Dollywood First Visit

[ckohl]

Hi Everyone,

My wife, son (who will be 22 months at our visit), and myself will be visiting Dollywood for the first time next month.

Any recommendations on what to do or eat? Is it worth getting an annual pass? How does it compare to visiting Disney or Universal?

I am so excited to visit Dollywood! We love going to Pigeon Forge and live only 2 1/2 hours away.

 

[Southernmiss]

Hi Everyone,

My wife, son (who will be 22 months at our visit), and myself will be visiting Dollywood for the first time next month.

Any recommendations on what to do or eat? Is it worth getting an annual pass? How does it compare to visiting Disney or Universal?

I am so excited to visit Dollywood! We love going to Pigeon Forge and live only 2 1/2 hours away.

Dollywood is a day visit. No planning needed. Just get a park map/schedule, go at your own pace, and enjoy.

It really is that easy.

 

[bjscheel]

I would do a little planning! To familiarize yourself with the layout, and what the rides are like. You'll probably want to check out which ones your son can go on.

We went in June and decided we didn't need any planning. I felt totally out of place and clueless because I am so used to knowing what to do at WDW. Followed the crowd to what apparently was the newest ride but it wasn't running due to rain. Thereafter wandered and rode whatever we came upon which was mostly fine but I would have felt better if I had my bearings on the place.

Aunt Granny's Restaurant was good.

 

[ckohl]

I would do a little planning! To familiarize yourself with the layout, and what the rides are like. You'll probably want to check out which ones your son can go on.

We went in June and decided we didn't need any planning. I felt totally out of place and clueless because I am so used to knowing what to do at WDW. Followed the crowd to what apparently was the newest ride but it wasn't running due to rain. Thereafter wandered and rode whatever we came upon which was mostly fine but I would have felt better if I had my bearings on the place.

Aunt Granny's Restaurant was good.

Thanks! This helps. How were the crowds?

 

[bjscheel]

Thanks! This helps. How were the crowds?

We didn't wait long for anything except that new ride, especially since it went down again while we were in line. It was also rainy and cool that morning which may have kept some away.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Enjoy!

You can decide to buy the annual pass as you spend time during the day.

We are senior citizens and have annual passes in Dollywood for 20 years!

 

[ckohl]

Enjoy!

You can decide to buy the annual pass as you spend time during the day.

We are senior citizens and have annual passes in Dollywood for 20 years!

Great to hear! How do crowds and waits compare to Disney? Any food recommendations?
Thank you for responding!

 

[bobbiwoz]

For the most part, we go to the shows, and are not there for the rides.
There are lots of thrill rides, also the Country Fair area will have things your son should enjoy.

Here’s the prices for Aunt Grannys
All-You-Care-To-Eat Lunch & Dinner Buffet including drink
Regular (Ages 10+) - $18.99*
Child (Ages 4-9) - $9.99*
*does not include tax and could change

So, I think you can see that it’s not as expensive as WDW and AP’s cost under $150.

Do you know about this?

FREE Pre-K Imagination Season Pass
To celebrate our 35th anniversary, children born in 2015 or 2016 get unlimited admission to both parks - Dollywood and Dollywood's Splash Country - for FREE! Register your Pre-K kid by March 15!

I like the fried chicken....the cinnamon bread is also very good!

 

[KayaWildfire]

The cinnamon bread is a must have, love that stuff. If you plan to get an annual pass, have someone in your group get a gold annual pass. It's a little more expensive, but you get free parking and food discounts and you only need to have one in your family. The wait times are much less than Disney and it is very easy to navigate, since you live so close, make sure to come for their christmas festivities sometime. They have lovely shows and the decorations(especially the lights) are beautiful. It tops even Disney for me.

 

[ckohl]

For the most part, we go to the shows, and are not there for the rides.
There are lots of thrill rides, also the Country Fair area will have things your son should enjoy.

Here’s the prices for Aunt Grannys
All-You-Care-To-Eat Lunch & Dinner Buffet including drink
Regular (Ages 10+) - $18.99*
Child (Ages 4-9) - $9.99*
*does not include tax and could change

So, I think you can see that it’s not as expensive as WDW and AP’s cost under $150.

Do you know about this?

