🌟2025 Press Release, 2025 Calendar, and MORE 🌟

Exciting News from Dollywood for 2025!

Get ready for another amazing year at Dollywood!

• Latest News: [Press Release Below]
• 2025 Operating Calendar: [Scroll down to calendar]
• Holiday Breaks Planning Guide: [Scroll down to Link to Fall-Xmas-Spring Break chart]
• 2025 Season Pass Information: [Scroll down to Link to 2025 Season Pass Info]

Press Release about 2025 40th Anniversary Year Plans

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--One of Dolly Parton’s greatest dreams—the little theme park named Dollywood that opened in her home county in 1986—has now become one of the world’s leading family destinations and is set to celebrate its 40th season in 2025. Dollywood Parks & Resorts looks a lot different than it did when it opened on May 3, 1986, but the mission at its heart remains the same—to create a welcoming environment where families can enjoy making memories together.

“But look at how far we’ve come since then—and we’re just getting started!”

Dollywood has special events, new celebrations and several returning favorites planned to commemorate the milestone anniversary. The fun begins at Tripadvisor’s #1 US theme park with Season Passholder Preview Day set for Friday, March 14.

“I can’t believe that we’ve been making memories for folks here at my Dollywood for 40 years,” Dolly explained. “That’s a lot of laughter, hugs and smiles, and I’m glad that we’ve been able to be part of it for so many years. When we opened Dollywood, the main thing I wanted to do was to give families a fun place where they could enjoy time spent together. I’m so proud of all the people who have worked to make Dollywood what it is today, and I want to thank all the guests who have supported us and trusted us to help them create those days they’ll never forget.

“And just think, I spent opening day watching the parking lot because I was worried that people might not show up,” she added with a laugh. “But look at how far we’ve come since then—and we’re just getting started!”

A new 40th anniversary show, which debuts Memorial Day weekend and runs through the end of summer, highlights moments from guest-favorite shows during the park’s illustrious history of entertainment offerings. Additionally, a new drone and fireworks show honoring the 40th anniversary season takes place as part of Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration presented by Food City, and a new opening ceremony will occur at the beginning of each operating day during the 2025 season.

The Imagination Playhouse, which features plays based on books from Dolly’s Imagination Library, becomes a permanent fixture this season, offering its much-loved shows for younger guests from March through the end of September. The theater will offer a rotation of playhouse favorites guests have enjoyed through the years. During Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration, new story time and character meet & greets are part of the Imagination Playhouse experience.

Also in celebration of the 40th anniversary, “Heartsong: The Movie” will be remastered and moved—appropriately—to Dreamsong Theater as part of The Dolly Parton Experience. “Heartsong: The Movie” will run in conjunction with “Heidi Parton’s Kin & Friends.”

The Country Fair area of the park also receives a bright refresh during the 2025 season to celebrate the classic fun and family togetherness of this special area of the park. In addition, Country Fair transforms during the Harvest Festival to become Candy Corn Country, with decorations and theming to highlight the “corny” fun of this fall treat. The special festival fun doesn’t end there, however. A favorite of years past, Peppermint Valley returns during Smoky Mountain Christmas to provide a bright red and white lighting scheme in Country Fair.

“I’m excited to welcome guests to celebrate our 40th anniversary season with us in 2025,” said Dollywood Parks & Resorts President Eugene Naughton. “We are thrilled to have earned the Tripadvisor #1 US theme park designation last year along with being the highest ranked US park in Golden Ticket Award voting for Best Park last year. We’ve worked hard for 40 seasons to make the Dollywood experience the best theme park experience in the country, and our guests are telling us we’ve done just that through these awards. And remember what Dolly said, ‘We’re just getting started!’”

The season begins with the I Will Always Love You Music Festival, March 15- April 13. Returning for 2025 is the show honored as the Golden Ticket Award winner for Best New Show of 2024, “From the Heart—The Life & Music of Dolly Parton.” In this instant classic, Dolly’s remarkable story is told in an inspirational and uplifting way as guests experience the emotional pull she faced as she left everything she had known in Sevier County to move to Nashville in pursuit of her dreams. “From the Heart” phenomenally tells Dolly’s exceptional story through her own narration and legendary music catalog. The show takes place in Celebrity Theater and runs through the Flower & Food Festival.

