Dollywood with Toddlers and Young Kids
We just moved to the western North Carolina area, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from Dollywood when we headed into the Tennessee mountains. But I was absolutely blown away by this downright gorgeous theme park. With 9 world-class rollercoasters, tons of live music, craft demonstrations, great comfort food, and a beautiful setting, Dollywood is a treat for any age!
Claire, Chelsea, and Kailen walking down Showstreet at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN.
Even with the smallest of kids who can’t quite ride the thrill-packed roller coasters yet, there is plenty to do at Dollywood. So much so, in fact, we couldn’t fit everything into one day.
Here’s a guide to help you navigate Dollywood with your little ones:
Use this table to jump to what you want to read quickly:
10 tips for visiting Dollywood
1. First things first, double-check park hours and operation days
During the off-season and shoulder season, Dollywood has a revised schedule. Don’t just assume the park is open, double-check the times and days of operation. Remember, as long as you’re in line for a ride when the park is about to close, you can still ride!
2. Pack for VERY warm weather in summer
Tennessee gets hot, like really hot… and humid! If you’re not used to the humidity, it could throw off your day. Much of the park is wooded and shaded and there are plenty of locations that provide a break from the heat. Take breaks often and hit the shade as much as possible! Pack extra clothes and bathing suits for the awesome splashpads.
3. Plan for a lot of walking
We walked 7.5 miles! We also didn’t map our route prior to our visit, which was a big mistake and lesson learned. Be efficient, map out your route the day before. The park is situated in the mountains, which is why it is so beautiful but also another reason why wearing good shoes is crucial. You will be walking up and down hills, so be prepared! If you need to rent a scooter or wheelchair there, it is first-come, first-serve. During high season they often run out of rentals so plan accordingly if you have mobility issues.
Claire and Brooks taking a snack break in the strollers
4. With littles, don’t forget the stroller!
We’re so glad we brought 2 strollers for our group of 4 kids because even our 6-year-olds wanted to hop in for a break sometimes. Pushing a 6-year-old in a stroller sure beats carrying them up a mountain! There’s a lot of walking up and down hills, making for a long day if you’re not prepared. With a stroller, you can place your day pack in the stroller and park it in the many designated areas near major attractions.
5. Download the app before you go
Don’t go without the free app! If you’d like to plan to see as much as possible, the Dollywood app is crucial to your visit. With the app, you can see ride wait times (it’s very accurate), plan your route, look for live shows and events, find bathrooms and first aid stations, and check out restaurants. There are menus and allergy information on the app as well! But the best feature is being able to create “Lists” that serve as your itinerary. Use the map and “star” anything from rides, crafts, shops, events, and restaurants that will be added to a list. Simply tap the list and view your event schedule. After you’ve been to an attraction or event, just check it off. It’s fabulous!
6. Arrive early and head left
Even though Dollywood opens at 10 AM, parts of the park open at 9:30, so it’s a great way to get a jumpstart in line. Park insiders recommended heading left as you enter the park, while much of the crowd tends to head right. If you arrive early, plan to head straight to Fire Chaser, Wild Eagle, Lightning Rod, Drangonflier, and Mystery Mine - some of the most popular attractions that have long lines later.
7. Measure the kids when you first arrive
Head left when you pass through the main entrance of Dollywood and you will find a measuring station. A team member will provide you with a color wristband that allows easy identification for ride operators when you board.
8. Pack a water bottle and hit up the free water stations
Every snack stand and drink station offers free water cups or fill-ups. There are also plenty of water bottle fill-up fountains located throughout the park. Stay hydrated in the southern sun!
9. Skip the lockers and use coaster cubbies
Just like at every theme park, you can certainly pay for lockers to place your valuables in but we love how Dollywood offers cubbies for loose items when you board rides. There are stroller stations near all of the major rides as well.
10. Take advantage of the Parent Swap Program
This is so great for families with kids of varying ages! Families enter the line together and if not all members of your party are tall enough to ride, one parent (or family member or guardian) can stay back and swap in. You will have to wait in the original line just like everyone else but once you get to the boarding area, simply tell the ride attendant you’re doing a rider swap. Once the parent and/or older kid returns, you jump back in a special line and basically ride immediately with the new parent! It’s a huge bonus for older kids because they essentially will get to ride twice in a row!
Food recommendations + toddler-friendly eats at Dollywood
There are some good eats at Dollywood and we all know traveling with a picky eater can get tricky. Outside food isn’t allowed and coolers are prohibited, but if you bring in a few snacks for your kids, security isn’t going to mind.
If you’d rather pack a lunch, you can leave the park with a hand stamp, head to the car for a bit, and then return to the park after.
