Messages

1

Dollywood Discussion / Re: Dollywood 2019

« on: August 07, 2018, 04:58:01 PM »

Well with that being said, SDC has been officially ranked as the 4th best U.S. theme park. We could now be seeing a lot of additional investment over the next few years on the same scope that we have been currently seeing at Dollywood over the past decade. (who was ranked in at #6, surprisingly enough)

https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2018/06/22/usa-today-poll-rates-silver-dollar-city-among-top-5-amusement-parks/715901002/

I agree, all these online best of polls are nothing more than clickbait. No Disney or Universal ? Sorry, as much as I like SDC they cannot hold a candle to theming at the best of the best. What would Disney have done with TT ? I could only imagine.

As much as I love SDC, count me among those that considers the list to not be officially anything that means much.  Top 20 parks picked by their "experts", and then narrowed down.  Not even referring the questionable tastes of a couple of the starting experts, to put SFMM at number 1- when it has almost nothing but coasters anymore, and to not have a Disney or Universal park in there...

I'm not knocking any of those parks, but at least 2 of them I might not have even considered for the top 30.   And there are other fairly glaring omissions of parks that I would have put well above several of these.

SDC would possibly crack my top 10, but it wouldn't be very high up.  And I love SDC.

2

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2019 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: August 07, 2018, 04:55:03 PM »

Here is what  I would like to see. Cut out the festivals on the holiday weekends totally. Bluegrass  on Memorial day ? ZIP.  Gospel Music on Labor day. Cut it out and give something everyone can enjoy.

3

Branson Talk / Re: Ride The Ducks Boat Capsizes in Storm

« on: August 03, 2018, 08:54:57 PM »

I guess its open season to start posting politics on the forum now.

Have you ever met her in person?   She’s not a nice person.  Very fake.

I have not met her in person but she has helped a friend of mine so I will be voting for her. Maybe she is fake but she did what she promised to do for my friend. And that goes a long way with me. 

As for my original post I thought the unwritten rule was to not discuss politics but you opened the can.

4

Branson Talk / Re: Microbreweries

« on: August 03, 2018, 02:58:46 PM »

Yes, Love Freestate.

5

Branson Talk / Re: Ride The Ducks Boat Capsizes in Storm

« on: August 03, 2018, 02:54:51 PM »

I guess its open season to start posting politics on the forum now.

6

SDC Memories/ Park History / Re: Gaslight Square

« on: August 02, 2018, 10:17:58 PM »

While I might not be out there dancing, I love seeing all the people that are out there having a good time.  The square can get pretty packed with people enjoying the music, so it's obviously pretty popular.  It's only for 2 weeks a year, where they emphasize the "night time party" mode of the park, so it doesn't bother me at all.  Let them have their fun.

I just don't want to sound like one of those grumpy old people yelling, "get off my lawn you pesky kids."  I figure if I get to that point it's time to quit going to parks. :-P

If I ever get to that point it’s time to quit living.

7

Branson Talk / Re: Ride The Ducks Boat Capsizes in Storm

« on: July 30, 2018, 02:35:30 PM »

Here is a article from the Washington post about the guy who designed and stretched the ducks. Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't Herschend manufacture and build all the DUC vehicles when they were franchising out all the other locations ?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/07/26/self-taught-businessman-with-no-engineering-credentials-designed-missouri-duck-boat-records-say/?utm_term=.c9c89da8c70c

8

Branson Talk / Re: Ride The Ducks Boat Capsizes in Storm

« on: July 30, 2018, 01:38:14 PM »

I saw on 1Branson that a lawsuit had been filed already.. No details..

"Not surprised, but word out today is that a $100-Million-Dollar federal lawsuit has been filed as a result of the tragedy"

Of course my questions are......
Against the Duck as a business?
Against Ripleys Corporation for owning the Ducks?
Against the Captain for making poor decisions..

Here is the AP story.   https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/lawsuit-filed-in-fatal-duck-boat-sinking-seeks-dollar100-million/ar-BBLfXsW?OCID=ansmsnnews11


Herschend is named in the lawsuit because they manufactured the boats. But, Its all there. And this is just for 2 of the 9 member family. More to come soon. 

