It's no secret at all that my family is totally and completely obsessed with Dollywood. We've been season passholders for years and visit any chance we get. We live just about an hour and a half away which makes it easy to just visit for the day then head home, which is our normal Dollywood routine. But on one of those normal Dollywood routine days, the tram driver happened to mention that the last operating day of the 2019 Dollywood season would be January 3rd. Later, it was extended to the 4th, but for this story's purpose, the 3rd is important as it's my youngest daughter, Moreaya's, birthday! When she heard the driver say that [around 5 months ago probably] her ears perked up, she smiled, and said "Mom can we come to Dollywood on my birthday?!" I said sure, then she decided to take it one step further and say "Mom, can we stay … [Read more...]
Everything to Get You Ready for the Dollywood Christmas Festival: TIPS from an Insider!
There are big things coming to the Smoky Mountains just in time for the Holidays. Don't miss out on all these great Dollywood Christmas Events! If you live in the Southeast or are planning a trip to the Smoky Mountains in the next couple of months, you're in luck. While I love warmer months, the beautiful decorations, lights, and sounds of the season make November and December one of the best times to visit the area, especially my favorite... Dollywood! Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana, kicks off on November 9th and is one of the world’s premier theme park events. The festival has been nominated as part of USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards for Best Theme Park Holiday Event. Smoky Mountain Christmas already has won the 2019 Golden Ticket award from Amusement Today for Best … [Read more...]
7 INSIDER TIPS to Make Your Visit to the Dollywood Great Pumpkin LumiNights AMAZING
One of the best times of year to visit Dollywood is in the Fall. The Harvest Festival is in full swing and it's the 3rd year of the Great Pumpkin LumiNights - an extremely popular, family-friendly display of thousands of glowing pumpkins all throughout the park! Here are 7 INSIDER TIPS to make your visit even better! It's no secret that Dollywood is indeed my happy place. I've been visiting since I was a little girl and in truth, the friendliest theme park in America only gets better every year. One of the newest festivals in the park is the Great Pumpkin LumiNights that runs the same length as the Dollywood Harvest Festival, from September 29 to November 2nd. It's the 3rd year of the Great Pumpkin LumiNights and definitely time for me to share some photos and insider tips on how best to enjoy your visit during October! Great … [Read more...]
That Time My Kids Were in a Dollywood Commercial [and Met Dolly!]
Ever wonder what it's like to be in a Dollywood commercial or even meet Dolly herself? My girls did BOTH on a rainy Saturday in May and here's what happened! If you know me at all, you know my heart was bursting with pride when I got an email asking if my girls would be interested in being extras in a commercial to be filmed at Dollywood. Believe it or not, I DID ask them if they wanted to do it before I replied "YES YES YES!" You see, I've been a Dollywood super fan since I was a little girl. My family has always grown up going to Dollywood, I've been a Dollywood season passholder since I can remember, and my girls love it as much as I do. In fact, ask any of the 3 of us girls in the family where our favorite place in the world is and you'll likely hear the same response "the beach and Dollywood"! So, when the girls were asked … [Read more...]
Everything You Need to Know About Wildwood Grove – Dollywood’s Biggest Expansion Ever
Have you visited Dollywood lately? If you have, you've likely seen my new favorite part of the park AND the biggest expansion in Dollywood history... Wildwood Grove! Here I'm breaking down all the rides, things to do, foods to eat, and fun to be had in this amazing, new area of the amusement park! A few weeks ago, I had the amazing experience to see the brand new addition to Dollywood, Wildwood Grove on the day it opened to the public. This area of the park is the biggest expansion in Dollywood history. In fact, the 6 acre 2019 expansion cost more than the original purchase of Dollywood back in 1986! Want to learn more about Dollywood? Visit here to get all the details! Actually, this wasn't my very first time walking around Wildwood Grove. I was there back in mid-March and the area was, well, let's just say a little less colorful … [Read more...]
Dollywood Rides – The Best in the Park and Who Can Ride
Dollywood has something for everyone in the family and if you are the family thrill seeker, you'll find so many amazing Dollywood rides to satisfy you! Here's a comprehensive list of all the rides at Dollywood and who can ride them. When I say there's something for everyone at Dollywood, I'm not exaggerating at all. It's a great place to visit with the entire family, even multiple generations, because every age will enjoy the sights, sounds, and adventure at the Friendliest Theme Park in America. Whether you enjoy shopping, watching world class entertainment, eating the most delicious cuisine, or riding some amazing theme park rides, you'll find it all there. But today, we're definitely focusing on the 39 rides and attractions at Dollywood... which ones are the BEST [in my humble opinion, of course, after visiting for … [Read more...]
