TENNESSEE FAMILY TRAVEL: HOW TO DO DOLLYWOOD WITH THE WHOLE CREW
Tennessee family travel is actually not just doable, but a whole lot of fun! Spend a day at Dollywood Theme Park and create countless memories with family in the park. Want to know HOW TO DO DOLLYWOOD WITH THE WHOLE CREW?
We tackled Dollywood in one day the best I know how to do: with a very detailed itinerary and a whole lot of fun. Are you ready to pack up the family and head to Tennessee and take the whole crew to spend the day at Dollywood? We want to share with you the top reasons to spend the day at Dollywood on your next family vacation to Tennessee!
My family and my brother’s family and a grandma recently traveled to Tennessee for a family vacation. We came from different states in the midwest and met in the south. We were factoring in the adults, the grandma, teenagers, and of course, kids, so it was equally as important to plan plenty of time for spontaneity and ice cream and naps for the very littlest of people in our big group.
Dollywood Theme Park is located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Dolly’s goals of Dollywood are simple: “To promote family togetherness and give families the opportunity to make memories to last a lifetime.” We created countless memories at Dollywood from the oldest to the youngest in our family and hope to return in the fall! Naturally, with our Dolly T-shirts!!
DOLLYWOOD THEME PARK
Dollywood Theme Park is a 150-acre theme park AND has a water adventure park: Dollywood's Splash Country; as well as entertainment and shopping. Dollywood is doable for an extended family day outing whilst vacationing in Tennessee and a MUST add to your Tennessee Family Vacation. We ordered Dolly T-Shirts for everyone and were ready to hit the park as soon as the gates opened.
Dollywood Theme Park is organized into eleven themed areas. The Showstreet, Wildwood Grove, Rivertown Junction, Craftsmen's Valley, Village, Country Fair, Timber Canyon, Jukebox Junction, Owens Farm, and Adventures in Imagination. Dollywood has more than 45 rides and attractions and we knew we wouldn’t be able to get on every single ride or watch all the shows, so here is our day in detail!
Tiaras & Tantrums Tip #1: Arrive Early!
Get up early, eat a full breakfast, arrive at Dollywood by 8:30-9:00 am, and get in line. The park officially opens at 10:00. We paid for parking at around 8:15 am and were all in line by 8:30 am. Guess what?! We were not the first ones either. We were probably around the 30th group in line. But, we were in the front of the pack. The park began letting in visitors at 9:30, so it was worth the hour wait!
Tiaras & Tantrums Tip #2: Download the app!
Be sure to download the Dollywood app. Dollywood App is free and hosts an interactive park map, and allows visibility for wait times at the tip of your fingertips! Plus, during this time, it will let you know what is open or closed.
Tiaras & Tantrums Tip #3: Purchase the TimeSave Passes
After you enter Dollywood, get your photos taken by the Dollywood sign. Then turn to your right, go over the bridge and purchase the TimeSave Passes. When you are traveling with a large group, the TimeSaver Passes save so much time for everyone! Mix and Match the tickets. We purchased TimeSaver Unlimted for all the teenagers and kids and a couple of TimerSaver passes to share amongst the adults. TimeSaver allows using expedited entrances eight (8) times throughout the day at your choice of TimeSaver attractions
Jukebox Junction
After photos, after purchasing the passes, we began our day heading straight to Jukebox Junction and a roller coaster and a kiddie ride. Some of the adults and the teenagers went on Lightning Rod and a mom, a toddler, and a grandma went on Rockin’ Roadway, which is right next to Lightning Rod. We also picked up some Dippin’ Dots ice cream for all the kiddos!
Lightning Rod
Lightning Rod is located in Jukebox Junction and launches from zero to 45 mph 20 stories uphill to get your day started perfectly at Dollywood! You will reach a top speed of 73 miles per hour too! Lightning Rod is the fastest wooden coaster in the world to get your heart and adrenaline racing for the next coaster!
Tiaras & Tantrums Tip #4: PREORDER LUNCH
What?! Yes! Stop by Red’s Drive-In and pre-order your lunch with Red’s Drive-In online meal packs. Ordering can take place up to 24 hours before your visit and it will be waiting for your selected time!! Select your preferred menu items, choose your time for pick-up and you’ll skip the line when it’s time to eat.
Rivertown Junction
We then headed to Rivertown Junction for the Smoky Mountain River Rampage.
