Dollywood Gearing up for an Exciting 2024 Season
Dollywood is gearing up for an exciting 2024 season, with new attractions and guest-friendly amenities. Media members recently received a sneak peek at The Dolly Parton Experience, set to open later this spring, and various off-season construction projects aimed at enhancing the comfort of Dollywood guests.
Related – Dollywood’s Heartsong Lodge Named One Of National Geographic’s “Hotels We Love For 2024”
After a successful 2023 season, which saw the addition of the acclaimed Big Bear Mountain coaster and the opening of Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort, the park is set to continue its growth. The Dollywood Company is introducing the multi-faceted Dolly Parton Experience in May, accompanied by new guest-friendly amenities. Additionally, the park’s operating calendar for 2024 will include 23 more operational days, totaling 357 operating hours.
The Dollywood theme park’s 2024 calendar expands to 281 operational days, reflecting a commitment to enhancing the guest experience. Compared to the 2022 season, 21 additional operating days were added to the 2023 calendar. The park kicks off the season with Season Passholder Day on Friday, March 8, followed by the first day of operation for the general public on Saturday, March 9.
All these developments, including new attractions and extended operating days, are driven by a dedicated focus on providing an exceptional experience for Dollywood guests. The park aims to build on its success, offering more opportunities for visitors to enjoy the magic and excitement throughout the upcoming season.
“Our Dollywood Parks & Resorts properties have truly become among the top vacation destinations in the entire country,” said Eugene Naughton, President of The Dollywood Company. “We’ve earned several great honors this past year, including being #27 on Forbes’ list of Best Customer Service in the entire country. Recognition like that comes because of the effort we place each day on ensuring the guest experience for every person who visits us is the best it can possibly be. We really believe the only way to do that is by asking guests for their honest opinions and listening fully to their responses. Several of the projects we outlined here today—including the new restroom facility in the ticket plaza, as well as the more efficient ticketing system—are just two more ways we’ve taken that feedback and are acting on it.”
The Dolly Parton Experience provides guests an opportunity to learn more about the park’s Dreamer-in-Chief through curated exhibits, interactive experiences and live entertainment. Attractions like this—as well as last year’s Big Bear Mountain and HeartSong Lodge & Resort additions—are integral in the company’s half-billion dollar, 10-year expansion plan announced by Dolly and Naughton in 2021. Naughton says the expansion strategy should allow Dollywood Parks & Resorts to remain among America’s top theme park destinations.
“We really do offer something different here,” he explained. “The hearts of our hosts go far beyond the everyday tasks they complete at excellence each day. Our hosts make a true connection with our guests, making them feel like they’re part of the family. It’s been that way since the park opened. Now, our strategy of adding more attractions and resorts—five total resorts and an outdoor resort—lets us grow our infrastructure and offerings in a way that allows Dollywood Parks & Resorts to regularly be considered among the top destinations in the country. Include the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains right at our doorstep, and it really is easy to see why so many families are now making us their theme park of choice.”
During the tour, media had an opportunity to sample culinary highlights of the upcoming season and learn more about a significant reinvestment at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, the original award-winning resort property in Dollywood’s portfolio. The investment project includes a number of fresh touches and enhancements designed to allow it to maintain its position as one of the top theme park resorts in the world.
Dollywood’s 2024 season begins with the I Will Always Love You Music Festival, which features three new shows celebrating Dolly’s iconic career. Her remarkable story is told in “From the Heart—The Life and Music of Dolly Parton.” The new show takes place in Celebrity Theater.
For those who just cannot contain their love of Dolly, “Sing-a-long with Dolly” invites guests to belt out the lyrics to some of her most-loved songs. This fun and interactive new show takes place at the Back Porch Theater. Finally, “Trio, Again featuring Three Times A Lady” honors the iconic “Trio” album released by Dolly, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt in 1987. The Three Times A Lady trio, made up of singer/songwriters Lauren Mascitti, Kenney Scott and Hannah Blaylock, presents this timeless show for Dollywood guests at the Showstreet Palace Theater. The I Will Always Love You Music Festival takes place March 9-April 14.
Dollywood’s Flower & Food Festival presented by Covenant Health (April 19-June 9) blooms bright with vivid larger-than-life flower sculptures. Park guests enjoy this immersive atmosphere as they make their way through more than half-a-million blooms during this stunning festival. In addition, Dollywood’s culinary team showcases their world-class abilities with a menu full of delicacies that highlight the tastes of spring in the Smokies.
Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration presented by Food City (June 15-Sept. 1) is everyone’s favorite summer tradition, and once again includes Dollywood’s Sweet Summer Nights drone and fireworks show every night. Another favorite, the “Gazillion Bubble Show,” returns to mesmerize guests in Celebrity Theater.
A family tradition for many, Dollywood’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana (Sept. 9-Oct. 28) opens two weeks earlier this season, providing guests more time to celebrate the beauty of fall with thousands of carved pumpkins, spirited performances from talented singers including Suzy Bogguss and Rhonda Vincent, and the fun of Great Pumpkin LumiNights presented by Covenant Health. 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. 5)— also opens earlier this year and concludes the park’s 2024 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 so much more in ’24, guests should consider a season pass to ensure they can experience all of the fun! The Gold Pass represents a tremendous value for guests. Those who purchase now receive a Bring-A-Friend Free ticket and free general parking, as well as discounts on dining, merchandise and lodging. Diamond (Diamond Passes are sold out) and Gold passholders also receive access to special “Golden Events”—exclusive events and activities just for them. (Only the named passholder can receive the perks associated with each pass type.)
Gold and Diamond passholders also can take advantage of another great perk: daily “Golden Hours.” During the first hour of every operating day, Gold and Diamond Season Passes operate just like TimeSaver Passes, allowing the named passholder expedited boarding on Dollywood’s world-class rides and attractions including Big Bear Mountain.
Silver Season Passes also are available and include a Bring-a-Friend Free ticket 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.
Season pass prices increase after March 17. For more information about Dollywood’s 2024 season or season passes, please visit Dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app.
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