Have you considered buying a Dollywood season pass? If so, you may have run across a few questions. How many times do I have to visit to get my money’s worth? Should I get a Gold Pass? What the heck is a Dining Pass? If you’re anything like me, you work hard for your money and want to be sure you’re getting the most value for your dollar. So is a Dollywood season pass worth it?
How much does a regular ticket at Dollywood cost?
Guests may purchase single-day, 2-day or 3-day passes if not purchasing passholder tickets. To compare the current ticket prices:
- Single-day passes are $92 ($82 for children and seniors)
- 2-day passes are $122 ($112 for children and seniors)
- 3-day passes are $132 ($122 for children and seniors)
It’s important to note that the multi-day passes must be used in a 5-day consecutive period. So, if you want to visit the park in two different seasons, it’s already worth it to purchase a season pass. Note that prices are subject to change and special offers vary by season.
How much is a Dollywood Silver Season Pass and what does it include?
The Dollywood Silver Season Pass for 2025 is $169 for adults and $159 for children and seniors. When you purchase early in the season, a Silver Pass typically includes two Bring-A-Friend Free tickets (blackout dates apply), a $5 discount on one-day tickets for friends and family and a lodging discount. The best time to buy is around the holidays. If you purchase later in the season, there are fewer perks. For example, you may only receive a $5 discount on 1-day tickets for friends and family and a 10% discount on lodging (depending on availability).
A Silver Pass might be right for you if you don’t plan on parking on-site and don’t wish to visit the park late in the season. Otherwise, the park seems to be encouraging folks to upgrade to Gold or Diamond.
What are blackout days for Dollywood?
When deciding if a pass is right for you, it’s important to take note of the blackout dates. Blackout dates are days in which a passholder is unable to visit. Silver Passes have blackout days, meaning you wouldn’t be able to visit the park with your pass during the park’s busiest days. However, Dollywood officials removed blackout dates for all child season passes to give a few more options to families.
The blackout dates for Silver Season Passholders are listed here. There are blackout dates in each month in 2025 and Silver Passholders would only be able to attend the Smoky Mountain Christmas event very early in the season when it begins in November. This could certainly play a role in your vacation math because it makes the Silver Pass less valuable.
How much is the Dollywood Gold Pass and what does it include?
The Gold Pass starts to look like the better value given the blackout dates and limitations of the Silver Pass. Plus, the free parking alone usually makes it worth the upgrade for at least one member of the family. What is a Gold Pass, you ask? You can think of a Gold Pass as a premium Dollywood pass. It is currently $244 plus tax for adults and $234 for children and seniors. When you buy early in the season, it typically includes two Bring-A-Friend Free tickets as well as:
- $10 discount on one-day tickets for friends and family
- 15% discount on dining, merchandise and lodging
- $5 off on TimeSaver passes
- $20 off on VIP tours
- Free general parking and $5 off preferred parking
- Golden Hours
If you plan on visiting the park at least twice in different seasons and plan on parking on-site at the theme park, the Gold Pass may be right for you. Note that when you buy your pass determines how many benefits you receive. The earlier you buy, the better.
What is the Dollywood Volunteer Summer Pass and what does it include?
Dollywood recently debuted its Volunteer Summer Pass, offering more options for East Tennessee residents who can visit as much as they want from April 21 to Sept. 11 in 2025. The pass is currently $129 plus tax or $119 for children and seniors. For a list of the zip codes included in this offer, click here.
The Golden Hours
During the first hour of every operating day, called Golden Hours, the Gold Season Pass operates just like TimeSaver passes, allowing the named passholder expedited boarding on rides and attractions.
What does a Two-Park Pass include?
The Dollywood Two-Park passes include admission to both Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country. Guests can upgrade a Silver or Gold Season Pass to a Two-Park pass to enjoy unlimited visits to both theme parks. Diamond Season Passes automatically include admission to Splash Country. You can upgrade the passes for a Two-Park pass for around $55 more.
What about the Dollywood Splash Country Dining Passes?
Dining Passes are offered at Splash Country and can be purchased as an add-on to your season pass. It includes one entree and one snack each day you visit Splash Country. If you use it at least 2-3 times, it’s worth the money for the upgrade. The price for 2025 is $65 plus tax.
Is the Dining Pass different from the Flower & Food Dining Day Pass?
It’s worth noting that the Dining Pass add-on to your Splash Country pass is not to be confused with the Flower & Food and Harvest Festival Dining Passes. The Flower & Food Dining Pass purchase allows guests to try up to five select food items, tapas-style, during the spring festival.
Is a season pass at Dollywood worth it?
Okay, I know I threw a lot of numbers at you. As a rule of thumb, the more you use your perks, the more money you save. And the earlier you buy in the season, the more perks you receive. Remember, the benefits listed above may vary at the time of purchase.
Generally speaking, a season pass is worth it if you’re going to visit either park more than once per season (in more than a 5-day period). If you have your heart set on visiting multiple times during the holidays, go for the Gold Pass. But you know your family better than I do. Do you park on-site? Make several in-park purchases? Do you enjoy being at the park right at its opening time? These questions may determine which pass is worth it to you.
Just be sure you’re planning to use your benefits if you buy all the bells and whistles. That part is key. Check the Dollywood website to get the full breakdown of what your passes will include at the time of your purchase. Should you decide to upgrade to a season pass, present your admission ticket and payment at any front gate ticket window.
Can someone else use my season pass to Dollywood?
No. However, you can use a Bring-A-Friend ticket to get them in for free. Blackout dates and other restrictions may apply.