Dollywood’s Flower & Food Festival (April 18-June 8) blooms bright with iconic Mosaiculture displays throughout the park. Vivid larger-than-life flower sculptures create an immersive atmosphere for park guests with more than half-a-million blooms during this stunning festival. Dollywood’s culinary team showcases their world-class abilities during the event with a menu full of delicacies to highlight the tastes of spring in the Smokies.

Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration presented by Food City (June 14-August 3) is everyone’s favorite summer tradition, and once again includes Dollywood’s Sweet Summer Nights drone and fireworks show each night. Even more drones take to the skies this year to present a mesmerizing show that honors Dollywood’s 40th anniversary season. Two more guest-favorite shows, “Bubble Evolution” and “Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience,” provide popping bubbles and playful pooches to help every guest feel like a kid this summer.

A family tradition for many, Dollywood’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana (Sept. 12- Oct. 27) celebrates the beauty of fall with thousands of carved pumpkins, spirited performances from talented singers and the fun of Great Pumpkin LumiNights. Great Pumpkin LumiNights, which previously has been named the best theme park harvest event in the world, features elaborate displays that are fun for every member of the family. Creative culinary items, accomplished artisans, and fall fun in the Smokies make this a picture-perfect time to enjoy Dollywood.

The industry’s Best Theme Park Christmas event—Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana (Nov. 1- Jan. 4)—concludes the park’s 2025 season with six million lights, festive holiday shows, and the warm Christmas atmosphere guests have come to expect during this joyous time of year.

With 40th anniversary season surprises ahead, guests should consider a season pass to ensure they can experience all the fun! Three season pass levels—Diamond, Gold and Silver—provide great options for every guest, while the popular Pre-K Imagination Season Pass offers free admission all season long to any child born in 2020 or 2021. Passes are on sale now to current 2024 season passholders and go on sale to the general public on Monday, Oct. 28. Anyone visiting during this season’s Smoky Mountain Christmas festival (opens Friday, Nov. 1) can receive full value from their admission ticket to upgrade to a 2025 season pass! It’s the perfect Christmas gift for every member of the family.

Dollywood Diamond Season Passes provide a premium experience for guests. In addition to admission all season long, Diamond passholders receive four Bring-A-Friend Free tickets, free general parking, the largest discounts on dining, merchandise and lodging, an all-season unlimited 40th anniversary refill mug, as well as discounts on TimeSaver passes, VIP tours and preferred parking. Diamond Season Passes also provide the passholder season access to Dollywood’s Splash Country.

The Gold Pass represents tremendous value for guests thanks to two Bring-A-Friend Free tickets, free general parking, a one-day unlimited refill mug, as well as discounts on dining, merchandise, and lodging. Both Diamond and Gold passholders receive access to special events and activities just for them. Only the named passholder can receive the perks associated with each pass type.

Gold and Diamond passholders can take advantage of another great perk—complimentary TimeSaver line access the first hour of every operating day. This great benefit allows the named passholder expedited boarding on Dollywood’s world-class rides and attractions including Big Bear Mountain, the two-time winner of the Golden Ticket Award for Best Family Coaster.

Silver Season Passes also are available and include two Bring-A-Friend Free tickets and a discount on Dollywood lodging. Select blackout dates apply to adult and senior Silver Season Passes and Silver Bring-A-Friend Free tickets. Child Silver Season Passes do not have blackout dates.

Guests at this world-class family vacation destination can experience even more fun at one of Dollywood’s award-winning resort hotels, Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa or Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort. Both properties offer unbeatable hospitality and exclusive complimentary privileges, including TimeSaver passes, door-to-door transportation, preferred parking at Dollywood parks, and package delivery for purchases made at Dollywood theme park.

