Dollywood Review Pigeon Forge, Tennessee - Best Theme Park in America?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ย. 2024
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Dollywood is a major theme park resort partially owned by Dolly Parton. I went recently, and I think it might be the best theme park in the United States, possibly the world. What makes this place so special? Let's analyze the roller coasters, rides, food, and more to find out!
All footage in the video is my own. Feel free to use it in your video if you wish. I would appreciate being given credit, but it is not a necessity.
dollywood is a theme park that is jointly owned by herschend family entertainment and country singer-songwriter dolly parton through her entertainment company, dolly parton productions. it is located in the knoxville metropolitan area in pigeon forge, tennessee, near the gateway to the great smoky mountains. hosting nearly 3 million guests in a typical season from mid-march to the christmas holidays, dollywood is the biggest ticketed tourist attraction in tennessee. it has won many international awards.
in addition to standard amusement park thrill rides, dollywood features traditional crafts, food, and music of the smoky mountain area. the park hosts a number of concerts and musical events each year, including appearances by dolly parton and her family as well as other national and local musical acts.
the theme park is the anchor of parton's 150-acre (61 ha) dollywood amusement destination, which also includes the 35-acre (14 ha) sister water park dollywood's splash country, the 20-acre (8.1 ha) dollywood's dreammore resort and spa, and the 5-acre (2.0 ha) dolly parton's stampede dinner attraction. dollywood roller coasters dollywood rides
adventures in imagination
the dolly parton experience (coming in 2024)
dolly's home-on-wheels (the attraction is currently closed but the bus in still stored somewhere meaning it could return)
dreamsong theater
country fair
attraction added manufacturer description
amazing flying elephants 2005 zamperla elephant-themed kids ride
busy bees 2005 i.e. park bee-themed kids ride
dizzy disk 2005 zamperla disk-o ride
demolition derby bumper cars
lemon twist 2005 technical park tea cups ride
lucky ducky 2005 i.e. park duck-themed kids ride
piggy parade 2005 zamperla pig-themed kids jumping ride
scrambler 1993 eli bridge company spinning scrambler ride
shooting star 2005 kids drop tower
sky rider 2005 chance rides elevating spinning ride
waltzing swinger 2005 sartori elevated spinning ride
craftsman's valley
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blazing fury 1978 built in house indoor roller coaster with dark ride elements
daredevil falls 1998 hopkins rides log flume that can seat two across
tennessee tornado 1999 arrow dynamics multi-looping roller coaster
calico falls schoolhouse
eagle mountain sanctuary
robert f. thomas chapel
owens farm
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barnstormer 2011 s&s worldwide screamin swing ride
pig pen
granny's garden
li'l pilot's playground
jukebox junction
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lightning rod 2016 rocky mountain construction launched steel roller coaster
rockin' roadway 1995 chance rides car ride
pines theater
rivertown junction
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smoky mountain river rampage 1986 barr engineering rapids ride
tennessee mountain home
back porch theater
showstreet
friendship gardens
dollywood celebrity theater
showstreet palace theater
timber canyon
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drop line 2017 funtime inc. drop tower
lumberjack lifts 2006 heege tower ride
mystery mine 2007 gerstlauer euro-fighter roller coaster
thunderhead 2004 great coasters international wooden roller coaster
whistle punk chaser 2017 zamperla family gravity coaster
the village
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dollywood express 1961 baldwin locomotive works train ride
village carousel 1998 chance carousel
heartsong theater
wilderness pass
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firechaser express 2014 gerstlauer family roller coaster with two launches and a lift hill
wild eagle 2012 bolliger & mabillard wing roller coaster
wildwood grove
attraction added
big bear mountain 2023 family launched coaster
black bear trail 2019
dragonflier
frogs and fireflies
great tree swing
mad mockingbird
treetop tower
hidden hollow-a soft-play area
wildwood tree
wildwood creek
defunct
1903 antique dentzel carousel
country fair falls - opened in 1969 and closed in 2004
flooded mine (closed in 1997)
scamper (previously operated at cedar point, operated from 1970-77)
the balloon race
the butter churn (a trabant) removed at the end of 1986
thunder express
timber tower
imagination cinema
adventure mountain - opened in 2010 and closed in 2012
inventor's mansion
river battle
swingamajig
wonder wheel
the rainmaker
cloud grabber
mountain slidewinder (ride closed in 2019)
sideshow spin (formerly veggietales sideshow spin) - opened in 2005 and closed in 2016
southern gospel museum and hall of fame
chasing rainbows
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I have never ever been to this park.I wanted to go to the park for a long long long time.I am finally going on December 25 [ will be at the park next day, land very late ] for Smoky Mountain Christmas for three full days. There’s a Christmas light fest nearby that I might check-out. I am hoping this will be in my top 5 theme parks for me. Absolutely Outstanding
I hear the Christmas event is spectacular so I hope you enjoy it.
