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A MODERATE DAY

If you'd been here on a day like this,
you'd have had to pick your battles.

May 28, 2026 landed at a 6/10, the threshold where you start needing strategy. Crowds dipped to a 4 out of ten for 2 straight hours between 5 PM and 7 PM.

PLANNING A TRIP?
Pick your dates on the crowd calendar and we'll show you how this day compares to your window.
6
/10
Moderate
AVG WAIT22m
PEAK70m
RIDES OPEN14/14
WEATHER
Dollywood crowd report infographic for May 28, 2026
Tap to enlarge

The day, hour by hour.

11 AM to 8 PM · crowd level 1–10
7
11 AM
8
12 PM
6
1 PM
6
2 PM
5
3 PM
7
4 PM
4
5 PM
4
6 PM
5
7 PM
5
8 PM
11 AM to 10 AM
Be at the gates before they open

Touring strategy starts here. Lightning Rod climbs steeply through the morning on moderate days.

11 AM to 1 PM
Eat before 11 or after 2

Quick-service queues stack between 11:30 and 1:30. Plan around them.

5 PM to 7 PM
Mid-afternoon dip is real but brief

The window around 5 PM is your friend. Use it on Lightning Rod or whatever you've been putting off.

8 PM to 8 PM
Closing rush is your friend

Lines drop sharply once the night winds down. Wait it out, then re-ride.

Every ride, by average wait.

14 rides · avg wait shown
FireChaser Express
38m avg
peak 65m · 99% uptime
Big Bear Mountain
29m avg
peak 60m · 98% uptime
Mystery Mine
29m avg
peak 45m · 91% uptime
Lightning Rod
28m avg
peak 70m · 90% uptime
Smoky Mountain River Rampage
26m avg
peak 55m · 100% uptime
Wild Eagle
25m avg
peak 55m · 97% uptime
Dragonflier
25m avg
peak 50m · 96% uptime
Thunderhead
22m avg
peak 60m · 96% uptime
Blazing Fury
16m avg
peak 25m · 99% uptime
Tennessee Tornado
15m avg
peak 25m · 30% uptime
Drop Line
14m avg
peak 15m · 96% uptime
Daredevil Falls
10m avg
peak 30m · 82% uptime
Barnstormer
8m avg
peak 15m · 100% uptime
Whistle Punk Chaser®
8m avg
peak 15m · 98% uptime
SHARE THIS REPORT
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Shared
Dollywood crowd report infographic for May 28, 2026
SHAREABLE LINK
https://rideready.app/parks/dollywood/crowd-calendar/2026-05-28/
FOR YOUR TRIP

This is the day,
but live, in your pocket.

Days like this are won and lost on timing. Ride Ready turns live waits into drop alerts, walk-on windows, and what-to-ride-next picks, free.

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WHAT YOU'D HAVE GOTTEN ON THIS DAY
10:15a Drop alert: Lightning Rod 70m to 20m
2:42p Walk-on window: Blazing Fury + Tennessee Tornado
3:55p Smart pick: pivot while a queue resets
7:15p Re-ride window opens late
5 drop alerts · 4 picks · 2 skip suggestions