The cuisine at Dollywood has a southern-inspired flavor, of course. There are family-style restaurants, all-you-can-eat options, grab-and-go counters, food trucks, and more laid-back eateries but the highlight was the award-winning BBQ Pork Sandwich, cornbread, banana pudding, and (of course) the famous cinnamon bread! Don’t miss the cinnamon bread, whatever you do. I’m not kidding, make sure you get some.
Seriously, get the cinnamon bread.
Best restaurants at Dollywood + toddler-friendly menu options:
Take a load off at The Front Porch Cafe on Showstreet which features a full-service southern menu. This is the most allergy and diet-friendly food option in the park. Kids can order grilled cheese, burgers, or chicken tenders. Adults can get fried green tomatoes, fish tacos, burgers, salads, and some darn-good meatloaf. They have seasonal items too!
Aunt Granny’s is an all-you-can-eat family-style southern classic that serves up everything from fried chicken to fish. There are plenty of toddler-friendly classics like mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, and other sides.
Hickory House BBQ has an award-winning barbeque sandwich, sweet cornbread, and some awesome bean sides! For toddlers who aren’t a fan, order the chicken tenders and fries.
Red’s Drive-In in Jukebox Junction serves up burgers, milkshakes, and all things diner food! There is an option to order food before you visit and pick it up for a quick bite.
Savor sweet candies at the Sweet Shoppe or grab a funnel cake nearby! Definitely don’t miss the cinnamon bread at Grist Mill and the Spotlight Bakery on Showstreet. At the Spotlight Bakery, you can order a 3-pound slice of pie for yourself and 4 close friends (or one teenage boy)! If you’re feeing famished, get a full 25-pound pie delivered straight to your house.
Try something other than southern food at Till & Harvest Food Hall which features a Mexican counter-serve eatery. My nephews love rice and beans, so this is a hit for toddlers, too! Market Square Big Skillets has giant skillet-fried steak and sausage sandwiches.
Dogs N Taters is a great quick service option with footlong corndogs, curly friends, and classic hot dogs.
Victoria’s Pizza near the Dollywood Express offers up toddler-favorite pizzas for the little ones, Italian sandwiches for the adults, and salads for a lighter fare. If you’re not in The Village area, you can grab a personal pan at Lumber Jack’s Pizza in Timber Canyon.
When to visit Dollywood
To avoid the crowds, head to Dollywood in the Spring and Winter. Lines will be shorter, but the park will be open only certain days a week. The fall foliage brings tens of thousands of people to the park every day, so be aware of how busy weekends can get. Heading to Dollywood during the week is always the best option!
Spring events
Each Spring, Dollywood's Flower & Food Festival is a beautiful display of over half a million blooming flowers. There are stunning plant topiaries and outdoor food stalls that feature global cuisine.
Summer events
The park stays open late as the Summer Celebration commences. The highlight of the season is the drone and fireworks show that creates animations synced to music amongst a backdrop of the Smokies. Sounds magical!
Fall events
In the fall the weather is fabulous here, with beautiful foliage and thousands of jack-o-lanterns taking over the park. The Harvest Festival spans into the night and takes over the entire park with live entertainment and the Great Pumpkin Luminights event.
Winter events
At the Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival, over 5 million holiday lights, traditional decor, themed food, entertainment, and music fill the park!
Rides & attractions for Toddlers & PreK
There are so many rides with no height minimum, making Dollywood such a wonderful theme park for toddlers!
Wildwood Grove is chock full of rides for toddlers like Frogs & Firelflies and the Treetop Tower. The Black Bear Trail, Great Tree Swing, and Mad Mockinbirgbird have height requirements of 36” and the fan-favorite Dragonflier has a requirement of 39”. If you need a break from the humidity, stop at the air-conditioned indoor playground of Hidden Hollow, or tip your toes in the simulated Wildwood Creek or Wildwood Splashbad.
Country Fair is another great place with PreK-centered themes, don’t miss Busy Bees, Lucky Duck, and Piggy Parade!
Wilderness Pass has the Firehouse Fun Yard for kids and lots of carnival games.
Craftsmen Valley has the Calico Falls Schoolhouse, carnival games, craft demonstrations, and the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary.
The Village features the iconic coal-powered Dollywood Express Train Depot and the Village Carousel.
Owens Farm is home to Granny’s Garden and Lil’ Pilot’s Playground.
Jukebox Junction has cars for littles to drive at Rockin’ Roadway.
Rivertown Junction features the fun-soaked Smoky Mountain River Rampage (36”).
Timber Canyon has a junior coaster with a loop that goes around 3 times called whistle Punk Chaser (36”).
Interactive and Hands-on Attractions at Dollywood
There are many shaded places to take a quick break in the park. Thankfully, many of them are located near some hands-on activities for young kids.
