Pigeon Forge Trolley & Dollywood - Information you'll want to know!

Did you know you can ditch the hassle of driving and parking at Dollywood? The Pigeon Forge Trolley offers a comfortable and affordable way to travel directly to the park's front gate. Say goodbye to crowded entrance roads and parking fees, and hello to a relaxing ride!

Enjoy my Trolley Guide Video below...

Dodging Dollywood's December Dilemma: Your Trolley Ticket to Fun!

Planning a winter wonderland escape to Dollywood during Smoky Mountain Christmas? Be prepared for the festive crowds! Parking can fill up fast, turning your joyful anticipation into a stressful scramble. But fear not, merrymaker! Here's how the Pigeon Forge Trolley can save the day:

Skip the parking pandemonium: Forget circling endlessly for a spot. Hop on the trolley at Patriot Park and enjoy a stress-free ride straight to Dollywood's doorstep.

Beat the capacity blues: Don't get caught waiting outside a full parking lot, potentially missing precious park time. The trolley guarantees your arrival, regardless of peak season crowds.

Save your jingle bells (and cash): Trolley fares are significantly cheaper than Dollywood's parking fees, leaving you more moolah for holiday treats and souvenirs.

Bonus tip: Even if Dollywood offers free parking during peak times (good luck finding a spot!), remember the trolley whisks you away from traffic congestion, saving you valuable time and frustration.

Ditch the Car, Ride the Trolley, Save Big at Dollywood!

Staying on the Pigeon Forge Trolley route and planning a Dollywood adventure? Consider leaving your car behind! Not only will you avoid the stress of parking, but you can also pocket some serious savings:

• Skip parking fees: Standard parking costs $22.80, RV parking is $27.35, and preferred parking is a whopping $46. Imagine all the delicious Dollywood treats you could buy with that money!
• Gold & Platinum perks: If you have a Gold or Platinum Season Pass, parking is already included. But why not double down on convenience and enjoy a relaxing trolley ride instead of navigating crowded parking lots?
• Stress-free travel: Leave the driving and parking hassles behind. Hop on the trolley and arrive at Dollywood's doorstep refreshed and ready for fun.

More than just saving money, the trolley offers:

• Convenience: Get dropped off and picked up right at the park entrance, avoiding traffic congestion.
• Relaxation: Enjoy a scenic ride and arrive at Dollywood feeling energized, not frazzled.
• Environmentally friendly: Reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to a greener Pigeon Forge.

So, if your hotel is on the trolley route and you crave a stress-free, budget-friendly Dollywood experience, the trolley is your golden ticket! Read on to discover more details and hop on board an adventure!

Details:  What, Where, How Much & When??

What:  Pigeon Forge Trolley

Where:  186 Old Mill Avenue, Pigeon Forge, TN  37863.  Link to Google Maps.

How Much: $2.50 one-way or $3 for all-day wristband.

When:  Every 15 to 20 Minutes, to Dollywood from Patriot Park at 186 Old Mill Avenue.

What:

For the very latest information, schedules and pricing, be sure to double check the Pigeon Forge Trolley official website here:  https://www.pigeonforge.com/trolley/.

Pigeon Forge Trolley Route Map.  Note that the light blue route to Splash is not in operation at this time - see note below about transferring to a Dollywood Tram Below (in BOLD).

Pigeon Forge Trolley Route & Fare Information

Take Note of the Dollywood Trolley hours.  It says it runs 30 minutes before Dollywood opens, and then when Dollywood closes it will run until everyone has returned to Patriot Park.  My advice if you're closing the park is to get to the front gate as soon as possible after the park closes.

Splash Country - if you're going to Splash Country then you have to exit the Trolley at Dollywood, and then switch to the Dollywood Parking Lot Tram to go to/from Splash Country.  I have heard that only some designated trams run to Splash, so it would be wise to inquire with a host when you arrive at Dollywood, rather than guessing or jumping on the first tram you see.  The Tram Attendant at the rear of each tram should also be available to assist.  Read more here.

