General: Tennessee

Dolly?
No, not the sheep, but Dolly Parton, a very talented lady who has completely reinvented a once little unkown are of Tenessee called Pigeon Forge.

Dollywood, which is the main attraction has been attracting visitors since 1986. Dolly Parton has literally pioneered this town all over again, bringing a much needed boost in tourism.

*Dollywood

Ticket Prices:

One day admission:
...$42.40
Child (4-11) $32.35
Senior (60+) $39.00

Season Pass:

If you live in the area as i do (a three hour drive) then a season pass is probably a very good idea. If you purchase the Gold pass then the privileges increase. A full list of these can be found at the dollywood website, but i have listed a few to give you an idea of what to expect:

Unlimited Visits to Dollywood 4/03/04 - 12/30/04. ... more

Dolly?
No, not the sheep, but Dolly Parton, a very talented lady who has completely reinvented a once little unkown are of Tenessee called Pigeon Forge.

Dollywood, which is the main attraction has been attracting visitors since 1986. Dolly Parton has literally pioneered this town all over again, bringing a much needed boost in tourism.

*Dollywood

Ticket Prices:

One day admission:

Regular (12-59) $42.40
Child (4-11) $32.35
Senior (60+) $39.00

Season Pass:

If you live in the area as i do (a three hour drive) then a season pass is probably a very good idea. If you purchase the Gold pass then the privileges increase. A full list of these can be found at the dollywood website, but i have listed a few to give you an idea of what to expect:

Unlimited Visits to Dollywood 4/03/04 - 12/30/04.

Free Parking every operating day at Dollywood 4/03/04 - 12/30/04.

$5.00 Off Regular One Day Admission to Dollywood for Friends 4/03/04 - 12/30/04.

$5.00 Off Regular One Day Admission to Dollywood's Splash Country (Passholder Only) 5/29/04 - 9/19/04.

20% Off Dollywood Meals and Merchandise, also applies to Kennel Services (no minimum required; sale or custom-made items excluded).

FREE Admission (Passholder Only) to Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO 4/01/04 - 12/19/04 (excluding April 3) and Whitewater in Branson, MO 5/22/04 - 9/06/04. Guest, Food and Merchandise Discounts Do Not Apply.

50% Off Stone Mountain Park (Atlanta, GA) Full-Priced One-Day All Attractions Admission (Passholder Only). Valid any operating day in 2004. Excludes Special Events, Parking, Foods, Merchandise and Guest Discounts.

50% Off Celebration City (Branson, MO) Regular One-Day Admission (Passholder Only) 3/17/04 - 9/25/04. Guest, Food and Merchandise discounts do not apply.

$3.00 Off Adult Ticket Only ($1.00 Off Child) Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show through 2004 (Limit 8).

$4.00 Off Biltmore Estates Adult Daytime Admission 1/05/04 - 11/05/04. Valid for up to 4 discounted admissions each visit.

20% Off The Knoxville Zoo One-Day Admission through March 2005 (Passholder Only).

$2.00 Off Adult Ticket ($1.00 Off Child) Chimney Rock Park through 2004.

Dollywood Regular & Child Season Pass Privileges
Unlimited Visits to Dollywood 4/03/04 - 12/30/04.

~~$5.00 Off Regular One Day Admission to Dollywood® for Friends 4/03/04 - 12/30/04. (gold pass)
~~$5.00 Off Regular One Day Admission to Dollywood's Splash Country (Passholder Only) 5/29/04 - 9/19/04. (gold pass)
~~ $1.00 Off Adult & Child Ticket to Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show through 2004 (Limit 8).
~~$4.00 Off Biltmore Estates Adult Daytime Admission 1/05/04 - 11/05/04. Valid for up to 4 discounted admissions each visit.
~~ 20% Off The Knoxville Zoo One-Day Admission through March 2005 (Passholder Only).
~~$2.00 Off Adult Ticket ($1.00 Off Child) Chimney Rock Park through 2004.

