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Dollywood Diamond Pass: Is It Worth It?

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Are you wondering if a Dollywood Diamond Pass is worth it or not? Well, here’s a look at the benefits of having one based on my experiences in 2026!

Dollywood Diamond Pass

Dollywood Diamond Pass

Dollywood typically begins selling passes for the next season in the fall. Purchasing a pass at this time is the best deal you will see. However, it can be confusing trying to determine which pass is the right one for you and your family. In my Is A Dollywood Season Pass Worth It post, I looked at the value of being a season passholder at any tier. Today, I am finally looking at the value of the highest and most expensive tier available – Diamond!

I renewed my Gold pass in 2025 by upgrading to the Diamond pass for 2026. Dollywood allows you to begin accessing their pass savings immediately. So, I’ve been using this pass for almost a year now and have a pretty good idea of its benefits. Then again, Dollywood has a tendency to change up their passes and benefits from year to year. So, let’s jump into its benefits and its costs.

Media Events

I think the main benefit that everyone was most excited about with the Diamond pass was the possibility to be invited to a press event with Dolly in attendance. In order to get a ticket to those events, you had to be a member of the press OR a Diamond Passholder. I was hopeful for an invite for the 2026 season opening event since I’ve been a Passholder off-and-on for several years. Unfortunately, I didn’t receive an invite to that event. So, I wouldn’t recommend getting a Diamond pass just to gain access to those events. Going forward, I don’t know that everyone will be as excited to attend a media event since Dolly has passed. Dollywood also doesn’t explicitly mention this perk being available in 2027.

Bring-A-Friend Passes

It used to be that pretty much every Passholder got to bring friends to the park for free. Now, they have practically done away with that unless you are a Diamond Passholder. So, if you are planning to use your pass to bring friends, then you will have to pay more by selecting the highest tiers of passes. For 2027, the Diamond passholder will receive 4 free Bring-A-Friend tickets for Dollywood or Splash Country. Meanwhile, Gold Passholders receive 1 for Dollywood. Silver doesn’t receive any.

Discounts

I’d say the other big perk of being a Diamond Passholder is the discounts. Diamond Passholders receive the biggest discounts in the parks and at the resorts. Diamond Passholders currently receive a 20% discount on food and merch as well as on resort stays (when available). I will admit, I purchased several shirts last Christmas and it was nice to get that 20% off each one! Unfortunately, the prices at the resorts have been so high on recent visits, that it was much cheaper to stay off-site and park at the the park (we get free general parking worth $25/day) when visiting. So, I haven’t been able to use the passholder resort discounts.

Free Drink Cup

If you purchased a Diamond Pass early on, then you received a special All Season Drink Cup! This year’s was a pretty purple featuring the new ride! You can get free refills in the cup, which can save lots of money. Unfortunately, I drink almost exclusively water, so that perk wasn’t as attractive to me personally.

Free Popcorn?

Diamond Passholders were previously allowed to redeem a coupon for one free cinnamon bread per month. However, that perk has been taken away in 2027. Now, Diamond Passholders will receive a Popcorn Bucket with Free Season-Long Refills. It’s not yet known what the popcorn bucket will look like. It’s also personal opinion if being able to get popcorn all season long is more valuable than a free loaf of bread each month. I don’t eat much popcorn and never buy it in a park. Although, I will eat a loaf of cinnamon bread, but I actually haven’t been able to redeem mine this year yet. I guess I better get on that before it goes away.

New Perks for 2027

Dollywood has added a few new perks for passholders in 2027. Both Gold and Diamond can park in Lot F, based on lot availability. Additionally, both tiers will be able to sit in reserved seating at shows in DP’s Celebrity, Showstreet Palace, and Pines theaters. It remains to be seen how that will be handled. Diamond is also being given a one-time Preferred Parking perk. Lastly, all three tiers are receiving a one-time Expedited Entry on NightFlight Expedition and a Passholder Lanyard.

Is the Dollywood Diamond Pass worth it?

