THEME PARK ITINERARIES
Dollywood
Dollywood is a wonderful theme park for families because it has a good combination of kid rides, thrill rides, play areas, and shows. It’s also set in the beautiful Smoky Mountains.
There are two touring plan options below depending on the ages of your kids. Both of these will:
- Save you a lot of time not waiting in lines
- Help you do the park in a fun and efficient way that minimizes crisscrossing the park since there are lots of hills
- Doesn’t require buying expensive Timesaver passes!
Download the Dollywood to use the interactive map.
Crowds
Crowds can vary a lot. You would think the weekends are the worst, but weekdays can be really busy with school groups. I have often found less crowds on a Friday or Sunday vs. a Tuesday. Crowds are also worse in the middle of the day. The first hour of park opening and the last 2 hours before close are the best times for shorter crowds. If you get to the park late and leave early – you’re missing out!
Tickets
- One day tickets are the most expensive, but also the most common. You can typically do most of the park in one day if you stay the whole day. One0day ticket costs are usually around $95/adult.
- Two-day tickets are a better value. For only about $30 more you can have an entire second day to spend in the park. Compared to other attractions in the area, $30/person for another day at Dollywood is a great value!
- If you like waterparks, you could also do one day at Dollywood and one day at Splash Country, which is also a better value then 1-day tickets.
- Dollywood also makes a big push toward annual passes. If you want to spend more than 2 days at Dollywood or will be back for at least one more visit within a year, then the annual pass is the best value for sure.
Do I need a TimeSaver Pass?
The TimeSaver is the name of Dollywood’s skip the regular line pass that works on SOME attractions. It’s an additional $60-99/person which can really add up for a family with multiple kids. In our opinion, it’s not worth it on most days. If you can arrive at the park before it opens, follow one of the plans below, and stay through closing, you should have no problem getting most things done on normal crowd days.
Another thing to consider is buying a 2-day ticket (only $30/person more than a 1-day ticket) and you can enjoy 2 days in the park with plenty of time to get things done vs. spending an extra $60-99/person to do it all in one day.
HOWEVER – if $60-99/person is in your budget and you only have 1 day to spend in the park – go for it! Just know that it does not work on every ride! Review the list of eligible rides and see if it makes sense for your family.
Parking Information
If driving, general parking is $25 and is pretty far from the park entrance, so it will require you to use a tram. We highly recommend splurging on Preferred Parking for $50. I don’t love spending that much on a parking spot, but Preferred Parking means you can walk to the park without having to wait for a tram. The lines for the tram can get really long, especially at the end of the night, and are difficult to get a stroller on. You also get a special entrance so you’ll have shorter lines getting into the park. Trust us, it’s worth the extra $25.
Height Requirements
Many rides at Dollywood have height requirements. There is a place when you first enter the park where you can measure your kids and kid a color-coded wristband based on their height. This is not needed. It usually takes up precious time during morning hours so skip this. They will measure kids at the rides, but don’t wait in line for a ride your kid may not be tall enough for. Use the height measurement at the entrance and if you kid is close but not exactly tall enough – sorry! Don’t wait in line for disappointment.
- 55″ – Drop Line
- 50″ – Wild Eagle
- 48″ – Barnstormer, Lightning Rod, Dizzy Disk, Mystery Mine, Tennessee Tornado, Thunderhead
- 42″ – Blazing Fury, Daredevil Falls, Demolition Derby, Sky Rider, The Waltzing Swinger
- 39″ – Big Bear Mountain, Dragonflier, FireChaser Express
- 36″ – Black Bear Trail, Great Tree Swing, Shooting Star, Smoky Mountain River Rampage, The Mad Mockingbird, The Scrambler, Whistle Punk Chaser
If you have kids with varying heights, use Parent Swap
Most rides with a height requirement will allow you to do a parent swap where one parent (with or without big kids) can ride while the other parent stays with smaller kids, then swap. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy or obvious as at Disney parks where there is a person to check in with at the start of each queue. Wild Eagle has a dedicated Parent Swap area and a person to check in with inside the queue, but with other rides you may have to have the non-rider wait in the queue with you or go through the exit to talk to a staff person and ask them to help you do a swap as the first adult exits the ride.
A Note About the Train
There is a real train you can ride at Dollywood and that may seem like a fun idea, but unless you have a kid who just LOVES trains, we recommend skipping the train ride. I love trains at other parks, but I don’t love this train because:
- It’s a real coal train that spits out embers and they fly back and get stuck in your eyes and are painful. If you choose to ride, everyone in your party needs sunglasses (and even that is no guarantee they won’t fly into your eyes).
