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One more thought....

Give SDC credit that they didn't disrespect us (fans and GP) by not acknowledging that something is going on.  How they started this is nice, simple, and exciting.

It seems to be in more of a valley than on any one "wild mountain". 

Here we go.....the official start to a very long marketing campaign....lol.  Hopefully a planned campaign could lead the GP and the fanatics like us through a backstory to help with whatever theme is going to happen.

But I'll go out on the limb and guess "Wild Mountain" has a 50% chance of actually being the name.

After thinking about it a little more....I'm predicting "Wild Mountain" will be the name.  Doesn't make sense to spend money to market an attraction name that will change. 

It seems to be in more of a valley than on any one "wild mountain". 

Here we go.....the official start to a very long marketing campaign....lol.  Hopefully a planned campaign could lead the GP and the fanatics like us through a backstory to help with whatever theme is going to happen.

But I'll go out on the limb and guess "Wild Mountain" has a 50% chance of actually being the name.

Well I am here now. Got a good look at the construction. It's hard to miss at this point. About the only rides open is FM, TNT, fith, and the train. Very few people here but lines are long. Currently in line at TNT then may hit the train then leave. FM is looking great and has that new paint smell

They finally put those inmates to work in the FM this off-season...lol

I'm told there's been a lot of little and big changes. We'll have a ton of photos to take next weekend. The new TNT entrance still sounds weird to me... They are going to have to open that area up one way or another eventually though. I wonder if the magic box is more in danger than the food stalls. I can imagine which one brings more revenue. They could move the magic box to GE.

It sounded to me like the only food place staying was the replaced big skillet and everything else (including the Magic shop) was being removed.

The one and only salad stand at the park is around there too.  Better hurry before it goes....lol

I never even noticed it until my parent seeked it out last year when I took them.  They were really impressed.

I'm told there's been a lot of little and big changes. We'll have a ton of photos to take next weekend. The new TNT entrance still sounds weird to me... They are going to have to open that area up one way or another eventually though. I wonder if the magic box is more in danger than the food stalls. I can imagine which one brings more revenue. They could move the magic box to GE.

Even without the new ride....the Magic box is the biggest roadblock in that area.  I'd image it's days as is are numbered.  I'm sure if the new plaza area is true....they will have to remove it and/or relocated it.  If the rumored theming of the ride is true it would make sense to keep that magic theme around the new ride.  Maybe the goods it currently sells can be apart of the rides gift shop?

Be interesting to see if the TNT que change is just temporary this year.  The plaza could change whatever was done this year next year.

The other concern I had about the plans was losing all the green picnic tables in the area.  One of the few places in the park we could sit down as a family together (usually at least 6 of us) outside of a restaurant and the only place on that side of the park.  We usually bring a cooler with lunch and it's tough sometimes to find a place to really take a break together and eat.

Seeing it from this perspective and without sounding like a complete nerd I am kinda really wondering about those tiny footers littered around the hillside if this ride might be something else completely. They seem to be in the same style as the ones seen on TNT or a wooden coaster. Those are not the large square footers of a traditional steel coaster. Would they really put in yet another wooden coaster back to back? Granted they might not yet be poured by the construction crew, but it wouldn't explain the smaller ones already there. Perhaps a Hybrid structure to fit with the 1880's theme? See example photos below.

Nothing wrong with being a coaster nerd around here.....I'd like to see more of us on here.

I doubt it is going to be a wooden structure....their would actually need to be a lot more footers to match that design.  Plus the potential lift structure wouldn't fit with any traditional woodie builds. 

It is really a pretty good mystery at this point what that layout could be and what type of ride it is.

I'm still wondering if the land work is done.  Will there be anymore structures build for theming/tunnels?

There is a difference - Disney does not upcharge for a fastpass.  They are available to everyone.

Yeap Disney's system is 'free' but you have to be wise enough to know the best ways to use it.  Unless it's changed in the past few years you still had to go to the ride to get a pass for later in the day and each person could only have one pass out at a time.  The most popular rides usually run out of passes through the day (sometimes really early).  Disney basically just created a way to reserve a ride time for later.  It's not really a 'cut in line' pass because they have limited spots scheduled through the day for them and you won't get to 'cheat' without having already been to the ride during the day.  You learn quickly to rush to the 2 rides you want to ride and are close first thing in the morning....grab a pass on one (hoping for an early spot)....ride another (or two) with time....use the pass....the hit the next busiest ride to get a pass.  Do all that before lunch and you might get a chance to score a 3rd pass before they run out on the big rides.  Also helps if you have a non-riders with you...used them a few times to grab 2x passes for the coasters.  Not sure if you can pay up to be able to have multiple passes out at once.

Disney is totally different now with the introduction of the magic band. If you are staying on property you can book 3 fast passes per day up to 6 months ahead. Day visitors are a totally different system. Also the attractions are categorized so you can only book 1 a, b, or c class attraction per day. People plan way ahead in those parks.

As for SDC trailblazer passes.  I do not understand people getting upset over this and calling it cheating and stuff like that. It is a perk you can pay for if you wish and if you choose not to that is fine also. Myself have never felt the need for it since we always go on non peak days. But, if the need arose I would certainly utilize it to the fullest.

Good to know....just realized it's been over 6 years since I've been....lol

There is a difference - Disney does not upcharge for a fastpass.  They are available to everyone.

