💠Dollywood's 2025 Exclusive Ride Time + Golden Hours + Golden Events - What's The Difference? - Info You'll Want 2 Know 💠

Hi Everyone,

Let's discuss Exclusive Ride Time (ERT), Golden Events and Golden Hours for 2025.  I notice these three mostly separate things are often confused for one another, so let's first define each of these.

💠Exclusive Ride Time (ERT) - This is special time set aside for those Gold & Diamond Passholders who register, as well as Resort Guests who register for this once-A-festival event.  You get to enjoy select attractions before the park opens to the public.  ERT falls under Golden Events.

💠Golden Hour - Every operating day, for the first hour, you can use your Gold or Diamond Pass as if it were a TimeSaver Pass, allowing you a so-called 'front of the line' pass, that are popular at many amusement parks these days.  This includes all rides that offer the TimeSaver option.  No registration required - just show the attendant your pass.  Link to Dollywood's TimeSaver Page - lots of specifics including which rides - click HERE.

💠Golden Events - these are less frequent events.  They are usually well advertised in advance and can include things like the Media Day event on Opening Day, or special events through the season.  ERT falls under Golden Events.

Here's a handy infographic from Dollywood with more specifics...

For Exclusive Ride Time (ERT), ERT's are held on one Saturday per festival. 

 

Below is an example of how ERT works, straight from an official Dollywood Facebook event page for the Flower and Food Festival ERT event for 2025.  The selected attractions for each ERT event will change for each event.

Gold and Diamond Season Passholders gain access to a special Early Ride Time Event in Jukebox Junction during the Flower & Food Festival! ERT will run from 8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m. at Lightning Rod, Rockin’ Roadway and Smoky Mountain River Rampage.
Attendees can enjoy early park entry, premium ride time, culinary samplings and an exclusive 1986 original design sticker!

𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗕𝗘𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚:

Gold and Diamond Passholders, as well as resort guests, are eligible to register for this event. Each Gold or Diamond Passholder must have an event ticket to be allowed entry. Children 3 & under or children with a Pre-K Imagination Season Pass are the only exceptions. Silver and Platinum Passholders, as well as guests using Bring-A-Friend Tickets, do not qualify.
Gold and Diamond Passholders

 

🌟🌟🌟

Gold and Diamond Passholders will be prompted to log into their My Dollywood account to register for this event. They will find this registration as an action-required entitlement in their online account. There will only be one entitlement given per eligible guest. This entitlement can only be redeemed once per person.
Once redeemed, this will serve as the guest’s event ticket. This ticket will be scanned at the turnstiles on Saturday, April 26 beginning at 8 a.m.

Resort Guests

Resort guests wishing to attend this event can pick up an event ticket at the ticketing desk at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, as well as Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort.
Guests will scan their event tickets and their park admission tickets at the turnstiles on Saturday, April 26, beginning at 8 a.m.
Additional Information
Please be sure to reserve an event ticket for each member of your party so we have an accurate rider count. Children 3 and under will not need an event ticket. Registration will begin Tuesday, April 15 at 11 a.m.

🌟Here is a FB link to the next ERT Event, which happens to be this upcoming Saturday April 26 - you need to register in your My Dollywood Account (see above) to take advantage of this opportunity.  These ERT events are only one-time per festival.

https://www.facebook.com/share/19cGNnniyX/ 

I have been unable to find a schedule for ERT for the rest of 2025.  When I do, I will be sure to post that update here.

I hope that helps to clear up any confusion around these topics!  Please let me know if something is off or incorrect- it could easily be! :)

🔵Blog Posts and other Helpful Trip Planning information - 

• 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.
• 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 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.

🟠🟢Dollywood's Flower & Food Festival Tasting Pass Info for 2025 🟢🟠

Hi Everyone,

The Smoky Mountains are alive with the vibrant hues of spring, and at its heart, Dollywood's Flower & Food Festival is blossoming into a feast for the senses! Imagine the park awash in a kaleidoscope of floral artistry, perfectly paired with an array of delectable tastes. Feeling overwhelmed by the abundance of beauty and flavor? Your answer: the Flower & Food Festival Tasting Pass, your passport to a curated culinary journey.

