Are you looking for an experience to capture the magic of Christmas? While Santa is undoubtedly part of the festivities, the Naughty or Nice List at Dollywood offers a twist on seeing Saint Nicholas. We attended the Smoky Mountain Christmas festival to see if we would get coal in our stockings this year. You can read here how the park catered to guests for Christmas.
The experience begins with writing a letter to Santa and dropping it off to be mailed to him. Then, you are transformed into a magical scene of snow falling on lit-up trees surrounding his Smoky Mountain cabin until it is your turn to observe him working. You peek through a window into his cabin and see him as he conducts his tasks, including reading a letter, and I know it was my letter he was reading. To end the experience, he reveals if you are on the naughty or nice list. A photographer takes your picture, so you can go to the nearby Santa photo building to see your picture and purchase it if desired (or have it downloaded if you have an annual photo card).
Santa’s helpers are very social throughout the experience, talking with park guests while they are waiting in line and asking you what you asked Santa for in your letter once you are inside the building. They are very enthusiastic about it being your turn to see Santa when the moment arrives.
This is a unique experience. Children can sit on Santa’s lap in many places, but this is a rare opportunity to see Santa come to life. It also almost establishes a connection between Santa and the guests as he reveals the names on the nice list. This setup also allows adults to enjoy some Christmas magic. This experience is for children, parents who want to witness their children beam with excitement as they watch Santa working, grandparents who wish to share this seasonal excitement with their grandchildren, and adults visiting without children who are children at heart.
I was pleased that the line moved faster once our group was inside the building than last year. They may have added multiple activities previously (dancing, animal charades before seeing Santa) to make it an extensive experience, or perhaps they were entertaining guests because it took that long to get people in front of us through the line to see Santa, or maybe it was a combination of these things last year. What I do know is that last year, my husband and I, along with a set of grandparents standing near us, looked out of the windows of the building into the park, longing for freedom as if we were in jail with time standing still. This year, the line moved much more quickly through the building, and no one turned around and looked out of the windows, longing for the freedom of fresh mountain air.
Although I had attended this attraction before, I enjoyed seeing him again in his cabin. He looked at a child’s letter, shook his head, and laughed. I am sure it was meant to portray him chuckling at something funny a child had written, but it looked like he was shaking his head, thinking, “No way are you getting that, kid.” His reaction made me laugh a very genuine, loud laugh. I discovered I was on the nice list and blurted out, “I was really sweating it, Santa.” I am pretty sure the employees around me were laughing as I talked out loud freely throughout the experience. I found myself saying what I was thinking without much of a filter in my excitement while captivated, much like a child. It was a few moments of joy and honest reaction. I am confident that was the purpose of this attraction.
This attraction provides a memorable experience, a special photo opportunity, the chance to see the excitement of Santa through your children’s eyes and to have childlike wonder as an adult. It is a theme park thrill - Smoky Mountain Santa style.