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Favorite non-Disney theme park?

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Sun, 07/12/2009 - 17:45
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cdub wrote:
I can tell you what is not my favorite wooden coaster: The Texas Giant at Six Flags in Arlington. Riding in the back car is simply one of the most unpleasant experiences I've had in my life. I couldn't wait for it to be over.

I hear that. I've been on a number of wooded coasters that just gave me a huge headache.

And I know I've said it before, but Dollywood really is great (as is Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge in general). I would recommend it to anyone. Far as the price; it used to be real cheap. Since they've built more big money attractions (like the Mystery Mine), the price has gone up to be about par for a major theme park.

Prices change throughout the year as with most parks. The season tickets are a steal though and if I remember correctly they have a good deal where you can get in a second day with your one day ticket for real cheap. Haven't done the second day thing in a long time though, because I had season passes.

Sun, 07/12/2009 - 18:14
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Haven't been to Dollywood in about a dozen years, but it was great then!

I have to echo the sentiments about Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge. I'm MUCH more of a Gatlinburg fan than Pigeon Forge. The first vacation we ever took was to Gatlinburg, and from the time I was about 9 years old we'd go four times a year for a long weekend.

It's kind of a unique place, so if you've ever thought about going and haven't, go for it.

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Sun, 07/12/2009 - 22:20
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MouseTraveler wrote:
Haven't been to Dollywood in about a dozen years, but it was great then!

I have to echo the sentiments about Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge. I'm MUCH more of a Gatlinburg fan than Pigeon Forge. The first vacation we ever took was to Gatlinburg, and from the time I was about 9 years old we'd go four times a year for a long weekend.

It's kind of a unique place, so if you've ever thought about going and haven't, go for it.

Any suggestions for other things to do while there?

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Sun, 07/12/2009 - 23:08
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bali wrote:
MouseTraveler wrote:
Haven't been to Dollywood in about a dozen years, but it was great then!

I have to echo the sentiments about Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge. I'm MUCH more of a Gatlinburg fan than Pigeon Forge. The first vacation we ever took was to Gatlinburg, and from the time I was about 9 years old we'd go four times a year for a long weekend.

It's kind of a unique place, so if you've ever thought about going and haven't, go for it.

Any suggestions for other things to do while there?

Psh...TONS! biggrin Let me know the type of (non-Disney) things you and yours enjoy and I can give you a list of fun things to do. There's great shopping, great food, great natural attractions (trails, hiking, camping, sight-seeing, etc.), more fun 'attractions' than you can shake a stick at. It's a tourist mecca.

Mon, 07/13/2009 - 14:53
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That's one thing that really intrigues me about Dollywood is the setting.

Mon, 07/13/2009 - 15:02
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It's like nowhere else. If I can find some pictures we've taken, I'll share.

Mon, 07/13/2009 - 15:28
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bali wrote:
MouseTraveler wrote:
Haven't been to Dollywood in about a dozen years, but it was great then!

I have to echo the sentiments about Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge. I'm MUCH more of a Gatlinburg fan than Pigeon Forge. The first vacation we ever took was to Gatlinburg, and from the time I was about 9 years old we'd go four times a year for a long weekend.

It's kind of a unique place, so if you've ever thought about going and haven't, go for it.

Any suggestions for other things to do while there?

Enjoy the scenery. You wake up in the morning and it is like you are in the Alps, because Gatlinburg is surrounded by the Smokies.

They have good restaurants, lots of crafts, the Smokey Mountain Aquarium(or whatever it is called), chair lifts downtown and a tram to the ski lodge at Ober Gatlinburg.

If you stay downtown, you are within walking distance to most attractions, and if you want to get away you are five or ten minutes from a chalet that will make you feel like there is no one for a hundred miles.

Cherokee, North Carolina is right over the mountain, and if you take the drive you are almost always guaranteed to see a bear somewhere along the way.

Plus, they have some candy kitchens in Gatlinburg that have the greatest aromas you can find!

Ahh.. memories...

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Mon, 07/13/2009 - 17:29
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Everything I hear keeps getting me more and more interested in this place. Are there any fan sites for it like there are for Disney?

Mon, 07/13/2009 - 17:54
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dsoup wrote:
Everything I hear keeps getting me more and more interested in this place. Are there any fan sites for it like there are for Disney?


I couldn't find any active forums like this one (or other WDW groups).

This site has some good information and a handful of anecdotal posts.

I've been enough that I should be able to answer any questions you may have. Feel free to post them here or PM me.

Tue, 07/14/2009 - 03:40
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One of my favorite Gatlinburg memories is from the mid to late 60's, when there was a lot of "folk music" around.

During that time, there were several music shows in Gatlinburg that featured 'Kingston Trio' type groups each night. There were also multiple restaurants that had outdoor seating on the main street there.

So from about 5:30 to 7:00, these groups would go up and down the street stopping at the various restaurants and singing to drum up customers for their performance that night.

I think I read somewhere where THESE days they make a big thing about Christmas, especially with the lighting of downtown Gatlinburg.

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Tue, 07/14/2009 - 12:14
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MouseTraveler wrote:
One of my favorite Gatlinburg memories is from the mid to late 60's, when there was a lot of "folk music" around.

During that time, there were several music shows in Gatlinburg that featured 'Kingston Trio' type groups each night. There were also multiple restaurants that had outdoor seating on the main street there.

So from about 5:30 to 7:00, these groups would go up and down the street stopping at the various restaurants and singing to drum up customers for their performance that night.

I think I read somewhere where THESE days they make a big thing about Christmas, especially with the lighting of downtown Gatlinburg.



Oooh, I love folk music (such as Kingston Trio). There is still good music there, but likely nothing like it used to be. They do still have good traditional bands that play on the street though, but they're usually in one place. Still makes for a great atmosphere, you can hear it all the way down the block.

And yes, Christmas is a big deal there. One of the coolest things about the area is despite all there is to do, it's very much a small town. Only has a couple thousand residents.

Tue, 07/14/2009 - 14:12
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Candy kitchens and chair lifts have me sold. I love stuff like that. Even if it's solely nostalgic.

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Tue, 07/14/2009 - 15:37
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bali wrote:
Candy kitchens and chair lifts have me sold. I love stuff like that. Even if it's solely nostalgic.


Oh, the candy kitchens are no joke. It's a big deal there. They are everywhere and a lot of them still make the candy (like taffy) the same way it was a hundred years ago. Made, stretched, and such by hand, then the same machines to wrap them even. It's not just taffy though, anything you can think of. A lot of things you won't find anywhere else. And fudge...MMM...lots of fudge, in every variety you can imagine and some you can't.

Tue, 07/14/2009 - 16:34
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I don't know why it surprises me that MT knows all this stuff when he lives right next door.

 
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