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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?

Went again on 6/10 -- strange day. First stop was the lemonade wagon by the gazebo. The employee was leaning out the back window watching the street fight. It took us saying several sentences to get his attention. We handed him our Wildfire mug, and he told us it would be $4 for a refill. We told him it was less than that because of the date of the mug. He then told us this was his second day in MO, and his first day on the job. We asked him to look it up in the book. He flipped through a few pages and then told us that mugs before 2012 were no longer eligible for lower refill prices. By this time the line behind us was really getting long, so we asked for the mug back and we left. We got it refilled for 2.50 at the lemonade stand near Time Traveler. To be fair our mug no longer has a visible price on it. This experience made us wonder about new employee training.

Mystic River Falls was closed all day on a very hot and humid day. During early afternoon all of the rides in the fire district, Grand Exposition, and Wilson Farm were shut down as were Outlaw Run, Wildfire, and American Plunge. There was no bad weather or lightning, and some other rides continued to run. Eventually most of the closed rides reopened.

The actual Opera House entrance was being used instead of the side doors. The circus consists of 2 performers who jump rope, do tricks on a teeter-totter, and stack chairs. There has to be something better. Also saw the Wild West stunt/comedy show. There has to be something better.

You can see some of the construction while riding the train.

According to the summer edition of the SDC Times, September 19 is the date of the 2nd annual Fan Fest. It's supposed to be a "momentous day for momentous news". Supposed to share all the details of what's new for 2027.

Still having some issues with the site. Had to try several times today to get connected. When I did finally get on, the site was very sluggish. Takes a very long time for something to appear after clicking on the topic or message.

On Sunday 5/10 the bathroom at Powderkeg had to be shut down for awhile plus there were flushing issues at the Playhouse bathroom. They were discussing shutting it down while I was washing my hands. The closed Powderkeg bathroom was an issue for the folks waiting a long time in line for Rhonda Vincent.

There are no mirrors now in the hospitality or TNT bathrooms. The rope trim tile is falling off the wall in several bathrooms. I noticed that children were having difficulties in washing their hands in most bathrooms over my last 4 day visit. I noticed there were some soap dispensers missing in some bathrooms. It looked like the dispensers had been ripped off the wall.

Went to Bluegrass and BBQ 5/8 - 5/11. Was well attended all days, especially with school trips every day but Sunday. Saturday ranked up there with Christmas weekends. The line for the 1 pm America concert on Saturday was backed up to Eva and Delilah's bakery by noon. Line didn't start moving until 12:30. Great crowd in Echo Hollow but it was so hot in the direct sun. The EMTs stayed busy with people fainting, etc. Many people left before the first hour was over. It was a 2 hour concert emceed by Mike Patrick and featured the National Anthem and another song by a veteran, the dancing saloon girls, Rivertown Ramblers, the Presleys, New South from Grand Country, Clay Cooper Country Express, the Haygoods, and a long speech in the first hour by the HR vice president of Herschend. The Haygoods closed out the concert and during one of their songs had a video playing behind them that went through the years they worked at SDC. Overall, it would have been a great experience except for the sun and the heat.

As usual Rhonda Vincent and the Rage packed out the shows in the Opera House. They will be back for 15 days during Christmas.

The bluegrass group scheduled for the Dockside on Thursday and Friday was a no show. Don't know what happened.

On Saturday our tram stalled out twice while waiting to be able to pull up for unloading. The traffic control for trams, cars, busses, etc. at the drop off was not good that day. And if you haven't ever had to park in the upper level of lot 3, it's a real hike from the lot 3 station at the end of the day.