As someone from Tennessee I am offended that you called us "Midwest" we are southern not Midwestern

The truly most important difference between Lightning Rod and Outlaw Run: only one of them is consistently and reliably open. A moment of silence for all the people who’ve waited in Lightning Rod’s long queue only to be turned away when the coaster breaks down.

Cool video I prefer Dollywood myself. Couple notes, Tennessee is definitely the south and when you went to DWood my guess is you didn't venture into Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg at all because it's easily as populated as Branson and probably more so. The two together are actually quite large.

Tennessee is not in the midwest😭

I grew up going to SDC, I can't wait to check out Dollywood soon. The weather issue with the cave can be for two factors, excessive rain is a concern (the massive stair case entrance to the main cavern can become extra slippery) but the main reason they close it down for weather is that they can't safely operate the cable car that returns you back up the hill at the end of the tour.

I think you missed the main parkway in Pigeon Forge. That is understandable given that Dollywood is not on the parkway. But Pigeon Forge has a TON of stuff to do. There are shops, museums, dinner shows, FECs including more mini golf and go-karts than you could possibly imagine, Anakeesta, Ober Gatlinburg, the Aquarium and Space Needle Plus, it's 5 minutes to Gatlinburg. Between the two areas I think Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg actually has more going on than Branson, though Branson is also quite fun. Plus, you are 45 minutes from Knoxville. So I think the location point solidly goes to Dollywood.

Bro does not know where the Midwest is 😭

I would definitely say that both parks are in the south not midwest (especially dollywood). But still great comparison, I’m biased towards dollywood so its them for me.

babe wake up coastoons uploaded

I've been lucky enough to spend a good amount of time at both of these parks... despite Dollywood being my home park, I do prefer SDC slightly. Can't go wrong with either though, amazing places fr

I went to college near SDC and Branson, Missouri, and had a season pass the whole time I was there so I can answer your implied question on the weather: Marvel Cave closes for weather because of flash flood risk. That part of the Ozarks can go from blue skies to torrential downpours dropping multiple inches of rain and back to blue skies in like 45 minutes. That much water has to go *somewhere* and a big hole in the ground is where a lot of it goes, and you don't want to be down there when it happens. They keep tabs on weather systems and they have a threshold where if a system that has potential to flood the cave gets close enough they'll close it for safety reasons to not trap people down there.

Both are amazing and are both worthy of the countless accolades. Dollywood is my home park, and I couldn’t be happier. Would rather go there than Disney any day

3:34 ah yes my favorite wing coaster, wildcat

Great video! I love wildcat at Dollywood, it's such a great B&M wing coaster! 3:35

Went to Dollywood for the first time last year for the Smoky Mountain Christmas event. It was chilly and rainy, and despite that possibly the most fun, feel-good time I've had at a theme park since being an 80s kid at Disney World. The lights were fantastic, the attention to detail and theming is incredible, the food was amazing...I felt like a kid again taking the steam train through the hills after dark and singing Christmas carols with all the bundled up people on the train. Even the shows were really high quality and a wonderful mood, and I'm not usually someone who spends time on those when there are coasters to ride. Speaking of which, every single coaster in Dollywood is a good coaster. There's no trash or "skip" rides. Every one is worth riding. Even the "family" coaster is IMO the top of its class. Dollywood knocks it out of the park in atmosphere, mood, rides, food and theming. I can't wait to go back.

Clearly you don't know what the Midwest is lmao. Missouri is borderline, but Tenessee isn't even close.

Honestly I agree with most of this but I do think Silver Dollar City should have the best location. Branson isn’t big but it’s one of the biggest tourist towns in the country. And it has a ton of nice hotels and places to go in Branson. And personally I like the view at the top of coasters like outlaw run better than what I’ve seen from Dollywood. This is just my opinion but the fact that Silver Dollar City was just recently voted best theme park of the country that kind of justified my opinion.

“outlaw run never has a line” i was there in 2021 and i had a line out the entry the entire day loll. at least i had trailblazer haha

I’ve been to both, and SDC actually takes it fairly handily for me. The atmosphere there is just flat-out unbeatable (and I probably have some bias from the memories I’ve made there in particular). I love both parks though, they are by far my top two favorites I’ve been to! I’m going to Cedar Point next summer though, so that could change…

I asked myself the same question and couldn't decide. Dollywood as more rides with a better variety, but the 5 main coasters at Silver Dollar city are more solid and more unique, where as Dollywood a bit more average. I personally don't like mystery mine, and last time I went Thunderhead was quite rough. So with the re-tracking and big bear opening maybe I will will put Dollywood ahead. I always have a fun day at both, and food is typical great as well. I believe everyone should eventually get to both, they are different enough to warrant even if you aren't going for the rides. To me Pigeon Forge and Branson feel very similar, but Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg wins for more Alpine Coasters :) Also the Smokie Mountains is more scenic than the Ozarks but I haven't done all the national parks at both so could just be where I have been.

I've been to both and prefer SDC over Dollywood. Both are fantastic parks and you can't go wrong with either of them!

Im an SDC frequent flyer... I've come across many who prefer SDC over Dollywood, purely for the atmosphere. The frequent fliers generally dislike more press for their park as it brings in more crowds to their hidden gem 😄

Something I am embarrassed that I learned from this video…Missouri and Tennessee are bordering states

As someone who’s home park has been Dollywood since birth and has grown up with it, it’s hard for me to pick anything else than Dollywood 😭

Tennessee is not in the midwest 😂 I refuse to be categorized as such.

I also went to both recently, and SDC won out for me. I put a lot more weight in there being no one there. Dollywood was so packed and I went on a monday, and SDC was a ghosttown on a Sunday. Also, Cave tour was sick and def a point for SDC. Also SDC had better tree coverage Dollywood has chopped all theirs down. Also Lrod was closded for me so yknow.

I’m going to Silver Dollar City later this week. I previously went to Dollywood during spring break. I would have to disagree that Dollywood is away from civilization when Pigeon Forge is on top of it with Gatlinburg next door. Branson has a similar look and style compared to pigeon forge but on a smaller scale. Also both parks are more closer to the south than the Midwest.

@Coastoons you absolutely NEED to make a video about dragster getting “reimagined”

I been to both. Dollywood is a little better, in my opinion, but Silver Dollar has the best food.

I personally think that time traveler would be the headliner because as u said “outlaw run never has a line” so it should prob be time traveler vs lighting rod.

Honestly I think Wildcat at Dollywood is a great ride.

I had this same idea of a video. I’m currently right next to Dollywood for a ton of visit time, but I’m also going to SDC next month and was thinking about making a video comparing the two parks.

Marvel Cave closing for "bad weather" - 3" of rain (yes, just 3") will flood the deepest portion, as well as additional junctions and areas above it within moments. Trust me, going through after the flood waters cleared the cave, gives you a sense of how dangerous that place could be, with only a small amount of rain.

Also thunderhead is now the best gci hands down since the partial retrack/new wood

We love wildfire vs. wildcat Powder keg is an S&S launch coaster with premier rides track from the liquid coaster. The reason why marvel cave closes in any form of weather is because the cave floods with any amount of rain. As an employee at Silver Dollar City, I feel like this ranking was pretty fair. Honestly, I think it would be a tie 8 to 8 an extra point for the cave.

Coastoons go to Holiday World! The Voyage is my number 1 coaster by a landslide and I’ve been to some really good parks like Universal.

For the 'wild' matchup you put wildcat instead of wild eagle

I don't know why but Silver Dollar City is just way more fun for me, I feel like dollywood has 2 incredible rides and then just falls off a cliff (L-rod, thunderhead) while silver dollar city has a billion incredible rides (Outlaw Run, Time Traveler, Powder Keg, Wildfire, soon the new fire in the hole, Mystic River Falls, etc)

3:35 wildcat

Tennessee is for sure not Midwest, it's southern. Also, Thunderhead is WAY beyond average. I would even go on record as saying it's a better ride than Lightning Rod! Dollywood is so not in the middle of nowhere either. The towns of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are major tourist draws and have tons of attractions. I'm starting to wonder did you even visit Dollywood? lol

@coastoons The correlation is that caves are a rock fishbowl with no lid. You don't want to be inside a cave during a rainstorm.

4:29 premier launch? Thought it was an S&S air launch.

as a huge playboi carti fan I appreciated 5:30

Your videos are always so entertaining. Sometimes they make me wonder if you have ever actually set foot inside the parks. The smiley faces showing us where the parks are not even remotely located was fun. Both parks are located next to tourist towns which are not exactly "cities". Both parks are located near nation park forests. Silver Dollar City's cinnamon bread is O.G.. Still waiting for Dollywood to send SDC a thank you card. The Marvel Cave uses an electric powered tram to haul you up from the cave's exit after you have traveled all that distance down. When thunderstorms get too close to the park, the cave has to shut down for safety reasons. Lightning loves metal, water, and electrical sources. And if the power went out, can't have people in a cave with no lights fumbling around looking for an exit which can't take them anywhere because the trams can't run. Silver Dollar City has better shows since Branson is the live show capital of the world with people holding resumes from Broadway, Hollywood, and Nashville to their credits. This talent pool makes its way into the park so the shows at SDC are typically better than the shows at Dollywood. Outlaw Run is better than Lightning Rod because Lightning Rod would have to be open for more than five minutes in order to compete.😎😎😎

My guy did not just call crinkle cut fries “the fries with the ridges” 💀

Both are amazing!

