Experience Dollywood In A Whole New Way - With Private Tours!

 Hi Everyone, 

Dollywood has reintroduced its private tours for those who are interested, and the tours can vary depending on the time of year and which festival is happening.  Right now, there is a VIP tour available through the end of the season.  In September and October, a tour that will include behind the scenes of LumiNights Festival.  And during the Smoky Mountain Christmas in November & December, a  new tour that focuses on Glacier Ridge will be available.   

Let's dig a little deeper on Dollywood.com to learn more...

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TOURS AVAILABLE SELECT DAYS AUG. 20 - JAN. 1, 2023

Dollywood VIP Guided Tour

Explore Dollywood in a special, unique way with our ultimate VIP experience. In addition to your own private tour guide, including front-of-the-line privileges, you'll be able to fully customize your visit based on your interests: rides and thrill attractions, shows and entertainment, dining, or all things Dolly Parton.

Gold and Diamond Season Passholders save $20 and $30 off, respectively, on this tour! (Must be signed in for a discount to show.)

So, What All Is Included With This Tour?

 

• Personal tour guide for the entirety of your day at Dollywood

• Complimentary preferred parking

• Front-of-the-line access to all attractions

• Reserved seating at participating shows

• Complimentary meal of your choosing from Aunt Granny’s Restaurant or Front Porch Café (Link to Dollywood's Menus here)

• Behind-the-scenes access (If Applicable)

• Package pick up and delivery to your hotel room at Dollywood's DreamMore Resort and Spa (If Applicable)

• Reserved spaces for fireworks viewing (If Applicable)

• Gift from Dolly at the conclusion of your visit

Dollywood VIP Guided Tour

Explore Dollywood in a special, unique way with our ultimate VIP experience.

Ages 4 and Older

Per Person

$299

+ taxes and fees

*Minimum of 2 Guests; Tour price does not include admission to Dollywood. Admission must be purchased separately.

Tour Available Select Days 08/20/2022 - 01/01/2023

Important Information

 

• Tour requires separate, valid admission to Dollywood, which is not included in the price of the tour

• Dollywood VIP Guided Tours are offered on Saturdays and Sundays, Aug. 20, 2022 - Jan. 1, 2023

• Tour groups include one guide and between two and eight guests

• Groups of more than eight need to call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD for reservations. A second tour guide will be provided free of charge

• You will receive a questionnaire call from the Dollywood VIP Tour Team to go over any and all special requests, additional information, and your arrival details

Don’t see availability on the day of your visit?

Please call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD to speak with a host about available tour options.

 

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Behind the Glow Guided Tour

 

GREAT PUMPKIN LUMINIGHTS

Behind the Glow Guided Tour

Dates: Tours Available Select Days Sept. 23 - Oct. 29, 2022

Go behind the scenes of one of Dollywood's most-popular seasonal events, Great Pumpkin LumiNights presented by Covenant Health. Ask questions and learn what it takes to set up more than 12,000 real and faux pumpkins, special effects, lighting, and more! Plus, enjoy special experiences and keep-sakes to make your visit unforgettable.

Gold and Diamond Season Passholders save $5 and $10 off, respectively, on this tour! (Must be signed in for a discount to show.)

So, What All Is Included With This Tour?

 

• Guided, behind-the-scenes group tour of Great Pumpkin LumiNights

• Collectible neon Behind the Glow lanyard

• Dip Your Own Candle Activity

• One-time use TimeSaver Pass

• Great Pumpkin LumiNights activity card

• Character meet & greet with an exclusive photo opportunity

• Special Harvest Festival treats and refreshments

• VIP viewing of the fall Wildwood Tree experience

Behind the Glow Guided Tour

Go behind the scenes of one of Dollywood's most-popular seasonal events, Great Pumpkin LumiNights presented by Covenant Health.

Ages 4 and Older

Per Person

$99

+ taxes and fees

*Tour price does not include admission to Dollywood. Admission must be purchased separately.

