As temperatures sail past the 80-degree mark, you will undoubtedly want to find a way to stay cool while exploring Dollywood. Thankfully, there are tons of ways to keep cool and comfortable in this park — and all without derailing your adventures.
To learn about the fan favorites, just browse through this guide ahead of time. Then, all that’s left to do is great ready to have a blast this season.
Stay Hydrated with a Refillable Souvenir Cup
Right when you enter the park, get a refillable souvenir cup to take along on your adventures. With this mug in hand, you will get endless discount refills on demand. And the best part?
It’s good all season long. So, you can return time and time again with confidence you can wet your whistle and stay refreshed with all your favorite drinks, including their incredible frozen beverages.
Ride the Wild Eagle Again and Again
What better to cool you down than feeling the wind through your hair, under your feet, and all-around? If that sounds like a delight, get in line for the Wild Eagle the second you start to feel a bit hot.
Thrill Rating: Max
Park Location: Wilderness Pass
Dubbed ‘America’s first wing coaster,’ this thrill ride takes you 21 stories above the crowd and whips you through the air at a cheek-flapping 61 miles per hour. If that doesn’t cool you down, the 210-foot drop and 110-foot loop-de-loop will take your mind off the heat for a minute or two.
Shop Your Heart Out at Dollywood Stores
Dollywood is absolutely chockfull of fun shops to stroll through to your heart’s content. They not only give you a place to get out of the sun, their air conditioning systems will quickly chill you out.
While checking out the shops, you can find:
- Stylish clothing at Dolly’s Closet
- Old fashioned cookware at Hillside General Store
- Rollercoaster themed goods at the Hi-Octane Shop
- Gems and jewelry at the Lucky 7 Mine
- Tasty treats at the Sweet Shoppe
Just be careful not to drain your pocketbook too much as there are so many amazing things to take home each day. Set a limit and stick to it, while remaining content to just browse the rest of the time.
Browse the Chasing Rainbows Museum
Photo Credit by @dollyparton on Instagram
Always air-conditioned, the Chasing Rainbows Museum is a great place to take a break from the sunshine and learn quite a bit along the way. You can check out decades of memorabilia from Dolly Parton’s successful career, including:
- Movie costumes
- Awards show gowns
- Awards for her music and movies
- Plaques for her gold and platinum records
- Pictures, notes, and more
There are also tons of items from her personal life plus interactive exhibits galore.
Enjoy Mayfield Ice Cream from the DM Pantry
There is no better time to enjoy ice cream than a hot sunny day — and the DM Pantry is there to help you make that dream a reality. They serve up hand-scooped Mayfield Ice Cream in a delightful array of flavors all day long. They even have flavors that give nod to their most popular attractions, including the FireChaser Express. You can order up your flavor of choice by the scoop and have it put in a waffle bowl or cone. Or, you can go for a decadent milkshake.
Take Lots of Breaks on the Many Shady Benches
When you only need a brief break from the heat, you can plop down on the many benches along the pathways. They are not only strategically set in the shade but may also have a misting fan nearby. If you take a rest on these benches with a Mayfield Ice Cream in hand, you will cool down in no time flat.
Spend the Day Playing at Splash Country
If the day is just too hot to make the most of your theme park visit, set your sights on Splash Country. In the waterpark side, you can find attraction after attraction built to blast away the heat, like the:
- Slick Rock Racer
- Wild River Falls
- SwiftWater Run
- Mountain Waves
- Downbound Float Trip
- Big Bear Plunge
As you head down the slides or slip into the pools, you are sure to cool down in an instant. Once you feel all the way chilled out, you can head back to the line for a chance to do it all over again.
Check Out the Pirates Voyage Dinner and Show
If the hot weather continues through the evening hours, take a break from the heat by picking up tickets to the Pirates Voyage Dinner and Show. Arrive early to let the youngest in the group get transformed into mermaids and pirates, then settle in for the show. As you sit around the indoor hideaway lagoon, your server will bring out a four-course feast to remember. While the air conditioning works its magic, the action onstage will help make the high temps a distant memory.
Swim in the Pool at the DreamMore Resort
Photo Credit by @lets_go_with_lindseyl on Instagram
At the end of the day, you can keep the fun going by swimming in the pool at the DreamMore Resort. You can hop in the refreshingly cool outdoor pool that has a zero-depth entrance and beautiful waterfall. Or head inside to their heated pool in the climate-controlled Garden House.
Relax on the Porch of a Smoky Mountain Cabin
If sitting on a rocking porch and enjoying the view is more your speed, rent a cabin instead. As you rock the night away, the cool evening air will keep you comfortable and rejuvenate you for another day of fun. The cabins also have an onsite swimming pool to enjoy, though you might just want to soak in the bedside jacuzzi in the master suite.
Here is the map of Dollywood in case you need it to navigate your way around this summer!
Now that you know how to beat the heat, you are ready to head out to Dollywood for day after day of adventures. Even at the height of summer, you can stay well hydrated, keep out of the sunshine, and cool off fast as temperatures rise.
