For a relaxing getaway for your family, I suggest that you stay at another Pigeon Forge hotel. We frequent the area and decided to give the Vacation Lodge Motel a try since they had a good price for a Mini Suite room(kitchenette, jacuzzi tub). I'm sure some families enjoy the style (everyone smokes on their balconies and socializes frequently), but it really wasn't a great fit for us. The walls were paper thin and the design of the suite tower promoted the echos of every voice and car door slamming. The beds were very firm and the continental breakfast was not worth the hike around the back of the building. The kitchenette was a microwave, fridge, and a sink so don't plan on using it to cook with. However, the location was great (near the Old Mill and Dollywood) and the price was low for a suite. I recommend this hotel for fun loving couples without children, but not for anyone else.

My husband and I called ahead to book one room for 2 nights stay, we paid for the first night so they would hold our reservation. We got their on time for check in and paid for our second night and then went to our room. Everything was fine as always, later that night we received a call from home saying there was an emergency and that we might have to come home. So we waited all night and the next morning we got another call and we had to leave. We went down to check out at 9:30am that morning and the lady stated that since it was a week end, that she could not refund our money, even though we had a family tragedy back at home, so I guess if it had happended on the week day we would have gotten our money back!! I was very disappointed, since I am a regular customer and I always stay at this motel every time I am in that area. I understand about rules and policies, but that is a little stupid, just because it was a week end we could not get our money back, and i'm sure they rented the room out that same day and got double for the one room. I hope that made them happy, cause they just lost a good customer.

Stayed last week of June 08. My wife, 4 month old infant, and myself reserved a non-smoking room. We received a smoking room that smelled like a used ash tray lodged in a black bear's....We informed them of the mixup and was told the hotel was booked up and there was nothing they could do. For the entire trip, every morning we woke up, it tasted like we smoked a pack of Camels then took the ashes and rubbed them on our gums. Its disgusting. We are staying with a large group and all of the rooms, including ours, are fairly nice...nothing special but in overall good condition. The front door sticks right before it closes so there was once we left for the day thinking that the door was shut when in fact it was still open for anyone to come on in. The beds are very stiff and get old very quick. It's been around 90 with no rain the entire time we have been here, yet the pool is ice cold so wear sweat pants if you get in. Overall, the rooms are in good condition and look nice but having rough beds, an ice cold pool, and, worst of all, the pungent smell of smoke made the stay there not very desirable.

Vacation Lodge is in a good location on main drag for restaurants and trolley terminal in Pigeon Forge. Front desk staff is very friendly and knowlegable of area.
Requested room with 2 double beds on top floor away from ice machines and stairs. Given room with 3 double beds on 1st floor right next to office. No blankets on beds, only sheet set and bedspread. Fortunately I had a blanket in car. No soap in bathroom, front desk got us some but it disappeared nex day when housekeeping serviced room. No hairdryer or clock in room either. Ice is .25/bag from machine. Breakfast room doesn't open till 7am, too late for early hikers and offerings are limited to cold ceral and bread/bagels. Outdoor pool is small but adequate and enjoyable as long as you stay in water. Out of pool you're subjected to heat blasts from nearby room's air conditioners or water drips from upstairs rooms.
We will stay at Vacation Lodge again. Room price averaged $67/night for 2 people, it is very convenient to Old Mill restaurant and Dollywood. All we were looking for was a clean bed and bathroom and air conditioning. Satisfied with what we got.