Tours Available Select Days 09/23/2022 - 10/29/2022

Important Information

 

• Tour requires separate, valid admission to Dollywood, which is not included in the price of the tour

• Behind the Glow Guided Tours are offered on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, Sept. 23, 2022 - Oct. 29, 2022

• Tour groups can be up to 12 guests each with multiple parties per group

• Day of tour sales will end at 4 p.m., however, future tour dates will still be sold

• After your tour is purchased, you will need to check in at the TimeSaver Reservation Center (located in Adventures In Imagination) on the day of your tour to receive your lanyard, activity card and meeting location instructions

• Each tour will begin at approximately 6 p.m. each evening

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SMOKY MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS

Magic of Glacier Ridge Guided Tour

Dates: Tours Available Select Days Nov. 5 - Jan. 1, 2023

Go behind the scenes of one of Smoky Mountain Christmas's most unique lit areas, Glacier Ridge. Ask questions and learn what it takes to set up millions of lights, trees, and decorations in our winter wonderland covering Craftsman's Valley, Timber Canyon, Wilderness Pass and Wildwood Grove! Plus, enjoy special experiences and keep-sakes to make your visit unforgettable.

Gold and Diamond Season Passholders save $5 and $10 off, respectively, on this tour! (Must be signed in for discount to show.)

So, What All Is Included With This Tour?

 

• Guided, behind-the-scenes group tour of Glacier Ridge

• Collectible neon Magic of Glacier Ridge lanyard

• Smoky Mountain Christmas activity card

• Character meet & greet with an exclusive photo opportunity

• Special Smoky Mountain Christmas treats and refreshments

• VIP viewing of the winter Wildwood Tree experience

Magic of Glacier Ridge Guided Tour

Go behind the scenes of one of Smoky Mountain Christmas's most unique lit areas, Glacier Ridge.

Ages 4 and Older

Per Person

$99

+ taxes and fees

*Tour price does not include admission to Dollywood. Admission must be purchased separately.

Tours Available Select Days 11/05/2022 - 01/01/2023

Important Information

 

• Tour requires separate, valid admission to Dollywood, which is not included in the price of the tour

• Magic of Glacier Ridge Guided Tours are offered on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, Nov. 5, 2022 - Jan. 1, 2023

• Tour groups can be up to 12 guests each with multiple parties per group

• Day of tour sales will end at 4 p.m., however, future tour dates will still be sold

• After your tour is purchased, you will need to check in at the TimeSaver Reservation Center (located in Adventures In Imagination) on the day of your tour to receive your lanyard, activity card and meeting location instructions

• Each tour will begin at approximately 6:30 p.m. each evening

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If you would like to see some video from Great Pumpkin LumiNights or Smoky Mountain Christmas, check my videos out below.

Until next time!

New Construction Equipment Theme Park -DIG'N ZONE- In The Works Near Dollywood

The original story is below the updates.

• Hi Everyone, this update has important information: 
• Grand Opening, March 1, 2024
• Soft Opening, soon until March 1.  
• test rides 
• buy tickets, season passes now on their website..https://dign.fun/ - Official Website.

Update - 11/27/23...

Grand Opening Date Set for March 2024.

Update - 9/28/23...

Update - 9/22/23...

Update - 9/13/23...

Update - 9/12/23...

 

Update - 8/22/23...

Update - 8/8/23...

We are starting to get rides delivered, and we are excited about these guys!

Update - 6/20/23 ... 

 

Update - 6/2/23 ... 

Update - 10/24/22 - Here's a video update from Dig N' Zone:  

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Original article below

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Hi Everyone, 

Late last week (August 2022) it was reported that a new theme park had broken ground in Pigeon Forge.  This one is just a few miles east of Dollywood on Veterans Boulevard.

Here's how KnoxNews describes it:

If you've ever wanted to drive a forklift or excavate dirt for fun, there's a construction theme park coming to Sevierville. 

Adults and kids can ride, drive and operate real construction equipment at Dig'n Zone Theme Park, which broke ground Aug. 23 and is slated to open spring 2023.

The park will have more than 25 attractions that allow families to ride, drive and operate different construction equipment. 

Weston O'Dell and two other partners, Grant Hensley and Gary Allen, are investing about $25 million into the 27-acre theme park. 

O'Dell estimated the park, located at 1707 Veterans Blvd. near LeConte Medical Center, will bring 100 jobs to Sevierville.