River Rampage
Dollywood’s River Rampage is a classic round six-seater river raft ride that is fun for the entire family. One adult, grandma, teenagers, child, and toddler went on the River Rampage. They did get a bit of a soaking too! This is a perfect ride in the hot afternoon as well!
If you are looking for a sweet treat, visit Crossroads Funnel Cakes for a selection of three different funnel cakes and various toppings.
Country Fair and The Village
We then took a quick walk around Country Fair but opted to not go on any of these rides. We all really wanted the BIG rides!! But the Country Fair is the PERFECT spot for riders who may not be tall enough for the roller coasters or for riders who may be wary of roller coasters.
The Village is located beside the Country Fair and you could pick up the Dollywood Express Train at the Depot here. Be sure to check the times. We knew we would be riding The Express Train later in the day, so kept walking to the next area.
The Dollywood Express is a 20-minute excursion on an authentic 110-ton coal-fired steam engine train that is literally THE best way to see the park. We can’t wait to come back and ride the express train during the fall. The colors of the Smoky Mountains will be AMAZING!
Tiaras & Tantrums Tip #5: Plan the Express Train for the evening.
The final departure for the Dollywood Express is at 7:45 p.m. A perfect way to end the day! Riding the Express Train at dusk happens to be one of the most beautiful experiences in our lives! So gorgeous! Plus, everyone was able to rest their weary feet. Get in line early, because everyone else knows about this tip too!
Owen’s Farm
We all then made our way to Owen’s Farm to ride the Barnstormer and to give the toddler in our group a break from the stroller in Granny’s Garden. All the kiddos rode Barnstormer twice!
Barnstormer
The Barnstormer has two huge pendulum arms for riders who are seated back to back. Barnstormer carries riders higher on each swing of the Barnstormer’s massive arms, At its peak, the Barnstormer reaches a staggering 81 feet in the air!
Craftsman’s Valley
Dolly began her singing career in a church, which is one reason the Robert F. Thomas Chapel continues to operate in the park. Dollywood is one of the very few theme parks that host a chapel service.
Eagle Mountain Sanctuary
As soon as we had our fill of the Barnstormer, we headed to Craftsman’s Valley to ride the Tennessee Tornado. Before exiting Craftman’s Valley, we stopped to look at Eagle Mountain Sanctuary. We were able to see the largest exhibit of non-releasable Bald Eagles in the United States. These Bald Eagles are gorgeous and have huge areas (much bigger than the area at our local zoo even!) The Bald Eagles residing within Eagle Mountain Sanctuary are all permanently disabled and would not be able to survive in the wild.
Tennessee Tornado
This coaster features a back-to-back triple spiral, a 128-foot drop through an actual mountain, and speeds of up to 70 mph.
Tiaras & Tantrums Tip #6: Do Not Miss the Cinnamon Bread
If you are looking for the most amazing cinnamon roll/bread, here is the area to get the most delicious cinnamon bread at Grist Mill. The Bread comes in a pull-apart loaf that is perfect for families to share! We shared two loaves and I didn’t have time to take a photo because we were all devouring it!!
Wilderness Pass
We walked around the park to the next area, Wildness Pass, to ride the Firechaser Express. Our teens were on a mission to get on every BIG roller coaster at Dollywood! They were getting it done too!
Firechaser Express
This roller coaster was FUN! Everyone that could ride on Firechaser Express, did so! The teenagers rode it twice in a row so all the adults could have an opportunity to ride. Firechaser Express is a dual-launch family coaster – blasting riders forward and backward. While everyone was taking turns riding the Firechaser Express, our toddler was busy playing, and cooling off, at the FireChaser Express Firehouse Fun Yard.
This interactive children’s play area includes pop-jet water features, a soft play structure where our little one could slide and play, and cool off in the water. It was a perfect spot for our family to take a bit of a break, have a snack and ride the Firechaser Express and play in the water. After a bit of a rest, we were all SUPER EXCITED to hit the Wild Eagle!!
Wild Eagle
Wild Eagle is a wing coaster and the unique side-seat feature truly makes you feel like you’re flying with nothing but air above and below. It’s one of the only wing coasters in the world, simulating what flying like an eagle would actually be like. The track raises above Dollywood at 21 stories tall, and you will find yourself twisting and turning with incredible speed. Wild Eagle is an AMAZING RIDE!! The teenagers and kiddo rode this ride twice in a row!!
Wildwood Grove
Dragonflier
Dragonflier is one of the best family coasters and one of the smoothest coasters in the park. Dragonflier does not have any major drops or inversions, but it does include plenty of fun twists, turns, and excitement.
