I see some availability in May. Is this a good time to visit? Which resorts would you recommend? I have a hold on Sunrise Ridge Resort.
I agree that May is a great time to go. The weather is usually quite warm but before the peak summer heat and humidity. Crowds and traffic are much more reasonable too.
There are many good resorts in the area. We've returned several times to
Wyndham Smoky Mountains and we like it a lot. The rooms are attractively decorated, comfortable and very well-maintained. The smaller (lock-off) 1BRs are much better equipped than any studio but they're not nearly nice as a 1BR Deluxe and larger - the smaller units don't have a balcony/patio, enough kitchen counter or cabinet space, nor a jacuzzi tub (just a small, hotel room-style bathroom). So, avoid a 1BR in RCI if it does not say it has a "full" kitchen and sleeps 4/4. We like the close availability of pools in both sections of this resort - most rooms are only a short, fairly level walk away (except 2 buildings and we just request a room "near" a pool). The location has easy access to Dollywood via Veteran's Blvd without the traffic on Parkway. The trolley has a stop at the edge of the resort or it's a short drive to Pigeon Forge attractions, restaurants and shopping. There's an internal shuttle van to take guests across the road that bisects this resort and reach both clubhouses and pool areas from any rooms.
We've toured
Wyndham Great Smokies Lodge and our son will be staying there in December for a few nights. It's newer, with shared amenities with the Wilderness in the Smokies hotel resort. Activities include an indoor waterpark, an outdoor seasonal waterpark, an "adventure" zone (laser tag, mini-golf in the dark, etc. - for a fee), and an onsite golf course. It looks like a great place to stay when you primarily want to enjoy the resort itself. Most of our vacations in the area have included a fair amount of sightseeing and this resort is located further out in Sevierville, towards I-40, so it's more of a drive to most attractions than we normally prefer.
We've also toured the Westgate, Bent Creek, and MountainLoft resorts. All three of these resorts are built into pretty steep hillsides. So going from your room to the resort's pool and/or clubhouse facilities may require either a steep walk or driving your car. But they all offer good amenities and the rooms (at least the models) at all of them were very attractive. The smaller lock-off sides of larger units are tight, as is common in timeshares.
Westgate has terrific indoor-outdoor waterpark/pool facilities that families will enjoy. The location is fantastic, basically right between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge (short drives but not walkable) and not far from the bypass over to Smoky Mtns Nat'l Park. I'm guessing there's a trolley stop here but not 100% sure. Trades through II only.
On winding state Rte 321, about 2-3 miles east of downtown Gatlinburg, there's
MountainLoft, a Bluegreen resort with a couple good clubhouses and pools and some excellent mountain views. This location is pretty good for visiting Gatlinburg, not really great for crossing through busy Gatlinburg to reach either the Smoky Mtns Nat'l Park or Pigeon Forge. Again, I'd guess there's a trolley stop nearby, but not sure.
Another 9-10 miles east on 321 and you'll find
Bent Creek, a Diamond resort, in a quieter, somewhat more remote location but with a golf course onsite. Cell phone service can be iffy. The location is the most difficult for traveling to area sightseeing and activities, of what we've seen. With mostly condos, there are only a few cabin units here but were they ever nice! Some units at this resort have fireplaces which adds a lot to the ambiance on cooler off-season evenings. Just depends on the kind of vacation you're seeking.
Sunrise Ridge Resort has an excellent location for visiting Dollywood and Pigeon Forge attractions, similar to Wyndham Smoky Mountains. I've often thought that if I couldn't get our favorite Wyndham for our visits, I'd welcome a trade into Sunrise Ridge. It gets good reviews for maintenance, the amenities we use the most (indoor and outdoor pools), and nice views. HTH!