Honestly, I think it’s difficult to say the Diamond Pass is worth it for most folks. I paid $399.16 for my pass last year, but haven’t gotten to access many of its perks. My mom and I did enjoy the discounts last December. Plus, we visited the waterpark for the first time this year (look for a post on that next year). I guess the real value of this pass for me is in the park entry. My mom and I went in August (very briefly because it was too hot) and are getting ready to visit in October. So, that’s two days each. I guess that’s worth around $260 for Dollywood entry and then $60 for Splash Country entry. Then, we used $75 in parking fees since it comes with free parking ($25/day). I feel confident we used at least $4 in discounts.

The math on this one is hard. You really need to be a local and to use all of the free passes to get all of its value. Have you ever had a Dollywood Diamond Pass? Did you feel it was worth the money paid?

Solo Universal Orlando Tips

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Having taken a few solo Universal Orlando trips, I thought I would post a quick guide with tips for other folks considering doing the same.

Solo Universal Orlando

Solo Universal Orlando

Several years ago, I posted Halloween Horror Nights Solo Tips to help people who were considering attending HHN by themselves, like I did. However, I never posted about visiting the parks by yourself during the day. So, I thought I would share a quick list of tips for making the most of a solo trip to the Universal Orlando parks!

Tips

  • Move at your own pace – I say this in every solo travel post, but it’s true. It’s a beautiful thing to be able to set your own pace or change your mind without needing to explain it to someone else.
  • Ride as many rides as you want – If you want to try to ride every ride in a particular park, go for it! If you want to take it slower and see some shows, do that!
  • Consider Single Rider Line – There are several rides at each park that feature a special Single Rider Line that you can take advantage of to ride rides sooner!
  • Eat wherever and whenever you want – If you want to take the time to eat at a sit down restaurant, then do that. If not, grab something quick and keep moving!
  • Have a list of things you want to do – You don’t have to have an exact schedule (unless you want one), but having a general idea of things you’d like to experience is always a good idea!
  • Enjoy a show or parade – Solo trips are great for making time to see a show or parade!
  • Visit with characters – I love seeing characters on solo trips because I don’t feel bad for making someone else wait.

Going to Universal Orlando Resort Alone

As you can see, the possibilities for a solo Universal Orlando trip are endless! So, what are you going to do on your trip?

Are Dollywood Guided Tours Worth It?

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Today, I want to examine if the seasonal Dollywood Guided Tours are worth your money and time.

Dollywood Guided Tours

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?

Solo Dollywood Tips

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Last year, I took my first solo Dollywood trip. So, I thought I would do a post featuring some tips for anyone else considering doing the same thing.

Solo Dollywood

Solo Dollywood

I understand that many folks may be hesitant to visit Dollywood alone. However, I’m here to tell you that it’s a great idea! I thoroughly enjoyed myself last year and I have hopes to travel by myself to Dollywood again this year. It’s so nice to do what you want, when you want. You can move at your own pace. Plus, this is a great park to just sit and relax.

Dollywood Activities to Try Alone

  • Take a tour – If you are nervous about visiting the park by yourself, might I suggest booking a tour? For a few hours, you will be a part of a group. That allows you to learn and interact with other people. On my solo visit last year, I took the I Will Always Love You Tour and you can read my review of that experience at the link.
  • Make a craft – I didn’t do this last time, but I am considering trying my hand at one of the crafts on my next solo adventure. At Dollywood, you can dip your own candles, make your own blown glass ornament (or pumpkin), customize your own leather belt, ornament, or bracelet or even forge your own knife! I do wish that they would allow people to make online reservations for the crafts ahead of time. Unfortunately, you have to show up at the craft location early in the day to book your spot.
  • Admire the park – Dollywood is a gorgeous park. It’s nice to visit during the different seasons to really appreciate the beauty of it all. I love just looking at the different seasonal decorations around the park. Plus, I can take as many photos as I want without feeling like I’m boring someone.
  • Catch a show – One of the things this park is known for is its shows. I highly recommend catching at least one. If nothing else, you need to catch at least some sort of musical act.
  • Ride rides – Of course, the main perk of visiting a theme park by yourself is riding whatever rides you want. In fact, you can ride them over again if you want. Alternatively, you don’t have to ride rides either. It’s up to you.
  • Eat what you want – Dollywood has several great food options. From festival food booths to fast service restaurants and a few sit down places, there’s something for everyone. Feel free to try a few things during your visit. There’s no one there to judge your choices.
  • Move at your own pace – Ride a bunch of rides back to back. Sit and enjoy the ambiance. It’s up to you.