Courtesy of Dig'n Zone Theme Park

 

Let's take a closer look at the map here.  These are my best guesses by reading through their Facebook page and the KnoxNews article.

Key

A- Main Entrance

B - KnoxNews says this is an excavator with a modified bucket in which guests can sit and swing around.

C- This looks like a giant L-shaped row of Excavators.

D - KnoxNews says this is a modified mining truck where guests will feel like they're getting dumped out of the truck bed. 

E - My first thought was go-karts, but Dig'n Zone said these are Skid Stirs, Pavement Rollers, Tractors, etc.  How cool will that be with all the different configurations of track.  I love that it's not just one big left or right turn of track, I do like that they go in different directions.  

F - This looks to be some type of climb and play structure.

G - This looks to be a type of labyrinth.

H - This looks to be a performance area.

KnoxNews also says...

Games and activities using construction equipment will also be available, such as a variation on the game Operation using an excavator.

The park has partnered with Caterpillar Inc., which will supply all the vehicles and machines, O'Dell said. All of the equipment will be modified and safe for guests to use. 

There are a few other construction theme parks in the world, including New Jersey's Diggerland USA, the three locations of Diggerland UK in the United Kingdom, and Extreme Sandbox in Minnesota. 

More from KnoxNews: 

In addition to the rides and attractions, Dig'n Zone will host seasonal experiences, from a hay ride and corn maze in the fall to Christmas lights during the holiday season. 

Caterpillar will use the venue, O'Dell said, to unveil and demo its new products and host employee days. O'Dell said the park will add new attractions every year to give visitors something new.

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I can see this appealing to lots of people, me included!  I loved my Tonka construction equipment I had growing up, like lots of kids.  I was familiar with the Diggerland Park in New Jersey and the ones in the UK, so I knew this concept was out there.  I'm excited to see this come to the area - an area already so much to do - this adds another unique option for families.  Amusement Park rides are basically glorified construction equipment anyway, so this does make a lot of sense to me.  I mean, look at the company Mack.  They have at least two divisions in the company.  One that makes heavy-duty equipment like Mack Trucks for example, and they have a very successful division for Amusement Rides - and they even have their own amusement park in Rust, Germany that features only their rides for the most part - they do have some other manufacturers as well.  They do go hand-in-hand.

Here you can just how close it is to Dollywood - just a few miles east of it.

I will be excited to cover this new park once it opens in the Spring of 2024.  Make sure you subscribe to my blog and my YouTube channel to keep up with my updates.

Until next time!

Resources for this article

KnoxNews.com 

Facebook - Dig'n Zone Theme Park

https://dign.fun/ - Official Website

8 things to do at Dolly Parton's Dollywood amusement park if you dislike roller coasters

 

Hi everyone, I ran across this article and thought I would share with the blog.  These are some great to-do options if rides aren't your thing.  One thing not on the list is Dolly's Museum, Chasing Rainbows.  I am excited to see the new and improved version of it when it reopens in 2024 as The Dolly Parton Experience!  If you never had an opportunity to experience Dolly's Museum, or want to take another look, I made a video of it in 2021 right before it closed at the end of the season.  Take a Look below!

I have some other videos related to this article, at the bottom of the page.  And you can always check out my Dollywood playlist on YouTube - find that here..

8 things to do at Dolly Parton's Dollywood amusement park if you hate roller coasters

Written By Talia Lakritz Aug 23, 2022, 11:28 AM

Dollywood. George Rose/Getty Images

• Dolly Parton's Dollywood amusement park in Tennessee has more than just roller coasters.

• The Dollywood Express provides a gentle train ride with views of the Great Smoky Mountains.

• There are also lots of live musical performances, restaurants, shops, and hands-on activities.

Catch a live musical performance at one of the many theaters throughout the park.Dollywood's Harmonies of the Heart show. Talia Lakritz/Insider

You can barely walk a few steps at Dollywood without hearing live music playing. 

Notable musical offerings include Southern gospel quartet The Kingdom Heirs, who have performed at Dollywood for 37 years, and Harmonies of the Heart, a show featuring Parton's nieces and cousin as they sing and share memories of growing up with "Aunt Granny."

