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Tips for Visiting Dollywood

Dollywood coupons, discounts, and tips in Pigeon Forge, TN. Get inside information on the hottest of Pigeon Forge attractions – Dollywood theme park!

So you, your family, and friends have decided to visit Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN for the day and you’re looking for some tips on making the experience more enjoyable. Well you’ve come to the right place as we’ve compiled the best tips on Dollywood coupons, the best days to visit, what to wear, ways to save money, and more! Here’s our list of 10 tips that will make your day at Dollywood much more enjoyable!

It’s Dollywood…not Dollyworld or Dolly World – Many people mistakingly call the theme park “Dollyworld” I suppose since it sounds close to “Disneyworld”. Dolly’s theme park, though, is named Dollywood as a play on words to Hollywood. So now that you know how it’s pronounced, spelled, etc you don’t have to come to town asking for information about Dollyworld. This should save you at least a laugh or two!
Ride the Trolley – Parking is $6 for a standard-sized vehicle and $9 for RV’s or anything larger. A trolley ride is .50 per person and it will take you right to the entrance of Dollywood. So yeah, you would have to have 24 people riding the trolley to equal the cost of parking! You can park at Patriot Park for free and then hop on a Dollywood trolley that runs every 15 minutes.
Eat Before You Go – This may sound like a no-brainer, but it’s important to remember. Food at Dollywood can be pricey, so try to fill up before you enter the park and then try to make it through the day on snacks purchased at Dollywood or a single meal. A local favorite is Red’s Diner in the 50’s section. The burger, fries, and shakes are great!
Dollywood Provides Water – You are not allowed to brink snacks or liquids into the park, but Dollywood does provide free cups of water in their restaurants and plenty of water fountains. If anything, this keeps you from carrying bottles around all day. Keep this in mind as water is a good thing if you’re in the heat.
Dress for Action – Dress according to how you plan to enjoy Dollywood. If you plan on riding lots of rides (especially the water rides), plan on wearing light clothing that will dry quickly. Sandals are a good choice as well if you have a comfortable pair…and be sure they attach to your feet with velcro or other straps in order to keep them from flying away on certain rides!
When to Visit – Wednesdays and Thursdays are typically the least busy days. Saturdays are nuts and should be avoided…unless you like waiting in lines.
Purchase Tickets at Home – If you need to buy tickets, then purchase them at home. Information can be found on Dollywood’s Ticket Page
Consider a Season Pass – If you’ll be spending more than one day at Dollywood or if you plan on going back at least one more time during the year, then get a season pass…it’s cheaper, plus it comes with extra benefits…like free parking if you don’t like the trolley.
Get Dollywood’s Latest Info – Dollywood provides downloads of the latest schedules, maps, guides, etc on their website – Dollywood.com.
Dollywood Coupons: One of the biggest questions we get asked is where to find coupons for Dollywood. Unfortunately, Dollywood doesn’t broker out discounts to third parties much any more, so if you see discounts from other places then it is probably timeshare bait. McDonald’s and Wendy’s restaurants in Pigeon Forge often have $5 off coupons for Dollywood or Splash Country on their bags. It’s definitely worth a look when you roll into town to stop at either of those restaurants! The official Dollywood website is the main source of Dollywood coupons. There you can find the official list of current special offers and coupons for Dollywood in Pigeon Forge.

The following tips were provided by “Charlie” in the forums in his winning entry into the Inside Pigeon Forge Getaway Giveaway where users submitted their best tips for visiting Pigeon Forge, TN.

Charlie’s Tips for Visiting Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN

Wear a fanny pack/belt bag to hold items such as keys, camera, money, sun screen, sun glasses, lip balm, first aid kit (details later) and whatever else you may need.

If you are taking a digital camera and are parking in a large lot, take a photo of the row/section sign so that you can easily locate you vehicle after a long exhausting day.

Don’t carry bottles of water around all day, they offer free cups of ice water at most all of the restaurants

(probably my best tip!) Take several small zip lock type baggies with you for your camera and any other valuables you need to protect from water. They will take up little room in you pack/bag and will protect your camera should you visit any water type attractions. I have seen so many people looking forlornly at their cameras after a water ride, please protect yours. Whether it is an expensive digital camera or an inexpensive disposable one, nothing is worse than losing cherished vacation photos to water.

Get to the park early and head straight for the back. It will be a lot less crowded and you will be working your way back toward your end destination. The front of the park always fills up first.

