Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge Budget Buster

[FLA NUT]

DS(14) went on a church retreat this past weekend to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area. DH and I went along to do some things with youngest DS since he has never been to the mountains. Granted, I haven't been to this area in 10 years, but this has got to be one of the most expensive places to go on vacation.

Our room was very reasonable and we even received a $25 gift card to our choice of 5 different restaurants but that was the only reasonable thing all weekend. Of course he wanted to do the go-carts, putt-putt, all the usual stuff that lines the parkway. Everything was money, money, money.

Before you start flaming, yes I know there are free things to do such as sightseeing, riding the parkway, etc. And I know that we do not have to let him do "the rides" but this was his first time having us one-on-one for the weekend and we wanted to do some special things. Don't get me wrong, it is a beautiful area, I just thought that it is beginning to become to touristy.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

That's what I find too, when we consider some of the smaller type places -- they may not have daily admission fees (like WDW) but boy do the little things add up.

 

[2Monkeys]

We went to Gatlinburg in October last year, and I swear we could have gone to WDW cheaper. We were there Thursday evening to Sunday morning and spent at least $1500.

We had fun, but won't be going back soon b/c of the cost.

 

[FLA NUT]

I feel like I could have done a quick trip to WDW for what this weekend cost .

 

[VAfamily1998]

I first went to Gatlinburg/Smoky mountains with my family when I was about 12 years old (1987), and we thought it seemed really touristy then! All those tacky museums like "Ripley's Believe it or Not" and stuff...
Went again in 2008 and noticed all the mini golf, go-karts, etc. We were there to see the mountains and go for hikes and learn on the ranger programs in the national park. Things like go-karts are just not our style at all.

 

[Trixieplus2]

We love going to Dollywood. Usually we get season passes. It is touristy around there but it can be lots of fun too. It is an attitude thing though it is never going to be Disney, kind of like a loud eccentric aunt you can't help but love LOL.

 

[My3kiddos]

Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg almost always costs us a fortune. Usually though our main agenda when we go is to go outlet shopping. This year we have decided to stay a week in a cabin and "hopefully" it will be somewhat a budget trip since we are saving up for a big vacation next year for my daughter's senior year. We have decided to get season tickets for Dollywood Splash Country and they are actually pretty reasonable. We live close enough that we will go back a weekend or 2 throughout the summer to get the most bang for our buck. I'm hoping that wearing the kids out at a waterpark will make them too tired to ride go-karts since they are so darn expensive.

ETA: We will be going back to Cades Cove too since it's free and very interesting. I saw a park ranger just about get eat by a bear last year because he threw a stick at it.

 

[eyor44]

I thought the same thing when we went this past summer. Shock I guess as we hadn't been there in about 10 years.

 

[Styx Fan]

We are going to Myrtle Beach for the first time in April, and this is exactly what I am worried about. From what I understand there are many tourist money pits around it will be a constant battle with the kids.

Not a place I would have chosen to vacation, but the inlaws have a time share there and are taking us We have gone to Hilton Head a couple of times and it was nice to not see all that stuff. We found plenty to do anyway. We have been to the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area many times and try to just get through as quickly possible on our way to National Park. We will do a couple of the other things with the kids. It's easier in Gatlinburg as there are not as many go-carts and things.

I am reading up on Myrtle Beach and plan on spending lots of time at our resort and doing some of the more nature type excursions. We will do some of the fun stuff, but I'm sure not as much as the kids would. But the less time we spend around the tourist strips, the less temptation and nagging!

 

[FLA NUT]

We are going to Myrtle Beach for the first time in April, and this is exactly what I am worried about. From what I understand there are many tourist money pits around it will be a constant battle with the kids.

Not a place I would have chosen to vacation, but the inlaws have a time share there and are taking us We have gone to Hilton Head a couple of times and it was nice to not see all that stuff. We found plenty to do anyway. We have been to the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area many times and try to just get through as quickly possible on our way to National Park. We will do a couple of the other things with the kids. It's easier in Gatlinburg as there are not as many go-carts and things.

I am reading up on Myrtle Beach and plan on spending lots of time at our resort and doing some of the more nature type excursions. We will do some of the fun stuff, but I'm sure not as much as the kids would. But the less time we spend around the tourist strips, the less temptation and nagging!

We live about 1 1/2 hours from Myrtle Beach and camp there often. You are correct about the "tourist traps" especially for kids. If you stay off Hwy 17 and are not staying in the downtown area you can avoid alot of it. But it will nickle and dime you to death if you are not careful. Thankfully the campground we stay in has alot of activities for kids so the last couple of years we have not even went into the downtown area. Have fun

 

[Ericandjenng]

It's funny because I live near the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area and people I work with tell me "how much more expensive" Disney is...And I have to ask "Have you been to the Aquarium or anywhere else over there lately?"

We have a few places that we don't mind going in the Pigeon Forge area (The Track is a nice small play area with kiddie rides, go karts, putt-putt and bumper boats with some package deals that make the price reasonable) and some splurges (Ripley's Aquarium or Dollywood) are nice occasionally but pps are right about you can pretty much go to WDW cheaper than time here in the Mountains.

 

[gymboqueenkaylee]

We go there quite frequently since we own a cabin there. I love the area. We love going down to Dollywood at off times of the year. We don't get caught up in all the touristy things either. I mainly go to relax and shop the outlets (which I am going to do this weekend). For us, it's a cheap get away since we don't worry about hotels or rentals or anything but I can see how expensive it can get. My daughter always wants to go do go karts and that's it. It can get costly though, but that is anywhere you go really.

