I might be going there for the first time next month and I really know little about the park other than Thunder Head, Tennessee Tornade and the list of flat rides they have from their website.

I'm curious what is good there, would it be crowded at all in April and of any coupons or offers. Basically, I'm looking for any helpful information and tips on the park. Thanks in advance.

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YOUR HATRED AMUSES ME

Some of the main tips I can think of:

-Dollywood can get crowded on Saturdays in April, but lines are never really a problem early in the season as most of the folks are at the park for Festival of Nations. On Spring weekdays the park isn't crowded at all - just a few seniors here and there. The school groups don't start coming until late in the month.

I do suggest you avoid the Pigeon Forge area from 4/20 - 4/23. This is the weekend of the Grand Rod Run car show and it is impossible to get around town during this time due to all the people and traffic.

You might also want to avoid the park on 4/7 and 4/8, that is the weekend Dolly does the opening ceremonies and the park is wall-to-wall packed.

-Occasionally area restaurants (Cracker Barrel and Wendy's) offer some sort of discount coupons, though the park doesn't seem to advertise such deals. Sometimes there are Coke can discounts as well. Military families can get in at 30% off.

-If you enter the park after 3pm, you can come back on the next operating day free.

As for the park itself, keep in mind that Dollywood is a theme park, not a thrill park...like Busch Gardens with an Americana theme. Don't go expecting to be turned upside down 200 times over a parking lot. Go expecting to have a lot of fun in a great atmosphere. Check out some of the unique attractions like the full-size steam train, the craft demonstations, or the shows, and be sure to try some of the park's great food. There are a lot of interesting rides besides Thunderhead and TT- The Mountain Slidewinder, Blazing Fury, Daredevil Falls, The Smoky Mountain Rampage, and the new Timber Tower, along with the Country Fair flats.

Hope you find some of this helpful, have a great visit! Dollywood.com has more tips and info.

Thunderhead and Tenessee Tornado are at opposite ends of the park, so you should probably plan to do them well apart. I suggest while you walk around to take in the one of a kind atmosphere with all the craftsmen working.

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If you like buffet adn chicken eat at Aunt grannies, GOOD FOOD adn only 10 bucks a person! thats about how much ryans cost!

Also I would ride the river raft ride first the line gets long even on slow days! the lines in county fair area get long, not real long but for flatrides sometimes even on slow days they can be not worth the wait, do this early as well!

DONT forget chasing rainbows, after all you figure out why the park is there in the first place, DOLLY! youll learn alot about her!

Dont be shy to ask for directions and help, the workers there are VERY VERY friendly. When I first went I couldnt find Mountain Slidewinder, its kinda hid. So I asked this lady working a kiosk, she shut her kiosk window and walked me to it! WOW!

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Ok first off, Dollywood is awesome!

Ok fanboyishness over.

As far as hotels I love the Fairfield about a mile away from the park (near the Nascar speedpark).

Dollywood has great food, and two buffets as well. Both are very good.

Dollywood is an unusual park. It can be really crowded, but the rides will be 10 minute waits at most.

The thing is a lot of the older crowd goes to the park just for the shows and such and never ride the rides.

You should enjoy the park. Just get ready to hike. It's a very hilly park.

Basically it's 2 sections heading straight up the mountain and then a flat section at the bottom where Country Fair and the 50's section is.

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Intimidator Racing in to Carowinds 3/27/2010!

Oh ya, I forgot about the Aunt Grannie's place. The country food there is amazing, and it is an all you can eat for only $10. The best deal in town is somehow at a themepark.

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GO MAGIC

GREAT PARK!!! IF YOU CAN GO....GO!!!!!! thats all pretty much to say about it dude.

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GO TO DOLLYWOOD.RIDE MYSTERY MINE. #1s:
Steel: Apollo's Chariot
Wood:Thunderhead!!!!!!
OVERALL COASTER: MYSTERY MINE

OH YEAH !

ride Blaxing fury! dont pass it up, its easy to pass up cause it can look like som other type of attraction other than a ride since its indoors! When I first saw it I thought it was a gift shop or somthing! lol IT ROCKS!

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^ That would be "BlaZing Fury".

When are you planning on going to the park?

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Intimidator Racing in to Carowinds 3/27/2010!

Coasterlove- you're in for a treat. Don't go to DW expecting a gazillion rides, because you'd be disappointed. As was said, it's a THEME park, not a thrill park. There's a lot to see and do besides rides.

Also, if you're going to be in the area, there's a LOT more to see and do than just DW. I'm not talking about all of the tourist-trap stuff, either. Dollywood is nestled in what happens to be my favorite piece of God's earth. If you want to see something amazing to us flatlanders, take the main drag South out of Pigeon Forge, go through Gatlinburg (or better yet, take the Gatlinburg bypass) and head over the mountains into North Carolina. Be sure to stop at the Newfound Gap, which is right on the TN-NC state line. Take the 11 mile detour up to Klingman's Dome. (over one mile above sea level) Enjoy the views. I'd also recommend going into Cherokee, NC. There's a lot of neat little Native American shops over there. If you're into leather goods, the Sequoiah Craft shop has some great deals!