Where:

The Main Hub where you park for Dollywood, and you can transfer to different routes - including transferring to/from Gatlinburg - they all happen at Patriot Park in Pigeon Forge.  Here's a street view photo of the Hub.

Patriot Park, from Google Maps

Google Street View of Patriot Park Main Hub/Station, AKA Pigeon Forge Mass Transit for Pigeon Forge Trolley System

Easy & Affordable

Visitors can leave their vehicle parked for free at the office at 186 Old Mill Avenue (just beside Patriot Park) and relax on the trolley as they enjoy all the sites and destinations like Tanger Outlets, Dolly Parton's Stampede, the Historic Old Mill, and even Dollywood! All it takes is $3 for a wristband that allows you to ride all day and get off at any of the stops as many times as you like. When looking for a stop, just find a Fun Time Trolley shelter or a Trolley Bear sign at over a hundred locations.

How Much:

Fares

Individual fares paid each time you board a transit. Pigeon Forge Mass Transit drivers will accept exact fare only. Sorry, the transit drivers cannot make change. For a great deal, consider our All Day Transit Pass available for purchase at the Pigeon Forge Mass Transit office. Our safe and courteous drivers will pick you up or drop you off at more than 100 stops throughout the city of Pigeon Forge and and a portion Sevierville. Just wait at a transit bear sign or a transit shelter and we will be there shortly. See the city of Pigeon Forge and a portion of Sevierville in a safe and unique way.

When:

Schedules - Updated February 5, 2024 

Daily 8:00am - Midnight, early March through October
Daily 10:00am - 10:00pm, November and December
Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Main Street transit run every 20 to 25 minutes. Wears Valley transits run every 40 to 45 minutes. Dollywood transits run every 15 to 20 minutes.  Gatlinburg Welcome Center transits run every 25 to 30 minutes. These times may vary due to traffic flow during peak tourism days, car shows and holiday weekends.

Accessibility:

Many visitors ask, is the Pigeon Forge trolley wheelchair accessible? Most of the Fun Time Trolley cars are equipped with a wheelchair lift. The trolley drivers will even take special care to drop wheelchair passengers off at a flat area of the Gatlinburg Welcome Center parking lot, where you can transfer between the Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge trolleys easily. Read on for more information about the Gatlinburg trolley.

If you're handi-capable, and need the ECV Rental Services at Dollywood, you'll be glad to know there is one ECV Rental location before the Front Gate, as well as the Main Rental Location just inside the front gate, past The Emporium on your way towards Timber Canyon. Just go left once inside the main gate.

Make your Smoky Mountain Christmas merry and bright with the convenient and affordable Pigeon Forge Trolley. Book your ride today and let the holiday magic begin!

I would love to hear your comments and experiences!

Helpful Resources related to the Trolley

• Pigeon Forge Trolley Official Website
• Additional Trolley Info for Pigeon Forge
  

Top Breakfast Places in Pigeon Forge

July 24, 2022

Hi Everyone, I have noticed that lots of folks want to know about the best breakfast locations in Pigeon Forge, near Dollywood.

I did some research and have ranked the top contenders based on an Average score from Google, Yelp, Facebook and Trip Advisor.

Below, you can see the results with the most popular on top.  Because formatting is wonky on Blogger, I have included the list twice.  Below the results you can find links to all of these establishments.

I hope you're enjoying your time in Pigeon Forge!  Tell me what you think in the comments.

