Messages

31

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

« on: August 16, 2017, 09:43:04 AM »

Or that $26 million doesn't include other things that go along with the ride, like theming and other additions.  That might be just the base ride cost.

It will be interesting to see what they say in the press conference

32

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

« on: August 14, 2017, 05:41:52 PM »

I find the random numbers that align on the dial further below to be quite interesting. Could the numbers hint towards the ride specs for the coaster nerds to droll over and speculate over? lol

8479 = Track Length?
1105 = Riders Per Hour?
2015 = Year it was conceived?

you missed 9388 which also appears on it.

the mystery deepens...  :-)

33

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

« on: August 14, 2017, 04:27:07 PM »

I suppose you never notice the numerous Kansas, Nebraska, Illinois and Tennessee plates in lot that we see every time we go. It's even more of a national attraction due to it's Christmas Lights always being included in so many "best of" lists.  Believe it or not Memphis and North Ms. is a pretty big market for SDC. It's closer than Dollywood.

I've never said to myself, I gotta go to Knotts Berry. It's always has been a "maybe we can fit in" place. Cedar Point is a major draw due to it's coasters no doubt.

I have said numerous times SDC and Dollywood are the best "all around" parks between the Rockies and the Appalachians/Smokies.

I did miss Kansas in my wrap up.  That is one of SDC's targeted states because it's close.

I generally didn't wander the parking lots looking at plates when I worked there.  I listened to what the PR and marketing departments told us- which areas schools were on break or getting out, how they planned our staffing based on what crowds were expected from what states, things like that.  Every park is going to have plates from several states in their parking lot, but that doesn't mean they aren't a regional park.

That did change some with Outlaw Run getting national exposure, and the Christmas events have helped.  But it's still predominantly a regional park.  But I know they'd like to change that, and I'm sure that the new coaster is a hope that further expand it.  But it's area of impact hasn't grown like Dollywood's has, and a lot of that has to do with their investment and marketing, the vast majority of which takes place within a 300- 400 mile radius of the park (which is the number we were repeatedly told when working there)

It should be interesting to see if this new coaster can expand that out some like Outlaw Run did, or if it ends up being basically something that only the area notices. (trying to keep it on topic here. lol)

34

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

« on: August 14, 2017, 04:21:16 PM »

1 Day 18 hours left to go, and I noticed something interesting, that I'm not sure means anything at all, but could be a hint as well.

If you go to their page with the countdown http://www.silverdollarcity.com/theme-park/2018 and you look at the clock, which is broken down into 3 parts: Days, Hours and Minutes, they tend to flash quickly from the actual number to other numbers:  Days shows 900, Hours shows 88, and Minutes Shows 923.

Any idea if it's just a glitch in the page coding or if those might actually mean something?

35

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

« on: August 11, 2017, 06:02:30 PM »

I think their parks really cater to different crowds than SDC.  Most of their parks are just regional parks.  SDC is a mid-level destination park.  (On the same level as a Busch Gardens or Sea Wkrld but not a Disney or Universal)

Not to argue with you (well, ok, maybe a little. hehe) but SDC is much more a regional park than many of the Cedar Fair parks are.  Knott's Berry Farm, Cedar Point, and King's Island all bring in visitors from around the world (and all 3 have more than 3 times the attendance of SDC), whereas SDC really draws from 4 states- Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and to a lesser extent Texas.  While we might like to think it's a destination park, it really isn't. It's crowds are very much regional, and the vast majority are from within 2 hours.  It's numbers and drawing power are nowhere near what many of the Cedar Fair parks are.  And then there is the fact that they only have one park that has any sort of overlapping sphere of influence with SDC (Worlds of Fun).

So really, SDC is a mere blip in Cedar Fair's eyes and nothing they are going to concern themselves with when it comes to competition for their announcements.  For them they really wouldn't care if SDC is making the announcement the same day.  They're dealing with a much larger audience with a much broader reach than SDC does.

Edit- or to put it another way, there are reasons that SDC plans it's operating schedules around local school districts' calendars and the Cedar Fair parks generally don't.

36

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

« on: August 11, 2017, 04:38:49 PM »

^^Didn't SDC announce the announcement before CP? I'm also kind of surprised CF would want to announce their new coasters all on the same day.

I don't think Cedar Fair would be much concerned at all, honestly.  They see SDC as a smaller regional park that isn't in any sort of real direct competition with them (slightly with Worlds of Fun, but not with any of their other parks), so outside of enthusiast circles they wouldn't see it as a distraction at all.

and enthusiast circles really don't have anywhere near as much influence and impact as they would like to think they do.  :-)

37

Other Parks / Re: Worlds of Fun Developments.

