Messages

451

Random Talk / Re: How young is too young for SDC??

« on: April 11, 2016, 04:35:03 PM »

I could probably write a 20 bullet point list of tips for taking little ones to SDC:

I've brought at least 2 of my 3 kids to SDC while they where still infants (nursing).  For the the most part SDC is very accommodating for families with babies.  They have a couple for nursing stations (GG used to have one, and the one by GE) and the vast majority of guests and employees are understanding of an occasional outburst as long as the parent(s) are quickly attentive to the baby.  Biggest issue I've had/have is it seems the men's restrooms aren't as 'friendly' for the babies as the ladies.  But it's a theme park bathroom so my expectations aren't very high.
   
Of course....I'd recommend a good lightweight stroller and bag (you can take with you) only with needed items (food, diapers, change of clothes, sun screen).  Keep the baby covered in all weather as much as possible.  Limit your time in the park on hot days.   You have to be mentally prepared to leave at any moment (prep other kids for it too).  Do some extra planning during the day to make sure baby and mom (or dad) get the extra breaks for the extra care they need.....don't skip a regular feeding/nap schedule while at the park!!!!  If the baby usually naps at 2pm and you're in the stallion show then too....its not going to be a good situation...lol...plan some time to walk the nap or let the kids do GE rides during that time.....just be smart.

We've never had to put SDC fun on hold because of a baby.  I saw a few out at the park a few weeks ago and smiled because I realized I'm past the pushing the stroller age!!!!

452

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2017 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: April 01, 2016, 08:16:49 AM »

We're getting a new train too?.....lol

I love the earth tone rides around SDC.  It feels and looks more majestic than riding around on a highlighter six flags colors.

453

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2016 Mugs

« on: March 30, 2016, 12:52:40 PM »

Do they refill?  How much?

454

Branson Talk / Re: Dixie Stampede renovations

« on: March 28, 2016, 03:05:28 PM »

Cowboys and Indians....that's a lot more PC....lol

I bring up doing interactive stuff with smart phones specifically because of demographics.  If you have have a business and don't know how to interact with you customers through a smart phone than you are going to lose you younger customers.  You can tell SDC know this with the improvements in the app they have made and the marketing of the celebrations that they have been doing this year.

Lord knows I wouldn't want to have to be staring at my phone for half the show but that is not what I'm saying they should do.  A couple of well done brief interactions could be huge for marketing to the younger crowd and creating some special moments.  Have people take selfies during pre-show, and/or quick surveys (where you from, whats your nickname, etc) during the pre-show....could be done completely before the show.  They could be displayed (filtered) for use on the screens and maybe create opportunities for the show to play off of.  It gets people more engaged and creates more marketing through social media.

I use tools like survey monkey regularly for business meetings.....it's a modern world friends.....Disney has done stuff like this for years....and the tech is easy....and can be done without getting to far on your lawn (messing up the old show).

455

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2016 Trip Reviews

« on: March 28, 2016, 09:30:03 AM »

Interesting to hear I'm not the only one concerned by their first trip this year.  I didn't want to seem to negative in my review but I was seriously concerned about the rest of the year based on my first trip too.  I agree that if I was making my first SDC trip I doubt I would wanted to come back.  The food service was horribly slow and crowds painful to navigate with kids.  The only rides we really got to do without a 30+ minute wait where the morning rides we did pre-rush crowd.  We even had a 30 minute wait for FL after lunch.  I had to keep reminding myself how much better it would be if the shows where active, shops where open, and water rides full.  I may have to invest in a trailblazers pass for myself next time so I can ride coasters without my family of 5 waiting for me for 45+ minutes for a ride.

If my next trip is like this (with everything open) I might cut down my 6-7 planned trips back to 3-4 trips.  I will also completely avoid Saturdays this year and might sneak the kids out for a weekday visit before summer break.

I can remember going the SDC two years ago over spring break and riding OR 2-3x, and PK, WF ride in before 10 without any issues.  Then had the whole day for the shows and kid rides.



 

456

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2017 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: March 23, 2016, 03:13:42 PM »

off topic warning....

I know the transfer track section on PK is there because the reuse of the station and track from the previous ride......I'm speculating that 90% of the rides maintenance issues and expense is due to that transfer section.  Hindsight is 20/20 but I wonder if it would have been less costly in the long run if they would have just moved the stations and/or the track to line up with a first hill without the transfer?

457

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2016 Trip Reviews

« on: March 23, 2016, 03:00:12 PM »

I had that thought about pricing last weekend too.  I'd be mad if I paid full price last Saturday.  Pretty much no shows, 3/4th of the shops where closed, no one was on the water rides (in the 50s), so the ride lines where as longs as I've ever seen them. 