Visiting Dollywood Alone

As you can see, there’s lots to do when you take a solo Dollywood trip. So, have you ever visited Dollywood by yourself? If so, what do you like to do? If not, what is stopping you?

Disney World Character Dining Guide

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Today, I’m finally doing a post that I have been putting off for months – a guide to Walt Disney World Character Dining!

Disney World Character Dining

Disney World Character Dining

As of the writing of this post, there are 12 on-site Disney World Character Dining options. Technically, there’s a 13th option at the Four Seasons, however I’m only covering options that are on-site. I’ve been putting this post off in hopes that I would eat at more of these restaurants and be able to provide a better analysis of each one. However, that doesn’t seem likely anytime soon. So, I’m going to cover all 12 and provide reviews as possible. Once I am able to try them out, I will update this post with a review.

1900 Park Fare

I was lucky enough to enjoy 1900 Park Fare about a decade ago. However, after the pandemic it’s a different meal now. There are different characters now. Initially, I was going to try it out with my mom on the December 2025 trip. Unfortunately, she was having mobility issues. So, we cancelled that reservation and enjoyed dinner at The Crystal Palace since we were attending the Christmas party.

It appears that you can currently meet prince/princesses here. This may include: Aladdin, Cinderella, Mirabel, and Princess Tiana. I think it’s fitting that you can meet Disney royalty here since it’s held at the Grand Floridian Resort. That resort is uber nice. I will encourage everyone to try the Strawberry Soup if you eat here.

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall

Again, Akershus is another princess meal. This one is located in Epcot though. I also enjoyed this one about a decade ago. However, I was also able to visit it again for breakfast with my mom back in 2023. You can read my full Akershus Princess Breakfast Review at Epcot here. My mom and I enjoyed the interactions with the princesses and found the food to be good. Although, it was a bit rushed.

I want to point out that this meal is 1 table service for breakfast only. Both lunch and dinner will cost you 2 table service credits to dine here. I think that is because of the popularity of the restaurant. Personally, I find $69 for 2 table service credits to be a terrible value.

Cape May Cafe

Cape May Cafe is a character buffet for breakfast only! Dinner here is a seafood buffet without characters. It is located at the Beach Club Resort. I’ve been lucky enough to eat breakfast here a few times. In fact, it has the distinction of being my first character meal! I most recently ate here a few years ago in December 2022 with my mom. You can read my entire Cape May Café Breakfast Character Meal Review here, but suffice it to say that we really like this restaurant. There’s always a variety of foods available. Plus, who doesn’t love to see characters in beachy outfits? Also, my favorite character, Donald Duck, can be found here!

Chef Mickey’s

Chef Mickey’s is the character buffet located at the Contemporary Resort. Featuring the Fab Five in chef outfits, it’s a fun experience. Plus, it’s another opportunity to see Donald Duck! Once again, I have been lucky enough to enjoy a meal here several times over the years. Most recently, my mom and I ate dinner here in February 2024 prior to a Magic Kingdom After Hours event. You can read my Chef Mickey’s Character Dinner Review here. I know that some folks complain about the food here, but they have improved the quality of food. We were pleased with the variety of foods available and nothing we had was outright bad.

