My Battle with Lightning Rod's New CHAIN Lift (Dollywood, 2024)

[@mattdaaamon]

I wish everyone could experience what Ligtning Rod was in the first year. That launch up the hill made my body went go into imediate panic mode because we were going too fast by it's own calulation to crest the hill safely. The whole ride was balls to the walls intensity like I have never experienced before. It was absolutely a top 5 coaster at that time. When I rode again in 2019 with the neutered launch my body did not at all have the same natural reaction and it went significantly down in my rankings. I wish everyone could have expericed this ride id the first year.

[@kirblar]

What's sad is had they just built a steel hill in the first place they would have avoided the problem.

[@AirtimeThrills]

@@mattdaaamon i have the same experience as you. Rode in 2016 and again in 2019. Big difference

[@mattdaaamon]

@@AirtimeThrills Absolutely. I was told on forums it was the same speed or I didnt remember properly but I could never forget that out of body experience in my life. Thank you or confirming. It means a lot. Love the channel.

[@mattdaaamon]

@@kirblar for real just keep the launch on a rock solid steel hill.

[@mattcollins3591]

Ever wonder why no park has put in a launched wooden coaster? Because they don’t work.

[@ItsAllGood_]

What a story for the 300th credit. Congrats Sophie! I'm 43 and I only got 112 credits. (I'm working on it)

[@YaBoyFish27]

I call my self i coaster enthusiast but only have 21 credits 🤷‍♂️

[@jonahperegoy4672]

I only have 13 credits.

[@ItsSiebay]

I’ve got 49 so far

[@jaya1000]

Should've had richer parents. Chris is LOADED 💰 💰 💰

[@urbex_coasters]

@@YaBoyFish27Hey, at least you've got enough credits to match the White Sox loosing streak.

[@robertpolk9910]

Congratulations on 300 coasters Sophie!

[@Andrew-gh5pm]

Launch or not, the quad down is still awesome and is my favorite element of all time

[@EmberMcLain87]

1st time on it this past summer, and even though i knew it was coming i was still unprepared for those quads. talk about ejector to the max.

[@FryGuy909]

i still remember my 100th in Steel Vengeance. Such a perfect coaster. Hopefully might be going to Dollywood on a school trip next year :)

[@BradenSweeney-s2z]

Got to meet you that day! RMC shirt was hard to miss! (Didn’t realize I interrupted you filming😂)

[@AirtimeThrills]

@@BradenSweeney-s2z haha i had just cracked open a vlog hit so it was all good

[@BennettKnowsOfficial]

I love Dollywood! All of the rollercoasters have THAT touch. I found myself grinning as you teased Sophie's ride on the Mystery Mine! Congrats on 300th credit!

[@CedarThrills]

The launch was awesome, but the ride after is still awesome. Definitely dropping for me, but not much

[@karlmanning2603]

Congratulations to Sophie on reaching 300! I would like to see Dollywood get a B&M hyper or giga someday to get some floater airtime into the park. That, along with LRod, would create an incredible 1-2 punch!

[@xj-may]

I spent two days at Dollywood, it was my first time ever going and they were maybe the best days I’ve ever spent at a park. Part of that was timing, went on two April weekdays and the park was unbelievably empty, everything was a walk on. But the park was also extremely well run, with fast ops (multiple trains on everything even when it’s all walk ons), great food, great layout, just great vibes, and of course, great rides too. Lightning Rod and Thunderhead both in my overall top 10, and there is not a bad coaster in the lineup, there’s not even a “meh” coaster. Every ride fits perfectly into the lineup. On my second day I also broke my personal record for most rides on one coaster in a day (12 on Lightning Rod, plus an extra 10 on Thunderhead). Lrod was also my 100th credit so, I got two milestones on that ride. Great park

[@AirtimeThrills]

@@xj-may pretty awesome to get there on a dead day. Hard to find one of those

[@OklahomaCoasterFan]

I have had so many incredible days at Dollywood as well. November weekdays when school is in session, ideally the week prior to Thanksgiving week, are perfect. Christmas celebration is in full force, great shows, rides have no lines, fall colors. I did 16 on Wild Eagle my first day in 2019, on a day that Lightning Rod was closed. The next day, I did 16 on Lightning Rod. In 2023, the remnants of Hurricane Nicole had the park so empty, but everything was running, since there was no lightning. I was also walking into shows last minute and getting a great seat. Ride ops said they run everything if they can, even if it's very empty. I walked onto Lightning Rod in the front row.

