Rides, Shows, and Fun at Dollywood: Parent Review & Tips You Want

Dollywood is such a perfect destination from Greenville! At just about three hours from the Upstate, it’s a favorite with Kidding Around readers and their families. See what advice Kidding Around’s Bethany had to offer after most recent trip at the park in Pigeon Forge in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee.

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Why We Keep Coming Back to Dollywood (With Kids AND Grandparents)

🎠 Preschooler-friendly rides like Busy Bees, Frogs & Fireflies, and the indoor Hidden Hollow playground
🚂 Family rides everyone can enjoy, including old-school water rides like Dollywood Express and River Rampage
🎢 Coasters for big kids & teens—Dragonflier, Big Bear Mountain, Wild Eagle, and more
🎭 Great Shows: Gazillion Bubble Show, Stunt Dog Experience (fun for all ages!)
🌳 Playgrounds and Splash Zones throughout the park, plus tons of shade and rest spots
🍞 Great food options—don’t miss the famous Cinnamon Bread at The Grist Mill
✨ Clean & friendly park with helpful staff and thoughtful details for families

Only 3 hours from Greenville, Dollywood is an easy getaway that works for toddlers, teens, and grandparents alike.

App Tip: Download the Dollywood app before you go—it’s great for checking showtimes, ride wait times, and setting reminders for meet-and-greets.

Why You Should Consider Dollywood For Your Next Theme Park

I’ll be honest; we truly have such great family memories from visiting Dollywood that I’m not even quite sure where to start. During our visits, I always notice the carefulness and attentiveness of the Dollywood theme park staff. The park was well-maintained, clean, and attractive.

This year marked our third Dollywood trip with our children and their grandparents. We’ve visited the park now with our kids from the ages of 2 to 17 and still have a great time.

Dollywood: Review of The Rides & Play Areas

From all our years of visits to Dollywood, we are impressed by how there are rides for all ages and thrill level. Here’s how our multi-generational crew had fun from when our kids were little to now that they are teens.

Rides Even a PreK Age Kid Would Love

As a family with young children, we were thrilled by how many rides even our little ones could enjoy.

• Our five-year-old could ride several small roller coasters and most other rides with an adult.
• Our two-year-old happily rode attractions specially designed for toddlers in the Country Fair:
  • Busy Bees
  • Amazing Flying Elephants

Wildwood Grove also has a few low-thrill rides for younger children, plus lots of shady paths and splash areas perfect for preschoolers.

Staff Shoutout: We noticed that Country Fair attendants were especially kind and quick to help if a little one got scared or changed their mind by pausing a ride and helping a kid off so that the experience stayed positive for everyone.

✅ Family Tip: Stop by the Centralized Measuring Station when you enter the park. Your child will get a colored armband showing which rides they’re tall enough for—no surprises in line!

Rides for the Entire Family

Some of our favorite moments were the rides we all did together. These were easygoing enough for everyone to enjoy, but still fun:

• Dollywood Express: A scenic ride on a coal-fired steam engine through the Smoky Mountains. Pro tip: Avoid naptime! One of ours when they were young had a meltdown mid-ride—and there’s no getting off once it starts rolling.
• Blazing Fury: Another great rollercoaster for younger riders is Blazing Fury, which starts as a sightseeing ride through a mine but ends with a minecart off the rails twist. This rollercoaster only has a couple of small hills and quick twists but is completely dark in the last seconds of the ride.
• River Rampage: This 6 person raft is a ride that you might want to wear your water shoes for. It’s not too scary, but you will definitely get wet.

✅ Travel Tip: Keep a set of dry clothes and shoes in the car so that you can change if you accidentally get wet in the park or get caught in a storm.