The Flower & Food Festival runs from April 18 to June 8, 2025. Note that Dollywood is closed on certain Tuesdays and Thursdays early on in the festival. Operating Hours for the entire festival will be 10am Opening and 8pm Closing. Pro Tip: Always double check the calendar when you plan to go to Dollywood - ALWAYS!

Firstly,

You Can Buy the Tasting Pass at Dollywood.com at this link - here.

All this information is from Dollywood's website, which is at this link - here.

It's $42.99 and $3 discount for Gold and Diamond Passholders. Click on any image to see a bigger version.

You get Five Choices. You can use them all in one day if you wish. You can use Two, come back another day and use the other Three. Make it a fun date night and split Four, and share the fifth as a dessert.

I don't have a link to whomever created "the spreadsheet" - but someone has created a spreadsheet with rankings of value for all of the Tasting Pass menu items - is what they've done, but if you look for it on the Dollywood Facebook Pages, you will find it. I think the gist of it usually ends up being that the Food vs. Drinks battle commences, and food usually wins. That's what I gathered from a quick glance at it. If you want to search for it, it's out there. I saw one for the IWALY tasting pass as well.

BEVERAGES

SAVORY BITES

DESSERTS

Have you tried any of the menu items in the tasting pass?  If so, what did you think about it?  Let me know in the comments.

🔵Blog Posts with other Helpful Trip Planning information - 

• 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.
• 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 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.

🔴🟡🔴🟡Dollywood's Opening Week + 'I Will Always Love You' Music Festival 2025 - VIDEOS AND PHOTO TRIP REPORT 🟡🔴🟡🔴

Hi Everyone!

This article includes all of my Videos from Opening Week AND A Photo Trip Report.  Some of the pics from my visit.  I want to try and include a Photo Trip report in my blog for every visit this season!

I have gathered up all of my videos so far from Dollywood's Opening Week - their 40th Season!

If they were put in chronological order, they would go this way.

Tram Ride In

Part One

Part Two

Glass Shop

From The Heart

Emporium

Emporium Short

A short about Dollywood's Project 2026.  

Includes the Media Day Teaser video from Dolly and Eugene Naughton, park president....and a little construction zone footage from 3/18/25.

photo trip report - random order

Country Fair splashpad and enhancements

new permanent home for Imagination Playhouse, the Village Area

Country Fair - new signage and a new path - that used to be there a long time ago.

Country Fair - Fresh paint everywhere

Construction Update from 3/18/25, New Wilderness Pass Restaurant

Construction Update from 3/18/25, New Wilderness Pass Restaurant

Construction Update from 3/18/25, New Wilderness Pass Restaurant

Construction Update from 3/18/25, New Wilderness Pass Restaurant - outdoor dining area

Construction Update from 3/18/25, New Wilderness Pass Restaurant - this will be the Mobile Ordering Window.

Featured Menu Items

Celebration Sky, part of IWALY celebration

LOVE photo opp, part of the IWALY celebration

Face Paint and Henna Prices 2025

I doubt this is new, but new to me!

Some of the 40th merch - see my videos for lots more merch video.

This is happening later in the season.

The Depot Stage, where The Tones typically perform, has been removed.

Dollywood has placed these anniversary medallions on the buildings that have been around since day one of Dollywood, such as the Little School House seen here.

Seen at the Glass Shop

Seen at the Glass Shop

Seen at the Glass Shop

Seen at the Glass Shop

Seen at the Glass Shop

Seen at the Blacksmith Shop

Seen at the Blacksmith Shop

Here's #192 being prepped for service later in the season.  Cinderella is pulling the train until then.

These two signs grabbed my attention.

This sign is at the Junction - you can't get close to it.

This sign is interesting - it has a hole where the train headlight is, and I think its a couple of LED lights in there, but not positive.  It will be awhile before Dollywood is open after dark to see wether or not its a light.  Wonder what this is connected to - a larger project or just a one-off thingy?  This is between Blazing Fury and Tennessee Tornado.

I hope you enjoyed this visit to Dollywood!  Let me know in the comments your favorite part, or least favorite parts!  I would really love to hear from you!

🟡🟣Dollywood's 'I Will Always Love You' Music Festival, Tasting Pass Info, Calendar, and More! 🟣🟡

Hi Everyone,

Dollywood has opened for its 40th Season and I am here to share with you information that I've found about the tasting pass, this years' operating calendar, New Stuff and more!

courtesy of dollywood.com

For the "I Will Always Love You'' music festival, Dollywood has now released its menus.  Scroll Down To See.