Click to Enlarge Table

Restaurant	Address	Phone	Google Rating (out of 5 Stars)	Yelp Rating (out of 5 stars)	Facebook Rating (out of 5 stars)	Trip Advisor Rating (out of 5 circles)	Ratings Average	Price
The Old Mill Restaurant	164 Old Mill Ave, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863	18654293463	4.7	4.5	4.8	4.5	4.63	$$-$$$
Brick and Spoon - Pigeon Forge	136 Community Center Dr, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863	18654101221	4.5	4.5	4.9	4.5	4.60	$$-$$$
Lil' Black Bear Cafe	3068 Veterans Blvd, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863	18653661181	4.7	4	5	4.5	4.55	$
Mel's Diner	119 Wears Valley Rd, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863	18654292184	4.6	4	4.8	4.5	4.48	$
Sawyer's Farmhouse Restaurant	2831 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863	18653661090	4.4	4	4.7	4.5	4.40	$$-$$$
Smoky's Pancake Cabin	4235 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863	18654120986	4.4	4	4.7	4.5	4.40	$
Frizzle Chicken Farmhouse Cafe	2785 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863	8657747707	4.3	4	4.6	4.5	4.35	$$
Flapjack's Pancake Cabin	2734 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863	18659086115	4.2	4	n/a	4.5	4.23	$
Paula Deen's Family Kitchen	131 The Island Dr #8101, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863	18653661510	4.2	3.5	4.5	4.5	4.18	$$-$$$
Red Rooster Pancake House	3215 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863	18654283322	4.2	3.5	4.4	4	4.03	$$-$$$
Cracker Barrel -2 PF Locations	2285 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863 / 3960 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863	18659084459 & 18654284613	4.4	3	n/a	4.5	3.97	$$-$$$

Links

• The Old Mill Restaurant
  
• Brick and Spoon -Pigeon Forge
  
• Lil' Black Bear Cafe
  
• Mel's Diner
  
• Sawyer's Farmhouse Restaurant
  
• Smoky's Pancake Cabin
  
• Frizzle Chicken Farmhouse Cafe
  
• Flapjack's Pancake Cabin
  
• Paula Deen's Family Kitchen
  
• Red Rooster Pancake House
  
• Cracker Barrel
  

Dollywood's 2023 Roller Coaster - What We Know, And What We Don't Know (Updated)

June 21, 2022 - Updates to this post are underlined.

8/5/2022 - Official Announcement from Dollywood - link here.

8/4/22 - Teaser update from Dollywood

All will be revealed soon!

8/3/22 - Let's take a look at some other Vekoma motorbike coaster trains....all from RCDB (except Tron train at WDW).

Booster Bike @ Toverland

Chimelong Paradise

WDW's Tron will feature a typical coaster car on the end of its train.  Wonder if ''Big Bear" will have a similar arrangement?

Tron @ Shanghai Disneyland

Happy World

8/3/22 - Teaser update from Dollywood

When you play the video, you hear a bear sound - listen here.

8/2/22 - Teaser update from Dollywood

8/01/22 - Teaser update from Dollywood

7/30/22 - Teaser update from Dollywood.

Interesting:  "Ned - he's been too busy doing exactly what he loves, setting out from his Smoky Mtn Wilderness outpost each day to study nature.  FROM TIME TO TIME, HE EVEN TAKES CURIOUS RESIDENTS OF THE GROVE ON FIELD EXCURSIONS IN HIS OFF-ROAD VEHICLES SO THEY CAN SEE THE WONDERS OF THEIR BEAUTIFUL SMOKY MOUNTAIN HOME THROUGH HIS EYES''

7/26/22 update - An announcement date has been set by Dollywood and it is Friday, August 5th at 11am Eastern.  I will try and get an update published as soon as I can after the announcement, so stay tuned for that. Update to the Update - link to the announcement blog post here - Big Bear Mountain

Hi everyone, Hope you are well!

Let's talk about this giant project going on in Wildwood Grove.  The construction process has gotten underway after a long period of clearing the land as far back as 2018 for the first phase of Wildwood Grove that opened in 2019.  They wisely cleared the land for Phase 2 and perhaps Phase 3??  

Dollywood is hard at work building their new roller coaster for 2023, and there's some information that is out there, so that's what I would consider ''known''.  But, of course there are more questions than there are answers at this point.   Until Dollywood makes an announcement, then I would consider any information already ''out there'', to be subject to change.  In the past, they make announcements in the Summer.  So, with that said, lets dig into it!

Dollywood goes through the local planning commission before beginning construction on projects.  Some of the information gets out to the public and that is how the layout for the roller coaster was discovered.  Now, this may not come to fruition as it is seen here.  I consider this firm, but still subject to change.  This colorized version was created by @sketchyattractions (instagram), so special thanks to them for letting me use it here and in my video.  

courtesy @sketchyattractions on instagram

Potentially 3 Launches?