Ride the historic Dollywood Express train.

The Dollywood Express. Talia Lakritz/Insider

The Dollywood Express steam trains are unique relics of World War II, having transported troops and lumber across Alaska during World War II. 

Two trains function as The Dollywood Express today. Cinderella was built in 1938, followed by Klondike Katie in 1943. They were retired to Tennessee in 1960.

The gentle train ride offers views of the park as well as the surrounding Great Smoky Mountains.

Make a souvenir and learn a new skill in the park's Craftsman's Valley area.

Valley Forge Blacksmith at Dollywood. Talia Lakritz/Insider

Craftsman's Valley hearkens back to a time when settlers in the Tennessee mountains relied on the knowledge and skill of local artisans to make everyday items.

Parkgoers can make their own knives at the Blacksmith and Foundry, hand-dip candles at Old Flames Candles, or create a custom glass ornament at Mountain Blown Glassblown.

Sample the park's delicious Southern cuisine and sweet treats.

Dollywood's famous cinnamon bread. Talia Lakritz/Insider

Dollywood has an array of menus and eateries to choose from, many of which contain subtle references to Parton's family. The retro diner Red's Drive-In is named after Red's Café, the restaurant where Parton's father took her to eat her first hamburger, and Aunt Granny's restaurant gets its name from Parton's nickname with her nieces and nephews.

But if you eat one thing at Dollywood, make it the $10 cinnamon bread sold at The Grist Mill. Baked fresh daily, the pull-apart loaves are soaked in butter and cinnamon-sugar before baking. Each one comes with dipping sauces of buttercream icing and apple butter.

It's such an iconic treat that Dollywood gift shops even sell t-shirts that read "I'm just here for the cinnamon bread."

Visit Eagle Mountain Sanctuary to see the largest exhibit of non-releasable bald eagles in the US.

A bald eagle sits on a perch at the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary exhibit at Dollywood. Jacob Biba for The Washington Post via Getty Images

The American Eagle Foundation maintains a 30,000-square-foot aviary at Dollywood for permanently disabled birds that wouldn't survive in the wild.

Walk through a replica of Dolly Parton's childhood home, a two-room log cabin where she lived with her 11 siblings.

A replica of Dolly Parton's childhood home at Dollywood. Talia Lakritz/Insider

Parton's brother Bobby built the Dollywood replica, and her mother Avie Lee designed and furnished the interior with real family heirlooms.

The log cabin had no electricity or running water, but Parton remembered her years there fondly in her 1973 song "My Tennessee Mountain Home."

"In my Tennessee mountain home / Life is as peaceful as a baby's sigh / In my Tennessee mountain home / The crickets sing in the fields nearby," she sings.

Shop for Dolly-themed souvenirs.

Dolly Parton books for sale at Dollywood. Talia Lakritz/Insider

Shops at Dollywood sell copies of Parton's books, as well as mementos like mugs, t-shirts, and magnets.

Partake in one of Dollywood's seasonal festivals.

A drone show at Dollywood. Talia Lakritz/Insider

Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration features line dancing at sunset followed by a drone show, during which drones fly through the air, change colors, and create shapes in the sky.

The amusement park also hosts a fall Harvest Festival, a winter Smoky Mountain Christmas celebration, and a spring Flower and Food Festival.

You can find the original article from Insider, Here.

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If you want to see the full drone and fireworks show, I have a video for you:

If you want to take a tour of Dollywood's Emporium, check out all the Dolly merchandise, here you go:

Check out the Blown Glass Shop:

Set your Sweet Tooth free, in Dollywood's Sweet Shoppe

Take a look at Dollywood's Festivals - Halloween 2021

Christmas 2021

Flower & Food Spring Festival 2022

Summer Celebration 2022 - This video has some live entertainment in it.

Until Next Time!

Dolly Parton is filming a new holiday movie for NBC for this Christmas season, and it's set at Dollywood

Update - 8/30/22 - The full cast from Deadline:

According to Deadline, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmie Allen and Zach Williams will also appear in the movie, as will Tom Everett Scott, Ana Gasteyer and Angel Parker.