For more information about Dollywood’s 2025 season or season passes, please visit Dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app.

-Dollywood2024-

About Dollywood Parks & Resorts: A highly awarded and widely recognized leader in the amusement industry, The Dollywood Company consists of the 165-acre Dollywood theme park; the 35-acre Dollywood’s Splash Country; and Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, and the newly opened Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort. As unique as its namesake and owner Dolly Parton, Dollywood is the 2010 Applause Award winner, the theme park industry’s highest accolade; winner of 58 Golden Ticket Awards; and recipient of 28 Brass Ring Awards for Live Entertainment. The park is located near Great Smoky Mountains National Park and earned the Golden Ticket Award for the Best Park in the world in 2023. This year, Dollywood was named by Tripadvisor as the #1 theme park in the country based on actual guest reviews. It also has been recognized as a top U.S. theme park by USA Today on multiple occasions. Dollywood is open mid-March through early January and offers rides and attractions, shows and crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region. Dollywood’s Splash Country, recognized by the Travel Channel and Tripadvisor as one of the country’s most beautiful water parks, operates from mid-May to Labor Day. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa as well as Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort provide guests with spectacular mountain views and family-friendly amenities next door to Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country. For more information, visit dollywood.com. Operating days and hours vary.

Link to Business Wire 

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Link: dollywood.com

There are not many changes in the calendar from 2024.  Passholder Preview Day is March 14th. Sounds like details about Passholder Day are still being sorted out.  Expect more on that later as it draws near.  All the other festivals fall in line in duration and timing, as they did in 2024.

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Things that stood out in the Press Release...

1. ''Just getting started'' comment is interesting.
2. New 40th Anniversary Show that runs from Memorial Day to end of Summer.
3. New drone and fireworks show honoring 40th anniversary during Summer Celebration Festival.
4. New opening ceremony every operating day.
5. Imagination Playhouse will become a permanent fixture this season, with shows from March to September.
6. Heartsong, the movie, will be remastered and incorporated into the Heidi Parton's Kin & Friends show.
7. Country Fair area refresh.
1. An old path returns.  They are restoring the path behind the carousel that goes into Country Fair next to the Flying Elephants ride.
2. Harvest Festival activities will include an area-wide transformation into Candy Corn Country, celebrating Corn.
3. Smoky Mountain Christmas will usher in Peppermint Valley once again, to the Country Fair area.

1. 'Just Getting Started' comment opens up a lot of possibilities, right?  She's most likely referring to the 2025 Season, but she might also be speaking from the 30k Foot View as well.   Hard not to notice the gigantic new parking lot under construction as you enter the park.  One interesting rumor I have heard recently, was that Dollywood has future plans to remove the two current Premiere Lots and incorporate those spaces into the theme park, which makes a ton of sense to me.  As you exit Dragonfliers' station, it's also hard not to notice several unused acres of land between WWG and those Premiere Lots.  In Nashville, Dollywood is preparing to open a hotel off of Broadway - there are a lot of things going on in the Dollywood Universe right now that will lead to new and exciting things.  'Just getting started' seems appropriate.

Possible future theme park area??  Rampage ride sits on a former parking lot, so it is a growth strategy Dollywood has used in the past.  It makes great sense to me, as long as they add more parking elsewhere.

7. Country Fair Refresh.  One thing already under construction, or re-construction, is a pathway from the carousel down to the Country Fair area, next to the Flying Elephants.  I say reconstruction because there was a path that opened with the 2004 Major Refresh of the Country Fair area.  And then one year the path was gone, as Dollywood will sometimes do....make things just disappear like they never existed.  Anyway, this one will be even better than the first one.

2004 until ??

The three pics below were taken on 10/22/24.  The new path seems to follow the old path's path exactly.

As far as other things in the Country Fair area, I'm not sure what will actually end up happening, other than the holiday overlay theming mentioned in the PR.  

