Parent's Complete Guide To Dollywood's Kid Rides.

Hey there parents!, In the Pigeon Forge area of Tennessee, you will find Dolly Parton’s charming theme park, Dollywood!. They have fun entertainment for visitors of all ages, warm Southern hospitality and so many family friendly attractions. This award winning park caters to families, making it the perfect destination for your upcoming adventure.

The first time my family and I visited Dollywood, we were pleasantly surprised at how much our 3 year old could do!. The park is made for families with kiddos of different ages, there is a ride for everyone and if you are one of those families, you know how important that is.

Explore All Rides Here!

In this guide, we will give you a list of attractions for the littlest adventurers in your family. Most of these don’t have any height requirement. We will give you an overview of each attraction, and if you want to learn more about a specific ride you can dive in deep, with awesome pictures and our personal experiences!.

Here is a list of 14 rides that are perfect for your toddler and younger kiddos, where you can find them in the park and all the info you might need for each;

Dollywood’s Kids Rides

Lumberjack Lifts

– Timber Canyon –

You can find Lumberjack Lifts in the Timber Canyon area of Dollywood. This is a super fun interactive ride for the bigger kiddos. It challenges them to pull themselves 25 feet up a towering 30-foot structure using a rope pulley system. 2 people can sit together and they’ll test their strength and teamwork as they try to go up. This ride has a min. height requirement of 40 inches. Kiddos less than 48 in. must be accompanied by someone 14 or older.

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Black Bear Trail

– Wildwood Grove –

Black Bear Trail is a serene and whimsical ride in the Wildwood Grove area, perfect for toddlers and the younger kids. Kiddos can enjoy a slow ride on a friendly bear and the ride’s gentle bouncing and galloping add a touch of excitement without being overwhelming. This ride has a height requirement of 36 inches minimum. Riders between 36” & 42” must be with a person at least 14 years or older.

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Shooting Star

– Country Fair –

Dollywood’s Shooting Star is a kid friendly thrill ride perfect for young adventurers. In this 25-foot drop and bounce tower, kids experience exciting ups and downs and the thrill of multiple drops while being securely seated with a shoulder bar. Kids under 42 inches tall have to ride with someone 14 years or older.

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Whistle Punk Chaser

– Timber Canyon –

Located in the Timber Canyon section of the park , the Whistle Punk Chaser junior coaster is the perfect roller coaster to introduce your little thrill seeker to the world of roller coasters!. Your kiddos become honorary “whistle punks”. At the entrance of the ride, you will find information about what a whistle punk was and what they did. You can even pull a real whistle and try to send out some of their signals!.

Once you hop on the coaster, get ready for a fun ride. Whistle Punk Chaser has a family friendly layout with gentle drops, twists, and turns. It never goes upside down. It provides just the right amount of excitement to thrill the littlest riders without being too intense. The minimum height requirement for the Whistle Punk Chaser coaster is 36 inches. If your kiddo is under 42 in. they must be accompanied by someone 14 or older.

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Dollywood Express

– The Village –

Dollywood Express is perfect for taking a break or for the kiddos who just love trains. This awesome steam powered train will take you on a journey through the foothills of the beautiful Smoky Mountains. The train ride is about 20 minutes long and it has open air cars, so you can take great pictures from anywhere you sit. You can find the Dollywood Express in the Village area of Dollywood. Don’t skip this one!.

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Busy Bees

– Country Fair –

Busy Bees is a cute ride and it is great for babies, toddlers and the younger kiddos. They get to ride around and around on the back of the bees! The bees light up, and as the ride starts going around, the bees go up and down slowly to a catchy song!. There is no height requirement for this ride and little ones can ride on their own, or with an adult. You can find this ride in the Country Fair area of the park.

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Lucky Ducky

– Country Fair –

Lucky Ducky is perfect for the little ones who are just starting to get on rides. This ride is like Busy Bees but it doesn’t move up and down. Your little one sits inside and they have a steering wheel they can use to drive their ducky around and around!. This ride is in the Country Fair area of the park and has no height requirement.

