14 Dollywood Tips and Tricks for Saving Money at the Amusement Park

Posted

May 19, 2015

Wouldn’t it be nice to know a few ways you could save money at Dollywood before you arrive at the park? We’re here to help! If you’re trying to save money, these Dollywood tips will guarantee you a more affordable day at the amusement park.

1. Avoid the parking fees by riding the trolley!
Just to park, standard vehicles cost $12 and oversized vehicles cost $18. You can easily save that money by parking your car for free at Patriot Park and catching a ride on the Pigeon Forge trolley. The trolley for the Dollywood route only costs $2.50 per person — you’ll get the experience of riding the trolley, plus the trolley will drop you off right at the main gate. When you park in the parking lot, you can either walk to the main entrance or wait for the tram to pick you up at one of the designated tram stops.

2. Buy a season pass.
If you want to visit Dollywood more than once in a single season, you’ll get the best deal by purchasing a season pass. For the cost of 2 day pass admissions, it would have been cheaper to purchase a season pass.

3. Consider purchasing a Gold Pass.
If you plan to visit Dollywood more than a time or two, you will definitely benefit from purchasing a Gold Pass. The Gold Pass is just an upgrade to your regular season pass that can save you up to 20% on purchases. There’s no minimum purchase required, so this can save you quite a bit of money. Take our advice, though–not everyone in the family needs to purchase a Gold Pass. As long as the Gold Passholder is present, you’ll save the money. If you have a Gold Pass, you park for free, too.

Purchase your Dollywood tickets through Visit My Smokies and you’ll receive free cancellation up to a certain date, unlike many other places where you may purchase tickets. CLICK HERE.

4. Choose water over soda.
The best part–water is free! You can stop by any food or beverage stand in the park and ask for a cup of water, and it’s completely free. There are also water fountains located throughout the park near any of the restrooms. If you absolutely must splurge on sodas, pick up one of the refillable bottles, so you save money throughout the day (or if you plan on visiting Dollywood regularly, bring it back throughout the season for cheaper refills).

5. Pack your own ponchos.
Is it possible that it will rain for a little while during your trip to Dollywood? Take your own ponchos with you, so you can save the money on them! Sometimes, unexpected rain happens, but if you see it in the forecast, you’re better off packing your own!

Don’t let a rainy day ruin your day at Dollywood, either. If it rains and rides have to shut down, you can request a rain check. Just visit the Season Pass Center and talk to one of the guests services representatives. They will give you a rain check that’s valid for the rest of the season.

6. Don’t forget zipper bags.
One of the best Dollywood tips to date: zipper bags. Those small plastic baggies come in handy when you’re riding water rides. The park sells these bags for less than $1, but save the few bucks and go ahead and bring your own to keep your belongings dry throughout the day.

7. Bring your own camera.
If you happen to forget your camera, disposable cameras can be purchased throughout the park, but we recommend bringing your own camera (or charging up your cell phone for taking pictures). You can save the nearly $10 on a disposable camera if you’ll just remember to pack yours!

8. Put sunscreen on before you arrive.
If you have small children with you, and you’re visiting on a hot, summer day, you may want to pack a small container of sunscreen, but also put sunscreen on before you arrive.

9. Avoid the lockers.
Unless you have a bunch of items you don’t want to carry around with you all day, avoid the lockers. Front gate lockers will cost $8 for a regular size or $11 for a family size. Instead, just don’t bring too much with you to the park. If you have items that need to be set aside while you are on a ride, there is a space available for riders to set their items off to the side. Of course, we recommend that you keep all valuables at your cabin rental, and only bring the necessities with you to the park.

10. Bring your own stroller.
If you have small children, odds are, you have a stroller with you just about everywhere you go. So, go ahead and pack up your stroller for your day at Dollywood, so you don’t have to rent one. Single strollers are $11 plus tax and double strollers are $14 plus tax. You can save this money, plus, chances are, your kids will be more comfortable in the stroller from home if you need it at the park.

11. Remember to bring cash.
If you’re anything like us, you don’t always carry cash on hand. While almost everywhere at Dollywood accepts debit and credit cards, it’s always best to have a little cash with you. If you plan to play any games, you’ll be glad to have that cash with you! This way you can avoid stopping at an ATM and paying the hefty ATM fees to get a few dollars out of your account.

12. Take advantage of group rates.
Are you visiting Dollywood with a group of 15 or more? If you’re planning at least 2 weeks in advance, you can receive 1 complimentary ticket per 15 paid admissions. For more information, you can take a look at Dollywood’s group information.

13. Stick to your budget.
Of course, another one of the easiest Dollywood tips–stick to your budget. Have a plan before you arrive at the park, and stick to it. Set aside the amount you plan to spend on souvenirs, games, extras and food.

14. Eat before you arrive.
Whether you’re planning to arrive first thing in the morning, or wait until the afternoon to start your visit, it’s a good idea to eat a meal before you arrive. That way, you don’t have to spend money on eating at the park right away. And you’ll be able to jump right in to riding rides and visiting the shops and attractions within the park. You won’t have to waste any time eating, and you’ll have more time for fun!

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