Dollywood?? Anyone else not like it?

[MCFADDEN5]

We just spent 2 days at Dollywood. We are Disney Lovers and been many times. Disney World is our fave; we have also been to Disneyland and loved it as well. Well….Dollywood left a lot to be desired. It was clean and pretty. Good if you like roller coasters (my husband rode them alone, he did say they were good). Food was good. We did two shows and just walked away wondering what was wrong with us. Everyone else in the audience seemed to enjoy it, we did not. Not at all. Does anyone else feel the same? There was no magic, no nostalgia, each day we left early and only spent about 4 hrs each day. I don’t want to offend anyone that likes it, it had good points of course. It just wasn’t for us.

 

[nw6675]

It has always been a fun half day park for us. Not a destination and we dislike the Dreammore resort. We like it in the fall, never in the summer.

Nothing in comparison to WDW at all.

 

[Straulin]

We love it, but it is just a four hour drive for us rather than a 12 hour. I also grew up in the mountains.

I have never been much of a fan for the park food other than the cinnamon bread.

It helps to go during certain times of the year. They have festivals similar to Epcot. The shows will vary greatly between festivals.

Staying at the Dreammore is similar to staying on Disney property in that you get extra time. It has been a couple years but you also got fast passes and all the reservations for the shows that you want to schedule in the morning. The show reservations are nice as they do actually fill up. with a reservation. they'll escort you in 5 minutes before the show starts and you don't have to wait in line or anything and you will get first few rows.

 

[MCFADDEN5]

We love it, but it is just a four hour drive for us rather than a 12 hour. I also grew up in the mountains.

I have never been much of a fan for the park food other than the cinnamon bread.

It helps to go during certain times of the year. They have festivals similar to Epcot. The shows will vary greatly between festivals.

Staying at the Dreammore is similar to staying on Disney property in that you get extra time. It has been a couple years but you also got fast passes and all the reservations for the shows that you want to schedule in the morning. The show reservations are nice as they do actually fill up. with a reservation. they'll escort you in 5 minutes before the show starts and you don't have to wait in line or anything and you will get first few rows.

We were a 12 hour drive. We did drive through the national park and did clingmans dome. It was beautiful. We loved it.

 

[MinnieMSue]

We enjoyed it and that’s saying a lot because it rained and almost everything closed down for the day. We want to try to stay at the resort and attend the parks again someday in the next couple years. It is a several hour drive instead of a flight for us to get there. We also enjoyed the water park.

 

[Upatnoon]

We liked it. Good shows, less crowds than Disney. Good food. Lovely setting.

We also enjoyed the water park. The setting is so nice there.

I'm sure a lot of people's experiences will vary based on crowds and weather. Both were good for us.

 

[Princesca]

I liked it! The shows there are really great, and the park feels cozy to me, especially in the fall. The only thing I didn't like is that they aren't as mindful about customers of size as Disney. It was the one time I had to do the 'walk of shame' off a ride because there was no test vehicle and the restraint wouldn't close.

 

[maverik85]

We've only been once but we really liked it. We went in conjunction with a general trip to Gatlinburg and not just specifically for Dollywood, but the park was one of the highlights of the trip. If you don't care for the mountain/country theme I can definitely see the park not being great. We went around Chrimstas and the decorations were fantastic. Had lights covering the buildings like the Osborne lights were at Hollywood Studios. If you compare it directly to Disney or Universal it will come up short but for a regional amusement park it has probably been the best themed one I've seen. We're planning to try to get back to all the festivals at some point.

 

[shh]

OP thanks for posting! We were considering dollywood one day, but would have to fly, so definitely a vacation investment. Could you tell us more about what you didn't like? What the shows were missing? I'm a big country music fan...but realize many people hate country music, so I could understand if maybe it was too "country/down home" style for some?

 

[bbeagle]

Dollywood is not in the same ballpark as a Disney or a Universal. Dollywood is a nice, local theme park. It's like a deluxe Six Flags. I visited years ago, stayed 2 days. The atmosphere had a local vibe. Cool, but you can get that same vibe at many other places like Idlewild in Pennsylvania.

It's not a destination. It's a place to spend a day if you're traveling through Tennessee. Or if you're a local, you can boast that you have one of the best local parks.

 

[Princesca]

Dollywood is not in the same ballpark as a Disney or a Universal. Dollywood is a nice, local theme park. It's like a deluxe Six Flags. I visited years ago, stayed 2 days. The atmosphere had a local vibe. Cool, but you can get that same vibe at many other places like Idlewild in Pennsylvania.

It's not a destination. It's a place to spend a day if you're traveling through Tennessee. Or if you're a local, you can boast that you have one of the best local parks.

I would agree with this. That said, a trip to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Cherokee NC can keep you busy for a week. Tons of attractions and museums. We went to Wonderworks and Titanic Museum and loved both of them. Combine that with Dollywood, one of the dinner shows, the Margaritaville Hotel area with the giant ferris wheel and all the shops, hitting the craftsman loop in Gatlinburg, the Apple Barn, the main drag in Gatlinburg, Obergatlinburg, the national forest, and a day trip or overnight to Cherokee NC to see the Oconaluftee Village, and you have yourself a nice trip.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

It is our local park and no, not a fan.
I tried to support them as I did many local places during the pandemic and we bought season passes for a couple of years.
Goodness knows they are cheap enough and they throw in a lot of stuff and give a huge resort discount.
We love Dream More resort but just don't love the parks. They are simply too redneck. Bless us, I mean, DH and I are both born and raised East TN. DH was working at Silver Dollar City when Dolly bought it. But I have to face it, we are a redneck bunch. And it comes out at Dollywood in spades.
We were there during mask wearing days and lord if we didn't come across a group wearing tighty whities as their mask. Yes, on their heads. With the leg holes over their ears. If that isn't the most redneck thing.