Ride wise - Since there have been no specific ride announcements, it's anybody's guess as to what will happen.  Lemon Twist looks to me like it is just barely hanging on for dear life.  It used to spin fast in its younger days.  Dizzy Disc and the Ferris Wheel were big losses to me.  Scrambler, Bumper Cars, Elephants, Swinger are probably all safe.  In my mind, a FAIR is colorful and has lots of cool lights on the rides (among other sensory things) and Dollywood could improve in that area, particularly the Waltzing Swinger could use a lighting package....just my .02...especially in the age of Insta and how kids and kids-at-heart behave with their phones nowadays.

The main eatery in Country Fair is the Grandstand Cafe, the ice cream cone place beside it, and then the Midway Market has snacks and drinks.  The buffet is the other option, and is popular, but its hours are somewhat inconsistent. It was not open for the Summer Festival.  I could see a restaurant revamp with some different food options replacing the Cafe.  Eugen Naughten, Park President, said a few years ago that Dollywood's Food offerings were going to go through an improvement process.  Since those remarks, we've seen exactly that around the park.  Miss Lillians is this year's example.  Iron Horse Pizza before that.  A new restaurant is under construction in Wilderness Pass.  Not sure if the words 'culinary overhaul' will apply but seems possible given the other recent examples of improvements around the park.

There's room for improvement in the Country Fair area, so I will be interested to see what they have in mind.

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Season Pass Blog Post

Read all the details about purchasing a new 2025 Dollywood Season Pass - Click Here

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Read all the details about Fall Break, Christmas Break & Spring Break for Regional School Systems

Click Here

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Read all the details about how to use the Pigeon Forge Trolley to get to Dollywood.  Watch my fun video!

Click Here

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🔵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, What's New in 2025, and More!
• 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 many Big Bear Mountain footage.
• 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.

🔴🔵New Season Passholder Information for 2025🔵🔴

Hi Everyone,

Dollywood has released information about new Season Pass Sales for 2025.  Sales begin October 28th, 2024.  Recently, Dollywood released information about RENEWALS for 2025 Season Passes for those who already have Dollywood Season Passes.  If that's you, then you can read my blog post about that, HERE.  Dollywood is currently selling 2024 Season Passes that expire January 2025, so PAY ATTENTION to what you are purchasing.  On October 28, they will just sell the 2025 pass.

Who is this for?

Brand new Season Passholders who did not have a season pass in 2024.

Let's jump right into all of this!  All of this information comes from Dollywood.com's 2025 Season Pass Page, which you can find right HERE.  Make sure you log in to your Dollywood account before getting started with purchases.  

One Park Passes, above.
For 10 mo. Payment Plan, $19.88 Silver, $29.95 Gold & $44.88 2 Park Diamond

Two Park Passes, above.
For 10 mo. Payment Plan, $26.75 2P-Silver, $36.13 2P-Gold & $44.88 2 Park Diamond

Study Carefully

Diamond Pass Offer, seen on Facebook.  Click here to go to the link listed above.

These benefits seem pretty consistent with last year's offerings, after a quick scan over the comparison chart.  Biggest difference is the addition of the Gold or Silver Two Park Pass, which was not offered in 2024's season pass options.

What pass are you going to get for 2025?  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 2024 Operating Calendar
• 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 many Big Bear Mountain footage.
• 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.

🟠🟣2025 Dollywood Season Pass Renewal Information You'll Want To Know! 🟣🟠

RENEWAL UPDATES:

🔹11/4/2024 - The Renewal Period Has Ended.  Head to My Blog Article about purchasing New 2025 Season Passes that you can use for 2024 Smoky Mountain Christmas plus all of 2025, depending on the pass level you chose.

🔹10/28/24 - Dollywood has extended this Renewal Offer until November 3rd - looks like end of day on the 3rd.

Hi Everyone,

Dollywood has unveiled the details for their 2025 season passes. Let's dive in and compare them to the 2024 offerings to help you choose the perfect pass for your needs.

Who is this for?

