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I Will Always Love You Tour at Dollywood Review

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On my recent quick trip to Dollywood, I took the I Will Always Love You Tour to experience the seasonal festival with a guide. Since I wasn’t able to find any reviews of the experience prior to booking, I thought I would share my thoughts on it for others considering booking it.

I Will Always Love You Tour

I Will Always Love You Tour

In recent years (since 2022), Dollywood has begun offering guided tours. It appears they offer a special one for each festival. Since this was my first solo trip to the park and my first time experiencing this festival, I was interested in taking one of the tours. However, the description online is pretty vague as to what the tour entails. Also, I couldn’t find a single review for the I Will Always Love You Tour. So, I thought I would share what I got to experience on my tour and what I thought of it.

The Tour Itself

The tour began with reserved seating for the festival exclusive show “From the Heart – The Life and Music of Dolly Parton”. The website says the tour begins at 2 PM. However, we saw the 1:00 PM show. So, I think it’s important to point out that difference for planning purposes. Immediately following the show, the group came together for a meet and greet with a few people from the cast. It was kind of neat, but also awkward as no one knew each other or knew to prepare questions. That portion of the tour ended with photos with the people from the show.

Then, we had a restroom break before meeting up at the big pink “LOVE” sign. The online description said we would “Sample some of Dollywood’s limited-time festival snacks”. However, all we got was the Cherry-Lime Spritzer on the tour. I was sad that there wasn’t any food included after it mentioned sampling some snacks. We sipped on the drink while we were led over to the Showstreet Gazebo to catch the last few minutes of a show of the Wild Roots Band. Then, we were ushered over for a meet and greet with the band. Again, it was awkward. We hadn’t seen the whole performance and didn’t know each other.

Next, we walked around The Dolly Parton Experience and learned a little bit about that area of the park. It was a bit of a repeat for me since I had taken the Dolly Parton Experience tour earlier that day. However, it was nice for others to learn about the park’s history.

Then we looked at Dolly’s Tennessee Mountain Home. It’s a re-creation of the cabin Dolly grew up in. Finally, we headed up to the Robert F. Thomas Chapel to end the tour. We were given our tour keepsake, which was a festival pin.

Tips

  • You can’t book the tour online for one person – Currently, you have to book the tour in person the day of if you are alone. This way, they know if they have enough people to form a tour group.
  • Make sure you get your passholder discount – It’s not a big discount, but every little bit helps. The day I went they had trouble applying the discount, but they ended up making it right.
  • Wear comfortable shoes – You sit for a show and in the chapel at the end. However, the main part of the tour is walking and/or standing.
  • Eat lunch before the tour – As I mentioned above, we received only a beverage on the tour. So, fill up on lunch beforehand.
  • Allow the afternoon for the tour – It’s listed as a 1.5 hour walking tour. The show was at 1 and lasted almost a full hour. The walking tour started around 2 PM and ended a little after 3. In all, it took up a little over 2 hours.

Is the I Will Always Love You Tour worth it?

This tour is currently priced at $79/person, before any discounts. Personally, I was hoping the tour would focus more on the specific festival itself. Instead, it was more of a Dollywood in general tour. I think the price is a little steep for what it entails. The Dolly Parton Experience tour is only $59/person. It doesn’t come with any meet and greets or a beverage though. I may try another festival tour or two to get a better feel for them, but I don’t know that they are a good use of time or money for most folks. I enjoyed the reserved seating and learning about the park. However, I wanted more festival specific offerings, especially the festival snacks that were promised and not delivered.

So, have you taken this tour or another festival tour? What was your experience like?

Dollywood I Will Always Love You Music Festival Guide

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I have just returned from a quick trip to Pigeon Forge where I was lucky enough to experience the Dollywood I Will Always Love You Music Festival for the first time! So, I thought I would post a little guide to the seasonal event!

Dollywood I Will Always Love You

Dollywood I Will Always Love You

This is the park’s newest seasonal event, having begun in 2023! 2025 was my first time experiencing it though. The event was initially created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Dolly Parton’s song “I Will Always Love You”. However, the event was very popular and thus the event has continued. Now, it celebrates Dolly Parton’s life and music.

Special Shows

The park has some regularly occurring musical acts that appear year round. However, they tend to update their shows seasonally to reflect the current festival. During this festival, the shows center on Dolly’s music and life. I highly recommend the show “From the Heart – The Life and Music of Dolly Parton”. It’s a great look at Dolly’s life and features good music.

Pink Art

To celebrate this festival, there’s sparkly pink artwork to enjoy. During the Summer Festival, the front of the park features a Kite Sky. For this festival, there’s a sparkly pink sequin sky! There’s also a sparkly pink “LOVE” sign to take pictures of. There’s also some pink photo frames around the park to pose in for a picture.

Specialty Food

Just like all of the seasonal events, there’s lots of special food items to enjoy. There’s even a dining pass that you can purchase for $42.99 ($39.99 for passholders) that allows you to sample 5 dishes from the festival. Since I was by myself for this trip, I didn’t purchase one, but it can be a good deal if you purchase at least two entrees with the pass (which cost about $14 each).

