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Located in Pigeon Forge, Dollywood is an integral part of any vacation to the Smoky Mountains. You may be a new visitor to Dollywood or one of millions of repeat visitors. Either way you'll want to check out my Top Five Dollywood Tips to make sure you're fully prepared for your day of fun.
1. Free water. You can request a cup of water at almost any
food or concession stand in the park. This can be a lifesaver,
especially in July and August when temperatures may approach 100
degrees. And water will keep you hydrated much better than soft
drinks. There is no limit to how many cups of water you can request at one time.
2. Walk to the furthest tram stop. If you park about
halfway between to tram stops, walk to the one that is furthest from
the park. I learned this lesson the hard way. You'd think it would be
better to walk to the tram stop closest to Dollywood, but if you do
this you will usually have a longer wait. Once people start walking to
the next farthest stop, the tram operators cut back on service to the
earlier stop. We stood a stop D/E once for almost 30 minutes while we
watched tram after tram drive past us to stop F. And of course, once
the tram has stopped at the further location there are no seats left to
fill in to pick up folks at the stops they have to drive past. So save
yourself the wait - even if the line at the further stop appears
longer.
3. Don't forget your sunscreen. Yes, many parts of the park are shaded by large trees, and the queues for most rides are covered, but you can still easily get sunburned. And you don't want to have to buy sunscreen in the park (although it is available if you still forget after reading this tip).
4. Be prepared for the water rides. If you plan on riding
River Rampage, Daredevil Falls, Slidewinder, or other water rides then
plan ahead. Wear shoes like Crocs or flip-flops that will dry easily.
If you don't want to risk blisters, then bring an extra pair of shoes
to change into when your first pair is wet. You might also want to
consider bringing a poncho if you don't like getting wet (although
there are disposable ponchos for sale just in front of some of the
wetter rides like River Rampage). If you don't want to carry all this
extra stuff around the park you can rent a locker for a "small fee" to store your extra shoes until you need them.
5. Go after 4 pm - after all, the next day is free. Dollywood
is never very busy the last few hours before it closes. So if you've
alotted one day to visit and you can also go the night before, then
take advantage of this offer! The shows are all over for the day and
most visitors have left the park to eat supper. During the summer
Dollywood is often open until 9 pm. This is a great time to try all the
most popular rides. You can also take advantage of one of the evening
specials that several of Dollywood's restaurants offer.
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