FREE Pre-K Imagination Season Pass
To celebrate our 35th anniversary, children born in 2015 or 2016 get unlimited admission to both parks - Dollywood and Dollywood's Splash Country - for FREE! Register your Pre-K kid by March 15!

I like the fried chicken....the cinnamon bread is also very good!

This is all so helpful! Yes, I did hear about the Pre-K pass. My son currently still is free without it, but a big plus as he gets older to get that.

I’ve heard the cinnamon bread is a must.

 

[ckohl]

The cinnamon bread is a must have, love that stuff. If you plan to get an annual pass, have someone in your group get a gold annual pass. It's a little more expensive, but you get free parking and food discounts and you only need to have one in your family. The wait times are much less than Disney and it is very easy to navigate, since you live so close, make sure to come for their christmas festivities sometime. They have lovely shows and the decorations(especially the lights) are beautiful. It tops even Disney for me.

Thanks so much for this info. I had heard this about getting one gold pass and it does sound like a real benefit. The main reason I’d like to get a season pass is for the events at each of the holidays. The Christmas and fall decorations look amazing!

 

[Jedimom33]

We live a few hours from Dollywood, and last year, we did the annual pass. We went twice, for several days each time, so it was worth it. One person had the Gold pass so that we could get discounts at restaurants, etc. It was worth it for at least one person to have that, although if you split up, they have to be there to get the discount. Your picture is on the pass. Our kids are older now and totally into the craziest coasters there. Lightning Rod is their favorite. Wild Eagle is fun, smooth, but the others I found shook you up quite a bit. There is a good sized kids' area, kind like kid carnival ride types, plus there's a new section , Wildwood Grove. I LOVE the setting inside Dollywood. THere are lots of water elements, water wheels, flowing water, greenery in the back, etc. I think it's so peaceful. We've stayed at the Dollywood resort a few times, and make good use of the shuttle, plus if you stay there, you get like an express pass for each person to use during the day. We are rope droppers at WDW, so we are also rope droppers at Dollywood, and can get a lot done in the AM. We've been in the slower times, and seems like rides didn't run at capacity, so you have to wait for a complete loop of a coaster, or whatever, so it can seem like it's taking awhile. Weekends crowds can get up there. If you have any other questions, please ask. We might opt for more APs there next year, since our AP from Disney will expire. We kind of take turns between Disney and elsewhere (including Universal)
Have fun. We loved Dollywood. Hope to actually do other stuff in Pigeon Forge next time we're out that way.

 

[lovemygoofy]

We love Dollywood and East TN. I recommend downloading the Dollywood app on your phone. It gives you a map and will navigate you to the next attractions you want. It shows the wait times for the rides and times for the shows. You can read menus and make list of things you'd like to do. I think it's much more friendly navigation to use than the Disney app.

WIldwood is new and super cute and should be age appropriate for your son to have fun. It is quite hilly so be comfortable pushing the stroller uphill. I think it is up to you if you want season passes. It depends on your schedule and if you get bored. I like the variety of seasonal activities but I like the shows more than the rides. I sit in rocking chair having iced lemonade while my husband rides the roller coasters. It's a good compromise.

We love the cinnamon bread and usually get one first thing in the morning with coffee and just soaking in the time. Lunch is normally sharing a bbq plate because we also munch around in the afternoon. If you ever decide to splurge I cannot say enough good things about the Dollywood hotel. It is gorgeous and so family friendly. You also get shuttled over to the parks and receive express passes for the big rides which depending on when you go might be worth it to help avoid the wait times.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Hi Everyone,

My wife, son (who will be 22 months at our visit), and myself will be visiting Dollywood for the first time next month.

Any recommendations on what to do or eat? Is it worth getting an annual pass? How does it compare to visiting Disney or Universal?

I am so excited to visit Dollywood! We love going to Pigeon Forge and live only 2 1/2 hours away.

