Laughing Lindsay

Travel Reviews, Giveaways, & More!

Is A Dollywood Season Pass Worth It

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You may soon be wondering: is a Dollywood Season Pass worth it? I thought I would write a post to help people decide.

Dollywood Season Pass

Dollywood Season Pass

Dollywood opens for the 2026 season on Friday, March 13th. So, you may soon be wondering if a season pass is worth the money. I would argue it depends on your situation and it’s getting harder to recommend a pass due to decreased benefits. Let’s take a closer look.

Season Pass Options

Dollywood has drastically changed their season pass offerings over the past several years. So, I’ll start this post by urging anyone considering one to closely read over the current passes and their benefits. Don’t assume that since a pass came with certain benefits last year that it retains those same benefits this year.

Currently, there are two Season Passes available for purchase: Gold and Silver. Diamond was available for purchase at the end of last year for this season. I took advantage of the early passholder sale to upgrade to Diamond for 2026. I intend to examine its value in a future post.

Bring-A-Friend Tickets

The biggest change to the pass program has been the gradual reduction (and in some cases elimination) of Free Bring-a-Friend passes with each pass. As of 2026, only the two highest tiers (Gold and Diamond) are given any free Bring-a-Friend passes! DW completely eliminated this benefit for the Silver passholders and is instead offering 2 discounted tickets. Plus, Gold is down to just 1 Free Ticket and 2 discounted tickets! Diamond came with 2 Free tickets. That’s a huge reduction from the 4 I received 5 years ago!

Previously, I wrote a post on how to save money at theme parks and I recommended getting a season pass just to save on park admission for families. However, the deduction and elimination of this benefit makes it harder to recommend it for some families.

However, if you are planning to visit for multiple days or planning multiple trips this year, it’s worth it for the value of admission and discounts.

Passholder Discounts

Another perk of being a season passholder is the food, merch, and lodging discounts. Silver Passholders receive a 10% discount on shopping and dining. Gold Passholders receive 15% off. Diamond gets 20%. I will admit, it sure was nice to be able to use that 20% discount on my last trip in 2025 to purchase a Christmas Dollywood hoodie and to help pay for our meals.

Gold Passholders save $5 and Diamond Passholders save $10 on the seasonal guided tours. It looks like those tours have gone up $10 from 2025 to 2026 though. So, it definitely doesn’t feel like a savings anymore. You can read my I Will Always Love You Tour at Dollywood Review and Dollywood Christmas Guided Tour Review to get an idea of what you can expect with those tours.

Also, Gold and Diamond Passholders get free general parking! So, that’s a good savings, especially if you go multiple days.

Is a Dollywood Season Pass Worth It?

A Dollywood Season Pass is only worth it for me if I’m planning to visit multiple times in a season. I don’t typically visit more than one day during a trip. It takes at least 2-3 days to break even on admission pricing alone. However, I enjoy knowing that there’s a theme park I can take myself to and not have to worry about paying for admission.

I think the erosion of benefits (and increase of pricing) has made it more difficult to recommend a season pass. I still find value in it for myself though. I don’t know if I will renew in 2027, especially at the pricy Diamond level. I will let you know towards the end of the season if it was worth it.

Burbank Studio Tours Compared

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Having previously visited and reviewed the three big film studios north of Hollywood, I thought I would compare the Burbank Studio Tours!

Burbank Studio Tours

Burbank Studio Tours

For those who don’t know, there are three working studios located near each other in the Burbank/upper Hollywood area: Universal, Warner Bros., and Walt Disney. Each place handles tours differently and seems better suited to different demographics. So, if you are wondering how each of these tours compares and which one is for you, keep reading!

Universal Studios Tour

I’ll start with the first one I did and I would wager is lots of people’s first (and only?): Universal! You see, you can’t actually schedule a straight Universal Studios Tour. However, there’s a ride at the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park that takes you on a cart ride through the studios! The “ride” is included with park admission and can be repeated to see different things.

You can get an extended look at the lot by booking a VIP Tour. I was lucky enough to book it and posted a Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Tour Review back in 2024. We were able to get off the bus and walk through some of the props department. We also got to step on the lot where some “Pirates” movie and “The Good Place” show was filmed.