This is for Current 2024 Passholders to renew their passes for the 2025 Season.  Sales for New 2025 Season Passes will begin in late October/early November.  Right now, Dollywood is still selling 2024 Season Passes, which will expire on January 5th, 2025.  Pay attention to what you are buying! 

If you have never owned a Dollywood Season Pass, and want one, Read my Blog Article about New Season Pass Holder sales, which begin October 28, 2024.

All of this information can be found on Dollywood's Website, click Here.

For the Silver Pass...The biggest difference I see is that the Pre-Sale Bonus changed from One Xmas Visit in 2023, to a lodging voucher, BUT for the 2025 Pass, they included Unlimited visits between 10/14/24-12/15/24...I think im reading that right?  And the 2024 pass included a 10% Lodging discount, but I do not see that for the 2025 Silver Pass.

Let's look at the Gold Pass.  Same Price as 2024.  Gold did not have a Pre-Sale Bonus for 2024, so the Lodging Voucher discount is new.

Two Park Diamond - $15 Price increase from 2024.  Three Pre-Sale Bonuses for 2025:  Lodging Voucher discount, Tumbler, Monthly Cinnamon Bread

These two passes on the above left are new offerings, and the Two Park Diamond is the same as the one above these three.  Basically, there is a Silver or Gold.  Gold has more benefits like free parking and a complimentary TimeSaver for the first hour of each day.  Read the details.

Payment Plan - If you would prefer to pay for your pass over a 10-month period, then Dollywood offers that as well.  Go to dollywood.com to learn more details about their "Easy2Play Payment Plan''.

Looks like we will celebrate IWALY again 😚

Dollywood does have its own official Facebook page specifically for Season Passes, and all the information that goes along with it.  If you're having questions, I would start with that Search bar on that Facebook page as you're probably not the first to ask or wonder.

I think that wraps this up for now.  Next step is to renew on October 14th.

🌟 Information about Dollywood's 2024 Season Passes, QR Codes, Entitlements and more burning questions - Answered! 🌟

Hi Everyone,

Are you ready for Dollywood to open its gates for the 2024 Season?  

If you have been keeping up with all the off-season changes going on at Dollywood, then you are already aware that Dollywood has upgraded their Season Pass operating system to accommodate QR codes, which will speed up the process of moving through the front gate.  I have to imagine it will help at food & merch locations as well - they often struggle with scanning the barcode on my season pass for the discount to apply.

Dollywood has written a blog post that answers many of the details about the Season Pass, Including:

• How to Redeem Entitlements
• How to Add a Photo to a Digital Season Pass
• How to Update a Season Pass with a Barcode to a Season Pass with a QR Code

You can find that blog post at this link - click here. OR, you can check out my screen grabs below.  Click to enlarge.

#dollywood #dollywood2024 #dollywoodthemepark #DollywoodSeasonPass

2024 Season Pass Renewal Info for Dollywood (Updated 10/11/23)

Hi Everyone, (Update & 2nd Update & 3rd update- Below)

On Tuesday October 3rd, Dollywood sent some passholders information about renewing their passes for 2024.  I did not receive the email and its possible many others didn't either.  However, I logged into my account and discovered that my pass was eligible to renew, and so I went through the process up until pulling the trigger at Checkout.

What I could not find was the info graphic that was all over the place online, but not anywhere to be found in my Dollywood account.  WEIRD.

Im not 100% sure this info graphic is the first one, or the updated one.⬆️

Here's the info graphic, above.

So, after studying I notice several components of the 2023 pass are missing, so is that on purpose?  I saw somewhere online that Dollywood is still working on details.  Typically, they have all of that worked out before an announcement, not that they don't tweak things, but usually it's mostly sorted out.

At this stage it feels too early to offer any type of color commentary or advice, so I will hang on for more information and be sure to pass that on to you all when I learn more.

My post last year about the 2023 passes was published on October 17, 2022, and you can read that HERE if you would like to.  I would imagine by the middle of October they will have more information to share.  Maybe they are just getting a jump start on the renewal process?