I've been a hardcore Disney fan most of my life and even worked there in Florida for a year. I have to say Dollywood stunned me with how good it was. I was very impressed. And considering how downhill Disney has gone these days, I'd say Dollywood may have surpassed it.
I would say it probably has.
We made our first trip to Dollywood and the smoky mountain region this past July and I agree with pretty much every point you made. Kings island is my favorite park and as I type this I’m at cedar point, but if I lived this close to Dollywood I would visit frequently. Excellent theming, setup, water park, food and atmosphere. Our youngest daughter is only 42 inches, so taking her somewhere that she can ride so many high quality rides was the best aspect of our trip there. Excellent review/analysis!
Thanks! I love Kings Island and Cedar Point, they are my two favorite parks besides this one. Dollywood might even beat them.
@@ThemeParkAvenuewow it’s that good???
@@notjayy1 yep!
Right after Theme Park Predictions this comes out, great vid🎉
Thanks! This was a fun review to make.
I’m a big Dollywood fan but I don’t even think it’s the best Herschend park - for me Silver Dollar City is as good as it gets.
Silver Dollar City is great, I enjoyed it a lot and the theming might be more beautiful, but my experience at Dollywood was definitely better.
Love them both, but Dollywood is definitely the better experience
I am going for my first visit next month, I'm beyond excited!
Awesome!
I was in love with this park long before my very first last June and am still in love with it sense going there. The setting in the Smokies, the atmosphere, the rides, the friendly staff, the food, and everything else this place has easily puts this in my ten favorite parks. I don't know what I am more excited for; returning to this park in the future or checking out its sister park, Silver Dollar City, to see how it compares.
It is a wonderful park.
Great video! I enjoyed watching! Sounds like such a great park!
It truly is.
@ThemeParkAvenue Definitely sounds like it! Thanks for the reply!
Tennesee Tornado is one of the later Arrow coasters that was actually designed with computers, AND wasnt layed out using lower rail reference like their earlier, rough coasters. The result was a buttery smooth Arrow coaster that actually gives a good ride. I wish Ron Toomer wasnt so stubborn about not using computers to design coasters. Taking too long to modernize is probably what put Arrow under. Sorry, I have a soft spot for Arrow coasters.
I’ll miss the single rider line. Getting put in rows with random people, often riding for their first time, was exciting. Seeing their reactions during and after the ride was always entertaining
I would have loved that.
This park is amazing. I definitely prefer true theme parks over amusement parks and Dollywood ranks very highly for me. I prefer Dollywood over every Cedar Fair park (yes, including Cedar Point and Kings Island) and it's tied with Silver Dollar City in my overall rankings.
Disneyland and Islands of Adventure are at the top of my favorite parks list but at Christmas time Dollywood becomes my favorite. I really can't think of a better theme park experience than Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood, especially if you like shows and Christmas music like I do.
Even as someone who tends to prefer amusement parks, this is among my very favorite parks.
I personally I put Silver Dollar City above this park. It's better themed and Marvel Cave is absolutely amazing
@@AdamSmith-gs2dv Marvel Cave is the one thing that keeps Silver Dollar City close to this park for me.
I am with you on this. It's currently my ninth favorite park I've been to behind Holiday World, Universal's Islands of Adventure Magic Kingdom, the two Disney parks in California, SeaWorld Orlando, and the two Busch Gardens parks.
@@AdamSmith-gs2dv I've tried very hard to pick between the two but I can't. I have no other tie in my rankings. I'm not sure that I'd agree that the theming is necessarily better at SDC but it is more cohesive. It really depends on which thing you focus on for me.
Coasters: I give this to Dollywood but I wouldn't say it's a clear win. Lightning Rod does a lot for Dollywood though each park has a very good collection.
Water Rides: SDC easily wins.
Dark rides and other themed attractions: SDC wins due to Flooded Mine, Grandfather's Mansion and the extras on the train ride
Kid Area: Dollywood. Both parks have multiple but WWG wins this easily
Park Atmosphere: Slight Edge to SDC but still close
Food: Dollywood. Both are great but nothing at SDC comes close to Aunt Granny's
Shows and Entertainment: This is a battle of the giants but I have to give it to Dollywood. These two would beat most any other parks expect Disneyland, and several Florida parks but a case could easily be made that these are to two overall best. That said, Dreamland Drive-In wins this, as well as a few of their Christmas shows
Location: Mixed bag. SDC has a more impressive location, though Dollywood's is also great. But it is a much bigger hassle to hike through SDC (especially since I usually push a stroller) than Dollywood. And the parking is way more convenient at Dollywood.