I tried the cherry-lime spritzer from the festival and it was refreshing on a warm spring day. The strawberry rhubarb cobbler at Granny Ogle’s was nice. It was more strawberry than rhubarb, but it was still tasty.

Tips

  • Check the weather forecast – I actually shifted my trip back a day due to weather. It might be sunny and pleasant during this festival or it might be cold and rainy. It’s also possible you might see some snow flurries. You just never know in the Smoky Mountains.
  • Be prepared for crowds – This festival takes place during the busy spring break season. So, be ready to wait in lines. I found the morning to be less crowded, but the booths don’t open until 11 AM.
  • Arrive early for the shows – The shows tend to fill up. Arrive early if a certain show is important to you.
  • Visit the Dolly Parton Experience – This is the perfect festival to visit the newly opened Dolly Parton Experience to learn more about Dolly’s life and appreciate her story. You may want to consider taking the guided Dolly Parton Experience tour. I took it and will be posting a separate review at a later date.

Should you visit during the Dollywood I Will Always Love You Festival?

I truly love the various festivals and seasons at this theme park. As such, I don’t think there’s a bad time to visit the park. This event is probably ideal for fans of Dolly and/or her music. It’s also great for fans of the color pink.

Dollywood Seasonal Events Guide

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Since Dollywood opens in early March, I thought I would do a nice Dollywood Seasonal Events Guide. This post will highlight the various limited time festivals happening at the park this year. I will also link to separate, more in-depth posts on what to expect during each season of the year!

Dollywood Seasonal Events

Dollywood Seasonal Events

Over the past several years, the park has really invested in their seasonal festivals. Each of these experiences is unique and fun. However, if you are wanting to see a certain festival then it’s important to plan your trip around the dates of the event and the park operating calendar. Without further ado, here’s a look at each of the festivals that you can experience at Dollywood.

I Will Always Love You Music Festival

The I Will Always Love You Music Festival was introduced in 2023 and is the newest festival. It starts when the park opens for the season and goes until mid-April. I visited in 2025 and wrote a guide to the festival. It’s perfect for any Dolly fans.

Flower & Food Festival

The Flower and Food Festival is the one most people think of when they consider a spring break trip to the park. I enjoyed my one visit to the park for this event and highlighted it in my Spring at Dollywood post. I loved looking at all of the Mosaicultures around the park. Plus, the food was pretty good! This event typically runs from mid-April to early June.

Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration

My post Summer at Dollywood 2022 was my return to blogging. So, you know it’s must be something good to inspire me to start this blog back up. My husband and I really enjoyed trying the different foods here and the delightful drone show! They also have lots of bright decor around the park. The Summer Celebration runs from mid-June to early August.

Harvest Festival

I think fall at Dollywood is one of my favorite times to visit! I love seeing all of the autumnal decor in the daytime and then seeing the park light up for the Great Pumpkin LumiNights. DW embraces the beauty of fall in the Smoky Mountains with their Harvest Festival. It’s not about Halloween here, but rather simple and beautiful fall! I’ve been lucky enough to attend this one several times! This festival typically goes from mid-September to late October.

Smoky Mountain Christmas

Last but certainly not least it’s Christmas at Dollywood! I’ve visited this one a few times as well. Pro tip: check the weather forecast if you are visiting this one as it could be really cold or a little warm, you never really know what to expect. This festival features lots of gorgeous decor and amazing lights! Smoky Mountain Christmas is a great time for all! Christmas starts in early November and goes until the end of the season/early January.

2024 Dollywood Seasonal Events

Well, there you have the full list of special limited time festivals that take place at Dollywood. Each festival is included with the price of admission. Plus, each event highlights the beauty of the location during that time of the year or embraces the public love for Dolly. So, which of these events have you attended or have you been eyeing?

Best Hotels in The Smoky Mountains

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I have stayed in lots of different hotels in The Smoky Mountains. In fact, I’ve written a review of most of the places I’ve stayed at. It recently occurred to me that I should do a best of post to highlight my favorites. So, if you are planning a trip to the area, then hopefully this can help you narrow down your choices.

Hotels in Smoky Mountains

Hotels in The Smoky Mountains

When planning a trip to the Pigeon Forge area, you quickly realize there are a plethora of places to stay. There’s all kinds of cabins on VRBO as well as countless hotels in the area. So, it can be difficult to decide where to stay. My biggest piece of advice for choosing a place is this: pick a place near the attractions you want to visit that is in budget. Personally, I prefer to stay in Pigeon Forge as it’s in between Sevierville and Gatlinburg. That way, I don’t have to deal with the traffic of getting into Gatlinburg unless we really want to visit. That being said, here are some of my favorite places to stay in the area.