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Quick Update - Thursday 10/5/23

I am seeing a lot of folks online who are frustrated at this.  There are a lot of passionate Dollywood fans out there!!

At some point soon, all of the correct details will sort themselves out.  I hope that happens sooner than later, lol.

In my snail mail today, I received a newsletter with the info graphic for the passes.  I learned yesterday three important things on the Dollywood Annual Passholders FB page.

1) This promotion for early renewals was meant to highlight some key features but was not supposed to be detail oriented.

2) The original info graphic - the one up above, has some errors (i think), so ignore that one, maybe.

3) A follower of Dollymania.com pointed out on this same FB page, that they had done some in-depth research, and had some solid answers to many of the questions.  So, I'll show you all a screen grab from that informative exchange.   You can click the image to enlarge it. 

I hope this helps provide some much-needed information to those seeking it out.  And it all sounds like the entitlements are going to be pretty good, but until I see this information come straight from Dollywood, I hesitate to offer any suggestions or colorful commentary.  Kudos though to Dollymania.net for trying to get answers.

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Second Update - Monday, October 9, 2023

Dollywood has created it's own, official, Facebook page specifically for Season Passes, and all the information that goes a long with it.

go here: Dollywood Parks & Resorts Season Passholders | Facebook

This should be a great resource, so go and sign up for it.

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Third Update - Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Dollywood has updated their information, and it looks pretty complete, I think.

Where is this information??

Okay, on a desktop computer, you'll find it here.  Or, do the following:

1. Log into Dollywood.com
2. go to Theme Park
3. go to Season Passes
4. Scroll down to "Season Pass Renewals."
5. There, you will find this 2024 Info Graphic.  Dollywood is still selling 2023 passes, so be aware of what you're looking at, it's easy to mix it up.

2023 Season Pass info released by Dollywood

Hi Everyone,

Dollywood has released the details about their Season Pass structure for 2023.  It appears that there are several changes from how things have been in the past, so let's dig in to it.

Updates to this article are at the bottom of the article.

Types of Passes

There are three passes to choose from, Silver, Gold and Diamond.  Silver, the basic season pass, is $149.  Gold is $214 and Diamond is $314.  The prices do not include taxes (~12%) and it should be noted that there will be a discounted price for children and seniors, which has not been announced at this time.  Furthermore, there is a discount for military folks and that includes active duty, veterans, military reservists, spouses and dependents.  That discount has not been announced at this time either.

There is one additional pass for children born in 2018 or 2019.  The Pre-K Imagination Season Pass is available for free with registration.  Link here.

Dollywood Blog has provided a nice piece that discussed the benefits of each tier.  Its called Diamond Vs. Gold Vs Silver and you can read that here.

Splash Country

You can turn Silver and Gold passes into a two-park pass by adding Splash Country for $65+tax.  Since Diamond includes Splash Country, you can add a Dining option for $50 +tax.

Payments

For all of their passes you can chose to pay in full or opt into their payment plan.  If you choose to use the payment plan, then the monthly payments are spread over 10 months.  For Silver it's $16.93/mo.  For Gold it's $24.31/mo.  For Diamond it's $35.67/mo.

Blackout Dates

Dollywood has added blackout dates to the 2023 Calendar.  The Silver pass has the most blackout dates.  Gold and Diamond do not have any blackout dates.  I have confirmed, that if you renew a 2022 Silver Pass, you will be able to enjoy the Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival THIS YEAR, but in 2023 you will need to plan for the blackout dates of November 24 to the end of the season on January 6, 2024.  You will have 3 or 4 weeks in November to enjoy the 2023 Christmas Festival.  If you purchase a 2023 Silver Pass, you will have blackout dates this November & December 2022.   

Here's a Pro-Tip: These blackout dates are there for a reason.  Dollywood WILL BE extremely busy during the listed blackout dates.  If you're wanting to visit when it's not bananas crazy, then avoid the listed blackout dates all together.