What to expect at Dollywood in 2025
For those who look forward to the seasonal festivals, the schedule is currently:
- I Will Always Love You Music Festival: March 14-April 13, 2025
- Flower & Food Festival: April 18-June 8, 2025
- Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration: June 14-Aug. 3, 2025
- Harvest Festival: Sept. 12-Oct. 27, 2025
- Smoky Mountain Christmas: Nov. 1, 2025-Jan. 4, 2026
How can I get Dollywood discounts?
Be sure to check the Dollywood website for current notifications, deals and promotions, including discounts to Dolly Parton’s Stampede or Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa. You can also book daily tickets ahead of time with Tripster.
Have you ever purchased a season pass for Dollywood in the Great Smoky Mountains? What pass type did you get? Let us know in the comments!
Are you planning a trip to the Smoky Mountains soon? Make sure to check out our coupons page before your trip!
Have a question or comment about something in this article? Contact our staff here. You may also contact our editorial team at info@thesmokies.com.
Can the bring a friend free pass be upgraded to a season pass for the discount price of a day ticket?
Hi Becky, you can upgrade to a season pass in the park. The upgrade prices listed reflect an upgrade from a “regular one day pass”. But in the past, I’ve heard you can get a small discount from a Bring a Friend pass. The policy is subject to change from year to year, so check with Dollywood customer service for further details. Hope that helps!
This page may help: https://www.dollywood.com/Groups/Corporate/PassUpgrade
I purchased the Two-Park Pass Diamond 2022 on December 10th 2021. Can I bring a friend this week ? for the Christmas Season 2021.
Hi Julia! From Dollywood’s website: “…The 2022 flexible Bring-A-Friend Free tickets can only be used during the 2022 season. They have blackout dates of Fridays and Saturdays as well as select weeks throughout the year. These tickets can be used one per passholder and the passholder must be present.” When in doubt, reach out to Dollywood customer service. Hope that helps!
First, great name!
Next, I have a soon to be 4 year old (eligible for the Imagination preK pass), 8 year old, and husband. If we were to go more than 3 times in 2022, would it be most cost effective to purchase a gold, a silver and the Senior/kid passes? We live on the NC/SC border. About 2 to 3 hours away (Asheville traffic and construction always plays into that estimate). Thanks, Alaina Carnahan 😉
Hi Alaina! Right back at ya, great name 😉 If you plan on going three times during the season, it is worth it to get a season pass. Having the Gold Pass gets you free general parking ($25 each time) – which would also pay for itself if you go at least three times. Usually, in my family, only one person gets the Gold Pass. But it depends on what else you might be interested in benefits-wise.
Hope that helps! Their chart has a nice description of benefits to break it down with the most current pricing here: https://www.dollywood.com/Tickets/Season-Passes#benefits
IS THERE A SENIOR DISCOUNT ON PASSES OR IS IT ONE RATE FOR ALL ADULTS? THANKS!
Hi Olivia! Currently, senior pricing, 62 and up, is $74.00 (from $84 for the regular one-day adult ticket).
For a silver season pass, senior pricing is $149.00 (from $159.00 for adults).
Rule of thumb, seniors usually save about $10. Hope that helps!
Can one gold pass use two BAF tickets at same time?
Hi Shanna, it’s generally limited to one passholder per day
My wife and I are coming to Dollywood, early August.
We are seniors and would like some information on shows?
Would you please provide your recommendations and how to navigate the park in seeing these attractions.
Additionally, I have read that buying a season pass, I can bring my wife to the park for less cost than a two day ticket, is that correct?
Is Dollywood still offering the opportunity to come into the park after 3 PM and getting the next day with a paid admission?
Hoping you can assist us, it has been a number of years since we have been to Dollywood.
Hi Jim! Some of those were limited-time offers.
It doesn’t look like they still offer the Bring a Friend passes with the Season Pass or the “after 3” deal.
Check out the current pass offers here: https://www.dollywood.com/Tickets/Season-Passes#benefits
They currently offer discounted admission to the park after 5 pm for $55, but this is also a limited time only. You may want to consider the 2-day park ticket (currently $104 or $94 for seniors), which would get you in for a second day for only about $20 more.
Dollywood is running their Summer Celebration through Aug. 7. You can read up on the shows here – https://www.dollywood.com/themepark/entertainment/
And the Dollywood app (in the app store) is a great resource for schedules! Hope that is helpful, let me know if you have any other questions.
We have been buying the silver passes for years. We only use them twice a year, once last year. We live 6 to 7 hours away, so not worth it this year with the blackout dates.
Do they ever lover the price of the season pass if you buy it later in the year?
Not by much if they do, to my memory. Usually, the most perks are when you buy around the holidays going into the next season. Hope that helps!
How much are the Gold Pass, and silver Pass? plus tax for serior.
Hi Larry – Right now the senior Silver Pass is $154 and the senior Gold Pass is $219
I am trying to figure out if the bring a friend day is a physical ticket or built into the gold pass?
It’s a separate ticket BUT please note that it’s usually a limited time only deal. I don’t believe it’s part of the season pass deal at this time. Hope that helps!
I am curious, would there be any reason I should not buy the Diamond pass for just one member of my family and purchase food, etc. with it and buy the gold two-park pass for the others? Do you know of any snags we would run into doing it this way?
Hi Dana, not that I can think of. Lately, blackout dates can be an issue but the Gold currently doesn’t have any blackout dates.
If you buy a Silver season pass are you able to go on weekends or are they blackout dates.
Most weekends are fine, it’s mostly the holiday season that is blackout