February 11, 2022
With Dollywood's new Season Passholder options, guests can choose which of their favorite perks they want included with their pass. One of the great benefits of being a Dollywood Season Passholder is Early Ride Time on Saturdays. Quick lesson: Season Passholders with Gold or Diamond Passes (as well as Dollywood's lodging guests) are able to enter the park an hour earlier than park opening on Saturdays to enjoy a select attraction (or attractions). Not everyone takes advantage of this, though, so now there is a pass type that skips the thrills of exclusive opportunities like this. If you're simply looking for park visitation, and you're not interested in free parking, food and merch discounts and invitations to special events, then the Silver Pass is for you. But, if you are someone who loves to get a head start on your park day (plus many more perks), then Gold or Diamond Season Passes will get you in to enjoy specific attractions an hour earlier than general admission on Saturdays. 
This is different than the new Golden Hours. I will explain those later in this blog! For now, let me tell you what the Early Ride Time lineup is for Gold and Diamond Passholders to enjoy in 2022:
March 12 Wildwood Grove
March 19 Tennessee Tornado
March 26 FireChaser Express
April 2 Wild Eagle
April 9 Mystery Mine
April 16 Lightning Rod
April 23 Country Fair
April 30 Thunderhead
May 7 Rockin' Roadway
May 14 FireChaser
May 21 Lightning Rod
May 28 Smoky Mountain River Rampage
June 4 Blazing Fury
June 11 Mystery Mine
June 18 Lightning Rod
June 25 Wild Eagle
July 2 Wildwood Grove
July 9 Tennessee Tornado
July 16 Smoky Mountain River Rampage
July 23 Lightning Rod
July 30 Mystery Mine
Aug. 6 FireChaser Express
Aug. 13 Thunderhead
Aug. 20 Wildwood Grove
Aug. 27 Wild Eagle
Sept. 3 Lightning Rod
Sept. 10 FireChaser Express
Sept. 17 Wildwood Grove
Sept. 24 Tennessee Tornado
Oct. 1 Country Fair
Oct. 8 Lightning Rod
Oct. 15 Mystery Mine
Oct. 22 Wildwood Grove
Oct. 29 Blazing Fury
Our operating teams are still discussing the plan during Smoky Mountain Christmas festival, so stay tuned for what exclusive opportunities Gold and Diamond Season Passholders will enjoy later in the year. And, please know that due to unforeseen maintenance needs, this schedule can change. 
It's important to understand that Early Ride Time is in addition to Golden Hours. Let me give you a few helpful things to note:
- There will be a Golden Hour every day of park operation. Early Ride Time is specific to Saturday.
- Golden Hours allow Gold or Diamond Passholders to use their passes like a TimeSaver for rides across the park. Passholders will use the TimeSaver entrances and the ride host will scan their passes for entry. During Early Ride Time, however, Passholders are the only guests enjoying the attraction, so there's no need to use the TimeSaver entrance.
- For most Saturdays, the timeline looks like this: 9 - 10 a.m. Early Ride Time and 10 - 11 a.m. Golden Hour. Gold and Diamond Passholders will receive both perks. This will be a HUGE help in getting attractions checked off your to-do list for the day!
- Each passholder (4 years old and older) must have his/her own Gold or Diamond Pass to be granted access to these exclusive opportunities. If you have a child younger than 4 (or if your child has the Pre-K Imagination Pass), he/she may enter with a Gold or Diamond Passholder. 
There is a limited supply of Diamond Passes. You have until Feb. 13 to get Diamond. If you do not have a Gold Pass, but realize you want one, you may upgrade at the park, or by calling 1-800-Dollywood.
Attractions Trip Planning All Blogs
Attractions Trip Planning All Blogs
