This is such great news for Dollywood, and honestly, for me, not surprising!
Tripadvisor officials named Dollywood the number one theme park in the United States and the number eight theme park worldwide during the 2022 Travelers' Choice Best of the Best Awards. It's an honor that probably doesn't surprise Dollywood's guests, who frequently compliment the park on its outstanding guest experience.
I visit Dollywood yearly because of the family-friendly atmosphere, Christian influence, great restaurants, spectacular shows, and Dolly Parton! Visiting Dollywood is an exciting experience every visit.
The 160-acre destination earned top honors with Tripadvisor users. Dollywood ranked number one in the Travelers' Choice Top 25 Amusement Parks in the United States and eight on the Travelers' Choice Top 25 Worldwide Amusement Parks list. The award was calculated based on reviews and ratings from travelers on Tripadvisor for the 12 months from May 1, 2021, through April 31, 2022.
"I'm so proud of the work my people do to make Dollywood such a great place for families," Dolly Parton said. "When I started dreaming up Dollywood all those years ago, I hoped it would be somewhere folks were excited to come visit and enjoy time together. To hear that they are leaving so many positive comments about their time here really shows what we're doing is working. In the current world, I want Dollywood to be a place where the light shines every day."
Eugene Naughton, President of The Dollywood Company, echoes the thoughts of the park's Dreamer-in-Chief.
"We're working every single day to ensure our guests have the best possible time while they are with us," explained Naughton. "This award is a little bit different because there is no voting factored into these rankings. The Tripadvisor rankings come from actual reviews left by guests about their time here with us at Dollywood. It is extremely gratifying to see this recognition for the effort our hosts give to ensure our guests have an unforgettable time while they are here."
"We are humbled by the results of this ranking, as well as the recent USA Today 10Best #1 finish for Dollywood's DreamMore Resort and Spa. These awards continue to show what we've been saying for so long—the Dollywood Parks & Resorts experience truly is world-class."
According to the Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Best of the Best website, "The Best of the Best Things to Do Awards are calculated based on the quality and quantity of traveler reviews and ratings for experiences, tours, activities, and attractions on Tripadvisor."
"Congratulations to the 2022 Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Best of the Best Winners," said Kanika Soni, Chief Commercial Officer at Tripadvisor. "The Travelers' Choice Awards recognize the best in tourism and hospitality, according to those who matter most: actual guests. Ranking among the Best of the Best is always tough — but never more so than this year as we emerge from the pandemic. Whether it's using new technology, implementing safety measures, or hiring outstanding staff, I'm impressed by the steps taken to meet travelers' new demands."
The United States Top-10 is:
- Dollywood (Pigeon Forge, Tennessee)
- Universal's Islands of Adventure (Orlando, Florida)
- Disney's Magic Kingdom Park (Orlando)
- Universal Studios Hollywood (Los Angeles, California)
- Universal Studios Florida (Orlando)
- Silver Dollar City (Branson, Missouri)
- Funland (Rehoboth Beach, Delaware)
- Fun Spot America (Kissimmee, Florida)
- Santa's Village (Jefferson, New Hampshire)
- Busch Gardens Tampa (Tampa, Florida)
American parks hold two of the 10 spots on the worldwide theme park list. The worldwide Top-10 list is:
- Siam Park (Adeje, Spain)
- Puy du Fou (Les Epesses, France)
- Beto Carrero World (Penha, Brazil)
- Puy du Fou España (Toledo, Spain)
- The Milky Way Adventure Park (Clovelly, United Kingdom)
- Hot Park (Rio Quente, Brazil)
- Waterbom Bali (Kuta, Indonesia)
- Dollywood (Pigeon Forge)
- Universal's Islands of Adventure (Orlando)
- Parque Terra Magica Florybal (Canela, Brazil)
To see the entire rankings, please visit this link.
Dollywood celebrates a year full of exceptional experiences, each season unlike the next. Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration opens Saturday (June 18). It provides guests with extended hours and fun family festivities that will leave everyone with a smile on their face. Thousands of pumpkins glow to life this fall as part of the Harvest Festival presented by Humana (Sept. 23-Oct. 29). The season concludes with the world's most popular theme park Christmas event, Smoky Mountain Christmas, presented by Humana (November 5- January 1, 2023).
Please visit dollywood.com and check out my reviews of Dollywood, or download the Dollywood App for more information.
Start planning your trip to Dollywood! First, check out these great hotels in Pigeon Forge. Also, check out the places I stayed in the Great Smoky Mountains.