This Is The Best Day To Go To Dollywood To Beat The Crowds

Whether you’re a seasoned passholder or a first-time visitor to Dollywood, you’ll find smart ways to enhance your park experience in The Ultimate Guide To Dollywood, a new book written by Knoxville author Erin K. Browne. This unofficial guide is packed with helpful tips and insider info ranging from secrets on the rides to how to cut down on ride wait times. Browne shared her three top tips, including the best day of the week to go to Dollywood.

The Best Day To Go To Dollywood

Thursday is typically the least crowded day to visit the park. But there are other times on the calendar that you should be aware of, according to Browne.

• “Weekends are generally the most crowded days at Dollywood, but if you choose right after a school holiday for a Saturday or Sunday visit, you might be surprised to find you practically have the park to yourself,” she says.
• “Mid-August, right after most schools are back in session after summer break, is a great time to go!” A cloudy or drizzly day might work in your favor as well. “With East Tennessee's unpredictable weather patterns, sometimes a less-than-stellar forecast can result in fewer folks showing up, though be aware that some outdoor attractions may be affected by extreme weather conditions,” Browne says.

How To Lighten Your Load In The Park

“Dollywood has no lack of shopping opportunities, but if the thought of having to carry around your purchases all day puts a damper on your retail therapy, fear not!” says Browne. “The park has a helpful Package Pickup service that few guests seem to know about. When buying an item, tell the Dollywood host at the register that you'd like to use package pickup. You will be given a card with the time your items will be ready. When you're ready to leave the park, stop by The Emporium—the large store at the park entrance—to claim your purchases.”

You must spend a minimum of $25 at the park to use this service, and you will need to check your packages at least 2 hours before the park closes for the day. “Visitors staying at either DreamMore or HeartSong resorts can have their purchases sent directly to their rooms,” adds Browne.

How To Skip Long Park Lines

If you’re a season passholder, here’s a reason to set your alarm and get to Dollywood early. “Every day that the park is open, gold-and diamond-level season passholders can take advantage of something called the Golden Hour,” explains Browne. “For the first hour that the park is open, those passholders can use the expedited entry queue, also known as the TimeSaver line, and skip the regular wait for any TimeSaver-participating attraction in the park.” Another little-known perk: Golden Hour also extends to guests at DreamMore or HeartSong. And both have a free shuttle straight to the park, so there’s no reason to miss out.

The Best Way To Get Cinnamon Bread

We’ve written about Dollywood’s famous Grist Mill Cinnamon Bread and the lengths visitors will go to get it. Thankfully, there’s an easier way. “Dollywood has just implemented a brand new way to cut down on the congestion inside of the Grist Mill caused by visitors desperate to try the delicious warm cinnamon bread,” says Browne. “Instead of crowding into the Grist Mill itself, stop by the covered stand at the bottom of the hill to place your order. There are many registers available to prevent a single long line from forming. Then you can head up the hill to pick up your cinnamon bread.” Browne adds that the bread is now placed into boxes so you can easily transport any leftovers back home. Not that you’ll likely have any…