Dollywood Tips

Ok I'm going to Dollywood either this Fri or Sat. It's been over 10 years since I've been to the park, so I'm sure lots has changed. Besides riding the Tennessee Tornado, Mountain Slidewinder, and Blazing Fury, what else should I not miss? Any tips about the park in general would be appreciated. Thanks!

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Nashville needs a theme park!

Daredevil Falls has good theming and the drop is lots of fun , especially mocking the camera. The train seems like a good idea since you could see the construction. Also , I don't know what you can do about it but mountain slidewinder has a long line and the capacity is terrible.Have much Fun!

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Ramming your face into the bottom of a swimming pool is not very fun.

Wow, you are? I'll be there on Saturday for sure.

It seems that you've got all the Must Doos, so I'll point out a few extras. Be sure to ride the Smoky Mountain River Rampage, the Park's In-House built Rapids Ride. It is the Best River Rapids ride I've ever been on. Try to see some of the shows, the Park has great Entertainment. Be sure to ride the Dollywood Express, the Park's Steam Train.

If your interested in any of the Flat Rides in the Country Fair area, get to them the first thing in the morning. It's nearly impossible to get to any rides in that area after Lunch because of Crowds.

You don't really have to worry about Lines at any of the Big Rides at Dollywood. Daredevil Falls and Tennessee Tornado hardly ever have lines. Blazing Fury normally at the most has a 10min. wait at the peak of the Day. MntSldwr. normaly has the longest line.

You can Expect a totally different expierience than you did 10 years ago. So much has changed it's hard to Believe Dollywood is the same place that it was a decade ago. (Which in some ways is not a good thing.)

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"The Mountain Slidewinder. Voted The #1 Non-Rollercoaster Ride in America Amusement Business Magazine, 1991"

If you can't get enough of Dolly, you can go to her new water park. I haven't been yet, but I understand it's pretty good.

I recommend spending a few minutes in Dolly's museum inside the park...taking pictures of your friends in front of her old dresses is a hoot. And the Coat Of Many Colors is in the museum as well...a must see imho.

Taking pictures in dresses = not my idea of a hoot. Although certain rampant threadjackers might appreciate it. ;) ;)

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A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.

Taking pictures in dresses - I see your point, but in front of the exhibits is something different...lol.

Regardless, the camp-factor at Dollywood is out of control and the reason why a lot of people go there. ;-)

When I was there, I rode TT twice, saw a bird show, and walked around looking for other rides..... and not finding any that either looked interesting or didn't get you wet, we left. Total time in park, 2 hours.

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A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.

I guess it just depends what you're into whether or not you'll like it or leave it. On one hand I'll go to Dollywood if my company has a picnic there or it's somehow free, but I won't pay to go b/c the admission is sorta expensive compared to what you're getting at thrill parks like CP, PKI or SFOG, et al (I live 3 hours north of SFOG and 3 hours south of PKI). On the other hand I enjoy arts and crafts and Appalachian culture in general since I'm part Cherokee, so I kind of enjoy just strolling around checking things out. Plus, I think Dolly Parton hangs the moon!("9to5" Anyone??) Dollywood - not a place you'll find serious thrill rides (yet), but educational and beautiful nonetheless.

Another tip...if you have the time and while visiting the area, the Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg is pretty fantastic and exceeded my expectations greatly. It has a lot of exhibits

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Den said:
When I was there, I rode TT twice, saw a bird show, and walked around looking for other rides..... and not finding any that either looked interesting or didn't get you wet, we left. Total time in park, 2 hours.

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Sounds kind of like my trip to Silver Dollar City. ;)

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It IS as bad as you think, and they ARE out to get you.

Be sure to ride the DW Express-look into the construction site and give us here a basic what's goin on, would you? I was planning on going tomorrow, but we have a 70% chance of thunderstorms.

And Dollywood dosen't have many thrill rides per sae-yet (as someone above mentioned). Ive heard very good things in DW's future as far as thrill rides and coasters go.

Have Fun!

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Can you feel the thunder?
Thunderhead comes to Dollywood in 2004!
*** This post was edited by CoastermanX 7/30/2003 6:43:56 PM ***

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Den said:
When I was there, I rode TT twice, saw a bird show, and walked around looking for other rides..... and not finding any that either looked interesting or didn't get you wet, we left. Total time in park, 2 hours.

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Two hours?! Wow. I spent three consecutive days enjoying all of Dolloywood's shows and attractions and checking out almost every restaurant. Call me crazy, but I believe in leisurly vacations, and if I go out of my way to visit a park, then I want to see and do it all. Dolly's Chasing Rainbows museum was an awesome experience for this Dolly fan, and it is a worthwhile attraction in it's own right.

Thanks for all the tips everyone. Looks like I will be there on Friday for sure when hopefully crowds are lighter and the coke can discount applies :-).

It's been interesting watching the park change over all the years. I went as a wee lad to the park when it was Gold Rush Junction and rode my first log flume ride with my dad. Then visited later when it was Silver Dollar City as a preteen or early teenager. I don't remember exactly what the park had. Then visited it when it was in the early stages of Dollywood and rode Blazing Fury which turned out to be a lot of fun. Also rode the Mountain Slidewinder with my mom hehe. This time I'm looking forward to the TT and seeing how the park has changed (and is changing - Thunderhead Gap)once again. I'll let you guys know if I see much going on and if there are any Dolly sightings.

