Laughing Lindsay

Travel Reviews, Giveaways, & More!

I Will Always Love You Tour at Dollywood Review

By

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

By

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.

Spring in Colonial Williamsburg Guide

By Leave a Comment

Last year my husband and I took a trip to experience Spring in Colonial Williamsburg. Since we are approaching the official start of this season, I thought I would do a little guide on it.

Spring in Colonial Williamsburg

Spring in Colonial Williamsburg

Having previously posted a Winter in Williamsburg guide last year, I thought I would do a springtime one highlighting the differences between the seasons. While winter will be January, February, and most of March, spring is late March, all of April, and most of May.

We visited in early May and were pleased with the trip. It was warmer than when we visited in March. However, a few days were a little chilly and there was some rain. So, definitely check the weather forecast to pack the right clothes. On this trip, we really enjoyed walking around and seeing the gorgeous flowers in bloom! The gardens were also full of produce. Plus, we got to see some adorable lambs in the fields! I highly recommend a spring trip to CW if you enjoy the outdoors.

Tips for Visiting in the Spring

  • Check the calendar for special events – In March, CW celebrates Women’s History Month with special talks and events. Additionally, Drummer’s Call or a showcase of 18th century music happens every spring. Plus, there’s the annual Memorial Day celebrations.
  • Check the weather forecast – The first few days we were in the area, it was chilly. Then, it warmed up nicely. However, there were a few afternoon rainstorms as well. So, I recommend looking at the forecast before packing or heading out.
  • Expect moderate crowds – CW is almost always less crowded than a theme park. However, spring can be busy with families on spring break as well as school field trips. So, expect larger crowds than you might see in the winter months but fewer than the summer or holiday months.
  • Expect moderate prices – Since the crowds are moderate, so are the lodging prices. Winter is definitely the cheapest time to go, with spring being a little more expensive. However, it is way cheaper than during the holidays.
  • Book dining in advance – I still recommend booking your Tavern dinner or tea in advance simply due to the limited availability. I have a whole guide to Colonial Williamsburg dining if you are trying to decide where to eat. There are some other dining options within walking distance outside of the historic area that don’t require reservations though.

Is Spring in Colonial Williamsburg worth it?

We really enjoyed our time in Colonial Williamsburg during the spring. The weather was mostly pleasant. It was a little more crowded, but not overly so (unlike Christmastime). Plus, it was neat to look at the gardens and animals. Have you ever visited during the spring months?

Tips to Celebrate Each Season

By Leave a Comment

Now that it’s the beginning of a new year, I’d like to share a few tips to celebrate each season.

Tips to Celebrate Each Season

Tips to Celebrate Each Season

Personally, I need little things to look forward to doing. I love that each season is so different (at least in Virginia) and has different activities and holidays to look forward to. Fall and Winter with Halloween and Christmas tend to get the most attention. However, I enjoy bringing the same enthusiasm for the season and activities to the rest of the year. So, here are some of the little (affordable) ways I like to celebrate each season!

  • Crafts – Over the past couple of years, I gotten more into painting door hangers and little items. I love that Target has even started offering different seasonal crafts. I also just purchased a paint by number canvas from Aldi. I also have a few color by number books. Crafts ease my anxiety and brighten my day. So, it’s fun to make seasonal crafts to hang up or just look at while you color.
  • Decorate – This one often goes along with crafts, but I enjoy changing out the decor around my home. I’m always home and the plain walls can be boring to look at. So, it’s nice to switch out a few items every few months.
  • Bake – I love to bake! I enjoy making seasonal treats. Give me all of the pumpkin and apple in fall. I love blueberries, lemon, and lime in summer. Winter is great for chocolate or spice. Spring is the perfect time to make my grandma’s rhubarb pie.
  • Pancakes – I know this ones seems really random, but it’s a really affordable way to celebrate the season. Walmart (and sometimes Target, Trader Joe’s, or Aldi) will carry special seasonal pancake mixes. I enjoy picking up a couple each season and trying them on the weekends. I just finished off a peppermint mocha one from Walmart and am hoping Target gets their Valentine’s Day red velvet one again this year. You can also mix and match with seasonal whipped creams from Target or Aldi.
  • Travel – It should come as no surprise that I enjoy travelling to different destinations to see seasonal events. Although, I tend to avoid summer travel since it’s so hot.

How do you celebrate seasons?

Do you do anything fun to celebrate the different seasons? If so, what?

Universal Orlando Seasonal Events Guide

By Leave a Comment

Given that it’s a new year, I thought I would do a post highlighting the various Universal Orlando Seasonal Events that you can experience!

Universal Orlando Seasonal Events

Universal Orlando Seasonal Events

Like most theme parks, Universal Orlando Resort tries to have something new and exciting happening in the parks pretty regularly. However, the seasonal events at UO are like no other. In fact, I firmly believe that the seasonal events is where they really shine. Everything they do is top-notch and some of the best you will encounter.

The seasonal events kick-off with Mardi Gras in early February. Then, they sometimes host some fun activities during the summer. Fall has the beloved Halloween Horror Nights. Finally, there’s the Holidays at Universal Orlando. So, here’s a look at each one of those events.

Mardi Gras

Universal Studios Florida has the best Mardi Gras event that I’ve ever experienced! In fact, I wrote a whole Universal Orlando Mardi Gras Guide a few years ago that’s still relevant. They have an amazing parade that has several classic floats and they update it each year with several new themed floats! It’s so much fun to watch the parade and catch beads. Additionally, I highly recommend riding in the parade and tossing beads at least once. You can read my review of the Mardi Gras Ride and Dine experience from 2023 at Lombard’s and my 2024 Ride and Dine experience at Finnegan’s. They also typically have concerts on most Saturday nights during the event featuring several well-known acts. Unfortunately, the schedule of concerts typically isn’t released until sometime in January. The event typically takes place from early February to the end of March.

Summer

They don’t typically have a formal summer event at the park. However, they have added some extra entertainment in recent years during the summer months. As with the other seasonal events, there’s usually a special Tribute Store to experience. They also like to open new park lands/rides at the beginning of the season. 2024 saw the new DreamWorks Land as well as a new parade and nighttime lagoon show. 2025 will bring the new Epic Universe park!

Halloween Horror Nights

HHN is probably their most popular event. In fact, it’s their only add-on ticketed seasonal event. You will be able to see some general HHN themed decor around the resort in the fall, but the props will be covered up during the day in the park. So, if you want to witness the full experience, you will have to purchase a ticket to the event. I have another Halloween Horror Nights Guide from 2023 to help you better understand what to expect at the resort during this time of the year. I also have Solo HHN Tips and did a Unmasking the Horror Tour Review. Usually, this event begins around Labor Day and goes until late October/early November.

Holidays at Universal

The Holidays at Universal usually begin in mid-November and last until the end of the year. Once again, I have a Christmas at Universal Guide that breaks down all of the things you can expect to encounter during this time of the year. The must-dos include: the Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s at Universal Studios Florida, Grinchmas at Islands of Adventure (including meeting The Grinch), and Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter across both parks.

Universal Orlando Seasonal Events

What is your favorite seasonal event at Universal Orlando Resort? Which one(s) are you planning to experience this year?