If you’re planning to go to Dollywood’s Splash Country this summer or stay at a Dollywood’s hotel, make you sure bring a card or a mobile wallet.
Some of Dollywood’s properties have gone cashless, meaning folks must use electronic payment for food and beverages, merchandise and other purchases. The company began transitioning to electronic-only payment options this spring.
“By transitioning to only accepting electronic payments … (Dollywood Parks and Resorts) will provide a faster, safer and more guest-friendly experience,” Dollywood explains on its website. “Hosts will spend less time handling cash and more time serving guests.”
The payment change reflects a cashless trend occurring within the theme park industry. Here’s what you need to know
about cashless payments at Dollywood properties.
Is Dollywood cashless?
Several Dollywood Parks and Resorts properties are now completely cashless. However, Dollywood itself is not cashless. The flagship theme park still accepts cash as of July 23.
Which Dollywood properties are cashless?
Three Dollywood properties have transitioned to cashless payments, including both resorts, according to the company’s website.
- Dollywood's Splash Country went cashless May 16
- Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa went cashless June 11
- Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge and Resort went cashless June 11
What cashless payment methods are accepted at Dollywood?
Dollywood’s two resorts and Splash Country now only accept electronic payments. The accepted electronic methods include:
- All major credit and debit card providers (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, Discover)
- Android Pay
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- Samsung Pay
- Transfer cash onto a prepaid card via cash-to-card kiosks located on Dollywood properties
It should be noted that the main Dollywood theme park also accepts electronic payments but it is the only Dollywood property still accepting cash.
Cryptocurrencies are not accepted at any Dollywood Parks and Resorts property as of July 23.
What happens if you only have cash?
If you arrive at DreamMore, HeartSong or Splash Country with only cash, you can transfer cash onto a prepaid card via cash-to-card kiosks located around the property. There are several cash-to-card kiosks on each property, and they are free to use.
Up to $500 in whole dollar amounts can be transferred onto a prepaid card, according to Dollywood’s site. Prepaid cards cannot be reloaded with additional funds.
If a prepaid card balance is not enough to cover a purchase, the payment will be declined, and another form of payment must be used. That could be a new card obtained from a cash-to-card kiosk or another form of electronic payment.
If you have money left over on a card, you use it anywhere else that electronic cards are accepted.
Will the main Dollywood theme park go cashless?
Dollywood has not announced plans to expand the cashless system to its flagship theme park as of July 23.
Why are theme parks moving away from cash?
Major theme parks have increasingly been moving to cashless systems, including SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Hersheypark, Six Flags, and Cedar Point, according to explore.com. Disney and Universal are testing electronic-only payments, as well.
Akin to Dollywood’s reasoning, theme parks are shifting to cashless payment to streamline operations, enhance guest convenience and improve security, safety and health risks associated with handling physical cash, according to mobilemoney.net.
Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com.
Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Is Dollywood cashless? Dolly Parton’s company changes payment options