Prior to Dollywood releasing the menus online, I went looking for them on the app. 

Let's go to the Dollywood App.  Below are two screen shots, side-by-side to help illustrate the example of How To Find Tasting Pass Food Items.

Step One - Left - Decide which restaurant you want to look at.  Here we are looking at Crossroads Funnel Cakes.  You see a badge labeled "Festival Dining" - that's the badge you will find all of the Festival Tasting Pass Menu Items as you scroll up/down through the list of restaurants.  

Step Two - Right - When you click on the restaurant, it will take you to the screen that you see on the right.  You'll need to scroll down to "Festival Offerings - Tasting Pass Eligible".  Here you see that their only IWALY Tasting Pass option is the Strawberry Crunch Funnel Cake.

NOTE from 3/18 - Some of the Festival Items are not on the app.  For example, the Spinach and Artichoke Pizza showcased on the front menu at Iron Horse Pizza wasn't showing up on the app.  Hopefully this is resolved.

Pricing - as seen at the park.  Gold and Diamond Season Passholders save ($3 OFF) on the I Will Always Love You Festival Tasting Pass! $39.99 for Passholders, $42.99 for everyone else.

🍪🍨🍩🎂MENU ITEMS🎂🍪🍩🍨

SOURCE: I Will Always Love You Tasting Pass | Dollywood Parks & Resorts

PURCHASE PASS ONLINE AND IN THE APP - NOW AVAILABLE

Find the Link to Purchase A Pass on the Dollywood.com website - I Will Always Love You Tasting Pass | Dollywood Parks & Resorts

👄👄

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What's Up around the Park for the "I Will Always Love You" Music Festival

Being the first week of the season, the park has many completed projects from the couple of months of being closed.  Also, not listed here are many of the celebrations planned during the rest of the season.  Dolly mentioned a larger event around May 3rd, the official 40th Anniversary opening date.  Stay tuned for more on that.

• Parking Lot - A New 750 spot parking lot is opening.
• Smoother Experiences:  I've heard they paved away the bumpy asphalt in the tram loading/unloading areas of the Transportation Hub, with concrete. 
• Front Gate Opening Ceremony - Update from Jen S. - They play the National Anthem at 9:30am. I don't have many details, but may include the playing of the National Anthem and a flag raising ceremony.  Also, not sure what time this happens.  This is for all season long. (Thank You Jen S!)
• Country Fair Refresh - The steep path next to Iron Horse Pizza is closed.  You'll need to walk towards the Carousel and hang a right down into the new/old path that takes you in between the Flying Elephants and Sky Rider rides.  The secondary path that passes by Smoky Mountain Rampage is still open and accessible.
• New Splash Pad - There's a new splash pad in the former area where the kiddy coaster once stood.  They've added some additional seating as well.
• You'll notice fresh paint and other updates to buildings and structures.
• Imagination Playhouse - New permanent home at the Heart Song Theater, in the Village.
• New Dollywood Sign - coming later in the season.  Dolly has often spoken about her time in Los Angeles, looking at the famous Hollywood sign and thinking to herself..."If I could change that "H" to a "D", it would be perfect!  And so, for the 40th Season, that's what Dollywood is doing.  It will be at the Craftsman's Valley/The Village Crossroads, above the new shade structure where the former cave once stood.
• Cinnamon Bread
• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Brand New Eatery set to open in May - Wilderness Pass Restaurant - This will be on the site of the former River Battle Ride, in Wilderness Pass.  It's next door to Mystery Mine and Firechaser Express.  It will feature Rotisserie Chicken, Fish, Collard Greens, plus other interesting menu items.
• Rides - Some rides are having a slow-start to the year...
• Smoky Mountain Rampage - NOW OPEN.  It usually opens with the park.  I noticed some work on the lift hill, during my recent visit.  See Image Below - What I think may be happening here, is these conveyor panels are laid out for staging.  I don't believe they would add belts into the water - I hope not, that slide down into the water is awesome.  I think 'the issue, or part of it, is related to the belts on the lift.
• 
  
  
  
