Dollywood officials have created a new campaign designed to recognize the hard work and commitment of essential workers.
In celebration of the many frontline workers, first responders, public employees and military who faithfully serve our country and communities, Dollywood’s Everyday Heroes Appreciation Days provides qualifying guests the opportunity to buy a one-day Dollywood admission ticket online for just $39 plus tax for a limited time.
The online-only offer can be purchased now for a limited time and is valid for use now-Sept. 21. Frontline employees need a special redemption code—available from their employer—to complete the transaction. Eligible employees interested in the program should encourage their employers to fill out an online form (Dollywood.com/EssentialSignUp) to request a redemption code for their company.
Everyday Heroes may purchase up to six $39 one-day admission tickets to Dollywood Theme Park as part of the program. Additionally, they can receive rates as low as $129 per night at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa.
Dollywood officials also are extending another popular offer that asks the age-old question, “Why do kids get to have all the fun?” Thanks to the Everyone Pays Kids Price promotion, anyone who purchases a regular one-day admission online beginning now can do so at the kids’ ticket price. This ticket also is valid through Sept. 21.
To add to the value of the Everyone Pays Kids Price promotion, each ticket purchased as part of the offer includes a Dollywood refillable drink mug. The mug is valid for unlimited $.99 cold refills through Jan. 2, 2021. It is a great value for everyone looking to squeeze a little more fun out of the summer months. Who says you can’t be a kid again?
Dollywood officials also recently made operational adjustments to the park’s current visit protocol by removing the reservation requirement for guests. The move is in response to favorable feedback from guests, and the confidence of the park’s management team in being able to continue providing a satisfying experience for guests.
There are still plenty of great memories to be made during Dollywood’s 35th anniversary season. Dollywood’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana (Sept. 25-Oct. 31) features Great Pumpkin LumiNights presented by Covenant Health, while the season concludes with the 12-time winner for Best Theme Park Christmas Event, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana, Nov. 14, 2020-Jan. 2, 2021.
For more information about Dollywood’s 2020 season, please visit Dollywood.com or call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD.
As Dollywood has continued to earn strong guest satisfaction scores and stellar guest reviews based on the quality experience visitors enjoy while at the park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, Tripadvisor recently included it in the top-10 of its “Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards” for worldwide theme parks.
The park, located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, ranked number eight in the Travelers’ Choice Top 25 Amusement Parks in the world list and placed number six on the Travelers’ Choice Top 25 United States Amusement Parks. The 160-acre destination scored highly with Tripadvisor users, with many reviews recognizing the friendliness of employees, unique and thrilling rides and attractions, high-caliber entertainment, and Southern-focused cuisine. Dollywood also is “traveler ranked” as the number one thing to do while in Pigeon Forge. According to Tripadvisor, traveler ranking illustrates the “highest rated places of interest or tour operators based on traveler reviews.”
“We are working every day to ensure each member of the family has a world-class experience where they can spend time together making memories they’ll cherish forever,” said Craig Ross, The Dollywood Company President. “Feedback from our guests is critical to maintaining the environment we want to provide. This ranking from Tripadvisor reviewers is a testament to the extensive efforts we make to ensure the quality of the product we offer our guests."
“To be included in the top-10 with the most iconic parks in the industry illustrates our strong commitment to delivering the absolute best guest experience. On behalf of Dolly and all of our hosts, we are thankful to be named in the company of these amazing parks. This truly is a great honor.” --Craig Ross, The Dollywood Company President.
According to the Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best website, “Every year, we pull together all the reviews, ratings, and saves that travelers share from across the globe—and use that info to spotlight the very best. The Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best awards celebrate them all.”
On the list for top worldwide parks, Dollywood is the first American park on the list that is not part of the Disney or Universal families. American parks hold 12 of the 25 spots on the worldwide list.
Additionally, Travel & Leisure recently included Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort & Spa on its “World’s Best Awards” survey as one of the “Top-15 Resort Hotels in the South.” According to Travel & Leisure, “Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T&L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe…Hotels were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value.”
Dollywood officials recently made operational adjustments to the park’s current visit protocol by removing the reservation requirement for guests. The move is in response to favorable feedback from guests, and the confidence of the park’s management team in being able to continue providing a satisfying experience for guests.
