DreamMore Resort – 2525 DreamMore Way, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863

When it comes to the perfect Dollywood vacation, DreamMore Resort has you covered! This full-service five-star resort feels more like a home-away-from-home than a hotel thanks to the high-end experiences that only a legend like Dolly Parton herself can dream up.

We had the pleasure of staying at Dollywood’s spectacular DreamMore Resort in late summer 2022, and it was everything we dreamed of and so much more! On this trip, Dolly proved that family & fun go hand-in-hand and that vacationing at a theme park can be a luxurious experience.

Smoky Mountain Home-Away-From-Home

Nestled on over 20 beautiful acres in the foothills of Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains and opened in July of 2015, this 230,000 square-foot Resort is inspired by Dolly’s childhood in neighboring Locust Ridge, Tennessee.

When we arrived to Dollywood’s charming DreamMore Resort in our own personal vehicle for our very first visit, we were completely in awe of the soft white & stately Victorian-style hotel set against the natural beauty of the Resort grounds and the picturesque landscape. As we wound our way up Dollywood Resorts Boulevard and made our way onto DreamMore Way past the backside of the Resort, we were greeted by classic white crossbuck fencing, lush landscaping, and the signature DreamMore logo.

Although massive in size which can make a Resort feel out of place, we were surprised to see that the Resort feels as if it has sprung up as a part of the surroundings, as if it’s always been there. This is most likely due in part to the expert landscape architects who designed and the landscape maintenance team who maintain this beautiful property. You can tell great care was taken not only in the selection of plant species used, but also in the maintenance of the grounds. This is where most resorts drop the ball, but this is not the case at DreamMore.

As we finally arrived to the top of the lane & the front of the Resort itself, we pulled under the porte-cochère, spacious & highlighted with natural exposed wooden rafters, where we were welcomed by the impressive & statuesque DreamMore fountain featuring guitars and butterflies which was inspired by Dolly’s book of the same name.

The drive from the main highway up to the resort itself was classic “big reveal,” and very old-school “Disney” to us. We loved that we couldn’t see the front until we made it to the top.

Before entering the Resort lobby, we crossed over a calming creek bed that flows along the Resort’s welcoming front porch where other guests were sitting a spell. We headed inside to the front desk and were greeted by our fabulous hosts. Behind the check-in desk sits The Windows of Wonder that feature stunning views of The Great Smoky Mountains on gigantic crystal clear video displays.

There were many wonderful surprises during the check-in process where we learned of all the perks available to us as DreamMore guests, but none more surprising than that of complimentary resort parking – unheard of today for Theme Park Hotels! There’s something so refreshing about no add-ons. That’s right folks, there’s also no resort fee.

Yes, a stay at DreamMore Resort may be a bit higher in price per night than other nearby accommodations available in Pigeon Forge. However, the Resort’s pricing model is on par with that of other luxury resorts & Theme Park Hotels and in our opinion, completely worth every penny.

After checking in, we explored every nook and cranny of the Resort’s stunning three-story Main Lobby and admired the details of the Grand Living Rooms with their beautiful fireplaces, comfy sitting chairs, & gorgeous photos & paintings of Queen Dolly herself. We both remarked how we never felt like we were in a hotel lobby but someone’s living room – a large living room, yes but that homey welcoming vibe was always there.

Then we headed outside to the southern-style back porch located just off the Main Lobby lined with rocking chairs (Dolly calls them “dream chairs”) that overlook the pool & recreational areas as well as breathtaking views on the perfect sunny Smoky Mountain day of Mt. LeConte off in the distance. This is what Dollywood vacation dreams are made of – relaxing together on the front porch, breathing in fresh Smoky Mountain air, sharing stories & making memories! The only things missing that morning were a mason jar of sweet tea and some live bluegrass music!

Accommodations

DreamMore Resort offers 300+ pristine guest rooms from standard to family bunks to suites.

We were provided a Standard Room King with Sleeper, but trust us when we say there was nothing “standard” about this resort room!

Our room screamed Dolly – high-end modern luxury mixed with southern charm & a bit of rock ‘n roll glamour. Of course there were also butterflies throughout. The room offered a very posh King Size Bed with a scalloped headboard, a couch and fantastic views of the Resort Pool, the lush resort landscaping, and the surrounding Smoky Mountain landscape. This was a view we never got tired of! The only downside to our resort room was that there was no balcony, but that is standard for all rooms at DreamMore Resort. Thankfully, we had plenty of outside time exploring the beautiful resort grounds and of course – at Dollywood.