I can't pick. They're both amazing.
Man I missed you by one day again, first funspot and now Dollywood haha
Yeah, I guess fate got in the way.
I probably saw you in the Thunderhead station that Sunday I was on the third to last and last train of the night on Thunderhead wearing my Orion shirt…
I don’t recall an Orion shirt, but it’s cool that we were both there. I know I saw the last train getting loaded and all after thinking of gotten the last one.
coming sometime this year for my first time
Awesome! I hope you enjoy it.
I’m going to Dollywood for the very first time tomorrow
Awesome! I hope this review was helpful.
@@ThemeParkAvenue it was, thank you
Great review! This is another one of my favorite videos of yours. Dollywood is definitely one of the best parks I've been to. I had arguably my best day at a park there. Lightning Rod is my favorite coaster, and I definitely agree that it's better in the front row. I think the drop is more powerful in the back though. My favorite part of the ride is the quad down. I thought the cinnamon bread was amazing. I think Disney has better food than Dollywood overall though. Dollywood gives me similar vibes to BGW. Both of those parks are amazing. I went on a relatively uncrowded day, so I barely had to wait for the thrill coasters, which was nice. I ended up getting 6 rides on Lightning Rod in one day. Big Bear Mountain hadn't been built yet, but I saw and took photos of the track. I sent Theme Park Crazy one of the photos and it was in his video about new coasters for 2023. That was pretty cool.
Thanks! After visiting this park I loved it so much that I immediately started working on this review. Happy National Roller Coaster Day!
@@ThemeParkAvenue You too!
when i was a kid i went to go ride fire chaser. we waited and hour and then it started raining so they gave us a free pass to cut all the way in line.
Cool!
Hey! Did I just possibly hear someone else say that they LIKED the Vekoma flying Dutchman coasters? My first one was X-Flight at Geauga Lake/SFWoA, later Firehawk at KI. I was SO mad when KI took it out. Everyone hates on Nighthawk at Carowinds, but I just rode it in April, and it was fine.
You sure did! I got to ride Firehawk and I miss it, and Nighthawk was amazing on my last Carowinds trip.
@@ThemeParkAvenue Same. I don't know why everyone Hayes on them. They have good forces, and decent ride. No, it's not B&M smooth, but they are good rides.
Premier (or whatever they call it) parking at Dollywood and silver dollar city is worth every penny
I don’t mind the walk.
Considering my Dollywood Gold pass gets me free general parking and SDC general parking is free for everyone no it's not. Rather use that money to sample to amazing food at both of these parks
@@AdamSmith-gs2dv if parking means you can’t afford food, you have bigger problems
It is my favorite park
Awesome!
May you please make a theme park battles video (carowinds vs busch gardens tampa), I would be extremely happy if you would do so!
Maybe, I have one that I'm considering. In case you don't know, I made several a while back.
yea, I used to love those, those were my favourite kind of videos on your channel, I understand why you may not want to make them as they may cause controversy but remember, it's your opinion, and you can state that in the begeinning of the video so people don't oppose you, btw which one are you considering?@@ThemeParkAvenue
@@OfCourse-gj1iv I’ll give you a hint, it involves Dollywood.
well you already hyped me up my man! keep being awesome@@ThemeParkAvenue
I Honestly Feel Like This Is Better Then Phantasia Land Or Tokyo Disneysea
First negative review of Firechaser that I've ever heard
It’s still an overall positive review, but I think it’s a bit more flawed than others say.
Did you get on the log flume ride
Sadly I did not, I tried at one point but it was closed. It looked quite good though.
Personally I like Silver Dollar City more despite Dollywood being my home park. I love how all the coasters there are terrain coasters and think the park is better themed overall than Dollywood. Also Dollywood has NOTHING that compares to Marvel Cave
That's understandable. It's guaranteed that you'll enjoy both parks for sure if you liked at least one of them. I personally haven't been to Silver Dollar City yet, but I am more in a hurry to do so after visiting this park for the first time last June.
@@mitchellries256Make sure that you don't skip Marvel Cave or the train when you go. Marvel Cave especially is an absolute must do, it's beautiful and has a ton of history. It could be an attraction all on its own without the park to support it
@@AdamSmith-gs2dv Are you kidding. I missed out on the cinnamon bread while I was at Dollywood and have been kicking myself ever since. Imagine how I'd feel if I missed out on the train or the caves.
😃 Promo*SM
Did you run a marathon before recording? 🫁🥵