- You have to show up 30 minutes or more earlier than the time the train leaves to get seats. Then you have to wait a long time before the ride starts, and then the ride itself last 20 minutes and kids get bored.
- There’s nothing much to see on the train ride. It doesn’t take you past anything interesting – no nice mountain views, there’s no show or scenes, it just takes you up to a big loop where they blow the train whistle, then back.
- The train whistle is really loud and they blow it for a long time and most kids cover their ears and some cry.
- Wear comfortable clothing that matches the weather, which could mean dressing in layers.
- Wear clothing that can dry quickly because the water rides are a lot of fun!
- Wear shoes you can walk all day in AND ideally can get wet and dry quickly.
- If it’s going to be hot, think about what clothing will be best if you get sweaty. And bring an anti-chafing stick if you have any parts that tend to chafe.
- If you have kids age 5 or under, I would bring a stroller or rent one when you get there.
- Bring a backpack, cross-shoulder bag, or fanny pack to carry essentials.
- Inside your bag have sunscreen, medicines, an external phone charger, band aids, phones, and anything else that is essential for the day. Don’t overpack!
- Wear sunglasses and/or hats on sunny days.
- Pack ponchos if there’s a chance of rain or if you want to ride water rides without getting fully soaked.
You will find every hotel brand in the area, but you’ll also find some unique resorts and great cabin rentals.
- Dollywood Resorts
If Dollywood is your main priority, you may want to consider one of the Dollywood Resorts. There are two Dollywood hotels – HeartSong and DreamMore. The biggest perk to these hotels is you get TimeSaver passes included with your stay so you can skip the regular lines at 5 attractions (only 5, and only once each time, but this can still save a lot of time). If Dollywood is your main priority and you’re visiting during a busy time, this perk alone might make this worth it. These hotels also include transportation from the hotel to the parks so you save on parking costs. They are also lovely hotels! But they can be more expensive than other hotels in the area. - Wilderness of the Smokies
A waterpark resort! There are a variety of room types to choose from and they all come with access to the outdoor AND indoor waterparks making this place fun year-round! If you enjoy water parks – pick this one! Check availability and prices > - Rent a Cabin
There are a lot of cabin rentals in the area. SO so many that it’s hard to recommend a few in particular. You’ll find cabins with mountain views, cabins by streams, cabins with hot tubs and pools, cabins that can fit large groups, and much more. Check for available cabins on VRBO > - Other Hotels/Resorts
You can find cheaper places to stay than the hotels above if you want to keep your budget smaller. Find affordable hotels on booking.com > - PRO-TIP: Consider a split-stay. It can be a pain to pack-up and switch hotels, but you could do a Dollywood hotel for a night to get the included TimeSaver passes, then switch to Wilderness for a few days to enjoy the waterpark, then stay somewhere cheaper in Gatlinburg for a few days so you’re closer to the National Park. It could help maximize your time, your fun, and your budget.
There is no shortage of fun things to do in the Pigeon Forge/Sevierville/Gatlinburg area!
Our top recommendation is to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Check out all our recommendations in this sample itinerary >
Touring Plan for Families with Kids and Teens
This plan is for people with older kids and teens who want to do all the thrill rides. If you have some kids under the height requirements for rides, you can talk to ride attendants about swapping adults so one adult can ride with the older kids while another is with the smaller kid(s), then swap without having to wait in line again. This plan doesn’t include many shows because in our experience, kids find them boring.
- Aim to arrive at Dollywood 30 minutes before opening time if you will be using Preferred Parking.
- Aim to arrive 45 minutes before opening time if you will be using Standard Parking because it takes time to walk or take the tram.
- If staying at a Dollywood resort, use their free transportation to reach the park entrance before your early entry time begins (resort guests can often enter the park early).
Parking Information:
If driving, general parking is $25 and is pretty far from the park entrance so it will require you to use a tram. We highly recommend splurging on Preferred Parking for $50. I don’t love spending that much on a parking spot, but Preferred Parking means you can walk to the park without having to wait for a tram. The lines for the tram can get really long, especially at the end of the night, and are difficult to get a stroller on. You also get a special entrance so you’ll have shorter lines getting into the park. Trust us, it’s worth the extra $25.
When you enter the park, head LEFT and go UP the big hill. Keep walking toward Mystery Mine and then turn left and enter the Wildwood Grove section of the park. It’s a long walk to start the day but there won’t be many people back there!