Roller Coasters for Big Kids and Adults

Once our kids were tall enough (and brave enough!), the big coasters became a huge part of our Dollywood adventures. Here’s what our thrill-seekers loved:

• Wild Eagle: Smooth, fast (up to 60 mph!), and full of loops. It’s a standout for both teens and adults. While this ride is fast and scary, the harness fits snugly which can help some kids feel more secure.
• Lightning Rod: A wooden coaster with hot-rod theming. It’s wild, fast, and a huge hit with older kids.
• Big Bear Mountain: Opened in 2023, this one zooms through Wildwood Grove with surprise launches and a fun bear-chase storyline.
• Dragonflier: Also in Wildwood Grove, this one lets your feet dangle and is a great “first big coaster” for tweens and teens.
• Mystery Mine: This coaster has been on my family’s favorite list from the time the kids were tall enough to ride all the way up to teens.
• Thunderhead: We got to ride at the very front of this coaster at night this year, and it was an experience we will never forget.

✅ Parent Tip: Use Dollywood’s Parent Swap option. One parent rides while the other waits with younger kids—then you swap without waiting again!

In addition to the Dollywood rides, my kids enjoyed playing in the playgrounds and water spray areas of the park.

Wildwood Grove at Dollywood

When you go to Dollywood, head right for Wildwood Grove because there is so much to see and do for your whole family! Wildwood Grove is based upon adventure, curiosity, and a little fairy dust. It beckons guests to use their imagination to explore a world with exciting possibilities around every corner. You enter Wildwood Grove through what looks to be an old tree and wind your way past the Treetop Tower and Giant Tree Swing, back towards the indoor playground at Hidden Hollow and splash pad at Wildwood Creek.

Our kids loved every minute we spent here because they not only got to experience age-appropriate adrenaline rushes in the rides but really did feel like they got to explore a world that was uniquely set up to trigger their imaginations. For both kids and adults, we mostly live a life of structure, and it’s good to get out of that box and have fun together and try new things, which is exactly what is encouraged at Wildwood Grove.

Plan to spend at least a couple of hours at Wildwood Grove throughout your time at Dollywood. We started the day there, and before we knew it, it was time for lunch. We headed back at the end of the day to go back on our favorite rides and see if the Dragonflier line was shorter (it wasn’t – the ride is crazy popular).

Let’s Eat & Meet in Wildwood Grove!

You can’t go anywhere in Dollywood without smelling the delicious food offered throughout the park, and Wildwood Grove is no different. Till & Harvest is the anchor restaurant at Wildwood Grove. They serve Smoky Mountain Mexican cuisine like burrito bowls, with grilled meat and vegetables.

A sweet shop is located next door, and there are popcorn stands and ice cream carts throughout the area. Don’t forget that free ice water is offered at most concession stands and all restaurants. This was a lifesaver for my kids and me throughout our time at Dollywood. 

There are also Meet & Greets with characters at Wildwood Grove, which we totally missed because I forgot to set the reminder on the Dollywood app, which you should absolutely download for your trip there. So if you’d like to meet some cute bears and fairies, set that reminder on your app.

Rides at Wildwood Grove

Here are all the rides offered at Wildwood Grove:

