A different yet familiar Dollywood opened to season passholders on Monday and Tuesday and opens to the general public on Wednesday. The park opened for just one season passholder preview day in mid-March before closing due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Its reopening comes as parks across the nation slowly begin resuming operations.
I started my day with a brief media tour around the park to learn about the new protocols the park is introducing this year to help keep guests and employees safe and healthy.
Unrelated to these changes, the inaugural Flower & Food Festival is quite the spectacle. Check out this post to learn more about the event.
Dollywood has implemented more than 700 operational changes to help ensure guests and employees can remain safe and healthy. Many of these are behind-the-scenes changes but are just as important as the ones that are more noticeable to guests. Below, I’ve highlighted some of the changes that guests are more likely to notice during their visits.
1. Limited Park Capacity, Advanced Reservations Required
Like many parks that are reopening across the nation, Dollywood is requiring (nearly) all guests to place reservations before their arrival. This is by far the most important change of 2020, one that necessitates more planning on guests’ end. Again, advanced reservations are required for daily tickets and season passholders.
To learn more about the reservation process and to make your reservation, visit dollywood.com/Reservations. If you have a season pass, you’ll want to have your pass ID number on hand (it’s on the card).
Note: if you’re staying at the DreamMore Resort or a Dollywood Cabins location with tickets included in your package, you do not need a reservation for the days during your stay. However, you will need a reservation if you’re a season passholder. The Dollywood website states:
Lodging guests purchasing stay packages that include tickets to Dollywood and/or Dollywood’s Splash County on or after June 3, 2020 will be granted priority access to the parks and no additional reservation is required. Lodging guests with Season Pass will be granted priority access to the parks but must utilize the Reservation System to reserve their visit.
While Dollywood will not disclose its new max capacity, each guest has been allocated an additional 48-square-feet of space.
Wildwood Grove is a great place to practice social distancing.
Dollywood maxed out reservations for both the season passholder preview days (June 15 and 16). Yet, the park was noticeably less crowded than normal, even in the new-for-2019 Wildwood Grove area.
2. Temperature and Health Screenings
All guests entering the park will have their temperatures taken and will be asked a brief series of questions regarding their health and potential exposure to the coronavirus.
I entered through the park’s secondary entrance (for preferred parking, DreamMore Resort guests and groups) where a smaller screening tent is set up.
If you’re parking in the general lot and taking the tram, you’ll be screened before you board the tram. If you walk, there’s another screening tent set up before you get to the gate. DreamMore Resort guests will have their temperatures taken before they get on the trolley at the resort.
Unrelated to the pandemic — Dollywood now has metal detectors, which I think is a welcome addition to the entry process.
To allow for more social distancing, guests may exit the park from the Emporium (as always), the group entrance and the turnstile area as pictured above. Speaking of the above, the actual turnstiles have been removed to reduce contact points.
3. Required Face Masks
Please wear face masks and protect those around you. Not just at Dollywood — where they’re required for all visitors ages 3 and up — but whenever and wherever social distancing is not possible.
I won’t distract you from Dollywood with links to the increasing amount of evidence that suggests face masks can significantly reduce the spread of COVID-19, but trust me — they do make a difference.
Fun fact: you can wear a face mask and still have fun at Dollywood!
Before this pandemic, would I have voluntarily worn a face mask all day? Probably not. But if wearing one means that I can spend a day at one of my favorite theme parks, I’m all for it.
Face masks are not required but can be worn on the park’s more intense attractions such as Lightning Rod. While in line for Lightning Rod, an operator told guests that if they chose not to wear their face mask, they would need to hold it during the ride instead of placing it in a bin. However, I didn’t see that rule enforced at other rides.
Overall, I was impressed by how many guests were complying with the face mask rule. However, the weather on Monday was very nice, thanks in part to a midday thunderstorm. I’m not as confident that this will be the case on sweltering summer days.
4. Signs, signs and more signs
If there is a “new normal” (a silly term, I think), it’s that social distancing and proper hygiene signs are here to stay — for the foreseeable future, at least.
More than 6,000 signs have been placed across the park to inform guests about social distancing and other proper hygiene practices.
You’ll see them from the moment you pull up to the parking toll booths to the moment you leave the park.
Some of the changes are so minor, many guests won’t notice them. For instance, a sign like this could have easily existed pre-coronavirus. Condiment dispensers in general can get a little…grimy. This is another change that I’d like to see made permanent.
There are also personal hygiene and hand-washing best practices displayed above sinks in the restrooms.
This sign in particular caught me off guard — printed maps are no more. I don’t quite understand the reasoning (if you know, please let me know in the comments section), but it’s very minor.
Luckily, the park has a stellar mobile app (with an interactive map), which is available for download on the App Store and Google Play.
5. Social Distancing Floor Decals
In addition to the signage, you won’t have to look far to see one of these blue “stickers” on the ground reminding you to keep six feet apart from others.
