The new WordPress dashboard. I’m having the hardest time adjusting.
Can you tell I don’t like change??
We went to Dollywood yesterday to have some after Christmas fun. It was good, but reminded me too much of the time I went there with Mr. Nascar. It was tinged with a bit of sadness for me, because he wasn’t able to be part of the day. Bert© and I have season passes for both parks (Dollywood & SplashCountry) but my mom does not. I managed to win 2 free passes from work, so I invited her to go with us to see Winterfest.
We arrived at the park just after 11, and immediately headed to the Celebrity Theatre to see “Babes in Toyland”. Bert© and I had seen the production last year, but I really enjoyed it. I was surprised to see that it was not an entirely new cast. Some of my favorite cast members from last year made a reappearance this year. The little girl that plays the lead child is fantastic. I enjoyed her performance last year, and enjoyed it even more so this year. The best part was that we happened to sit next to a man who looked exactly like Santa Claus. He let Bert© sit in the seat next to him and ask him all kinds of questions. He said that he was on vacation in Gatlinburg since he was exhausted after Christmas eve. She had such a smile on her face and even gave Santa a hug before we went off to explore other attractions in the park. That man was very sweet and incredibly indulgent and I’m sure he gave my daughter a memory to last a life time.
We stopped for lunch after that, and then wandered off to wait in line for “The Polar Express 4-D experience”. The line-up was huge. There were signs telling us that our wait time at this point was 75 mins, 60 mins, 45 mins, etc. I think it was worth the wait, but others might not have. You go into this little room and watch the very beginning of the movie, up until the train arrives outside the little boy’s house. Then a red beacon flashes it’s warning lights and another set of doors open. You file into the room and climb into these little “pods”. Each pod has 4 seats and they tell you very specifically to buckle up. You put on your 3-D glasses and the movie comes on again on a huge IMax type screen. The best part is that as you’re riding the train, your seat is attempting to replicate the feel of the train and the movements it makes as it flys uncontrollably over the tracks. Bert© was screaming her head off and mom was cracking up. I was hanging on for dear life and desperately trying not to injure my back on the ride. Unfortunately I managed to jar myself, and ended up in pain for the remainder of the day. I will be very happy to visit with my chiropractor on Monday. After it was over, Bert© was ready and raring to wait in line again to ride a 2nd time. I didn’t think I had the patience for another 90 minute wait for a 20 minute ride, so instead we went outside. At the bottom of the stairs they had a board with pictures on it, the children were encouraged before heading inside to wait for the ride, to have their picture taken with a man who looked exactly like the conductor from the movie. Bert© looked so adorable in her picture that we just couldn’t pass it up.
Next we waited in line to see the inside of Dolly Parton’s Home on Wheels. She had retired that one, and commissioned a new one to be built to the tune of 2.5 million dollars. As we stepped inside the old bus, which was still lovely and very lavish, we had our picture taken as a group (noticing a theme here?) and looked around. Now, my step-father is a retired Tennessee State Patrol Officer and he worked the main stretch of I-40 in Middle TN between Nashville and Jackson mostly. Over the years he has pulled over countless country music legends, including Miss Dolly Parton herself, in the exact bus we were touring. Unfortunately my mom felt compelled to regale that tale to everyone on the bus with us. Normally I wouldn’t have a problem with that, but with so many people willing to lie about stuff like that and name drop, I’m sure everyone on the bus was collectively rolling their eyes and thinking to themselves “Sure, lady”. So I was a little bit embarrassed at that part, but I didn’t say anything as this was mom’s special day. It’s the furthest away from home she’s been in more than a month.
Bert© had been talking all day about going to the Rockin’ Roadway. It’s a 50’s style car ride, where the children are allowed to steer a self-propelled car on a little track. Most children that we saw there were driving erratically, although they cannot get off the track so they can’t hurt themselves, but when the front of the car hits a curve in the track it does give the passengers quite a jolt. I say most children because Bert© was driving very sedately and calmly, almost like I was a doddering old lady and she was carefully taking me out for my Sunday drive. She really loves anything to do with driving, and it was so cute. Plus I was able to honk the horn from my side of the car, and I wore that sucker out!
We talked about seeing another show, but it was going to be at least 30 minutes until something was ready, so we wandered up Craftsmens Valley to have a look-see and do a little window shopping. Dollywood tries to preserve the heritage of hand-made crafts. There are live demonstrations of glass blowing, black smithing, wagon making, wood carving, candle making, and so much more. The artisans create the items not only for demonstration purposes, but also to sell in their respective shops. Some of the stuff that you can find in there is amazing and very creative. I noticed on a lot of the items that were sold at Dollywood that they said “Made in the USA”. I was very pleased to see that, as it’s not a common sight these days.
We walked up to see the Eagle Sanctuary. They are such beautiful and majestic birds. I could have sat there for hours and listened to them call to each other and watched them fly from branch to branch. Bert© though had heard a familiar sound, the steam engine whistle, and wanted to ride the train. We climbed aboard the Dollywood Express as the sun was setting over the Smoky Mountains. Darkness had fallen over Dollywood and the Christmas lights were magnificent. The engineer played Christmas Music for us over the intercom, and the whole train was singing along. There was just enough chill to the air to really make it feel like Christmas. We waved at all the other tourists in the park and wished them “Happy New Year” as we rolled by. We pulled back into the station depot about 25 minutes later with huge smiles on our faces and stopped to get some hot chocolate.
Bert©’s favorite ride is the classic Carousel. We lined up just as the lady said they had closed for the light parade to come by. Mom, Bert©, and I lined up along side the pathway and watched as lighted floats rolled past. Bert© was smiling and waving at everyone, Raggedy Ann even came up and gave her a big hug. The Tin Soldiers marched past on stilts, and there were even some elves dancing along too. Once the parade finished, we convinced mom to hop on the carousel and ride with us. It was nearly 8pm by the time all was said and done so we wandered back toward the front of the park to the exit. We took our time and browsed in all the stores. Mom bought a few things, and Bert© used the last of her spending money to buy some salt water taffy. I left mom at the exit and went to get the van so she didn’t have to walk out to the outer parking lot with us. I don’t think Bert© was in the back of the van more than 30 seconds before she was sound asleep.
We had an excellent day, and it was lovely to do something together as a family. I wish that Mr. Nascar had been able to be there with us, and I know he did too, he told me so when he called. I’ll try and scan the pictures that we had taken there, and up load them so you all can share in our fun too.
I only have to work Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday next week and then I’m off until January 6th. Hopefully that will give me PLENTY of time to blog and get caught up on everyone elses stuff.
I had never been to 
Webmiss, Bert©, & Mr. Nascar are on VACATION!!
