Day 2: A Warm Day, Big Plans, and Dollywood Dreams and a Whole Lot of Walking

 After deciding that our first full day in Pigeon Forge needed to make the most of the warmest weather predicted for the week, they agreed — Dollywood it was.

We started the morning the right way: downstairs at the hotel with a nice, hot breakfast. Full bellies, happy hearts, and a 9-year-old already asking what was next. After breakfast, we checked out and made a quick stop at Oakmont Resort to see about checking in early — or at least getting our keys — since the office closes at 8 p.m. and rooms aren’t guaranteed to be ready until 5.

We were greeted by the nicest people (Brandy was a gem), got all our paperwork taken care of, and even purchased our Dollywood tickets right there at a discount. Turns out, it does pay to be old — Pops and Momps paid the same price as Cilla. I call that a win.

That’s when we learned a very important detail: Oakmont’s buildings are three stories… with no elevators. And of course, all RCI trades are on the third floor. Naturally.

Brandy assured us maintenance would help with luggage later — which was comforting, since we clearly packed like we were moving in for the season.

With that settled, we headed toward Dollywood, stopping first at Walmart because we knew we’d need a few condo essentials. Best to handle that before the park.

Back in the car and — surprise! — Cilla announced she was hungry. This was impressive, considering breakfast had been maybe two hours earlier. I promised her the very first thing we’d do at Dollywood was eat.

We parked, waited a bit, hopped on the tram to the gate, and immediately encountered a very long, very packed line. Cilla was wide-eyed when we told her this was a lot like Disney World — just warmer and with more mountains.

Lunch was at Aunt Granny’s, which hit the spot. Full again (for the moment), we moved on to rides and exploring.

Full again (for the moment), we moved on to rides and exploring. Cilla had mentioned that she didn't want to see the Hollywood sign when we were at the airport.  Michael assured her we were not going to California.  Well right after lunch we found the Dollywood sign on the mountain and she allowed us to take a picture of her with the sign. 

 Cilla and Pops rode Rockin’ Roadway, with Cilla proudly chauffeuring her Pops. 

We wandered through the replica of Dolly Parton’s Tennessee Mountain Home, then stopped at the Hug a Bee Honey stand, where Cilla purchased ten honey straws. We sat for a while so she could enjoy one properly — because that’s serious business.

Next up was the Christmas in the Smokies show which was simply lovely, a reminder of tradition, faith, and the joy of the season.

 Next followed by an attempt at the carousel… until we saw the line. Cilla took one look and said, “NOPE.” Smart girl.

She spotted the Sky Rider, decided she wanted to ride, and Pops immediately decided he did not. Momps, however, was all in.  So Cilla and I stood in line for about an hour. 

When it was time to get on, I briefly wondered how exactly I was supposed to climb into that seat without assistance. Enter the kindest young man riding with us, who offered his knee so I could step up — and helped another woman as well. He even hopped off afterward to make sure we both got down safely. Kindness still exists, folks. 

Michael got a great shot of our shoes to prove we were riding. 🤣🤣🤣

Here are a few pictures showing the lights near where Cilla and I were riding.  Michael tried to capture the magic.

By then, Cilla was hungry again (shocking, I know) and wanted a hot dog from Dogs N Taters, but the line convinced us dinner would be better outside the park.

Before leaving, we made a quick stop at the Emporium — and let me tell you, this girl loves to shop. And I mean shop. Somehow, we made one small purchase in record time and headed out to the tram.

Let me just say this: Dollywood could use a little help from Disney and Chick-fil-A when it comes to crowd flow and lines. Just saying.

Back to Oakmont we went, and true to Brandy’s word, maintenance arrived immediately and carried everything up to the third floor — including our Walmart haul, which may or may not have included a fan because… well… we need a fan at night. I tried to tip him, and he politely refused, saying, “This is my job.” Exceptional staff all around. I had read a lot of reviews about the condos needing updating etc but that said, the condo is fabulous. We’ve stayed in cabins here before, we have zero complaints. The staff is exceptional, and — best of all — I have a recliner where I can sit comfortably and write this blog.

After unloading, we piled back into the car and headed to Cook Out to pick up our dinner — hot dog for Cilla as promised, and instead of drinks, we upgraded to shakes. Funny thing, though… I noticed Pops’ and Cilla’s shakes safely stored in the freezer later. Mine, however, was mysteriously absent — the empty cup sitting in the trash. Vacation rule: ice cream daily. These two clearly need to get with the program.

My take on the day? Now, if you’ve followed our travels at all, you know theme parks are not new territory for us. Disney raised us in this department. But Dollywood is different — it has its own personality, charm, and pace, and we were excited to experience it through Cilla’s eyes. We probably should have scheduled Dollywood later in the week. It was warmer than expected, and we didn’t pack quite the right clothes for a full park day. Also very crowded so I am not sure we were able to do it justice for Cilla.  Although she said it was a fun day.  Also — and this is important — Dollywood is built on a mountain, which means a lot of walking uphill and downhill. It’s beautiful, but your legs and hips will feel it. 😉  

All in all, a full day, a tired crew, and another memory tucked safely away.

Stay tuned — today is a slower start but we are up for more adventure and hopefully blog done tonight.—  💙🏔️🍦