#MKDollywood #DollywoodResort
Imagine a hotel reflecting the very legacy of hometown charm, glamour, warmth and family. Dolly Parton’s vision of “dream more, learn more, care more, and be more” can be felt in all her amazing family-friendly ventures from Dollywood to the Stampede. I, along with a handful of other Macaroni Kid publishers got the opportunity to experience Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort & Spa for the first time and all its unexpected grandeur and southern hospitality. We northeast Tennesseans and southwest Virginians are so blessed with so many unique gems in our own backyards.
Our family loves the Great Smoky Mountains, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and all the family-friendly wonders to experience. I was thrilled when our itinerary was packed with fun adventures, I nor my family have yet to experience in the mountains we often travel to for vacation or just a day away. Check out the next article to find out more!
Let me ask you, when booking your vacation accommodations, what is most important? Price, proximity to attractions, cleanliness, Yelp rating, reviews, past experience? I would be the first to admit, all of these factor into our family’s decision. But, sometimes I forget the hotel is one of the big things my kids LOVE when they are away from home, so why don’t I take more consideration into the WHAT the hotel has to offer our family in kid (and parent) experience?
So, with that in mind, here is my letter to my family and to you my Macaroni Kid Family on why Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort & Spa is a memory worth making!
Dear Family,
From the moment you step into DreamMore’s lobby, its warmth, coziness, ceiling to floor picture windows, and Dolly-esque wraps you up! With two large “living room” areas we can enjoy after a great day of fun (more on that later) with blazing fireplaces, comfy couches, and a large family-style table we can play checkers (your favorite) and sip on apple cider. It’s amazing to be inside a warm environment, but still feel so connected to the mountains and outdoors!
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In the next room is a friendly hotel concierge who can help us plan, book and purchase tickets for our Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg fun, including our Dollywood Time Saver passes. YES! You heard me, FINALLY, you can pass those lines at Dollywood because Time Savers are included in our stay at DreamMore!
When you get those after dinner munchies (and I know you will), the DM Pantry has a smorgasbord of snacks, meals, grab-and-go options, Starbucks for mom and dad, and PIZZA for you guys. But, wait, mama has saved the best for last, the DM Pantry offers our favorite Dollywood pull-apart Cinnamon Bread!
Speaking of food, you know Dolly is not going to disappoint when it comes to quality, warm, delicious, southern comfort food. DreamMore’s Song & Hearth Southern Eatery is our morning destination to fill our bellies before our fun-filled day. No worries, my picky eaters; you will find your favorites and more in Dolly’s amazing buffet-style restaurant. Okay, I know the Donut Wall will be your first stop, but there are so many amazing delectables around the corner. Southern biscuits and gravy, eggs, bacon, sausage, hash, cheesy grits, waffles made out of hearts (whaaat?), yogurt, granola, assorted fruit and an omelet station where Chef Bobby will make your omelet just the way you like it! Get what your heart’s desire and join me around the family-style table where we will feel right at home! Make sure to catch a glimpse of Dolly’s touch with her recipe for life sign in her own handwriting, “half a cup of love, a teaspoon of caring, and a dash of humility, topped with Compassion.” Words to live by my sweet children. Song and Hearth is a beautiful restaurant that serves a breakfast and dinner buffet daily. If you get hungry between meals, they also have an all-day menu from 11:00 am - 10:00 pm.
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The first floor offers so many amazing wonders. Camp DW is all about the kids. The friendly staff of Camp DW has several kid-friendly activities each day including crafts, smores by the pool, entertainment and more. Parents can check out their Activities Calendar ahead of time to plan fun created and planned just for you. You can also find a kid-friendly game room on the first floor.
Guests are even invited to enjoy a little pampering during their stay at The Spa at Dollywood's DreamMore Resort. The picture windows and brook provided the perfect backdrop for an oasis of pampering and relaxation. Maybe Grace and I can enjoy a mama/daughter mani and pedi experience! Oh, make sure to sample and even take home Farmhouse Fresh products found in the Spa. It may hard to choose just one!
Before we got outside, there is one surprise left inside that I know you will love during our winter month stay...the indoor pool! Parents can relax or play knowing Dollywood’s own lifeguards will be on the lookout our safety.
The fun continues outside with an amazing watering hole (pool), small splash pad, hot tub (spacious enough for mama bear), a backyard “barn”, fire pits and a playground. Each night we can enjoy s’mores around the campfire, storytelling and some nights watch a movie in the barn!
Okay, I know you have been patient about your favorite part, our room! With several room and suite options, it may be hard to choose, but I know you will love the bunk beds and mama and daddy will love their own bed! Carrying over from the hotel into the rooms are DreamMore’s personal touches that parents and kids can appreciate. You can see that DreamMore rooms were created with families in mind. The first thing I noticed was the hooks as I opened the door conveniently placed for backpacks, jackets, wet bathing suits. Every parent know how genius this addition is to any hotel! First, the cleanliness of my room was crazy clean for a hotel! My sheets, comforter and pillows were crisp, clean, and fluffed and were calling to me each night! The bathroom was designed with a separate space for the toilet with a door (can I get an Amen from my mama bears). The shower/bath tub was the cleanest I have ever seen (probably cleaner than my own) including a shower head tall enough for me to actually walk under without crouching. I also appreciated my room had a mini fridge so I could stock up on water, favorite sodas, late night snack, etc. Again, just like in the hotel, a touch of Dolly was present with her encouraging us to “put wings on your dreams.”
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Dolly has always emphasized how important people are and especially how you treat them. This value flows throughout her Resort (and other venues) with her amazing, knowledgeable, and friendly staff. I truly believe my experience starts with the care and attitude of the DreamMore's staff. From check-in to check-out they were attentive, polite and so warm in spirit.
So what are you waiting for?! DreamMore Resort & Spa is calling you for your next family getaway, girl’s weekend, couples stowaway, or better yet to just relax and play! Find out first-hand with your family, why DreamMore Resort & Spa is ranked America’s #1 Theme Park Hotel. Check out their amazing specials and book your experience today by going to their website at https://www.dollywood.com/Resort. When you book, let them know you heard about them from Macaroni Kid Tri-Cities TN/VA.
I love more than anything DreamMore Resort teaches my children to dream and with hard work those dreams can come true. I can’t wait to see their reaction when they look in the glass case at a wood plank from Dolly’s front porch, where her dreams began to the box that holds a true treasure of song that will only be released on Dolly’s 100th birthday.
My kids and husband asked when I returned home, what I loved most about DreamMore. It was difficult to pick one thing, but I answered how I felt Dolly was lovingly inviting me into her American dream where we could experience family togetherness in so many amazing ways but ultimately spend time as a family, dream more as a family, and stay while in her American dream!
I know how much you LOVE my YouTube videos (are you a subscriber?). Here is one on DreamMore! Next time we visit you guys can be in it!
Love,
Amanda (aka mom)
Follow Dollywood DreamMore Resort and Spa on social media at Facebook and Instagram and Dollywood on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
The Dollywood DreamMore Resort and Spa provided a complimentary weekend stay and all activities and meals were included. All opinions are the writer's own.
