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The park options

One of the problems with a family theme park visit is finding entertainment for everyone. Kids want to get on rides and have fun. Older theme park tourists want to sit down as often as possible since the walking is brutal. It’s an issue even at the smallest parks in the world. At larger ones, the constant movement is a grueling way to spend a vacation day.

Walking at Dollywood isn’t as trying as, say, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, but the Tennessee park’s 150 acres are 65 more than Disneyland. And here’s the crucial difference. Dollywood’s on the side of a mountain. Its executives are aware of this fact. They also know that grandparents love taking their grandchildren to theme parks. That’s why Dollywood has so many shows and other interactive exhibits that give older people an excuse to get off their feet for a while. Dollywood has so many entertainment options that the year before my octogenarian father died, he spent a full July day at Dollywood. And he was so proud of himself afterward. We met for dinner that evening, and he relayed all the things he was able to do to pass the time while the grandkids rode everything.

At Dollywood, you can enjoy 27 different rides, eight of which are roller coasters. Alternately, you can spend the day watching the shows. These are so collectively great that the Golden Ticket Awards has also named Dollywood the best park in the world for shows. It has wet rides to cool you off on those scalding summer days, and it has rides like the Barnstormer that will sweep you into the air and show you the Smoky Mountains in a way that no one ever should see unless you’re a professional pilot.

All theme park tourists understand that a day at the park is a prolonged negotiation. Everyone has to compromise about what they want to do. At Dollywood, these discussions are quick because all park guests can find something entertaining to do.

The water park

A suggestion I’d offer for Dollywood is that you should purchase a season pass. In most instances, it’s the same price as two days of standalone admission. You can also upsize this package to include access to Splash Country, the beloved water park adjoining Dollywood.

Open seasonally during the warm Tennessee summers, Splash Country offers 27 different water slides, a ridiculous total. I would describe 15 of their options as true water park rides. Ten of them have height requirements, and most are multi-person.

The best of the bunch is River Run, a four-person toboggan ride that won Best New Water Ride at the 2014 Golden Ticket Awards. River Run’s a water roller coaster that sweeps you uphill through the Tennessee mountains before plunging you four stories downward into a face full of water.

Personally, I’m less about the rides and more about the lazy rivers at water parks. If you’re like me, you’ll love the Downbound Float Trip. It’s a wonderful way to get a tan AND a nap. Splash Mountain is a wonderful option if you plan to visit Dollywood for three days or more.

 
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Comments

I have only recently been aware of Dollywood since finding this site. This article clinches it. I definitely need to visit one of these days. Would it be better to visit in the Summer when the water park is open or in the Winter when it is decorated for Christmas?

I had an opportunity a few years ago to take a road trip that included Dollywood - and what you say is true! Great scenery, well kept, friendly staff that took pride in their work, and a good selection of rides. I wasn't sure going in what to expect, but they've definitely earned my respect!

I just visited Dollywood for the first time last week. It is truly one of the world's best theme park. The atmosphere, employees, and some of the rides are very much Disney-like. In some ways, they even out-Disney Disney! Seriously. FireChaser Express is on par (or arguably better) than any kid's coaster offering that Disney has in its American parks. Mystery Mine would fit in without question in a Disney park. The way the old section of the park is themed is at the level of Disney -- truly amazing. Dollywood is a must visit in every sense.

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