Hannah's Maze of Mirrors - Pigeon Forge

Are you the chosen one?  The one to help free Hannah from the spell put on her by a witch that traps her in a maze of mirrors so she can only see herself for all eternity.  At this exact moment she has been locked in the maze for 7 years and 7 days and you have only 7 hours to help her escape.

To start your search you enter a motion tunnel that leads you to a musical staircase that lights up with each step you take.  Our daughter loved this part so much that she ran up and down them trying to out chase the lights and notes.

Once inside the maze you are faced with over 280 possible mirrors and wrong turns, along the way you will find help from the King and maybe even the witch or Hannah herself.   The twists and turns are one thing, but add a few changing light color and patterns and that adds another element that will have you wondering just which way to turn next.   This maze of mirrors is one that will leave you with your hands out in front of your body since you never know which turn is going to put you on the right path or right smack into a mirror.

Just before you find Hannah, which I feel confident you will, you will have a chance to dance in a mirrored room with fireworks and music.  This a a great chance to have a little fun showing off your moves.

Hannah's Maze of Mirrors is part of the Hollywood Wax Museum, Outbreak and the Castle of Chaos.   Tickets can be purchased separately or together for extra savings.  

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Splash Country - Pigeoon Forge

 It is summer and that means you need to cool down and have some fun on your family vacation.  Awarded one of America's top ten water parks, Splash Country, part of Dollywood, is a must for the entire family.

With more than 25 water slides all of varying heights, twists and turns, a massive wave pool, two children's areas, the longest lazy river I have ever seen and River Rush the only water coaster in Tennessee, the entire family will enjoy this stop.

What you want to know about Splash Country:
They provide life jackets in all sizes free of charge
The H2O pass will save you hours waiting in line.
Canopies & Cabanas are available for rent
Water is free at all concession stands, you just have to ask
Be sure to bring your own sunscreen and towels

Do you notice all the beautiful landscaping in the photos?  Splash Country is literally surrounded by the Smokies.   The park is spotless, well spaced out and the staff enthusiastic.   The music played throughout the park is upbeat and classics the whole family will know and sing along to.

We had our meals in the park and I would suggest eating at off times, the lines were a little long so we took that time to hit the slides and avoid the crowds.  Both Mike and I commented that the food at both Dollywood and Splash Country is reasonably priced when compared to other parks.

Splash Country does offer ticket options with Dollywood and just like Dollywood, if you arrive after three the next day is free. 

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Pirate Golf - Pigeon Forge

I decided a while ago that I prefer indoor mini golf to outdoor.  You do not have to worry about the weather or time of day when you play.   Pirate Golf, inside Magiquest offers an 18 hole course with a Caribbean Theme.

 This 18 hole course is flawlessly maintained.  The vibrant colors are brought to life with black lights and if you are dressed just right you may even glow along with your golf ball.

The holes on this course vary in difficulty.  Kids will love the hole they play on the ship.  Throughout the course you will hear Pirate themed music, which changes with the holes.

 The interactive screens along the way will either ask you for help or provide you with a clue, all in the hopes that you find the missing key.

Our family enjoyed playing this course, especially at the end when when my husband got a hole in one and the Pirate began singing.

Pirate Golf can be played alone or as part of a ticket package which includes the Magiquest, The Vault and The Odyssey Mirror Maze.

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WonderWorks - Pigeon Forge

 

Our last stop in Pigeon Forge was to WonderWorks, a hands on attraction that brings together both science and entertainment in a way that is fun for the entire family.  This upside down laboratory is hands down a hidden treasure that consists of three levels of adventure.

BUT FIRST...if you remember nothing else, remember this!
 Before any fun can begin I need point out that closed toe shoes are a must for this stop.  

With over 100 interactive exhibits such as:

XD Motion Theater
Laser Tag (not included with admission)
Bed of Nails
Flight Simulator
Mind Ball
Rock Wall

Pulley Power
Big Piano
Big Lite Brite
The Art of Dr. Seuss
Glow-in-the-dark Ropes Course
NASA Challenge
Bubble Lab
360 Bikes
Inversion Tunnel
Hurricane Shack

It is easy to spend hours at WonderWorks, in fact our three hour visit seemed too short.

Not being the adventurous type I left the rock wall climbing to my husband and daughter, and I am proud to say while it took a few tries they both successfully make it to the top.   What set this wall apart is that there are three sides to the wall and the skill level varies on each.

