PIGEON FORGE, Tennessee (June 14, 2022)— Tripadvisor officials named Dollywood as the number one theme park in the United States and the number eight theme park in the world during the 2022 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards. It’s an honor that probably doesn’t come as much surprise to Dollywood’s guests, who frequently compliment the park on its exemplary guest experience.
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 number eight on the Travelers’ Choice Top 25 Worldwide Amusement Parks list. The award was calculated based on reviews and ratings from travelers on Tripadvisor from the 12-month period 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 full rankings, please visit this link.
For more information about Dollywood, please visit dollywood.com or download the Dollywood App.
-Dollywood2022-
About Dollywood Parks & Resorts: A highly-awarded and widely-recognized leader in the amusement industry, The Dollywood Company consists of the 160-acre Dollywood theme park; the 35-acre Dollywood’s Splash Country; Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa; and Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Cabins. Currently under construction, Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort is scheduled for completion in 2023. As unique as its namesake and owner Dolly Parton, Dollywood is the 2010 Applause Award winner, the theme park industry’s highest accolade; winner of 45 Golden Ticket Awards; and recipient of 28 Brass Ring Awards for Live Entertainment (more than any other theme park in the world). The park is located near Great Smoky Mountains National Park and has been named a top-three U.S. theme park by USA Today on multiple occasions and a top-10 world theme park by TripAdvisor. Dollywood is open mid-March through early January and offers rides and attractions, shows and crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region. Dollywood’s Splash Country, recognized by the Travel Channel and TripAdvisor as one of the country’s most beautiful water parks, operates from mid-May to Labor Day. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, a favorite of USA Today voters and TripAdvisor reviewers, provides guests with spectacular mountain views and family-friendly amenities next door to Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country. For more information, visit dollywood.com. Operating days and hours vary.
Media Contacts:
Pete Owens: Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations, (865) 428-9486, (865) 755-7972 or [email protected]
Wes Ramey: Public Relations Director, (865) 428-9484, (865) 640-3805 or [email protected]
Ellen Liston: Public Relations Manager, (865) 428-9629, (865) 919-7001 or [email protected]
Amber Davis: Digital Publicist, (865) 428-9601, (865) 591-1002 or [email protected]
Jennifer Webb: Publicist, (865) 428-9602, (865) 323-7584 or [email protected]
For B-roll, photography and more information, visit the Dollywood Media Room at http://www.dollywood.com/Media/Media-Room