There are still plenty of great memories to be made during Dollywood’s 35th anniversary season. Dollywood’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana takes place Sept. 25-Oct. 31 and features the winner of USA Today’s 10Best Best Theme Park Halloween event in 2019, Great Pumpkin LumiNights presented by Covenant Health. Dollywood’s season concludes with the 12-time Golden Ticket winner for Best Theme Park Christmas Event, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana, Nov. 14, 2020-Jan. 2, 2021.
For more information about Dollywood’s 2020 season, please visit Dollywood.com or call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD.
Dollywood’s Flower & Food Festival presented by Covenant Health—originally scheduled for mid-spring—offers a brilliant kaleidoscope of vibrant colors that has awed park guests, according to the overwhelmingly-positive feedback the event has received since it opened on June 15.
Keeping the blooms bright and beautiful in the heat of an East Tennessee summer would be a challenge for most do-it-yourselfers, but Dollywood’s award-winning landscape team has worked diligently to keep more than 500,000 flowers in phenomenal condition. In fact, the team feels they are able to maintain the flowers’ visual integrity through the majority of the peak summer travel season. With this in mind, the inaugural event will run through Aug. 2, giving visitors a little more than two weeks to enjoy the fabulous festival.
“The Flower & Food Festival was originally planned to take place in the spring when the weather was much more favorable to the various types of plants used in our installations,”said Eugene Naughton, Vice President of Dollywood Parks Operations.
“It is an exciting new event we couldn’t wait to showcase, but the pandemic changed our plans. We still wanted to provide this immersive experience for our guests, so we had to move the festival into the heat of summer. Our teams have really stepped up to the challenge and given visitors an amazing festival to enjoy."
"I can’t tell you how many folks I’ve seen taking selfies in front of these beautiful Mosaicultures displays and the colorful Umbrella Sky. The event has been well received, and we’re proud that we’ve been able to make it work during June and July. But there’s only a few weeks left, so if you haven’t seen it yet, now is the time to visit!”
Park officials also have announced a limited-time, online-only season pass promotion that provides unprecedented value for visitors. From now through July 19, guests are able to purchase a two-park super pass online for the price of a Dollywood season pass ($139 plus tax), saving $50 per pass purchased. These passes provide guests admission into both Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country through June 15, 2021.
Dollywood officials also recently made operational adjustments to the park’s current visit protocol by removing the reservation requirement for guests. The move is in response to favorable feedback from guests, and the confidence of the park’s management team in being able to continue providing a satisfying experience for guests.
There are still plenty of great memories to be made during Dollywood’s 35th anniversary season. Dollywood’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana (Sept. 25-Oct. 31) features Great Pumpkin LumiNights presented by Covenant Health and the Southern Gospel Jubilee. Dollywood’s season concludes with the 12-time winner for Best Theme Park Christmas Event, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana, Nov. 14, 2020-Jan. 2, 2021.
For more information about Dollywood’s 2020 season, please visit Dollywood.com or call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD.
Dollywood’s inaugural Flower & Food Festival presented by Covenant Health blooms to life with a vibrant new event that adds another touch of dazzling color to the natural beauty that already surrounds the award-winning theme park.
Originally scheduled for mid-spring, the breathtaking festival now begins when Dollywood reopens to season passholders on June 15. During this spectacular event, guests can explore larger-than-life plant sculptures adorned in half-a-million colorful flower blooms. These colossal displays reach heights up to 14 feet and create breathtaking displays celebrating the spirit of the Smoky Mountains. Floral carpet beds envelope walkways, embellish buildings and fill flowerbeds throughout the park.
Throughout the festival, the park stays open until 9:30 p.m. every night to allow families more time to make memories together. Additionally, each evening concludes with a fireworks show to put an exclamation point on the day.
“I know everyone is tired after being cooped up inside for the last few months, but I think all of us probably appreciate our family and friends even more right now,” Dolly Parton said. “I’m glad we’re able to start welcoming folks back to Dollywood with a brand new festival to help them make fresh memories together. Things may look a little different, but when they see all those beautiful flowers in bloom, I think it will help them take a bit of a break from everything that’s been going on.
“When we had the idea for this festival, I definitely gave them some input because you know how much I love flowers,” she added with a laugh, “but I was just delighted when my creative team told me their idea for the biggest flower display would be my mama sewing the Coat of Many Colors. I was so surprised, and I know she would be so proud they represented her in this way.”
