Today, I want to examine if the seasonal Dollywood Guided Tours are worth your money and time.
Dollywood Guided Tours
Last year, I was lucky to take several guided tours while visiting Dollywood. I already posted my I Will Always Love You Tour at Dollywood Review, Dollywood Summer Festival Tour Review, and Dollywood Christmas Guided Tour Review. Today, I want to talk about those experience more generally and to help others decide if they should book a guided tour.
What the Tours Include
You can see which tours are available during your trip and what they include on the Special Experiences page on the website. However, in general, the tours attempt to include some festival entertainment (like reserved seating for a show during IWALY or reserved standing viewing of the drones/fireworks during the summer) along with a snack and/or beverage. They also sometimes include rides where you can skip the lines. All of them come with a tour guide or two that tells you about the park and the offerings you get.
I will say these are best for people without mobility issues. They tend to involve a good bit of walking and Dollywood has a few good hills. I also don’t know that I would recommend them for children as there can be lots of listening.
Pros
- You get a brief guided tour of the park – It can be helpful for people who don’t know much about the park or its offerings to learn from a park employee.
- Skip some lines – It was awesome to ride the train during the Christmas tour without waiting in line. You have to read the fine print though as not all tours offer rides and it seems like the rides offered can differ from year to year.
- Some reserved seating – Again, you have to read the fine print to see what the tour includes. However, you sometimes get a reserved (near the front) seat for shows that you don’t have to stand in line for.
- Snack and a drink – Often, it’s a festival goodie. However, at Christmas we received a mini cinnamon bread and hot chocolate. I’d consider it an added bonus, not exactly a selling point.
- Adds something for experienced visitors – It can be a fun way to do something different if you have visited the park before.
- Can be good for solo trips – If you are visiting the park alone and feel more comfortable in a group, this is the perfect opportunity to join a group.
Cons
- Added expense – These tours are an added expense on top of a park ticket. Plus, they went up $10 from 2025 to 2026. Currently, they are $89/person with a small discount available for some passholders. So, not exactly a budget friendly event.
- Takes up time – If you want to visit the park at your own pace, this isn’t for you. You don’t really have much time to stop and enjoy the scenery or take pictures. I don’t recommend this for people who are visiting for the first time on the first day. Maybe the second day or return trip.
- Limited offerings – The specific rides/shows offered varies from festival to festival and even year to year. So, read the site carefully to see if you are interested in most of the things listed before spending the money.
- You can do most of the things on your own – Most of the tour experiences can be had on your own. The real perk of these tours is the guide and the ability to skip the line or have reserved seating.
Are Dollywood Guided Tours Worth It?
I think the value of any purchase is subjective. However, if you have children, are a first time visitor, have mobility issues, or on a tight budget, then I don’t think it’s worth it. If you are a return guest who navigates the park easily with room in the budget, then go for it! So, have you ever taken a tour at Dollywood? Did you think it was worth it?