Regular (12-59) $60
Child (4-11) $47
Gold Pass $87

Ticket prices for dollywood and her other attractions compare well to other theme parks such as Six Flags in Georgia:

PRICING AT PARK
General Admission $42.99
Kids 48" & Under $25.99
Seniors (55 & Older) $25.99
Children 2 & Under FREE
Prices do not include tax (bear in mind the tax rate in this state will be different to TN)

*Getting There

Uusally, the drive to any themepark is stressful, especially if you have children in the back seat. Driving to Dollywood is different though. If you are heading from North Carolina you will more than likely drive through the Great Smokey Mountains National Park - a protected area where you will see nothing but beautiful views of the Smokey Mountains and not a building in site. The Smokey Mountains, whether part of the park or not, are extremely well kept, with many clean restops along the way. There are also little places you can park along the side of the mountain to get out and take pictures. The traffic is not heavy due mostly to how large the Mountains are -so traffic jams are unlikely until you reach the queue at Dollywood.
Whilst driving through the Smokey Mountains, which everyone will drive through to get to Dollywood you and your children will not only have breathtaking views, but you will also get the chane to spot deers, bears and other wild animals. Dollywood, located in Pigeon Forge is nestled in the Smokey Mountains so even when your at the themepark you have nothing but mountains to admire.

*Parking the Car

Whilst waiting to enter Dollywood you, along with many other motorists wait along a long, winding in places, stretch of road. Lined with trees and wildlife you will not be left to look at tall unappealing buildings. There is the side of the mountain to your right, and a river to your left. So even while you wait to get into the car park, your children while eager to get there, shoudnt pester you too much as there is so much to see - i managed to spot a deer laying by the side of the road, totally calm and no one bothering her.
You wont find the usual honking of horns and 'are we there yet' on this road trip.
The car park is split into three areas A,B, and C. Once the car parks are full (having reached the parks capacity) they will not admit anyone, so be sure to get up early.
Once you park your car, and make a mental note of which one you are in, you will see small white buses passing by. These hold up to 20 people, and when linked together, hold around 50 i believe. Your conducter arrives and welcomes you in a genuinely warm way as you slide onto your seat.
Our conducter was wonderful, and for the two minutes it took us to get from park B to the ticket stands he had us laughing and smiling. They will also relay important information to you as you go along. There is no smoking allowed on the bus and you will be asked to step off if you do.

To park there will cost you $5 to $6. You will have to park here unless you want to walk over several mountains to get to the park (not recommended)

*Tickets

There are plenty of booths available, and you people tend to queue in a lazy relaxed fashion. Once you arrive in the south the tension and cut through attitude you have in your daily lives tends to evaporate. People here are just too laid back to worry, and the feelings infectious!

*Doggywood

Pets are not allowed in the park, unless of course you need a seeing eye dog. This is where doggywood comes in!
Pets can be boarded there only during the parks opening hours. You can board them 30 minutes prior to the park opening and must claim them 30 minutes before the park closes. Pets cannot be boarded overnight though.

Doggywood offers these amenities:
~~12 Kennel Runs (4’ x 6’) $10 per day
~~4 Cottages (approximately 6’ x 6’) $30 per day
(Dogs may share a kennel run or cottage;
a $5 fee will be charged for each additional occupant.)
~~Adequate water supply Free

My dog however -see Neopolitan Mastiff 101 - would probably not be allowed to board there. There is no mention as to which dogs are allowed there, but i would suggest people use common sense when thinking about boarding their rotweiler - i wouldnt expect someone to try and feed/water my mastiff, as it just isnt fair and can be dangerous. Also, i felt that the park would perhaps refuse and imagine they are more used to dealing with shi tzus.

Doggywood requires that:

~~Owners provide an adequate food supply
~~Proof that dog(s) have current rabies vaccinations. Dollywood is not responsible or liable for any dog that has not had proper vaccination shots.
~~Clean up for your dog(s) at the enclosed walk area located at the rear of the kennel.
~~Verification that the pet owner is 18 years of age or older.

Doggywood provides:

~~Pagers are available for $3 per day or you may give your pager or cell phone number to the Doggywood Host.
~~Dollywood Gold Passholder discounts apply.
~~Dollywood and/or Doggywood reserve the right to refuse to board a dog(s) that appears to be ill.
~~Adequate water supply
~~Doggywood can only accommodate dogs.

*In the Park

'Wow' may be all your able to think when you enter. The park itself is beautiful, with no giant steel structures dominating the skyline. These rides are available, but all you see is flowers and the mountains around you.

