This is a mini report!
We (my, DD17, DS14) got up at 6:00am yesterday and started for the other DW about 7:00am. Arrived to Heartsong Lodge about 11:30 and checked my phone when we parked. Was shocked to see the park was closed!
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Sounds like there was a water main break.
The issue is reported fixed now, though. Sorry it had a direct impact on your plans!
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I thought…how do we pivot? Dollywood IS the only plan haha. I had no idea what we were going to do, but I decided to head into check in and request an early check in in case we needed a room before 4:00pm (it’s only 11:30 at this point). I was sad to see the resort staff seemed to not have a clue as of what to do since this had never happened. They seemed panicky. The manager was able to get us into a room and I asked if I could use one of my Dollywood tickets for the water park. Instead he printed out free tickets for us. We headed to Walmart for swim suits and then back to Heartsong, parked and hopped the trolley to Splash country. Made it by 1:00pm
-the kids enjoyed it, but it wasn’t anything special. We have better water parks in NC. But it was something to do with our day!
-returned to Heartsong about 6:00 in pouring rain, unpacked car and went to room.
Heartsong rooms are nice, beds are COMFY, Lobby is gorgeous with lots of live music. We are at the walk up restaurant (not the market). The food was delicious, service was great and we didn’t have to wait to long for our food.
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My husband is in the construction industry and I sent him videos of the leak from Facebook. He assured me he thought it was fixable. Thank goodness he was right! I was old have been so upset if we came here and didn’t get a park day!
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We are our delicious dinner, then went to the Market and grabbed cookies and ice cream. The cookies are NOT good! Stay away haha. But the ice cream was good! Then back to our room for showers, and a couple hours of Guys Grocery Games (our show of choice whenever we’re in a hotel). I frantically checked DW social media until 11:00 and no updates so I went to bed. Was so excited when I woke around 8:00 to the announcement that they were open at 10:00!!!
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It was Liner time. Now, being a resort guest we get 3 big perks:
-a free timesaver pass that lets us on any 5 rides except Big Bear and Lightening Rod
-Golden hour: ride ANY ride with timesaver and NO scanning the band. Unlimited TS rides for an hour first hour the park is open!
-Free trolley from resort to park and back.
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We were dressed, packed up, checked out , and on the trolley by about 9:00am
-Through security to ticket gate by 9:20
-they let us through ticket line at 9:30
-held us at entrance where Mystery Mine and all that is until 9:55.
-I have told my teens I will not pass other people to meet them in any line, so it’s up to them if they want us to stick together. They decided to stick with me and we did the speed walk to Big Bear and were among the first to ride for the day. It was a fun medium intensity ride.
-we then went straight to Mystery Mine. Both rides done by 10:18!
We split up at that point because we like different rides. I was able to do Fireflyer and Firechaser, so 4 rides in 1 hour. My kids did 6 in one hour! 3 rides on Lightening Rod and a ride on Wild Eagle!
-At that point we went and ate Cinnamon bread, went to Granny Ogle’s (didn’t like! Much prefer Front Porch), then did Skyflyer in the carnival Ride section then the train. We got off the train and did one of the kid shows at Heartsong theater.
-In carnival section now
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Thank you!! I wish more park guests did this!!!
I’m enjoying all the honest food advice!!!
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Dollywood Express!
View Of Big Bear coaster from the train.
Te train was so full we didn’t think we could get on which is a bummer because it’s once an hour BUT they made room by wheeling on a wheelchair to make a spot for DS!!! That’s pretty good haha. He was embarrassed but we didn’t have to wait another hour. I’ll take it!
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Cinnamon bread is always delicious and a must-do!!!
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I’ve been to Disney 4 times since my last Dolly trip and am definitely noticing some things! It seems like the Dolly folks have been taking some notes at Disney because they fill in every seat on the big coasters. No more empty seats. Much more efficient. They now have mobile order. I saw a family on a VIP tour for the first time too! They also have a summer nights food festival and drone show. The food festival offerings haven’t looked all that special but I’m hoping to find some fun things. All of that being said. We would never have faced an issue like the entire park closing with frantic employees like we did yesterday at Disney world. All of my Disney liner knowledge gained since 2022 is invaluable in any theme park and helped us maximize our morning!
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I will say their timesaver is much faster than the Disney LL. They have a few options ranging $60-$99. Ours was included with our resort. The Golden hour each morning from 10-11:00 of unlimited timesaver entry is also available to Gold season pass holders.
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Were you aware that @QwertySC is there today?
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I’m not! Hope they’re having a great day at Dollywood!
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Fun on the carnival swing.
Tried a couple “festival foods” a potato tornado and a make-your-own snow cone. The snow cone was $8 and the kids really liked it. With tax the potato tornado was $14…it was good, but not worth $14 for a glorified potato. I feel like this would have been less at Epcot haha.
Ready to have an early dinner at Front Porch Cafe and then a couple rides and hit the road for NC!!!
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We went to the new Dolly Experience. This and the Behind the Seams attraction replaced the Museum and…we enjoyed the older experience more when it was combined. I miss the Dolly hologram from the museum! The Dolly Experience just needs more. I understand why they redid the museum and some things were improved but I’m nostalgic and miss the old one! I really enjoyed Behind the Seams with all her favorite shoes, wigs and outfits.
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Hope you had a good day! We have season passes and are heading over for “dinner” after dodging raindrops in Splash Country all day. (Girls want ice cream sundaes for dinner and I can’t say no.)
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Yeah… They call them “Twisted Taters” at Universal and are only $9.50
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The food is definitely more expensive than WDW. But I think it’s mostly better.
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If I’m really with it, I’ll do a spend report in this post tomorrow. I’ve been good and using the same credit card for every purchase so it shouldn’t be hard.I can compare to my Disney trip we leave for in 12 days. Dolly definitely has Disney on ticket cost though. It runs about half price and they blow Disney out of the water on season passes! A silver pass breaks even in 3 or4 days and a Gold with 5 I think.
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