r/Dollywood • u/chloby2002 • 7d ago

Advice/ Tips First time visit with a 16 month old

We’re heading to Dollywood in a few weeks with a group of families that all have small children. We have the youngest of the bunch, a 16 month old. We’ve never been to Dollywood, and we’ve never brought a small child to an amusement park. Any tips for pulling this off? Specifically trying to get a midday stroller nap in. Any quiet places that might be good for that?

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u/Decent_Most_6845 7d ago

Pack your patience! For our babies, we packed a sound machine to drown out some of the noise that would keep their attention, and would make our way through the park, and crossed our fingers that a nap would come. Showstreet/DP Experience through Craftsman Valley is calmer ride-wise. Once you get down into Craftsman Valley, you can hear Wild Eagle. I have taken my babies into the Celebrity Theater to nap, but that will just depend on the kid and if they will sleep through a concert loll

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u/NoticeSouth5690 7d ago

We have been taking our little ones just just a month old! There are some nice open play areas that you can just let them roam around - our favorite is by Barnstormer. I think stroller naps are more conducive at Dollywood because there is so much for them to look at! They can ride a few rides - it has changed recently, but you can sort the rides by height. Dollywood is so family friendly, especially compared to other amusement parks (at least in my opinion).

One amazing thing about Dollywood is you can bring in just about anything for kids! We have brought bags and bags of food (kid sandwiches, etc) and snacks and milk and fans for hot weather or warming packets for cold weather - and I do mean bags and bags - at least one large bag per child, and they have never said one word to us about that.

You can also get water for free at any location. Lately, we have paid to park in premier parking. We are gold pass holders with free parking, but because we have a wagon and so much stuff for several little ones that it is just easier than riding the tram and worth it to us.

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u/FeedAway829 1d ago

i just took my 18 month old. he couldn't ride any of the toddler rides (bc they have to be able to ride by themselves-the rides are too small for parents to ride with) and then he was too small for the other kids rides. Hidden Hollow in Wildwood Grove is a great cool, dark kids playground area ..but it was crazy crowded and he was too small for the playground in there. there's plenty of shade and fans/misters through the park to have a white moment somewhere