said:
Personally, unless it's rush hour, I'd just stay on I-75.

That coupled with this...

buckeye brad said:
We drove through there this past Saturday afternoon. We took the marked detour along 25w (not the truck detour). It was actually a very nice scenic drive. It only added half an hour to the drive, and there was no traffic to speak of.

...is exactly why I'm ok with the idea.

Good chance we'll be hitting that area in the 4-to-6pm window...on a Friday. If I'm adding time to the drive, I'd rather it be a scenic sidetrack than a bottleneck.

I could keep the kids home from school and head out earlier too, I suppose. Nothing wrong with spending extra time in Gatlinburg on Friday.

buckeye brad said:
Good guess Andy... The verse is Isaiah 40:31.
Bonus points for anyone who can find Genesis 1:1 at Dollywood... (it's not in the chapel).

I'm going to guess it's in the Southern Gospel Hall of Fame in the front of the park.

I might have to see about attending this event. For those who don't have a season pass this event is actually less than the cost of a one day ticket! We have season passes already but it still looks like a great value with a nice spread and the evening ERT.

Also of note, for those with season passes there is another ERT session on Wild Eagle from 8-9 that morning. See below for details:

http://www.dollywood.com/dollywood-q10303-c10013-Passholder_Exclusives.aspx

Is this for anyone who shows up or is it for members? And if it's for members what's the guest situation?

Dollywood's site uses some language that is a little ambiguous so I called the park. I just spoke with Heather (a customer representative at the park) and found out that it is only season passholders who can go through. They open up the season pass entrance an hour before the posted opening and you can head back to the ride from there.

All of the above assumes it's a normal Saturday. As far as the event goes and whether the attendees will have access to the morning ERT the representative couldn't give an answer one way or the other. Perhaps Jeff can provide some additional clarification for those event attendees who may not have season passes and whether they may be granted access to the morning ERT.

Sorry I was so unclear, Gary, but thanks for the info.

I meant the event in general. Nothing has really been said. I know sometimes there's a limit with members and guests and such.

Jeff, is this for anyone that shows up or members/guests-per-member or what?

The event with the evening ERT, the meal, the show? Yes, anyone can attend. I'll have the ticket ordering information on Monday.