What the Insider Says:
What do you get when you cross a science museum and an arcade? If you said “a mess” you’re half right! If you also said “WonderWorks” then you’ve got it! The “mess” is that the building is built to look like it has landed upside down in Pigeon Forge. You simply cannot miss it as it is arguably the most unique building in the Smoky Mountains. WonderWorks in Pigeon Forge, TN says it is “Tennessee’s only upside down attraction. An Amusement Park for the Mind, featuring over 150 interactive exhibits. It’s 55,000 sq feet of Family Fun…and don’t miss the most anticipated Dinner Show – Hoot ‘n Holler” according the WonderWorks home page.
This is an extremely entertaining attraction that is well worth every penny. Unlike a dinner show or theater where you have a specific amount of time to enjoy them, the WonderWorks in Tennessee is a go-at-your-own-pace attraction that lets you try out every single exhibit as many times as you want! There are no limits (that I know of) to the amount of times that you can play interact with the exhibits. Wonder Works will honestly keep an entire family of every age entertained for hours! I spent close to two hours going through and trying out everything that I could. I got to feel the winds of a hurricane, experience what an earthquake feels like, ride some bicycle thing that flips you completely upside-down, throw a baseball, design and ride my own virtual roller coaster, lay on a bed of nails, and so much more! WonderWorks is definitely one of the best attractions in Pigeon Forge, TN.
Insider Tips:
- Pick your times. It can get crowded, so choose wisely when you go. The best times are early morning or late after dinner. Try to avoid Fridays and Saturdays if at all possible.
- Use coupons. Get Wonder Works coupons and discount tickets.
- Watch when you eat. There are rides that spin and flip, so eat either before or after you go depending on which doesn’t make you sick!
- Bring your camera! There are so many photo opportunities at WonderWorks. Take a picture of someone in a spacesuit, on a bed of nails, flying through the air, etc.
- This is a great place for birthday parties, youth group trips, reunions, etc.
The only disappointment that I had with WonderWorks was that some of the exhibits weren’t working. With so many people interacting with them, it’s understandable that some exhibits will tend to take the day off. I tried messing with a computer that could supposedly read my mind by asking me 20 questions, but it wouldn’t even ask the first question…I guess my mind is hard to read! There was also a spaceshuttle simulation on a plasma screen that wasn’t working. I messed with an exhibit that was supposed to show me what I will look like in 20 years, but it simply made me look like I do every morning! With so many things to do, these were easily forgiven. I still give WonderWorks a big 5 star rating simply because of the bang for the buck entertainment. WonderWorks also has the Hoot and Holler Dinner Show, which is a turn-of-the-century vaudeville style dinner show with family-style Italian food. It sounds like a lot of fun with a ton of audience participation.
If you have tips that you would like to share about Wonder Works in Pigeon Forge, TN then please post a comment below!
Website:
http://www.wonderworksonline.com/pigeon-forge/
Prices:
Adults – $25.99
Children – $17.99
Phone:
865-868-1800
Address:
WonderWorks
100 Music Road
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
View a map
I would not recommend this attraction! You know that you have wasted your money when the children you are with turn to you half way through the attraction and say “we are bored can we go somewhere else”. I took my brothers children and one other friend and did not really feel like it was worth the money. All together we spent about $100 including the arcade, which by the way was the highlight of the trip. I would recommend the Dixie Stampede if you are looking for something to do with your children. We went later that night and every was great!
I took my family to wonderworks recently and was a little bummed about the price but that’s what i get for having a large family. but for anybody who has small children it’s not really all that much fun. We have a baby who just recently learned to walk and it’s a real trip for the person who has to watch the little one. But that’s just about any place you go. But for the times that I actually got to participate it was great. They just need a better way to get strollers around because it was hard to navigate my stroller through the exibits.
I would not recommend for families with teens and pre teens – my family was extremely bored and very dissapointed with the amount of money that we spent – and we did not even get the “dinner’ package!
It was so crowded that we could not see anything and the people just kept pouring in –
We really enjoyed Black Bear Jamboree! It was wonderful – as was Ripley’s Haunted Musuem in Gatlinburg!
We just went last week. I have 2 boys 7 and 4. They were bored; it was almost impossible to keep up with my 4 yr old in the crowd and there was nothing for him to do. It had more personality test and computer questionaires than activities.
