Bucket lifts needed badly
Dollywood: Dollywood needs a bucket lift to get from one end to the other.
Dollywood needs a bucket lift to get from one end to the other. The walk is too much and the uphill grade to the Thunderhead and Mystery Mine is awful. Please get some kind of lift system like Six Flags.
I can do one better for you. How about they rip open the mountain between Mystery Mine and Teneessee Tornado? That might make it a little easier on your little footsies.......actually I'm only half joking, there is a rumor that they intend to do just that.
Do they not at least have a train that stops on each side?? That's rediculous. I'll tell ya another park that needs one in my opinion & that's SFOT. We kept getting lost. I'm glad SFOG has one, especially w/all those HILLS! Ryan, why don't you email them & tell them.
The train makes no stops. To get from one end of the park to the other requires that you walk about 2 miles. In 95 degree heat and a steep upgrade to get to the best rides is hard on folks if they're not in shape. At least Six Flags has a bucket that can get you from one end to the other.
FYI the park does plan to build a pathway from Tennessee Tornado to Mystery Mine. Some suggest that is actually what they are doing for 2008.
I think a chairlift/bucket ride would look ugly sticking up from the mountains. It wouldn't fit in with the park's atmosphere. If you can't stand walking you can rent an EVC from guest services - they are very popular at Dollywood.
As for Dollywood's train, IMO it is fine the way it is...turning it into a transportation ride would be an insult to the beautiful locomotives and equipment.
EVC? You mean those battery powered chairs for fat folks? No thanks.
Then don't bother going at all.
Typical Troll response. But I won't bite.
Ok children, settle down...I don't see how having the train stop on the other side like SFOG does would make it unattractive. It helps ppl such as myself who can't get around very easily due to severe knee injury & bad back problems. It's about the patrons, not the park in my opinion. Ya hafta make us happy & keep us happy or we won't visit. I think sky buckets painted in the western theme would look fine. Paint them brown or paint them to look like wooden buckets. They'd certainly blend in better probably.
While I understand your opinion, Six Flags Over Georgia has a little dinky train...Dollywood's steam locomotives are full-size and were used by the US Army during WW2. Having them do a complete non-stop 5 mile circuit is much more accurate to their history...it's what they were built to do.
It would be ridiculous to see these large locomotives having to stop every five minutes to load/unload passengers, in essence degrading them to "just another amusement park ride". These beasts were built to run...not crawl along at 5mph. Put simply, the Dollywood train is too big for that type of operation.
And to be perfectly honest, I'm sure many long-time Silver Dollar City/Dollywood visitors (not to mention the park itself) feel the same. The train has operated at the location since 1961, and any major alterations to the ride would take away its charm. The fact that the train heads out into the woods non-stop is what makes it unique - you feel like you’ve actually left the theme park.
One must remember that Dollywood is not just another theme park...it is a monument to the Smokies and the people that live there. Many of the attractions (like the train, and the entire Craftsmen’s Valley section) preserve the way of life in the area that has slipped away. What works at a typical park like Six Flags might not fit at all at Dollywood.
my june trip i had to unhappily had to use evc. that was something i had not done before. i agree stopping the train would distroy the train ride. the hills seem to cut down on the running from one ride to another. i love the coasters but i go to Dollywood to enjoy the whole park.
Well then sky buckets would make good sense & trains I would consider as "dinky" would be those smaller scale 'kiddie' trains like at the L.R. zoo or at Lakeside, or even smaller at Queen Wilhemena state park. Georgia's train has full size cars to sit in so I don't know what you consider dinky. I would say Georgia's is mid-size.
Actually, SFOG's trains are 5/8 scale replicas (same as Disneyland out in California) built for Six Flags in 1967. The coaches are large enough to hold several people per row, but they are still scaled down significantly.
The Six Flags trains were built to ferry people around at low speeds within an amusement park setting, and that is the difference between them and the authentic full-size locomotives at Dollywood.
Well I guess I'd hafta see it for myself to actually understand what you mean. I've seen/ridden smaller than those at SFOG actually.
I agree that a bucket lift would look terrible and ruin the atmosphere of the park. I have been going there my entire life and have been countless times, and I have never thought that they needed any sort of bucket lift. In my opinion it is a terrible idea.
I don't think the park needs anything to negotiate the hills. There are far "hillier" parks. Plus, I agree it would detract from the natural beauty of the park.
Not to sound overly prudish but what about those of us who have trouble getting around sometimes? I can pretty much make it thru the day but if there are a lot of hills, aka SFOG or Magic Springs, I just can't do it. Must we be forced to avoid parks which have hills? That's a bit discriminating against lesser able people. Wouldn't it be?
From steve lee
Posted July 19, 2007 at 5:33 PM
Dollywood has confirmed the new path from one side to the other, as well as a new $5 million water ride that sounds like a waterbound version of a "Scooby Doo" shooter (apparently there's a similar attraction at Legoland?).
From Tam Piper
Posted July 20, 2007 at 4:01 PM
ECVs are $32 for a full day!!!!!!
And how long can you use before needs to be recharged and where do you recharge??????
Ok & what do you do w/it while you ride? Ask someone to watch it, make someone in my party remain behind to make sure it doesn't roll away? I'm better off just not going.
From Tam Piper
Posted July 21, 2007 at 12:36 AM
When I went a couple years ago, I did not ride any rides (health resons) it was still fun just to go to the shows and see the crafts and the best fried green tomatoes in the world.
I just can not believe they charge so much for that thing! ( I got in free last time, a relative got free tickets) but I am goin gto go next month just to be with my children and watch them have fun.
Adrienne, I'm not being rude, but in all honesty if you don't like Dollywood or the terrain of the park then you should listen to your own advice and just choose not to go there. It sounds as if you expect the park to cater to your every whim, but that is simply not how it works (as with any amusement park)
Unlike many parks, Dollywood goes out of its way to ensure that all guests are as happy as possible, so please don’t act like they owe you anything. You could just as easily go to another park if you are not satisfied with your experiences there.
As for the EVCs, they use a key to start, like a car. Whenever you want to go on a ride you park them in the designated area outside of the ride's entrance and take the key with you. (And I seriously doubt that a battery going dead would be an issue)
For more information you can visit Dollywood's website:
http://www.dollywood.com/plan-your-visit/faqs/#Disabilties
i have used an evc at Dollywood and other parks. have never had a problem with the battery going dead. as was said you park the evc take your key and enjoy what you want. can even take inside when you eat. you do have to watch for other guests who walk right in front or stop right in front of you. cast members seem to go out of their way to help you enjoy your day. sure beats walking when walking hurts so you are not having fun.
To ease your feet…As the new ride at Dollywood is being built they are also going to make a connector between Timber canon, and Craftsman valley. This will be one of the largest land construction jobs since they laid the tract for the Dollywood Express in the 1960's.
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