Cinderella’s Royal Table

Cinderella’s Royal Table is the princess dining experience located in the castle in Magic Kingdom! Due to its location and popularity, it costs 2 Table Service Credits to dine here on the dining plan. It’s one of the more expensive places to eat on property. In fact, I’ve eaten here only once. I enjoyed breakfast here in 2021 with my husband. Due to Covid, the princesses didn’t come to the table. In fact, Cinderella just came out and waved. However, thanks to those changes, it was cheaper back then. It’s great to be able to say I’ve eaten here. However, I don’t know that I would pay the prices they are charging these days and certainly wouldn’t use 2 credits.

The Crystal Palace

The Crystal Palace is a greenhouse inspired restaurant featuring Winnie the Pooh and friends! I’ve had the pleasure of eating here a few times over the years. I had breakfast with my husband back in October 2023 and you can read my Crystal Palace Character Breakfast Review here for that experience. Then, in December 2025, I enjoyed dinner here with my mom prior to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. You can read my Crystal Palace Character Dinner Review too. Once again, I think Disney has improved the food here over the years as well. There’s something for everyone on the buffet and the characters are great!

Garden Grill Restaurant

Garden Grill is a classic character dining experience in Epcot. Featuring Chip, Dale, and farmer Mickey Mouse, it’s a meal that gives you a rotating view of the ride Living with the Land. The food leans more towards basic, but it’s done well and pleases most people. I’ve eaten here a couple of times as well. You can read my Garden Grill Dinner Epcot Character Meal Review from my most recent experience in February 2023.

Hollywood and Vine

Hollywood & Vine is a seasonal character dining experience in Hollywood Studios. I’ve dined here several times as well, since the characters’ outfits change seasonally! I haven’t posted my review yet, but my mom and I enjoyed dinner here during the Holiday Dining prior to Jollywood Nights in December 2025. It was a great way to get into the holiday spirit before the party. We enjoyed the character interactions and the buffet was plentiful. Again, kudos to Disney for improving food quality over the years. My only complaint is that they seem to have lost Donald at this location over the years. I hope they bring him back sometime.

‘Ohana

‘Ohana is a popular restaurant at the Polynesian Resort. This restaurant offers character dining for breakfast only. Dinner doesn’t have characters, but the meal is a favorite among Disney fans. Breakfast features Lilo & Stitch! It’s the only place where you can meet them currently. I haven’t eaten here in many years. However, I recall the pineapple-coconut bread at breakfast with fond memories. Plus, I wore a Lilo dress to this meal and it was a great core memory made to interact with the characters while being dressed like one of them.

Story Book Dining at Artist Point

Another restaurant I’ve been lucky to eat at previously, but not in recent years is Story Book Dining at Artist Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. My husband and I cosplayed as Snow White and The Prince when we ate here and had a great time. The Queen glared at us in the photos! It was awesome. My mom enjoyed interacting with Grumpy. The food here was elevated as well. Due to the experience and popularity, this restaurant is also 2 Table Service dining credits. Although, it is open for dinner only.

Topolino’s Terrace

Topolino’s Terrace is a character breakfast at the Riviera Resort. Dinner does not feature characters and is a signature dining experience. The character breakfast only requires 1 dining credit though. However, since it’s a signature restaurant, the food is better here than at some other buffets. You can read my full Topolino’s Terrace Character Breakfast Review for a closer look at this experience. However, I gotta love an artsy Donald Duck!

Tusker House Restaurant

Lastly, we have Tusker House! It’s a safari themed character meal in Animal Kingdom. Open for all three meals and only 1 table service credit, it’s pretty popular. Plus, it features Donald Duck! You can read my full Tusker House Breakfast Review from my February 2023 trip. I have not eaten dinner here in many years though. However, it is the only character dining available at this park.

Disney World Character Dining

As you can see, there are loads of options for Disney World Character Dining. From parks to deluxe resorts, they are located all over the resort. However, I would encourage everyone to pay attention to the dining credits required at some of the restaurants (Cinderella’s Royal Table, Artist Point, and Akershus). While the seated meals tend to have better food, the buffets have greatly improved in recent years. So, what’s your favorite character meal at Disney?