Messages

1

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Attendance numbers

« on: May 19, 2018, 07:44:46 PM »

Your not going to get Midwesterners to park miles form a park (parking in Branson) to get on a bus that takes them over the same roads that they could have took themselves to get to the same place they could have parked.  Unless it is the only free parking option....add a parking fee to all SDC lots....suddenly that plan could work.

2

Random Talk / Re: Your Travels Thread (2018)

« on: May 18, 2018, 11:08:48 PM »

Not a bad idea....I live in NWA.

I've got a kidless week coming up and I'm trying to talk the wife into a NYC trip for broadway (her) and SFGA (me)....but she's wanting the beach right now....and not jersey shore...lol

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

« on: May 18, 2018, 11:02:44 PM »

What need to be done with Lost River?

They could replace it with some kind of diving bell.

Remove AP and then build it there.  They could use the Lake/Waterfall for the entrance facade.  They’ll need to eventually rebuild that waterfall anyway so 2 birds 1 stone.

A version of Aquatopia at TDS would be better though

Never thought about how old LR is....those raft rides just seem to last forever.  Is LR older than Fury of the Nile?  LR loading platform is not a very efficient or safe setup....is kind of a mild ride too....but it's better than Nile IMO. 

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

« on: May 17, 2018, 10:29:35 PM »

This is just me talking...

I think we’ll see the Lost River and American Plunge dealt with before we see anything major happen at FM and FITH.

Personally I think complete rebuilds will need to happen.  I think integration of the two rides into FL would be ideal.  The new log flume could go in the WB lot.  The new LR could be themed to fire boat rafts and maybe even have a waterfall like Infinity Falls.

What need to be done with Lost River?

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Random Talk / Re: Your Travels Thread (2018)

« on: May 17, 2018, 10:18:07 PM »

Thx guys...

Ended up being pretty easy to figure out.  SFoT has a deal for a free gold + upgrade with season passes right now....plus when you buy 4+ the rate goes down.  So I was able to get season passes to all parks and parking for about $79 a tix.  Pretty good deal....We'll be able to do SFoT one day then hurricane harbor the next day before the game....plus passes for our Stl trip.

I've also got possible biz trips this year to ATL, CHI, and LA.....if I can get away to visit parks.

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Random Talk / Re: Your Travels Thread (2018)

« on: May 16, 2018, 08:22:59 PM »

I'm making a long weekend trip to Arlington to go to the park and catch a game with my crew of 5.  I plan on visiting family in St. Louis later this summer and taking a day there (and probably a game too).  Is any of the upgraded tickets worth getting to save money at the two parks? 

I'm about to go try to do the math but thought I throw it out here for advice.

7

Construction/Rumors / Re: Future SDC Development Speculation (Long-term)

« on: May 16, 2018, 10:15:13 AM »

There is a lot of speculation on here that SDC will be force to deal with the SDC self-built classics soon (FiTH, FM, AP).  FM has got some recent minor upgrades both in the ride and on its structure.  A lot of folks on this board would love to see them get major overhauls soon...maybe get them to a place where they (FM, FiTH) could 'compete' with more modern dark rides.  I wouldn't mind a complete new indoor and/or dark ride too as long as it doesn't cost us one of the classics.

If I could play SDC owner with unlimited funds right now....I'd modernize FM and FiTH.  Rebuild a AP back behind the current one to open up some space.  Use that space for new plaza/walkway and complete a loop over with WF over to PK.  That would give access to to some additional lots for bigger coaster possibilities back by WF/PK and some real estate for another indoor ride around where AP is now.  I'd put another show building behind FL....convert the dockside building to probably to a restaurant.....add small family ride/coaster in the old water toboggan lot.  Plus somehow magically expand the pathways and reconfigure some of the food shacks to help with the crowd flow....lol.

8

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2018 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: May 16, 2018, 08:46:20 AM »

Are we far enough into the season to conclude that the common feedback to this ride is:  "It was fun, little too short, not may favorite ride at SDC, but I'd ride it again if the line isn't too long".

I guess that is a success?

9

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Webcams? yes or no..

« on: May 07, 2018, 09:51:07 PM »

After thinking a bit more.....I guess live shots of the ride queues could be cool.

10

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Webcams? yes or no..

« on: May 07, 2018, 09:48:30 PM »

My 2 cents....

I doubt anyone will care about webcams but SDC fanboys and gals like us.  Maybe some employees who check in to see crowd levels/weather/etc.  I don't see them bringing in any additional ticket sales....or decreasing them.

Legally speaking....not sure if they would matter one way or another.  If they are just far away crowd shots and not recording then they shouldn't matter.  If they are monitoring shops and recording then I guess its private property and they have that right.....I'd imagine in that case they wouldn't broadcast those cameras though.

