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I've been to Disney World more than 100 times and only recently made my first trip to Dollywood.
Dolly Parton's Southern theme park impressed me with its entertainment and photo opportunities.
I appreciated how the park highlighted the singer's history in multiple ways.
I've lived close to Disney World for my entire life. I've been more than 100 times and still visit as often as I want as an annual pass holder.
Recently, though, I was excited to try a different theme park that's been on my radar for years: Dollywood.
The Dolly Parton park has been nestled among the Great Smoky Mountains in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, for decades.
After spending two days exploring Dollywood, here's everything that surprised me.
I appreciated how Parton's history was highlighted throughout the park.
The Dolly Parton Experience was fun to walk through.
Megan duBois
One of my favorite park areas was the Dolly Parton Experience, where I learned all about Parton and her life through a range of exhibits and displays.
In the park, I was also able to step onto one of Parton's old tour buses and view many of her glamorous outfits and jewelry pieces.
The park's most famous food is actually easy to find throughout the park and its resorts.
I picked up Dollywood's famous cinnamon bread at Spotlight Bakery.
Megan duBois
As many theme park foodies know, Dollywood and cinnamon bread are synonymous.
Since the treat is so popular, I worried I might have to wait in long lines to order it or get up early to track it down before it sold out. Fortunately, it was even easier to find than I expected.
Plenty of it was available at Grist Mill and Spotlight Bakery inside the park. Plus, the bread could be purchased at the Dollywood resorts, DreamMore and HeartSong — or even ordered using room service.
The park's entertainment was top-notch and varied — and even included a show featuring Parton's niece.
I saw "Heidi Parton's Kin and Friends" while at Dollywood.
Megan duBois
Throughout the park, I found all kinds of impressive entertainment, including performances from a country string band and a Southern gospel singing group.
The park even had an educational show featuring birds of prey.
One show I especially loved was "Heidi Parton's Kin and Friends," in which Parton's niece Heidi and a crew of talented performers sang songs across a range of genres.
There's an entire land dedicated to kid-friendly attractions, which seems great for families.
The Country Fair area of Dollywood seems ideal for little kids.
Megan duBois
The rides at the park are quite varied, from attractions for preschool-age kids to high-speed roller coasters that thrill seekers would love.
One area that surprised me was Country Fair, where kid-friendly attractions are all clustered together. This setup makes it easy for families with little kids to hang out in one spot and enjoy multiple attractions.
Country Fair also features carnival games, a picnic pavilion that looks like a classic red barn, and a splash pad.
Dollywood's rotating festivals throughout the year seemed good enough to compete with Disney's.
I visited Dollywood during the I Will Always Love You music festival.
Megan duBois
The park hosts five different festivals throughout the year, and each has a different theme. Similar to Disney parks, Dollywood has exclusive entertainment and special foods during each of its festivals.
I visited during the park's first festival of the season, the I Will Always Love You music festival, which runs through mid-April.
Other festivals at Dollywood include the Flower and Food Festival in spring, the Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration through the summer, the Harvest Festival in fall, and Smoky Mountain Christmas during the holiday season.
A simple but pricey parking upgrade added surprising value to my trip.
I didn't wait long at the preferred-parking entrance.
Megan duBois
Parking at any theme park can be pricey. At Dollywood, standard parking costs $25, and preferred is $50.
Much to my surprise, I'd recommend paying more for the latter. It was a surprisingly good value. With preferred parking, I got to keep my car in the closest lot to the park and access an exclusive security line and entrance.
When I arrived, the park's main entrance had a big line out front and a wait time of about 45 minutes to get inside. At the preferred-parking entrance, I waited only about 10 minutes.
I love that my upgrade allowed me to spend more time in the park instead of waiting in line outside it.
There are a ton of good pop-up photo spots around the park.
Photos are a great way to remember your trip.
Megan duBois
I love just how many photo opportunities I found at Dollywood, especially in its Showstreet area.
The main entry area of the park features a giant Dollywood sign that's a perfect backdrop for family photos. Plus, I found tons of cute art installations that are swapped out throughout the year.
While I was at Dollywood, big shimmering sequins hung over part of Showstreet, and a fun "LOVE" sign was displayed at the end of the road — both nodding to the current festival theme.