While each exhibit is interactive the NASA area is one that everyone in the group will want to take part in.  It is also here that you will find the glow-in-the-dark ropes course, for me this was my window to explore the area while she spent time on the ropes course.

 The Bed of Nails is a must, in fact this is the first time I have ever seen an exhibit to this extreme that allows anyone of any age to try.  It begins with the nails down and once you are completely flat they begin to raise.  The key is in staying still and allowing your weight to be evenly dispersed.   You will feel the pressure of the nails, but I assure you it is not painful.

At the end of your tour you will exit in the arcade which has a snack stand and laser tag.   This is the only area that is not included with your admission but all games are reasonable in price.

A few things I want to point out about WonderWorks, your admission is good all day so feel free to stay as long as you would like, you can even leave and come back. Make sure you plan for at least 4 hours, three felt rushed. Coupons can be found on the brochures, which most hotels have to offer.

I feel confident that your entire family will enjoy WonderWorks, especially if you don't forget your closed toed shoes.

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The Vault Laser Challenge-Pigeon Forge, TN

On the ground floor of the MagiQuest building is The Vault Laser Challenge. It is a room full of laser beams that the player has to do their best to avoid by twisting, bending and crawling. 

As you can see there are a lot of beams that have to be dealt with. The goal is to get through the course as fast as possible, but every time a beam is broken by the player, extra time is added to their total time.  My husband said he thought he was doing a good job at first, but as the course went on, he could not avoid several of the beams and a lot of extra time was added on. Our daughter had a much better time with much fewer penalties. Because of her size, she was able to navigate around the beams much easier and by taking her time she was able to make it through some of the tightest spots.

The television monitor above the door is a great touch. This way, players waiting for their turn or family and friends of those going through the course can watch their progress and see how well or not so well they are doing.

You can purchase a ticket for just The Vault, however, they also offer a great deal a combo ticket which includes The Vault as well as Pirate Golf, Odyssey Mirror Maze and MagiQuest.

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Castle of Chaos-Pigeon Forge, TN

Also in the Hollywood Wax Museum Entertainment Center is Castle of Chaos which is described as the first 5D attraction in the world. 

The description is it is a haunted attraction that combines the experiences of a 3D film, a ride and a video game all in one. The ride part is the fact that you are on a rotating platform that randomly spins you between three screens which requires you to battle a variety of bats, bugs and zombies.  You and the other players are exploring a mysterious castle to discover the possibility of a paranormal activity outbreak.

As you can see in the picture above, 24 players can take part at once and each person is given 3D glasses and a gun that looks like an old style pistol.  The scores of all of the players are tracked during the ride and the top scorers are shown on the screen. 

This seven minute adventure is able to interact with you as much as you do with it.   I suggest you don't put all your attention on the screen because while you are shooting at it you will be caught off guard when the seat you are sitting in begins to come to life.  To be honest, this part did upset our eight year old daughter but only because she was not expecting it and scared her, my guess is that most kids her age and under would have no trouble with the Castle of Chaos. 

  For our daughter it was just a matter of needing to close her eyes and waiting for the ride to be over, but in the event that someone becomes too frightened or an emergency occurs all you need to do is unbuckle your seat belt and the ride will come to a halt.  With that being said I do not think the ride is suitable for seniors, women who are pregnant or anyone else who may find spinning at a quick speed not ideal for them.  

If you enjoy interactive motion rides that involve shooting, I think that Castle of Chaos is the ride for you. As with the other attractions at the Hollywood Wax Museum Entertainment Center, you can purchase tickets just for this one or the better deal is to go with the All Access Pass which includes entry to the Hollywood Wax Museum, Outbreak, Castle of Chaos and Hannah's Maze of Mirrors. 

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Outbreak-Pigeon Forge

 

A few days ago I told you about the Hollywood Wax Museum.  Just across the parking lot is another building that houses a few more attractions and one of them is called Outbreak Dread the Undead.

The description of Outbreak is:

This thrill-a- minute haunted walk-through experience is filled with hordes of the undead. Inside the laboratory of ChemaCorp, a global leader in biotechnology, medical research, and defense contracting, you’ll come face-to- face with a military experiment gone terribly wrong. The company’s viral compound, Alpha Strain, which was designed to enhance soldier DNA, has turned test subjects and the entire research staff into aggressive zombies that must be stopped. Your mission? Contain the outbreak and make it out alive… and SCREAMING!

My daughter and I were concerned that this might be too intense of an experience for us, so we had my husband go through without us. Unfortunately, he was not allowed to take pictures.  He ended up being part of a group of 5 people to walk through the lab.  What he told me was that Outbreak lasted longer than he thought it would which he was happy with. There were a lot of different rooms and hallways that you have to walk through depicting different scenes of a zombie outbreak in a lab.  There is a combination of animatronic zombies as well as live actors who do their best to scare the visitors.  He said what made this more enjoyable and in some cases laugh out loud funny was that in his group there was a young lady who was easily scared and was screaming and yelling quite a bit. It became apparent quickly that the live zombie actors realized this and did their best to scare her even more.

When he finished he let me know that he thought it was a good idea that my daughter and I sat this one out, but that younger kids who are not scared easily would be able to handle Outbreak. Keep in mind that the actors can't touch you and you can't touch anything. There is some blood and body parts and some dark hallways but as long as you keep your eyes out around corners and possible hiding places, you will be able to survive the Outbreak.

You can purchase tickets to just Outbreak or the best deal is to get an All Access Pass which gets you entry to the Hollywood Wax Museum, Outbreak, Castle of Chaos and Hannah's Maze of Mirrors.    

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Odyssey Mirror Maze Adventure - Pigeon Forge, TN

Inside the MagiQuest building you will find the Odyssey Mirror Maze Adventure, the largest mirror maze in the Pigeon Forge area.  From the moment you step inside you discover there is more to this maze than simply maneuvering around a few mirrors, but first you must follow the rules and put on gloves to avoid unnecessary finger prints that would ruin the experience for others.

 Divided into three distinct areas this maze will leave you on your toes as to what you will find around each turn.  In fact if you are like our family it will leave you questioning each other on who knows the right way to go.

-the Holographic Hallway

 - the Infinity Room

 - the Forest

 What sets the Odyssey Mirror Maze apart from others is the use of light and sound.  By adding some motion lights that change colors, speed and brightness it changes your perception in the mirrors.   In select areas music plays with an upbeat tempo that had our daughter dancing and laughing at her many reflections in the mirrors.

If you have not been to a mirror maze before I do caution you to take your time, hold your hands out in front of you and be prepared to be deceived, even the most clever will bump into at least one mirror before exiting.

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MagiQuest-Pigeon Forge, TN

If you are looking to escape the real world and go on interactive, live action quests and adventures to gain powers, reveal secrets (including secret passages), meet wizards and other magical people and discover treasure, I suggest you make a visit to MagiQuest.



MagiQuest is really an activity for all ages. There are varying levels of difficulty for the players, so even the youngest player can complete quests and collect runes, which is one of the main goals. When enough and the correct kinds of runes are collected, then the players can go on to try to defeat a dragon, rescue a princess and more.

One of the coolest parts of MagiQuest is that upon arriving you are given a working magic wand. There is even a room where the players are given time to practice using their wands as well as learning about how to play.

The players use their wands to log in to the touch screen terminals and from there the quest they wish to go on can be selected. The goals of the quest and the items that need to be acquired are shown at these terminals.  The players are also given a book called "The Ancient Book of Wisdom" which contains a number of quests and adventures with some clues and riddles to help get through to the next one.  It should be noted that the players are given either an hour or ninety minutes to get through as many quests as possible, but extra time can be purchased. Also, if the player is in the middle of a quest when their time is up, they are allowed to finish the quest. The wands are programmed with the items needed to complete the individual quests and there are other terminals throughout where the player's progress can be checked.

The MagiQuest area takes up a large part of the building and is divided into several different realms and all of them are very unique and interesting to explore.  There are plenty of items to wave your wands at, either treasure or items needed to complete the quest and there is plenty to look at. Plus, there are some secret doors that can only be opened if the player finds specific keys.

My family actually got pretty far along and had collected almost enough Runes to go on the adventure to rescue the princess. One of the MagiQuest team members helped us along our way and with his help we were able to complete that adventure.  We found that throughout our time there, the staff was very friendly and helpful and were available to offer a hint or give a clue to get not only us, but other players moving in the right direction so that their time could be more enjoyable and successful.

MagiQuest is one of four activities that take place in the same building. In addition to this one, there is also Pirate Miniature Golf, Odyssey Mirror Maze Adventure and the Vault Laser Game. I will tell you more about the other activities in future posts. Visitors can purchase a combo ticket and get to take part in all of the areas.

If you or someone in your family is a fan of wizards and magic quests and going on scavenger hunts, I would recommend checking out MagiQuest in Pigeon Forge. 

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