Whether a season pass is worth it depends upon circumstances. If for example one is going on days the free bring a friend passes can be redeemed, then it may be well worth it. These are listed on Dollywood's website. My season pass last year ended up paying for both of us because of the bring a friend passes. I got three of them last year. Note the Gold pass gets you 20% off food and merchandise (things over 1,000 dollars and some made to order merchandise excepted.) The gold pass also gets you free parking. There is no need to buy everyone a gold pass. Just one and the rest of the passes can be standard.
All passes get you in to Dollywood's equivalent of early morning hours. And all passes get you discounts of 20% on the Ripley's attractions including the Aquarium. There are modest discounts on various shows in the area (such as the Dixie stampede) and some discounts at attractions in other parts of the U.S.
A final word. This is a season pass good for the season. It isn't good for one calendar year like Disney's Annual pass is.

Food. Food at Dollywood is solid for the most part. You're not going to get anything special, but you are going to get some good food. Expect a whole lot of Kountry Kookin, BBQ along with the usual Burgers, Hot Dogs, and Pizza.
We liked Lillians smoke house. There's usually a wait though. $17 for the buffet is a bit steep but considering a hot dog and fries was approaching 10 bucks, hmmmm. Aunt Grannies is the other buffet and that's southern comfort foods. Reds reminded us more of a New Jersey type place rather than a southern place. But the food was good if on the high side for what you get. We like the skillets. The menu there changes but we've had sausages, we've had fajitas, we've had cheesesteaks, chicken, and all kinds of things over the years. If you go to the bakery, go for the pie. Avoid the cookies. They're just ok. The cinnamon rolls are good too. Avoid the pizza place. Over at Splash Country, it's a different story. Over there it's food only in the academic sense. You can eat it. It won't kill you.

 

[ckohl]

We live a few hours from Dollywood, and last year, we did the annual pass. We went twice, for several days each time, so it was worth it. One person had the Gold pass so that we could get discounts at restaurants, etc. It was worth it for at least one person to have that, although if you split up, they have to be there to get the discount. Your picture is on the pass. Our kids are older now and totally into the craziest coasters there. Lightning Rod is their favorite. Wild Eagle is fun, smooth, but the others I found shook you up quite a bit. There is a good sized kids' area, kind like kid carnival ride types, plus there's a new section , Wildwood Grove. I LOVE the setting inside Dollywood. THere are lots of water elements, water wheels, flowing water, greenery in the back, etc. I think it's so peaceful. We've stayed at the Dollywood resort a few times, and make good use of the shuttle, plus if you stay there, you get like an express pass for each person to use during the day. We are rope droppers at WDW, so we are also rope droppers at Dollywood, and can get a lot done in the AM. We've been in the slower times, and seems like rides didn't run at capacity, so you have to wait for a complete loop of a coaster, or whatever, so it can seem like it's taking awhile. Weekends crowds can get up there. If you have any other questions, please ask. We might opt for more APs there next year, since our AP from Disney will expire. We kind of take turns between Disney and elsewhere (including Universal)
Have fun. We loved Dollywood. Hope to actually do other stuff in Pigeon Forge next time we're out that way.

This is great! I am excited to try both Lightening Rod and Wild Eagle. The new addition of Wildwood Grove looks great for my son. I am a rope dropper as well. May want to try the resort sometime. We have a place we like in Pigeon Forge which is family friendly, but the Dreammore Resort looks worth trying.

Thanks again!

 

[ckohl]

Whether a season pass is worth it depends upon circumstances. If for example one is going on days the free bring a friend passes can be redeemed, then it may be well worth it. These are listed on Dollywood's website. My season pass last year ended up paying for both of us because of the bring a friend passes. I got three of them last year. Note the Gold pass gets you 20% off food and merchandise (things over 1,000 dollars and some made to order merchandise excepted.) The gold pass also gets you free parking. There is no need to buy everyone a gold pass. Just one and the rest of the passes can be standard.
All passes get you in to Dollywood's equivalent of early morning hours. And all passes get you discounts of 20% on the Ripley's attractions including the Aquarium. There are modest discounts on various shows in the area (such as the Dixie stampede) and some discounts at attractions in other parts of the U.S.
A final word. This is a season pass good for the season. It isn't good for one calendar year like Disney's Annual pass is.