If you're into nature, and/or hiking- there are some awesome trails in the park. There's also a fantastic waterfall near Cherokee called Mingo Falls. Ask anyone over in Cherokee- they'll tell you how to get there.

While in the area, pay attention to the people. The people in the area are the friendliest, most hospitable people I have ever met.

And no- I am NOT a member of their chamber of commerce. I am just a very satisfied past (and future) customer!

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I'm saving my nickels to rent Katie's signature

The national park has some great waterfalls too! laurel falls is my fav.

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^ Laurel Falls is beautiful.

http://public.fotki.com/fbama73/fami.../p1040795.html

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Well rather then start a brand new thread I'll just post here. So, I'll be going to Dollywood Anywhere from June 12-14. Are Mondays Tuesdays and Wednesdays usually crowded at that time of year? I'm planning to take advantage of the go in after 3PM next days free thing too. Any other tips about the park or area besisdes whats already been posted would be great too. Thanks in advance for any help!

Generally during the week the park is great.

The thing about Dollywood is that it can appear to be very crowded, but the rides will still have short lines.

The reason is that a lot of older people go to Dollywood for the shows, shopping etc. It's kind of weird to have that many people there and a 10 minute wait for Thunderhead.

Anyway...you should be fine any day during the week. Even on Saturdays a lot of times after the initial rush up to Thunderhead, later in the day you'll have short waits for Thunderhead.

Enjoy the park. It's one of my favorites. And be prepared for hiking. (It's a hilly park).

Oh... for the money check out the buffets in the park. For about $9-$10 you get great food and all you can eat on top of that.

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Intimidator Racing in to Carowinds 3/27/2010!

Thanks for the info.
And I'm not worrying much about the hiking lol. I'm planning to spend another day hiking in the Smokies. I'm almost as excited about that as I am about going to Dollywood, lol. Thanks again

I agree with all of the other post. But my suggestion is NOT to go to Miss Lilians Chicken House. Because there's a woman in her 50's atleast walking around, playing a little banjo, that makes you get up while you eating you nasty chicken and do the chicken dance!!! Thats just not right! I had it done to me once and never ate there again....besides the foods not all that great anyways. But other than that, Dollywood rock! Like i said in my profile, i live like 45 minutes away from DW and go there often. Most of the food rocks. I love the atmosphere in Reds Diner. I love that area of the park, the 50's section, I love it! And if you get a chance to go see some of the shows, i like the new show for this year, Dreamland Drive-In! It takes you on a stole down Memory lane, well for my mom atlease, i just like the songs! I've not seen any of the other shows though. But if you go between the dates of June 16th and August 6th, Be prepared for the park to be preety lame. Thats just what i think of it though, because its the kidsfest....yeah, not that great. But anyways. Everything about dollywood is great! I LOVE the slide winder! Its the best Non-coaster ride in america! Its fun! Well anyways, i just love Dollywood and can't wait to see the future of it! I hope to see possible a resort hotel like back in the Mts. somewhere. Or even a whole other park for thrill rides! I don't, we'll have to wait and see now won't we?!?!?!

I pretty much forced my family to go when we did so we wouldn't have to go during Kid's Fest, lol. Just over a week till I leave for Tennesee, 10 hour drive, yay!

Dollywood is an awesome park. About KidsFest if you have little ones you need to take them to it because they will enjoy it. The KidsFest is the largest children's festival in the South and it's very popular with the younger ones at Dollywood. In 2006 it features Big Cats & Magic Starring the Fercos Brothers, Clifford the Big Red Dog, SpongeBob SquarePants Turbo Action Ride, and much much more click here to go to the KidsFest page on Dollywood's website. As for the rest of the park:

Food: Go to Aunt Granny's buffet great price for the food or Red's Dinner a neat '50s themed dinner (milk shakes are awesome there).

Must Rides: Thunderhead, Tennessee Tornado, Mountain Slidewinder, blazing Fury, and The Smoky Mountain River Rampage.

Shows to see: James Rogers one man show (awesome for any one), Back Where I Come From (if your a fan of country), The Kingdom Heirs (if your a fan of gospel), Gem Tones (for fans of '50s and '60s music) and I have heard Dreamland Drive-In is good but I have not seen it yet it's there new show for 2006.

over all if any one doesn't know if they want to go to Dollywood or not go you'll most likely enjoy it. I hope that is enough information for you.

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Why kids fest is the BEST time to go...

More kids shows mean more kids at shows which mean LESS kids in ride lines!

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Mountain Slidewinder is the best water ride I've ever been on. Daredevil Falls is fun but stilll a typical water boat ride. Dizzy Disk is awseome and also gives a little bit of airtime. Their water rafting ride is a little tame compared to PKI's.Thunderhead and Tennessee Tornadoe are two of the best coasters I've ridden. Timber Tower looks like fun though I can't say because it was closed the days I went.

Coke cans sometimes have a five dollar discount. Also go after 3pm. to get the next day free