[@michael7054]

Great video! Congrats on Sophie getting 300 roller coaster credits! 🎉🎉🎉🎈 🎈 🎈. I really enjoyed watching this!

[@edvaira6891]

Oh wow! the Bubble show is STILL there?! We Loved that the one time we were in Dollywood in 2011

[@SunnylandProds]

Congrats on 300, Sophie! My needle hasn’t moved much since 2023 when Tron was my 200th credit, but I’m at 222, mostly thanks to SeaWorld San Diego and Six Flags Over Georgia. But next year I’m heading to Great Adventure, Dorney, Knoebels and Hersheypark!

[@herecomesthesun18]

Whoop whoop, lets go Sophie! Congrats on 300! Good pick! 😀 Great vlog too! Road to 100 for Amy! 😊

[@Neonlights115]

Getting evacuated from misty is pretty cool. I used to operate at dollywood and it gets evacuated pretty frequently compared to the other coasters

[@AirtimeThrills]

@@Neonlights115 i bet, i figured i wasnt that special

[@Neonlights115]

@@AirtimeThrills ah don't sell yourself short I personally think it's pretty special to see a ride when it's not operating normally. Especially one like mystery mine

[@Mechum22]

Congrats on 300, Sophie! 🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉

[@peterroberts4415]

19:45: park executives hate this one simple trick!

[@triplej755]

When you said ‘Coming in 2016: Lightning rod, the world’s…..’ I felt like you were about to do a Six Flags and say ‘The world’s tallest pendulum ride!’

[@ChiefBlueScreen]

I saw you getting off Lightning Rod near the end of the day that day. i was SHOCKED how clear the park was given the fullness of the parking lot.

[@mattdaaamon]

Dollywood can fit a lot of gests these days. Also that parking lot is so weird and extended its hard to guage how full it is.

[@AirtimeThrills]

@@ChiefBlueScreen yeah that LRod line was pretty much 5 mins when i got that last ride

[@x9thousand8]

EPIC FATHERHOOD holy smokes 300

[@mr.meloetta1939]

Super lucky i got two rides on LRod before the launch got taken out. One of which was in the dark

[@hersheyparkhotspot6178]

I enjoy big bear more than fury too. Rock on Sophie

[@NoahRhodes-wb1hb]

Cool story about this is that two months after Arie force one opened me and my dad went to so flags over Georgia and we had a blast but I told my dad that we have to check out this new ride I’d heard so much about(from you) so we went to funspot and rode it but I ran into New Jersey coaster doing a reverse pov of the coaster and he had another guy with him and I got to talking with him and it turns out that he is a mechanic of wild eagle at Dollywood and he told me about 2 months in advance before Dollywood publicly said that they where taking out the launch. I didn’t say anything!

[@Dirkschneider]

Congratulations on the big 300! 🎉

[@hookster999]

I spent the first 27 years of my life in Knoxville, TN , and growing up Dollywood was not a park with many thrills or coasters, I was 11 years old when Tennessee Tornado opened and it was the most epic summer of my life just to see a 3 loop coaster installed at Dollywood , And I never ever imagined Dollywood would grow and become the incredible park it has and I am so grateful that so many coasters and rides have been built over the years ! Dollywood will always be my favorite theme park but I am slightly biased , but as a kid I just never dreamed it would become such a massive park with Huge Coasters and Thrills

[@WillEmerson-v5m]

Let's go find Big Bear and the launch cable for Lightning Rod.

[@vespinonl]

Congrats Sophie! 🎉🎢

[@mattcollins3591]

The ride is 90 percent more reliable now. The launch was always a gimmick that didn’t work 95 percent of the time. It’s still the 2nd most popular ride at the park. I feel people just complain just to hear themselves complain. Don’t like it? Don’t ride it, simple.

[@porcelainthunder2213]

So glad I got to ride it with the launch! It was my last bucket list ride. It was awesome!