This steal coaster only has a 39″ height requirement but all teens and adults will love it too! It’s super smooth, has 3 accelerated launch starts, it’s a decently long ride, and has nice views and a soundtrack. It’s the newest coaster at Dollywood and it’s fantastic!
Across from Big Bear Mountain is another kid-friendly coaster – Dragonfier. An inverted coaster with only a 39″ height requirement. It is a bit intense so some kids that are tall enough may find it too much, but it’s not a super long ride and a lot of fun!
There are lots of other kid rides and a play area in this part of the park, but to really beat the crowds on the bigger attractions, leave this section and come back to it later.
As you exit Wildwood Grove continue straight through Wilderness Pass.
This is a fun little steal coaster with a 39″ height requirement that goes forward, then stops, then goes backward. There are no huge drops but is plenty of fun!
There is also a little firetruck-themed play area near the coaster for smaller kids. During warm months it has a water feature so kids can get wet.
Wild Eagle is the large coaster across from Firechaser Express. This one has a 50″ height requirement but has a nice parent swap area inside the queue if needed. This is a unique wing coaster where two people sit on each side of the track so you have no track above or below you and it feels like you’re flying! Sit near the front for the smoothest ride, or in the back for a more intense ride.
Walk around the curve from Wild Eagle to reach the oldest steal coaster in the park. If the wait time is over 30 minutes, consider coming back to this one later. This coaster has a low capacity so the line can get long, but in the last few hours of the day it will have little to no wait. This is a classic steel coaster with 3 loops. It’s a little rough, especially in the back, but kids don’t seem to notice. It has a 48″ height requirement.
Continue around the curve from Tennessee Tornado and up on your right you’ll find the building for Blazing Fury. This is the oldest “roller coaster” in the park and I’ve been riding it since I was a kid! It has a 42″ height requirement. It is an indoor coaster that actually goes very slow and takes you through scenes of an old town that is catching fire. It’s like a lost Disney attraction that hasn’t been updated in a long time. It’s strange and wonderful. There are 3 small drops which make this one a “roller coaster,” but not really.
Get some delicious BBQ pork, turkey legs, chicken tenders, and more at Hickory House BBQ. Mobile ordering is available. Then find a seat near the Eagle Sanctuary and watch the eagles as you eat!
If it’s a warm day and you’re up for getting wet, try out this fun log-flume ride with a 60-foot drop. It has a 42″ height requirement. You will get wet, but not soaked. Lift your feet up or slip your shoes off to avoid having wet shoes the rest of the day.
At this point in the day, the lines are usually long so it’s a good time to walk around Craftsmans Valley and see the different craftsmen and walk in the shops. You can watch blacksmiths, candle-makers (you can dip your own candle!), glass blowers, and more.
You could also check out the Wings of America Bird Show. You’ll want to get seats about 10-15 minutes before it begins and the show only last about 15-20 minutes.
Stop at the Grist Mill to purchase some Cinnamon Bread. It’s a Dollywood classic!
There are sometimes music acts in the chapel you can watch or head to the Back Porch Theater. Check the app for showtimes and acts.
If you have napping-age littles, you can walk around and try to get them to nap in their stroller.
This thrilling ride sends you swinging 81 feet in the air on a giant pendulum. It looks and sounds scarier than it really is.
There is a 48″ height requirement and there is a playground next to it for kids who aren’t tall enough to ride.
Head down the hill to the Country Fair section of the park. There are several carnival-style rides in this area as well as carnival games. The rides here never SEEM to have long lines, but they are low capacity and can move really slowly, so you may have to pick and choose which rides you want to do and keep an eye on time. There are more unique things to do so don’t get stuck spending the rest of your day here!
NOTE ABOUT THE TRAIN:
While you’re in this area you’ll probably notice the train. Unless you have a kid who just LOVES trains, skip the train ride! I love trains at other parks, but I don’t love this train because
- It’s a real coal train that spits out embers and they fly back and get stuck in your eyes and are painful.
- You have to show up 30 minutes or more earlier to get seats, then sit there for a long time before the ride starts, then the ride itself last 20 minutes and kids get bored.
- There’s nothing much to see on the train ride – it doesn’t take you past anything interesting, there’s no nice mountain views, there’s no show or scenes, it just takes you up to a big loop where they blow the train whistle, then back.
- The train whistle is really loud and they blow it for a long time and most kids cover their ears and some cry.
Walk to the Jukebox Junction section of the park. This 1950s-themed section has two rides – the Rockin Roadway which are little cars on a track that little kids will enjoy, and Lightning Rod – a truly awesome hybrid wood coaster!