Neither of these options guarantees access to specific lots though and experiences can vary greatly. The tours can’t access lots where filming is taking place. Plus, Halloween Horror Nights can interrupt the studio tours with props and houses.

I think Universal Studios Tours are more of an add-on to a theme park day. Yes, you visit the back lot and maybe get to walk on a lot when you are VIP. However, it left me wanting more from a studio tour and I was happy to have the WB Studio the next day. If you are curious what a studio lot is like and don’t want to spend all day at a studio, then this is sufficient.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour

The second option is the Warner Brothers Studio Tour. WB has really leaned into the studio tours with multiple tour options. They also host seasonal events to celebrate movie anniversaries and/or holidays throughout the year. On my visit, I only had time to do the standard studio tour. This gets you a 1 hour guided tour of the lot with access to other experiences they estimate will take 2 hours. In my Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood Review, I stated that it took me about 2.5 hours total. However, I could have taken much longer if I hadn’t had something else planned for later in the day.

I think the Warner Bros. Tour is best for the folks who really want to see and experience a back lot. Even the standard tour allows you to get off of the cart and walk onto a set! Plus, after the guided portion, then you get to see sets from “The Big Bang Theory”, “Friends”, and more! It was so cool to get a picture on the “Friends” couch/set! There’s sections on “Harry Potter”, “Game of Thrones”, and “Batman”.

Warner Brothers is for people who really want to learn more about the movie making process. You can easily spend a whole day here. I hope to take a longer tour someday, personally. I really enjoyed this tour. However, I enjoy learning about how things work. If you think your group might get bored with a multi-hour experience, then this probably isn’t for you.

Walt Disney Studios Tour

Lastly, there’s the Walt Disney Studios Tour. I think it’s great that the D23 Disney fan club is offering this tour for members. It’s wonderful to visit where the magic was made. Although, this tour focuses on the company’s animated films, which makes it a totally different experience.

As I stated in my Walt Disney Studios Tour Review with D23 this storied lot gave me real pinch-me moments. However, it was a little dry (compared to the other two tours). I would say this is best for hardcore Disney fans. It was amazing to be able to visit Walt Disney’s office and see what it was like when he was alive. It was so cool to walk around where history was made. However, it’s not a traditional studio tour like the others. You don’t get to walk onto a set. Rather, the tour focuses on the animated films that were produced here in the Animation Building. It also highlights the Disney Co. history that happened here.

I love that the tour includes a visit to the Disney Legends Plaza and you get to shop in the special studio employee store for unique merch! Overall, I’d suggest this only for the big Disney fans.

Which Burbank Studio Tours is the best?

I know that people will want to know which Burbank Studio Tours is the best. However, I think it’s subjective and you need to pick the one that suits you/your group best. Universal is a theme park with the studio tour as an add-on. That’s probably better for folks with children. The Disney one is best for big Disney fans. Warner Bros. is great for getting a more intimate look at shows/films actually being made.

So, have you done a studio tour? Which one did you prefer?

50’s Prime Time Cafe at Walt Disney World Review

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Back in December, my mom and I ate at 50’s Prime Time Cafe in Hollywood Studios for the first time! So, I thought I would share how that experience went.

50's Prime Time Cafe

50’s Prime Time Cafe

50’s Prime Time Cafe is a highly themed table service restaurant located in Hollywood Studios theme park at Walt Disney World. It harkens back to the 1950’s with kitschy decor and most tables having a black and white television! It’s supposed to resemble eating in a mom’s kitchen with tasty comfort food on the menu!

The Ambiance

My mom absolutely loved the theme here! She was born in the 60’s, but remembered some of the decor being in her mom’s kitchen. She couldn’t wait to take photos to share with a co-worker and her older mom since they had some of the decor as well.

It’s also fun that the televisions feature short clips from tv shows that were airing in the 1950’s. In fact, Walt Disney himself even makes an appearance from Disneyland (as seen in my blog post image above)! Again, my mom loved watching the clips of old shows and spotting famous actors.

Adding to the experience of eating here are the cast members. They treat you like family here. In fact, they will joke along with you and poke fun of things. For example, I got up to use the restroom and our waitress told me, “I didn’t excuse you,” followed by “wash your hands and use soap” when I responded that I had to use the restroom. It was fun to watch the cast members interact with other tables as well. There’s definitely lots of entertainment to be had at this restaurant.

