It certainly has changed...
I've always loved Stone Mountain and will continue to return on Special Occasions. That said, my recent experience was considerably less than spectacular. While things like 500 guests waiting in line for the train around the mountain is not that bad, the fact that they've been running it for years, and it was a Saturday night, should have been a clue to planners that a second train would have been nice. POP pricing probably influenced the decision to run only a single train.
The 25th Laser Show Spectacular! - I've seen the show many, many times over the years, it's always been spectacular! Not so much this time...
It seems control of the show may have been handed over to a fireworks happy 16 yr old.Common sense, or at least 25 yrs experience should have clued in the staff that igniting fireworks at the beginning of the show on a stagnant Saturday night will absolutely ruin the laser show.
I'm amazed that such a highly technical, choreographed show would not have controls to limit the smoke effects till the end during low wind situations. The addition of the sporadic fireworks, while cool in and of themselves, caused the painstakingly drawn caricatures to be obliterated beyond recognition, leaving the audience floundering for something spectacular. The choice of the second verse to the Star Spangled Banner as the last song left the audience in awe. As in, awe, Where's the finale? Overall, the laser effects and patriotic symbolism was lost in the smoke and poor music linkage.
The park managers attempts to control the flow of people while in the park leads to the wholesale herding of guests through the central ticketing booth. Utterly useless when guests are trying to leave after the show.