Lightning Rod has 48″ height requirement and is more intense than it looks! Our daredevil kid did it for the first time at 8, the others didn’t try it until they were 11. I highly recommend trying it – even if parents have to switch off. I ride a LOT of roller coasters and this one has been in my top 5 since it opened – it’s fantastic! Learn more about Lightning Rod >
If your kids aren’t tall enough or aren’t interested, they can ride Rockin Roadway. It is low capacity and a long, slow ride so it will probably take the same amount of time as Lightning Rod if it has a wait. Skip this ride for older kids – they usually find it boring.
Feel free to skip this if you’re running short on time, but if you admire Dolly Parton (as one should), check out the Dolly Parton Experience for a bit to learn more about her life.
There are lots of food options around Showstreet including food booths with seasonal specialties, a delicious bakery, a confectionary, and an ice cream shop.
Walk back up the hill you walked up this morning (sorry!) and ride Thunderbird, a really fun wooden coaster with a 48″ height requirement. There should be very little line at this point in the day. For smaller kids, check out the Whistle Punk Chaser, a small kids coaster with only a 36″ height requirement.
There are two thrill rides in the Timber Canyon area. The line for both should be short by this time of day.
Mystery Mine is a unique roller coaster with a 48″ height requirement. This is an indoor/outdoor coaster with 2-row/8-person runaway mine carts that take you upside down and through quick turns and vertical drops. There is one point inside that is very dark and could be scary for some kids. The ride is a little rough and can leave you with a headache if you’re prone to that. (This is one I usually skip and let Dad ride with the kids.) Learn more about Mystery Mine >
Dropline takes you up 20 stories, lets you enjoy the mountain views for a moment, and then you drop! It has a 55″ height requirement. If you don’t like the feeling of falling, skip this! Learn more about Dropline >
If you’d like, you can come back to this section of the park you started in this morning and do some of the smaller rides here like the classic swinging pirate ship and the Mockingbird. There is also an outdoor splash area and an indoor play area that are fun to let kids run around and play in. These areas get crowded and crazy earlier in the day but by evening they are much more calm.
You do not need to be heading for the exit because it’s getting close to closing time! It’s actually the perfect time to ride one last ride (or more) with little wait. As long as you are in line one minute before the official park closing time, you get to ride! If there was a line you skipped earlier because it was too long – go ride it now! Or if there was a favorite that you want to ride again – go do it! We once got to ride Big Bear Mountain 5 times in a row at the end of the night and it was a great memory!
Enjoy walking through the park with little crowds and grab some good photos! You can also stop by the Emporium (the main store at the exit) to do some shopping. If you parked in Premium parking you can use the dedicated exit to easily walk to your car. If you used general parking, walk through the Emporium to the tram area, get in line for a tram, ride the tram to your stop, then walk to your car.
Touring Plan for Families with Younger Children
This touring plan prioritizes kid rides and play areas and skips most of the thrill rides. If you have some people in your group that want to ride some of the thrill rides, you may need to divide and conquer. One adult can be with kids in a kids play area while another rides a roller coaster.
- Aim to arrive at Dollywood 30 minutes before opening time if you will be using Preferred Parking.
- Aim to arrive 45 minutes before opening time if you will be using Standard Parking because it takes time to walk or take the tram.
- If staying at a Dollywood resort, use their free transportation to reach the park entrance before your early entry time begins (resort guests can often enter the park early).
Parking Information:
If driving, general parking is $25 and is pretty far from the park entrance so it will require you to use a tram. We highly recommend splurging on Preferred Parking for $50. I don’t love spending that much on a parking spot, but Preferred Parking means you can walk to the park without having to wait for a tram. The lines for the tram can get really long, especially at the end of the night, and are difficult to get a stroller on. You also get a special entrance so you’ll have shorter lines getting into the park. Trust us, it’s worth the extra $25.
When you enter the park, head LEFT and go UP the big hill. Keep walking toward Mystery Mine and then turn left and enter the Wildwood Grove section of the park. It’s a long walk to start the day but there won’t be many people back there!
This steal coaster only has a 39″ height requirement but all teens and adults will love it too! It’s super smooth, has 3 accelerated launch starts, it’s a decently long ride, and has nice views and a soundtrack. It’s the newest coaster at Dollywood and it’s fantastic!
Across from Big Bear Mountain is another kid-friendly coaster – Dragonfier. An inverted coaster with only a 39″ height requirement. It is a bit intense so some kids that are tall enough may find it too much, but it’s not a super long ride and a lot of fun!
