Dollywood

Once I got wind that Dollywood was opening a new exhibit based on Dolly Parton’s life and fashion, I decided to pull the trigger to get the family down South to DPHQ. So, our summertime experience got brighter as our Scenic Tour rolled through Pigeon Forge, TN!

We had read that this park was even better rated than California’s own Disneyland. I had to see for myself. However, understanding Dolly Parton’s reputation for business, and her direct nature, we knew we would at the very least be in for an adventure we’d long remember.

There are no official planning guides for Dollywood as there are for Disneyland and Disney World. However, I found an unofficial guide “Dollywood: Ultimate Guide of Things to See, Eat & Do” by Marcy Conway that was handy.

There were many great tips and tons of information in Conway’s guide to help tailor a trip for yourself or your own group. I planned a walking tour for our family during a one day visit to this award-winning park.

I created a spreadsheet using Google Sheets and printed a copy to correspond with the park map. You know what works best for your group. We’ve noticed that little legs wear out fast! By choosing an efficient path and scoping out rest stops and snack opportunities, these small steps can reduce stress and perhaps even provide more time for fun!

After it rained and hailed on us at Disneyland the year prior, I even went as far as storing the printout in a snack-sized plastic bag, so that it would stay waterproof during our trip. I simply carry it with my phone or in my pocket for easy reference. The Google Sheets App on my phone also makes it handy. We'll be spontaneous and may not get to everything, but it works for us!

Be sure to download and install Dollywood’s Official App on your phone! Up to date information, park maps, and locating the restrooms will be at your fingertips when you need it most!

In the hills of the Appalachians, Dolly Parton purchased this mountain town train adventure in the 1980s and worked over the subsequent decades to turn it into an amusement and economic powerhouse for the local economy. See what makes this mountain treasure well worth the trek!

As you approach the park, you must sort out which parking option you’d prefer, unless you chose prior to arrival. We opted to pay for parking when we purchased our tickets online prior to our arrival to Dollywood.

There are two options for parking: Standard or Preferred. We opted for the Preferred Parking due to proximity of an entrance by foot. The other parking lots are accessible by tram. There is plenty of parking, so you can’t go wrong!

If you're traveling to Dollywood with children, immmediately make your way to Centralized Measuring at Showstreet.

After both our kids had been measured and had their wristbands, we made our way to the Country Fair. On our way, we passed below the beautiful summer-time kite display and were spritzed by misters. You could even find the largest jar of Duke’s Mayonnaise!

Country Fair is a haven of fun and home to favorites: The Shooting Star and The Amazing Elephants.

Fly high on the Amazing Elephants with your favorite buddy! We were lucky enough to be early on a weekday at opening to ride this attraction a few times in a row. We got dizzy on the Lemon Twist, spinning our citrus as fast as we could go. After finding our feet again, we crashed cars in the Demolition Derby.

Another favorite ride was the Shooting Star, a junior drop ride. They loved climbing high enough and having their stomachs flip from the small drop.

Adorable animal-themed kiddie rides, such as Busy Bees, Piggy Parade, and Lucky Ducky are perfect for your tinier tots.

Everyone in our group was big enough to ride The Scrambler. Although I feel the eldest of us (me!) should have thought twice after hopping off this thriller. I felt quite scrambled after a few rotations!

There are always great snack or meal options around Dollywood, depending on your crew. We enjoyed popcorn before hopping in the line for the Rockin’ Roadway in Jukebox Junction, the low-key classic car track ride. They soon made an announcement that the ride had closed temporarily. So, we ducked out of line to move on down the street since the weather was proving to be sunnier than we expected! We heard that not a few minutes after we left that the ride was back up and running.

We hopped a ride on the Village Carousel for a rotation or two before heading to Rivertown Junction.

We wandered to the nearby Rivertown Junction for our children’s first water ride. By the end of Smoky Mountain River Rampage , we were completely drenched. The kids were both thrilled and soaked by the end. We laughed heartily as everyone was enjoying the reactions when we were each doused by each feature, spinning and bobbing along at the mercy of our surroundings.

The sun helped to dry our backsides, and luckily I’d invested in waterproof phone pouches for myself and my partner so that we could be worry-free in our amusement park adventures. I had read a Buzzfeed article on travel items and found a water-resistant purse that worked great to keep all my items dry, too!

Lunch was calling our name. So, we grabbed a table and hot dogs from Dogs N Taters. We lucked out that there was a performance during that time at the Back Porch Theater. Pop hits and great classic tunes from the stage as we fueled up for our afternoon were a great way to kick off the PM.

Comfy shoes will come in handy for the elevation changes throughout the park. Up and around the hills to the Wildwood Grove where we found Flit!

Flit and Flutter are usually in the Wildwood Grove in the afternoons. They’re super friendly and happy to take photos with the kiddos. Check the schedule in case your littles would love to meet a butterfly!

I insisted on accompanying the children on the Big Bear Trail. I enjoyed bobbing along on my black bear as we strode down the looped track. This ride is great for all ages!

Have you ever ridden in an Acorn? You can at the Tree Top Tower! These adorable capsules lift the riders granting a fabulous view of the area.