To save money on eating if you have a large group, pack a picnic lunch. You can have your hand stamped at the gate, go find a nice, quiet, relaxing spot in the forest and eat your lunch, then return to the park.

As I’m sure many others have mentioned, if you can, take advantage of Dollywoods’ After 3 PM, Next Day Free option.

We also have information on ways to visit Pigeon Forge on a budget, so be sure to check that out as well!

The Miracle Theater

The Pigeon Forge Insider reviews The Miracle Theater and shares tips, discounts, coupons, and more! Find out exactly what this amazing Christian show in Pigeon Forge Tennessee is all about!

*Now the Smoky Mountain Opry

Information below is historical, as The Miracle Theater is now the Smoky Mountain Opry.

Description of The Miracle Theater

The Miracle in Pigeon Forge, TN is an awe inspiring epic musical production about the life of Christ featuring a huge cast of actors, singers, and dancers, along with live animals. Angels take flight to proclaim the birth of Jesus. Majestic kings in regal attire ride camels through the crowd. Roman Centurions on horseback maintain order. The sights, sounds, celebrations, and drama of 2000 years ago are masterfully recreated in remarkable detail. Experience the unforgettable glory of The Miracle!

What the Insider Says

Let me begin by saying that I am a Christian and that my review is from that perspective. I’m always interested in new and engaging ways to share the Gospel with the world and so I was excited to see The Miracle Theater come to life in Pigeon Forge, TN. This town has historically had very few productions with Christian stories, so The Miracle was a breath of fresh air from the rest of the entertainment in town.

When you first pull in to the parking lot, you’ll notice Roman centurions on horseback, large camels available to ride, shephards tending to lambs, and other characters fully costumed to make this an incredibly unique experience. It’s so entertaining just to watch childrens’ eyes light up when they see these people. It really is an amazing experience that families won’t forget.

The theater is formerly the Louise Mandrell Theater and it has been completely renovated from the lobby all the way back to the back of the building where an “arena” has been built to walk the live animals that are used in the show.

The Miracle Theater As far as the show goes, I don’t want to give too much away, but it centers around the life of Christ and the Miracles He performed throughout His life. The Miracle is a two and a half hour production (which includes a 15 minute intermission) that covers Creation (Genesis) and jumps straight into the Birth of Christ and then weaves a completely engaging journey through the New Testament. The Miracle is a Broadway-style production with original songs & music (there are only a couple of songs you will recognize), an enormous cast, special effects (flying angels, smoke, fire, rain, and more!), live animals, and so much more. Much like The Passion of the Christ (the movie), The Miracle is a profitable production rather than a mission. It has the same bottom-line as any other theater or show in town, but it delivers a message that is so much more powerful and beneficial.

The Miracle Theater One of the things I noticed while watching The Miracle is that children and adults alike were asking questions to people around them as to what character was speaking, what was going on, and why things were happening the way they were. It became an opportunity to witness to numerous people and gave them many topics to discuss after they left the theater. There’s no doubt in my mind that at least one life is positively changed after each show. It truly is an amazing experience.

The biggest question that people have seems to be the price of admission. An adult ticket is $34.95, which leads many people accustomed to Pigeon Forge shows thinking that it includes dinner! The Miracle is honestly unlike any other production in town. It features so much more for your money and is on such a larger scale than arguably any other show in the area. Also, children under 12 are free! For a great idea on how to save money, read the tips below.

Insider Tips

Eat before you go! There are shows at 2pm and 8pm, which is just after lunch or after dinner. Alabama Grill is next door, so you can eat there and just walk straight over!
Sit as close to the center of the stage as possible. Also, sit at least 5 rows back…it’s easier to see everything going on than if you’re in the front row catching sweat off the performers!

Prices:

(For updated, official prices visit the Miracle Theater website)
Adults – $38.95
Children under 12 – Free (1 per paying adult)

Bandmaster’s Violin On Display at Titanic Museum

The violin on which Titanic bandmaster Wallace Hartley reportedly played “Nearer, My God to Thee” as the ocean liner sank April 15, 1912, is currently on exhibit at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge.

The violin will be on display from May 22-July 27, then it will be taken to the Titanic sister museum in Branson, Mo., for show Aug. 1-15.

On Oct. 19 the British auction house Henry Aldridge and Son will put the instrument, which was discovered seven years ago in an English attic, on the auction block. It’s expected to fetch a six-figure price from the winning bidder.