There are several good kid rides in this section of the park that can get long lines later in the day and can get miserable during the heat of the day, so riding them in the morning will save time and sweat! Try Treetop Tower, Black Bear Trail, The Mad Mockingbird, and any others your kids are interested in.
Once you have done the rides in the area without long waits, now is a good time for some free play! If it’s getting hot, explore the splash pad area! Or head inside the Hidden Hollow – a really fun indoor play area for kids 12 and under. This might be the best part of the day for some kids!
Enjoy lunch at Till & Harvest Food Hall. You can do a mobile order before you arrive to save time. This restaurant has a lot of shaded outdoor seating and lots of kid favorites such as mac n’ cheese, chicken tenders, PB&J, burgers, and more. Plus they have salads, tacos, and rice bowls for adults.
Head out of the Wildwood Grove area and head right back down the hill to the right. Stop on the way to ride the Whistle Punk Chaser if your kids want to try a small kids coaster.
Continue down the hill and turn left onto Showstreet. If you’d like take an indoor break, go to a show at the Palace or Dreamsong theaters. Check the app for show schedules. Or you could explore the Dolly Parton Experience area to learn more about Dolly!
Showstreet has a delicious bakery, a confectionary, an ice cream shop, and seasonal food booths so it’s a great time a a treat!
Head to the Jukebox Junction area and let your kids drive a 1950s car (on a track) at the Rockin’ Roadway. (Tip – if any adults love roller coasters, ride Lightning Rod while another adult takes the kids on this ride. If you’re going to ride one roller coaster here – make it Lightning Rod!)
Head down into the country fair area where you will find lots of kid-friendly rides! The carousel is at the top of the hill, but everything else is at the bottom of the hill. Try out more thrilling rides like the Scrambler, the Sky Rider, and Demolition Derby and/or classic slow-spinning rides like Dumbo and Lemon Twist (teacups).
Depending on how tired your kids are, you can explore more of the park or call it a day! You could:
- Look at the replica of Dolly’s childhood home
- Watch the glassblowers in the Glassblowing shop
- Play at the playground in the Owen Farm area (next to Barnstormer)
- Check out other craftsmen and shops in Craftsman Valley
- Watch the eagles in the Eagle Sanctuary
If you have kids over 39″ and you have enough energy for one more ride before you leave, head up to Firechaser Express.
This is a fun little steal coaster with a 39″ height requirement that goes forward, then stops, then goes backward. There are no huge drops but is plenty of fun!
There is also a little firetruck-themed play area near the coaster for smaller kids. During warm months it has a water feature so kids can get wet.
Enjoy walking through the park with little crowds and grab some good photos! You can also stop by the Emporium (the main store at the exit) to do some shopping. If you parked in Premium parking you can use the dedicated exit to easily walk to your car. If you used general parking, walk through the Emporium to the tram area, get in line for a tram, ride the tram to your stop, then walk to your car.
- The train. There is a real train you can ride at Dollywood and that may seem like a fun idea, but unless you have a kid who just LOVES trains, skip the train ride! I love trains at other parks, but I don’t love this train because –
1. It’s a real coal train that spits out embers and they fly back and get stuck in your eyes and are painful.
2. You have to show up 30 minutes or more earlier to get seats, then sit there for a long time before the ride starts, then the ride itself last 20 minutes and kids get bored.
3. There’s nothing much to see on the train ride – it doesn’t take you past anything interesting, there’s no nice mountain views, there’s no show or scenes, it just takes you up to a big loop where they blow the train whistle, then back.
4. The train whistle is really loud and the blow it for a long time and most kids cover their ears and some cry. - Smoky Mountain River Rampage. This is a typical white water rafting ride where you can get very soaked. If you have a change of clothes or bathing suits with you then go for it! But if not, then super wet little kids, especially as they get tired aren’t always. Also this line moves slow and gets very long in the middle of the day and it’s a pretty short ride.
- Bigger Roller coasters. There are a lot of fantastic roller coasters at Dollywood! And when your kids are older I highly recommend doing them all! But this plan is purposely geared toward families with littles who are not tall enough. But feel free to divide and conquer a few times and slip away to let adults try a few coasters. Personal favorites: Lightning Rod and Wild Eagle.
- Dinner. If you stay through dinner time and want to eat in the park, great! But it may be easier to just snack in the afternoon, leave when your kids get cranky, and get dinner outside the park.
- The Bird Show. It’s mainly not included because there aren’t many other little-kid things in the part of the park where this show is and it’s a long walk to get there. But it’s also a little boring for young kids. It’s only a 15 minute show and the birds usually don’t fly around and it can be hard for littles to see the birds well.