Hop along on the Frogs & Fireflies. If your littles still need to blow off more steam, step into the indoor play area, Hidden Hollow! Filled with slides and plenty to climb, if your group needs to let the littles go wild. This is the place for that!

We all were able to ride the Junior Coaster, The Whistle Punk Chaser in Timber Canyon. This little train could book! For our littles, this coaster worked out well nestled amid the “big guys” of the amusement park: Mystery Mine and Big Bear Mountain.

To show your skills, jump on the Lumberjack Lifts and elevate yourself in a pair for a great view! Then, release and drop down to pull yourself up again! This was another great thrill for our group since it was interactive and took them a ways off the ground!

Nestled between giants like the Wild Eagle, we meandered through this area on our way between Wildwood Grove and Timberland Canyon’s attractions. If you need a pick-me-up before your next amusement, check out Lumberjack’s Pizza!

I was excited to step into the Smoky Mountain Christmas Shop to pick up an ornament for myself in Craftman's Valley. We ended up all picking out a little something for our holiday tree, and the staff made sure to carefully wrap each of our chosen goodies to protect them on the trek home.

Nearby is the Wings of America show and the renowned Eagle Mountain Sanctuary , if you’re able to stop by and take in a show. We were able to see some of the birds swooping and stretching out their wings during a show.

We were getting hungry for our stop at Aunt Granny’s. So, we made our way back down to the Rivertown Junction area to add ourselves to the list. We had opted to come later in the afternoon. It was going to be at least an hour wait which may sound excessive for an amusement park. I assure you, I had been forewarned that the wait was long, but worthwhile for the delicious dishes that awaited you inside.

There are other sit-down restaurants at the park offering staples such as Granny Ogle's Ham 'n' Beans or Hickory House BBQ as well as other grand and go options.

Aunt Granny’s offers fresh fried chicken and fixin’s. They will text you once it’s your turn on their wait list. So, you’re free to wander the area as you wait. It was indeed a little over an hour wait.

Meanwhile, we wandered around the gift shops and stores in the general area. I grabbed a few stickers nearby for our friends back home. We also enjoyed being next to the coolness of the water and close enough to explore the Tennessee Mountain Home attraction.

A recreation of her childhood home, Tennessee Mountain Home was built and curated by the Parton family. This ode to childhoods much like Parton’s in the mountains nearby years ago is a great educational reminder of the hardships of rural, mountain life.

Once our tummies were properly rumbling and our number was up, inside Aunt Granny’s we proceeded! Sweet Tea and other cold beverages await you inside for replenishment by some of the friendliest servers this side of the Mason-Dixon line. After choosing what sides we’d share family-style, our family dove into fried chicken and biscuits until we were stuffed. To top it off, they offered individual desserts. The menu does have seasonal offerings, so see what’s cookin’ today!

While we were inside Aunt Granny’s, there was a downpour outside. Our timing couldn’t have been more perfect, since the sun was shining brightly as we made our way out of the eating establishment to continue on our adventure.

We were winding down our day and since you really can’t see everything in one single go, we opted to end by visiting the newest exhibit: the Dolly Parton Experience.

This pink-bedazzled area is worth making a stop. Dolly is famously avoidant of airplanes , so her faithful steed and Home On Wheels is parked outside for anyone who wishes to pop in and check it out.

We walked into Behind the Seams building and loved being blinded by all the glittering rhinestone creations Dolly has worn over her enduring career. We have her book at home of the same name. I have to say, it was extra special to see these wonderful creations in person.

Make sure you duck into the restrooms next to the Dreamsong Theater while you're in this area. You’ll feel like you’re backstage before a big show, just like Dolly!

Next door is the Songteller exhibit which houses the story of Dolly’s talent from childhood diddies to her biggest hits. There’s even a wall of her award-winning albums!

Our favorites were all the photo ops, such as the office scene from the hit movie “9 to 5” and her iconic outfits from the film.

Last stop was Showstreet for the grand finale!

Legendary cinnamon bread awaited us from the Spotlight Bakery on Showstreet. This warm, ooey gooey bread is presented in a handy container with individual slices that seem to all be from the center of a cinnamon roll.

As we passed through the Dollywood Emporium, we grabbed our last souvenirs and goodies from our rhinestone dream day! There’s a fabulous array of t-shirts and other items, conveniently located near the exit for your pleasure!

This is where Preferred parking comes in handy. As we exited via Showstreet, we could see our car on the next hill. A perfect way to end the day!

If you find your way deep into the hills of the Smoky Mountains, Dollywood is there to greet you and show you a good time! Pigeon Forge was always the vacation destination for locals if they didn’t head to the Gulf Coast. The mountaintops offer crisp, cool breezes to offset the humid, sticky summer days. Sometimes you can even spot the Dreamer in Chief herself at the park since she loves not far from the park.

Our crew greatly enjoyed Dollywood and everyone agreed that although we loved Disneyland, Dollywood was the far superior park. The small touches, the thrilling rides, top-tier entertainment, and the beautiful surroundings of the Smoky Mountains made this park stand out with its own unique Southern charm. Many misting stations, cool beverages, and shady spots earn a recommended summertime destination, even the kids will agree!