Best Things to do With Kids at Dollywood

Dollywood is the perfect place for families to visit during their trip to Pigeon Forge. This park offers something for different ages and interests – even little ones. There are so many things to do with kids at Dollywood!

Things to Know:

• Parent Rider Swap Program at Dollywood –  When you get to the ride, just tell the first host you see in the ride queue that you want to use the Parent Swap program. One parent will board with everyone going on the ride, and the second parent will wait (Either alone or with the other children/non-riders). And, then, if they want to, parents can swap and ride the attraction.
• Ride Height Requirement Chart – See the Chart HERE. There is also a Ride Measuring Center on Showstreet – see the center location (#5) on the map HERE.
• Caffeine Fix -Okay, so if you’re like me and you need caffeine to survive a day at a theme park with your kiddos, listen up. As soon as you enter the park, you can make your way right. If you want good coffee, Spotlight Bakery offers Starbucks. And, the Sweet Shoppe serves REAL sweet (and unsweet) tea. It’s not lemon and tea flavored water, it’s REAL tea – you Southerners know what I’m talking about. The tea at the Front Porch is really good also. If you’re in Wilderness Pass, Splinter’s Funnel Cakes offers fresh-brewed Pike Place coffee (and flavors). Market Place Big Skillet also serves coffee.
• Take the Easy Route – When you enter the park, the older kiddos will want to run left to all the thrill rides. But, let me tell ya, this route takes you on an incline. If you venture to the right first, the walk is easier and the walk from the thrill rides back to the entrance/exit is downhill.
• Renting Lockers – You have two choices for renting lockers – All Day Lockers and Floating Lockers (and they are all first come, first serve). All-day lockers are located at the Front Gate for only $15 for the day. There are also Floating Lockers available throughout the park. These locker rentals are available at Wild Eagle, Mystery Mine, FireChaser Express, Daredevil Falls, Barnstormer, River Rampage, Tennessee Tornado, Country Fair, and Lightning Rod. These lockers cost $10 for the day and you can “float” from locker to locker (at each ride) for only $10.
• Rainy Days – If your day gets cut short by the rain, you can ask for a rain check at Ticket Annex, Guest Services, or any one-day ticket window. The Rain Checks are valid until the end of the season. If you see rain showers in the forecast, you can bring your own ponchos or purchase them at the park.

Areas & Rides for Young Ones

Young kiddos -who love rides but are not ready for the big thrill rides and roller coasters- will love the Country Fair area. They’ll find swings, bumper cars, flying elephants, and more fun rides here. Wildwood Grove offers many rides and play areas for Pre-K kiddos and The Village has a REAL locomotive and an antique carousel.

There are also areas for small children to play, splash pads, and even lumberjack lifts! Check out Owen’s Farm for the Lil’ Pilots Playground and Firehouse Funyard at Wilderness Pass. Kids will also love “driving” a classic car at Rockin’ Roadway at Jukebox Junction.

See the Dollywood Park Map HERE to find the best spots for little ones.

Family-Friendly Rides

Dollywood Express and Carousel in The Village

• Carousel -Kiddos will love riding this 1903 antique Dentzel carousel. It features over 60 painted animals and is led by a horse named Dolly.
• Dollywood Express – One of the highlights of our visit to Dollywood was riding the 110-ton coal-fired steam engine train. It took about 20 minutes to load the train with passengers and the ride itself lasted about 20 minutes. The train ride is a 5-mile journey through the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. This is a great way to see the whole park and I bet it is a gorgeous ride in the fall. It’s also a beautiful ride during the holiday season when the park is all lit up. I suggest wearing sunglasses because this is a REAL train and cinders can get on your skin, even your eyes. Also, like a real train, it blows a very loud whistle. It was cool but might bother those with sensory issues.

Country Fair

This area of Dollywood is designed for younger children and is themed around a small-town county fair. Kids will love the bright colors, rides, carnival games, and snacks in this area.

• Busy Bees
• Demolition Derby (Bumper Cars – Height Requirement 42”)
• Dizzy Disk (Height Requirement 48”)
• Carnival Games
• Lemon Twist (similar to Teacups ride)
• Lucky Ducky (slow duck-themed ride)
• Piggy Parade
• Shooting Star (Drop Tower – Height Requirement 36”)
• Sky Rider (Height Requirement 42”)
• The Amazing Flying Elephants (similar to the Dumbo ride)
• The Scrambler (Height Requirement 36”)
• The Waltzing Swinger (Swings)

Wildwood Grove

Wildwood Grove is a great place for families with young children to spend some time.  Every ride here has a Parent Swap area where the littlest ones can wave to their parents/siblings/family. You can even see the restrooms from the Parent Swap area. If one kiddo needs a restroom break or diaper change, you can take care of it while their sibling rides the attraction.

