Dollywood Wins 5 Golden Ticket Awards in 2023
Dollywood is a popular Pigeon Forge attraction that’s visited by guests from all over the world. On September 9, Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards, which have become known as “the Oscars of the amusement industry,” held their 25th year ceremony at Dollywood. These awards recognize the best of the best in the theme park and family entertainment industry. This year, Dollywood received five of these awards, including Best Guest Experience, Best Kids Area, Best Christmas Event, Best Family Coaster, and Best Park.
Best Guest Experience
The Golden Ticket Awards category of Best Guest Experience was first created in 2019. Dollywood has now received this award for four consecutive years. Because Golden Ticket Awards were not given in 2020, that means Dollywood is the only park to ever win the Best Guest Experience award. This award is given based on a number of attributes, including cleanliness, friendliness, and value. Dollywood has been recognized as being friendly and welcoming as well as providing a clean atmosphere for guests.
Best Kids’ Area
This year, Dollywood took home the Golden Ticket Award for Best Kids’ Area, also for the fourth year in a row. Dollywood first won this award when Wildwood Grove opened in 2019. This kids’ area has once again received this award this year thanks to the addition of the new family coaster, Big Bear Mountain, which opened in May. This expansion of Wildwood Grove has cemented its standing as the Best Kids’ Area in 2023.
Best Christmas Event
Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana has been awarded Best Christmas Event of 2022 for the 15th consecutive year. This means Dollywood remains undefeated in this category. It’s no surprise that the theme park’s iconic Christmas festival is recognized as the best year after year by the Golden Ticket Awards. This festival includes more than 6 million twinkling lights, Christmas shows and music, festive foods, and more. Guests look forward to visiting this Christmas event every year. Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas has even been showcased in multiple movies!
Best Family Coaster
Dollywood’s newest roller coaster, Big Bear Mountain, has been named Best Family Coaster in this year’s Golden Ticket Awards. This is a new category that was awarded for the first time this year. Big Bear Mountain is nearly 4,000 feet long, making it the longest coaster at Dollywood. It has three launches, on-board audio, and other thrilling elements that have caused this family coaster to now be considered one of the best new coasters in the world.
Best Park
The biggest honor at the Golden Ticket Awards is the award for Best Park. For the last eight years, German theme park Europa-Park has won this award. This year, Dollywood received this high honor after several years in the top status of the theme park industry. This award shows that Dollywood in Pigeon Forge is one of the top family vacation destinations not just in the country but in the world. Dolly Parton herself accepted the award for Best Park on behalf of Dollywood at the awards ceremony.
Other Recognitions
In addition to winning the five Golden Ticket Awards listed above, Dollywood also received recognition in a number of other categories. The theme park earned second place for Most Beautiful Park as well as Best Food. Dollywood finished third in Best New Coaster for Big Bear Mountain. Dollywood’s Thunderhead was in fourth place in the Best Wooden Roller Coaster category, and Big Bear Mountain was in fifth place for the Best New Attraction Installation award. Even though Dollywood did not take home the awards for these categories, it is still impressive that the theme park was recognized as a top contender in so many different categories.
Learn More About Pigeon Forge Attractions
Dollywood is one of the most-visited attractions in Pigeon Forge, TN. Are you interested in learning more about Dollywood and other attractions in the Smokies? Discover all the fun Smoky Mountain attractions in the area and start planning your vacation today!
