Golden Ticket Awards 2014

[Nicole]

While I won't go too much into it here, my impression was that the food is over-hyped (although there were a few fantastic items), and that they need to spend more money on maintenance and less on decorations.

It is a beautifully-themed park. And there were some interesting rides. But there were some places in serious disrepair. I really disliked the water park, as well, but that is probably a personal preference.

 

[MAZ]

Nicole, Shane, and I all went a few weeks ago and I think all three of us have very different views on the place. Nicole and I have tossed around writing something up but we have yet to sit down and actually do so. Dollywood is an interesting and, in some ways, a flat-out bizarre park. It's certainly a unique experience, especially from an enthusiast's perspective, but I don't know that it's necessarily a great one.

Thanks Zachary. Our view will be different from all 3 of yours' also. We will be taking a 4 year old. I look forward to the trip report when your schedule allows it Nicole/Zachary. Maybe during the off-season when you get bored. I wont be bugging you about it or anything, but I'll be looking for it We aren't planning a trip until spring anyway.

 

[Nicole]

netdvn:

I forgot to mention that we rode the Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster, and it was really cool. I believe that there are more alpine coasters that just opened or are opening soon, too (Goat Coaster at Goats on the Roof!). It is totally worth the side trip.

 

[Unagi]

I could see BGW loosing best landscaping to a lot of parks, but Gilroy Gardens is not one of them. It would be sad to see them lose it, but I think it would teach them a lesson too.

The people voting Best Landscaping for BGW have never been to De Efteling.

 

[CoasterBoy]

Dollywood must be very good at linking to the polls on Facebook.

I do not know about that, most of the team there is very computer illiterate. I will tell you that they push online voting, the one for best theme park with USA Today last month they pushed it through the roof to get people out and vote.
As for best food, they put together over the top experiences for any group that is associated with Amusement Today.

 

[Shane]

When the Golden Ticket Awards first started BGW also use to win for best food and cleanest park.  The Best Landscaping Award use to be called Most Beautiful Park and they've won that every year.

Actually the "Most Beautiful Park" award that BGW advertises isn't the same as the Golden Ticket for Landscaping. The "Most Beautiful Park" award is issued by National Amusement Park Historical Association which the park has won for 23 years straight. They've won the Golden Ticket for Best Landscaping for 16 years. I don't think the park has ever advertised their Golden Ticket because "World's Most Beautiful Theme Park for 23 Years Straight" markets better than "Best Landscaped Park for 16 Years Straight."

 

[Jrbgwfan06]

There wasn't a survey last year for the World's Most Beautiful Theme park.

 

[Shane]

Actually, it looks like the NAPHA just dropped the ball and didn't do any awards for 2013 which is odd after a 26 year run.

 

[Shane]

And on the Dollywood note, I have a lot to say about the park, but this is not the thread to do so. I will just say this, Liseberg and The Applause Board should revoke Dollywood's winning of the Applause Award, they don't deserve it. That being said, I did have fun and enjoy both parks.

 

[Jrbgwfan06]

Actually, it looks like the NAPHA just dropped the ball and didn't do any awards for 2013 which is odd after a 26 year run.

Busch Gardens is still using the phrase fluently.

 

[Shane]

They are still technically the winner until the next round of awards. Assuming there is one.

 

[Jesy]

I have a very close relative who was on the judging committee for the Applause Award for many years. I wouldn't take their level of scrutiny too seriously.

 

[Shane]

Well they do call it "the most prestigious award within the amusement and theme park industry."

 

[Party Rocker]

I'm almost certain they will still use, World's Most Beautiful theme park regardless if they win again or there are no awards. It's not like anyone else won the award when it was around. If anything they just are stuck at 2- consecutive years.

 

[Username]

For some reason I kept reading "Applause Award" as "Applesauce Award" and couldn't take any of the statements seriously.

 

[Applesauce]

I'm glad to know I wasn't the only one.

 

[MrLaptop]

I think I did the same. :-3

 

[ccfbman]

Dollywood deserves every award it got. The food is actually good and I've haven't met a rude employee yet. DW is my second favorite park, BGW is my favorite.

 

[BGW Family]

This 2014 Golden Ticket story focuses on Cedar Fair, but it lists BGW 9th on their survey of top ten parks.

Amusement Today survey

Interesting to see landscaping removal in other parks mentioned by this post.

Comments

 

[Jrbgwfan06]

I've actually noticed things mentioned in that comment about landscaping removal. Cedar Fair is pretty known for removing landscaping for a "cleaner" image. I think they have it in their mind that the park looks cleaner without numerous planters and trees in pathway areas. I can't say this assumption is 100% false, or true, but I do believe it is for image purposes that they(and others) remove landscaping in turn for paver paradises and lower maintenance costs, but increased Guest Discomfort.

If you look at recent attractions built by them, let's look at KD's Intimidator or Dominator, both of those plaza areas are completely treeless. Although, I will say KD may be somewhat of an exception, they have been adding multiple planters along the main pathways in recent years. But, from pictures I've already seen of Carowind's Fury 325, the trend proves to continue.

I hope that parks like BGW haven't gotten this idea into their mind. But in the case of BGW, the least landscaped areas are found to be the ugliest and most uncomfortable of all.