I was looking for a Dollywood video on this channel but I didn’t expect to see my two favorite childhood theme parks

Both are similar, and target a family audience, but I feel Dollywood is more comparable to Disney World while SDC more to Islands of Adventure. Dolly targets a younger audience while SDC older kids. You don't exactly take 5 year olds into real caves. Dolly though being the true flagship park still gets a lot of thrill rides on top of the family attractions.

We’ve been to both parks as SDC is our home park! We absolutely Time Traveler! Hands down, the best coaster there. The cave closes for bad weather because of flooding. You definitely don’t wanna be down there when that happens. :) great video!

Herchend has BALLS and thank goodness you went to both

The south, literally Alabama and Tennessee and Missouri: Coastoons: is this the Midwest?

Ah yes, Alabama, a state that literally touches the Gulf. Midwest for sure.

I Dont Think Its Even A Competition SDC Is Way Better

I feel like wait time is a big thing. Like SDC had barely any wait time while Dollywood not so much. Also he didn’t talk about that beautiful land at SDC especially on wildfire.

In conclusion, Dollywood wins but the Californians would hate both.

Pretty sure they own Kentucky Kingdom now as well, which seems a little off brand for them, but hopefully they show it some much needed love! 🤘

You should make more head to head park vids, even though I haven't even been close to any of these parks this vid was really fun to watch.

roller coaster go vroom vroom

Dude is glazing dollywood hard

I'm from FL and I went to both this year and I think it depends on when you go. SDC was good no lines at all the longest line was to get food. However, Dollywood had mad crazy lines had to do the quick que that was an extra 200 for my son and I but I did go when Big Bear first opened so that had a lot to do with it. But I like visiting both the nod for me would be Dollywood for having more rides

Bro called Tennessee Midwest 💀💀

Like the video but you said Dollywood is in the middle of nowhere and it's in a family destination town, it sets in Pigeon Forge which is right next to Gatlinburg, so I would definitely say they are in an area that have plenty of places besides dollywood to have a good time, little bit of everything, off roading, horse backing, whitewater rafting, loads of shopping, moonshine tasting, go karts, mountain Coasters and the wax museum to name some off the top of my head, like I said, plenty to do around Dollywood!!

I can finally say I’ve been to both I can tell you I actually prefer Branson/Silver Dollar City over Pigeon Forge-Gatlinburg/Dollywood yes they are both scenic areas and both parks are nice both areas are nice but the Smokies are getting way overbuilt for my taste. I believe there is simply more country feel at Silver Dollar City and it’s just more simple and more old fashioned Branson it has its own campground and it’s more in the woods is smaller than Pigeon Forge I think and feels just feels smaller.

Bro this should not even be close silver dollar city is way better

Lol I just realized that at 3:34 you wrote wild cat instead of wild eagle... lol

We have been to both parks, we were impressed with both.

Yeah the peanut brittle from SDC was fire

SDC is #1 according to USA today readers

wish I could go to all these parks in the future

Um Branson has Tablerock Lake which there’s a marina literally on the road to Silver Dollar City. Not sure if you actually researched the surrounding areas very well.

Wait did you call Alabama in the midwest wtf? There's only 9 states in the Midwest: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, and Kentucky

So excited when I saw the notification! Great vid :)

The Marvel Cave is awesome! Been to SDC a dozen times and haven’t made it to Dollywood YET.

Personally I like Dollywood because it feels like a more complete experience w the water park and the multiple hotels they have there onsite but they both look amazing. Pigeon forge is actually rather crowded as well as the surrounding area with Sevierville and gatlinburg. You just don’t see it unless you drive ab 5 miles away from the park

I love Dollywood, I went on rides like Big Bear Mountain and Bumper Cars

Dollywood is great but I prefer SDC over all parks in the US. It just has a charm about it you don't get anywhere else. Outlaw Run at night is one of the best rides on Earth. I used to slightly prefer Lightning Rod over Outlaw Run but LR has lost a lot of its intensity over the years. The quad down went from the best element of all coasters to just pretty good. It is much slower through the elements than it used to be.

Pretty sure the cave tour was closed for bad weather because it's pretty easy for caves to flood when it rains, and you're in for a very very bad time if you're in a cave when it floods.

