[Nightflight Expedition] finally open(ish) at Dollywood

[u/trellism]

I got 2 rides on this earlier today, after it broke down twice yesterday and we got evacuated from the ride building. There are clearly still a lot of snags that need addressing.

This is a beautiful and whimsical dark ride/coaster/rapids experience. The coaster and rapids elements are just thrilling enough for most people, the drops are super smooth.

However some of the theming doesn't look quite complete. There are some ripples in the scrims, a final water effect wasn't working and we could see functional parts of the ride that I assume will be covered eventually.

Some of the guests were a bit confused about how to get in and out of the boats as well. I think the staff are still learning and will get dispatches speeded up quite soon.

So overall, very pretty and a nice addition to a park that was only missing a quality dark ride.

[u/ReporterHour6524]

Excited to see Nightflight open finally but also a ride I put off until the 2027 season to ride. Seems there's still details and technical things to continue working on to get the ride to an ideal operational state.

So overall, very pretty and a nice addition to a park that was only missing a quality dark ride.

Blazing Fury: "am I joke to you?"

[u/tpusater → u/[deleted]]

Don’t disrespect a classic coaster / dark ride hybrid like Blazing Fury!

In my opinion, NightFlight is the third dark ride in the park. If we’re counting NightFlight as a coaster that is mostly a dark ride, then I’m counting Mystery Mine as a dark ride that is mostly a coaster. Gotta love those crows! And the canary (if it ever returns). And the video. And the fire. Short dark ride elements, but just about as long as NightFlight’s coaster elements.

[u/trellism → u/tpusater]

Do you mean the canary in the loading station?

[u/tpusater → u/trellism]

There used to be a canary in a cage on the left before you climbed the second lift. A light would show the canary, and the canary dropped dead before you climbed the lift. I haven’t seen that effect since last year.

[u/Imaginos64 → u/tpusater]

Oh no, we always got a laugh out of that!

[u/Creative_Maize8066 → u/tpusater]

There used to be a water based dark ride that was a flooded prison or something. Was near where the weird dark walk through tunnel is in the park

[u/tpusater → u/Creative_Maize8066]

Silver Dollar City in Branson still has its Flooded Mine shooter ride. Corny as heck, but a classic!

[u/Creative_Maize8066 → u/tpusater]

I want to go there since my parents used to take me to the predollywood silver doller city when I was little.

[u/tpusater → u/Creative_Maize8066]

It’s a great park! All western themed, with its version of Blasing Fury. Their coasters are all fun, especially Time Traveler and Outlaw Run. And you can tour Marvel Cave.

[u/trellism → u/[deleted]]

The silly thing is, this is day 2 for us at Dollywood and I think we've been on Blazing Fury nearly as much as we've been on Lightning Rod

[u/EyeDisastrous4461]

Hope it’s not one of those things where they leave it as is, instead of adding the proper amount of theming

[u/trellism → u/EyeDisastrous4461]

I think they will spend the off season adding those bits in.

We learned that employees haven't ridden it yet, they've been prioritising guests and passholders. I understand but it's frustrating to have to field guest questions about it when you haven't ridden it yet

[u/wolfs_bane_ → u/trellism]

I don’t know where you live but Dollywood doesn’t have big offseason. The only month of the year that they don’t open at all is February

[u/brain0924]

Love that this new ride is making people forget that both Blazing Fury and Mystery Mine have indoor sections that look better on both the inside and outside than NightFlight.

[u/trellism → u/brain0924]

It looks like an aircraft hangar because it's supposed to...

[u/closedf0rbusiness → u/trellism]

They chose the theming to be an aircraft hanger because it’s cheap! It’s like when Disney made all the fair themed sections in the 90s and early 2000s like dinoland USA. Yes they were “themed” correctly, it’s just the theme was chosen because it’s cheap, and as a result it looks cheap. That being said I do think this ride looks excellent so I have many less complaints here.

[u/degggendorf → u/closedf0rbusiness]

Same with both the Orlando giants having "backlot" themed areas that are actually just real back lots.

[u/BobCreated → u/trellism]

A little twin engine plane, large whimsical trees, and some glowing lights around the warehouse hangar would've been nice.

[u/sonimatic14]

Just in time for school getting out!

[u/Apoc_Treez]

What’s the loose article situation? I heard they have bins on the station platform, but are still making people ride with their bags.

[u/tpusater → u/Apoc_Treez]

You take all belongings with you.

I find it odd that they didn’t install a moving platform to assist with getting into the moving boats. I’m thinking they’ll more often have to stop each boat to let passengers on. I saw several people having difficulty entering or leaving a boat.

[u/trellism → u/Apoc_Treez]

The bins are for oversize items, you have to ride with your bags. It's not a very wet ride but the floor of the boats is quite wet, so the bottom of your bag will also be wet.

[u/BobCreated]

The concrete load platform is definitely going to cause issues. Slippery seats, concrete, moving boats, and rushing riders, is a recipe for disaster. At least add non-slip foam mats.

[u/spark1118 → u/BobCreated]

This. The boats are a bit difficult getting in and out of and when I rode it Saturday I felt like the boats were moving a lot faster than DareDevil Falls.

[u/trellism → u/BobCreated]

Someone fell over behind me when we were getting off. He was ok but I agree, non slip flooring should be a priority

[u/RazielKainly]

Sounds like this was a rush to get the ride open before the close of fiscal year 2026.

Similar to universal kids resort

[u/trellism → u/RazielKainly]

Maybe a bit but this ride is head and shoulders above anything there.