The bathroom area is very well designed as there is ample counter space at the sink/mirror area, a tub shower and then a separate toilet area which is always helpful when multiple people are getting ready at the same time. I should also mention there are plenty of mirrors which are so important again when sharing a space – a bathroom mirror above the sink, a full-length mirror just off the bathroom (perfect for that final ‘fit check before you head to the park, and a filigreed mirror above the desk area. Dolly has literally thought of everything!

Our room also featured a mini-fridge, a flat-screen television, a full-size laptop safe, a coffeemaker, hair dryer, and complimentary Wi-Fi.

DreamMore Guest Room & Suite Types:

Standard King – king bed
Standard King with Bunk – king bed and twin bunk beds
Standard Patio Poolside with Bunk – king bed, twin bunk beds & private outdoor patio
Standard Double Queen – two queen beds
Standard King with Sleeper – king bed & sleeper sofa
Family Suites – king bed & separate twin bunk beds
Patio Poolside Suites – king bed, separate room with twin bunk beds & a private outdoor patio
Junior Suites – king bed, twin bunk beds, & a sleeper sofa
Reunion King Suites – a two-bedroom suite perfect for large families
Dolly Parton Suite – the ultimate penthouse experience at DreamMore Resort

For our next trip to DreamMore Resort, we plan to book one of the room categories that offer us a private outdoor patio. These rooms are all located on the first floor and are very similar to the garden balcony rooms at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. It would be fantastic to watch the sunrise with a cup of coffee each morning from our own private patio at DreamMore Resort!

Resort Amenities

When we weren’t having all the fun at Dollywood, DreamMore Resort was the spot to rest between the rides during our Smoky Mountain Getaway thanks to an array of resort amenities. From a full-service 1,861 square foot family-friendly salon & spa & fitness center including treadmills, ellipticals & free weights to The Backyard, a gorgeous event lawn perfect for weddings & get-togethers, & corn hole – there’s no reason to ever need to leave Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort.

Dining

There is no shortage of delicious food at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort.

The DM Pantry, located just off the lobby, was our morning must-stop for coffee (Starbucks), pastries, biscuits, cookies, sandwhiches, and of course fresh baked Grist Mill Cinnamon Bread. We can’t tell you enough how much we loved waking up to this yummy pull-apart goodness each morning, just that it was one of the major perks of the Resort for foodies like us! In the afternoons or evenings, we’d grab a fresh baked pizza from The DM Pantry which was fantastic.

When it came time for a table-service meal, we headed to the farmhouse-style Song & Hearth restaurant for dinner, the onsite full-service buffet restaurant that features chicken fried steak and Dollywood’s famous stone soup & fried chicken, and a very famous Donut Wall!

The restaurants interior is that of an elegant farmhouse. The serving stations are trimmed with board and batten grids, and the tray ceilings are wood planked. Copper kettles and cast iron skillets decorate the walls.

Travel Tip: Although we were told there was no availability at Song & Hearth by the hostess during our stay, we were able to make reservations without issue when we visited the OpenTable website or app.

We also had breakfast at Song & Hearth one morning which featured a made-to-order omelet station & the most delicious heart-shaped waffles. The quality and service at Song & Hearth is incredible, and it truly holds the title for us of best buffet experience to date & should not be missed on your visit to Dollywood. Although the restaurant is at DreamMore Resort, it is open to the public.

The Old Swimmin’ Hole

Our favorite place to lounge the day away when we weren’t at Dollywood was the DreamMore Resort Pool. This zero-entry seasonal outdoor resort pool features a cascading waterfall feature, a lazy river & hot tub.

Complimentary towels are provided poolside, and there is an array of sun loungers as well as tables with umbrellas located throughout the pool deck to select from. Thanks to poolside waiter service, which were some of the friendliest pool servers we’ve ever had, we had everything we wanted at our fingertips with just the raising of our flags. DreamMore Resort isn’t somewhere you’d go & expect a Spring Break-style foam party (we’ll leave that to the Cancun all-inclusives), but their bartenders sure know how to craft a cocktail.

We certainly had our share of beverages delivered poolside, but we also enjoyed lunch and snacks on multiple days. Everything we ordered was presented in the most beautiful way that only Dolly could do!

An outdoor Family Splash Pad was a favorite for the kiddos, and for us big kids too. We loved the garden theming & cooling off in the decorative fountains.