It is beautiful at the Holidays but goodness it's cold to go there to see the lights at Christmas. That's just not fun to walk around.

The halloween was fun too. Enjoyed the craftsmans stuff a lot. It's clear she's tried to copy a lot of the ideas that Disney uses. Spring time flower event, Halloween event, Christmas event. No extra paid events at least.

 

[MrsDfromTN]

We live in Knoxville, and I am the odd man out around here--I don't like Dollywood or Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg. At all. It's just not my jam. Pretty much everyone we know, including our adult daughter and her family, have season passes! Now, I love Dolly. She is an amazing human with a heart for philanthropy, and her Imagination Library is legendary. I think I am just a Disney person, and that's okay with me.

 

[tatkins]

I am a local as well. My family and I prefer Disney and Universal over Dollywood. It’s a very nice smaller park with several good rides. It’s definitely a country folk atmosphere. I agree with the thought process that you don’t need a week in the parks. With all that said we do still enjoy a day in the park in the fall or winter but no season pass needed for us.

 

[whiteness]

Is it anything like Knott's Berry Farm? I miss that place soooo much!

When I was a local passholder for both parks, I would genuinely visit both. Sometimes, you are in the mood for one or the other. There is no comparable park here in Orlando, and that's a real pity. If it wasn't so far, I'd definitely visit Dollywood if it were similar.

 

[shh]

It is our local park and no, not a fan.
I tried to support them as I did many local places during the pandemic and we bought season passes for a couple of years.
Goodness knows they are cheap enough and they throw in a lot of stuff and give a huge resort discount.
We love Dream More resort but just don't love the parks. They are simply too redneck. Bless us, I mean, DH and I are both born and raised East TN. DH was working at Silver Dollar City when Dolly bought it. But I have to face it, we are a redneck bunch. And it comes out at Dollywood in spades.
We were there during mask wearing days and lord if we didn't come across a group wearing tighty whities as their mask. Yes, on their heads. With the leg holes over their ears. If that isn't the most redneck thing.

It is beautiful at the Holidays but goodness it's cold to go there to see the lights at Christmas. That's just not fun to walk around.

The halloween was fun too. Enjoyed the craftsmans stuff a lot. It's clear she's tried to copy a lot of the ideas that Disney uses. Spring time flower event, Halloween event, Christmas event. No extra paid events at least.

Haha...you're selling me on it for the holidays just by saying it's too cold. When you're a Floridian in 90+ degree heat and 70+ degree humidity 9 months of the year, that sounds like a 'lil slice of heaven on earth.

 

[MICKIMINI]

We went there once when we were in the area. Honestly, we thought it was awful no offence to those that love it. It just wasn't for us.

 

[loves to dive]

I went a couple of times a thousand years ago when it had just opened. We were in the Gatlinburg area for a long weekend so just ran up there for the day. My mama was from the north Ga. mountains so she had to go to the mountains 3 or 4 times a year or I think her head would explode. I'm not from the mountains and am not a fan of the mountains. Gatinlinburg and the whole area has never been more than a long weekend trip for me.

 

[dez1978]

It is our local park and no, not a fan.
I tried to support them as I did many local places during the pandemic and we bought season passes for a couple of years.
Goodness knows they are cheap enough and they throw in a lot of stuff and give a huge resort discount.
We love Dream More resort but just don't love the parks. They are simply too redneck. Bless us, I mean, DH and I are both born and raised East TN. DH was working at Silver Dollar City when Dolly bought it. But I have to face it, we are a redneck bunch. And it comes out at Dollywood in spades.
We were there during mask wearing days and lord if we didn't come across a group wearing tighty whities as their mask. Yes, on their heads. With the leg holes over their ears. If that isn't the most redneck thing.

It is beautiful at the Holidays but goodness it's cold to go there to see the lights at Christmas. That's just not fun to walk around.

The halloween was fun too. Enjoyed the craftsmans stuff a lot. It's clear she's tried to copy a lot of the ideas that Disney uses. Spring time flower event, Halloween event, Christmas event. No extra paid events at least.

I had no idea Dollywood was co owned by the same group that owns SDC in Branson until this comment! Tho I had always heard they had a similar vibe. We are just a couple hrs away from branson so we do SDC frequently. We have a fall break this year, the weekend of Halloween, and I'm considering a trip to Dollywood then.

 

[Skywalker3]

we live in middle TN, and have visited several times over the past few years. At least twice, did season passes and stayed at dream more. We enjoyed it, but no, it's not Disney/universal, but it has a lot of charm, and something for all ages. I like the water theme that runs through the park, especially in the back, like streams and water wheels. We have enjoyed Pumpkin fest a couple of times, and a few of the other special festivals: International fest one year, Holiday lights, and BBQ fest. Food was ok. It's definitely not food/wine. There are a lot of shows, we aren't show people, not even at Disney, so don't do those. Do enjoy the live bluegrass performers throughout the park. I don't do all the coasters, but love Wild Eagle, and kids LOVE Lightning Rod, so definitely several high thrill rides there.
It was kinda pricey for us to make multiple trips , needing hotel, pricey theme park food, etc. but I think it's worth a visit, especially if one is doing other things in Pigeon Forge, or adding a day or two in Dollywood if doing the Smoky Mountains. If I was planning a trip back, I'd try to go during one of the festivals. More offered then. we haven't been for several years, maybe worth a trip soon, and add some time in the mountains.