January is a great time to hit the reset button and refocus on priorities. At our theme park, that’s our winter plan, too! The very day after we bid our final guests of the 2020 season goodbye, dozens of crews hit the pavement with marching orders in-hand. Dollywood’s off-season is a short 68 days. [...]
This past year was tough, but there was still lots of good. In my role, I have the privilege of seeing guest pictures that tag Dollywood. That's how I know smiles are contagious. I put together this video of our favorite 20 pictures from 2020. Thanks for sharing your memories with us. We're really [...]
You know when you’re on a high following a great success? That’s how our Dollywood’s Splash Country team is feeling right now. They opened our water park in record time (just a few weeks after getting the green light during a pandemic), and they received top scores for cleanliness and guest satisfaction throughout the [...]
One of my favorite things about working at Dollywood is being part of a company that cares so much about the families who visit us. But, there is much more to Dollywood than bringing smiles to park guests. Every year Dollywood holds its annual Sevier County Days which provides county residents—or anyone who works in [...]
There’s a reason our culture generally accepts this season as being “the most wonderful time of the year,” and that’s because IT IS. Christmas cheer softens us, opens our hands to generosity and warms us from the inside out so kindness and goodness flow more freely. It’s been a hard year for all of [...]
One of the top Dollywood tips I always hear people share is, “Be SURE to go to the Grist Mill to get Dollywood’s Cinnamon Bread!” That’s sage advice. It’s world-famous, you know. It says so on the building. But as someone who adores all-things-Dollywood, I worry that many folks are so impressed with the [...]
It’s the most wonderful time of the year: Christmas-cookie-baking time! Sugar or butter cookies, gingerbread or macaroons—I won’t discriminate. They’re all delicious. Obviously, the best part of Christmas cookies is the eating. A close second is decorating. Whether you have a tradition of crafting pretty holiday cookies or you want to learn, we have some [...]
What started as a hobby when Rob Parkin was 10 years old turned into a career crafting unique items and creating lasting memories for countless guests in four decades. His first job crafting glass was at Disneyland in California, and then he was sent to Disney World to work. “I was there for the grand [...]
When I was in college, my professors were always telling me how important it is to get real on-the-job experience while I was still in school. And, they said it’s important to apply what I was learning in the classroom to real-world experience if I wanted to succeed. They were right. There is a [...]
If you happen to be anything like me, January and February may not be your favorite months of the year. The holidays are over and now it’s cold—and personally, I am not a fan of cold weather. But, did you know that January and February are actually an amazing time to visit the Smokies [...]
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