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Dollywood has made the decision to go cashless at Splash Country. If you have cash, you're able to use a kiosk (see kiosk images below) that you can transfer that cash onto a ReadyCARD Prepaid Visa OR a ReadyCARD Prepaid Mastercard that you can use outside the park if you have money leftover at the end of the day. Pro Tip: Use it ASAP, or you may forget you have it!
Read All About Cashless at Dollywood's website - Click here.
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| Examples of ReadySTATION® machine that you'll see at the water park |
🔸Why are they doing this?
DOLLYWOOD RESPONSE:
By transitioning to only accepting electronic payments such as debit cards, credit cards, and mobile methods like Apple Pay, Dollywood's Splash Country will provide a faster, safer and more Guest-friendly experience. Hosts will spend less time handling cash and more time serving Guests.
WUAD RESPONSE:
This has been a trend among amusement park operators for the last decade or so. It's a cost-saving measure for several reasons. I worked in the merchandise department at Opryland - doesn't feel as long ago as it was, but their money dealing operation was quite large. There was a 'bank' called Cash Control in the middle of the park where employees would go to drop off carefully counted money from registers at the restaurants and shops, pick up neatly wrapped dollars and coins for the next shift and pick up paper pay checks. Every park has to have their own version of that, and that requires a significant amount of labor. Labor that can be done by a machine! I bet if you a visit a bank frequently in your everyday life you've noticed many banks have scaled back their humans!
When I became aware of this trend I wondered if Dollywood would do this, and how would they do it. Starting at Splash Country makes it a bit more manageable than trying to start this at the amusement park. As far as I know, this is the first Herschend Property to go completely cashless....let me know if that's not the case.
🔸Will this happen at Dollywood too?
I don't know what their plans are, but I think the signs point that direction.
🔸What about other Herschend Properties - like Silver Dollar City, Kentucky Kingdom, and the recently acquired parks like Kennywood and Silverwood?
Again, I don't know what their plans are, but if it works out well at Dollywood, it feels reasonable to me to expect them to expand it further. When and If that decision is made, then I would not expect a mid-season change. Notice this is rolling out at the start of the season for Splash Country.
Here are a few highlights....
🔸What types of payment does DWSC accept?
Beginning May 16, Dollywood's Splash Country will solely accept electronic payments. These include all major credit and debit card providers (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, Discover) and secure mobile payment systems (Apple Pay, Google/Android Pay, Samsung Pay). We do not accept cash, however, Guests can transfer cash onto a prepaid card through a simple and safe process at several Cash to Card Kiosks located throughout Dollywood's Splash Country.
🔸Is there a fee to use the cash to card kiosks and prepaid cards?
The Cash to Card Kiosks are free to use; there is no fee to load cash onto the prepaid card. If the card is used regularly, there is no recurring fee. After 92 consecutive days of no transaction activity, however, a $3.95 fee will be charged each month. To avoid this fee, simply use the card within 91 days.
🔸How can i check my balance on my card?
Notice they have their own FAQ Section - check that out - Click Here
What do you think of Dollywood going cashless? No doubt it will be an adjustment at first, but everyone will eventually get used to it.
🔵Blog Posts and other Helpful Trip Planning information -
- Dollywood's 2026 Ride - Hidden Hollow Aviation - Updates, Photos, Videos of it Under Construction.
- Getting To Dollywood by Plane
- Hotels with High Ratings in Pigeon Forge. I have created a spreadsheet that incorporates ratings from different reliable sources and ranked hotels in the area. I've listed out columns for things like indoor pools, hot tubs and more on the spreadsheet. Very helpful if you, or someone in your group is looking for a specific amenity.
- Top Breakfast Restaurants in Pigeon Forge. I have created a list of the best Breakfast restaurants in Pigeon Forge using ratings from various reliable sources and ranked them in my blog post.
- 30 Great Places to Eat In Pigeon Forge that are open after 2pm! A list of highly rated establishments that are open past 2pm.
- Guide To Mountain Coasters - A look at all the types of mountain coasters in Sevier County.
- Dollywood's 2025 Operating Calendar +MORE - speculation, guesses on future projects, etc.
- Dollywood's 2026 Operating Calendar +MORE - Calendar + Much More!
- Exclusive Ride Time, Golden Hours, Golden Events - What's the difference??
- Navigating to Dollywood from North Carolina post-Hurricane Helene.
- 8 Things to do at Dollywood if you don't care for rides - There's a lot to do!
- Pigeon Forge Trolley Info You'll Want to Know!
- Trip Advisors Top 10 Budget Friendly Hotels in Pigeon Forge.
- Tons of YouTube videos - I have so many YouTube videos of Dollywood including every festival and lots of general park updates as well as Big Bear Mountain footage.
- Check out my 2025 End of Year Recap to see all of my Dollywood videos from 2025.
- Check out my 2024 End of Year Recap to see all of my Dollywood videos from 2024.
- Check out my 2023 End of Year Recap to see all of my Dollywood videos from 2023.
- Check out my 2022 End of Year Recap to see all of my Dollywood videos from 2022.
- 2024-2025 School Break Calendar - includes Fall, Christmas & Spring Breaks for regional schools.
- Link to Dollywood's TimeSaver Info Page - click Here.
- GrayLine Day-Long Tours from downtown Nashville to Dollywood and back to Nashville - click here
