A Day at Dollywood On a $30 Budget

Some might say that there’s no way you can save money or stick to a budget going to a theme park and that you should just be prepared to spend a lot of cash in exchange for a day of fun. I would have to disagree. I was given a mission and I chose to accept it: a strict $30 limit to spend during a day at Dollywood.

I was at somewhat of an advantage from the start because I have a Gold Season Pass, but I wouldn’t consider this cheating the system. It’s smart planning.

Insider Tip

If your family is planning to visit Dollywood and/or Dollywood’s Splash Country more than once, Season Passes are definitely worth it in my opinion. And, it’s helpful for at least one person in your group to have a Gold Pass. A Gold Pass gets you free parking and 20% off merchandise in the park, including food.

I didn’t go totally crazy and buy everything I saw (and smelled), but I was never hungry or thirsty, and even came home with a souvenir. Even though I was just buying for myself, similar techniques can be used for families and big groups. It could even be a fun game for the family to play to see who can get the most items spending the least amount of money. Follow along with me as I show you how I have a day at Dollywood on a budget.

P.S. All the prices listed are what I paid AFTER the Gold Pass discount. It really helped me out!

*Editor’s Note- Adelyn visited on Season Passholder Preview Day before Dollywood closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Adelyn Pair| 2020-07-29T09:27:22+00:00 July 29th, 2020|Best Value|0 Comments

About the Author: Adelyn Pair

Adelyn Pair (Dollywood Insider 2019-Now) is an East Tennessee girl raised in Knoxville. She graduated from Maryville College and is currently working to obtain her master’s degree in social work. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, photography, writing, watching musicals and cheering on the UT Vols with her football-playing husband. Adelyn is excited to be a Dollywood Insider because she has been going to Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country for as long as she can remember, and has many wonderful memories of time spent there with family. In Dollywood, you’ll probably find her hanging out with Miss Lillian, eating a funnel cake or riding Daredevil Falls. Adelyn looks forward to sharing her knowledge of the parks and can’t wait to help others make wonderful memories, too.