Is Dollywood fun as an adult? Yes, and this is the best time to go

Dollywood becomes less crowded from mid-August through September as the summer break ends for kids.
Adults can ride popular coasters like Big Bear Mountain and Lightning Rod without terribly long wait times.
Attendance at the theme park picks back up around the holidays.

The time has come for Dollywood adults to have their fun! While the actual kids are back in school, the big kids can head to amusement and water parks to ride out the rest of the summer season.

Mid-August is about the time when Dollywood becomes less crowded compared to the rush during schools’ summer break. And with smaller crowds comes shorter wait times for popular rides like Big Bear Mountain and Lightning Rod. You also can get your fresh cinnamon bread and other Dollywood treats more quickly.

Kid-free adults should visit strategically, though. Crowd sizes typically peak again during early fall and around the holidays, especially as the theme park’s fall seasonal festivals kick off.

When is Dollywood best for adults?

Aug. 17 is when crowd levels at Dollywood are expected to dip to around 40% of capacity or below this year, according to queue-times.com, which tracks wait times and crowd data for theme parks around the world.

Except for Saturdays, the reduced crowd-level trend continues through Sept. 30, with the weeks of Sept. 7 and Sept. 14 statistically having the smallest crowds.

Crowds during the month of October are comparable to spring and summer attendance as the Harvest Festival is in full swing. Other peaks occur during the days and weeks surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Regardless of the month, Saturdays and Tuesdays tend to be the park’s busiest days of the week, queue-times.com notes. Thursdays and Fridays often have shorter lines compared to other days of the week.

How do you enjoy Dollywood as an adult?

So, when you’re at Dolly Parton’s theme park with a group of grown friends, what do you do? We got a few insider tips from Dollywood.

Popular Dollywood attractions for adults

Adults tend to opt for the thriller roller coasters and attractions that younger kids might not be able to enjoy because of height requirements, spokesperson Wes Ramey said.

They also spend more time at park restaurants and trying different food options. Wilderness Pass Restaurant is the park’s newest restaurant and introduced rotisserie chicken to Dollywood for the first time this season.

Embrace being a big kid at Dollywood

Just because the kids aren’t at the park doesn’t mean their rides can’t be enjoyed. There are two rides that every Dollywood adult should try.

“Big Bear Mountain is a thrilling roller coaster despite its low height requirement, and The Mad Mockingbird is a fun experience that allows you to control the fun via the rudder on your flying scooter,” Ramey said.

Underrated or hidden gem Dollywood experiences

Take a break from the rush of coasters to enjoy a live stage show or music performance. “We are Dolly Parton’s theme park, so our entertainment team prides itself on offering an industry-leading product,” Ramey said.

Some of the entertainment shows include “Play On,” a retrospective show celebrating Dollywood’s 40 seasons; “From the Heart,” a Broadway-style show, and “Heidi Parton’s Kin & Friends,” which is headlined by Heidi Parton, Dolly’s niece.

A daily schedule of stage shows and music performances is available at dollywood.com/themepark/entertainment.

What is the overall Dollywood adult experience?

For adults, Dollywood is all about rides, food and shows, according to Ramey. “My wife would add shopping,” he noted.

The park has a variety of stores that offer handmade craft items, home décor, boutique clothing and exclusive Dolly Parton-themed items that can only be found at Dollywood.

What are Dollywood’s hours?

Dollywood is open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on weekends now until Aug. 31.
The park will be open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 1-11.
It will be open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sept. 12-Oct. 27.
Dollywood will then be open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. for the remainder of the season, which ends Jan. 4.

Dollywood is closed on these days: