Or just use the RR Crossing as their enterence. Make it that when you stay at the resort, you get into DW for free...

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When I worked there, there was always talk of making the Host Lot accessible from Veteran's Boulevard. If that happened, then they wouldn't need that road, except for Trolleys, which would be feasible. I think that large part of land would be perfect for a resort, and make an entrance to Country Fair/The Village, exclusively for folks that stay at the resort.

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2006-2008 - Dollywood Market Square Crew

Ok, but wait... Before they do ANYTHING else, can they PLEASE repave the parking lots and make them more...well....better. F just sucks... It's going to cause a wreck!

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^You aren't kidding.

I think they should just rip everything up, and just start over. It's a hot mess.

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2006-2008 - Dollywood Market Square Crew

Keep an eye to the news in the next several days.

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THE Smoky Mountain Family Adventure

If we are to keep an eye on the news, that must mean there is some kind of addition that's newsworthy! Unless the news runs an article about how nothing is going to be added.

On the resort topic, I don't exactly know how they would theme the building(s) to the country fair, and if they are very tall they will need to be themed. I mean, big buildings do not accompany my vision of a country fair, so they'd have to be out of the back drop of the fair, in my opinion. But it would be a pretty decent location for the hotel and a second entrance. If this location does happen, there will still have to be a tram/bus stop for splash country. It will be interesting to see how it plays out

I think the news will be something about the resort.

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I hope the news report will be about the resort.... but I'm not going to get my hopes up lol.

^^I understand what you're saying, but I don't think the resort is going to be so close to the park that you'd notice it while in the park. I'm almost sure the resort will be well themed, I'm thinking close to Universal quality themeing, and take up a great amount of space. Speaking of themeing, does anyone remember what the choices for resort themeing were on one of the past surveys?

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I'm sure Dollywood can pull it off if anyone can, haha.

From Screamscape: (4/23/08) We’ve got another update about that Dollywood resort hotel survey. It seems they are asking questions about three different resort concepts called Chasing Rainbows, International and Southern Style. Unfortunately you need a valid e-mail address to take the actual survey having the link will get you no-where.

I personally like the Southern Style, myself. Probably just because the eatery at the resort could serve similar foods as the park is known for. International would be pretty cool too.

They could theme it Southern style and have it located near the Village- it wouldn't look horribly out of place viewed from inside the park... I mean, I always considered Country Fair to be an 'off-shoot' of the Village meaning the Fair was 'visiting town'... I always think of them as linked.

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Or they could just hide it all together. I can't see anything past the trees in the CF, I mean, think about it. And about the tram route for the resort, they could just have a trolley or something that would take them from the resort up to the actual trolley drop off.

Anyways, my bet on the builder is going to the people who designed TC, SS, and The inn at Christmas place, and also AM. I think that if they do build it, we'll get AM as well, maybe not in it's original location, but maybe as something for the resort...

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Wait... We're getting cabins... Not A Resort? Kind of a Disappointment to be honest... I'm sure it'll be fine, but they're normally over priced and it's going to be facing a lot of competition... I think the resort will do better as far as competition.

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Well I Love cabins! But they are to expensive ...Still it will help the economy ....
So I wonder when what day this week we will hear about the addition or something?

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Dollywood 2010- Adventure Mountain

Dollywood 2011

Ok I just looked at a cabin that would hold my family(2 bedroom cabins) and looked at the rates for one....Yea we will probably not be staying at those cabins at all lol. Those are some expensive cabins...

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Dollywood 2010- Adventure Mountain

Dollywood 2011

I did not see that coming... an alliance?

Quite underwhelming, IMO. Until Dollywood builds its own hotel where it can control costs, this is not very cost effective for the majority of guests and doesn't help them become a destination resort if the accommodations are not on property.

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Perhaps the new resort will be made up as a small (at first) village of cabins grouped together to create a nostalgic, old-fashioned East Tennessee mountain-themed living community or town. I could see this being either loosely or heavily themed on Dolly's Tennessee Mountain Home but with all the modern ammenities, of course. A separate entrance directly accessing the park would be nice that could offer exclusive early or late hours to enjoy the park for resort guests. I believe this will be moderate to luxury accomodations for those willing to pay for the premium opportunity to stay "on property" and have the convenience of having Dollywood within a short walk where one would stay overnight. Whatever is built will be certain to blend with the park's surroundings and not stick out like a huge skyscrapper in a mountain valley compromising the park's natural beauty (like the way the cabins behind Tennessee Tornado ruin that gorgeous mountain-top). It should be consistent with the park's overall theming and brand but be unique enough in the area to entice and attract potential guests into a different lodging option with Dollywood resort-only "perks" and experiences.

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Celebrate Dollywood's 25th Anniversary in 2010 !
Dolly would. Dolly did. Dollywood will again in '10 for the 25th year!

What is this in reference to? Are you talking about the Adventure Vacation Packages on the park's special offers web page?

