After 15 disappointing minutes in the Disney Store (Hannah Montana, Jonas Brothers, and Cheetah Girl stuff galore) we decided that we should utilize our two-days-for-the-price-of-one tickets that we purchased at our motel and head on over to Dollywood.
The parking lot seemed 3/4 full by the time we arrived because this was one of two days that Dolly Parton was actually going to be in the park performing a concert. The tram ride was a mile and quarter so they suggested we take the tram back to our car rather than trying to walk. Good advice after a full day in the park.
We rode two incredibly fun coasters to start the day off. Thunderhead is a wooden coaster with nice tight smooth turns and twistys all over the place. What a kick. Mystery Mine was installed last year and has a couple of lift hills that go straight up and couple of drops that go straight down. Surprise, surprise. The end of the ride is an immelman turn that stunt airplanes make to go the opposite way in a hurry. Flip the plane over on its back and pull the stick toward you and you loop under yourself and end up right side up going the opposite direction. We were laughing so hard after this ride.
Around 5:30pm we were walking to a show and everyone is lining up for what looks like a parade. It happens that Dolly is going to drive thru the park. Karen was the only one who didn't go to the show and she got the picture of her.
The four of us were standing in line later that evening to view the inside of Dolly's retired touring bus when we struck up a conversation with the people in line with us. Turns out SHE is the head of Dolly's Books for Kids program called Imagination Library in 26 states (http://www.dollysimaginationlibrary.com/howworks.php).
Doug and Betty would have loved to have seen Dolly in concert there at the park but tickets weren't available when we found out she was going to be there. The lady knew someone who needed to sell a couple of tickets. ANYWAY, they got together after the second concert of the day and bought the tickets - so they are going to the Dolly Concert tomorrow!
The park stayed open til 9pm and we got home around 10pm.
Tomorrow we do Dollywood again, riding rides we loved, and getting some new ones in while they go to the concert.
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