I've read and enjoyed this site for several years now and finally decided to register and post from time to time. I'm from Northwest Arkansas and have been visiting SDC since the late 80's as a kid. I've been taking my three kids 3 to 4 times a year since 2011.
We made our first 2017 trip Thursday (3/23) and it was the busiest day I remember in the past few years. Encountered our first traffic standstill at 10:55 and didn't make it into the park until 12:45. After 20 minutes of waiting in the preferred parking line, was told they were all full and needed to head to lot 5. We made our way to the park entrance to find only 3 employees scanning tickets/passes. Waited another 20 minutes as our line had an issue and the employee had to step away for 5 or 10 minutes. I looked back and the three lines were nearly to the restrooms by the ticket office.
Once we finally made it in, it was an outstanding day with my wife and daughter. Weather was perfect. Outlaw Run line moved well all 3 times. Thunderation was closed when we went by. My daughter loves Wildfire and the line was the longest we've encountered. We actually went upstairs above the gift shop at 2 pm. By 5, the lines had subsided and it was back to 20 minutes or so. The small concession lines were 15 to 20 people deep and even longer at Lumber Jack and other eateries. The frozen lemonade was well worth the 25 minute wait!!!!
I had a sausage skillet and it seemed to have more seasoning and an all around improved flavor from last year! I'm looking forward to trying the new Tex-mex place when we go back for vacation in June. All in all, it felt like they were struggling to handle the crowd and honestly it was a poor, frustrating customer experience getting into the park. I'm sure they aren't on their A game this early in the season and we still enjoyed the day.