Best Gatlinburg Hotel

If you are planning on doing stuff in Gatlinburg, than I highly recommend staying there. Having a place to park and not having to pay for it is a huge help when visiting this tiny town. My mom and I really enjoyed our stay at Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg. The location of this hotel is perfect as you don’t have to drive far down the main road to get to it. Then, you can simply park your car here and walk to all of the attractions. You can read my full Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg review here.

Best Pigeon Forge Hotel

As I said above, I prefer to stay in Pigeon Forge most of the time. So, I have a much harder time picking a favorite here. I’d probably default to the Inn at Christmas Place as I’m a huge fan of the holidays. I’ve loved both of my stays here, neither of which was during the holiday season. You don’t have to love the Christmas season to enjoy a stay here, but it certainly helps. To get an idea of what it’s like to stay here, you can read my The Inn at Christmas Place Review.

My other top pick in Pigeon Forge would be the Margaritaville Island Inn. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to stay at the Margaritaville Island Hotel, however it looks amazing too. I love that both of these options puts you within walking distance of several entertainment and dining options! You can read my full Margaritaville Island Inn Pigeon Forge Review to see what it’s like to stay there.

Best Hotel for Dollywood

I know that some people visit the area solely to visit Dollywood. If that’s the case for you, I think you should stay at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort. With the free bus transportation to the park, it can be a no-brainer. Plus, you can purchase special package (hotel and tickets) deals when you stay here. A new Dollywood resort is opening later this year and I’m sure it will be equally amazing.

Tiny House in Sevierville

For Sevierville, I thought I would mix it up a little. My husband and I enjoyed our stay in a tiny home at The Ridge Outdoor Resort last summer. It was super close to Dollywood and off of the main road, so we were able to avoid traffic. It was a peaceful stay.

Best Places to Stay in The Smoky Mountains

I think these are the best hotels in the Smoky Mountains (and tiny home). What do you think of my choices? Have you ever stayed in one of these places? Do you prefer to stay somewhere else?

Summer in the Great Smoky Mountains

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Memorial Day is typically seen as the end of spring. So, if you are planning to spend summer in the Great Smoky Mountains, then here are some fun things you can add to your to-do list!

Summer in the Great Smoky Mountains

Summer in the Great Smoky Mountains

Some people prefer to spend the warmer months outdoors. Some of us prefer to cool off in the water or indoors. Ha! So, I will try to highlight a few options to suit everyone for their summer in the Great Smoky Mountains vacation in this post.

Summer at Dollywood

My return to blogging last year was all about summer at Dollywood. While that’s a review of last year’s event, I fully expect this year’s event to be roughly the same. This year, the festival kicks-off on June 17th and ends on August 6th. So, you have about 2 months to experience it this year! You can check out the event page on Dollywood’s website for the latest info. However, suffice it to say that my husband and I really enjoyed this festival, particularly the drone show! Plus, this year you can ride the new Big Bear Mountain ride!

Visit a Smoky Mountain Waterpark

What better way to cool off on a hot day then with a water park? Technically, you have two options for a waterpark in the Smokies. First up, you have Dollywood’s Splash Country. I’ve never been there, but I know people on social media seem to like it. If you are staying at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort, it’s especially convenient to visit (although, the resort has its own pool too).

Additionally, there is the Soaky Mountain Waterpark in Sevierville. I haven’t been there in years, but I did visit their indoor slides when I stayed at the Wilderness at the Smokies for a review about a decade ago. If you stay at Wilderness at the Smokies, then admission to the waterpark is included. However, I add caution because I haven’t visited in 10 years and some recent online reviews claim the rooms need some updating. This does look like an economical vacation though.

Head to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Summer

I have to admit, I’m not much of an outdoor activity type of girl. However, I know that the National Park draws lots of visitors every year, particularly during the warmer months. That link will take you to a page listing various things you can do in the park, including fishing, hiking, looking at flowers, and camping!

Be a Pirate

Technically, you can act like a pirate anytime of the year when you visit the Pirates Voyage dinner show. However, I think it’s more fun to act like a pirate during the warmer months! You can read my review of the Pirates dinner show to see what to expect.

Celebrate the 4th of July

If you are looking to spend the holiday weekend in the Smokies, you should know that the area has some exciting annual events. Gatlinburg has the first Independence Day Parade in the country, with it starting at midnight every year! Not to be outdone, Pigeon Forge hosts the Patriot Festival every year with music and fireworks!

Celebrate Christmas in July

If, like me, you prefer the chill of Christmas to the heat of summer, might I suggest celebrating Christmas in July with a stay at the Inn at Christmas Place? They have special activities all month long to celebrate Christmas in July! You can read my The Inn at Christmas Place Review to see what it’s like to stay here. I’ve been fortunate enough to stay here twice and loved it both times! According to their social media, they did some updating at the beginning of 2023, so it should be even nicer there now!

So Much to See and Do in the Great Smoky Mountains

As you can see, there’s lots to do during summer in the Great Smoky Mountains. Did I miss your favorite thing? This concludes my seasonal look at the area series. You can view my other posts with seasonal suggestions here: