Anyone stayed at Wilderness in the Smokies? Waterpark hotel?

[keltshan]

I am thinking about doing a "family" getaway for 10 people total, and I was thinking about Pigeon Forge. Maybe rent a cabin, but then I saw this place (Wilderness at the Smokies) and they do multi-room suites that sleep up to 15!
We have stayed at Great Wolf Lodge before and my kids loved that, so I think this would be pretty awesome too!

If we did this waterpark/hotel we would probably skip Dollywood and maybe only do a couple of outside things (maybe putt-putt/hike to waterfalls/aquarium).




Anyone been here before----Any suggestions on the Pigeon Forge area???

 

[Mommy2LittleVols]

We stayed there last summer and LOVED it!! The room was really nice, and we all had a blast at the waterpark. We are looking forward to going back soon! I definitely recommend it!

 

[dogodisney]

We stayed there for Christmas 2008. They were having their grand opening. The waterpark area is nice but not very big. My girls (5, 14, 15, at the time) enjoyed it. The room we stayed in was very nice. It was an expanded room. In the bed area there was a full bathroom, bunkbeds and a queen sized bed, 2flat screen tv's and a wetbar. In the extended room was the LR with a fireplace, a murphy bed. (I can't rememebr if the sofa had a bed or not as we did not need it), a full kitchen and a full bathroom.
They have different buildings. The have a "hotel", the "lodge" that we stayed in and they were building something else at that time.
Gatlinburg is a nice area and has a lot to do. The have a strip with shops and restaurants. Ripley's Aquarium is there and some other Ripley things. Ober Gatlinburg has things to do too. Since in was winter my DDs and DH went ice skating. During the warmer seasons they have other things to do.
You will be able to find plenty to do.

 

[monkeybug]

I don't want to hijack this thread, but I am wondering about this area also and was about to post my own thread about it.
We are looking for something to do on spring break that will be a little outdoorsy and not crazy, crazy crowded.
Is there much to do for young kids? They are 7 and 4.
I'm off to check tripadvisor about the hotel you mentioned. Sounds awesome!

 

[sharlon]

We stayed at Wilderness at the Smokies back at the end of September. The hotel actually has two very distinct parts. There is the hotel section at the top of the hill that is attached to a conference center and the outdoor water park area (open in summer). Down the hill and across the street is the Wyndham timeshare property that is attached to the indoor waterpark. There is a shuttle between the two and all guests of both get to use the waterparks. I don't remember the website saying it was associated with Wyndham, but it is, though you can rent rooms there just like at the hotel.
We went for one night to meet some friends from college. Hotel was good. I have to say, though, we are not fans of the area (too touristy for us), so I can't really tell you anything about the area other than there are great outlets right down the road. The waterpark was, in my opinion, small. Kids got bored fairly quickly, and DS got very cold, but wasn't allowed in the very large hot tub/pool due to his age even though his lips were turning blue. There is also a pottery painting place on property, so there is other stuff to do on site.
DD's gymnastics team is competing at a meet there in a couple of weeks that is being held at the conference center. Our gym owner owns Wyndham timeshare so she is using her points to get everyone's rooms so they don't have to pay the normal rate. Her family loves it over there and everyone is super excited about going. We can't go due to a previous commitment, and we aren't that upset about it. It just wasn't for us.

 

[OhMari]

The Wilderness is almost paraellel to Sieverville (sp?). You will be doing a lot of slow driving to get into the Smokey Mountains. Traffic is always backed -uped. So, if you plan on doing other things, give yourself a lot of time to get there.

 

[maidenfairy]

We stayed there last year and are staying a night next weekend. It's lots of fun and the kids have a blast. I recommend taking bottled water. Their water taste funny.

 

[keltshan]

I see there are 2 separate hotel/ lodges---1 is with the indoor (+there is an outdoor wavepool) and it has the larger family suites----the other is more like a regular hotel room and it is adjacent to the larger outdoor waterpark and we would need 2 rooms----would cost about the same.....what to do

 

[keltshan]

also does anyone know which side of town you are better off to be on? if we rent a cabin should it be in Wears Valley, Pigeon Forge, Townsend....a few other common places I can no longer remember----the only attractions we would probably do would possibly be Dollywood and the aquarium (What location would get us to these the fastest and with the least amount of traffic)? thanks

 

[minniebeth]

Op, sorry to steer off your thread of the Wilderness, it looks great!
We've never been to Pigeon Forge, but have plans for Spring Break.
Just an option (as there are many....) we are renting a cabin with Dollywood Vacations (Starr Crest Resort) and don't know much about the resort other than what we have read on it's website and Trip Advisor. I'm hoping it will be nice. If anyone is interested in Dollywood, people have said it's hard to do it all in one day, so when you book with the Dollywood Cabins, there is a great package they offer. For the price of one day's ticket per person in your party, you get the length of your cabin stay in admission to Dollywood. Plus free parking and discounts on park food and merchandise.