Let's look at the comparison table below of the three passes.

source: here

It's all the usual stuff they offer, parking, discounts, etc.  The quantities have changed this year.  For example, my Gold pass in 2022 gave me one Christmas Bring-A-Friend pass in 2021 and then 4 more Bring-A-Friend passes for 2022, and now it's 2 BAF passes for 2023.  But, they took away the BAF blackout dates, so my guests can go anytime - that's a plus.  So, just carefully look everything over so that you'll have a good understanding of what you have to work with.  My Gold pass for 2022 was $184 and for 2023 its' $214, so if I did the math right, that's a 16% increase.   That's the year-to-year difference for me.

Purchase Passes

If you pre-registered OR if you already have a 2022 season pass, then 2023 passes are on sale beginning today, Monday, October 17th.  For everyone else, you will have to wait until October 31st when they go on sale for you.   If you're on the fence about it, I suggest buying sooner than later because they remove entitlements as time passes, so for the maximum number of benefits, buy now. I will add that Dollywood has done a Black Friday offer in the past.  They obviously don't announce in advance what that offer is, but I think last year they offered an upgraded version of the two-park pass and threw in a dining plan that you would receive one meal at every visit.  And they had a refillable mug special too.  If you want to read more about last year's Black Friday deal, you can look at this article from Amusement Today, here.

Helpful Links and Resources

For a link to Dollywood's Season Pass info page, Click Here.  You can purchase passes at this link as well.  There's also a "Passholder Hub'' web page for current passholders and that is billed as a one-stop shop for everything pertaining to your Season Pass....find that here.

The Dollywood Blog has a post explaining why the Gold Pass is the best choice.  Read that here.  One note, I see that the blog post mentions in point #4 that with the Gold Pass, you can upgrade parking to the Preferred Parking for $10 and conversely, the Comparison Chart says $5.  I'm not sure which is correct.

My Advice

Well, there are so many different scenarios, I'm not sure where to begin.  If you go to Dollywood more than two times, then one person in your party should have the Gold Pass, and the rest could have Silver.  That way the Gold Pass would get you free parking and the meal discount.  And that worked great in years past, but now with so many variables, I need a bulletin board with red twine and stickies to figure and sort it out.  That said, I recommend studying all of this and put your plan to paper before you pull the trigger.

I also suggest reading the FAQ Blog Post that Dollywood has published.  To read that, click this link.

Wrap Up

That's a lot of info and I hope I did it justice.  Season Passes have gotten very detailed and specific, and I would suggest you double check all of this because it is complicated.  I see lots of questions about passes on social media, and I get how its challenging.   In the olden days you just had a season pass, and that was that.  NOT ANYMORE! 🤣  

2023 Will be a big year for Dollywood.  Their 38th season will introduce us to Big Bear Mountain, their longest roller coaster yet, new festivals and much more that hasn't been revealed yet.

If you have any questions, you can ask them in the comments, and I will do my best to find an answer for you!

Thanks for reading!  

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UPDATES TO THIS ARTICLE, BELOW:

10/31/22 - Update from Dollywood Bloggers - Read Here.  2023 Season Pass Resources, FAQ, etc.

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10/20/22 infographic from Dollywood:

source - Dollywood's Facebook Page: Link

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10/19/22 - Update from Dollywood Bloggers - Season Passes Most Asked Questions - Answered

Click Here To Read It 

2023 Dollywood Season Pass Registration & Pre-Sale

 Hi Everyone,

It is almost that time of year to decide if, or which Season Pass you want for the Dollywood 2023 Season that begins mid-March.  You need to figure out when you're going to ride their new roller coaster - Big Bear Mountain in Wildwood Grove!  Additionally, buying your pass at the beginning of the sale-period ensures you get the most added entitlements, such as multiple Bring A Friend Passes, Refillable Mug, and other stuff.  ALSO, buying the pass in October means you can enjoy Smoky Mountain Christmas 2022 in addition to all of 2023 - that's pretty cool if you ask me.

Dollywood has opened up Registration for 2023.  If you are a 2022 Pass Holder, you have been automatically Registered - so you can proceed to October 17th - the first day to purchase a pass.  If you're not Registered, You have until September 30th to do so.  The last day to purchase passes before they're available to the General Public, is October 30th.

