Is Pigeon Forge, TN a good place for vacation?

[powellrj]

We just got back from a week at Gatlinburg. We had a wonderful time! We spent 2 1/2 days and 1 full day at Dollywood and still didn't see everything. We would spend the rest of the day doing thing like the outlet malls and visiting the shops. DH and DD did ride go carts once, but other than that we avoided all the things along the parkway.

We had no interest in county or gospel music, but we still really enjoyed the shows. DD loved the roller coasters and spent her time riding them multiple times. On the last day we were there at opening and she was able to ride several times with no wait, we went back in the evening and once again she rode without much wait. We spent the middle part of the day doing the show and still missed a couple!

We bought season passes for what the cost of a one day ticket at WDW. Granted its not as big, but it was still lots of fun. I got a gold pass and we saved 20% off all purchases and had free parking.

We rented a condo and it was great. It was at the top of a mountian and had a wonderful view. It had 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms so it was a nice relaxing trip for us. I know we wouldn't have enjoyed a week with just a regular hotel room!

 

[shalom]

DH and DD did ride go carts once, but other than that we avoided all the things along the parkway.

We don't do the Parkway, either, although last time I did stop at some touristy thing because youngest wanted to watch the animatronic dinosaurs along the front of the building. And we generally hit the Old Mill at some point, not so much to buy stuff but because we like the river there and it's just something we do. I really want to get up to the Arts and Crafts area in Gatlinburg and get some of the beads made of roses, but we're not shoppers and so far it hasn't happened.

As someone else said, and especially since you're going in the summer, it may take some research ahead of time to really enjoy yourself. For instance, there are tons of people in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the "synchronized fireflies," and one area you can see them is completely mobbed - but they're out in other areas that aren't too bad. It's just that everyone has heard of the one place and goes looking for that, without realizing they've been found other places since. As with Disney, if you do a little research, you can get a better view.

Getting off the Parkway helps, since that's where most of the big advertised attractions are and that's where things are most pricey. It's kind of like Disney World. CS in the Magic Kingdom is expensive and mobbed. CS in the resorts on the monorail is slightly less expensive and crowded. CS in the nearer resorts not on the monorail, a bit cheaper and quieter than that. And if you leave the DW area, prices drop once more. I dunno where the dividing lines are with Pigeon Forge, but the principle is the same.

We get a condo and make a lot of our own food, but even then the price varies depending on how close you are to the action. There's a grocery store about a block from the resort we like in Gatlinburg, but we usually drive up to the WalMart in Sevierville because the Gatlinburg grocery store is so pricey (and we usually go late in the evening because that's hubby's shopping style; I hear that WalMart's a nightmare during the day). There's a Kroger on Wears Valley Road that's kind of in-between, both in terms of price and crowding, which surprised me but I guess it's far enough off the Parkway people don't get to it.

 

[my3squeals]

If you have never been you will enjoy it. It is very commercialized and like a PP said it can nickel and dime you to death. Just be prepared that everything there cost $$$. For us, because we are within 6 hours drive and have made numerous trips, I guess the excitement is gone and I don't like having to shell out big $$ everytime I step up to an attration. I also think Dollywood is overpriced. There are lots of rides and a good combo of kiddie and big kids attractions but hokie mountain people aren't exactly my idea of a good time. To each his own. My SIL loves it there and they go every year, for me I prefer the beach or if I am going pricey then I'll be at WDW!

 

[ohiodisneydad2]

We love PF/Gatlinburg! We bought Season passes to Dollywood at the end of '08 and went over Christmas. We then spent our Family vacation there in June and went to DW everyday. The park is clean but don't go expecting WDW type queues. They do how ever have some fun rides and my kids loved it. Their coasters are great. My middle daughter rode her first roller coaster and loved it! There is a water ride in the back of the park that we rode so much we were soaked to the core. To me it should be in Disney. It's a boat ride with crank handled water guns on it. You can shoot at interactive targets or riders on the other boats. Tons of fun and the lines usually move pretty quick!

I do find some of the shops in Gatlinburg a little "tacky." Too many "hillbilly" themed places that sell goofy souvenirs like the hillbilly calculators and such, but I did get my Father's Day present from one shop there. It was a Police Officer Mickey statue! I do recommend spending a day walking through Gatlinburg. And if you like cajun food, there's a cajun place on the Main Drag. You have to kind of look for it but I know it's right under a jerky store.

There is a lot to do and you can spend a lot of money. There are a lot of restaurants, especially breakfast places. WDW is our first choice but we really can't wait to go back to TN.

 

[monorailsilver]

I'll probably get slammed for this, but here it goes anyway.

We stayed there for a long weekend earlier this year. If you're looking for something similar to disney in terms of overall class and ambience, don't expect it in pigeon ford.

If you're looking for something a little more campy and are okay with a more redneck type vacation (in terms of the stores and restaurants and attractions available and the overall crowds), pigeon ford may be up your alley.

Personally, I won't be going back anytime soon but it wasn't a totally horrible vacation or anything. Just not where I will be spending my vacation dollars. Even the Great Smoky National Park is somewhat ruined by the very high crowds and general lack of respect for the land and nature that those high crowds bring. We are big fans of national parks and do a lot of hiking around the country and have never seen so much trash or vandalism in any other park by a long shot. It says something about the people who visit it unfortunately.

Please, no flames. The OP asked for opinions and they had been all positive so far. Just wanted to share a different perspective.

I sort of agree.

I have only been once & it was in the late 1990's. Dollywood was a typical theme park so I liked it as I would pretty much all theme parks.

But the rest of the area I would be OK with not going back.

I remember 2 things about that trip:

1. I was waiting for my boyfriend (now dh) to come out of the bathroom in Dollywood. Some lady asked me what I had in my hand. I told her it was a video camera (circa 1997 so it wasn't huge & it wasn't tiny like today's). She then proceeded to ask me what is it for. I sure wish I had it rolling when I was having that conversation. It just amazed me.

2. We went to Dairy Queen (I think) & I swear it took 10-15 min from the time we ordered a simple cone to the time we got it. Seriously people it shouldn't take that long. If something took that long here in CT (or NY) they'd be out of business.

It just wasn't my type of vacation. We did go up into the Smokey's & walked a bit which was nice but the town area's were not my cup of tea.

And some one said it was Myrtle Beach but with mountains. I would agree but I love MB & would go there in a heart beat.