Rented our cabin for several nights via Heartland and called before every outing/activity for BIG discounts, this was one of them!
Thx to other TA reviews, Hubs got two rides for each of us (no need to ride together, much more fun separately), first time in the morning before lines get too long or too hot. Absolutely get tix ahead of time (so you don’t need to wait in TWO lines) for nighttime.
No matter when you get there after sunset, be prepared to WAIT. We got there at 9:30 and rode after 10:30, BUT, they are so prepared to make your wait time fun- at least when we went. They had a DJ (guy with a speaker and iPhone lol) and a couple of tshirt cannons (guys throwing free “I survived” shirts), but man, it was awesome. Everyone in line was patient and just FUN. Great songs to sing and dance to while we waited (family friendly but not childish thank God), and saw the 9:30ish fireworks behind us over the mountain from Dollywood. Same staff was there at night that we saw in the morning 12 hours earlier but still super friendly and professional.
Saw other reviewers complain about the start and stop on this coaster but we didn’t mind it at all- that’s part of why you get about a 10min ride! Really enjoyable and even relaxing, automatically riding uphill, and at night, seeing the stars, moonrise, and hearing the frogs croak- and the coaster all lit up of course! I also felt much more comfortable and safe with the two rails opposed to other coasters with only one (and others have a worse weight limit).
Best photo ops are going uphill so you’re less likely to drop your phone;) Hubs was easily able to FB live during his night ride. Great atmosphere, music, signage, lights, everything!! Absolutely worth the wait- TWICE!! Can’t wait to bring our boys (11 and 5.5) with us next time (this was a just-us trip lol).
Gift shop has collector pin, magnets, great hats, cool “hillbilly” things like pipes and peashooters. They have a nice sitting spot for no riders to watch, and while they have dip n dots in the gift shop, they’d make a killing with a soft serve or homemade ice cream type of deal right there in the corner of their lot. Maybe someday!