In the above image, we see what is believed by many experts on Reddit to be three launches.  It looks like a sort of booster launch #1 out of the station will lead into the #2 Launch.  To me, that may rule out Mack as a manufacturer.  Most, but not all of their launch coasters come to a stop for their main launch.  Helix is an exception with its main launch being a rolling launch. Link to rcdb/Helix here.  I would completely rule out Intamin.  Herschend has never purchased any Intamin rides or coasters and the only Intamin ride I am aware of that Herschend owns is the Flying Dutchman at Kentucky Kingdom, which they acquired in 2020.  Furthermore, A long time ago when Herschend was offering management services for Darien Lake, the Superman coaster had a passenger with an amputation fall out of the coaster and passed away...and that was maybe the first week or two of Herschend managing the park.  Intamin has many well-known safety concerns and for that reason I don't see Herschend going with Intamin.

There was a post on Reddit that Dollywood took possession of a large shipment of roller coaster pieces from the Netherlands, where Vekoma is headquartered.  I have not been able to verify this, but it seems like a strong possibility.  Vekoma is the manufacturer of the awesome Dragonflier coaster, which is right next to this construction site.  Vekoma's LSM launch coasters typically do not stop for their main launch, unlike Mack, so having this booster launch out of the station makes more sense to me.  Why would they have a booster launch to run into brakes pre-launch #2?  I don't see that happening.

Then you can see that launch #3 is about halfway through the ride and leads into a curvy second half of the ride before a dip below grade and into the brake run.

As far as the type of roller coaster this will be - if these plans hold then this looks to stay close to the ground.  So no big drops and it doesn't appear to have any inversions either.  I've heard rumblings it may be themed to ATV's...so it could resemble the Harry Potter-Hagrid's coaster at Universal, ironically made by Intamin.  Vekoma has a motorbike style coaster that they've been making for years, so this could be along those lines.

Theming!  Wildwood Grove is already full of examples of theming to compare, so I imagine they'll stay in that lane.  Recently the construction walls near Till and Harvest Restaurant were painted with bear paws and bear scratches, which gave us our first clues about theming.

Then on July 20, 2022 Pete Owens, the head of Publicity at Dollywood, released a clue on his facebook page with a phone number to call.  Check out his teaser campaign here - I recorded it for playback.

It looks like Bear theming is its thing, and that's another great tie into the overall theming of Wildwood Grove.  

That's what we know, or think we know.  Like I said, it's all speculation until Dollywood makes their official announcement about it.  I expect that they will continue with their teaser campaign and make an announcement sometime in August or September.  I'll continue to monitor the construction site and post any details I see.  I doubt we'll see any vertical construction until after the announcement happens, but you never know.

Below are some pics of the station area of the construction site from this year.

Here is the layout superimposed over the Dollywood map.

What else could go in Phase 2 or 3 of Wildwood Grove?  I have no idea, lol, but past guest surveys have included an immersive dark ride, a 200-foot coaster and a few other ideas.  Those sound great to me.  What I think may happen is that River Battle could re-appear with a Wildwood Grove appropriate re-theme.  Dollywood really needs another water ride, and this ride has not re-appeared at Wild Adventures and def not Kentucky Kingdom, so there's hope it could come back.   Silver Dollar City has an even nicer version of this same ride.  Given that the train is one of Dollywood's most popular attractions, I would love to see a C.P. Huntington train weaving in and out of Wildwood Grove.  They make an all-electric version of their train these days.  That's just my wishful thinking, but I'm excited to see what they decide to do.  Another great option would be kid-propelled hand crank cars that run on tracks.  Those would be great opportunities to wear kids energy out.  I loved that ride as little kid.  Here's a pic of the ones that I frequently enjoyed at Fair Park in Nashville.

hand crank cars at Fair Park in Nashville, probably 1960's

Videos about this project:

On my youtube page I have covered this a few different times.  If you would like check those out, you can see the cued-up videos here.

