2016 Golden Ticket Awards

If roller coasters are not your sole focus, Dollywood is easily a more well-rounded park. With the opening of the DreamMore resort, it might even be better. Their coaster collection is gradually improving, but the food is insanely good. The live entertainment is just about even (in recent years... CP has made a huge recovery in that area).

Food isn't something I look for in a good park. And I was not very impressed by their coaster collection. Lightning Rod was down and Thunderhead was very rough. I don't see how it ranks so high. Wild Eagle and Mystery Mine were the only two I mildly enjoyed. Also their ticket prices are very high for what you get. However I did not have an overall good experience because I had a severe case of pan colitis the weekend I was there. Maybe that clouded my judgement.

So Dollywood doesn't meet your criteria for a great park. The Golden Ticket Awards, for what they're worth, are the opinion of a broad swath of people who enjoy amusement parks.

I enjoyed Dollywood: it's a lovely park and has (in my opinion) great coasters all around.

Agree with Jeff: with the addition of the DreamMore resort to the theme park, water park and cabins, Dollywood is certainly a destination resort.

I've never been to Dollywood, though I'd love to go sometime, but how are the shows their compared to anything at Disney World? I've heard a couple people say the shows are good but are nothing close to Disney.

That depends. "Shows" at Disney means a lot of different things. I don't think a smaller park can reach the level of something like Finding Nemo: The Musical or Festival of The Lion King. They have enormous budgets and full-time, year-round, union cast and crew.

WolfBobs said:
Looking at the list I'm honestly surprised CP got 2nd place.

Knoebels is just, well, Knoebels. If you haven't been, go!

Knoebels is my second favorite park behind Cedar Point. Almost entirely because Phoenix exists. The flyers and food are great too, and the bumper cars, and Flying Turns... That being said, I couldn't put it ahead of Cedar Point. Cedar Point is simply too well rounded; great coasters, good flats, location, the water park upgrades, the entertainment upgrades (not just luminosity but the random midway shows), the lights, and that amazing drive into the park.

Haven't been to Dollywood or Silver Dollar City or Hershey. Those are extremely high up on the priority list, SDC is definitely happening next year.

CoasterKyle1121 said:

I've never been to Dollywood, though I'd love to go sometime, but how are the shows their compared to anything at Disney World? I've heard a couple people say the shows are good but are nothing close to Disney.

I have always referred to Dollywood as "Redneck Disneyland" because it is a heavily themed family park with good food and shows. The shows are very good, but production quality, is not even close.

Anyone know If they posted the full listing of the top 20 wood and steel roller-coasters yet? Everytime I go to their site, they still have last year's results in.

I have seen it posted, I think at TPR. I haven't checked the official site though.

http://goldenticketawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/2016-GTA-i...mplete.pdf

Thanks for the link. Is this magazine at all interesting and worth subscribing, or is it really just industry advertising (like my father in-law's arcade trade magazines)?

You can look at some old issues here to get an idea.

http://amusementtoday.com/2014-issues/

I used to be a faithful subscriber and voter. I always got a chuckle when there was an "article" right next to an ad from the same guys. Which was every time.
Nowadays I just let the Internet do the work for me.

The word you're searching for is "advertorial," though I suppose to qualify, there should be an ethical disclaimer along side it.