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A PACKED DAY

If you'd been here on a day like this,
you'd have gotten three rides done, max, without a serious plan.

Oct 16, 2026 ran at a 9/10. Full-park conditions, lines stacked everywhere. Crowds dipped to a 6 out of ten for 2 straight hours between 8 PM and 9 PM.

PLANNING A TRIP?
Pick your dates on the crowd calendar and we'll show you how this day compares to your window.
9
/10
Packed
AVG WAIT41m
PEAK120m
RIDES OPEN16/16
WEATHER82° Clear
Dollywood crowd report infographic for Oct 16, 2026
Tap to enlarge

The day, hour by hour.

11 AM to 9 PM · crowd level 1–10
7
11 AM
9
12 PM
8
1 PM
8
2 PM
9
3 PM
10
4 PM
9
5 PM
8
6 PM
7
7 PM
6
8 PM
6
9 PM
11 AM to 10 AM
Rope-drop hard or rethink the morning

If you walk in after 9 AM, plan to save NightFlight Expedition for the last hour instead.

11 AM to 1 PM
Sit-down lunch, no exceptions

Quick-service waits balloon on days like this. A reservation buys you AC and time.

8 PM to 9 PM
Take a break, come back at 7

Crowds don't thin. Leave the park, swim, return for the last 90 minutes.

8 PM to 9 PM
One more ride, then leave

Even at close, waits hold long. Pick one ride and get out before the parking lot does its worst.

Every ride, by average wait.

16 rides · avg wait shown
NightFlight Expedition
72m avg
peak 120m · 69% uptime
FireChaser Express
63m avg
peak 95m · 94% uptime
Big Bear Mountain
59m avg
peak 120m · 82% uptime
Lightning Rod
57m avg
peak 120m · 89% uptime
Tennessee Tornado
52m avg
peak 120m · 84% uptime
Mystery Mine
49m avg
peak 80m · 75% uptime
Dragonflier
40m avg
peak 70m · 77% uptime
Thunderhead
38m avg
peak 80m · 96% uptime
Wild Eagle
34m avg
peak 60m · 89% uptime
Blazing Fury
29m avg
peak 40m · 89% uptime
Whistle Punk Chaser®
20m avg
peak 35m · 79% uptime
Smoky Mountain River Rampage
20m avg
peak 30m · 55% uptime
Barnstormer
12m avg
peak 20m · -- uptime
The Waltzing Swinger
9m avg
peak 10m · -- uptime
Daredevil Falls
8m avg
peak 10m · -- uptime
Drop Line
7m avg
peak 10m · -- uptime

Weather that day: ☀️ Clear, high 82°F, low 54°F, rain for 8h.

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Dollywood crowd report infographic for Oct 16, 2026
SHAREABLE LINK
https://rideready.app/parks/dollywood/crowd-calendar/2026-10-16/
FOR YOUR TRIP

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

Peak days are where the app earns its keep. Drop alerts, walk-on windows, and a plan that adapts as the day unfolds.

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WHAT YOU'D HAVE GOTTEN ON THIS DAY
8:32a The call: rope-drop NightFlight Expedition right now
11:20a The call: a lunch reservation saves real time
3:14p Drop alert: NightFlight Expedition 120m to 72m (rare)
8:45p The call: closing-rush window, one more
8 drop alerts · 6 picks · 5 skip suggestions