10 Things to Know Before You Go

Use the coupons in local attraction brochures. As soon as you get to town, be sure to pick up brochures for the Pigeon Forge attractions you’re interested in visiting. You can find these at brochure stands outside of restaurants and area attractions. These brochures often have percentage-off discounts and even BOGOs for a free ticket or a free treat in the area.
Buy attraction tickets online when you can. Save yourself the headache of waiting in line to buy tickets for popular attractions and dinner shows by buying your tickets online instead. Not only is this more convenient for you, but it sometimes means better seats and a price discount. You can plan to order your tickets before you come, or take advantage of the free Wi-Fi offered in most of our Pigeon Forge cabins during your stay.
Ask about group discounts. Whether you’re traveling with 4 people or 40, it never hurts to ask about group discounts to popular shows and attractions. Often you can get a percentage off your total when you order a certain amount of tickets. Simply search group specials online or call attractions ahead of time to find out your options.
Ask about combo tickets at The Island. If you’ve never ridden the 200-foot-tall observation wheel at The Island, you’re in for a treat. You can see the Smoky Mountains from all angles, providing panoramic views you’ll never forget. But here’s a little tip before you buy your wheel tickets: the day/night combo tickets are a much better deal! You’ll get 2 rides for just a few dollars more than it takes to purchase 1. Another tip before heading to The Island – check out their coupons page for discounts to a number of shops and restaurants found inside the attraction.
Take advantage of Dollywood’s “after 3 p.m.” deal. Dollywood remains one of the most popular attractions in Pigeon Forge, but that’s not because the tickets are cheap. To save some money and have twice the opportunity for fun, try the “arrive after 3 p.m. and the next day’s free” program. From March through October, if you buy tickets after 3 p.m., you can return the next day for free!
Kids eat free at The Smith Family dinner show. Although Pigeon Forge has a variety of family-friendly dinner shows, you can save some money by bringing your family to The Smith Family Theater, where kids 12 and under eat for free! As long as your kids are accompanied by paying adults, they can enjoy dinner buffet and musical entertainment of The Smith Family in Pigeon Forge at no extra cost. (One child 12 and under is free with each paying adult.)
You can come and go at WonderWorks. Many attractions have a “no re-entry” policy, but not WonderWorks. This kid-friendly attraction allows you to come and go as you please until closing time. That means you can run back to your Pigeon Forge cabin for lunch or a quick snack and then return to WonderWorks for another round of “edu-tainment” that’s fun for the whole family!
Ride the trolley when you can. The Fun Time Trolley, servicing Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, is a convenient and economical way to get around Pigeon Forge while you’re in town. Fares run from $0.50 to $0.75, or you can purchase an all-day pass for $2.50. The trolley will take you up and down the Parkway and to the popular Pigeon Forge attractions of Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country.
Avoid traffic by driving early in the morning or late in the evening. Make driving less of a hassle by avoiding the worst travel times of the day. Plan to leave your cabin before 10 a.m. and head back sometime after 7 p.m. Also, if you’re unfamiliar with street names, use the traffic light numbers to help get around Pigeon Forge. These are well-marked and designed to make the city a little easier to navigate for visitors.
Plan your vacation well in advance. Peak seasons for visiting Pigeon Forge are summertime and the fall—especially the month of October. But no matter when you plan to visit, it’s best to book your stay at least several months in advance. Our cabins fill up fast, and tickets to attractions and shows can sell out quickly. So get started early, and make plans for your next Pigeon Forge vacation today!