My family liked this attraction. kids 9 and 13 had fun. They climbed the rock wall, rode the 360 and just about all the other stuff. At least it is not like Ripley’s Believe It or Not where they want you to stick your quarters in every gimmicky kind of machine. I was pleased to pay one price and not shell out money in the rest of the venture. I did not like the arcade it took too many tickets for the kids to get any of the cheap plastic junk at the ticket counter.
I just went with my husband on Sunday. I would say they would be too crowded to go on Friday or Saturday though. I would recommend it for anyone who does not have to chase their little ones around! It was great for us and I will be taking my 2 kids there soon. They are 9 and 11. They would prob spend all day in there. We also went to Ripleys believe it or not and we both thought the wonderworks was so much better! We did not play in the arcade for too long because thats not our style and there are so many other arcades around.
The highlight of our trip was the Comedy Barn. It was great for all ages!!:) (Its also free for kids 11 and under!
My family and I visited wonder works the first week of August. The kids had great fun. The building was amazing
and the Hoot and Holler Dinner was fantasic. My table got called on alot and that made it even better. Thanks for the great time. And we will be back.
we loved it at the wonderworks. it was awsome. i am a 13 yr old and it was for my b d day we loved it and we will come back this summer!
DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!!! My girlfriend and I drove 50 miles (one way) today for the only purpose of visiting Wonderworks.
Even if you want to go, if there is a large crowd turn around before getting out of your car. It was so crowded we could only spend a few seconds at each “exhibit” Many of which, as mentioned in another review, were simply computer stations with quizzes and questionnaires which look like something a psychologist may use. Walking throughout this place you could overhear MANY people complaining about the crowd and how it was a BIG letdown. This place is not all it’s cracked up to be! Many of the employees looked like they would rather be getting tortured than working there. The lady working the bed of nails exhibit had a smug look of discontent on her face each time I looked over in that area of the exhibit room. I would consider a lot of this museum to have a county fair “sideshowish” quality to it. When we arrived at the end of the museum we both looked at each other and said “that was it?!?!?” Upon exiting the building we were approached by one of those people giving away tickets to local attractions if you would listen to their timeshare spill. This woman seemed intent on harassing as many people as possible by blocking the door to leave. I repeat, spend your money on something else. Driving away we were wishing we had our $40 back to spend on something more entertaining.
me and my boyfriend came down in April of 08 and were coming back this month..Wonderworks was amazing..were 25 and we acted like we were little kids in a candy shop. Many people are saying that it was crowded but you have to be careful what time you go, we went at about 10 p.m. on a saturday night and there might have been 15 other people in the building…it was great…don’t go to Pigeon Forge and not see wonderworks.
Wonder Works was really fun. I went two years ago, and possibly going this year, and it was awesome. People need to realize that THIS PLACE IS AWESOME. My cousin is 15 and she loves it too. It wasn’t really crowded when we went, but if it was, I would still luv it anyways. I would recommend this attraction.
My husband and I were in the area for our honeymoon Sat – Wed and we had heard so much about Wonderworks this, Wonderworks that, and so Sunday night we ate at Tony Roma’s (which is absolutely WONDERFUL by the way!) and we were both like we could give it a try we have nothing but time and O MY GOODNESS WE HAD A BLAST! I related our experience to acting like kids in Chuck E Cheese lol we were both very pleased w/ the great time we had while we were in there and it was a little crowded but still all worth the wait! I recommend this attraction to anyone!!
We took our son, his girlfriend and our granddaughter to Wonderworks and we had a blast. It was very interesting and our 4 year old granddaughter had a blast. If you are here, you have to go into Wonderworks.
My husband and I were in TN for a weekend get away and decided to visit the Wonderworks we heard so much about. When we walked in I was excited the building itself was awesome. They definately put time into the details. The sounds effects were awesome. I would definately recommend taking your children bc of the rock climb and other activities for children. The price was a little high and it was really crowded so we had to wait in really long lines for the activities my husband and I could enjoy but overall we enjoyed the visit and would definately go again but in an off season. The workers were extremely helpful and pleasant.
I really need a vacation!! My husband and I have had a rough year..and want a weekend getaway!!!