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Received an email yesterday notifying me that reservations are now open for passholders for stays beginning April 9, 2027.

Thanks for the reminder. It's also available on Hulu + Live TV.

https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/best-theme-park-holiday-event/

If you are interested it is time to vote in the 10Best Awards for Best Theme Park Holiday event. You can vote on more than one device. SDC is at the top of the page.

Thanks, pallalin, for sharing your trip with us. Since it has been so long since your last visit, I am sure you noticed a lot of changes. I do agree that the ongoing construction takes away from the train ride. At least it is less noticeable during the night rides of the Christmas season.

What's with the cowboys and home cooking? Is there a new festival? (I haven't really heard anything about what was said at FanFest other than this thread).

I tried posting this last week but was unable to do so. Went to the first day of SGP on Thursday. Got there about 4:45. The line was already in place for Echo Hollow and backed up to the concession stands by Time Traveler. The one remaining theater show was 5 pm at the Boatworks. It featured a group from Tulsa, and it was packed. We walked back to Echo Hollow at 5:30, and the line had cleared. The upper seats were about 3/4 full for the show but there were a lot of empty seats in the bottom. The people who were sitting down there were mainly in the middle. Just one concession stand was open so the lines were long. There were large industrial fans set up at various places. Karen Peck and New River stopped at 6:40 for intermission, and we left. Everything in the park had closed at 6 pm, so everyone was funneled out through 1 open gate in the admissions area.

I thought they did the "buy a pass and get the next year thing during the Christmas festival", but I could be wrong. In the fall edition of SDC times there is a bring a friend $40 coupon that can be used 9/11 - 10/31. In the summer edition there was a $40 BAF coupon that is good through 8/24. Unfortunately, neither one would cover Southern Gospel Picnic if you are going.

Thanks for the input, shavethewhales and biscuitcreek. Good to hear from you, biscuitcreek. I remember you from 1Branson days.

Good to see you here, La Joe. I remember you from the 1Branson board days. Hope you enjoy SGP, and sure hope it's cooler than it is now.

The last few years the park has not been as crowded as it was before 2020. Most of the big names only perform at the evening show, and not during the day. Several of the groups during the day are ones on the regular church circuit of groups that perform on Sunday evenings for freewill offerings.

While this ride is a letdown for thoosies, its necessary for the park with TNT going away. I stopped riding TNT a few years ago because its was just too rough for me, so I'm glad we are getting a modern update. I am jealous of the ride Dollywood previewed today however. I love dark rides and simulators and Nightflight sounds incredible from the early reviews. If Dollywood can keep it running smooth with all the tech that ride has, it will be a huge hit for the park. Hopefully SDC can get a replacement for Flooded Mine with the same Mack rocking boat system.

We also quit riding TNT because it was killing us although we did ride once this spring. I am hopeful MME will be something we can ride and enjoy. I would love to see SDC have a new indoor ride.

I was glad to see the site was working again today.

Periodically, some of us who are signed up to receive emails from SDC or from Herschend get emails that have survey links. Sometimes the surveys are about possible new rides, or about your last visit to SDC, or about your thoughts about travel to other parks and attractions.

Lol I keep getting the economic climate and "which parks I'm visiting in 2026" surveys. I'm pretty limited on my options this year so I just say SDC. Guess they don't want my input for future attractions. 😅

Yeah, it's been a while since I have received new attraction or rides surveys. But I get a lot of the other ones.

Where is this survey?

Periodically, some of us who are signed up to receive emails from SDC or from Herschend get emails that have survey links. Sometimes the surveys are about possible new rides, or about your last visit to SDC, or about your thoughts about travel to other parks and attractions.

Your efforts are appreciated, Shave!

Man, I can't wait for those mugs to be eventually phased out somehow. All it does is bring out the nasty in people. (From personal experience working, not saying you were).

Is the $1.50 that detrimental?

No, I can afford the extra 1.50, and no, not nasty to him about it. I told him I understood about him being new on the job -- first day on the job and just his second day being in the state of MO. I was just wondering what type of training is given at SDC. If he had just arrived in MO the day before, when was he trained?