Dollywood Triumphs at Golden Ticket Awards with Five ‘World’s Best’ Wins and a Legendary Christmas
Dollywood once again cemented its status as a world-class theme park, taking home an impressive five “world’s best” awards at the prestigious Golden Ticket Awards ceremony.
Held at Kennywood Amusement Park near Pittsburgh, the event saw Dollywood receiving finalist recognition in eight categories and ultimately clinching more Golden Ticket awards than any other park globally.
One of the highlights of the night was the bestowing of “legend” status on Dollywood’s renowned Smoky Mountain Christmas festival, a testament to its enduring popularity and exceptional quality. This recognition further solidifies Dollywood’s reputation for delivering exceptional experiences and holiday cheer.
The park’s continued success at the Golden Ticket Awards is a testament to its dedication to excellence and commitment to providing unforgettable experiences for guests of all ages.
“I’m so proud of what our folks at Dollywood do to make sure our guests have the best time when they are visiting us,” Dolly said. “With all of the awards we’ve won the last few years, I think we’re going to have to get a larger trophy case,” she added with a laugh. “Awards are nice to receive, but we don’t do what we do to win awards. We want to be the place where families want to return time and time again to make new memories they will always treasure.”
One of the park’s most loved events, Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana, earned a Golden Ticket Legend Award. After 15 consecutive wins in the Best Christmas Event category, the Golden Ticket Awards staff opted to retire the award and name the event as a legend within the industry. Dollywood’s Christmas festival is so prevalent that it has been showcased in several movies, including Hallmark’s Christmas at Dollywood and Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas.
Dollywood continued its clean sweep of the Best Guest Experience category, which was first created in 2019. This marks the fifth-consecutive Best Guest Experience award for Dollywood (Golden Tickets were not awarded in 2020). The Best Guest Experience award combines several attributes—including friendliness, cleanliness, operations and value—into the judging criteria for the award. Dollywood is the only park to ever win the award, a nod to its friendly and welcoming hosts, as well as its clean appearance and overall atmosphere.
Dollywood’s Wildwood Grove also earned its fifth consecutive award for Best Kids’ Area. The park first won this award in 2019 after that season’s opening of the expansive new area. Wildwood Grove includes several family friendly rides and attractions including the park’s newest roller coaster, Big Bear Mountain.
New in 2023, Big Bear Mountain earned its second consecutive win in the Best Family Coaster category. With three launches, on-board audio, plenty of airtime and a number of thrilling moments, Big Bear Mountain has quickly become a favorite of park guests.
Alongside its hospitable hosts and world class attractions, Dollywood may be best known for its location in the picturesque Great Smoky Mountains. It is this idyllic location that helped the park earn the Most Beautiful Park award. The natural beauty creates a stunning backdrop for guests to enjoy during their time at Dollywood Parks & Resorts. The park last won the award in 2021.
A new category win for Dollywood this year was Best New Show. Known for their award-winning offerings, Dollywood’s entertainment team created a new show for this season’s I Will Always Love You Celebration. Called “From the Heart—The Life & Music of Dolly Parton,” the Broadway-style production written by Dolly and John Dietrick showcases the emotional pull Dolly 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.
Tim Baldwin, Communications Coordinator for Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards, explained why the new show was a shoo-in for the award.
“The portrayal of Dolly’s life and music made ‘From The Heart’ the clear winner as Best New Show,” he said. “It makes the iconic figure they know and love feel more identifiable as they took the journey. With Dolly herself narrating, it gives it the ring of authenticity.”
Dollywood also placed in several additional categories. Dollywood finished #2 for Best Park to Europa-Park in Rust, Germany, effectively making the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, park the top park in the U.S. Dollywood’s thrilling Thunderhead remained ranked in the Best Wooden Roller Coaster category, finishing as the fourth best wooden coaster in the world. Dollywood’s Splash Country earned a fifth-place finish in the award for Best Water Park.
Eugene Naughton, President of Dollywood Parks & Resorts, says the unparalleled number of awards, including legend status for Smoky Mountain Christmas and the highest-ranking park in the U.S. exemplify why Dollywood has become the rising star of the theme park industry. He also referenced a recent poll by InsureandGo that indicated previous guests want to return to Dollywood more than any other landmark around the world.
“Winning these awards never gets old, because it means the hard work and effort we place on the guest experience is working,” Naughton said. “Our hosts make genuine connections with our guests, and the value of that cannot be ignored. The friendly and welcoming environment we offer plays a critical role in why our guests say they want to return here more than any other place in the world.
“Additionally, with the current economic environment, we also seek to provide the best possible value for those who choose to spend their money by visiting the park. I want to thank the Golden Ticket voters for recognizing how special Dollywood truly is. It is an exciting time in this industry, and I want us to remain at the forefront.”
Baldwin summarized why Dollywood continues to rack up more wins than any other park in the world.
“With more wins than any other park on the planet, Dollywood demonstrates how the commitment to quality experiences truly matters,” Baldwin explained. “It’s not just a park that caters only to thrill seekers. All ages enjoy an incredible visit, whether you like rides, entertainment, food or just being in someplace special. There’s a magic that is evident at the park.”
Calculated from an international poll conducted by Amusement Today, the industry’s leading trade publication, the Golden Ticket Awards are the results of a detailed survey sent to a database of hundreds of experienced and well-traveled amusement park fans, industry journalists and ride manufacturers around the world in balanced geographical regions. Voters are asked to rate the “best” in a number of categories such as best parks, roller coasters, water rides, food and more. The pool of eligible voters changes every year to ensure the same votes are not cast each season.
The Golden Ticket Awards are the most sought-after awards in the business of amusements and attractions. The awards have become the subject of much discussion by park aficionados the world over and have garnered mentions in such notable media outlets as USA Today and the Chicago Tribune and by the late radio newsman Paul Harvey. The awards also were the topic of a one-hour Travel Channel documentary.
With two great festivals ahead this year, there’s plenty of fun still to have during Dollywood’s 2024 operating season. Dollywood’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana featuring Great Pumpkin LumiNights presented by Covenant Health begins today and runs through Oct. 28, while Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana—now officially considered a legendary event within the industry—is slated for Nov. 1- Jan. 5.
For more information about Dollywood, please visit dollywood.com or download the Dollywood App.
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