Recap of important dates:

• Today thru September 30th - Register for Pre-Sale Opportunity.
• October 17th - First day of Pre-Sale to purchase passes with most entitlements.
• October 30th - Last day of Pre-Sale to purchase passes with most entitlements.
• October 31st - Season Passes are available to General Public, with fewer entitlements.
• November 5th, 2022 thru January 1, 2023 - Smoky Mountain Christmas - available to 2023 Season Pass holders.
• Mid-March 2023 - Season Passholder Day - usually a Friday, not yet announced.

The Dollywood Blog, once again, has posted helpful information on this topic, so I'm turning this post over to them to explain further.  Please follow the Dollywood Blog just as you do this blog :)  

I will have another post in October going into more detail about each pass offered, price structure, etc, so stay tuned.  In the meantime, if you want to see what the 2022 Pass structure looked like, you can see that on Dollywood's Website here.

Now, Read Dollywood's Blog post for more details - until next time!

Check out my YouTube Channel for all kinds of Dollywood Videos!

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Editor’s Note: This blog was written by Brooke McCarter, Dollywood’s Season Pass Manager

Things are going to be BIG in 2023 thanks to our newest addition to Dollywood, Big Bear Mountain! With an attraction this big, you’re not going to want to miss out on a single second of adventure. We know next season is going to be jammed-packed with family fun; so, we are giving our guests the opportunity to make the most of it with a special offer on 2023 Dollywood Season Passes!

Now through Sept. 30, guests interested in purchasing 2023 Season Passes at the lowest price with the most benefits can register for our pre-sale. Already a 2022 Season Passholder? As a special thank you for being part of our passholder family, you are automatically registered for the pre-sale!

You might be asking yourself a few questions. What exactly is a pre-sale? How do I register? Wait, Dollywood’s building a new coaster? We hope this blog answers a few of those questions and gets you prepped and ready for the 2023 season!

What is the Pre-Sale?

Starting Oct. 17, we will give a select group of guests (those who register for the pre-sale by Sept. 30 and existing 2022 Season Passholders) the opportunity to purchase 2023 Season Passes before they officially go on sale to the general public. These guests will get access to the guaranteed lowest price on 2023 Season Passes, the longest payment plan option available and access to an early ride event on Big Bear Mountain this coming spring. Learn more about the ride in this blog.

Also, remember that we only sell a limited number of Diamond Passes. They are our top tier, and they are exclusive. The people who have access to the pre-sale have first dibs on buying Diamond.

We recommend the person buying the passes is the one who signs up for the pre-sale. Not everyone in the family needs to register for the pre-sale.

Register or Link Your Passes

I know. Now I’ve got your attention, right? Here’s how you can get in on this deal.

If you are currently a 2022 Dollywood passholder, you are already registered for the pre-sale. All we need you to do is make sure to link your current passes to your online My Dollywood account. Check out this blog we wrote last year for helpful tips on linking your passes.

If you aren’t a current passholder and want to register, just fill out this online form by Sept. 30. There is no cost to sign up– so, get on it!

What Happens Next?

MAKE SURE YOU ARE SIGNED UP FOR OUR EMAILS.

If you haven’t received an email from us in a while, we recommend calling 1-800-DOLLYWOOD to double-check that you’re opted in to receive Dollywood emails. Our team of helpful hosts will make sure you are ready to go.

During the first week of October you will receive an email outlining the 2023 Season Pass prices and benefits available during the pre-sale. On Oct. 17, the pre-sale will officially begin and you will be able to purchase or renew your passes!

If you are a current passholder, just log in to your account and select the passes you would like to renew. If you registered for the pre-sale and are not a current passholder, you will receive a special link and promo code to access the sale via the email address you provided when you registered.

The pre-sale will only be available until Oct. 30; so, be sure take advantage of these exclusive perks while you can! We promise the deals won’t get better than this.