There are theme parks, and then there is Dollywood. Since 1986, Dolly Parton’s park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, has been serving up coasters, mountain music, and a whole lot of heart on 160 acres in the Great Smoky Mountains. Dolly co-owns it with Herschend Family Entertainment, and fans make the trip from all over the country to experience it.
Today the Dollywood Parks & Resorts family also includes Dollywood’s Splash Country water park, Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, and Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort. That is a lot of reasons to visit.
Now here’s a fun twist. For a group of lucky travelers flying out of Central Florida, the Dollywood vibes kicked in long before they reached Tennessee. Like, at the airport.
Allegiant, Orlando Sanford International Airport, and Dollywood Parks & Resorts teamed up for themed “Destination Dollywood” flights, and from the sound of it, the gate area was the place to be on Friday.
The Highlight Reel
No time to read the whole thing? Here’s what went down on Friday, November 6.
- Two themed flights: Allegiant Flights 925 and 2925 took off from Orlando Sanford to Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport.
- Live music: The Roberts Sisters performed in the terminal.
- Games and photos: Passengers joined interactive activities and posed at photo spots before boarding.
- Swag: Giveaways included plush toys and Dollywood’s signature kettle corn.
- Character cameo: Dollywood’s Flit and Flutter greeted travelers at the gate and sent them off from the airfield ramp.
- In the air: Dollywood-themed in-flight entertainment kept the party going on the way to Knoxville.
The flight number has a hidden meaning, too. Flight 925 is a tribute to Dolly’s “9 to 5,” the song from her 1980 film 9 to 5 with Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dabney Coleman. Allegiant added Flight 2925 in March after Dollywood says the original sold out within days and became one of the fastest-selling flights in the airline’s history.
Stars of the Show
Every good party needs a lineup. Here’s who (and what) stole the spotlight at the Sanford terminal.
The Roberts Sisters: The group brought Smoky Mountain sounds straight to Central Florida with live performances inside the airport. Not a bad soundtrack for the walk to your gate.
Flit and Flutter: These Dollywood characters met passengers at the gate and then headed out to the airfield ramp to wave travelers off. Talk about a seriously charming send-off.
The kettle corn: Let’s be honest, this one deserves its own shout-out. Dollywood’s signature kettle corn was part of the giveaways, along with plush toys. Airport snacks rarely get this good.
The airport boss: Nicole Martz, President and CEO of Orlando Sanford International Airport, summed up the whole idea. “We love seeing our travelers excited about where they’re headed and we want them to feel that excitement the moment they walk through our doors,” she said. “Destination Dollywood brings that spirit to life. We’re delighted to partner with Allegiant and Dollywood to bring some extra fun to the terminal and give our travelers a memorable start to their trip.”
By the Numbers
We love a good stat, so here are the figures behind the fun.
925: The original flight number, a nod to “9 to 5.”
2925: The bonus flight Allegiant added after the first one sold out.
12:47 p.m.: When Flight 925 departed Sanford for Knoxville.
4:16 p.m.: When Flight 2925 followed.
November 7: The day Dollywood planned a special park experience for themed-flight passengers who bought tickets, during its Smoky Mountain Christmas celebration.
20 miles: Roughly how far Orlando Sanford International Airport sits north of Orlando.
3.1 million: Approximate number of passengers the airport welcomes each year.
70+: Nonstop destinations served from Sanford, across six airlines. Las Vegas-based Allegiant is the largest carrier there and a longtime partner of the airport, which connects travelers in small and mid-sized communities with vacation spots nationwide.
1986: The year Dollywood Parks & Resorts began operating in the Smokies.
Your Turn, Y’all
We’ll admit it. We’re a little jealous of everyone who got to board these flights. Live music, a character send-off, and kettle corn before takeoff? That is a pretty great way to kick off a vacation.
We haven’t seen any word yet on whether Allegiant and Dollywood will bring Destination Dollywood back. But with how fast the first flight sold out, we’re keeping our fingers crossed.
Now tell us everything. Would you pay a little extra for a themed flight like this? Which park would you want to see get the next one? And if you were on Flight 925 or 2925, we need the full scoop, from the gate games to that first bite of kettle corn. Drop it all in the comments!
