Smoky Mountain Christmas Dollywood

This past weekend we had the opportunity to enjoy a Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood. We were excited to enjoy some great music, shows and make some memories with our family. When we got there, it was a gray, rainy day in Tennessee. But that didn’t make a difference to us. We had our umbrellas and warm clothes so we were ready for a day of adventures. By the time the night was over, the rain had passed and the sun had made a few sneak appearances.

Smoky Mountain Christmas

Smoky Mountain Christmas is an experience that everyone needs to share. Make sure you take your camera. You’re going to get lots of chances for some great pictures! Between the carousel, all the lights, trees, reindeer, and vintage cars there’s just too many fun places to get pictures. You’ll want to make sure your camera battery is charged and ready to go.

Tips for your visit

• Dress in Layers:  It will be cold as you walk around the park. But you don’t want to be too hot in the theaters during the shows. Dress in layers so you can be comfortable.
• Carry a backpack:If you plan to be in the park long, you will want to carry a few granola bars, crackers or snacks. Or you can of course pay the money and eat at the many restaurants or vendor locations in the park. A zip up, water proof backpack is a good idea. That way, if it rains you won’t have everything soaked in your backpack.
• Don’t forget the umbrellas:  You never know when you might experience a shower. We were very glad we went to the park prepared for the rain.

 

See the Shows

Download and print the Park Map. This makes it easier to plan out your evening. My mother-in-law had the map printed, the theaters marked where we needed to go and the times each show started. She didn’t want us to miss anything!

We were able to see three shows: Smoky Mountain Christmas, Christmas on Ice and The Night Before Christmas. We were impressed with the musicians skill, the ice skating and the acting. The last show (The Night Before Christmas) was my kids favorite. All three were well worth the time and well done.

 

Use the Parking Lot Tram

There is a $8.00 parking fee when you first enter the park. There are trams available to transport you from your car to the park entrance. There is no charge for this service.

• If you have a camera on your phone, snap a picture of your parking location.  Each of the main parking lots is marked by a letter.    My husband snapped a picture of the marker so we wouldn’t have to remember the location.
• The park offers a complimentary service that may be handy to know.  If you find that you have car trouble, a dead battery, or have locked your keys in your car, you can flag down the tram driver and they will arrange to have help sent for no charge.

 

Take time to ride the train:

Riding on an authentic steam engine was one of the highlights of our visit. This is not like riding on a zoo train or little tram; this is a real experience. The conductor asked the kids to help get the train started by pushing on their seats and involved them in the experience. You definitely want to make sure the kids are seated between adults. The five mile trip takes you out into the mountains with some substantial drops on the sides.
Our authentic 110-ton coal-fired steam engine takes you on a breathtaking five-mile journey through the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains where you’ll enjoy pastoral scenery and some of the most beautiful views that nature has to offer

We had a great experience at Dollywood Smoky Mountain Christmas. Have you been? I’d love to hear your favorite part of the park!

Hours, Directions and Ticket Information

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I received no compensation for this post but my family was given complimentary tickets for the purpose of this review.