5 Tips to Find the VERY BEST Dollywood Discount Tickets
Are you looking for the best deal on Dollywood Tickets for your family? Here are your tips for finding the best Dollywood Discount Tickets for your visit to the Smoky Mountains theme park! If you're making a trip to the mountains of Tennessee, you'll definitely want to include spending a few days at Dollywood in your plans since it's on my list of places NOT to miss when you're in the Smoky Mountains. It's a theme park that consistently tops so many "Best Of..." theme park categories and if you're ever been, you know why. If you haven't, the fact that you're researching how to find Dollywood Discount Tickets means you're on the right track because there are so many reasons your family will love a visit to Dollywood! Getting the best deal on Dollywood tickets definitely depends on a couple of factors. Before you head to the website to … [Read more...]
IMPORTANT Dollywood Hours and Dates for 2020!
***IMPORTANT: Dollywood and Dollywood's DreamMore Resort and Spa are CLOSED INDEFINITELY. This is only temporary as a responsible choice in light of COVID-19.*** Are you ready to visit the Friendliest Theme Park in the US? While Dollywood may be closed right now, the 2020 season will begin soon enough and here you'll find all the details on visiting, including Dollywood hours of operation and important dates to keep on your calendar! If you're a Dollywood season pass holder and fanatic as much as me, you're ecstatic that it's open for another operating year already! Dollywood officially started the 2020 season in March, but things are in full swing now in early Spring. Let's take a look at all the important dates and Dollywood hours of operation that you need to be aware of to start planning your next … [Read more...]
Everything You Need to Know About Dollywood Season Passes
Are you visiting Dollywood soon and can't decide on what type of ticket or pass to buy? Here's the scoop on everything you need to know about Dollywood Season Passes! It's a question that I often got asked when I was an inaugural Dollywood Insider - should I invest in buying a season pass? Locals know that a season pass is always the way to go, but what if you're just visiting for a few days? Is it still worth buying a season pass? Today I'm going to tell you everything you need to know! First - NOW is the time to buy a Dollywood Season Pass for a couple of reasons. Here's why: You get unlimited visits during the 2019 Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival [until January 4th] and ALL of the 2020 operating season! You'll get up to 4 Bring-A-Friend passes for 2020. [Plus one for 2019 if you purchase by Dec. 1st] You can … [Read more...]
7 Reasons to Visit the Dollywood DreamMore Resort in the Winter
Dollywood may be closed, but the Dollywood DreamMore Resort is definitely open for the Winter. Here are 7 reasons you should visit during this time of the year! As a Dollywood Insider, I'll be bringing you more of the brand and attractions I love. I received a complimentary stay, but all opinions are my own. The lovely perk of riding the DreamMore Trolley to Dollywood is definitely one of my favorite reasons to stay at the Dollywood DreamMore Resort, but with Dollywood being closed from January to March, you might think DreamMore Resort is too - wrong! Even in the winter months, this luxurious mountain resort is my family's first choice of hotels when we visit Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and here are the 7 reasons why! The Spa at Dollywood's DreamMore Resort There are plenty of amenities to take advantage of when you visit the … [Read more...]
Dollywood Splash Country to Add New Slide – TailSpin Racer in 2017
We just spent our last day of Summer Break at Dollywood Splash Country on Sunday. Sophia started First Grade on Monday and we wanted to get out of the house and enjoy some splashing in the sun before the school season officially started. THIS my friends is how you do Splash Country. Shady retreat with a ceiling fan, TV, personal lounge deck and chairs, and lunch delivered right to your cabana! I feel completely spoiled and don't want this last day of Summer Break to end! #Dollywood #SplashCountry #waterpark #hospitality #SouthernHospitality @dollywoodtn A photo posted by Lindsey G. (@lindseyblogs) on Aug 14, 2016 at 8:39am PDT We even rented a Riverside Retreat, which is like a personal cabana for a family, during this trip. I have to say - it was AH-mazing! In the retreat you have a 6 person dining table, television, … [Read more...]
Dollywood adds Autism Calming Room for Guests
It's no secret that I have a love for my hometown theme park. Dollywood has consistently put itself on the map for going above and beyond for families of our area. Recently, they became the first theme park in the world to add a new resource for families... a Calming Room specially designed for children with Autism. On a normal day at Dollywood you'll see crowds of children experiencing the amazing sights, smells of the delicious food, sounds of laughter and thrilling screams near the roller coasters, and so much more. While I enjoy walking through and seeing all the sights and sounds, it honestly never occurred to me that some families have to avoid areas just like that because of over stimulation. That's the exact reason that Dollywood introduced the Calming Room for families, which is located in the Ride Accessibility … [Read more...]