Dollywood

[chipper612]

On our trip to Disney last year, we passed Dollywood. Would like your opinion ...
is it worth visiting?

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

It's no Disney World. I must confess I did compare a lot. The kids enjoyed it ok. If you like lots of shows you will love it. The rides were ok. I'm glad that we went but not a place I feel like I'd need to go back to visit again.

 

[chipper612]

thank you so much, I guess you can't compare anything to Disney.

 

[Nite0wl71]

We went over Memorial Weekend. It was a nice park and there is alot of shows, we ended up staying until they closed even though we planned on leaving around 5, I would go back again. They do not have anything like FP though.

Funny story I was talking to a lady who had season passes to Dollywood, she seen my back pack (which has Sorcerer Mikey on it) and said she was at Disney a month before. They were at MK at 9 am and by noon her kids were ready to leave because they were bored and the lines were long.

 

[sammielynn]

Dollywood is no Disney but it can be great fun. It is a different pace and a different atmosphere. We love Dollywood. It is a good 1 to 1 1/2 day park. If you arrive after 3:00 the next day is free. In the spring they have a World Festival that is the best.

 

[DianeV]

We didnt like it..when we went which was around Easter there were alot of things not open or running and they charged extra for any of the decent shows...

 

[chipper612]

Does anyone have any links to the Dollywood park? Now I am getting curious, maybe we should visit on our next trip to Disney in October

 

[TENNTigger]

Dollywood is very different from Disney but it is worth seeing. Every year new rides and shows are added. It has country, East Tn atmosphere.

 

[swilshire]

We didnt like it..when we went which was around Easter there were alot of things not open or running and they charged extra for any of the decent shows...

Their website is www.dollywood.com . I'd have to check the schedule, but I believe Easter was their opening weekend. Their new ride had not opened yet and possibly not the water rides, but everything else should have been pretty much up and running.

As a season pass holder for more years than I care to recall (and my daughter worked there for four years) I can say with authority that they charge extra for almost NONE of the shows. They do a few charity things through the year, but that's it. At one time, they had an evening concert series for most of the year that required an extra ticket, but that ended years ago.

There are some of the bigger shows that require you to obtain a free ticket, just to control access to the theatre. No charge at all.

They do a lot of special festivals that are loads of fun. The Festival of Nations was earlier in the year. Kids Fest started while we were on vacation. Hope to get up there this weekend. It's always tons of fun for my 7yo. Crafts and music are in the Fall. Christmas is beautiful.

Sheila

P.S. The season passes there are a huge bargain. We practically need a second mortgage to buy Disney annual passes for the six of us. Dollywood is dirt cheap.

 

[kilee]

I am going to move this to the Community Board to get you more responses. We have been to Dollywood twice in the last few years. Ride wise- I think it's just okay. I love the entertainment and shopping.

The entire area is a nice vacation destination. We've done a hotel and a cabin rental. If you have a chance to do a cabin rental go for it. There is a great selection.

 

[NAB]

We went a few years ago and really liked. I loved the Dolly dresses they have little girls. There is a store near there that sells them and quilts. Beautiful stuff.

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

I don't really see how you can compare Disney and Dollywood, but we had friends that went ALL the time and LOVED it! (They had kids, too.) We wanted to go last year, but our plans didn't pan out.

 

[willis37862]

We live fifteen mins. from Dollywood and we only go when we have free tickets. It is ok, no Disney thats for sure. Our fave time is the Festival of Nations!! Its awesome. They have great entertainment then from around the world. Other than that we are not overly crazy about it.

 

[kilee]

It definetly doesn't compare to WDW. However, I don't think it's a bad place to visit. I don't think I'd go to the Smokey Mountains just for Dollywood- rather go for the destination as a whole, w/ Dollywood being just one piece of the plan.