@@Shops

All the shops at Dollywood have items that are handmade. You can see the smithy, the glass works and the candle shop workers making them in the shop and accross the street. For everything you can buy there, there is a demonstration by some of the best professionals in the world who works at dollywood showing you how to make them. So you can sit down and learn how to make a wrought iron gate or homemade soap.....the list is endless. So ive written a few words about three of the main shops people tend to visit.

@@@Candle Shop

The candle shop sells candles! You can actually take wax candles that you can buy for around $2 which may be an animal shape, inital or heart and dip it into different colored containers. You can dip your candle into as many as you want and have as many or as few colors on your cow or duck as you want. I now have a pink elephant and purple cow. For newlyweds or those romantic couples that visit, they offer a very special candle. You each hold one of your partners hands, usually the one with the wedding band on- and dip it into candle wax. Dont worry its not boiling hot! When you pull your hands out, you have made a mould! The assistant cleans it up while you enjoy the park and you can go pick it up later. This costs around $10.
Some of the candle creations are pieces of artwork and the sundae candles look so real you could eat them.

@@@Glass shop
Everything at Dollywood is beautiful (it was one of her main goals in building the park) but this glass shop is amazing. All items are affordable and you can see them being hand blown accross the street. You buy everything from christmas ornaments, vases, necklaces to fountains all made out of glass!

@@@Smithy
Not only does it have a wonderful smell, and offer you more things to buy, but if your husband, son or friend is interested in handmade tools and big hot bellowing fires then this is the demonstrations for them. The man behind the desk surrounded by huge items he makes beautiful creations out of carefully explains the entire process. You can ask as many questions as you want too.....i left my cousin here for half of the day and he must have asked 50 questions about how to make everything in that shop!

Other shops also include, hand made soap (and this soap really does make your skin soft -never mind dove) you can make and buy. There are country wittles where you see people working with wood to make beautiful pieces of art. The list really is endless.

*Food

Most people will think of themepark food and start packing a picnic that could feed your family for a month, then drag this with them in numerous coolers to the park.

I did this. The park has no problem with you leaving to go back to your car, and with buses as regular as 5 minutes to take you there you dont have a long walk. They give you one of those purple uv stamps on your hand and off you go!

While it does save you money to pack your own lunch, at Dollywood there really isnt any need.

There are a variety of little cafes and stands.
The food ranges from salads, tacos, bugers to cotton candy (candy floss out here). Everything is cooked in front of you in a skillet the size of a small trampoline (and i am serious)

Dolly Parton specifically wanted the food to not only taste good but also not to overcharge. And she achieved it!

The prices arent cheap, they're normal. I couldnt even describe them as reasonable. I bought a taco, half of which i couldnt manage (and im the one who has three servings of food at sunday lunch) and it cost me $5 for the taco and a large pepsi.

The only problem with the food at dollywood is the sheer variety. You'll want to try everything and be completely stuffed after three mouthfulls.

Then there are the cakes!

They have an entire cakes shop, and while Red Vekvet cake is a traditional southern cake, the small cakes in this shop werent particularly great. I went and bought them for under half price as the park was closing -they make everything fresh that day and try to sell it that day.

I would recommend the funnel cake stall. It fed four of us and was delicious -not suitable for the diabetic though. The cake is like popcorn melted together with toffee with icing on top -and then you get to choose what you want on top -everything from strawberries to pecans. Im now hooked on funnel cakes. It cost us about $5 and it was huge - the size of a frisbee.

Then theres the candy shop. They have barrels of taffy in every flavour and make huge candy canes in front of you. New flavours you will get to try out here include peach, watermellon and cinnamon. These are popular flavours out here and you will find them all in the candy store and throughout the park when it comes to food and drink.

*AttractionsThere are too many to list! You really will need to visit the website to get a good idea, but here are a few i managed to get on:

1. Dollywood museum -chronichles dolly parton, very informative and not too boring, especially if your a country music enthusiast. I liked seeing all her dresses and the display where it shows what youd look like wearing some of her numerous wigs.
2. Roller coasters - hearing the screams told me they were good , i didnt need to go on. I did like the coal mine ride though -mostly because it didnt go upside down! If you go in the winter some of the more daring ones will be closed as they will have frozen up at the top
3. Fayre Ground - Dollywood has a fayre ground area with all sorts of rides you would find at the fayre there. i like the twisters and octopus. You can also play those hoop and ball games to win prizes -these are the only games you have to pay for there.
4. Water rides - we went in the winter so they werent open. Too c-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-cold!

