Dollywood

[kimmikayb]

I wonder if we went to the real Dollywood because we didn't like it at all. Because of it's size and the strange layout, any type of crowd makes it shoulder to shoulder. Not enough rides for my kids. Way too hot when we were there to enjoy the shows. As a previous poster said, the lines for any type of food were incredibly long (we were there on a Tuesday, third week of June) so we ended up skipping all food. Likewise, we must have been there on a bad day (it was super hot) because of the employees were rude. We would have been better off to spend the day at the waterpark, which I hear is amazing.

On a plus side, the area is beautful. I would be tempted to give it another try...maybe in the fall when it's cooler and without the kids. They really hated it (Dollywood).

 

[SereneOne]

I would like to check out Dollywood now for myself, thanks for this thread!

We hate Six Flags Georgia...filthy, dirty and they pull crap like having you pay for tickets and then announcing that the park is closing hours before the stated time.

We have season passes to Chimney Rock and Biltmore estate-BEAUTIFUL is all I can say! Wait, breathtaking!

My GP had a cabin up in the mountains, about an hour from where that indian reservation is....Unto These Hills? I am so glad we moved here from Florida, we now have the beach one way and the mountains the other.

 

[Wishing on a star]

To the one previous poster...
THE BOARDS ARE STILL SCREWED UP!!! I AM REFERRING TO KIMMIKAYB'S POST JUST BELOW!!!

Yes, DollyWood has an 'interesting' layout!

To all of those reading... Remember, DollyWood was not a professionally planned mini-city, like WDW... It started as a small mini-park ( Silver Dollar City) which was basically what is now Craftsman's Valley. IT IS AMAZING HOW THIS PARK HAS GROWN AND WHAT DOLLY HAS MANAGED TO MAKE OF IT!!!

ALSO, remember, it is located in the foothills of TN, where the lay of the land has a huge impact on what can be done. That aside... it IS a wonderful park!!!

Unrealistic (mega WDW) expectations are NOT what this park is all about. If that is all you are looking for, then you might not find it.

All of that being said... DollyWood is a wonderful park... Between DollyWood, Splash Country, and all the other endless offerings in the Pigeon Forge Gatlinburg area, along with the Great Smokey Mountains, definately make for a a vacation!

So, All of that being said... this brings another hint to all DollyWood newbies... Print off a park map, and familiarize yourself!!!! Being familiar with the different areas if the park and how they are layed out... will save you some time and walking!!!

There are many rides at DollyWood, sometimes you could walk right past them and not see them if you aren't really looking!!! NOTE a previous posters mention of The Slidewinder, and to ask a park attendant if you need to find it!!!

PS: that last week of June, leading up to July 4th (which happens to be THIS WEEK!!!) is indeed the ONE week that is just not managable... Many locals have, I am sure, referred to this as HELL WEEK. It seems that many plants and factories close or encourage vacations this week.. Many locals are also off... And it is just crazy.... The lines of traffic leading up to Pigeon Forge on this Friday and Next Friday (the 4th) will be miles of bumper to bumper stop and go traffic.. In an earlier post here on the DIS somebody asked about visiting this week... She asked... ' am I crazy"... And EVERY single DISer responded... YES!!! Go ANY other week!!!

PS: About the Slidewinder... envision this as a huge tubular waterslide, like at waterparks, that you go down in large pressed-foam LOGS... I can NOT imagine that thing EVER getting stuck unless it had developed a temporary problem (low water???) That thing is CRAZY fast!!!!

 

[Buckalew11]

I looooooved it. I always say if Disney had a Country Park it would be Dollywood!!

Thanks again, Brenda!!!!

You're welcome Robin!! Glad that you all have fond memories of the park! DH does not do PT paramedic with them anymore so I can't be so kind anymore.
However, I am glad he doesn't work there anymore. Now he has weekends at home and does not have that drive to PF w/ traffic that can be crazy.

I havn't been up there since they implimented there FP type thing. I had forgotten they were planning on it. I remember someone (who was working it) telling me about it that first year and he said there were a lot of kinks to work out. Sounds like they got it worked out! yay! ('Cause I hate lines!)

 

[Miss Kelly]

We love Dollywood! We have Season Passes and go quite often.

I would definitely recommend the Qbot if you don't want to wait in line.

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

THANK YOU for all the replies!!! We'll definitely give D'wood a try this time...we usually skip it because we prefer to spend our time hiking to waterfalls and taking in the scenery. That area is sooo beautiful!

I have Dollywood right up there with WDW. The employees are friendly and very helpful, the grounds are spotless, and the atmosphere is laid back and friendly. It defintely isn't a six flags for sure. I would recommend a Mon-Wed if you wanna miss the crowds. The parking lot will look full but you can go in and the crowds aren't that bad.

PS - I'm a season passholder.

bigslim, it's weird how you could read my mind - you posted your answer even before I posted the question!!

We were just there last week at Pigeon Forge. We have never been there. We didn't know that there's so much to see and do at Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg that we ended up skipping Dollywood. And Dollywood was the main reason why we were in TN.

For sure next time, we want to try Dollywood. We saw this on Travel Channel and it looks like it is a great park. It is definitely doesn't look like a Six Flagger to me. It has that southern theme. Nice.

Fantasia!! I haven't seen you around in quite a while! It's great to "see" you!

:So, All of that being said... this brings another hint to all DollyWood newbies... Print off a park map, and familiarize yourself!!!! Being familiar with the different areas if the park and how they are layed out... will save you some time and walking!!!

great idea!

PS: that last week of June, leading up to July 4th (which happens to be THIS WEEK!!!) is indeed the ONE week that is just not managable... Many locals have, I am sure, referred to this as HELL WEEK. It seems that many plants and factories close or encourage vacations this week.. Many locals are also off... And it is just crazy.... The lines of traffic leading up to Pigeon Forge on this Friday and Next Friday (the 4th) will be miles of bumper to bumper stop and go traffic.. In an earlier post here on the DIS somebody asked about visiting this week... She asked... ' am I crazy"... And EVERY single DISer responded... YES!!! Go ANY other week!!!

OMG, you are so correct - we made that mistake a couple of years ago! I simply could NOT believe the crowds. Cade's Cove took hours to go through, and not in a lets-go-slow-so-we-can-stop-and-enjoy-it type of way. It was more of a bumper-to-bumper, going-two-miles-an-hour-if-we're-lucky, don't-even-think-about-trying-to-park type of way.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[Robinrs]

I would like to check out Dollywood now for myself, thanks for this thread!

We hate Six Flags Georgia...filthy, dirty and they pull crap like having you pay for tickets and then announcing that the park is closing hours before the stated time.

Yikes we DESPISE Six Flags over Ga, too.... in fact the last time we went they closed because of rain and I was THRILLED!!!

Absolutely NO comparison to Dollywood at all!!

 

[lemondog]

Wow, I am shocked about the waits people are talking about. We went on a weekday the last week in July and pretty much walked onto every ride and there were NO lines for food...at CS or sit-down restaurants.

One note to parents with younger kids: have them wear a bathing suit under their clothes. There are LOTS of opportunities for them to play in the water and they will get WET!

 

[Serena]

That WAS fun!!


Dollywood is a THEME park like WDW is so it is different than Six Flags IMHO.

My DD is on her way to Dollywood this a.m.

Yeah, it was.

It's small, cozier, and I loved all the trees and shade.