Dollywood Q-Bot on Saturday Afternoon- Is it necessary?

[Jarrett]

So I'll be hitting up Dollywood here in 18 days (!!!! :--D ) for FireChaser Express on our way to our family vacation in Charleston and I have a few questions. It'll just be an afternoon into evening run to the park with the intention of nabbing FireChaser Express and spending one of the last Great American Summer nights getting in night rides on Wild Eagle and Thunderhead. My family was planning to let me just take the trolley to the park (assuming they don't want to do the Titanic Museum which I recommend for them). We did this back in 2012 but from Pigeon Forge. This time we'll be doing it from Gatlinburg. We're staying at Gatlinburg Inn and from there I need to figure out how to take the trolley. Looking at the website, it says I need to take the pink line trolley, but I'm a bit lost.

My questions:
*Where is the Gatlinburg Mass Transit Center and what does it look like?
*How long does it take to get to the park on the trolley?
*How reliable are these?
*How early do I need to show up to the transit center to catch the trolley?

I used to take public transportation to and from school before I got my license so I have some idea of what I'm doing, but Dayton's bus system seems to have had a better schedule than the Gatlinburg trolleys.

While I'm asking questions, how would one go about saving on Dollywood tickets? I can't get any discounts through TPR.

 

[rtotheizzo17]

Re: Gatlinburg to Dollywood by Public Transportation?

These are some pretty area specific questions that might be better answered by a Dollywood/Gatlinburg forum.

But...if I remember correctly the center is located in the same plaza as the Ripley's Aquarium. Its just a series of pavilions with different colored trolleys.

The last time I was in Gatlinburg I looked into the trolley to Dollywood, but between the weird schedule and route decided to pony up for parking and drive on my own.

I have taken the trolley from the Welcome Center/Westgate Smokies to the city center, it was reliable and quick. However, depending on the time of year traffic will either be non existent or stupid slow.

I seem to remember it being pretty cheap as well.

 

[Hyde]

Re: Gatlinburg to Dollywood by Public Transportation?

AAA offers discounted tickets for majority of Amusement/Theme parks, including Dollywood.

I don't know of anyone on the forums who has done the transit around Dollywood, but some further internet research would be able to get you locations and trolley scheduling.

Ultimately, if it is all too much, the Gatlinburg Inn is only 10.2 miles away from Dollywood - an easy drive if there is a spare car, especially if the fam is planning to head that direction for the tourist trap attractions. https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Gatlinb ... d35.795066

 

[Jarrett]

Re: Gatlinburg to Dollywood by Public Transportation?

Thanks, guys! My parents decided to be nice and just drive me over to the park. Heck, they might just drop me off on the way to the hotel.

Next question, will I need a Q-bot if I'm going on a Saturday afternoon? I can reserve it online if need be, I just don't want to waste my limited money on a Q-bot and find that I can walk on FireChaser Express. I plan to be there from 3-close. My goals are to ride FireChaser first and get Wild Eagle and Thunderhead at night, maybe do FireChaser and Tennessee Tornado at night as well. Would you recommend it?

 

[Jarrett]

Re: Gatlinburg to Dollywood by Public Transportation?

Thanks, guys! My parents decided to be nice and just drive me over to the park. Heck, they might just drop me off on the way to the hotel.

Next question, will I need a Q-bot if I'm going on a Saturday afternoon? I can reserve it online if need be, I just don't want to waste my limited money on a Q-bot and find that I can walk on FireChaser Express. I plan to be there from 3-close. My goals are to ride FireChaser first and get Wild Eagle and Thunderhead at night, maybe do FireChaser and Tennessee Tornado at night as well. Would you recommend it?