« on: August 06, 2017, 09:12:25 PM »

If that's what happens, it makes me even more grateful that we got rides on the rotor last month when we were there.  it was so neat to get a chance to ride one again because of how many have disappeared.  Hate that they are removing them, but I also understand- they're not worth the cost of maintaining them, especially with lower rider numbers than many rides.

38

Dollywood Discussion / Re: Lighting Rod's Continued Issues

« on: July 29, 2017, 09:34:53 PM »

It sounds like it can stay running semi-reliably as long as they only run one train. They have run two trains a handful of times and it always results in extended downtime shortly after. It seems like they will just have to limp through the rest of this year (again) and try to get the second train working for 2018.

Until then, wait times are often 100+ mins...

Any idea if Lightning Rod is part of their quick queue/ skip the line system?  I might have to dip into the pocket for it.

39

Construction/Rumors / Re: New Steam Engines Arriving at SDC

« on: July 29, 2017, 09:33:39 PM »

Last time I talked to them about it (and my memory is a bit fuzzy on this), one of the three had been pretty much disassembled and parted out for their current three.  One of them is in the process of being overhauled and fixed up and prepared for use in the park- I think for next year, but that's again a bit fuzzy.  Not sure about the last one.

I know they are trying to do some work on figuring out how they are going to work the extra engine into the round house.  But not other than a general idea on that, I don't know any details.  It's going to be a few weeks til I'm out there again but when I am I'll try to remember to ask.

40

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Coaster Christmas 2017 11.11.17

« on: July 28, 2017, 06:38:16 PM »

Shave sums it up well.  You get the magazines, then the opportunity to attend events.  The events usually include exclusive ride time before or after normal operating hours, and will often include meals, behind the scenes tours, Q&A sessions, auctions of parts and collectors items, and other things.  The events are not free to attend- there is a cost to get in to them, but you can't attend most of them at all unless you are a member of ACE (or in some cases like Holiday World's Holiwood Nights event, another coaster club)

41

Dollywood Discussion / Re: Lighting Rod's Continued Issues

« on: July 27, 2017, 09:36:11 PM »

Moot point, but I can verify that it was opening and running for at least part of the day yesterday. A friend of mine lost his phone while riding. And no he wasn't trying to use it. Sounds like it came loose in his pocket and fell out during the ride.

That's encouraging!  We'll be there next Tues or Weds so I'm hoping...

42

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Coaster Christmas 2017 11.11.17

« on: July 27, 2017, 09:31:12 PM »

Wish there was more details other than just a date.  Do you have to buy a ticket to get in, or will a season pass be ok? Any ideas on times, events, activities or other?

I'm not a member of ACE currently (haven't been in years), but I've been debating again, so have to decide if this would be enough to make membership worth it or not.  I assume it's not open to members of other clubs (like FLCC)

43

Other Parks / Re: Last Rides for the Georgia Cyclone at SFOG

« on: July 23, 2017, 09:07:58 AM »

I'm grateful I managed to get on 3 of the Cyclone "clones" (Astroworld's, SFoG, and Psyclone at SFMM)  The one in Texas was probably my favorite of the three.  SFMM's was just horrible, even early on, and got worse as time went on.  I don't remember SFoG's being particularly bad, but I don't recall it as really good either (that was back in 2004)  One of these days I'll get to the original.

But I agree with you.  I'd like to see some of the parks take care of the woodies instead of scrapping them like this.  Roar in California didn't need a makeover.  It was a great little coaster, if it did need a little TLC.   I love RMC, but very mixed feelings about all the makeovers.

44

Dollywood Discussion / Re: Lighting Rod's Continued Issues

« on: July 20, 2017, 03:27:02 PM »

And its down again. I think this is the best comment I have seen on TPR in regards to that coaster and its incessant issues. lol

Dollywood needs to invest in a moose out front to let people know that Lightning Rod is not open today.

I don't float over to that site at all.  Was it a one day closure?  Longer period of time?  Any ideas?

We're still hoping to go in 2 weeks (depending on the cost of car repairs) and I'm hoping it will be open.

45

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2017 Trip Reports

« on: July 20, 2017, 03:24:55 PM »

I was surprised to see only 1 train running on Powder Keg on Monday and not all of the seats were open on it.  By far the longest line in the park.  Are the other trains out of service?

We were there a week and a half ago and went to Powder Keg to open, and they were having problems with the restraints on one of the trains not locking and releasing properly so pulled it out of service.  I would think they'd have that fixed after a week though.

Plus Monday's are usually slow, so I'm not surprised at one train operation there.