The fun doesn’t stop at DreamMore Resort in the Fall & Winter months thanks to the heated indoor pool located in the Garden House.

On those hot summer days, grab yourself a cup of complimentary ice-water poolside. Professional lifeguards were on duty throughout our visit, and there were plenty of floaties available for the little ones.

Outdoor Space

The Backyard,

This gorgeous event lawn is perfect for weddings & get-togethers, corn hole & morning sticky buns!

For the Kiddos

DreamMore Resort is a true family vacation destination.

The Resort has a strong emphasis on fun for the entire family from singles to couples to moms and dads with kiddos, grandparents, aunts, uncles & more. Although we were traveling as a couple without kids, we are still big kids at heart, and we truly enjoyed all the young and young at heart amenities available to Resort guests:

Camp Dollywood activities for the kiddos
Complimentary Coloring Sheets
A massive log-cabin themed Outdoor Playground
Family game room & arcade with an air hockey table
Playing checkers by the fire in one of the Grand Living Rooms
Bedtime stories read nightly

Location, Location, Location!

Although not located on the Pigeon Forge Parkway like so many other of the area’s accommodations, DreamMore Resort is conveniently located conveniently next door to Dollywood’s Splash Country water park and Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

We could literally see Splash Country from our resort room at Dollywood! If you’re planning to visit either Dollywood or Splash Country while in Pigeon Forge, DreamMore Resort is the perfect spot for you. Afterall, if you visited eastern Tennessee and didn’t visit Dollywood, did you even visit Tennessee?

As if it’s incredible location isn’t enough, Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort offers exclusive theme park perks for guests:

Complimentary parking at both the resort & the theme park
Complimentary door-to-door trolley transportation to & from the theme parks
Complimentary TimeSavers – a faster way to the fun
Early Entry into the theme park on Saturdays

For more on our guide to Dollywood, check out our full review here

The DreamMore Difference

DreamMore Resort does many things right to set itself apart from the Theme Park Hotel competition. A few of our favorites are the live music & entertainment daily (just like at Dollywood), the complimentary pitchers of pink lemonade served daily by the happiest hosts in The Main Lobby from 4:00 -6:00 p.m. and complimentary fireside s’mores roasting nightly from 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. around one of the Resort’s intimate firepits.

Even when we weren’t enjoying a s’more or four, we found ourselves gravitating to one of the beautiful stone fire pits each night where we settled into an Adirondack chair with a delicious cocktail from The Lounge. Relaxing together in front of the fire on a star-filled Smoky Mountain evening was the perfect ending to every day at DreamMore Resort.

Service

When we tell you Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort evokes old-school (1990’s-era) Walt Disney World service, we aren’t exaggerating. DreamMore Resort’s service, storytelling & landscaping is a great mix of two of Walt Disney World’s Deluxe Resorts, Disney’s Grand Floridian Beach Resort (the resort’s original name) and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort as they were when they opened in the 1990’s – not as they currently are today.

In a world where customer service is currently lacking in all industries, we very much appreciated the warm & welcoming hospitality of everyone at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort. The staff didn’t have to tell us how much they love their jobs because they said it all with their smiles & gracious hospitality (although it should be noted that so many of the Staff at both Dollywood and DreamMore Resort went out of their way to tell us how much they love their jobs & Dolly!) DreamMore Resort is by far one of the most welcoming Theme Park Resorts we’ve had the pleasure of staying at. From the Front Desk Staff to the Food & Beverage Team and the Hospitality Services, we cannot say enough good things about the folks at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort. For the few nights we spent at DreamMore, we truly felt comfortable & at home in the Smokies.

For all of these reasons, and many more, DreamMore Resort is the perfect resort to stay & play for your next Dollywood vacation. We hope you have the opportunity to experience a stay at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort soon!

If you’re planning a visit to Dollywood, DreamMore Resort offers so many resort exclusive benefits that will help you have the absolute best Dollywood day ever! Are you planning a visit to Dollywood in 2023? Let us know in the comments!

The comments, opinions, and views set forth on this site are the reflected personal positions of the site’s creators. Although our visit to Dollywood was a hosted visit in exchange for our review, this site is not an affiliate of Dollywood Parks & Resorts and all opinions are our own. The comments, opinions, and views set forth within this site are not the official positions of Dollywood Parks & Resorts, and they do not reflect the Company’s position.

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