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Piggy Parade

– Country Fair –

Another ride that is great for babies & toddlers! It’s located in the Country Fair area of the park and has no height requirement. Just like Lucky Ducky, they sit on the backs of oinking pigs and the ride goes around and around. It sounds super simple, but little ones love it!.

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Lemon Twist

– Country Fair –

Lemon Twist is a spinning saucer ride where you and your kiddos are in the driver’s seat!. Climb into your colorful cup and take control with a wheel in the center. You decide how fast to spin. You can leave it alone and enjoy a gentle twirl or make it go super fast. While you’re controlling your cup’s spin, the entire platform gently spins. You can find this ride in the Country Fair area of the park. It has no minimum height requirement, but if your kiddo is under 48′′ , they must be accompanied by someone 14 or older.

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The Amazing Flying Elephants

– Country Fair –

Experience the magic of Dollywood’s Amazing Flying Elephants ride in the Country Fair area. Your toddler will love this ride! They can choose their own elephant and control how high or low you fly, enjoying gentle spins. This is a great family ride, so everyone can go together. The Amazing Flying Elephants have no minimum height requirement, but if your kiddo is under 48′′ , they must be accompanied by someone 14 or older.

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Rockin’ Roadway

– Jukebox Junction –

This ride is located in the Jukebox Junction area of the park and your kiddo will love it!. Experience the nostalgia with this classic car ride where you get to drive a cool classic Corvette, Thunderbird or Cadillac along a route set in the 1950s. Cruise past road signs, honk your horn, and enjoy the fun 50s music. The ride is great for all ages, since the cars are guided along the track on their own. It’s a really fun car ride that everyone can go on together. This ride doesn’t have a height requirement, but if your little one is under 42 inches, they will need someone 14 years or older to ride.

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Treetop Tower

– Wildwood Grove –

This is one of my kiddo’s favorite ride!. Kids can take flight on Dollywood’s Treetop Tower inside Acorn inspired cars that have been hand carved!. For parents with little ones that don’t sit still, the secure seating ensures worry free enjoyment. As it goes up, you can see all of Wildwood Grove. This is a gentle ride and it is great for the whole family. This ride has no minimum height requirement, but if your little one is under 42 inches, they will need someone 14 years or older to ride.

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Village Carousel

– The Village –

Dollywood’s Village Carousel is a timeless delight for kids. Everyone can pick their favorite animal to ride on. They gently move up and down to the calliope music or you can opt for stationary carriages instead. Located in The Village area, this is a classic carousel ride for the entire family to enjoy together.

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Frogs & Fireflies

– Wildwood Grove –

This ride is in the Wildwood Grove area of the park and it’s fun, if your little one likes bouncy rides. Frogs & Fireflies is an enchanting ride made for little adventurers. Kids will love the frog themed cars that gently bounce and circle around and around, chasing fireflies!. This ride has no minimum height requirement, but if your little one is under 36 inches, they will need someone 14 years or older to ride.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Parent Swap/Child Swap Option For Rides?

The Parent Swap option is great and you should totally take advantage of it!. It lets one parent wait with the kiddo that is not riding, while the other parent rides, then you switch without waiting in line again.
(You can learn more about this super convenient option here!)

Are There Any Themed Areas For Kids Near The Family Rides?

Yes! Most of the bigger attractions have a playground or kiddie ride near them. We have a post with ALL of the playground areas at Dollywood.

How Can I Make The Most Of My Family’s Visit To Dollywood?

We have made a guide with 10 helpful tips to help you make the most out of your visit to dollywood.

What Are The Best Times To Visit To Minimize Wait Times?

We’ve made a post to help you time your visit, so you can minimize wait times and enjoy more rides. Check out our guide here!

Get ready to experience the joy, excitement, and pure magic of Dollywood.
Don’t Forget to share your adventure with us in the comments, Have fun!

Parent’s Guide to Dollywood’s Rides for the Little Ones!