  
• Dollywood Express - Original info:  D.E. has not been able to run because of a local Burn Ban.  We are in a deficit for rain at the moment.  
• 3/18 update - The burn ban has been lifted.  A new sign at the train depot mentions 'routine maintenance' as a reason for closure.  Cinderella #70 was seen moving around the tracks near the depot.... hopefully in preparation for operation.  We'll see!
• 3/18 PM update - Cinderella #70 was running around the park with the coaches.  I 'got' some video of it in Country Fair....get home and the video is frozen.  Oh well.  
• 3/19 Update - OPEN - According to Queue Times.com, the D.E. is up and running.
• Lightning Rod - mechanical issues, but was running part of the day on 3/18 and most of the day on 3/19.  One Train Operations - currently.
• Blazing Fury - closed, expected to open later in the season with some minor upgrades.
• Tennessee Tornado received a fresh coat of paint.  Painting is not quite finished yet, but it is operational.
• Everything else has opened, from my research.
• TimeSaver Pass from the Resorts - Some of the ride offerings have changed from the offerings in the past (for example:  Lightning Rod & Big Bear Mountain) - be sure to check that info out so no one in your group is disappointed.
• 
  

• New Shows/Old Favorites
• Wild Roots Band
• Kingdom Heirs
• Smoky Mountain String Band, (aka as Appalachian Christmas during S.M.Xmas.)
• Heartsong, The Movie - New Location in Dreamsong Theater.
• Sing-A-Long with Dolly returns for a 2nd year, for IWALY.
• Trio, Again, returns for a 2nd year, for IWALY.
• Heidi Parton's Kin & Friends, returns for a 2nd year...and plays all season long.
• From The Heart, returns for a 2nd year...and plays all or most of the season.
• LINK TO THE LATEST INFO AT DOLLYWOOD.COM/SHOWS & ENTERTAINMENT.
• IWALY Operating Calendar.
• Open Every Single Day throughout the IWALY Festival - 10a to 8pm.

Cross check this calendar, against the latest-greatest version at dollywood.com, as things can change without notice.

TROLLEY TO DOLLYWOOD

So far, crowds have been normal level except for Opening Day, which was a mad house, so that everyone could see Dolly in person.  The parking lots closed for a few hours and the park recommended taking the Pigeon Forge Trolley.  Now it's spring break time, and the park is expected to be busy.  If you're staying at a Pigeon Forge hotel on the Trolley route, then you could save a lot of headaches by schlepping your crew onto the Trolley.  This isn't for everyone, but if you don't mind the experience, then I recommend looking into the Trolley basics, at the very least.  Watch my video - A Fun and Easy Guide to the Pigeon Forge Trolley, below.

Transportation Names

You will hear a lot of names used while you're in Pigeon Forge.  If you're unsure of all the names used for Dollywood transportation - here's a guide.

• The Parking Lot Tram is used in the Dollywood and Splash Country Parking lots, for the purpose of getting guests to and from the front gate.  When Splash Country is open, the park operates a separate Tram, designated to take guests between the two parks.  If you're riding the PF Trolley to get to Splash Country, you will exit at the Dollywood Stop, and then walk to the Transportation Hub, to get on the designated Tram to Splash Country.  If unsure, ASK!

• The Resort Trolleys - take guests to/from the resorts, to/from both parks.

• The Pigeon Forge Trolley/Gatlinburg Trolley - These two systems co-exist to take passengers around all of the tourists' areas in Sevier County.  The main hub of activity for Pigeon Forge is at Patriot Park, near The Island and Teaster Lane.  In Gatlinburg, the main hub is at the Ripley's Aquarium.

Dollywood Opening Day Media Event Video

Dollywood Media Event from Opening Day March 14, 2025, Featuring Dolly Parton.  You can view the entire event on their FB page below.

 

I see this asked a lot.  How is Dollywood celebrating 40 years in 2025?  I thought it opened in 1986??  

You and I didn't turn one year old until a year after our birth dates.  So, Season One happened in 1986.  Dolly turned 40 years old that year.  In 2025, Dolly turned 79 years old, the park is in its 40th Season, and the park is 39 years old.  Fun Fact:  In the future - in the year 2046, Dolly will be 100 years old.  The park will be in its 61st season!

Easy Quiz Time - Following along, in the year 2056...How old will Dolly be, What Season will Dollywood be celebrating, and what year of operation is it?? 

I hope everyone enjoys their Dollywood visit and has a great 2025 season!

🔵Blog Posts with other Helpful Trip Planning information - 

• 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.
• 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 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.