[@CoastingThePlanet]

You’re lucky with that Mystery Mine experience 😂 Dollywood’s my home park and I’ve never gotten stuck on any rides despite going like once a month lol. Would personally love an evac off Mystery Mine

[@zacg_]

I die a little inside every time I see Lighting Rod reach the base of the lift hill without then taking off.

[@AnimeFlyz]

Flew all the way from Florida to go to Dollywood last month and I loved everything about it

[@danielphelps2138]

Congratulations to Sophie on the big 300. And to Amy on number 11. And let’s not forgot that incredible 677 for the proud father of the next generation of enthusiasts. Congratulations to you all for the milestones.

[@bigpboy1012]

2:48 The TimeSaver line was likely longer due to it being Golden Hour. In the first hour of the day, Gold and Diamond passholders and Resort Guests can use the TimeSaver lines on rides that have them as much as they want.

[@kevinmorris6984]

Yeah I was curious what you were gonna say about Lightning Rod’s roughness. This spring, the valleys after the first drop and the wave turn were brutally rough in all row. It was so rough that I got a headache after a few rides... I’m glad to hear you say it’s running smooth again 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Lee-kx7pg]

Tennessee Tornado kicks major butt, might be the best ride in the park

[@joshmonroe2562]

Almost missed it, it was so fast. 🤔 This is comedy gold!!

[@Sonic-gy7kq]

OK, my favorite part is they emphasize that it’s gonna be a high-speed chain lift and it’s just the speed of a normal 100-200ft rmc😂

[@AirtimeThrills]

@@Sonic-gy7kq yeah it definitely is fast but i wish it had a little more bite

[@jasonkinikin7733]

Loved the half credit. If you only ride Racer at Kennywood once (or only on one side several times) is that only half a credit too?

[@AirtimeThrills]

@@jasonkinikin7733 i consider racer and ones like it 1 credit but only 1 side is required to get it

[@SoCalCoasters]

i freakin love airtime thrills man

[@Clancy.21P]

When I went on Tennessee tornado someone on the ride was screaming something about teriyaki chicken

[@AirtimeThrills]

@@Clancy.21P teriyaki chicken is delicious

[@mitchellries256]

I think we have different opinions on what a high speed chain lift is. When I think of a fast lift hill, I think of Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City, or an S&S El Loco. The speed of the lift on Lightning Rod was nowhere near any of those.

[@WeWereInvertedVideo]

Was at Dollywood last Saturday & Sunday. I've been 2 times before, with the last time being in 2019. Thunderhead and Tennessee Tornado were my two stand outs this trip. Lightning Rod felt neutered big time. Every ride the first day felt so slow. Second day was better, but not by much. Big Bear didn't do much for me aside make us wait 1 hour Saturday and 45 minutes on Sunday. Oh and Mystery Mine, a ride they gave me headaches my two prior visits, rode better for me. I actually had fun riding it and bought a shirt for it. 😂

[@altucker3645]

Wow Amy has 11 credits ? That's more then i got !!!

[@JWood62]

I'll be there Sunday and Monday. While I do miss the launch on Lightning Rod, it's still a good ride. Definitely getting rougher which is a bummer. I was nore surprised by how smooth Thunderhead was during my last couple visits.

[@oxygen3143]

“Chain Lightning ” is a pretty sick name. Wish they’d rename it to that for the memes

[@Cje_-yj8ov]

As someone who used to have this in my #1 overall spot, seeing this coaster with a lift chain just hurts my heart

[@jtbowman132]

I got to experience this ride in all of its iterations, but somehow my last ride on it with the chain lift was the wildest one I had yet. The sideways ejector on the first wave turn was the first time I actually felt like I was going to die on a roller coaster, lol. I’ll always love Lightning Rod and am so glad to have Dollywood as my home park 🥰

[@3xoticG4m3r]

Damn Sophie is so lucky to have one of the best dads ever

[@gemmachaos]

Sing along with Dolly! Ridin' Mystery Mine, what a way to get a credit, ridin' Mystery Mine...

[@stephenboshears4832]

You should have gotten the front row on Lightning Rod it’s far better up there than in the back.