Food. Food at Dollywood is solid for the most part. You're not going to get anything special, but you are going to get some good food. Expect a whole lot of Kountry Kookin, BBQ along with the usual Burgers, Hot Dogs, and Pizza.
We liked Lillians smoke house. There's usually a wait though. $17 for the buffet is a bit steep but considering a hot dog and fries was approaching 10 bucks, hmmmm. Aunt Grannies is the other buffet and that's southern comfort foods. Reds reminded us more of a New Jersey type place rather than a southern place. But the food was good if on the high side for what you get. We like the skillets. The menu there changes but we've had sausages, we've had fajitas, we've had cheesesteaks, chicken, and all kinds of things over the years. If you go to the bakery, go for the pie. Avoid the cookies. They're just ok. The cinnamon rolls are good too. Avoid the pizza place. Over at Splash Country, it's a different story. Over there it's food only in the academic sense. You can eat it. It won't kill you.

Wow! I did not think of the difference between a season pass and calendar year pass. That really helps. Thanks for the food review. Lillian's Smokehouse does sound good. I agree about the cookies. It seems like there are too many other good options instead of cookies. Would you recommend the two park season pass or just for Dollywood? We enjoyed Typhoon Lagoon and Aquatica in Orlando, but have never tried Splash Country.

 

[ckohl]

We live a few hours from Dollywood, and last year, we did the annual pass. We went twice, for several days each time, so it was worth it. One person had the Gold pass so that we could get discounts at restaurants, etc. It was worth it for at least one person to have that, although if you split up, they have to be there to get the discount. Your picture is on the pass. Our kids are older now and totally into the craziest coasters there. Lightning Rod is their favorite. Wild Eagle is fun, smooth, but the others I found shook you up quite a bit. There is a good sized kids' area, kind like kid carnival ride types, plus there's a new section , Wildwood Grove. I LOVE the setting inside Dollywood. THere are lots of water elements, water wheels, flowing water, greenery in the back, etc. I think it's so peaceful. We've stayed at the Dollywood resort a few times, and make good use of the shuttle, plus if you stay there, you get like an express pass for each person to use during the day. We are rope droppers at WDW, so we are also rope droppers at Dollywood, and can get a lot done in the AM. We've been in the slower times, and seems like rides didn't run at capacity, so you have to wait for a complete loop of a coaster, or whatever, so it can seem like it's taking awhile. Weekends crowds can get up there. If you have any other questions, please ask. We might opt for more APs there next year, since our AP from Disney will expire. We kind of take turns between Disney and elsewhere (including Universal)
Have fun. We loved Dollywood. Hope to actually do other stuff in Pigeon Forge next time we're out that way.

Does the Gold Pass get you 20% off all food or have restrictions?

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Wow! I did not think of the difference between a season pass and calendar year pass. That really helps. Thanks for the food review. Lillian's Smokehouse does sound good. I agree about the cookies. It seems like there are too many other good options instead of cookies. Would you recommend the two park season pass or just for Dollywood? We enjoyed Typhoon Lagoon and Aquatica in Orlando, but have never tried Splash Country.

Splash country isn't themed nearly as well as the Disney parks. But there are lots of kids play areas and lots of things to do and plenty of slides of all sizes whether individual, tandem, or group. All in all sans the theming, I think it measures up to the Disney parks quite well. The water park opens May 16th. But be advised. For the first week or so, the water is freezing. HEHE. Still fun. But the end of that butterfly slide when you pretty much get dunked......WEEEEEEEEEEE. Polar bear club.
Bring sunscreen, because even at 1,000 feet, the sun burns much faster than at Disney.

Does the Gold Pass get you 20% off all food or have restrictions?

The only restrictions were on merchandise. I should add that the gold pass must be present to get the 20%. They won't take My dad has a gold pass in lieu of seeing the gold pass.

 

[ckohl]

Splash country isn't themed nearly as well as the Disney parks. But there are lots of kids play areas and lots of things to do and plenty of slides of all sizes whether individual, tandem, or group. All in all sans the theming, I think it measures up to the Disney parks quite well. The water park opens May 16th. But be advised. For the first week or so, the water is freezing. HEHE. Still fun. But the end of that butterfly slide when you pretty much get dunked......WEEEEEEEEEEE. Polar bear club.
Bring sunscreen, because even at 1,000 feet, the sun burns much faster than at Disney.


The only restrictions were on merchandise.

Great to know! Sounds like Splash Country is worth a visit.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I've been toying with visiting also, so I'm eagerly soaking up advice!