Adventure Journal
Entry Date: November, 2014
We decided that we'd get Dollywood season passes this year. It's very expensive (with four kids), but if you plan to come back several times, it's a pretty good entertainment investment. This year, all the kids are big enough to ride every ride! Woo hoo!

Our first day at the park, Friday after Thanksgiving, was very cold. The high was 41, but we came prepared. We wore layers, warm coats, and even brought our trapper hats we purchased at Dollywood years ago. As an added bonus, it was a very sunny day, so we were pretty much toasty warm all day. The crowds weren't terribly bad the first day either. The kids rode three roller coasters before we broke for lunch. We ate, listened to Christmas music, rode the train, toured Dolly Parton's old tour bus, and visited the magic shop before calling it a day and heading back to the camper.

Saturday was spent at Up The Creek RV Camp. Lee Thomas had a 24hr virus, and Rebecca's aunt and cousin spent the afternoon visiting with us at the camper. We sure love that campground.

We decided to visit Dollywood again on Sunday before heading home. It was a much warmer day reaching over 60 degrees. There was a very small crowd, so the kids were able to ride all the rides they missed on Friday. We were only able to spend about three hours this time, but that's the beauty of a season pass, it didn't matter. We can go for as little time as we wish. When you purchase a "Gold" pass, parking is free ($10 value), and you receive a 20% discount on everything in the park (food, merchandise, etc.). From this point on (through 2015 Christmas season) our admission is covered. We've already saved!
 
I'd like to add that Dollywood is unlike ANY amusement park we've ever visited. The environment is clean and warm. There is seasonal music playing over the sound system all the time. There are decorations and Christmas lights around every corner. It's a genuinely unique place and experience I'd recommend to anyone.

The Richardson Tribe

Adventure Journal
Entry Date: November, 2010
The morning after arriving at Cove Creek RV in Wears Valley, we headed out for an early lunch at the Pigeon Forge "No Way Jose" Mexican Restaurant, then on to Dollywood. It had rained all morning, and we were hopeful that the crowds might be a little smaller. When we arrived, the crowds were just as we'd hoped, thin. The weather was pretty chilly, but we were prepared with the trapper hats we bought here last winter, one of the best investments we ever made. This was the first of our two days at Dollywood during the Thanksgiving holidays.

Another good investment we made last Winter was the purchase of Dollywood season passes. As far as value goes, a single day at Dollywood is not, especially with four kids. However, it's pretty inexpensive to upgrade it to a season pass which gets everyone in for free for the next 12 months (or from before Christmas through Christmas of the following year). If you spend a few bucks extra, you can upgrade one of those passes to a Gold Pass. Gold Pass holders pay no parking ($10), and receive a 10% discount on everything in the park. 
This year, we have been to Dollywood many times, and in all honesty, we still haven't done everything. Yes, Dollywood can be expensive, but it can also be an incredible value.

Now, if you've never been to Dollywood, wipe those images of redneck midway carneys and sticky sidewalks from your mind. Dollywood is as nice a place you'll ever visit. It's clean, the rides are top-notch and safe, and the people that work there are very friendly and down-to-Earth. For kids, the rides, games, and sites are awesome. For grown-ups, it's better than Disney, especially this time of year when millions of Christmas lights sparkle all over the park and a variety of seasonal musicals and live bands also contribute to the holiday spirit.

If you are planning a visit to the Tennessee side of the Smoky Mountains, you owe it to yourself to visit Dollywood. It's located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, one of the most crowded and congested places on Earth. If possible, visit during the week, and avoid holidays. Use the back-street bypass (Teaster) whenever possible.

Then my grandmother gave me a gift with another piece of paper that said that we're going to get to go to the Aquarium of the Smokies. Later that day I went up to my grandparents and they gave us a piece of paper that said we get to go to Dollywood!

The next day we left. It took around 2-4 hours to get there but we drew, read, and played games the way. When we got there it was already dark so we went to bed. The next day I half yelled and half whispered, “We're going to Dollywood!!” When everyone woke up and got their warm clothes on we took off!

We got there and didn't know where to start. First, we decided to go drive The Rockin' Roadway. When we got off we went to this place that sold corn dogs and tater swirls. The corn dogs were around 1 foot in length. The tater swirls that I got, I thought that they were awesome! When we finished we went to the County Fair. There were a whole bunch of games and rides. Including: The Dizzy Disc, The Flying Elephants, Lemon Twist, Scrambler, Sky Rider, Shooting Star, and VegiTales Sideshow Spin.

After that we worked ourselves up the hill, we got to see bald eagles! Then we got back up to another roller coaster called “Blazing Fury”. The best part was that you got to get wet! Right behind the roller coaster was another one! (I rode this one before and it was my first loop ride so I really wanted to ride this again). When we rode it, I think it was better than last time! They took our picture during the ride and when we were done we got to see the pictures of us. Heath and Cal tied for most goofiest. We went back down, went to a cafe, we ordered, and when we sat down there was a man that looks just like Santa Clause. He noticed and came over to talk to us. He was nice but he left and so did we. Heath, Daddy, Cal, and I went up to Timber Canyon which has two roller coasters Mystery Mine, and Thunderhead. While Lainey and John Micah went back to the County Fair.

We stopped right in front of the Mystery Mine and I felt a little scared. Cal said that Heath would be able to ride it because he SAID that he rode when he was little, but you actually had to be 48 inches tall to ride it. Anyway Heath was tall enough. When we rode it was AWESOME!!! For the contest Heath was the funniest, Cal was in second , I was in second, and my dad was in last. I was in last because the air was pushing down on my face that's what made me look funny. Then the Thunderhead this one was non-stop it would not slow down like the rest it just kept going! The picture on this one, Heath looked the funniest again. Cal and I knew when the picture was coming so we smiled.

The Richardson Tribe