[@robertbarga3694]

Went to Dollywood for the first time last week. Your comments about Lightening Rod really stood out to me because that's been a bucket list coaster for me for a long time and well...when I rode it I was kind of disappointed. I felt like it was a bit rougher than expected (rode it 3 times) and a bit more underwhelming. I was actually kind of shocked it didn't do much for me. It ended up being my 4th favorite coaster there which I was NOT expecting. Maybe the ride has gotten rougher? I don't know. I just felt like I was missing something based on the hype the ride gets. It was a pretty big let down and I'm still surprised about it. (Thunderhead was bad-ass though)

[@WhatAG23]

They sure love their family coasters in recent years with fire chaser, dragon flier, BBM, and now Chaining Rod

[@CoasterParadise12323]

I saw the Gazillion Bubble Show when it was at Kings Island. Its really good!

[@urbex_coasters]

The half crediting...how would I count the new section of track after the first lift lol? It will likely by a while before I go back to Dollywood for various factors unrelated to coasters but it will happen eventually.

[@Hangtime_Davi64]

I rode Lightning Rod for the first time this year, and it is in my top 5 right now, only behind Voyage, Fury 325, ArieForce One, and Goliath (SFOG). I really thought it would be better than Goliath, but I came off a little bit disappointed. I agree with you completely on the first half. The only force was roughness. I haven't ridden a lot of the heavy-hitter coasters that make people's top 10s (like Steel Vengeance, Iron Gwazi, and Velocicoaster), but I imagine this won't last in my top 10 as I keep riding new rides.

[@mattdaaamon]

You would be absolutely shocked as to how much better it was the first year.

[@chrismckamey9727]

Lightning Rod is running a lot faster since the new trains have now gotten worn in it’s a top 10 for me

[@tyfish-x3c]

new video idea: every new for 2034 knock off wing coaster with blueish green track coming to mongolia, central africa, and southwest mexico. B&M EXCLUDED

[@brennenbasl]

About where would Lightning Rod slot in now for RMCs? Still ahead of Wildfire?

[@chasebingaman]

I'm happy to have only ridden lrod with the new lift so I have nothing better to base off of. It was so amazing when I rode it in July. Got a night ride and was maybe a top 5 ride off all time. Thunderhead was also so so goof

[@mattdaaamon]

It is a massive difference from the first year but not as much vs last year.

[@seriomarkj]

Didnt miss much...i hated mystery mine!! Lol

[@GForcerollercoaster123]

Nice I have never been there before but it is in my bucket list ❤😊😊

[@VWdabug]

I finally rode it in june and it didn’t disappoint even with a chain lift

[@topgunjoeicdbko]

This park has all family coasters and wild eagle. The bear ride is also a coaster cred since they count the pony 1.

[@tuvia-3]

DOLLYWOOD MENTIONED MY DAY IS COMPELTE

[@gametime2473]

They really improved Thunderhead this year. It is my favorite ride in the park. I think #2 is probably Tennessee Tornado and #3 is Lightning Rod. Lightning Rod has slowly been inching down for years. Sadly it is just a mid tier RMC at this point. No launch, no longer wood, not all that good. You can feel every transition from wood to steel ibox on the ride. What a mess.

[@mattyorshin]

Lighning rod was my 356 coaster i think? Lol dont quite remember my numbers off top of my head. Anyways almost at 400 now 😊 . Dollywood was packed when i went

[@ryanjabell]

I really think they should have opted for a high speed cable lift instead of a chain life for lightning rod if they were going to change it.

[@AirtimeThrills]

@@ryanjabell yeah i wonder why they couldn't get something like skyrush has

[@ryanjabell]

@@AirtimeThrills that's my exact thought.... Or more in line with the woodie, el toro

[@bubblegaminglol]

WEDNESDAY VIDEO 🔥🔥🔥

[@flooo7045]

In my opinion, you can get the credit at the moment the train leaves the Station. I would count the credit even if I got evacuated, but I also can understand if you don‘t see it as a „complete Credit“

[@priorityrecords1]

You should have left the half credit on. It would have added a little interest and history to Sophie.

[@crveech]

I went to Dollywood last year on a Saturday and the lines were super long.