• Frogs & Fireflies 
  A super cute ride for little kids where they get in a frog or firefly car and bounce around in circles in a motorized ride. 
• Giant Tree Swing
  An old school favorite updated to be in Wildwood Grove’s theme, the Giant Tree Swing is a big boat-like swing that goes back and forth, getting higher and higher each time. We did this a couple times as it was a favorite of my kids. 
• Hidden Hollow
  This is the most genius activity in Wildwood Grove, so props to Dollywood for thinking of it. Hidden Hollow is a black-lit indoor playground for kids that also has comfy seats for parents. There are slides, sensory objects, climbing apparatuses, and a section for kids under three years of age. Again, this is indoors – which means a nice, cool, respite from the summer heat. And it’s located right next to the restrooms.
• Dragonflier
  This roller-coaster is crazy popular and looks like quite the thrill ride for people of any age, yet even my almost 5-year-old was big enough to ride. But she chickened out, so we had to back out. If you decide to go on this ride, go first when you get there or get the TimeSaver pass and use it to skip the line here. Guests need to be at least 39”.
• Big Bear Mountain
  This roller-coaster is a fast and fun ride through the story of getting chased by a bear. It’s also the longest coaster at the park.
• Wildwood Creek
  Another genius creation in Wildwood Grove is the creek, which is basically a splash pad, which feels divine in 90+ degree heat. 
• Treetop Tower
  A non-scary ride for any age that goes up and spins around a couple of times before coming back down. Guests need to be at least 36”.
• Mad Mockingbird
  I could have gone on this ride all day long. It’s a swinging ride from the carnival days of my youth but way better. Guests sit in a swing that looks like a mockingbird and are spun around in the air to the point where it feels like you’re flying. There’s a handle where you can move the bird’s wings to make the swing change position in the air. Guests need to be at least 36”.
• Black Bear Trail
  Guests ride around on a motorized bear through some bushes and trees. It’s cute and great for kids, although I saw plenty of adults riding around on the bears, which was hilarious. Guests need to be at least 36”.

Dollywood Shows You Don’t Want to Miss!

When the kids were little, they loved The Little Engine Playhouse. I love children’s books, so I was delighted to find out that the shows were based on books. I was equally impressed that the performances kept not only me entertained but my two-year-old mesmerized. Outside The Little Engine Playhouse, we also had fun watching a small magic show.

Now that my kids are older, we’ve found even more shows to enjoy together. This year, we made time for the Gazillion Bubble Show—and it was incredible. The special effects, music, and unbelievable bubble tricks had all of us (teens and adults included) totally hooked. Last year, we also stopped by the Stunt Dog Experience, which features rescue dogs doing tricks, jumps, and agility stunts. It’s a heartwarming and high-energy show that’s perfect for all ages.

Dollywood Tip: Schedule a show during the hottest part of the day to give everyone a break from the heat! The Dollywood app is a great way to track showtimes and set reminders so you don’t miss anything.

Each summer features a different lineup of live entertainment—from bubble shows to dog stunt performances, and everything in between. The shows don’t run every day and the theaters fill up fast, so be sure to consult the daily schedule and arrive early.

This year we also visited in peak season and were able to see the nightly fireworks and drone show during Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration. It was a highlight of the trip—totally worth staying until closing time. The best view is near FireChaser Express at the top of the park. Most rides continue to run until closing, though a few near the fireworks area begin shutting down at dusk.

Dollywood Review of the Food

Outside-the-Park Tips

If you’re looking to save a little money or have picky eaters in your group:

• Pack a meal and tailgate in the parking lot. Pack a couple of chairs in your trunk and don’t forget napkins.
• Bring snacks and refillable water bottles. While outside food isn’t allowed in, sealed water bottles and baby food/formula are permitted. We have also brought in small snacks like granola bars without it being an issue.

Inside the Park: Food Worth Planning Around

Dollywood has built a reputation for theme park food that’s amazing and much better than just chicken fingers.

Dollywood Eats We Want to Eat Again!
🥖 Cinnamon Bread from The Grist Mill — a warm, gooey must-try
🦃 Giant Turkey Leg from Hickory House BBQ — perfect for sharing
🧀 Gouda & Bacon Loaded Tots from Potato Tornado — teen-tested, parent-approved
🐾 Buffalo Chicken Bear Paw from Ned’s Bear Paws (Splash Country)
🥤 Vanilla Milkshake from Red’s Dine-In — cool and creamy retro treat
🌀 BBQ Pork Twister Taters from Hickory House BBQ — crispy, savory, fun to eat

Dollywood Tip: You can get free ice water at any of Dollywood’s food vendors. This helps fight the heat of the summer.

The Dolly Parton Experience

New in 2024 is the Dolly Parton Experience where guests can walk through different Dolly museums that hold many of her dresses, shoes, and even wigs that she’s worn throughout her career. There are really cool sets of movies and shows she has been on, a room that looks like a giant bus as she made her way to Nashville, and papers that she wrote some of her most famous songs on.