They’re in queues, food lines and other areas where guests congregate. But watch out — I almost tripped on one that had started to peel at a Dippin’ Dots stand.
6. Ride Operation Changes
Of course, some of the most noticeable of the 700 operational changes can be found on Dollywood’s rides and attractions, many of which are operating at 50% capacity.
Hand sanitizer dispensers are found at ride entrances and exits, and ride operators dispense hand sanitizer into the hands of oncoming riders (now that’s service).
My first ride of the day was of course my beloved Lightning Rod (which is running great with minimal downtime).
The relatively new single-rider line is no longer being offered.
As much as I’ll miss it, I understand — filling empty seats with strangers isn’t the healthiest practice in these “social distancing” times.
Every other row of Lightning Rod’s (and most coaster’s) trains were roped off, allowing for more space between riders. A grouper was directing guests to rows, which is fairly common, pandemic aside.
One minor change: ride operators will no longer take your bag for you to store in a bin. While this of course is minuscule, it was something that I really liked about Dollywood. Hopefully it will return once this is all over.
The ride closes temporarily every hour for cleaning. Both trains are cycled after being wiped down.
Ride hosts were also cleaning queue rails and other “high-touch” areas of the station.
Ride operators would also periodically use the speaker system to remind guests waiting in line to maintain social distance between others. I thought this was helpful as by habit I found myself breaking the six-feet rule.
Wild Eagle’s station and boarding process, however, was virtually the same. I’m assuming because there is already so much space between riders that it was not necessary to close any rows.
However, there were still plenty of social distancing floor decals in the station to keep guests from getting too close to each other.
Tennessee Tornado was operating one train, which, coupled with reduced capacity, resulted in a longer-than-average line.
Thunderhead, however, was running both trains and had no wait for most of the day.
This shot was taken from a 2019 visit.
Dollywood Express was operating but with two rows roped off for every row open. They’re pretty close together as is so I wasn’t surprised to see more than every other row roped off.
I didn’t get to the flat-ride-heavy Country Fair area, but the only ride in the park that I saw closed was Lumberjack Lifts. It’s understandable given that the entire premise of the ride is “high touch” as riders use ropes to pull themselves to the top of each tower.
Unsurprisingly, children’s play areas were closed. Kids and social distancing don’t mix.
The Hidden Hollow indoor play area at Wildwood Grove was also closed.
7. Food and Drink Operations
Restaurants, food stands and other spots serving food or drink have been significantly impacted by the changes.
Dividers made of plexiglass (sturdy clear plastic) are used at nearly every place where employees and guests come face-to-face such as registers and order counters.
Seemingly every eatery from Aunt Granny’s to the Dippin’ Dots stand in Jukebox Junction now has a dedicated, roped-off line with those blue social distancing reminders on the ground.
The Red’s Diner waiting area (which can be chaotic at times) now features one single line that leads to the next available register.
I hope this is a permanent change. On busy days, the area becomes one large crowd with lines of varying lengths, some of which are fast-moving and others…not so much.
This should be common sense, even pre-pandemic, but this is a nice reminder regardless.
If I had one critique (which is impressive given this was the park’s first day back open), it would be the water situation. The park’s water fountains were understandably closed. But finding complimentary cups of water was challenging. Some restaurants were only selling bottled water, which resulted in longer lines at the locations that did offer free water.
Again, the weather was relatively nice during my visit (aside from the thunderstorm). But on the inevitable scorching-hot days, getting water is going to have to be easier. I’m not sure what the solution is, but I’ve seen parks in the past have pre-filled water cups ready for employees to hand out.
On the subject of drinks, souvenir bottles are still available for purchase, they’ll work a little differently in 2020. A Dollywood employee might fill it for you or you may be given a disposable cup instead of a refill.
Spread across the park are 250 hand sanitizer dispensers and 50 portable hand-washing stations (seen above) — many near restaurants and other places where food is served.
8. Closed Theaters and Indoor Attractions
The attractions most affected by the changes are those that are completely enclosed.
All of the park’s indoor theaters are closed, but there are plenty of entertainment offerings on the midways and in the open-air theaters.
Don’t believe me? Just check out the daily entertainment schedule.
As stated earlier, the park’s indoor theaters and other major inside attractions like Dolly Parton’s Chasing Rainbows museum are closed.
However, the open-air venues like the Back Porch Theater are open with every other row blocked off to allow for social distancing.
Likewise, the Valley Theatre in Craftsman’s Valley is also open, but the benches inside are spread farther apart.
For the most part, the park was not at all crowded. It was far from a ghost town, but it felt like a slower early-season day. However, I was near the Valley Theatre when the Kingdom Heirs show concluded. An employee instructed the audience to clear out quickly (I’m assuming so that the between-show cleaning could begin). However, this resulted in a mass exodus of guests onto the midway.
I was a little overwhelmed, but the crowd dispersed rather quickly.
