Dollywood Discussion Thread

[ernierockerWhy do I still have a donkey title???]

SkyZip has not opened yet as far as I know.

The Bluegrass and Barbecue Festival is great! I actually didn't realize they were having it so early this year, it was in late August last year!

There will be lots of bluegrass bands and of course barbecue will be featured throughout the park. In the past, they have had a pig roast so that can be quite a sight seeing an entire pig roasting over an open fire. To me though the highlight is the salsa stand! They have a ton of salsas for you to sample and buy at all degrees of spiciness.

[Intimidator305Challenge me at Donkey Kong...I dare ya!]

Dollywood has a new website! http://www.dollywood.com/

[ernierockerWhy do I still have a donkey title???]

Love the new interactive park map! Great addition.

[Intimidator305Challenge me at Donkey Kong...I dare ya!]

^ I like the interactive park map too! Splash Country also got one. They are much better than just the PDF maps that they had before.

[ShavethewhalesI wish they would make Street Fighter Donkey.]

Awesome, this website is a vast improvement over the old one. Last time I checked their old site they were trying to do some sort of social network thing and it just wasn't working out and it was difficult to find any real information. Hope SDC gets this next.

[giga2kcoasterI Guess Donkeys Are Okay]

Does anyone know when Skyzip will be open? Is it an upcharge?

[ernierockerWhy do I still have a donkey title???]

I haven't heard when it will reopen. They were building a new entrance for the ride with its old building being turned into a drink station. They were also going to have to reroute how you got to the first platform as Wild Eagle has taken over the old path.

Yes, it is an upcharge. Exact costs are unknown at this time as Dollywood has taken over ownership of it and will no longer be run by an outside company. There is a good chance it will be cheaper than it was when it last operated as a result.

[BrownStreakA donkey is a domesticated member of the Equidae or horse family.]

I have a question which is not necessarily fully directed at Wild Eagle; however, since it contains the element in question and is new, I thought that my question might get noticed here. My question is in reference to the fairly recent addition (for B&M) of the highly slanted final break run. I first noticed this on some of the newer Wild Mouse coasters; however, I did not see it on a 'big' coaster until Diamondback at KI; and I am now seeing it on many of B&M's coasters. Is this feature used solely to 'clear' the block faster without expending energy with tires? I mean obviously, most break runs have a slight slant to them; however, on Diamondback and other recent B&M creations the angle seems VERY steep. Is there some other function that I am missing?

[coasterfreak101Gimme Some Candy!]

Slanted brake runs allow the train to enter the brakes at a lower speed, so less effort is needed to slow the (heavy, in B&M's case) trains. It also means that gravity moves the trains when the brakes are released, rather than requiring friction wheels, which in turn require an energy input to rotate. So yes, the slanted brake runs are more energy-efficient than a flat one! And, in the case of Wild Eagle, they also happen to be necessary to get the train back down the hill without starting the ride all over again (though that option seems exciting)!

[slappybobMacaroni and Donkey]

Since Wild Eagle has been opened for about two months now what does everyone think Dollywood will build in 2013? My guesses is a replacement for Timber Tower or a Blazing Fury update but thats what I think any ideas?