This seems like a great area and we will most likely visit again if we like it. We will keep the Wildnerness in mind!

 

[Buckalew11]

We stayed at Wilderness at the Smokies back at the end of September. The hotel actually has two very distinct parts. There is the hotel section at the top of the hill that is attached to a conference center and the outdoor water park area (open in summer). Down the hill and across the street is the Wyndham timeshare property that is attached to the indoor waterpark. There is a shuttle between the two and all guests of both get to use the waterparks. I don't remember the website saying it was associated with Wyndham, but it is, though you can rent rooms there just like at the hotel.
We went for one night to meet some friends from college. Hotel was good. I have to say, though, we are not fans of the area (too touristy for us), so I can't really tell you anything about the area other than there are great outlets right down the road. The waterpark was, in my opinion, small. Kids got bored fairly quickly, and DS got very cold, but wasn't allowed in the very large hot tub/pool due to his age even though his lips were turning blue. There is also a pottery painting place on property, so there is other stuff to do on site.
DD's gymnastics team is competing at a meet there in a couple of weeks that is being held at the conference center. Our gym owner owns Wyndham timeshare so she is using her points to get everyone's rooms so they don't have to pay the normal rate. Her family loves it over there and everyone is super excited about going. We can't go due to a previous commitment, and we aren't that upset about it. It just wasn't for us.

Townsend may be more your speed? When we lived there people can there and then drove to PF and Gatlinburg. If you don't want to be surrounded by the chaos and touristy places, Townsend is the place to stay. Then, getting to the mountains is easier if you do Cades Cove or hiking etc. They don't call it the "Peaceful Side" for nothing!

I have friends who have done Wilderness resort and enjoyed it. Aren't there 2 places like that up there? (Separate business, I mean)

For those coming to the Smokies for spring break, enjoy!

 

[maidenfairy]

I see there are 2 separate hotel/ lodges---1 is with the indoor (+there is an outdoor wavepool) and it has the larger family suites----the other is more like a regular hotel room and it is adjacent to the larger outdoor waterpark and we would need 2 rooms----would cost about the same.....what to do

We are getting the large 2 bedroom suite and sharing it between 6 adults and 3 children. We're splitting the cost 3 ways. If you are going in the cooler months it's worth staying in the one with the indoor stuff. They have a shuttle from the other part, but it's just a pain to get out of the water, bundle up and go back to the shuttle.

 

[keltshan]

i have obviously been online all day wasting my day away----I have discovered another Gatlinburg area resort with a waterpark----it is the Westgate River Lodge and they have large 3-4 BR suites and the price looks great (but there were some questionable online reviews about them suddenly raising the prices when you check in---

going to start another thread to see if anyone has stayed here! Thanks to everyone for the info!

 

[Mommy2LittleVols]

also does anyone know which side of town you are better off to be on? if we rent a cabin should it be in Wears Valley, Pigeon Forge, Townsend....a few other common places I can no longer remember----the only attractions we would probably do would possibly be Dollywood and the aquarium (What location would get us to these the fastest and with the least amount of traffic)? thanks

If you want to get to Dollywood without a lot of traffic, I would recommend staying in Pigeon Forge, as DW is located right off the main strip. The Aquarium is in Gatlinburg, which is a fairly short drive.

 

[momw/2princesses]

If you've been on your trip, would you please tell me how you liked it? We are heading to Wilderness at the Smokies in a couple of weeks. I would appreciate any info!!

Thanks!!

 

[877HISGRACE]

If you've been on your trip, would you please tell me how you liked it? We are heading to Wilderness at the Smokies in a couple of weeks. I would appreciate any info!!

Thanks!!

We love staying at The Wilderness in the Smokies when in Sevierville, Tennessee. Love the outdoor wave pool and the lazy river, and the indoor waterpark when the thunderstorms hit. Haven't tried the miniature golf course yet, but that looks great too.

And when we're in Gatlinburg, we love staying at The Gatlinburg Lodge at
SmokyMountainViews.com


Mac