How to buy Dollywood tickets safely

The one rule

Buy from Dollywood. Day tickets and passes are sold on dollywood.com, and resort stays by phone at 1-800-365-5996. This guide does not sell tickets, and neither should anyone who contacts you out of the blue.

Red flags

• A “used” or “extra” season pass. Dollywood says passes are non-transferable and passholders must show ID. A pass sold by a stranger will not work for you.
• Prices far below Dollywood’s own. Dollywood’s listed adult day tickets start at $94.99. A “$40 ticket” is not a deal; it is bait.
• Payment by gift card, Zelle, cash app, wire or crypto. Legitimate ticket sales do not require these.
• Pressure. “Only two left” or “price ends tonight” from someone who is not Dollywood.
• Screenshots or PDFs of tickets. Barcodes can be copied and used once; whoever scans first gets in.
• Look-alike websites. Domains that add words or numbers to the real name, or ads that lead to unfamiliar addresses.

Quick checks before you pay

• The address bar shows dollywood.com, spelled exactly
• I typed the address or used a bookmark, not an unfamiliar ad
• I am paying by credit card, which gives chargeback protection
• I got a confirmation email from the seller after paying
• The date and number of guests on the ticket are right

If you are buying through a partner or a deal that is not on dollywood.com, confirm on Dollywood’s own site or by phone that the offer is real before you pay.

If you were scammed

1. Contact your card issuer or bank right away and dispute the charge.
2. Report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
3. Tell Dollywood by phone at 1-800-365-5996.
4. Keep screenshots of the ad, messages and payment receipt.