• From opening day on March 11, 2022 - Construction site on Opening Day 2022
• From April 22, 2022 - Construction Site on April 22, 2022
• From June 21, 2022 - Construction Site on June 21, 2022

Thanks for reading.  Its fun to try and figure Dollywood's plans are, but they do a great job of keeping things under wraps, so I feel like my guesses are often incorrect - but its fun anyways.   Let me know in the comments any thoughts you may have about the new roller coaster.  Until next time!

New Video! - Dollywood's Summer Celebration 2022

 Hi everyone, 

My video about Dollywood's Summer Celebration 2022 has been uploaded to YouTube and is ready to view.  It's an hour and half, so settle in for it.  There was so much to see and experience that I'll let you check it all out in the video.  I would encourage you to turn on Closed Captioning for extra information like songs and dialog.

Here are some pics from the day of filming.....

Drone Show

Summer Celebration Decor around the park

Water Hose Fountain

Noodle Takeover

Kite Sky

Largest Bean Can

Bubble Foam Pits

Engine 192 was in use on this day.

The 2023 Roller Coaster site is now very active.  I would expect an announcement in the coming weeks.
8/5/22 Update - Here's a link to the announcement blog post here - Big Bear Mountain.

I hope you enjoy the video.  Let me know in the comments!

-Jeff

#Dollywood #pigeonforgetennessee #smokymountains

Plan Your Visit To Dollywood - A Great Place to Start Your Planning for First Timers

I ran across this article and it is worthy of sharing.  There is some great information for First Time visitors and maybe even Dollywood Regulars too.

Read the article at the Source, here. 

By The Associated Press

Published: Jul. 2, 2022 at 3:24 PM EDT

 

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Nestled in the heart of the Smoky Mountains lies the beautiful mountain town of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Home to family-friendly activities and entertainment of all shapes and sizes, without a doubt the most popular of them all is Dollywood, thanks in no small part to the appeal of the matriarch herself, Dolly Parton.

Dollywood Theme Park

First-time visitors need to know that Dollywood is not open year-round. Unlike Disney World or Universal theme parks, Dollywood does have a season of closure. Fortunately, while other theme parks are sweltering with summer heat in the busiest times of the year, Dollywood remains relatively cool (and not just because they have a water park on the property either).

While the mountains of East Tennessee provide shade and cooler weather, they are also the reason Dollywood closes for a few months during the deepest parts of winter. Regardless of the closures, there are plenty of other times throughout the year to plan a Dollywood trip. Avoid wait times at Dollywood due to crowds, weather, and other factors with this expert advice for your next visit.

Popular Rides

Obviously, one of the first aspects of Dollywood that visitors need to know about are the popular attractions. Ride wait times for popular rides, like roller coasters, often mean long lines, but that isn’t always the case. Just like other theme parks, the flow of visitors changes throughout the entire park depending on the time of day, day of the week, and weather.

To keep an accurate account of current wait times, I highly suggest downloading the Dollywood App. It’s available on the App Store and on Google Play, and it is very helpful in navigating the park.

These are some of the most popular rides at Dollywood that can have long waits:

Lightning Rod, Wild Eagle, Mystery Mine, Tennessee Tornado, Firechaser Express, and Blazing Fury. Lightning Rod is the most popular wooden coaster at Dollywood, and it can often close due to weather because it is a wooden coaster. If that popular attraction is the most important thing on your list, I would start there and then worry about other points of interest. (*see note at bottom)

Personally, I would also consider the rides in the Wildwood Grove area of the park. This includes the kid-friendly ride Whistle Punk Chaser which sits right outside the entrance of Wildwood Grove. It is a newer area that is popular for families, and long lines can occur at the singular roller coaster in that area. Other popular areas of the park are Jukebox Junction, Wilderness Pass, and Craftsman's Valley (especially during the holiday season).

Water Rides

Believe it or not, water rides are almost as popular at Dollywood Theme Park as the regular rides. This is especially true in the late spring and early summer season when the weather warms up. My family’s favorite ride at Dollywood that involves water is the Smoky Mountain River Rampage. Daredevil Falls, a log ride located in Craftsman Valley, is the other popular water ride in the park.