Yeap Disney's system is 'free' but you have to be wise enough to know the best ways to use it.  Unless it's changed in the past few years you still had to go to the ride to get a pass for later in the day and each person could only have one pass out at a time.  The most popular rides usually run out of passes through the day (sometimes really early).  Disney basically just created a way to reserve a ride time for later.  It's not really a 'cut in line' pass because they have limited spots scheduled through the day for them and you won't get to 'cheat' without having already been to the ride during the day.  You learn quickly to rush to the 2 rides you want to ride and are close first thing in the morning....grab a pass on one (hoping for an early spot)....ride another (or two) with time....use the pass....the hit the next busiest ride to get a pass.  Do all that before lunch and you might get a chance to score a 3rd pass before they run out on the big rides.  Also helps if you have a non-riders with you...used them a few times to grab 2x passes for the coasters.  Not sure if you can pay up to be able to have multiple passes out at once.

Only time I typically notice is when I'm next in line and my gates don't open:(  A fast passer jumps in front which is extra irritating if you've planed out a train with someone around you.

I've never bought any type of pass at SDC but I've wished I had a few times.  I usually avoid the high traffic days and plan my trips specifically around not have to deal with excessive waits. 

I noticed this year that the show lovers pass really took up a lot of seats!!!!  Up to 20% of the Christmas shows were blocked off.  I'd image that for the folks who really are only coming to see the shows it's probably worth the extra cost to ensure seats.

I'm not terribly angry about the passes....it's a smart business move....time is money and people are showing that they will pay the extra expense for it.  Of course.....SDC has to balance that with frustrations they can bring to the general ticket buyer and the value the feel like they are getting at the park.  It's a balance that the whole industry is experimenting with.  As long as the limit the amount they sell so that we don't get to a point where an additional pass is required to get to do more then a ride or two....at that point they might as well change per ride fee's after you pay the gate.

I'm all for single rider lines!!!!  As someone who often is the only one in my party who wanta to go on the bigger rides....it is great at the FL parks to be able to just jump in that line and get on in 5-10 minutes on rides with 60+min waits. 

My next few non-SDC trips will include me pricing fast passes for myself.  I'll fully utilize them at other parks especially if my time is limited.  I always assume most of the Trailblazers are enthusiasts trying to maximize their time or families with money the can splurge.

Even with it being unseasonably warm...I see some snowflakes out today 

Lighten up and grow some thicker skin folks....it's an internet forum about an amusement park. 

Yeah as I suspected for a while I think this is another omen that they are wanting to break away or possibly even completely retheme the park away from the 1880's ozarkain/hillbilly themes into something more generic or something new altogether and of course they recognize that the parks original target audience is getting older & attending less or dying off altogether as well. I wouldn't be surprised to see a revival of Celebration City with the 1950's theming brought into a portion of the park since so many elements have already been consolidated into SDC as it is. An example of this multi themed format can also be seen at Dollywood. I think their idea is to eventually make SDC a clone of what Dollywood currently is today.

Agreed....this is an obvious indication that they are looking to add new themes to the park.  Lets face it most of the amusement park attending public are already used to having parks with multiple themes so it wouldn't be that big of a deal to all the non SDC historic fans.

If they do some time of various era's of Ozark history they better start soon.  The generation who'd most enjoy the 50s is dying off right now too.  We may end up getting the Ozarks of the 1970s/80s/90s.  Not sure how appealing that would be....lol

So thinking outside the box here but also looking at how the footers are lining up.  I think there will be a long launch that will go into some type of inversion - I'm guessing a form of an Immelmann loop that connects to that big support that I pointed out in the two updates and then it might loop around towards TNT.  Now the two big footers there by TNT I think are going to be supports for a large vertical loop.  They are too beefy to not be something that will need to distribute force downward.  So, again thinking outside the box - could this be an interlocking inversion?  How cool would that be!

Looking at the footers in the trees, I think there are two different paths here.  Maybe two different curves of track?  The footers over by the exit of the TNT tunnel I am at loss for.  We will need some more footers to be filled in before I can even guess.

Watch me be way off, but that's my educated (? - ok that's questionable) guess on what may be happening.

Shoot we still don't even know what flavor or Mack coaster this will be.

So you're saying they are recreating the Orient Express?  Of course I'm joking but I'd be good with that!!!!

Wonder how much more land moving they have to do?  I still can't get over how early they started this project....they could seriously build out a 'basic' coaster to open up for this year at this rate....makes me start to imagine that they need extra time for the theming build.

Similar to what's seen on Disney forums, has there been a layout drawn onto a satellite image of the area to get an idea of the scope?

Look back on the boards...been a few overlays from google earth on where the lot is they are building on.  I don't think there has been any confirmation on the maker and coaster type yet.....just a bunch of speculation based on the survey's SDC sent out and the grapevine. 

So the I assume the layout is isn't known yet.....but.....I'll 2nd this question by asking.....is anyone mapping out the footers and station to try to draw a layout?  Connect the dots without instructions....?

I live just a couple miles from MO line in benton county....MEM and Dallas are too far (6+ hours).  Its about 4.5 hrs to MCI...2.5 to TUL.  I wish MCI was on the southside of KC....takes an hour just to get through/around town.  I usually check XNA, Springfield, and sometimes St Louis and Little Rock for fares too but they've never beat TUL or MCI. 

One day I just hope I can afford to not have to travel so far to travel.  Having a good airport nearby with competitive fares is a great first world benefit.