The warning I would give SDC is.....if you do advertise them (or one).....just remember the general public will be shameless on camera....might not be the wisest idea to leave any 'close up' camera's un-monitored.

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General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: USA Today Article on SDC

« on: April 26, 2018, 09:14:56 PM »

Nice write up on SDC yesterday on USA Today website.  Enjoyed the few old pictures they shared. 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/america/theme-parks/2018/04/25/silver-dollar-city-theme-park-roller-coasters/547555002/

Good find....great article and pictures.  Includes some close ups of TT technology.

12

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2018 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: April 22, 2018, 10:39:20 PM »

Yeah I am probably being a bit on the pessimistic side here, but I kinda have a bad feeling with the expenditure on TT and then reportedly going over budget on its development/construction, they might not do anything major to the park in the next 4-5 years. The weather is also probably a determining factor as I am thinking the PTB are not liking the low crowds right now considering that they just opened and hyped up a worlds first coaster. Unlike DW, SDC does not have the crowds and capital that park can bring in which at the end of the day is what matters where expansions and additions are concerned. The summer season crowds will be the most telling on this aspect as to whether the massive risk & investment on TT was a success or not.

The weather has been such a huge factor so far....it's been crazy how bad the weather has been on the weekends so far this year.  They still have had some packed days.  I don't even know how you measure ROI on an investment like this ride?  I guess you just survey the public to see how many actually just come to see the new ride.  SDC been so packed the last few years it actually boggles my mind that the park can even handle bigger crowds.  Almost seems to me they have to invest in rides just to help maintain the customer base.  I'm really leaning towards hoping they restore the old rides next.

13

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Attendence number....

« on: April 22, 2018, 10:27:28 PM »

Actually making the work schedule for SDC wouldnt be any worse than any other retail orientated company...
you check sales and attendence for the same day a couple of years in the past... the current weather forecast would have nothing to do with setting a schedule ahead of time..  I am sure they schedule 2 weeks out at a minimum,..
average out sales and attendence, 
schedule employees accordingly for the expected sales and your done... 
IF you have bad weather, you send employees home early,, Bad deal for employee, smaller paycheck, But it really is that simple...   
However I would not be surprised if SDC has a scheduling program on the puter that does it all automatically..  That would save the labor cost immensely.

I can contribute to this conversation that at least one large retailer that has a HO in the area.....does include both historical weather and weather forecasting in making both staffing plans and merchandise planning.  Of course the merchandise planning is more of a seasonal forecasting thing.  Surely SDC tracks historical info around attendance and weather to help them make decisions along with the upcoming forecasts.

The same large retailer with such top notch SuperCenter managers that when they go down to a single register with a human running it at 9pm on a Saturday night in a college town and put a girl on it that's under 21 to run it so.she has to constantly go hold to call someone over to complete the transaction? I actually stopped the front end manager as he was walking away and told him to look at the 7 folks in line cause I did and that 6 had beer or wine and to stay put. I may have asked who the dumb@$% was that put her on that register.

I hear ya...that's not just a problem just in college towns.  Our local market seems to only have underage cashiers pretty much every evening after 7ish.  You'd think the only adult manager in the store would get tired of running up front every 5-10 minutes.

14

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2018 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: April 21, 2018, 09:33:20 AM »

Yes, but how many B&Ms could we have gotten for the price of TT?
A least a couple.   I’d much rather had a hyper doing dips down the side of a mountain popping up over the treeline

I'd love a B&M hyper....or a drop ride....or invert.  A hyper running through the hills back behind PK would be amazing!!!

Seems like SDC is satisfied with OR being it's headlining extreme thrill ride though.  Maybe in 3-5 years it will be different....but I've got a feeling the next few years will be about dealing with the classic rides, the shows, and other none-ride attractions.  The park really needs a another indoor attraction that can be open in the weather.
 Which is all great....I'm just guessing another big thrill ride will be years away.

15

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Attendence number....

« on: April 21, 2018, 09:17:17 AM »

Actually making the work schedule for SDC wouldnt be any worse than any other retail orientated company...
you check sales and attendence for the same day a couple of years in the past... the current weather forecast would have nothing to do with setting a schedule ahead of time..  I am sure they schedule 2 weeks out at a minimum,..
average out sales and attendence, 
schedule employees accordingly for the expected sales and your done... 
IF you have bad weather, you send employees home early,, Bad deal for employee, smaller paycheck, But it really is that simple...   
However I would not be surprised if SDC has a scheduling program on the puter that does it all automatically..  That would save the labor cost immensely.

I can contribute to this conversation that at least one large retailer that has a HO in the area.....does include both historical weather and weather forecasting in making both staffing plans and merchandise planning.  Of course the merchandise planning is more of a seasonal forecasting thing.  Surely SDC tracks historical info around attendance and weather to help them make decisions along with the upcoming forecasts.