Dolly fans, rejoice! There are entertainment options every day at multiple locations throughout the park, including comedy shows, 1950s and 1960s-inspired musical theater shows, bluegrass and Southern gospel music, including performances by Dolly's own family. We hold major institutions accountable and expose wrongdoing. Dollywood is unique among amusement parks and is a must-visit for all Dolly Parton fans. Of course you cant ride a lot of rides but there are some, But the shows and museums were the BEST!! Your email address will not be published. Imagine you and 100 of your new best friends cramming in a disorganized queue and freezing to death waiting for an open-air ride back to the car in December. Related: How to skip lines at America's favorite theme parks. The reason these sandwiches are so good is all because of one secret ingredient: pickle juice! I risk sounding dramatic here, but this bread will change your life. Current Festivals and Events at Dollywood, Ultimate Guide to Dollywood Coupons, Discounts, and Deals, 10 Essential Tips for Visiting Dollywood with Kids. Alcohol is addictive. When it comes to the weather, dont let a little rain ruin your day; instead, take advantage of it and ride as many attractions as possible. I admired her for all the incredible things she does for the East Tennessee community, the people who call it home and children around the world. There are over one million gallons of water between the park's lazy river and wave pool! Walking around Dollywood turned out to be quite the workout. As such, the park offers complimentary cups of water at all park restaurants and most food outlets. We do not have a limited activity ticket. Have you been to Dollywood? Even though coolers are not permitted in the park, you can bring in food, beverages, and non-alcoholic drinks in plastic containers. Dollywood's newest expansion Wildwood Grove is one of its most highly-themed lands. Use designated walkways throughout the park. The authentic 110-ton coal-fired steam engine, which can be seen and heard throughout various points within the park, takes guests back in time on a breathtaking 5-mile ride through a portion of the Great Smoky Mountains to experience some of the most beautiful views the area has to offer. But, much like the Leading Lady of Country, Dollywood has had a lengthy and colorful career. Also note this warning, which is featured on Dollywood's website regarding this ride: Blazing Fury: This indoor roller coaster is a little deceiving. Do not cross any fences, chains, landscape areas or other barriers. You HAVE To Visit Dollywood! - Review of Dollywood - Tripadvisor Tease that hair to the heavens, and settle in for a wild ride through the history, heritage, and tantalizing trivia of everyone's beloved Dollywood. My wife and I love taking trips to DollyWood, and each year we usually decide if we will go to the beach, or just buy DollyWood season passes. The color codes correspond with signs at each ride in the park that indicate whether or not your child will be tall enough to ride before you waste an hour in line only to be turned away in disappointment. Alternatively, the page that was presented after completing your order online is your order confirmation page. Preferred Parking is available at both Dollywood and Dollywood's Splash Country for an additional charge. Lost and Found is open one hour after park admission, and it closes when the entire park population leaves. This ride holds the title for the fastest wooden roller coaster in the world, hitting speeds up to 73 miles per hour. Where Can You Get Nachos At Dollywood - Mexicali Blue Fun ride for grown-ups, not so much for little ones. It's also important to keep in mind that not all rides and attractions are eligible for TimeSaver Passes. Related: The best credit cards for entertainment spending. Dollywood's DreamMore Resort. The smell of sweet cinnamon bread from Grist Mill, the down-home charm of the Great Smoky Mountains, and plenty of hair-raising roller coasters. The app provided free Wi-Fi for the duration of our time at the park, and it also showcased wait times for any ride at that given time, which made mapping out our day much easier. For those of us from the area, its part of life in the South, but if youre visiting from somewhere with a less sticky, thick summer environment, it can be a bit of an adjustment. Just be careful, since it runs on real coal-burning engines and the smoke and soot could get on your clothes. Bonus pro-tip:Guests staying at DreamMore receive complimentary shuttle service to both Dollywood and Splash Country. Our revered Jolene singer is certainly a showstopper, but did you know she can also stop traffic? Thats the beauty of the South. I grew up idolizing Dolly, as many young girls in the South do, and not just