Hartley was one of the 1,517 people who died when the Titanic sank. Survivors recalled him leading musicians in performing on the ship deck as passengers boarded lifeboats in the North Atlantic.

Hartley’s body was found 10 days after the ship sank. The violin was not listed in an inventory of belongings found with the musician. But three newspaper accounts reported his body was found with his violin’s case strapped to his chest.

Aldridge and Son spent seven years having experts examine the instrument and working to trace its history. Their research shows the violin was mailed in July 1912 to Hartley’s fiancé Maria Robinson. While some people interested in the Titanic have disputed that the violin could have survived the watery tragedy, other experts vouch for its authenticity. Among the pieces studied on the violin is a silver plate engraved with the words “For Wallace on the occasion of our engagement from Maria.” Robinson gave Hartley a violin in 1910.

When Robinson died in 1939 her sister gave the violin to the Salvation Army to use. The organization’s commander then gave the violin to a musician who deemed it virtually unplayable. That teacher gave the violin to a student in the early 1940s. The descendant of that student is the instrument’s current owner. He discovered the violin in his mother’s attic in 2006.

A portion from ticket sales while the violin is shown at Pigeon Forge and Branson goes to Strings Crossings. Belmont University’s School of Music hosts the summer camp for eighth- through 12-grade violin, viola, cello and bass students.

Shaped like the doomed ocean liner’s forward half, the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge opened in 2010. Its interior includes re-created sections of the ship and hundreds of artifacts.

Dollywood’s River Battle

In 2008, Dollywood opened one of the most inventive rides that they have ever put in their park. It is a water ride, but it is so much more. Part water gun fight, part water ride and fully interactive. The riders are not the only ones involved in the ride, the people that are watching the folks on River Battle get a chance to get in on the action as well.

The first thing you are going to notice about River Battle is the fact that it is beautifully made. It is designed with the younger visitors to the theme park in mind and Dollywood has spared no expense in making it look wonderful. The ride is decorated with plenty of Smoky Mountain critters and madness. Frogs, raccoons bees, flowers, parts to old cars, signs and everything else come alive in the lagoon that is the course for River Battle. When you step into the boat and find a seat you will notice that you have a water gun with a spinning handle on it in front of you. The faster you spin the handle, the more water that shoots out of the gun. As the ride gets going you will be able to shoot targets and the decorations and the people walking along the path outside of the River Battle.

And, the people that you are shooting at will have the opportunity to shoot back at you! Yup, the people that are watching the ride can walk to one of the water shooters on the rail along the ride and hose down the people that are on the ride. And you can shoot back at them. In fact, if you want to stay dry around River Battle, you need to give the ride a wide berth, walking in the dry areas around the ride itself. If you stray into the wet parts of the lane around the ride, you will get wet. This pitched battle between the people on the ride, the people on other boats in the ride and the folks walking around the ride is what makes this one of the most fun sections of Dollywood.

River Battle is one of the rides in the park that doesn’t have seat belts, it doesn’t have high speed drops and spins, it is a simple ride with lots of fun and lots of water powered high-jinx. And, after you come off the ride they have family sized dryers where you can get dried off before your next adventure, or… go find another water ride, like Daredevil Falls or River Rampage and see just how wet you can get at Dollywood in one day.

Dollywood’s Daredevil Falls

I love a good log flume and Daredevil Falls at Dollywood is one of those must ride, rides each and every time I visit the park. From the speed of the line, to the 60 foot plunge at the end of the ride, this is one of those thrill rides that combines speed with water and makes the whole experience awesome. Add to this the fact that they take a souvenir photo of you halfway down the final plunge and you can also pick up something to remember not only the day by but also that particular ride.

The log flume and log flume style rides have been around for a long time. In 1998, Dollywood added its own large capacity, long drop log flume to its line u of thrill rides. As a themed ride it is beautifully done. You are walking through a lumber camp in the Smokies – easy to imagine, seeing as you are in the Smokies already. You get into the flume log, which looks like a log itself and you start your float around to the lift. From the bear in the tent to the flapping of the bats wings in the cave, this leisurely float around the ride is great. You then start the ride up the lift to the top of the ride and the waiting plunge. At the top of the ride you are in the recreation of the lumber mill itself, complete with a saw that looks like it might saw the log you are in, in half. You continue around the top of the ride until you get to the plunge. You fall 60 feet down at 60 miles per hour, with your heart in your throat. Even the most seasoned thrill seeker will feel their heart race after this plunge.