Dollywood’s Flower & Food Festival brings Dolly’s dreams to life with floral displays blooming in a kaleidoscope of colors. In partnership with internationally-acclaimed Mosaicultures flower sculpting team, a multitude of flowers come to life throughout Dollywood as Smoky Mountain turtles, raccoons, frogs and black bears. Dolly’s rich influence through song comes alive thanks to tributes of “I Will Always Love You” with a floral heart umbrella, as well as “Coat of Many Colors” with the marvelous scenic sculpture of her mother Avie Lee sewing the priceless garment.
The festival takes its blooms and brilliance throughout Dollywood, starting with photo opportunities as soon as guests step foot through the turnstiles. Once in the park, guests quickly find themselves under an Umbrella Sky, an awe-inspiring sight which features more than 600 umbrellas dancing above their heads.
Special “Instagram-able” photo locations allow families to capture special memories that will live on long after the festival flowers bloom.
The colorful splendor created by an artful array of flowers and plants is accented by delicious dishes of mouth-watering festival flavors. Dollywood’s team of culinary experts dug deep into the traditions of Southern and Smoky Mountain cuisine to create garden-fresh items sure to delight.
Items on the menu include grilled citrus shrimp over delta peas and rice, gyros, Greek orzo pasta, grilled chili lime skirt steak, chicken stir fry, zucchini fritters, lobster rolls, charcuterie in a cone, and pork sliders with pineapple chutney.
Dessert highlights include chocolate-dipped macaroons, toasted coconut cupcakes, blueberry tarts, and chocolate ganache brownies. Guests looking for a way to cool off have a number of refreshing beverages to enjoy during the festival. The selection includes strawberry guava, blueberry lavender lemonade, blood orange lemonade, and watermelon lime fresca.
After much careful preparation, Dollywood Theme Park and Dollywood’s Splash Country Water Park open June 15 and 16 for season pass guests only. Both parks open to the general public on June 17.
Social distancing guidelines will limit the capacity of the parks on a daily basis. As a result, season passholders will be required to reserve the date and time they wish to visit, and general admission guests will purchase a date-based ticket to ensure all have a safer, socially-distanced experience. Reservations can be made at Dollywood.com/reservations and on the Dollywood mobile app where a how-to video will demonstrate the process. Guests should book their reservations early to ensure the date of their choice.
Additional information and a video detailing the safety and operational changes at the park are available for review at Dollywood.com/playsafe and on the mobile app.
After much careful preparation, Dollywood Parks and Resorts start reopening beginning with Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa on June 10. Dollywood Theme Park and Dollywood’s Splash Country Water Park open June 15 and 16 for season pass guests only. Both parks open to the general public on June 17.
“We are excited to get open and to welcome families back to the Great Smoky Mountains. Brighter Days are here!” Dolly Parton said. “We have been blessed to work with some incredible experts at Covenant Health and with the State of Tennessee as we have navigated this extraordinary situation. Their advice and teamwork have provided untold help to make sure we are doing the right thing.”
All operations will adhere to the Tennessee Pledge and state operational restrictions.
“As Dolly said, we are now ready to reopen and get back to the business of ‘Making Memories Worth Repeating’ for our loyal and passionate guests to both our parks and resort,” Craig Ross, Dollywood President said. “The team has faced this challenge head on and they have made numerous operational changes we believe will help with the safety of our guests and hosts as we continue to deal with the coronavirus. Safety is—and always will be—one of our highest priorities.”
Social distancing guidelines will limit the capacity of the parks on a daily basis. As a result, season passholders will be required to reserve the date and time they wish to visit and general admission guests will purchase a date-based ticket to ensure all have a safer, socially-distanced experience. Reservations can be made at Dollywood.com/reservations and on the Dollywood mobile app where a how-to video will demonstrate the process.
Additionally, prior to entering the facilities, hosts and visitors must have a touchless temperature screening and wear a mask. Children under three are not required to wear a mask at any time. Guests will not be required to wear a mask while eating. Masks are not required on all waterpark attractions at Dollywood’s Splash Country or on select coasters and water attractions at Dollywood due to the dynamics of the attractions. Additional information about masks and a video detailing the safety and operational changes at the park are available for review at Dollywood.com/playsafe and on the mobile app.
Dollywood will continue monitoring any changes in the CDC or state guidelines as operations begin and will make the appropriate adjustments to the guest experience.