Gem Tones in action in Jukebox Junction pic.twitter.com/jqW4LpaiMe
— Coaster101.com (@Coaster101) June 15, 2020
The Gem Tones street performers are now more popular than ever. With the classic Dreamland Drive-In show temporarily out of commission, those looking for classic hits can find them just outside the Pines Theater.
9. Shops and Retail Changes
Like restaurants and food stands, you’ll see plexiglass dividers at many of the registers inside shops.
Stores with multiple entrances and exits now have designated entry and exit points.
Even small changes like this inside the Wild Eagle Outfitters shop help keep guests a little more distanced from one another.
I can’t think of a more representative image for the times we’re living in than the socially distanced rockers.
The rockers represent community, togetherness and sometimes making a new friend. Seeing them so far apart brought me back to reality.
But I have to remind myself: this is only temporary.
On the bright side, there are some not-coronavirus-related changes this season.
10. More Thunderhead Retracking!
During the 2018-2019 offseason, Dollywood began a four-year total track replacement of Thunderhead which will cost roughly $800,000 for each phase.
This season, even more of the track has been replaced.
The second phase was completed over the winter, and the ride experience is a stark difference from the original track.
The newly-retracked section of the coaster is difficult to photograph as it comprises most of the coaster’s close-to-the-ground finale. But you can see a few glimpses of it from Wildwood Grove and Whistlepunk Chaser (below).
While I’ve never thought Thunderhead was unbearably rough (it is a wooden coaster, after all), I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like the significantly smoother ride.
I can’t wait to ride the coaster once the entire retracking has been completed, but until then I’m more than content with these new smooth sections.
Learn more about Thunderhead’s new track from our hike to the top of the coaster’s lift hill last year.
11. New Places to Buy Cinnamon Bread
If there’s anything the world could use more of in these uncertain times, it’s Dollywood’s world-famous Cinnamon Bread.
In addition to the tried-and-true Grist Mill, you can also buy Cinnamon Bread in the Spotlight Bakery near the front of the park. If it was sold there in the past, please correct me in the comments section below. But my nose can pick up on the wonderful smell of cinnamon-infused baking from a mile away.
The delicious loaves are also available year-round at the DM Pantry inside the DreamMore Resort.
Indeed, today was a very different visit to Dollywood. I still had a lot of fun, even with the two-hour rain delay. But it was different — that’s the best way I can describe it. All theme park visits will be different for the time being, but I know it’s for our own protection.
Though this is uncharted territory for all of us, I was very impressed by how quickly the park was able to adapt and implement these changes. There will surely be adjustments in the days and weeks to come. But for the most part, everything seemed to go smoothly. Or as smoothly as it could in this crazy year.
As I was leaving the park, I saw this flower cart (as part of the ongoing Flower & Food Festival — more on that soon) featuring a Dolly Parton quote. I found it to be very fitting for the occasion.
The rainbow will come before long. We just have to put up with the rain for a while.
To learn more about the changes being implemented at Dollywood, visit the park’s “Play Safe” website.
Have you visited Dollywood this season? Let us know about your experience in the comments section below.
The reason for no park maps is due to speed of change. These maps are mass printed and take about a month or so to produce. With the ever changing climate, it doesn’t make sense to print a map that may have an incorrect policy tomorrow. Obviously it’s much easier to make these changes on a digital platform.
Good point Paul!
What if you can only go on weekends and you can’t get a reservation and can’t go very much I would like a refund my self I bought 5 season passes and I feel like we’re not going to get our moneys worth
Contact the park and nicely explain your situation.
I was there on Monday and Wednesday this week. I thought both days were a drag, with Wednesday being far worse. Not only were the lines for the rides long due to reduced capacity but the staff was not enforcing the rules on face coverings and social distancing. There were MANY people in the park without face coverings and when I mentioned it to them, it got ugly. There should be park monitors making sure people keep their masks or face coverings on.
I agree with the season pass refund. Dollywood wants to hold the first payment and at the time I talked with a representative I was told the first payment is non refundable which I think is unfair in this situation.
I have asthma and I will not be going to Dollywood this season due to the virus and I wouldn’t be able to wear a mask in the heat .
I would like my total payments on my 2 season pass tickets refunded.
>There were MANY people in the park without face coverings and when I mentioned it to them, it got ugly.
That’s fantastic to hear. Reading the Dollywood website I was afraid there might be some Gestapo-level enforcement where people would get tossed out by not having the mask on all the time, but if they’re standing up against the snitches and Karens instead, that helps make my decision to go later this month. Bring a mask, use it in proximity with the NPC idiots.
COVID-19 has been a huge fraud and I hope everyone that “took it seriously” feels foolish when they’re confronted with the truth a few months from now. Unfortunately, I fear the worst that people would rather be agents for China than put all that they’ve been told in the last six month together and realize masks/gloves/etc do far more harm outside of a sterile environment than good and the social distancing is based on nothing but conjecture.
So, with the inane 1-train OPs and only partially loading attractions, does anyone have any input on if TimeSaver passes are still worth it? Or does the inane OPs balance out with low attendance keeping lines about the same?