And of course, on the way down you get your picture taken. This picture is of the whole car, so if you planned it right and you have your whole party in the boat with you, you get a souvenir of all of your expressions as you were in mid-fall, at 60 miles an hour. This is a great way to commemorate the day.

Remember how I mentioned the speed of the line you wait in? It is one of the quickest ride sin the park. The logs never stop. You simply step onto the platform and then into the moving log itself. This constant motion keeps the line moving. Even from the very back of the line, there is a constant flow of traffic on and off the ride. You never feel like you have to wait very long, plus the queue itself is under cover so you are not left baking in the sun either.

Make sure that you leave time in your schedule for the Daredevil Falls the next time you go to Dollywood. It is an awesome ride, with a great theme and a thrilling drop at the end. Plus, if it is a hot day outside you get drenched at the end of the plunge. So, take the plunge, get the photo and get ready for a

Southern Gospel Museum

Pigeon Forge is not only known for its major attractions like Dollywood theme park and a number of renowned dinner shows that now align the parkway, it’s also a town that welcomes in a number of gospel enthusiasts each year with a handful of conferences and events. So it’s only right that Pigeon Forge is also home to the Southern Gospel Museum.

The museum gets more than its share of foot traffic during the year with more than 1 million coming through the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame & Museum’s doors to observe the information and displays about the legends of gospel, gospel song writers and gospel musicians. The museum offers more gospel music memorabilia than you can shake a stick at and is located at one of the most traveled to parts of town – Dollywood, the state’s most visited theme park.

Learn about such legendary Southern gospel performers as the Vaughan Radio Quartet, the Stamps All-Star Quartet, the Speer Family, the LeFeveres, the Blackwood Brothers, the Chuck Wagon Gang, the Rangers, the Sunshine Boys, the Happy Goodmans, the Statesmen, the Harmoneers, the Florida Boys, the Oak Ridge Quartet, the Weatherfords, the Rebels, the Gaither Vocal Band, the Martins, the Isaacs, the McKameys and many others. In fact, more than 350 artifacts are on display at the Southern Gospel Hall of Fame, representing more than 100 groups and individuals.

Stop by the gift shop at the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame and check out one of the largest selections of gospel music in the United States. For more information about the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame & Museum, visit www.sgma.org.

Dollywood’s Mountain Slidewinder

Dollywood is full of water rides and during the summer you will find that they are a respite from the heat of the day and loads of fun. The Mountain Slidewinder is one of those water rides. Based out of the Owens Farm section of the park, you climb the actual hillside itself to get to the Slidewinder and then you and a set of friends enjoy the fast, exhilarating ride down the mountain.

Owens Farm is the section of Dollywood is where the new Barnstormer ride is located. Once you are in this section, look over behind the Pig Pen play area and you will see signs directing you to the entrance for the Mountain Slidewinder. You will start your journey to the top of the slide from there but you can also watch the other people come down from the same spot. The last of the ride is right in front of you, a huge ride down on a raft with a splash down at the bottom before the riders walk up one way and the rafts go up the other way. Continue walking up the small mountain path, following the signs and maybe stopping to rest on the way up, it is a bit of a hike.

When you get to the top, prepare to get in line and wait for a few minutes. The loading of this ride takes a little longer then some of the others in the park but it is worth the wait. They will line you up and determine by the weight of the group of people who goes in what line and on which sled. After you have been divided up, they help you get onto the sleds and then you begin your descent. The speed you pick up on this ride is amazing. After the long walk up the mountain, you will be surprised at how quickly you wind your way back down. Twisting and turning, gravity causing you to pick up speed as you fly down the waterslide. As you go you will feel like you are going to fly off the slide, but trust me, that is why they weighed you, to make sure that you r group was the perfect size to give you speed and safety on your way down.

This is one of those hidden treasures in Dollywood. People walk right past this ride all the time without realizing it is there. Take the time to make the climb. Enjoy the sense of exhilaration on your way back down. Take your friends up and down the Mountain Slidewinder as any times as you can.

Dollywood’s River Rush Almost Complete!

River Rush, the new $6 million water coaster slated to open in May at Dollywood’s Splash Country, is nearing the completion stages despite quite a burst of winter weather the past few months.

Officials said recently that it’s 95 percent complete and a Mother’s Day weekend grand opening is right on target. RiverRush will be the state’s first water coaster and will be visible from Veterans Boulevard at the western end of the park

If you’re familiar with Dollywood, and especially Dollywood’s Splash Country, River Rush will lay on over an acre of land in a newly-developed area between Splash Country’s Big Bear Plunge and Bear Mountain Fire Tower.