[@theventuracountyrailfan]

I made Steve my 100th credit, but due to an accounting error and counting intimidator as 2 unknowingly I ended up with iron dragon. Rip

[@AirtimeThrills]

@@theventuracountyrailfan the accounting errors on coaster count sheets are real...

[@Mini_V4]

DOLLYWOOD MENTIONED

[@thedashcamkid6175]

This takes the “L” in Lrod to a whole new level!

[@auzzenvm]

BRO IM GONNA GO TO DOLLYWOOD FRIDAY

[@mattdaaamon]

that and siver dollar city are the ony us parks I get disney or universal excited for anymore

[@theheardtheorem]

I wouldn’t wish having to endure Barenaked Ladies at the same time as Lightning Rod without a launch on anyone

[@collinharlow7489]

How do you keep track of your credits is there an app?

[@281sTravel]

I use Log Ride

[@zanzabar4ky7]

Big bear is #2 for the park. Lightning rod was sweet even with the chain lift when we went in September. If I find out the chain ruins it, then I will be forever sad. Dragon flyer was nice too. I would say the family coasters are near the top. How are you letting her go on Mystery mine but no SLC or woodies?

[@AirtimeThrills]

@@zanzabar4ky7 mystery mine wasnt bad in terms of roughness. Maybe a little side to side. I worry about the grinding jackhammerness more than anything. She rides wooden coasters but not the really bad ones. Id let her ride Riddler Revenge and noreaster

[@ChasyGLOC]

took me 3 tries to get that credit.

[@ConstanceBonn]

Lightning Rod is terrifying.

[@CoasterVet]

Are the rough parts the topper track parts?

[@AirtimeThrills]

@@CoasterVet im sure they are

[@ot.bot.249]

You should come back to Camden Park for the fun of it 😆. Its looking better than it did a few years ago.

[@AirtimeThrills]

I should make it a point to go there. I tried hitting new small parks this year but didnt have a chance for camden

[@carlollmann831]

In good news I know a company who will put the launch back on Lightning Rod. They are great at reimagining and making coasters great again. Serious inquiries only just call cedar point. They will give you the deatils and I believe the company begins with a Z. They will do it for cheap.

[@m_ianO]

Oh wow! The half a credit! Do people always raise their hands on the lift hill ?

[@AirtimeThrills]

@@m_ianO im sure they do

[@G3R0George]

They should've put a cable lift, similar to El Toro. It would still propel you over the top.

[@johnnymacchicago]

💯💯💯

[@rossh688]

Thunderhead is the best ride there!

[@raymondking2945]

Sports metaphor: mystery mine came through in the clutch after struggling all game

[@simonrussell1018]

a minute ago is crazy chance

[@TTMfred]

Random comment but could you do a prediction video on sfot

[@Thelightning1out]

Well uh, that’s a story for another time 😅

[@frankyworldwide]

New Tennessee Giant

[@kaylawhipple7570]

Lol the quotation marks on Lightning. I feel like I missed something because I never had an opportunity to try the original.

[@AirtimeThrills]

Yeah 2016 lightning rod was a riot

[@MoCoasters]

les goooooo

[@X_Canine]

Sophie’s way younger than me and already has 4x my credit count 😭

[@chadenglish4169]

I rode Lightning Rod with the launch and it was definitely overrated. Maybe thats because the first RMC I rode was Steel Vengeance. Thunderhead is much better than Lightning Rod. I rode both of them in the back row. LR hurt my back a little especially that pot hole at the bottom of the 1st hill. Thunderhead is definitely underrated..

[@dwhitman12341]

What??? You got evacuated and no Dippin Dots?

[@cfrankbii9613]

Genuinely asking...when you say "Sophie appropriate" are you only referring to rough coasters. Like a woody that beats you up or ninja/blue Hawk type rough, or coasters that you think are just to intense. I only ask because I've heard you mention it and at first I thought it was like Mayne you think it's too scary or something. Again, Genuinely asking because I'm curious of your opinions on kids and coaster riding. Most parents would say "yay you're tall enough. Get on."

[@NoahRhodes-wb1hb]

Let’s call Rmc to Rmc lighting rod