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Celebrate Dollywood's 25th Anniversary in 2010 !
Dolly would. Dolly did. Dollywood will again in '10 for the 25th year!

^ That was in reference to the 'big news' being an alliance with an outside resort company.

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This apparently is the next premium experience... I wasn't to fond of the zip line idea and this only makes it worse. What is happening to Dollywood? This is what the bigger theme parks do... Six Flags basically has only premium things now and look where they're at. Take it from me Dollywood... Stick with what you do best. Stick with adding in rides that are free and amazing!

Also, here's the site for the rentals. It sounds like they're the cabins that are on the hill above Tennessee Tornado....

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Please don't get all corporate on us!

I could care less about cabins or a hotel. I live 2 hours away. I just drive.

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DareDevil Falls FTW!

Is this the announcement that Pete was talking about? I don't think it is because I was just on dollywood.com several days ago and I'm pretty sure I remember already seeing this on their website. I could be wrong though. So instead of having their own resort, they are instead teaming up with a cabin company? Um, so many questions. lol.

Don't get me wrong, I'm quite disappointed with this, but I don't see it really effecting much. Maybe some brochures stuffed around the park, but nothing too huge. I do understand the cause for concern. I personally don't mind the SkyZip too much, and the cabins I can deal with.... but if all the newer attractions start becoming a 'premium experience,' where's the integrity in that? I'm hoping that the cabin partnership is temporary, until the economy looks stable enough for the park to support an on-site hotel. One thing I love about Dollywood is the value. I can go to Dollywood for 20 dollars for all day (with season pass) if need be, and I'd like it to stay that cheap over the next several years.

lol, I laugh because everyone has the same reaction I did. I saw the post on Screamscape and became disappointed lol.

But check this out. Yes they have an alliance with Starr Crest Resort and are promoting their cabins right now, but this could be the set up for what's to come from this Dollywood and Starr Crest Resort alliance. Right now Dollywood is promoting their cabins and when time comes for the resort (which COULD possibly start ground breaking next year) they will announce Starr Crest Resort is building the onsite resort for Dollywood. Also, from the website we see Starr Crest is very capable of making a "Southern Style" resort.... So my guess.... and hopes lol... are we only have a taste of what's to come from this alliance.

What do yall think?

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I was wondering if those were the cabins that they are talking about. How far away are those cabins from the train loop? I could totally see Dollywood making it to where the train goes back through there and picks up people that are staying at those cabins...well maybe.

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Would that even be possible? I COULD, however, see them hooking up a zip line and making it the worlds fastest... But, of course, you'd have to pay for it...

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Yeah it could probably be possible if they did some land work.

The worlds fastest zip line idea would be cool, and they could include it in free for staying at the cabins.

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Goodness, they have teamed up with the company that built those huge cabins ontop of a mountain that can be seen from inside the park that ruins the experience of being in the 1800s?

I do not want the hotel to stay at myself really, I wish to see it happen for the benefit of Dollywood's continued success.

I thought this myself, but the problem is if you don't operate and own the hotel, it's harder to control costs and deliver a 100% 'brand experience' that HFEC strives for in everything it does- not to mention, HFEC has operated hospitality locations before and just recently hired a new Senior Vice President for Hospitality Operations, so I don't understand why the Dollywood hotel couldn't be owned and ran by them...

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Dollywood has other lodging partnerships that can been seen on dollywood.com. Since they are choosing to expand their lodging partnerships with Starr Crest Resorts, it is very unlikely that they plan to build a hotel/resort of their own anytime soon. I guess that is a smart move with the way the economy is right now. I don't think this is the announcement that Pete is talking about. I remember seeing this on dollywood's website a day or two before Pete mentioned an announcement. They'll probably announce something in the next few days and Dolly will confirm it on the 12th.

On a side note, catch Dolly performing on the Tony Awards on Sunday June 7th at 8pm CBS. She is nominated for some of the awards too for her "9 to 5: The Musical" show in New York.

Ok I'm not sure why everyone is freaking out of the announcement of an "alliance" with Starr Crest Cabins. So Dollywood is promoting them and they are promoting Dollywood, what's the big deal? The announcement does not say that this is the new resort for Dollywood and it does not say anything other than Dollywood basically recomends them. It also does not mentiont that this will keep Dollywood from building there own hotel. So wait for an announcement.

My guess is what Pete is talking about is probably not the announcement involving Starr Crest anyway. I bet if we are going to see an announcement about what is coming to Dollywood next year (or at least a hint) we will get it from Dolly on June 12th when she is at the park.

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I was thinking the same thing, with some kind of announcement at the start of Kidsfest. Hopefully there will be a confirmation on Adventure Mountain (the website does say coming in 2010, though), and maybe a hint if anything else is coming. I still hope that there will be an announcement about the resort. Depending on the magnitude, it could be 4 or 5 years out, I imagine (I don't know much about construction times and all involved, so that may be off), and the cabins are just a temporary 'fix' for the park.