When it opens, RiverRush will transport riders up a conveyor belt before being propelled up hills and around curves. In all, it’s a four-story ride where riders climb 237 feet before making a 25-foot, 45-degree drop through tunnels, rapids and three more drops. It’s one minute and 20 seconds of thrilling splashes and drops.

Construction on River Rush officially started in August and was initially estimated to run to $5 million before a few unforeseen rocks got in the way causing project costs to increase.

In other park news, details of Dollywood’s 2014 expansion are expected to be announced this summer. It will be located on the site of Adventure Mountain, which closed at the end of last season. The project has been billed as as “a significant family attraction” in scope between the park’s $17.5 million Mystery Mine steel coaster and $20 million Wild Eagle, the first wing coaster in the U.S.

With Splash Country’s new water attraction and Dollywood’s Wild Eagle addition last year, Splash Country hopes to increase its attendance by about 10 percent to more than 400,000 visitors, according to park officials.

The water park will open a couple of weeks early this year to have Dolly Parton, who will be in town to kick off Pigeon Forge Springfest, present at its launch.

Dollywood opens to the public on March 22, 2013. Splash Country opens May 11, with a special opening on May 10 for season pass holders.

Dollywood Express

Hop Aboard the Dollywood Express!

With the popularity of Thomas the Tank engine, it is no wonder that kids from across the country are thrilled when they find out that there is an actual steam locomotive at Dollywood. And what’s more… you can ride it up around the park for one of the best rides in the park and one of the best ways to take in the park as a whole. And it Christmas they take this ride to a whole new level by adding lights and the sounds of the Holiday Season to the ride.

The Dollywood Express, the engine and the track came from theme park owner Grover Robbins. Robbins had built a theme park n Blowing Rock, NC called Tweetsie Railroad. After acquiring a new engine for his theme park in Blowing Rock, he placed a second one in Pigeon Forge at a new park called Rebel Railroad. This train, and Rebel Railroad opened in 1961. That train that started on the tracks in the 60s is still in operation today. It is a USATC S118 Class 2-8-2 and came from the White Pass. Engine #192 from this deal – otherwise known as Klondike Katie – is still in operation today at Dollywood. Along with this engine, they also have engine #70, known as Cinderella that runs on the Dollywood Express track throughout the year.

The train ride is hugely popular. There is just something to be said for sitting in the passenger cars being pulled behind a steam locomotive that makes the ride up the mountain even more enjoyable. People line up more than a half hour before the ride leaves the station to make sure that they get a good seat on the train. After you board, the station master will give you some brief instructions and then you will start your trip up the mountain. You ride through the theme park itself for most of the ride. Yo get to wave at the crowds as you journey up into the mountains. On your trip you will get to see the backside of Dollywood, dioramas of mountain life including a replica farm and of course, you get one of the best views of Dollywood ever – from the moving grandeur of a more then 75 year old steam train.

Make the Dollywood Express part of your Dollywood experience. Make sure that you get there early. Make sure you get a good seat. Buy some refreshments for the journey. Watch in delight, the children sitting around you. Marvel at the way their eyes grow as they listen to the steam whistle out of the train and the music that the train makes on the tracks as it journeys through the mountains.

Musick’s Mountain Theater

If you’re coming to Pigeon Forge to be entertained, there is no shortage of great venues to choose from whether you’re wanting to see a show, a musical, a dinner show, or whatever may be appearing at that time. One place you may want to circle on your visit list is Musick’s Mountain Theater in Pigeon Forge, especially if bluegrass is your thing.

Musick’s Mountain Theater puts on a great show featuring bluegrass, gospel, and old time mountain music performances from some of the area’s most talented musicians. The theater just opened it doors in November with a grand opening performance by bluegrass legend Dr. Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys. Throughout the rest of December, Nathan Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys performed as the host band at Musick’s to rave reviews.

Expect much of the same for 2013. The theater is scheduled to close for the months of January and February before opening back up in March. The theater will be doing some major marketing for the house show and will open back on March 1 with a show called The Bluegrass Express featuring the band Mountain Glory. There will be special guests scheduled every night. The list of Artist that will be performing at this theater is very impressive. Check out their web site at www.musicksmountaintheater.com for the most up to date schedule.

Musick’s Mountain Theater
140 Showplace Blvd.
Pigeon Forge, TN 37876