But it was still jammed packed.....makes you also wonder if they could get away with increasing the ticket price too 

458

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2017 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: March 21, 2016, 02:08:45 PM »

I was looking over EH from the main path through the leafless trees and was starting to image B&M track winding around that huge space!!!.  That could really be an amazing setup!!!!  Not sure how they are going to be able to pull off the theme though

459

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2016 Trip Reviews

« on: March 21, 2016, 09:19:44 AM »

Time to make my first trip review on this board.  Wife and I took our 4 kids Saturday morning to the park for our first trip in 2 years.  Family was Christmas gifted season passes from the grandparents this year!!!!

We left NWA early to try to make rope drop but it's tough to get a crew of 6 dressed and ready to go.  I did manage to make parking around 9:30....got to use preferred parking tickets that was also gifted.  Not sure if it is worth the extra costs.....actually seems like more working from those spots to the gate and the kids didn't get to ride the trams.

Told the little ones today was all about getting them on the new rides.  I'll probably theme most of our trips and/or get 1 or 2 top to dos from them to try to help manage expectations.  It's can be hard to keep a family of 6 happy when they all want to do different things.

We headed straight to FL and we all where impressed.  My oldest (11yo) and I headed to firefall and the younger ones started riding all the flats.  I wasn't expecting much from firefall but it does pack a fun little punch.  Was more intense than I thought.  Wish it could be taller and/or have another tower to help with capacity.  My 11yo felt like a bigshot riding it too:)  The little ones all liked the other flats....overall the area was a big hit!

Looked through Lucky's toy store then went back up to GE.  Kids got a few rides in.  My 7yo was begging to win a basketball but I didn't want to have to drag it around the park with me (or pay for it).  Was going to grab the kids some food from the stand in GE but the line was huge and not moving.  Ended up walking back toward the front of the park.

Oldest and I stopped at TnT as my wife stopped and talked a neighbors we ran into by the ride.  TnT seemed to be running fast for a cold morning!!!  Ended up eating at the hamburger place off main street.  Service was friendly but slow!!!!  It is painful to watch the 60yo worker slowly prepare food...one item at a time....as the whole line and 4-5 other workers wait on her.  Probable a 30 min wait to get our food with only 6-7 people in front of us.

After lunch walked up by PowerKeg that had a huge line....then FiTH had a line running out of the building.....then to Outlaw Run that had a 45 minute wait.  I skipped them all:(  We kept running in to friends from NWA and did a lot of chatting.  Park was packed and with the shows closed and a lot of shops not open the rides where packed.  Ended up going over to try to catch the train but ended up on FM.  My two little boys love FM and wanted to go twice.  We let the kids play in that area by the train station for awhile as we talked to yet another set of NWA Friends while waiting.  Finished the day by going to the candy store and getting some funnel cakes.  We left the parking lot around 2:30 and people where still coming in.  I was able to get us home back in NWA in time to see my Jayhawks play at 7:)

Pretty good day at the park...I anticipated the rides being crowded and park being pretty full due to decent weather and the first day of spring break for a lot of people.  I wasn't expecting to get a lot of rides in on the coasters and we got the kids on most of the flats they where wanting.  FL was a big hit....kids excited about going back.  It was more crowded that I thought it would be.  We didn't get to do as much as I hoped for but part of the beauty of having seasons passes is that we can pace yourself each trip and don't have to feel rushed to get your monies worth. 

460

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2017 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: March 11, 2016, 02:25:17 PM »

I've been debating on if I'm going to go.  I was wondering if my SP would get me in or if it was only for the youth group kids that day.  They don't have very many shows scheduled this year yet and it's been awhile since I've seen them.  The SDC show will actually be their first of the year as they have been working on a new record and take time off touring.  I'm wondering if they'd try something new.  I wasn't sure about dealing with the teenagers crowd.

I'm 36yo and was gifted their first CD around 20 years ago.  I got to meet them (the Coopers anyway) a few times during the early part of their career at smaller shows.  Its been exciting to see their growth and success.  I've been a panhead for nearly 20 years have been to 8-9 shows. 

If you haven't heard of them....they are an 'arena rock' band who had a lot of success the past 5-6 years both in the christian market and especially in the secular rock market.  One of the few true rock bands that are selling new material.  Pretty unique because they use strings (sympathetic rock), has a female drummer who sings backup/lead, and typically puts on full epic rock production with their shows (video boards, light wall, fireworks, risers, crypto, pyro, etc).  I've got a feeling that Echo Hollow will have to be a much more laid back show then their normal   I've seen them live in a few different settings and its amazing to see how much both kids and older fold find them entertaining.  Kind of a throw back to 80s hair band vibe with more positive messages.

Sorry....kinda off topic....

461

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2017 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: March 11, 2016, 11:03:17 AM »

Wow....long term wise....moving EH/creating a modern amphitheater with better access would be a huge move.   

I was really surprised the rock band Skillet is playing at the young christian weekend this year.  They have been headlining almost exclusively at modern arenas, big rock festivals, and amphitheater shows for a few years now (and theme park events like cedar point and six flags festivals with modern amps) and was a little surprised that they where coming to SDC namely because of the facilitates they would have to play (EH) and I'm sure they require a large fee.

i know Magic Springs has a good amphitheater and get some pretty good lineups of concerts scheduled every year that is included with season passes.  Im sure SDC has to see that as a possible revenue opportunity.