because of her iconic style or because Dollywood was the highlight of my summer vacation every year of my childhood. Drinks are available at The DreamMore Resorts on-site restaurant, Song and Hearth: A Southern Eatery. Alternatively, you may use. If you want to enjoy a fun and affordable way to cool off this summer, Dollywoods Splash Country is an excellent choice. And so, Dollywood offers ride cubbies places where you can store your stuff. Guests of Dollywoods DreamMore Resort receive discounted tickets to the park, as well as Complimentary TimeSaver passes. When I asked my older brother what he thought of the ride after he got off, he said his two-word review of the ride wasn't suitable for young ears. Search, watch, and cook every single Tasty recipe and video ever - all in one place! The good news is that Dollywood does indeed serve beer, making it a great place to enjoy a cold, refreshing beverage while spending time with friends and family. Visitors to Dollywood can expect a more secure entrance and strict enforcement of the parks no-food policy. Theyre not necessarily secure (honor system is in play here), so if you have the Hope Diamond on you, you might want to consider an alternate storage method. Notably, the crowds are much more manageable -- which is a huge plus during the pandemic -- on days when the forecast calls for a little bit of rain. Our lovely Backwoods Barbie expressed interest in giving back to the Smoky Mountains community, and by 1986 the institution had been rebranded as Dollywood. Dollywood has a TON of bald eagles. Now for the really fun part the rides! We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. DO: Keep your eyes open for pictures of Dolly's dog, Popeye. Simple click/tap the order for $0.00 Amount to get to your added entitlement(s). Outside food and beverages are prohibited at the park. I wouldn't recommend this destination for bachelorette parties (unless the bride happens to be a Dolly superfan! Dollywood does not allow outside food or drink, bags larger than 14 x 14, smoking, rollerblading, skateboarding, or any type of weapon. Reservations must be made at least 2 weeks in advance of the event. Preferred parking is $35. Binge drinking can increase the risk for high blood pressure, stroke, and congestive heart failure. Normally, theres a media day at which Dolly (schedule permitting) kicks off the new year with a little show and song. In the 90-degree heat, that ice water was a lifesaver. While the rest of the group is riding, one adult waits in a secure area for the child. And I think we get that inspiration from Dolly too. It offers your basic diner fare of hamburgers, fries and milkshakes, all of which are good; it also serves kids options, including an overpriced peanut butter and jelly combo for $6.99 that comprises a Smucker's Uncrustables and a drink. A one-day adult ticket to Dollywood is $79, before taxes and fees, while a childs one-day ticket (4 to 9 years old) and a senior ticket (62 and older) is $69. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Create an account to get access to exclusive pricing and rewards. This resort describes itself as a "rustic mountain-modern charm with world-class amenities." Over 2.5 million people visit the theme park each year to check out everything from the Wild Eagle Roller Coaster to the talents of the local blacksmiths and artisanal glassblowers. My trip to Tennessee was my first visit to the "Bible Belt," where religion plays an outsize role in the region's culture and politics. This lumberjack thing was pretty cool, I've never seen anything like it before. Visitors can enjoy a variety of food options at the park, including classic theme park fare and local favorites. If you have received an email or phone call from our team regarding entitlements in your online account, you will find those entitlements under your order History within your online account. Everybody is welcome.". Dragonflier: The newest addition to the park, this family-friendly roller coaster featured within the Wildwood Grove area mimics the flight of a Smoky Mountain dragonfly and was my favorite ride on my latest trip to the park. To link a pass: Select the "+Add Pass" option. Just down the road is Wilderness at the Smokies, a hotel and waterpark resort in Sevierville, Tennessee, about a 30-minute drive from Dollywood. If so, you should see an orange button on your order confirmation page that says "View Your Tickets Now" and an orange button in your order confirmation email that says "Get Tickets." While Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, isn't exactly a top points hotel destination, there are still a ton of hotels in the area, given it's such a big tourist destination for this part of the country. There are a few different options for TimeSaver Passes, so