Looking back on my initial Dollywood adventure, the most valuable lesson I learned, and desperately wish I’d known beforehand, was the sheer scale of the park and how it directly impacted my time management. I went in with a naive assumption that we could ‘do it all,’ and quickly discovered that was a recipe for stress and disappointment.

Specifically, I now understand the following, which were glaring oversights during my first trip:

Dollywood’s expansive layout

I failed to grasp that the park stretches across a considerable area. This meant that simply moving from one attraction to another took significantly longer than I had anticipated. We spent a lot of time walking, often backtracking, which drastically reduced the number of activities we could realistically fit into our day. I didn’t realize how much the hills and terrain would also add to travel time.

The time commitment of shows and rides

I underestimated the impact of show schedules and ride wait times. Dollywood boasts a fantastic lineup of live performances, but these require planning. Similarly, popular rides often had lengthy queues, which ate into our valuable time. We were often caught off guard by the show times, and had to rush to catch them, or miss them completely.

The captivating nature of artisan demonstrations

Craftsman’s Valley was a delightful surprise, but it also proved to be a time sink. I had no idea how immersive and engaging the artisan demonstrations would be. We found ourselves lingering much longer than expected, watching the glassblowers and blacksmiths at work. While enriching, this unplanned time affected our ability to adhere to our intended itinerary.

The futility of trying to “see it all”

My initial goal of experiencing every ride and show in a single day was utterly unrealistic. It led to a rushed and stressful experience, where we felt constantly pressured to move on to the next attraction. We missed out on the park’s unique atmosphere and the chance to simply relax and enjoy the moment.

These realizations are precisely why we developed our 7-step planning process. We wanted to help others avoid the pitfalls we encountered. Therefore, had I possessed this knowledge prior to my first trip, I would have:

• Thoroughly researched the park map and show schedules: This would have allowed me to create a more realistic itinerary and avoid unnecessary backtracking.
• Established a flexible itinerary with buffer time: This would have accommodated unexpected delays and allowed for spontaneous moments of enjoyment.
• Prioritized key attractions and accepted limitations: I would have focused on the experiences that were most important to our family, rather than trying to cram everything in.
• Recognized the value of the park’s atmosphere and artisan experiences: I would have allocated time to appreciate these elements, rather than viewing them as distractions.

Ultimately, creating a realistic touring plan complete with dining choices would have transformed my initial Dollywood experience from a rushed and stressful day into a balanced, enjoyable, and memorable one. Going to Dollywood soon, download our free planning worksheet and free touring plan template and map out your journey while you are there!