By this time, we were all ready for lunch. Currently, Dollywood is experiencing a staffing shortage and some of the restaurants were not open. We didn’t want to walk all the way to the entrance to hit a sit-down restaurant with a full menu, which was available at the Front Porch Cafe in ShowStreet. Thus, we simply ate at Till & Harvest is Sweets 'n' Treats in Wildwood Grove. Till & Harvest was the only lunch option in that area that wasn’t grab-and-go lunch at this time.
Timber Canyon
We sat for a bit and let the toddler nap in her stroller and then we were off to the next set of roller coasters in Timber Canyon! Timber Canyon has TWO roller coasters for our group to ride and ONE BONUS ride!
Mystery Mine
Mystery Mine is themed to look like an abandoned coal mine with steep drops, sharp turns, creative maneuvers, inversions, and a hair-raising 95-degree, 85-foot plunge into darkness.
Thunderhead
Thunderhead crosses over and under itself, 32 times during it is over 3,000 foot-long ride, travels at a speed of 55 mph, and features a 100-foot drop.
BONUS: Drop Line
Do you think anyone in our group was brave enough to take on Drop Line? Drop Line lifts guests more than 20 stories above Dollywood’s Timber Canyon. As it ascends, the ride’s gondola slowly spins around the tower, providing guests with a bird’s eye view of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Tiaras & Tantrums Tip #7: Do Not Miss the Shows & Crafts
We headed back to Rivertown Junction at this point to take a bit of a break from the roller coasters. We wanted to show the teenagers and kiddo Dolly Parton’s Smoky mountain cabin. Tennessee Mountain Home is a replica of the cabin where she lived as a child. We also watch some glass being blown at the Mountain Blown Glass.
Adventures in Imagination
It was midday in the afternoon, and the heat was becoming a bit unbearable for us midwesterners, so we decided to split up. My brother and his family, along with the grandmother, decided to head back to Pigeon Forge for the toddler and granny to take naps. My family stayed on in the park and we headed to the Chasing Rainbows attraction. I really wanted to show my own children all about Dolly Parton. The Dolly Parton Museum is FULL of behind-the-scenes collections, stories, and memorabilia from Dolly’s life and career. Dolly’s Home-On-Wheels, a motorhome that took her around the country sits right next to the museum.
Next up during our break from the roller coasters was the Wings of America Birds of Prey Show at the Wings of America Theater. Check the schedule in the morning and plan your day according to hit up this very informative show.
Tiaras & Tantrums Tip #8: Visit During a Dollywood Event
Summer Celebration: June 25 – July 31
Currently, Dollywood is celebrating summer with their Summer Celebration! In the evening, Dollywood lights up the sky with hundreds of drones flying above the park. During the entire festival, the park is open from 10 am to 8:00 pm on weekdays and until 9:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays!
Harvest Festival: September 24 – October 31
The Harvest Festival begins September 24th for fall! I can’t even imagine how gorgeous the backdrop of the Smoky Mountains is at Dollywood with the fall colors changing! Dollywood hours furin the Harvest Festival: 10 am-9 pm for every single day during this festival, EXCEPT for September 28, October 5 and 6 are Tuesdays the park is CLOSED.
Dollywood Tickets, Special Offers
If you want to visit Dollywood, you can purchase tickets at Dollywood and/or Splash Country online saving time instead of waiting in line.
Dollywood’s Splash Country’s 2021 season runs from May 15th until September 6th.
There is the opportunity to add a second day for $20 more per ticket—and a third day for $10 per ticket on top of that. If you’re planning to visit the park for more than two days, consider buying a season pass.
Our Tennessee Family Vacation would not have been complete without a day outing to Dollywood Theme Park! We loved that each themed area had something for everyone in our group! Our little toddler was never left out because there was always an area for her to play while waiting for the teenagers and adults who were on a coaster. We never had to split up the big kids with the little kids because of the amazing layout of Dollywood.
Dollywood is all about the entire family having a full day of making memories and that is exactly what we did! We had so much fun, we are planning another day trip to Dollywood in the fall.
WHAT WOULD YOU ADD TO THE LIST?
HAVE ANY OTHER TIPS TO GIVE?
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOUR FAMILY LIKES TO DO IN DOLLYWOOD!
Dollywood graciously gifted my family four press passes to experience their park in exchange for my honest review! We happily paid for upgrades, food, drinks, and additional tickets for the rest of the extended family. Any opinions expressed by me are honest and reflect my actual experiences.
