Confession #15 : I Am A Planner

I am SUCH a planner that my family teases me about having OCD about it.

O.K. I'll admit that I probably am Obsessive/Compulsive in the trip planning area and I'll also say that this is not a bad thing as long as you are flexible (have a Plan B - and be flexible with it, too).

I cannot imagine coming to WDW and NOT having a daily (but flexible) plan for parks and dining. In fact, if you haven't made prior plans for dining, good luck on eating at the more popular places.

I am planning for a Dollywood trip this spring.
Unfortunately, DW does not have the information base that WDW has.

Google: Disney World trip planning. There are 314,00 results.

Google: Dollywood trip planning. There is 1 (one) result.

So. If any Dollywood veterans are reading this and have helpful hints, ideas, suggestions, must-do and don't bother lists, please, please drop a note in the comments.  My family will thank you.

TIA!

Dollywood's Newest

celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and to celebrate, will open a brand-new attraction,  Adventure Mountain

Regarding the physically-challenging course(s), Dolly said, "It's not set up for high heels ... and the artificial nails ... I could lose so many things."

Gotta love Dolly.

Destination: Dollywood

After much (much) discussion/whining, the hubby has agreed to take me to Dollywood!


Although I'd love to go in the fall, we're planning on a spring trip because the park hours are better.

Now, as all experienced Disney World-goers know, having a trip plan is essential, especially for the first visit. It doesn't have to be set in stone, but knowing what and where can save lots of time and trouble.

And oftentimes, unofficial info (from experienced park-goers) is much more informative and helpful than what you find on the official site.

So, I've been doing research or at least attempting it because other than the official site, there just isn't that much current information out there.

I have tried joining Yahoo groups, but there is absolutely nothing going in them (except for the spammers ... "I want to meet you"... "Please be my friend".)

I have read the Dollywood and Pigeon Forge Trip Advisory Forums which sometimes offer helpful hints, but most often it's folks complaining about the cost. They have obviously never visited certain Orlando attractions.

Anyhoo ... if there happens to be an experienced Dollywood-goer out there who will share advice, hints, and helpful do's and dont's, I would love to hear from you! Just drop a note to the comments section. TIA !!

Confession # 7: I Bought a Dollywood Pin

As a collector and trader of Disney pins, I made an interesting discovery: Dollywood has some pretty neat pins, too.

No, I haven't made it to Dollywood, yet. That trip is still in the plotting stage.

But I did find some Dollywood pins for sale on eBay and I figured to get some to use as traders on our (future) visit.

But a couple of them won't make it to the trading lanyard.
I'll be keeping these:

Towers of Terror, Timber and Doom

I admit to not being a coaster fan, Expedition Everest excluded, but I love those Towers that thrill and chill.

Disney's Studios' Hollywood Tower of Terror is the BEST.


The best theming: from the entrance walkway, to the hotel's 'shabby' interior, back through the 'maintenance' area, 'til you reach the elevator shaft and load the ride.

The best ride: from the anticipation when the elevator doors close right up until the end, when the doors open again at the bottom of the shaft.

And the ride is never the same, thanks to the ride programming.

Ride at night, too, for a different feel!


Over at Universal Orlando-Islands of Adventure are the twin vertical towers of Dr. Doom's Fear Fall.

The Fear Fall differs greatly from T of T.
First it is outdoors. Pretty cool!

And you sit with legs dangling, facing away from the structure. Pretty cool!

And you zoom UP, rather than down.

And it's pretty much the same ride each time.

I haven't done this at night, but I bet that would be pretty cool!

What would be really cool is if Dr. Doom would spin you around as you sit at the top of the tower.

So that brings me to the Timber Tower at Dollywood.

I haven't ridden this one (yet), nor even been to Dollywood (yet), but you can bet the Timber Tower is at the top of the things-to-do-list.

While Timber Tower doesn't drop, you are lifted up and then you spin around while tilting from side -to- side.

Yowza!

And the folks at Dollywood don't consider this a Thrill Ride!

Confession # 1: The "D" Word and It's Not Disney

I've wanted to go to DollyWood for years now. Years.

This is pretty ironic since I live 5 minutes from the mother ship of all theme parks, Walt Disney World, which I love.

But oooh ... the Mystery Mine, Blazing Fury, Thunder Road, the Timber Tower, the Dizzy Disk, Smoky Mountain Rampage, Miss Lillian's Chicken House, Dreamland Drive-In, all the live entertainment ... call to me in a siren song understood only by other theme park junkies.

I have read, studied, and made copious notes and lists regarding everything DollyWood.

The on-line reviews from 'regular people' have been 95% positive. The other 5% complained about the cost of things.
Obviously these folks don't get out much and most certainly have never visited certain Orlando attractions.

The hubby has been pestered enough so that his eyes glaze over and temporary deafness occurs whenever the word DollyWood is spoken.

Dolly, if you're reading this, I'm coming!
I'm just not sure when. But soon!

Theme Park Basics

Yes, there is a difference between a theme park and an amusement park.

Merriam-Webster On-line defines the two thusly:

Amusement park: "a commercially operated park having various devices for entertainment (as a merry-go-round and roller coaster) and usually booths for the sale of food and drink"

Theme park: "an amusement park in which the structures and settings are based on a central theme"

Think Universal Studios' "Ride the Movies".
Think Dollywood's Great Smoky Mountains & Dolly Parton.
Think Disney's, well, all things Disney.

A good theme park will fulfill 5 basic needs:

Rides, Attractions, Live Entertainment, Dining, and Shopping

A great theme park will make each of those an exceptional, memorable experience.