The film will feature the ‘Jolene’ hitmaker in the titular role, and will see her try to share a unique “mountain magic”, which she has always found in Dollywood at Christmas time, with the world.

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Hi Everyone, 

We all know that Dolly stays busy, but did you know she is currently filming a movie in Dollywood?  She’s been spotted with some of her famous friends, like Willie Nelson, Jimmy Fallon & Jimmy Allen.  The park has pulled out some of its Christmas decorations for the movie - and in real life it's not Halloween yet - welcome to how it's done in showbizness! 

courtesy wvlt Willie Nelson visits Dollywood to prepare for Dolly Parton movie (wvlt.tv)

Dolly’s movie Mountain Magic Christmas is going to air on NBC around Christmastime, Dolly said in a Q&A at the Big Bear Mountain roller coaster announcement at Dollywood on August 5th, 2022.  Dolly also mentioned the movie would 'sort of be a movie about how movies are made.'  My mind immediately thought of 30 Rock, a show about how television shows are made, which aired on NBC from 2006 to 2013. Ana Gasteyer (NBC Alum from SNL) was spotted at Dollywood Sunday and that spread on social media, so it seems that could just be a coincidence, even celebrities love Dollywood-right? Or she could have a role in the Dolly movie - we’ll have to wait to see!

Ana Gasteyer photo courtesy of Steven Gomez Facebook - Facebook

At the announcement, Dolly had more to share about the movie.  She said the movie would have a lot of comedy and music, especially uplifting songs with the Christmas spirit.  She mentioned that she and Zach Williams would be singing a duet for “There Was Jesus”, filmed at the Robert F. Thomas Chapel in Craftsman’s Valley.  Dolly also shared that some of her family would be included in the movie, as well as Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus. Those two stars have not yet been spotted around Dollywood.  Some filming takes place on days when Dollywood is closed to the public, and we don’t know every star's schedule.  With a few more weeks of filming left, I know eagle-eyed guests of Dollywood will flood social media with their images of the stars the moment they are seen.

Here is the official description from NBC:

“A modern-day movie musical about the making of a network TV special, "Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas" is the frenetic backstage story and delightful on-camera results of Dolly's desire to uplift an exhausted world's spirits by sharing the unique "mountain magic" she has always found in and around Dollywood at Christmas. Throughout the movie's production numbers and rehearsal chaos, Dolly finds herself taking a private journey into her past, guided by the mysterious appearances of her personal Three Wise Men. When it's time for her big special to air live, a renewed and inspired Dolly goes rogue and shows the world that the real magic of Christmas lies in the hearts of the children we all once were, the realization that Christmas is about the people we share it with, and how her faith remains the common thread between Christmases past, present, and future.”

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@audreychambers20 This was so worth waiting nearly 3 hours for and made my 10yr old ecstatic! 🦋 #dollyparton #dollywood #jimmyfallon @Jimmy Fallon ♬ Why'd You Come in Here Lookin' Like That - Dolly Parton

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Here is what Knoxnews.com Reported: 

Another very famous face was spotted at Dollywood this week.

Rocking a leather jacket, black denim and loafers, fans took video of Jimmy Fallon at Dollywood on Sunday. And Dolly Parton, the Queen of Tennessee herself, was seen nearby wearing a red polka-dotted blouse and black pants.

The 1950s-inspired getups may have been the duo’s costumes while filming scenes for Dolly Parton’s upcoming NBC holiday movie musical, “Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas.”

Video footage captured the late-night talk show host and Parton waving at fans before filming at Red's Drive In restaurant in the 1950s-themed Jukebox Junction section of the park.

Billy Ray Cyrus and Jimmie Allen are among the other celebrities scheduled to film with Parton for the movie.

“Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas” is slated to be a behind-the-scenes story of making a television special as the country icon learns valuable lessons while also being visited by the Three Wise Men.

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If you want to see Dolly's Q&A about her movie, it is cued up here Dolly movie Q&A #1 & #2 is here

Or watch the whole video below:

Make you subscribe to my blog and my YouTube channel and I'm sure I will have more info about the premiere of the movie this December on NBC.

Until Next Time!