• Black Bear Trail (Height Requirement 36”)
• Dragonflier (Height Requirement 39”)
• Frogs & Fireflies
• Great Tree Swing (Height Requirement 36”)
• Hidden Hollow
• The Mad Mockingbird (Height Requirement 36”)
• The Wildwood Tree
• Treetop Tower
• Wildwood Creek

Wilderness Pass

If you have older kids and/or adults who want to ride roller coasters, they’ll find them at Wilderness Pass. And, if you also have little ones with you, there is an area where they can play (Firehouse Fun Yard). You will also find the Lumberjack Bridge and the FireChaser Express that families and kids can ride together.

• Lumberjack Lifts – Here, you’ll find two 30-foot-tall towers. Pull the ropes to lift you 25 feet in the air and then let go for an easy, kid-friendly free fall.
• Firehouse Fun Yard – A firehouse-themed interactive play area for little ones 39″ or less. You’ll find water features, a soft playground with a slide, a block table, and a chalkboard coloring wall. 
• FireChaser Express – The first dual-launch family coaster in the country. It sends riders forward and backward!

Rockin’ Roadway

Little kids (and adults) love Rockin’ Roadway! You get to drive your very own classic car through a 1950s roadway lined with retro billboards. I have to say – this is a fun experience – even if you’re a 45-year-old kid at heart!

Shows

Dollywood has a nice variety of shows featuring either music or animals. All of the shows are uplifting and family-friendly.

My kids really like the show Dreamland Drive-In at Pines Theater. It was actually named one of the best theme park shows in the whole country. And, Pines Theater is an indoor theater and is a great place to take the kiddos if it is raining or it gets hot.

If you’re going to take your kids to one show, I think the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary in Craftsman Valley is the show kids will like the most. You really get up close and personal with these birds of prey that are under the care of the American Eagle Foundation. You’ll learn about the birds presented, how they were saved/rescued, and how they are cared for at Dollywood.

All the Shows at Dollywood:

• Dreamland Drive-In – Located at Pines Theater, this show features songs from the late ’50s and the ’60s, USA Today named this show the 2nd best theme park show in the USA. I have to admit that it was very good and our entire family enjoyed it very much. It’s very uplifting and heartwarming and lasts about n hour. If you see one show at Dollywood, I recommend that you see this one.
• Forever Country – I also really enjoyed this show. It was a very lively show and I loved hearing the popular country songs from the late 80s, 90s, and early 2000s.
• Good Vibes – a positive musical show featuring popular contemporary and classic songs
• Kingdom Heirs – award-winning Southern gospel quartet 
• Harmonies Of The Heart – live music along with close members of Dolly’s family who sing and tell stories. It is a reimagined version of the popular Heart of the Holidays Christmas show
• Smoky Mountain String Band – live playing of popular blue grass hits
• The Mike Snodgrass Band – soulful West Virginia singer-songwriter
• The Tones – high energy and upbeat  a cappella group singing pop and contemporary songs
• Wings of America Birds of Prey – get a close look and learn more about the birds of prey that are under the care of the American Eagle Foundation
• Wild Roots Band – this band plays songs of celebration, love, and faith

You can also see the Special Fall and Christmas Shows HERE.

Junior Coasters

Even though Dollywood has several thrill rides, it also has family rollercoasters that kids can ride. These coasters are great for introducing kids to rollercoasters.

• Whistle Punk Chaser – This is a kid-sized coaster in the Timber Canyon 
• Dragon Flier – Located in Wildwood Grove, this ride makes you feel like you’re flying through the air like a dragonfly. Dragon Flier was explicitly designed for families with kids to enjoy together. This is my 12-year-old son’s favorite ride. Height requirement 39″.

So, if you’re heading to Dollywood with little ones, you will find plenty of fun things for them to do! The whole family will have a great time!

Dollywood // 2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd. – Pigeon Forge, TN 37863 // 1-800-DOLLYWOOD

WEBSITE

A big thank you to Dollywood for hosting our visit. All opinions are my own.

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