But if that is the plan....they better get working on construction soon.  At least start building up the new EH this year.

462

Branson Talk / Re: Dixie Stampede renovations

« on: February 18, 2016, 03:03:32 PM »

Don't be changing lyrics for me....Especially Charlie.....I'm all for freedom of speech and hate censorship.

I hope the show continues and does well....just pointing out I understand how some might feel uncomfortable. 

Video boards look and sound like a great upgrade.  Wonder if they can use them to be more interactive with the audience?  For Example....use text polling or realtime tweets to display on the boards?  Wouldn't be hard to interact with the audiences smart phones and display stuff on screens.  Could use the pre-show time to get everyone on the same app and prepped for the interaction.  That could be an interesting modern touch. 

Of course...finger food and smart phone usage doesn't go well together either
 

463

Branson Talk / Re: Dixie Stampede renovations

« on: February 17, 2016, 04:27:50 PM »

Lol....not trying to brew anything up but a smile and some extra conversations. 

I'm pretty sure my heritage comes from both sides of the line.  My Dads family is less documented (hillbillies) and was right in the middle of the mess on the KY/TN/VA linea.  Family legend about brothers who didn't speak to each other after the war include taking a few shot at each other over the creek.  My mothers immigrated after the war and lived in the midwest (city slickers).  I'm full of contradiction.  I am an evil Jayhawk fan....lol

Like I said...the shows writing and symbols does it's best to keep it all PC...just don't play me a fool to think South isn't for the confederacy and north union.  Jheez

464

Branson Talk / Re: Dixie Stampede renovations

« on: February 17, 2016, 11:33:16 AM »

Well considering my family fought for the South... THE SOUTH SHALL RISE AGAIN!

I respect that and I'm not offended by that response.  But understand that others might be offended.  The south will rise sparks ideas that some in the south still want the slavery or segregation rules of the past to become true again.  I'm more quickly to use common sense to understand it has more to do with family pride, being proud the place your living/come from and making sure southern values are still relative in our nation.  But common sense is hard to find these days.

Remember....this show wouldn't make it in a tourist town in the North or West.  No one cares enough about that history.  The main issues from the war are settled now....why create that type of show if it isn't historically accurate?  It's really a celebration of historic southern culture with the bad parts edited out.  Nothing wrong with that....it just confuses people since it forces in the two sides.  They tried to make it as 'inclusive' as possible but I don't think that is really possible unless they strip out the North vs South thing....which of course is the foundation of the show.  Really does make the show seem out of touch with the rest of the country because it is actually more written to appeal to the 'southerns' then the rest of the public.

I hate PC censorship.....rebel flag banning in public is stupid and wrong.....I believe in free speech and believe the shows writers are free to do as the want.  The public will vote with their attendance.  This shows storyline is full of possible ways to offend the modern audience.  Based on the symbols and verbiage that they use....they are very well aware of that and actually do a pretty good job of walking that fine line. 

465

Branson Talk / Re: Dixie Stampede renovations

« on: February 16, 2016, 04:17:54 PM »

I've only gone to the show once......food was better than I expected and the show was pretty much exactly what I expected. 

I did spend about half the show thinking to myself various thoughts around the whole scenario and was a little amazed that they still do the civil war thing.  Granted I grew up and have family in a 'Northern' states (KS, IN, OH) and only recently have really been around true southern cultures. 

A few of my thoughts during the show I still remember....
Why would you pick the southern side?  Not only because of the political stuff.....they lost the war? 
They really should change the format to be PC correct?  East vs West, Cowboys vs Indians, city folks vs country folks (all jokes)?  Make up a backstory about fighting families (Hatfield vs Mccoys)? 
I know Southerners are not 'bad guys'  and they had plenty of reasons to secede other than slavery.....but seriously.....would a WW2 dinner show work with Axis and Allies?
I typically hate PC stuff but these still feels weird.....how do I not think about all the history.  This is practically a celebration of war?  Seriously.....do the writers know that the South lost and never really had much of a chance to win?  Do really think I'm not going to picture the real rebel flag waiving?  Would I be even be offended if they used the real symbol or had more direct dialog around the PC situations?
After the grand patriotic ending - ok.....I guess that was good.....was that the souths way of saying sorry....lets be friends?  Passive aggressive way of saying that USA wouldn't be as good as it is today unless we had that war?.....Thanks Dixie?

All that being said....Its a free country....I wasn't offended by any specific situations or dialog.  They sure are making the money to stay open.  I'll probably go again this year to see the changes and because my wife mentioned she wanted to go.  But all the political stuff really distracted me from the show.....guess you can take that as a good or bad thing cause the worst shows are the ones that don't make me think.