The Tennessee Mountians...awwwww.........so beautiful and peaceful. In the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge area...there are many opportunities to spend money....you can actually throw it away there....
We went with another family and were blessed to share a Timeshare Condo with this family of 5. There were 4 of us making 9 in one condo....It was a large condo and we had plenty of room.
The resort had 4 pools, tennis courts, putt-putt, places to grill out with picnic tables and more.
Of course in the area there are many, many things to do. We wanted to focus on Dollywood because of the wide range of ages in the kids and adults.
Dollywood has a pass called the Splash and Play:
Splash & Play (3 Days of Adventure & the 3rd Day is FREE!)
05/22/2009 - 09/07/2009
Price: $91.65 (Ages 12+)
If you would like to visit both Dollywood and Dollywood's Splash Country, we have a Splash & Play Ticket available. This is a discounted multi-day, multi-park ticket allowing one person admission to both parks for 3 days of adventure -- and the third day is FREE!
You may visit either or both parks on each of your three (3) days -- any combination of park admissions are valid for each person with a Splash & Play ticket. Splash & Play tickets do not have to be used on consecutive days, however, all admissions must be used within 7 days of first usage.
Splash & Play Ticket Prices
Regular (Ages 12+): $82.00 + tax = $91.65
Child (Ages 4-11): $67.00 + tax = $74.85
Actually, we were able to spend 2 full days at the water park, and on the last day we went after 3:00- to Dollywood and got the last full day at that same park...So we got 3 and 1/2 days for the one price.
We saw some awesome shows, rode a real steam engine train up into the mountians, rode many, many rides, and enjoyed the parks greatly.
Other ways we saved money:
When in either park, the drinks and food are expensive...BUT, if you go up to any vendor you can get FREE ICE WATER! I loved this!
We carried small snacks with us so we wouldn't be tempted to spend money on food in the park.
We brought our lunches and ate our food not theirs. You can bring a cooler and return to your car to eat.
Parking is $8.00 a day. We did pay this but the local "Fun Time Trolley" runs out to the parks and sets you out at the gate.
Our group was taking 2 cars....thats $16.00 a day.
Tolley costs are as follows:
 |
| North Parkway ................................................... | 50¢ | | South Parkway ................................................... | 50¢ | | Gatlinburg Welcome Center.................................. | 75¢ | | Dollywood ......................................................... | 50¢ | | Dolly's Splash Country ........................................ | 50¢ | | Wears Valley ..................................................... | 50¢ | | Courthouse ........................................................ | 50¢ |
|
 |
Daily 8:30 - Midnight early March through October
Daily 10:00am - 10:00pm, November and December
Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day |
I think it would have cost us $1.00 per day per person. This is all a matter of conveince.
We would have saved some but could not have gone to the car to eat....so I think in the long run paying for parking was a good choice.
Gasing up at the pumps. Gas was actually almost 10 cents cheaper there...go figure...but I still wanted the best deal...."Look for Kroger Gas Station". I got our gas 15 cents cheaper that the local prices. That made me feel great.
We cooked in the condo...had all our breakfasts there except one....Tradition, Breakfast at Pancake Pantry-Gatlinburg on the strip. Lunches were bag lunches or eaten at the condo. We cooked most dinners at the condo, but ate out Pizza one night and one night a nice resturant with a coupon.
Tip: Most restaurants and coupons available in tourist areas....find a coupon.
Most restaurants have a "Early Bird" or "Lunch" Price that goes til 4:00
For example...we went to Mr. Gattis Buffet.
$6.99 til 4:00
$8.49 After 4:00
BIG DIFFERENCE!
We went in at 3:45 and paid the lunch price...it was our lunch and dinner...
Plus we had a coupon for 10% off your tab.
Drinks were included in that price.
Salad, Pizza, Pasta, Dessert Pizza and Drinks all included.
So, you see you can save money even on vacation. Just use your brains and get the coupon books.
Always stop at the visitors center they always have coupons.
A hard coupon to find in one for a discount at Dixie Stampede.
The visitor center on the interstate before you get to Cookville had some $3.00 off each admission...That is a good one.
Thats all the tips I can think of for now.
If you have any to add, please leave them in the comments.
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