Id like to think it’s Dollywood but I’ve never been to sdc so my opinion is based of sdc park reviews

*Powder Keg is an S&S launched coaster* 😁

YEZZZZZZZZZ COASTOONS UPLOADD

If I was a horse and the entire earth got hit by a meteor and everybody was dead, WHAT COASTER WOULD GO TO SIX FLAGS

Dollywood is not in the middle of nowhere and the county it is in has 100000 people as opposed to 56000 where sdc is located. Also, Dollywood is as close to Knoxville as sdc is to Springfield. The Knoxville metro is twice as big as Springfield’s.

Outlaw run wins since they castrated lightning rod with a chain lift. Silver dollar city has concerts as well. Not to mention the citizens of SDC (employees) go above and beyond where DW they do the bare minimum.

Dollywood is my home park, I have been to both but even without bias I think Dollywood takes the cake and with the matchup of Mystery mine and Lighting rod VS. Outlaw run and Time Traveler I think Dollywood wins because I don't enjoy MACK Spinners more than other people but it is close even with my dislike for spinners

East Tennessee is absolutely not in the Midwest.

There are a LOT of things in this video that reveal a lack of familiarity with not just the parks themselves, but the areas in which they reside. Geographical knowledge, for one. Tenessee and Alabama are DEFINITELY Southern, not Midwestern. Missouri is sometimes considered part of the Midwest, but the part of the state where SDC is definitely has a Southern feel to it (makes sense, since it's ~10 minutes from Arkansas). Although there are a few things that overlap, the Midwest and South are VERY different from each other. I'd go so far as to say that confusing the Midwest and the South can only really happen if you haven't spent much time in either of them. You are the first person I've ever heard of to try and claim that Tennessee and Alabama are Midwestern, and you're clearly not from the area. Congrats. There's more ignorance outside of the parks too. Pigeon Forge/Gaitlinburg are MUCH larger than Branson and have more options in all respects. Additionally, Branson is more than just Downtown Branson (as you pinpointed on the map and seemed to imply that that's all Branson was); it's the entire stretch of land from Downtown Branson to roughly the Butterfly Palace. There's a huge touristy road with a bunch of attractions on it, surprised you missed it. Then again, it might explain why that you're talking about Dollywood as if it's is in the middle of nowhere but SDC isn't when there's a solid 10 minute drive from the main touristy Branson corridor to the park, and Dollywood is somewhat less removed from the tourist drag. Neither is right on the main strip of attractions, but Dollywood is ultimately closer to Pigeon Forge than SDC is to Branson. Seems like somehow you missed two gigantic stretches of tourist traps and thus came away with fundamentally incorrect knowledge of both areas. Among other puzzling choices: lot of the matchups that don't make sense, so why make them? Labeling Wild Eagle as Wildcat? Why are you throwing in Marvel Cave with the shows? If it must be compared with something, why not compare it with the Dolly stuff, as that is what truly makes Dollywood unique from other parks? Surely you visited that and didn't just ignore it in favor of more rerides on the coasters, right? Really, this video mostly betrays a lack of basic knowledge on a number of different areas associated with these parks.

Has anyone noticed how much deeper his voice is? Go back 1, 2 years and he sounds way different.

Table Rock Lake??!! come on, we're down at Silver Dollar City because of the lake, and the strip in Branson with other coasters, ziplines, go carts, aquariums, shows, etc. Silver Dollar City has the better setting, by far. Also Springfield is 30 minutes from Branson with about 300K people.

Been to SDC 12 times never really had a bad day because they have great values there and treat their guests right and even on a cold or wet day they will do shows and give you free tickets or discounted season pass.

I've been to dollywood i've been to branson silver dollar city, I believe silver dollar city is the nicer park the setting down in The Valley plenty of shade. And more variety of shows. Silver dollar city always has various festivals going on that attracts a lot of different kinds of entertainment and things to look at although both parks are nice I give. The nod to silver dollar city.

Yes a new vid

7:38 It closes because the cave can and will flood

Powder keg used to be a logflume-roller coaster hybrid.

Next comparison should be the Philadelphia showdown: SF Great Adventure vs HersheyPark

You are very incorrect about Dollywood being in the middle of nowhere. Knoxville is about a 20 minute drive and is one of my favorite small cities in the US.

Sorry Silver Dollar City can tell this video is biased towards Dollywood. The Food, festivals, and Mystic River should of gave Silver points. And sorry it should of got the point for being around Branson. All the things you can do in Branson. So dont agree with this video but good video otherwise.

Coastoons vs digitaldan 🤔

bruh alabama is not the midwest, neither is tennesse. just saying, but still a great video

I just went to Dollywood it was so fun I suggest it

fire vid