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Nashville needs a theme park!

Hope ya have a great Time!

And good luck with Dolly Sightings! We went one September Weekend and she poped up riding through the Rivertown area in the Antique Car they have built for her.

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"The Mountain Slidewinder. Voted The #1 Non-Rollercoaster Ride in America Amusement Business Magazine, 1991"

Thanks everyone. I'm back from Dollywood, and while I had no Dolly sightings, I had a great time. Friday was pretty crowded, but I did manage to ride most everything I wanted considering I was with my Mom, Dad, older sister and her 2 kids (twins age 8). I have to say that Tennessee Tornado is amazing. I only had to wait about 20 mins to ride it. While it was much shorter than I wanted it to be, it is undoubtedly the smoothest Arrow looper I've ever ridden! The first loop is soooo incredibly huge and graceful too. The placement of the loop is perfect when you walk around the corner of the loading building and see it for the first time! I only rode it once, but fortunately I nabbed the back seat which made the drop into the tunnel all the more intense. I have to rank it up there with Loch Ness Monster as my two fav Arrow loopers.

Blazing Fury was not a bad wait. The surprises inside were great! Dolly's virtual ride (sorry can't remember the exact name) was fun and actually had a storyline to it. The in-house rapids ride was quite a soaker! Also, I went back and re-experienced my first log flume - still great! Ah, the memories! Dollywood has really improved since I went back in the 80's and drastically since the Gold Rush Junction/Silver Dollar City days. Much better theming throughout the park and I would venture to say as beautiful as BGW. Everything was lush and green with flowers blooming everywhere and not a spot of trash anywhere in the park. The Coke cans discount was a bonus too! My only complaint would be that the park could probably double the amount of rides to handle the crowds. Everything else was perfect.

By the way, I saw a couple of posters around the park promoting the new theme area coming in '04, "Thunderhead Gap", and the Thunderhead coaster. One poster I saw had a countdown above it which said "242 days until the Thunder". Also, on the train ride, we rode right by the construction area, and I believe I saw footers for the new coaster. I can't wait to go back next year!

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Nashville needs a theme park!

Glad you had a great time at Tennessee's 'Number One Attraction'!

I don't know what happened, but DW has been more crowded this summer than any other summer of the past 8 years i have been a season passholder. Maybe more attention by the national media (Travel Channel) and TT's rep as the best Arrow looper anywhere has opened people's eyes to the Smokies "best kept secret."

Thunderhead is now in foundation phase several footers are in the ground as Thrillerman noted.I suspect the superstrucutre will start to rise soon (that is if the rain let's up for one day). Thunderhead will have to be completed by at least the last week of Feb. to be ready for the season passholder's sneak peak day at the end of march and the ACE event which will probably be on the sneak peak day also.What would that be like? Dollywood full of ACErs! 10 years ago you would have thought of the idea of a DW ACE event as completely stupid.

Dollywood and HFE in general are looking into thrill rides now (includes coasters of course) Maybe one day DW will get their B&M coaster that was supposed to happened years ago.

Is their a buzzer out there who works at DW or knows what DW management is planning for the future beyond Thunderhead? Maybe a second park at DW (like SDC did with CCity) will happen in the future. One can only hope!!

Why don't you post a Trip Report? (if you have-sorry I havent checked)

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Can you feel the thunder?
Thunderhead comes to Dollywood in 2004!

Well, I guess that was kind of my trip report up above. CoastermanX keep us posted on Thunderhead.
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Nashville needs a theme park!

Will do.

It would be easier if DW would update the prgress page sometime! :)

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Can you feel the thunder?
Thunderhead comes to Dollywood in 2004!

Ancient spirits of evil, transform this decayed thread to Mumm-Ra the Ever-Living!

Oh, sorry...too dramatic? Just resurrecting a thread here. It has been since 2008 that our family journeyed down to Dollywood, but in November we are headed back. I have searched and searched, and come up with nothing; is there any place to snag Dollywood tickets at a discount? Locally, perhaps (like at a local grocery store, McDonalds, etc.)?

Or is Dollywood one of the few places that just has one price online...and that's the price? If so, then it is what it is, just wondering if anyone with more experience with the Twin Peaks Park has some type of underground knowledge that want to bestow.

There is a deal for entering after 6pm to see the lights (Smoky Mtn. Christmas) and returning the next day for free...definitely doing that.

If you find a discount, you'll be the first person I've ever come across.

There was a creepy lady riding the trolley during last month's visit ho, after annoyingly befriending my mother and I, asked us if we would be interested in purchasing discounted Dollywood tickets. I "rudely" told her no, and if we were interested, we wouldn't buy them from her. She didn't say a word, but her face turned red and it was easy to see that she got really angry. Mom apologized, and I had a good laugh. :)

If you arrive at the park in the afternoon, 4pm I think, to buy your ticket, then the next day is free. The season pass is a really good deal if you are planning to go longer than a day and a half. I think I paid $82 for mine, and gave the park four or five visits throughout the week.