There is so much to love about Dollywood. The music, the flowers, the rollercoasters… but at the same time there are a few areas that could improve.
If you’ve been following theme park and tourism news over the last years, you know that Dollywood Resort has been collecting a number of impressive accolades and awards. Perhaps no other award was so eye-catching, however, than TripAdvisor readers claiming that Dollywood was the top theme park in America! For the very first time, Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain getaway was officially better than the Magic Kingdom in their rankings.
Now we love Dollywood. But we also can say that there are some things missing from the incredible resort that we’d like to see improved over the next years before this site is ready to claim Dollywood is better than the other big ones out there. Here’s a list of the top things missing at Dollywood that should definitely be on the short list before another rollercoaster!
- Dark Rides
Dollywood is known for its music and its rollercoasters but if you’re looking for dark rides, this is one of the worst theme parks around. The place only has Blazing Fury as a true, indoor dark ride. And to say that ride is dated is an understatement! I recommend that Dollywood invest in two or three new dark rides over the next five years and update majorly the Blazing Fury attraction. When it’s cold, hot, rainy, or snowing outside, all your guests will thank you for it! - Parades
Everyone loves a good parade, especially a nighttime parade. But Dollywood really doesn’t have anything unless you manage to catch a special seasonal parade or stop by when a VIP like Dolly herself is in town. How much would the children love it if there were a forest creature parade through the park once daily? And you know there would have to be parade dancers with light-up butterfly wings! - Culinary Diversity
I love soul food as much as the next person, and I can’t deny that a burger or pizza are fun from time to time. If you’re into that sort of thing, and maybe a bit of barbecue as well, Dollywood has what you need in spades. But I’d personally love to see a bit more artistry in the food options there. What about a blend of Appalachia and Asian culture mixed into a delicious cross-cultural egg roll? How about throwing together an apple cider beverage that could take on Butter Beer and Dole Whips as one of those must-have theme park snacks? - A Transportation Ride
Dollywood is becoming quite the theme park when it comes to the amount of land one can cover in a single day. And unlike Walt Disney World, Dollywood does have some changes in elevation. How nice would it be if the park had some sort of gondola system to let you ride from Timber Canyon to Owens Farm? That would save a ton of walking and would give guests an awesome new view.
5. Appalachian Petting Zoo
And finally, maybe this one is a little out there, but I would love to see families get to interact with animals found in the Appalachian region. When we go to zoos in American, we often focus on animals from Africa and Asia. How much do we overlook the wonderful creatures that live right here in our own country? Wouldn’t it be fun for kids to see and even pet deer, chipmunks, elk and bear cubs? Okay, I know they can’t pet everything, but I really would enjoy having the opportunity for children to appreciate and want to protect the wildlife that exists in North America. It would be a really great addition!
So what do you think? Are these additions you’d like to see at Dollywood as well? If you have any great ideas, let us know. And, as always, keep reading That Park Place for all the latest news that should be fun?
