Messages

31

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Season pass link to app and park entry

« on: January 05, 2022, 02:10:12 PM »

We bought our season pass and chose the digital version. Got another email today that said to access our account for more info. Went there and no new info was available except a digital version of the pass. No link to download it to my Apple wallet or how to access it digitally. If this is there version of a digital pass they are 10 years behind. Also, bring a friend still has to be printed off ? What the hell !!!!!

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General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Future Festivals

« on: December 26, 2021, 07:08:27 AM »

Let’s not forget that Kentucky Kingdom and Wild Adventures both serve alcohol.  These are Herschend parks.  Their aquariums have wine mixers.  So this is inevitable.  It’s money being left on the table.

This is interesting. I was unaware of that. The Herschends fall into the pentecostal religion, I believe. I seem to remember a recent story of a man at a church in the area there charges with child porn and one of the Herschends gave a character reference trying to keep him out of jail. But I could have that story all wrong edit: nope https://amp.news-leader.com/amp/94642000


And a lot of the people you see walking around with women wearing long akirts and long hair are united pentecostal. There are a lot of them in that area. Not to mention college of the ozarks and their extreme religious beliefs. I grew up in that religion and alcohol is definitely one of their big “sins”. I believe Purdy, Missouri was kind of the inspiration for Footloose. And all of the dry counties in Arkansas

I agree with you though that it would turn some away and bring others in. I think you are right in that it is inevitable. Unsure how I feel about it though. Even though I rom’t follow that religion (or any) these days

Pretty sure I read somewhere the Herschends are not teatotalers themselves. The just play the part, especially the younger generation. I really doubt that it would make a difference either way on people coming and going to the park. If it is done discreetly in a couple locations I doubt you would ever know. Sort of like the Starbucks in the park now.

I was brought up as a drinking is evil Baptist. Sure am glad I left that behind. And then I think how can alcohol be so bad but all the sugered fat laden food they serve be OK ? Do not drink a beer, but  here shove this funnel cake down your mouth !!!

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General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Future Festivals

« on: December 21, 2021, 05:32:13 PM »

Flower & Garden
Mardi Gras / Carnivale
Food & Wine

Adding to the food and wine.  How about adding a craft beer food and wine. Pairing of craft beer and food is very popular. Invite small local breweries and offfer tastings and pairings.

34

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Parking Lot Question

« on: December 15, 2021, 06:49:03 AM »

It is not even listed on the parking map.        https://parkingaccess.com/blog/silver-dollar-city-parking#Silver_Dollar_City_Parking

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General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Parking Lot Question

« on: December 14, 2021, 06:13:05 AM »

I remember John the Diver being out there.  I've not actually gone to look for JD, but it would be interesting to know why they commemorate a former business rather than make it a part of the numbering system.

I am pretty sure they rented this lot from John The Diver for overflow.They might own it now though.

36

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2021 Crowds/Trip Reports

« on: December 13, 2021, 08:36:48 PM »

As we we’re making our way to shelter Friday the NWS site specifically said Branson west, Indian point and Silver Dollar City.

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General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Parking Lot Question

« on: December 13, 2021, 08:34:00 PM »

Pretty sure it is reference to a old business on Indian point called John the Diver sho scuba dived in the lake.

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General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2021 Crowds/Trip Reports

« on: December 13, 2021, 02:53:36 PM »

My Review for Friday

We arrived at 12:15 and parked in the small lot just up from stop 2. Lot 2 was full but just as we were passing by a attendant opened the gate to this small lot and waved us in. Lucky us. Walked to the front and got in the turnstile line. It was a madhouse and security was very overworked. We were on the square at about 12:35 and it was packed.

At rope drop we headed directly to the 1:45 showing of Dickens. The line was already in front of the saloon but we made it in. They did turn people away from the first showing. The show was meh OK for me but I am not a Dickens fan at all. My wife on the other hand enjoyed it immensely. She has never been at Christmas so this was all new to her.

We then headed out and got a skillet bowl for a snack at the Lumbercamp skillet. Potatoes were not done and at 12 bucks a pop they are pricing themselves out for me on a small bowl. After that we slowly went over and stopped in a couple shops on our way to the first showing of Home for the holidays. I thought it was pretty good. No plot, just Christmas songs and scenes. To me the highlight was the live band and the Grease skit and No Snow skit.  Again the first showing of this they were turning people away. They also asked for you to keep 1 seat open between parties for Covid protocols. A nice touch in man opinion.

I should have said before that we were just going this trip for lights and shows so I have no idea about ride ops or ride times.
Went up to the square and got some wassel and watched the tree lighting for the first time. Much better than the old tree but there are already some huge dead spots in the LEDS. All in all we enjoyed it a lot. We then headed to the train and it was backed up down corkscrew so we said screw it for now and headed to midtown. Shopped in the shops for awhile and retrieved our long sleeve hoodies. Yes we were walking around in short sleeves.

Returned to the train about 7 and the line was at the build a bear shed so we waited it out.We had a great conductor and the audio was much better than this summer.

After the train we got a bowl of potato soup and calico potatoes. Again there were only about 4 spoonfuls of soup in the bread bowl and the small calico potato bowl was just not enough or even full. We will eat elsewhere next time.  After this is when we headed to thlepottery shop with the intention of seeing the lower part of the park after that.

Got to the pottery shop and that is when all hell broke loose. We started hearing peoples phones going off with weather alerts. I did not have mine enabled and my wife had left hers in the car. So, I checked the weather app and saw that a Tornado warning was issued for the area. The entire crowd headed uphill at 1 time so I took us through midtown to avoid the main path.When we finally got to the square in about 10 minutes we finally saw a employee in the street yelling for people to shelter. I knew most places would be overcrowded so I took us directly down to the Apple Butter shop and we stood behind the open door and the wall. It took about 10 minutes before we heard the tornado sirens go off. I am not sure if the siren responsibility is SDCs or the local officials but the Tornado had been spotted in Branson West 10 minutes earlier. The poor lady in the shop was trying to get people to come inside off the porch and they just looked at her like she was nuts. She Tried and the idiots just ignored her. SHe finally got the call after about another 10-15 minutes for the all clear.

We immediately headed for the exit as did 15000 other people. Bypassed the Ozark Marketplace and walked to our car. Needless to say it was controlled chaos. The parking crew was trying but no one would listen. Kudos to them for keeping their cool.

So, a few bullet points

:The park looked great as always
:Shows were good as a theme park show can be. Top quality for a non Broadway production.
:I somehow think the crowds have overgrown the infrastructure. As Preaching Bill said I somehow feel all I saw was people and did not visit SDC. But then again I am part of that problem !
:Everything seemed staffed well except for some popcorn carts that were not open. Like I said I cannot speak for Ride-OPs.
:I cannot believe that they did not announce the take shelter over a PA system. Relying instead on employees standing in the street to try and yell it out is absurd in this day and age.
: The emergency plan if there is one needs major work!

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General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2021 Crowds/Trip Reports

« on: December 11, 2021, 04:05:31 PM »

^ How long did you have to take shelter?  How were the crowds?

Crowds were crazy but manageable. First parade route was about 3 deep on the square. Second parade canceled for weather. Dickens and Home For Christmas was lined up a hour early and full. Train was backed up down corkscrew around 5. It was shorter around 7. The bad thing was everybody ran for the exits after the all clear. It was a madhouse getting out. We walked to stop 2 instead of the tram. I felt sorry for the people loading. They really need a better system in a emergency.
As for the other question we sheltered for about 20 minutes. People’s phone alarms were going off 10 minutes before the park sounded theirs.
I’ll do a review later.

40

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2021 Crowds/Trip Reports

« on: December 11, 2021, 02:58:35 PM »

My wife has a co-worker that was eating dinner at SDC last night when the tornado sirens went off.  He said there was no damage and it didn't even rain.  Thank God for that.  Could have been a real disaster at the City.

We were there last night when the sirens went off. It did rain where we were in the park briefly. We sheltered in the Apple butter shop. I cannot believe the people that acted like nothing was going on and refused to obey the employees directions.

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General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Season passes next year....

« on: December 05, 2021, 05:41:12 PM »

This would be the first year that they did not rollover from one year to the other (free).  It's very possible it could just be the price increase but could also be a management rule of multiple rollovers of the same season pass.

Sorry but I rolled over in 2018 and paid the difference in price from that to 2019. It was only a few dollars but I paid it. The same thing when I helped my parents roll over last year to this year. They paid the price increase.

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General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Season passes next year....

« on: December 05, 2021, 07:09:57 AM »

When I helped my parents roll over  they charged for the price increase. Pretty sure it says that somewhere on the website.

43

Branson Talk / Re: Branson Motels

« on: December 03, 2021, 06:18:47 PM »

We do nothing but Air BNB anymore. I just cannot fantom going back to a small room when I can get a condo for about the same price.

44

Wild Adventures Discussion / Re: WA 2022 Additions

« on: November 17, 2021, 08:14:21 AM »

What I find interesting is they are delving into alcohol in a park. Maybe WA has always had this ?  Kinda hope it flows over to the other parks eventually in a controlled way.

WA has always served alcohol. 

But I think it’s time for the park to join the rest of the world.  The craft beer market is money being left on the table if they don’t do it too.  My personal opinion is to turn Dockside Grill into a Craft Beer Brewery.  They could serve pub fare foods. Then turn that seating area into a Beer Garden.  I think that would go over well and finish the revitalization of that area.

Absolutely agree. Partner with a craft brewery in Springfield.

On a side note I am completely surprised that Branson does not have a local craft brewery. I was looking for some local beers to take home on my last trip and the closest brewery is in Springfield according to the liquor store clerk. Someone is missing a great opportunity.

45

Wild Adventures Discussion / Re: WA 2022 Additions

« on: November 15, 2021, 03:21:40 PM »

What I find interesting is they are delving into alcohol in a park. Maybe WA has always had this ?  Kinda hope it flows over to the other parks eventually in a controlled way.