9

Branson Talk / Re: America's Fun Park in Branson

« on: July 26, 2018, 06:45:17 AM »

I was by there several times 3 weekends ago and at 9 or 10 at night it was a virtual ghost town. I never saw 1 ride operating. Location is /was terrible that far east on the strip. It just looked like any other carnival you see set up in a mall parking lot with the exception of the small coasters. In Contrast the mountain coaster had a line 50 people deep most of those nights. Carnival rides are just not that appealing to me.

10

Branson Talk / Re: Ride The Ducks Boat Capsizes in Storm

« on: July 20, 2018, 01:56:29 PM »

Wow, What a tragedy.  I have never ridden the Ducks and with all the safety instances probably never will. I know there will be a lot of questions and whataboutisms before this is all sorted out.

I am no boat captain but after seeing the videos I have just a few questions. Hopefully someone more versed than me can lend some insight.

1. Obviously the ducks are underpowered for the type of swell they were in. You can see that in how they were struggling.

2. Would it have been a better outcome if the captain had turned the Duck and headed with the waves and just beached the Duck ? It looked like they were closer to shore behind it. Maybe he was afraid of it getting swamped during the turn ?
3.Hopefully they ordered Life Jackets on during this ? I cannot believe they would not. One video shows another crew member standing over the captain.

I am not judging anything here, these are just things that popped into my head while watching the videos.

11

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Train robbery

« on: July 06, 2018, 02:19:55 PM »

I might be in the minority but I think it is time to end the robbery all together.  It's not needed anymore as the 504 is poweful enough to do the loop without stopping to build up steam to finish the climb (the real reason there was a robbery to begin with at the old location). 

I just cannot stand when a certain individual is out there or acts as conductor.  I can't name names but you all know who I am talking about.

To be honest I do not know who you are talking about. But, I had not rode the train in a few years so that is on me. My main concern was the lack of emotion or acting or whatever you want to call it. The skit was just boring and the cast looked and sounded like they were just rushing through it. If this is the best that can be done I would just say end it also. They basically got blank stares from the crowd.  Or, maybe develop a new skit that is fresh. This one has been running for 40 years probably ?

12

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Ride wait time App.

« on: July 05, 2018, 04:24:51 PM »

Last weekend I was having trouble with the App in general. It never updated and actually said several attractions were down for the season. The rest were waiting on updates. I updated it and killed it several times but still no luck.
Is the App. even functional ?  I am using the latest version of IOS.  As it stands the App is worthless unless I am missing something.

Thoughts, Ideas ?

13

Other Parks / Re: HFEC Acquires Pink Adventure Tours

« on: July 05, 2018, 04:03:34 PM »

Interesting, I was in Sedona a few years back and we considered the Pink Jeep tour but elected to just rent one on our own. Basically we did the same trails that they did at 1/3 the cost. It did seem to be very popular in the area but it does seem like a small niche market. As for the Ducks they just had to many accidents and bad publicity. The line between company owned and franchise was always blurry to me.

14

Random Talk / Re: Your Travels Thread (2018)

« on: July 04, 2018, 01:56:52 PM »

Well I’m glad you had a good time and got home safe.  The Middle East is one of the last places I would personally want to go to.  It’s not safe and will probably never really be safe to visit.

Don't believe the media hype about Israel.  We were safer there than where we live in the US.  Outside of Gaza, which is a little tiny area in one corner, there were no issues with security, safety, etc.  And we were right on the borders of Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan for parts of the trip.  Went to several places where all sorts of nationalities and religious faiths were mingling with no problems at all.  All of them-Jews, Arabs, Muslims, Christians, repeatedly asking us to please tell the world that what they are seeing on TV isn't true about what it's like in Israel.

I've been to a lot of countries, and it's the safest I've ever felt.

My daughter was there 2 years ago and said almost the same thing.  Its not on my bucket list but I am more of a European travel lover. Not to say if a free trip was offered I wouldn't go. LOL

15

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Fire In the Hole/Flooded Mine

« on: July 02, 2018, 02:20:18 PM »

The music hasn't been working for a while now... maybe since last year? The Red Flanders bit was working a couple months ago though.

FM has all kinds of funny business that goes on with the manaquins. The moving parts seem to like breaking off. If you ride it a bunch throughout the year and keep track, there's so much stuff that moves around and gets fixed/broken. Just part of the nature of that old style of ride with the budget it's been given.

I was thinking the music was working during our visit in December last year. Maybe not ? And , yes The Flooded Mine is a moving target so to speak. I just wish there was enough maintenance budget to get it right. Especially during its 50th year.