*Theres more?

1. We got to see the Christmas Parade....a full scale parade going through the theme park at night
2. Singers - various singers dressed in traditional pioneer costumes stroll through the park singing
3. Train - there is an old fashioned locomotive that takes you on a ride through the smokey mountains. Be sure to watch out for those penguins! This is a great ride for young children and is especially geared toward them
4. Magic shop -various tricks you can perform and the kits are available to buy
5. Lights - everything lights up at night, the tree at the front gate is covered with huge blue lights so at night theres a giant blue tree at Dollywood! Twinkling lights everywhere turn on as it gets dark.

*The Eagles

The Eagles deserve a special mention. Dolly Parton is on a personal crusade to save the bald headed eagle. As you walk up to the various rides, you are flanked by giant avaries, spanning 30,000-square-foot which houses the countries largest presentation of non-releasable bald-headed eagles. The birds are huge and very very impressive. You can see them flying around, calling to each other. At special times you can also walk into the enclosure with a staff member and see them up close. These creatures are awe inspiring - theres no comparison to the birds in england, and even the americans there with me were struck by the sheer presence of these birds. There is a donations box there should you wish to give a penny or two to their cause.

*The Staff

The staff at the park are so friendly and kind. Also, you can try and spot some of Dolly numerous relatives who work there. Another fun game is trying to figure out where in the park Dolly lives, which shop it might be and if shes there that day. Usually when dolly is at the park she will walk through and greet everyone.

*Concerts

Dollywood operates special celebrity concerts where renowned country singers such as Reba Mcintyre and others perform. There are admission prices to these but none were on the day we were there so cannot tell you the price - which will vary. However, there was so much to do that we didnt have time to sit down and listen to the music!

They will also have guest groups in who are from different countries. Many of you will recognise Riverdance, and some may recognise the oriental circus folk. These vary all the time so check for details when you plan to go.

The auditoriums and museum are located in a sixties themed town where you can go to old fashioned cafes and dinners and navigates through the lady penelopee style thunderbirds.

*Walking/Disabled

Dollywood is in the smokey mountains, so there are some steep walks up to certain rides. So wear comfortable shoes (think london marathon). Those in wheelchairs or on crutches may find it takes the wind out of them. There are no steps, everything is smoth walkways -wide walkways too) but i can see it being a little hard to push or hop up some of the slopes to the rides.

~~~~~~~~In Conclusion~~~~~~~~~

What an exhausting day! Even the sugar from the funnel cake didnt keep ue awake! We had an amazing day, and will be buying a season pass this may to keep going back. We're lucky enough just to be able to hop in the car and go, but for those who are visitng the area for the day, i would recommend spending a day at Dollywood. Dolly also has Dollywood Splash World which you can spend a whole other day in. The entire area, once you drive out of dollywood and back into the main part of Pigeon Forge (10 minutes) you will find even more things to do! There is the dixie stampede where you sit down in an arena and watch an amazing horse show whilst eating good southern food. This is a little pricey, but is worth it if you can afford to take your family. Finding other places to eat will be expensive in the area. The state has high taxes on its food and due to the high level of tourism they charge $8 for a medium buger and coke at the takeaways. So if you are staying in the area for a few days i would highly recommend packing food!

Hotels will cost you on this trip - it all depends on the season and chain you go with so i cant give you an approximation. You will have to book in advance by at least two/three months to be assured of a room. Dollywood is not open everyday, so plan your stay to match the times and days they are open.

Theres so much to do here you wont be bored. Outlet malls for the ladies, arcades for the boys, theme parks for the family and endless concerts and food. There are all you can eat buffets on every corner (with big comfy chairs to sit in!)...even a parrot and reptile zoo that once you pay for admission $8 - you can go back as many times as you want that day.

Pigeon Forge is designed so that you have a good time, but be warned, you'll need to take plenty of camera films to capture it all!

 

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