The Food

Seeing as this is mom’s kitchen in the 1950’s, they serve up basic comfort food. Since we were on the dining plan, I selected a yummy peanut butter and jelly milkshake for my drink. It was heavy on the peanut butter and had very little jelly flavor to it. However, as a peanut butter fiend, I was in hog heaven. It was so good! My mom got a strawberry milkshake and she thought it was really good too! I highly recommend the milkshakes here.

For my entree, I went with Aunt Liz’s Golden Fried Chicken! It was juicy and tasty! It truly hit the spot. My mom got Cousin Megan’s Traditional Meatloaf and was really happy with it. It had flavor without being too spicy (my mom can’t handle any spice). Both portions were huge though. This isn’t the place to come for a small bite to eat. Both of us received roasted garlic mashed potatoes and corn for our sides. Both of which were pretty good.

We were pretty full by this point, but the dining plan comes with a dessert. So, continuing with the peanut butter theme, I got Dad’s Favorite Chocolate-Peanut Butter Layered Cake a la Mode! It was a rich, dense cake. It was a little dry though. So, the ice cream did a great job of adding some needed moisture to the dish. I would say the cake leans more towards chocolate than peanut butter, but it was still yummy to me! My mom got the Traditional Warm Apple Crisp. This dessert was a little disappointing, to be honest. It was like they dumped a can of sliced apples in a bowl and put some oats on top. It wasn’t bad, it just paled in comparison to my cake. Although, I bet it would have been improved with some ice cream on top.

Fantasmic Dining Package

While dining here, we booked a Fantasmic Dining Package. At $60/each, it’s a good use of a table service dining credit. My mom had never seen Fantasmic. So, we appreciated knowing that we would get good seats to the show. We got to sit pretty much dead center of the stadium and got a great view of everything. It was similar to the Fantasmic Dining Package Review at Sci-Fi Dine-In in that we got the same reserved area to sit in. However, I much preferred the food here at 50’s Prime Time Cafe. I highly recommend a Fantasmic Dining Package if you are seeing the show for the first time just to get a good view of the show. Although, if you are early enough, a dining package certainly isn’t necessary to get a good view.

Is 50’s Prime Time Cafe worth it?

I think the 50’s Prime Time Cafe Fantasmic Dining Package is a great use of a table service dining credit. However, it’s probably a little less “worth it” for a regular dining credit without the package. My meal would have been $47.25 otherwise, which is a little low if you are trying to get the biggest bang for your buck on the dining plan. My mom’s would have been $43.75. Out of pocket, that’s pricey. Although, if we had been paying out of pocket, we wouldn’t have ordered so much food. Overall, it’s a fun environment with comfort food that everyone can enjoy.

So, have you ever eaten here?

Solo Travel: Pros and Cons

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Having taken several trips by myself, I feel like I’m well qualified to detail solo travel pros and cons!

Solo Travel

Solo Travel

It’s my understanding that more folks are interested in taking a trip by themselves in 2026. I started traveling by myself back in the early 2010’s. So, I feel like I have a good understanding of what it’s like to travel alone. As with most things, there are pros and cons to it. I thought I would attempt to provide a closer look at this topic by breaking it down into the good and bad.

My very first solo trip was the Green Giant brand trip I took for the blog back in 2011. Then, I started traveling to blogging conferences by myself. Then, I started visiting Walt Disney World by myself. In 2023, I took my first trip to Disneyland by myself before branching out to include Los Angeles by myself in 2024/2025. As you can see, I started by flying by myself and meeting up with people first before traveling completely by myself. I think that was a nice, gradual process.

Pros

  • Do what you want – It’s so nice to be able to craft an itinerary that’s exactly what you want to do! Eat when and where you want.
  • Cancel plans – Granted, this isn’t so easy at Disney parks. However, it’s much easier to make last minute changes to your schedule when it just impacts you.
  • Go where you want – Unless you are meeting up with other folks or traveling for business, you can even change your mind and go to a different destination!
  • Reservations are sometimes easier to get – It can be easier for a location to fit in one person (at a bar or for a show) than multiple people.
  • Single rider lines – Those are often a good use of time in the theme parks when I’m alone.
  • Set the pace – Somedays I’m out of the room and moving all day. Other days, I take a long break in the room. When you are alone, you can set the pace.
  • Fun conversations – I’ve had some of the best conversations with strangers while traveling by myself. It seems like people are more inclined to speak to someone when they don’t feel like they are bothering them.

