The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel
The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel
The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel
4.5
Full view
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
1,106 reviews
Excellent
671
Very good
275
Average
113
Poor
22
Terrible
25
Archrn
Chicago, Illinois52 contributions
Sep 2020
The wheel is a very smooth ride, is air conditioned and very pricey. You go around 4 or 5 times for $14.00 a person. Look for discounts to make this a better value. The views looking west toward the strip are better than to the east towards the shopping center! The best time to ride is early evening when the sun starts to set, the island lights are all on outside, the fountain waters are "dancing" and there are lots of people on the island mulling about.
Written September 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
david w
Dinwiddie, VA86 contributions
Sep 2021
What was good about it was that there was very little wait time [on a monday afternoon in mid september]. It had great views of the city and mountains. And they give you a decent amount of time on it. However $15 per person is a little over priced.
Written September 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Crystal S
Portage, MI154 contributions
Apr 2021 • Family
The Ferris wheel is very pretty, especially lit up at night. The seats are self contained with air conditioning and tinted windows. It’s included in the unlimited passes you can buy for the rides at the Island. I also saw $2 coupons everywhere for it.
The line was long when we were there over spring break. If half the queue is full, it took an hour and 15 minutes to wait and ride. The ride was three times around.
They are disinfecting the pods between users so they were only filling up half the pods with each load which may have lent itself to the longer wait.
The line was long when we were there over spring break. If half the queue is full, it took an hour and 15 minutes to wait and ride. The ride was three times around.
They are disinfecting the pods between users so they were only filling up half the pods with each load which may have lent itself to the longer wait.
Written April 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CaT
7 contributions
Jan 2020
Had a good time, the island was fun to visit. $14 or $12 w/ coupon felt a little pricey for 3 revolutions. Considering we were there with very few people, felt they could be a little more accomodating since we just spun 3 times with no stops because no one else was there.
Written January 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle H
Harrisburg, PA93 contributions
Sep 2020
There are coupons on the Island website or in many of the coupon books. We got the day/night pass for $20 that the coupon doesn't apply (it is $14 for one ride). You go around a total of 5 times. It was nice to escape the heat in the air conditioned cabin. The views are amazing. The ladies that were in charge the day we were there were all great. It's worth the trip. I had hoped to do this on 2 prior trips. The third time was the charm and it was well worth the wait. Take your camera because you will get an opportunity to get wonderful photos. Well worth it!
Written September 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hdempsey
Washington DC1,278 contributions
Apr 2023
It's a little pricey for going around 3 times, but check those coupon booklets and you can get a few bucks off. The kids saw this the whole trip and begged to do it, so we relented. The view was decent, especially at the top. And it is self contained and air conditioned, and we hit it at a time it wasn't too busy so not a long wait but the line waiting area looks like it must get crazy sometimes. I would recommend buying the tickets ahead online because the line at the window was long. I bought online right there and skipped the line to buy tickets which probably saved 10-15 minutes.
Written April 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Donnaklo
Greensboro, North Carolina14 contributions
May 2020
Stood in line for a long time with three small children. Wheel stopped moving for 5 minutes. Asked the people working there why? Said they didn't know "might have something to do with the fact that we have to keep starting and stopping the wheel to do the sterilizing". They were spraying chemicals into the ride (enclosed space). We left without riding after paying alot of $ to ride. Not safe at this time to ride this wheel.
Written May 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gemini76
Kenner, LA161 contributions
Jun 2021
We bought a day/night ticket for 3 adults. The guy at the ticket both would not honor my $2 off coupon because he said the day/night ticket was already discounted. Price was a bit steep, $20/person, but we paid it because we were on vacation and wanted to experience this attraction. The ride itself was fine and the gondola was comfortable. The day and night views were both spectacular, but we will likely not do this again due to the price. If you are afraid of heights and closed in spaces, you may want to avoid this attraction because they stop you at the top frequently.
Written June 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Diana J
4 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
I waited in a line for an hour and 20 minutes with people surrounding me at all angles, no one was wearing masks, they were not enforcing social distancing. Im not covid crazy or paranoid but that was a crowd and some safety measures should be in place. Finally got to the ride and the windows were so foggy and streaky that we could barely see anything. Overall just a bad experience and I really hope myself and husband don’t get sick.
Written August 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jon
Bluffton, IN257 contributions
Oct 2020
Fantastic Views of surrounding area including Mt. LeConte. You are on vacation so quit griping about the price. There are $2 off coupons you can use to reduce the price from $14 to $12. You won't regret the time spent on the Wheel.
Written October 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
They do have a VIP chair on the wheel that is bigger than the others but I can't say for sure if it's wheel chair accessible. It may be but you should call someone there and ask. (865) 286-0119
Written June 13, 2020
Either way. Night is beautiful when it's all lit up. Daytime will be busier of course.
Written August 1, 2019
It takes about 3 minutes or so for one turn. The ride lasts about 10 minutes for 3 turns. The wheel is huge and the gondolas hold 4 people comfortably or 6 smaller people.
Written February 22, 2018
snspayne1
Conyers, Georgia
We will have 4 adults and 3 kids all under 3 years old. What would the cost be?
Written August 5, 2016
Kids under 3 are free. Adults are $14 plus tax. Seniors over 60 are $12 plus tax. There are a TON of $2 off coupons around town in the coupon booklets and brochures at hotels, restaurants etc.
Written August 11, 2016
My family and I are planning a trip this fall. I have a 2 y/o and a 4mo old. Would they be able to ride? Try to find things for my 2y/o to enjoy! Thanks in advance!
Written July 3, 2016
Absolutely. We took our 2yo and he loved it. You're enclosed, no risk of falling out or swinging or anything like that so the baby will be fine too. The view is spectacular. It's really more like a glass elevator than a Ferris wheel, as far as the "feel" of the ride. With your 2 yo also check out Smoky Mountain Deer Farm and Parrot Mountain. Our 2yo LOVED those 2 places.
Written July 4, 2016
What is the cost of the ferris wheel ride. We have a family of 6.
Written June 7, 2016
I believe it was about $30 (without discounts) for my daughter and son to ride. It's about a 10 minute ride which is about 4-5 full rotations around. I didn't feel like 4-5 rotations was much of a ride for the cost incurred but they thoroughly enjoyed it which made it worth the cost for me. They were so excited to share all you could see from a top the wheel. If you shop around you should be able to find discount coupons to help with cost.
Written June 7, 2016
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