You can also walk through her tour bus/RV. The Dolly Parton Experience is all part of your admission ticket is to your right when you walk into the park.

The entire experience is just so cool and you learn a lot about East Tennessee’s most famous resident and the stories behind her songs. My kids loved the “Dress Up Dolly” part where kids (or adults) use magnetic cutouts of Dolly’s dresses and wigs to dress her up on a big board in the Behind the Seams building.

Definitely be sure to stop here during your time at the park. It’s worth the time to see many of Dolly’s over-the-top dresses and learn about the stories behind her most famous music.

Dollywood Extras

I felt like one of the biggest perks of visiting Dollywood was the unique variety of attractions for our family. Here are just a couple of the enjoyable spots we enjoy throughout the park:

• Local craftsmen and shops full of handmade items.
• A wild bird preserve
• Lots of scenic spots & plenty of shade and benches

Baby-Care Stations
If you are breast-feeding or bottle-feeding an infant, you will be happy to find out that Dollywood does have a nursing station with gliders and a changing station. I also noticed several family bathrooms throughout the park. The bathrooms are well-maintained and clean during our visit.

First-Aid Stations
We managed to scrape a knee within moments of getting in the park and had the opportunity to visit the first-aid station. The nurse was able to save the day by applying an Angry Bird bandage to my kid’s knee.

More Dollywood Tips for Families

Dollywood Quick Tips for Families

🚼 Baby care stations offer gliders, changing areas, and clean family restrooms
🍼 Restaurants can warm bottles for bottle-feeding parents
🎟️ Use the Parent Swap pass to take turns on thrill rides without waiting twice
📏 Visit the Centralized Measuring Station to get a colored armband for ride eligibility
🧃 While outside food isn’t allowed, you can leave and re-enter the park on the same day with a hand stamp
🚉 Don’t skip the tram—there’s stroller parking at the front of each tram car
🎢 Try the coaster sample seats outside each ride to check comfort before waiting in line
💧 Ask any food vendor for free ice water (total lifesaver in summer!)
🩴 Bring extra clothes or water shoes for splash zones and River Rampage
📱 Download the Dollywood app to check wait times, show schedules, and meet-and-greets
🎟️ Turn your day ticket into a season pass credit before leaving
👶 Look for the Preschooler Season Pass—it’s free with paid adult admission
🎓 Homeschool families can visit during Homeschool Days for discounted tickets
🎟️ Planning a longer stay? Choose a 2- or 3-day pass to visit Dollywood and Splash Country together

I received media tickets in order to write about Dollywood but this post contains my honest opinion about our trip. We had such a great time that we have made several additional family trips to Dollywood since the original publication of this review.

More To See At Dollywood

The team at Kidding Around are huge fans of the country music legend and her amusement parks and because of that, there is no shortage of information from our trips to share with readers. If you are planning a trip to Dollywood, we encourage you to make the most out of your trip with the information offered on Kidding Around.

• Homeschool Days
  If you are looking to have an adventure, Dollywood will be offering Homeschool Days for families that are utilizing the homeschool option. These days focus on mostly science and math – and really, what’s cooler than learning about the laws of physics by riding a roller coaster?
• Christmas At Dollywood – Smoky Mountain Christmas
  The famous theme park becomes a mecca with over five million lights draped across every single building. Shows like It’s A Wonderful Life play throughout the month-long festival. And a Christmas parade is held nightly at 8:15 pm, an engaging entertainment show full of lights and colors.
• Splash Country Water Park
  Dollywood is a popular place to visit for Greenville families as it’s tons of fun and only three hours away. While you’re there, you can beat the heat by spending some time at Dollywood’s Splash Country.
  

Dollywood
2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd, Pigeon Forge, TN

For more information on the area surrounding Dollywood, check out the Kidding Around Guide to the Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg areas of Tennessee

Have you ever visited Dollywood? What was your experience?