heres how Dollywoods website breaks it down: TimeSaver: For rides, enjoy using expedited entrances 10 times throughout the day at your choice of TimeSaver attractions. A Tennessee native, she is based in NYC and enjoys traveling the world with her nieces and nephew. Below are some tips and tricks to help you and your family enjoy a trip to Dollywood even more (photo compilation by TheSmokies.com). I am handicap and took my own scooter. Obsessed with travel? You will be sent through a page where you simply tell us how many passes of each type you would like. 2525 DreamMore Way Pigeon Forge, TN 37863 Reservations: 1-800-DOLLYWOOD (Option 2) Resort Front Desk: 865-365-1900. Dollywood has taken several steps to keep guests safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, including: The ideal audiences for a visit to Dollywood are families, couples, kids of all ages, grandparents and groups of kids. Dollywood Just Opened for 2021 - Here's What to Expect - Travel Everyone's favorite western-style attraction was briefly renamed Silver Dollar City when it was purchased by Herschend Enterprises in 1976. Active or retired military, disabled veterans and military reservists (as well as their spouses and dependents) can show a military or dependent ID and receive 30% off admission prices at the front gates. If the linked pass is NOT eligible for renewal, the pass will not be selectable on the Link Passes page. Ready to experience the eternal enchantment of the Smoky Mountains? Simplecomplete this formwith as much of your order information as you can and we'll resend your order confirmation email. BONUS: There were so many older couples at Dollywood. We had lunch at Reds Drive-in because we were in Jukebox Junction when the kiddos started getting hungry. When you were purchasing online, did you select Print-At-Home as your delivery method? But unlike others (Im looking at you, Universal) Dollywood recognizes that you might have stuff you need throughout the day that youd rather not take on a ride or store in a locker. There are cabin rental companies with properties scattered all across Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville, any of which would be a reasonable drive to Dollywood. Photo by Susan Harlan. The resort, which opened in 2015, is just a few minutes down the road from Dollywood and focuses on the themes of family and storytelling. To fast-track the wait times on most of the rides, visitors may want to take advantage of TimeSaver Pass options. Limited capacity on rides and attractions and in certain buildings and walkways. That said, the terrain at the park can be a little hilly, but there's ample shade and places to rest and chill out in the air conditioning. The resort provides a variety of amenities, such as a breakfast buffet for $14.95 per person, a snack bar with muffins, coffees, and juice, and a pool. ), I was shocked to learn that many of my colleagues had never heard of the national treasure that is Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and its shining gem, Dollywood. A four-pack of those sandwiches costs $3.19 at Target, but thats the price you pay for convenience during a day of quality family fun. Since we had to add these entitlements to your account after your purchase, we are unable to add them to the Entitlements section within your account. See all the stuff weve stopped at a long the way here! "It's very unique, and we love being unique," Liston said of having a chapel in the middle of the theme park. The light season at Dollywood will last until January 3rd, when it will officially end. is previously TPG's Director of Social Media, and now leads the Social Media team at sister company Lonely Planet. The DreamMore Resort features a zero-entry (beach-style) outdoor pool, an indoor pool open year-round, an outdoor hot tub and a splash pad. They do BBQ better than anyone else. How Dolly Parton's Childhood Home Became the Dollywood Empire Let's see if we can find those, they are pretty important! Dolly was a big star, but she wasnt exactly Walt Disney. This is the big one. Straight cash. Pigeon Forge, TN - Yes, Dollywood has an amazing array of rides, including a train pulled by a historic steam engine used to move troops in Alaska during WWII and the world's fastest wooden roller coaster. Dollywood is a family-friendly park and does not allow outside food or drinks, including alcohol. During peak hours, traffic in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg can steal tiny pieces of your soul. The theme park is open mid-March to early January each year; hours vary but usually run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Ive found the best times to go, if you have flexibility, are early June or at the end of August to soak up the full summer amusement park experience.