Depending on the season and time of day, these rides can both have long waits. If you want to get soaked, Smoky Mountain River Rampage is the best ride for that. Daredevil Falls will only get you moderately wet.

Use the interactive map in the Dollywood app to determine the best route around the park so you have plenty of time to dry out before you head home!

How to Avoid Long Lines

Now that you know which rides might require you to wait, let’s talk about the best ways to avoid those potential long lines. Busy days are not always avoidable, especially if you have to take a vacation during a certain time of year or around a holiday for work or school reasons. The good news is that, unlike Disney theme parks, the longest lines at Dollywood are usually no longer than an hour’s wait

One of the most popular, and simplest, ways to avoid long ride wait times is to purchase the TimeSaver Pass. Depending on the date of your visit, this add-on to your regular Dollywood tickets can be anywhere from $60-$70 per ticket. A one-day pass allows you to skip the line up to eight times in one day. The eight “line skips” can be for different rides, the same ride eight times, or a combination.

TimeSaver 1 Day Unlimited pass allows unlimited skips plus unlimited daily show reservations at participating theaters. This pass price ranges from $80-$85 per ticket to add on.

Season Pass Holder Options and their Benefits

Like other theme parks, Dollywood offers season passes that are good for the operational year. These range from Silver ($159+ tax), Gold ($214+tax), and two-park Gold which includes entrance to Dollywood Splash Country ($269+ tax).

Gold Passholders have the added benefit of “Early Saturday Ride Time” and “First Hour TimeSaver Line Access.” Early Ride Time allows access to a select attraction for one hour before the park opens to the public on Saturdays from March to October. First Hour Access is achieved by presenting your Gold Season Pass at the TimeSaver line during the first hour of park operation each day.

Skip the Line by Staying at DreamMore

Another consideration for the entire family might be staying at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort. There are many benefits of exclusive offers reserved for resort guests. For example, every resort guest with a valid park ticket gets one complimentary Dollywood TimeSaver pass per person per day.

In addition to the TimeSaver at Dollywood, guests of the resort can participate in the Early Ride Time on Saturday mornings at either Dollywood or Dollywood’s Splash Country one hour prior to park opening. While the hotel prices are not inexpensive, the perks can add up.

Special Events

Dollywood also has special events throughout the year that correspond to the season. While the beginnings of each festival season can be busy, the festivals often extend long enough to make visiting during a slower time a possibility.

A great way to take advantage of a slower time is by visiting the park on a weekday. School is in session, many folks are at work, and the park is still decorated for the seasonal festivals.

Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas is one of the busiest festival seasons, followed by the Harvest Festival, and Flower and Food Festival. Each of these festivals has unique features, and if you want to make them part of your park visit, early planning is key to avoiding a huge crowd.

What Else Has Wait Times?

Besides rides, certain shows and even restaurants may have a wait time you’ll want to know about. As previously stated, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas is an incredibly popular festival. The live music and incredible experience of seeing the stage shows are worth a break from the intense rides! Check the daily show schedule for performance times so you can leave yourself enough time to enjoy these performances as part of your full Dollywood experience.

Dollywood guests will queue up early for fresh Cinnamon Bread from the Grist Mill in Craftsman Valley. Unfortunately, there is no way to avoid the wait time for the famous cinnamon bread. However, I can tell you that if you’re ok with it not being right out of the oven, it is also sold at the Spotlight Bakery on Show street.

Two popular restaurants, Front Porch Café and Aunt Granny’s Restaurant can often have long waits. Put your name on the list, go ride some rides, and they’ll text you when it’s your turn to be seated. However you choose to experience Dollywood, I hope these tips help you avoid spending your entire day in lines!

Copyright 2022 WSMV. All rights reserved.

Note - Lightning Rod and all other rides will close due to dangerous weather, at the same time.  The fact that Lightning Rod is a wooden coaster has no relation to it being closed, weather or otherwise.  Lightning Rod is a dynamic roller coaster, and therefore will have downtime from time to time, due to a variety of possible issues. 

 Get lots more information at Dollywood.com