Disney world has been my dream vacation for a long time.
Ever since I was a kid, I loved going to Florida and spending time in the parks, jumping on some of my favorite rides like ‘Soarin’ and ‘Pirates of the Caribbean.”
Last summer I decided to change course. I’ve heard great things about it Dollywood in Tennesseebut I wasn’t sure if it would be worth the trip.
After talking to a few friends, we decided to take the plunge and book the trip. I was pleasantly surprised and learned a lot about it Dolly Parton himself.
A year later, I still dream about my day in the park, and now that Dolly has passed away, I’m eager to return to the place where the musical legend is celebrated.
I’ve been a fan of her music for a long time, so I was excited when the grand entrance welcomed me to the Dolly verse.
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The buildings at the front of the park housed theaters, shops and restaurants. It was my first indication that Dollywood was about to take me into the world of the icon.
I was impressed by the cheap ticket prices.
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Before I even arrived in Tennessee, I realized the biggest difference between Dollywood and Disney: the price.
I’m used to spending $150 or more for a ticket to Disney World.
For this trip, I paid just $99 for admission to two parks: Dollywood and Splash land. It was definitely worth it.
My first stop in the park was the Dolly Experience: Songteller, a museum about the singer’s life.
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Walking through a museum while at an amusement park was a new experience, but it set the tone for the rest of the day.
This wasn’t a theme park set around an IP of movies and TV shows. It was a place to celebrate The life of Dolly Parton.
I remember this museum the most a year later because it taught me how influential the singer really was.
Exploring an amusement park dedicated to a single celebrity was unique and fun.
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Dollywood is focused on Dolly Parton: her childhood, her music and her other achievements. This gave the park a cohesive and fully immersive feel.
From the moment you enter the park, you’ll explore different parts of Dolly’s life. I entered replicas of her childhood home and school building. The entire park is a celebration of her birthplace: the Smoky mountain region.
I wasn’t expecting much from the attractions at Dollywood, but there was plenty to do.
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Like someone who hates roller coastersI always hesitated when I saw the list of attractions at Dollywood. There were a lot of roller coasters and I am definitely not a thrill seeker.
Even though I only went on a few rides, they were comparable to some of my favorites at other theme parks. Plus, there were enough shows to keep me busy all day.
Dollywood’s cinnamon bread changed me.
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Disney’s frozen treat, Dole whipis iconic, and I certainly missed it when I was in Tennessee, but Dollywood arguably had something better: cinnamon bread.
Throughout the park you can smell the warm scent of cinnamon all day long.
When I finally got my hands on a loaf of bread, I immediately melted. The fluffy dough was the perfect middle of the day treat.
Dollywood wasn’t as busy as I expected.
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Fortunately, Dollywood wasn’t impossible to maneuver. Even though it was July, the park wasn’t full, so I felt more relaxed. It was easy to move. Lines for rides were also manageable; none of them exceeded 45 minutes.
That meant I could immerse myself in all aspects of the park and learn more about the musician.
Pigeon Forge also had so much to offer.
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Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is a tourist town and I loved visiting. It’s filled with every activity you can imagine: mini golf, go-karting, dinner shows, shopping, carnivals and world-class restaurants.
I stayed on Margaritaville Island in Pigeon Forge and loved being close to the shops and restaurants. The view of the Ferris wheel from the hotel pool was also great.
My first visit to Dollywood far exceeded my expectations.
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I didn’t know what to expect when I first booked my trip to Dollywood, but I was pleasantly surprised at every turn.
Dollywood was a great vacation destination because of its attractions, immersive theme, and food.
It’s also the perfect place to celebrate the life of Dolly Parton – something I’m hopeful to do again in the future.
