Dollywood will restart its 35th anniversary season celebration when it reopens to season passholders on June 15, 2020.
Dollywood today announced plans to reopen the park exclusively to season passholders on June 15 and 16 and to the general public on June 17. Dollywood’s Splash Country water park will also reopen on June 17, with season passholder preview days on June 15 and 16. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa will open to guests on June 10.
“We are excited to get open and to welcome families back to the Great Smoky Mountains. Brighter Days are here!” Dolly Parton said.
“We have been blessed to work with some incredible experts at Covenant Health and with the State of Tennessee as we have navigated this extraordinary situation. Their advice and teamwork has provided untold help to make sure we are doing the right thing.”
The park will reopen with limited capacity, enhanced cleaning protocols and other health and safety measures. The theme park, water park and resort hotel have remained closed since mid-March following the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
Dollywood Reopening — Things to Know:
- The park’s daily capacity will be limited. Reservations are required for season passholders, and date-based tickets will be available for general admission.
- Temperature screenings will be taken prior to entry. Guests with a fever over 100.40 Fahrenheit will not be permitted entry.
- Face masks or face coverings are required for all visitors ages 3 and up (with some exceptions). Employees also are required to wear masks.
- Face masks are not required while eating, on water park attractions or on select roller coasters.
- Attraction and dining capacities will be limited to allow for better distancing.
- Physical distancing measures to be implemented include physically distanced queues, marked barriers and social distancing reminders.
- Additional sanitation measures include additional hand-sanitizing locations and more frequent cleanings of high-touch areas.
How to Make a Dollywood Reservation
Photo Courtesy of Dollywood
You’ll need to reserve a date and time to arrive at Dollywood. To get started making your required advanced reservation for Dollywood — whether you’re a season passholder or you have a general admission ticket — visit the reservation page on the Dollywood website.
The website contains instructions for several different scenarios that may apply to guests including:
- Current season passholders
- Those who want to buy a season pass
- Those who want to buy daily tickets
- Those who already bought daily tickets
- Lodging guests with a season pass
If you’re like me and haven’t processed your 2020 season pass at the park yet, you can either use last year’s season pass ID (if you renewed the pass) or use the 17-digit alphanumeric barcode on your print-at-home confirmation ticket for the new pass.
Once you’ve entered the required information, you’ll be able to select a date and time to enter the park:
Dollywood Reservation Calendar
You’ll be able to see which days the park is full, almost full, at low capacity and available.
Note that season passholders are limited in the number of reservations they can make:
At Dollywood:
Up to two (2) Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays per month.
Up to three (3) Low Capacity or Almost Full days per month.
Up to three (3) consecutive days at any time.
At Dollywood’s Splash Country:
Up to two (2) Saturdays or Sundays per month.
Up to three (2) Low Capacity or Almost Full days per month.
Up to three (2) consecutive days at any time.
The park’s website has a helpful walk-through video that will guide you through the entire reservation process.
Reservations can be changed or canceled within 48 hours of your arrival time. If it is not canceled prior to visiting, your pass could be subject to future restrictions and blackout dates.
Season Passholder Information
Dollywood announced that all 2020 season passes purchased through the end of the campaign (which is not specified) will be valid through June 15, 2021 (this date was updated to reflect the June 15 reopening).
Opportunities to extend those passes through the remainder of the 2021 season at a prorated discount will be announced at a later date.
The park is also providing a bring-a-friend free ticket that will be valid for the summer.
Face Masks
Face masks or coverings will be required for all guests over the age of 3 as well as employees. Guests are encouraged to bring their own masks, but the park will provide them to guests who need them.
Guests will not be required to wear face masks while eating or drinking, riding select roller coasters and while on slides or in pools at Dollywood’s Splash Country.
Other exceptions include:
- Eating or drinking – both at a restaurant or while walking/sitting
- When taking photos
- While swimming or on an attraction where you will get wet (water slides/rides)
- While riding select thrill rides and other high-intensity attractions
- While showering/changing clothes in an approved water park facility
- While occupying a private, rented space (such as Cabanas at Dollywood’s Splash Country) if 6 feet of distance can be maintained between groups
Rides and Attractions Information
According to the park, a majority of Dollywood rides and attractions will be open with limited capacity (e.g. leaving select seats on ride vehicles and trains empty).
Face masks will likely not be required on high-intensity rides and roller coasters such as Lightning Rod.
Floor markings in queues will help ensure physical distancing. Hand-sanitizing stations will be available in attraction areas for guests to sanitize their hands before and after riding an attraction.
Food and Dining Information
The park will reduce capacity at restaurants to maintain proper physical distancing.
The park’s buffet-style restaurants including Aunt Granny’s will be available cafeteria-style.
Additionally, buffet restaurants in the park will be served cafeteria-style (an employee will serve you).
Shows and Events Information
Of course, shows and events are integral parts of the Dollywood experience.
Indoor theaters and play areas where adequate social distancing is not feasible will be temporarily closed. Entertainment in open-air theaters and other outdoor venues will continue.
The Flower & Food Festival will kickstart Dollywood’s 35th Anniversary Season.
The three remaining festivals for the season: Flower & Food Festival (new for 2020), Harvest Festival and Smoky Mountain Christmas will all open as scheduled.
Enhanced Cleaning Measures
Dollywood is implementing enhanced cleaning protocols, adding hand-sanitation and portable hand-washing stations throughout the park. The park also will be rigorously and frequently cleaning highly touched surfaces throughout the park. Hygiene signage will be visible in public and employee areas.
All Dollywood reopening operations will adhere to the state of Tennessee operational restrictions.
“The team has faced this challenge head on and they have made numerous operational changes we believe will help with the safety of our guests and hosts as we continue to deal with the coronavirus. Safety is—and always will be—one of our highest priorities,” said Dollywood president Craig Ross.
The FAQ page has answers to many of the questions guests may have before arriving at the park.
This is a breaking story, more information will be posted soon.
Additional information is available on the Dollywood website.
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