Here’s a list of hands-on, interactive stops:
Wildwood Grove musical playground next to the Wildwood simulated creek (a great place to cool off)
Hidden Hollow Indoor Playground, is a bit of a hidden gem that’s perfect for a break from the sun (it even has AC!)
Firehouse Fun Yard near Fire Chaser Express with building blocks and a splash pad
Lumberjack Jam Band Station is the perfect stop when walking up from Showstreet to Timber Canyon. Take a break and bang on some old-timey instruments.
Craftsman Valley where you can watch craft presentations like glass-blowing or partake in crafts such as dipping your hand in wax at Old Flames Candles.
Country Fair has carnival games and an arcade area
Wings of America Theatre has informative shows that feature large North American birds and kids can see them up close
Lucky 7 Gem Mine where you can pan for gems
Kailen playing at the splashpad at the Firehouse Fun Yard
Live theatre at Dollywood for toddlers and young kids
Dollywood is highly touted for its live theatre as well as its celebration of folk and soul music. There’s something for every age and even something for the littlest kids to enjoy.
At only 20 minutes long, Heartsong Theater hosts a whimsical production showcasing the essence of the Smokey Mountains. Toddlers and young kids will be entranced by the floating butterflies, a surprise splash, and falling leaves. You can also check out the Imagination Playhouse where classic tales, like the “Little Engine That Could,” are told on stage.
Must-do rides for Kids, Ages 3-6+
What’s great is that kids this size can ride all the toddler rides in addition to some amazing coasters below! Our 6-year-olds, heights 48” and 45”, were overwhelmed with options so it’s definitely important to plan ahead for this age group. The list below are this age group’s highlight rides at Dollywood.
Fan-favorite Dollywood attractions for elementary-aged children
The following roller coasters are a bit faster and taller. They are also highly enjoyable for anyone who meets the height requirements:
The Dragonflier at Wildwood Grove (39”) is a unique ride for young coaster-lovers as the rider sits with legs dangling.
Firechaser Express (39”) is a family-centric rollercoaster and fan favorite! This steel coaster is a smooth ride, with the theme of an engine chief named Pete Embers who has to put out fires in the smokey mountains caused by fireworks, lightning strikes, and more!
Blazing Fury (42”) is an original coaster that was built in 1978! It is an indoor roller coaster where riders outrun an out-of-control fire engulfing an 1880s town.
Daredevil Falls (42”) is a water ride with a pipe-like tunnel consisting of a 60-degree drop. Think Splash Mountain!
Demolition Derby (42”) is a classic bumper car attraction that’s always a hit.
On Sky Rider (42”) kids can pilot a plane 70 feet above Country Fair.
Must-do rides at Dollywood, older kids
The coasters below are geared towards the older kids starting around age 7 and are a lot of fun for the adults! They include loops, high speeds, quick drops, and possibly some special effects like loud noises and simulations. Here are a couple of Dollywood fan favorites below:
On Barnstormer (48”) Experience what stunt pilots feel as they soar over fields of nearby farms while reaching 45 MPG and 230 degrees of rotation at 81 feet in the air.
At the Mystery Mine (48”), zoom through 1,800 feet of track through an abandoned coal mine with an 85-foot vertical drop into darkness!
Tennesee Tornado (48”) - This 1999 coaster has a triple spiral loop that makes you feel like you’ve landed in a funnel cloud as you zoom down a 128-foot drop with speeds up to 70 MPH!
Thunderhead (48”) is a massive wooden roller coaster that stands tall among mighty trees. Named for its auditorial resemblance to a rumbling storm cloud, this is 3,200+ feet long and features a 100-foot drop with speeds up to 55 MPH. This ride is a jostling one, take note if you don’t like bumpy coasters.
Biggest and fastest coasters for big kids at Dollywood
There were only 2 rides our tall 6-year-old couldn’t yet enjoy (which is pretty amazing considering this is a large theme park)! Here are the two roller coasters geared toward older, thrill-seeking kids and coaster fanatics:
Wild Eagle (50”) which was the first wing coaster in the US, gives you a sense of flying and is a must-see for coaster fanatics! It starts by hauling you 210 feet into the air and swoops you down at 60+ MPH but as soon as you think you’re hitting the ground, you’ll be lifted straight up into the air again. It’s a thrill indeed!
Lightning Rod (50”) is considered one of the best roller coasters in the US and it’s not for the faint of heart. It launches riders 20 stories into the air right out the gate. As the fasted wooden roller coaster in the world, it tops out at 73 MPH and gives you over 3 minutes of thrills!
The renowned Lightning Rod roller coaster in Pigeon Forge, TN
No matter what age you are, Dollywood is a full day or two of fun. Enjoy!