Solo Travel Cons

  • Can be lonely – Sometimes, I will see something and wish I was experiencing this with another person. Other times, a dish or attraction will remind me of a loved one and I will feel homesick. I’ve learned to notice that feeling and let it sit for a moment. Then, I remind myself that I will be home soon and keep trucking.
  • You have to handle everything – I’ve struggled with social anxiety my entire life. However, solo adventures have really helped me to overcome a good bit of it. It forces me to approach people to ask for help since no one else it going to do it. Although, sometimes I wish someone was with me to help with luggage or to make a phone call. Ha!
  • Safety – I’ve been very lucky in my travels to generally feel safe. However, solo female travelers have to be aware of their surroundings at all times. Make sure you lock the door securely. Carry an alarm (not sponsored, I just received one as a Christmas gift in 2024) on your purse and/or pepper spray. I have my Lyft account set up to notify my husband of my location and driver to feel safer. It’s all about taking extra precautions to feel safer.
  • You have to decide everything – I can be an indecisive person and have trouble deciding where to go or where to eat. That can make it difficult to plan a solo trip.
  • It might be awkward – Most tables are set up for two or more people. So, it may initially feel awkward to go out to eat by yourself. However, you get used to it. Just tip the server well.
  • People might ask questions – I don’t know why, but traveling alone sometimes makes others feel like the can/should ask me questions. Most of the time, it’s fine. Every once in a while, it feels judgmental and I try to end the conversation politely and move along.

Should you travel solo?

I think that most people are capable of traveling by themselves. However, I completely understand how it might be too much for outgoing folks. It’s also a little easier for men to do safely. I think as long as you have a plan with realistic expectations, then traveling solo is a great idea.

So, where are you traveling to by yourself?

Myrtle Beach Shopping Guide

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When I was planning my trip to South Carolina last year, I wish I had encountered a Myrtle Beach Shopping Guide. So, I thought I would post my own.

Myrtle Beach Shopping Guide

Myrtle Beach Shopping Guide

If you enjoy shopping, then Myrtle Beach is an ideal travel destination. There are loads of little shops along the beach. However, there’s also two outlet malls and two different shopping/entertainment districts. Given the popularity of those four locations, I’m going to focus on highlighting their differences to help you narrow down where you might want to spend your money and time.

Tanger Myrtle Beach – Hwy 17

The first place I want to discuss is the outlet mall on Highway 17. It was our top priority for shopping because it has a Disney Outlet! We love to hit up Disney Outlets to get discount park merch. We also liked that it had a Vera Bradley outlet. Unfortunately, on our visit the Victoria’s Secret store here was a regular one, not an outlet store. Additionally, this outlet mall seemed a touch nicer than the next one.

Tanger Myrtle Beach – Hwy 501

After striking out at the VS at Hwy 17, we headed over to the one at 501. As of spring 2025, the Victoria’s Secret at this outlet mall was a real outlet store with lots of discounted merch. This mall has a lot of overlap with the above outlet mall. However, it felt like it was more spread out and there were more crosswalks where you had to watch out for traffic.

Barefoot Landing

Barefoot Landing is a shopping/entertainment district in North Myrtle Beach. During our first trip here, they were in the process of building it. So, it was nice to re-visit it and see it completed. It’s a nicely themed, classy place to do some shopping and relaxing. It’s nice to sit and look out at the water. I also recommend grabbing a bite to eat at Blueberry’s Grill! We really enjoyed our breakfast here one morning! We also grabbed a couple of ornaments to remember this trip by at the Christmas Mouse!

Broadway at the Beach

Broadway at the Beach is another shopping/entertainment district. However, it’s in Myrtle Beach proper. As such, it is definitely more family friendly. We started our day here by visiting the Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach. There’s also a Pavilion Park Fun Park that has lots of amusement rides for kids to enjoy. So, if you are looking for something to entertain the kids while you shop, this is a great option!

Where should you go shopping in Myrtle Beach?

While there are lots of other little shops you can visit in Myrtle Beach, I think these are the four main options. I hope I’ve given you enough information to help you decide which places you should visit on your vacation. Where do you like to shop in Myrtle Beach?