 

[ilovejack02]

We go to Gatlinburg usually every other year. My little one is allowed to pick one or two kid activities and that is all. We have a great aquarium at home, We can putt putt , ride go carts etc all here, no way am I wasting time and money on things I can do at home. The rest of the time is spent hiking, on picnics, playing in the creeks, swimming and yes some shopping, but that is for Mom only LOL.

I never spend much money while there, a cpl of meals out , maybe a trinket for the kiddo and possibly a goodie or two from the outlet. The food is mainly tourist places, so I am happy to cook a bit in the cabin, but I NEVER miss my trip to Pancake Pantry LOL.

My MIL is taking our whole family this year in May for the first time, ( it is usually just the three of us ) she wants to spend every night in some sort of show. I also vetoed that LOL, I will happily go to one, but being in the Smokey to me is not about the tourist traps, but fresh mountain air, gorgeous views, nature etc. Should be an interesting week LOL.

 

[ceecee]

We went to Gatlinburg in October last year, and I swear we could have gone to WDW cheaper. We were there Thursday evening to Sunday morning and spent at least $1500.

We had fun, but won't be going back soon b/c of the cost.

Same here, we went in August for 5 days and it cost more than half the cost of our 9 days in Disney. We also drove to TN. Luckily the outlets are not as good as they used to be or it would have cost even more!!!

 

[momof1princess]

OP, i agree. we went to gatlinburg instead of wdw in 2008, thinking gatlinburg would be cheaper...HAHAHAHA! boy, were we wrong! all of the attractions, such as the aquarium and wonderworks, were close to $60 for the 3 of us to get in. the only reasonable thing we did was the museum of the cherokee indian in cherokee, NC-admission was $8 each. i'd much rather go to wdw, if i'm going to spend that kind of money.

 

[powellrj]

Its funny, we went last year and are going back this year because we thought it was so much cheaper than WDW. Granted we didn't do most of the tourist things, we spent 3 days at Dollywood and then shopped and rested the rest of the time and I don't think we spent $900 for the whole week. We rented a condo for $400 for the week and then had season passes to Dollywood for around $200 and the rest was for food which wasn't much since we ate several meals at the condo and had lots of coupons.

 

[maleficentmom]

We live an hour and a half from there, and we have learned in general to stay away from Gatlinburg unless we haven't done the aquarium in a long time,and then we found the Ripleys combo pass with 3 attractions to be a decent deal...the traffic there is also often a nightmare...and we avoid car show weekends too,due to hotel prices....in general we research a few hotels we like in PF and Sevierville...rarely pay more than $55 even in summer.We get coupon books and ask for AAA discounts, and get the free outlet coupon books with AAA. We do the shows when they are running a special.We rarely do Dollywood, but the Food City's here generally sell a discounted season pass, as well as one for the aquarium. There is a free Bush Beans museum nearby in Chestnut Hill that is great,we like Rainforest Adventures zoo(although a bit stinky),Miracle Theatre...we eat at NoWay Jose's (meals start at around $6) and Bennets BBQ. We usually do one big thing like a show, and a couple of little things and shop...our kids just love the pool mainly...lol...Red Roof in PF has an awesome kids suite(bunk bed,video games,kitchenette and a Jacuzzi bedroom for mom and dad)

 

[FLA NUT]

OP, i agree. we went to gatlinburg instead of wdw in 2008, thinking gatlinburg would be cheaper...HAHAHAHA! boy, were we wrong! all of the attractions, such as the aquarium and wonderworks, were close to $60 for the 3 of us to get in. the only reasonable thing we did was the museum of the cherokee indian in cherokee, NC-admission was $8 each. i'd much rather go to wdw, if i'm going to spend that kind of money.

I think that is our problem. We have become so good at doing budget Disney trips that we kept comparing the prices; "for the $50 spent on x we could have done y at WDW". We did enjoy the trip, but like you, I would rather spend that type of money at the World.

Unfortunately, I will not be visiting WDW this year (a new roof is taking that money plus some). I think I am in withdrawals and whatever I do this year will be compared to Disney

 

[swilshire]

I first went to Gatlinburg/Smoky mountains with my family when I was about 12 years old (1987), and we thought it seemed really touristy then!

I agree. I've been going up there since I became an adult in the mid-70s and it has always been like that. We just avoid most of it just like we avoid I drive and similar things in Orlando.

We usually get season passes for Dollywood, stop at the Apple Barn from time to time for lunch, but always to buy apple donuts, maybe hit an outlet store or two. Go into Gatlinburg about once every five years.

We never spend much.

Sheila

 

[momof1princess]

I think that is our problem. We have become so good at doing budget Disney trips that we kept comparing the prices; "for the $50 spent on x we could have done y at WDW". We did enjoy the trip, but like you, I would rather spend that type of money at the World.

Unfortunately, I will not be visiting WDW this year (a new roof is taking that money plus some). I think I am in withdrawals and whatever I do this year will be compared to Disney

i know exactly what you mean our water heater busted, so that was just over $500.00, we need to fix our driveway, and the HS marching band is going to atlanta for a couple of days in april, so, of course, DD is going to want to go, and DH and i will go along. no wdw this year, and probably not next year either, as that will be the band's year for a big trip (such as last year's NYC trip).