5 Easy Dollywood Tips for First-Timers: What to Expect

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As the old saying goes, all roads lead to Dollywood. I didn’t know just how true that statement would come to be until driving east on the Tennesse leg of my 2-month road trip. Once we made it for Knoxville, just a quick 2 day-2 night stay at that, everywhere we looked there were signs for Dollywood. Not in an obnoxious way either, but it was genuine enthusiasm for the park from proudly displayed pamphlets in hotels, to city murals of Dolly Parton, to excited waitresses giving their favorite Dollywood tips in case we decided to visit.

I’m going to spoil something real quick – I won’t be writing a travel guide to Knoxville. And not because Knoxville doesn’t deserve it. Knoxville was actually extremely charming; it was recently voted one of the best small towns for RCGs (recent college graduates) to move to based on its safety, affordability, and access to the outdoors.

But…I didn’t actually see much of the city. Our first day, we got into Knoxville in the late afternoon after spending 3 days in Nashville, and most of the shops and places to go were already closed. The second day of our stay was already booked to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

“What about your last day?” the waitress asked.

We were eating dinner at Emilia, a little Italian restaurant in Knoxville. Forgive me, Italian is not my favorite cuisine in general, but this place was great – highly recommend! Anyway, it was our first dinner in Knoxville and we had just given the waitress the rundown on our plans. So I answered, “honestly, not sure. We haven’t planned out our last day.”

“Go to Dollywood,” she declared, as if she had already booked tickets. She gave us all her favorite Dollywood tips so at that point, it felt offensive NOT to go. So we went to Dollywood and the result was that we didn’t end up spending too much time IN Knoxville…but had an amazing experience at Dollywood.

Dollywood 101

Alrighty before we get into some Dollywood tips that I learned from my trip, here are some basic things to know when you are planning to visit.

• Tickets: Adult tickets are $89 USD (+tax) for 1 day tickets, $119 for 2 day, $129 for 3 day. Child, senior, and military discounts are available.
• Parking: $25 USD a day for regular vehicles, $30 oversize length vehicles (RVs and trailers).
• Location: Pigeon Forge, Tennessee – about 45 minutes outside of Knoxville.
• Hours: 10am-9pm

There are also season passes, but I only went for one day so I can’t comment on those too much. The park is also not open every day! Dollywood is usually closed around the holidays, but be sure to check the park calendar to ensure it will be open for your visit.

Top 5 Dollywood Tips

Once you have your tickets and transportation to the park, you’re ready to explore. I didn’t have too much insight into Dollywood beforehand, but I’ve had my fair share of theme park experience so how different could it be? Well, I was a little surprised for sure.

Like most theme parks, non-medical support animals are not permitted. However, Dollywood does have a very good dog boarding kennel on-site, so it’s super convenient if you are traveling with your puppy!

Get Some Sleep

In terms of most amusement parks, Dollywood opens “late” at 10am. It honestly reminded me of Hong Kong Disney (also a late park opener) since we didn’t have to wake up at the crack of dawn. So feel free to get a few more hours of sleep and even eat a hearty breakfast so you start the day properly fueled. For breakfast, we swung by Scrambled Jake’s Breakfast Co – super tasty, and even though there was a bit of a line, it went quickly!

Another reason that cements sleeping in for one of my top Dollywood tips is because when we arrived to the park at 10am…there was no line! Parking was super straightforward, and while it wasn’t organized to the precision of parking at Disney World, since it wasn’t busy it wasn’t hard to find a good spot towards the front. There wasn’t even a line at the entrance gate! So if you’re visiting on a weekday, feel free to show up at 10am without the worry of extreme entry lines.

It’s Bigger than Expected

One of the first Dollywood tips – yes, it is a REAL theme park with REAL rides. It’s not just a big Dolly Parton museum (though more on that later). If you have been to other theme parks like Universal Studios or Anaheim’s Disneyland…yes, Dollywood is about that same size. So wear comfortable walking/standing shoes!! I was able to bring in a fanny pack with some simple necessities (Tylenol, some beef jerky, and an apple sauce packet) to keep me going between meals.

You can really spend all day at the park and not see everything, so if you are only visiting for one day, I’d recommend taking a look on the Dollywood website or app and make note of rides, shows, and restaurants you’d like to prioritize so you have the most fulfilling experience.

Fast Pass is Skippable

With all of that in mind, one of the next Dollywood tips I’d like to pass on is that personally, I think you can skip out on getting the fast pass. Since I’m used to the lines at parks like Universal Studios and Disneyland, it’s customary for me to a fast pass, otherwise I’d never have the time to do even a fourth of the activities.

So, following my usual customs, I got the unlimited fast pass (called timesaver at Dollywood) for $99 USD a person. It was literally more than the cost of admission, but I don’t like waiting in line so I splurged. They do have specific timesaver passes for specific rides, but since it was my first time at Dollywood I figured might as well ball out.

It was not necessary.

When we arrived at 10am, we went straight to the rollercoasters and 2 seconds later we were on the ride. Then the next coaster. Immediately to the front. No line. Next coaster. No line. Next coaster.

Yeah…I ended up getting a headache. As it turns out, being on roller coasters for 30 minutes straight does not agree with your balance equilibrium. It’s actually kind of helpful to wait in line for a least a little bit to give your body a chance to recover. After about five or six rides…I physically did not feel up for any more for the rest of the day. If I had taken it slower, I probably would have enjoyed them more AND had the energy to see more at the park. So one of my Dollywood tips – just show up “early” at 10am, hit the rollercoasters with maybe a slight line and save yourself some money AND a headache

Make Sure to Stroll

Whether you have a headache from back-to-back roller coasters, or just looking for a change of pace, next up on the Dollywood tips is to make sure to spend time strolling the park as well. It’s not called one of the most beautiful parks in the country for nothing!

Again, there’s a lot to see at this park.

There is usually some kind of special seasonal entertainment along with the permanent attractions of different theater shows, acapella groups, string bands, character meet-and-greets, and a wildlife bird show. As you walk between these attractions, enjoy the bubbling brooks and lush trees that line the walkways. There are also a few craft stations to check out and of course – the Dolly Parton exhibits!

Leave Room for Food

Last but not least, one of the biggest Dollywood tips out there, YOU MUST try the food at Dollywood. It’s incredible. There are a lot of great restaurants, but since I have only been to one, I can only share my experience. And WHAT AN EXPERIENCE IT WAS. Y’all wanna know some real Dollywood tips? Go eat at Aunt Granny’s.

There WILL be a line.

But fret not. Maybe about an hour to 45 minutes before you’re ready to eat, swing by the restaurant to put your name and number down. They are scarily accurate with their time estimations.

For adults, you get two main dishes (southern fried chicken, herb baked chicken, beef pot roast, slow roasted pork lion with gravy, or southern fried catfish) per person for $23.49 (+tax). Yes, two PER PERSON. Or you can choose three for only a dollar and 50 cents more. Children 4-9 is $10.99. You also get four side dishes per table and one dessert per person.

It’s technically nottt a buffet, but baby it FEELS like one.

And the food was absolutely delicious. I also tried the famous Dollywood cinnamon bread loaf…but between me and you, it was a solid 8/10. Great if you have room for it, but it’s not the end of the world if you miss it, in my humblest of opinions.

Conclusion: Dollywood Tips

And that’s all I got in the realm of Dollywood tips, folks! Hopefully that helped you plan a bit for your own trip, but if not…uh…sorry I guess haha. At least it was ad-free to read, haha. If you’ve been to the park, what are some of your own Dollywood tips you’d add to fist-timers?

Share your best Dollywood tips in the comments below!

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