As I was reading the 'Your most Memorable SDC Trip' thread I started thinking about what everyone else's worst experience was.
My worst experience was probably when I got peed on by the goat when I was younger or when we went at Christmastime and it was FREEZING. Everything was shut down and we were all miserable. But we did get free hot chocolate.
Great idea for a new thread! Only the best of vacation destinations can have a fan site with "worst experiences". Afterall, the worst day at Silver Dollar City is better than the best day of working!
My worst? Hmm. We've had lots of rain experiences. Cancelled shows in the gazebo (which is why more indoor theaters would be nice), closed rides due to lightning, etc. I don't think I've ever thought the trip wasn't worth it, but I do get upset when I have to sit through a bad, self-promoting local-talent show under the premise that it was something different than what I expected.
Yeah, I've gotten caught in a lot of hurricane-force rains. But I've actually found it to be rather fun in the end, running from eave to eave, trying to see how dry you can stay.
The only bad time I've had at SDC was back in December '06, but it wasn't the park's fault. Things got started late for our group, and other things happened, and by the time we were finally ready to ride the rides, they were all closed because of the park-wide power outage (which itself was kinda fun, sitting in the dark, with the exception of the lights on the train, next to the Riverside Theatre where Cedric of Cajun Connection is making jokes about not being the one to cause it, LOL). That day, the only ride we got to ride was the teacups in the last 5 minutes that the park was open.
But, again, it wasn't a bad trip due to the park. I don't think I've ever had issues on a trip that were directly related to the park.
~ "Becky" Joy ~
This is a wonderful topic, because I think it points out that none of us has had a bad day because SDC failed.
One reason that I have had a "bad day" is because 15,000 of my closest friends wanted to have fun too. I remember noticing the excessive number of parking attendance on those days. This park was ready to get it done.
As I wrote las year, I didn't like the "tone" of expedition workers. . . but I took that as cranky old people doing their job too zealously.
My child once exhausted his diaper supply and pooped all over his jeans. We were able to overcome though because their stores had some affordable clothing that fit.
Great Park.
I have to agree that the older people are too rigorous with their duties in the Great Expedition. Definately.
But it is nice that it's not just teenagers running the rides like at other parks, and it gives those folks something to do besides hassle the shoppers coming into WalMart.
The parking is often an issue, too. I always want to park in the C lot (sort of a tradition with us), and I always want to ride on the long green tram (I hate the busses and "trolleys".), but there are times when we have to park across the street, and it's a major pain. It takes 45 minutes just to get to the front gate on those days, and it always seems to happen when we've brought visitors with us. It really sets the wrong tone for the start of the day. I wonder how the new road, etc., will affect all of this.
Upon arriving at the very bottom of Marvel Cave, I erupted into an uncontrollable nose-bleed. With nothing resembling a tissue, I had no choice but to squeeze it off and breath through my mouth all the way to the top of the incline railway. FUN times!
^That happened to me at Disneyland except I was on a ride. ::)
It is weird how nose bleeds can suddenly occur.
1.5 feet of snow overnight! while driving-we left at 11pm from Stlouis. But the horrible drive ended up with only about 100 people in the parkthe following day, pristine beauty, and some awesome photo opportunities. Worst ride/drive ever, best trip though by far, so I guess this doesn't count as worst then huh?
Max capacity at the park last year during OTC and it seemed every guest had taken a extra helping of B!tchy at breakfast. For crying out loud expect that lines will be long when there is that many people in the park, stop whining already... sheesh.
Some of these people would never survive Disney or even Cedar Point
I don't have any idea what would be my "worst" experience at SDC, but one thing comes to mind.
I was the Marshall for one season back in the 80's and on one particular day, a heavy rainstorm came up suddenly. I was asked to "crowd-control" the Hospitality House because, as you all know, it is somewhat of a bottleneck, being the only way on and off the park. Back then, the cave guide/information booth was still in the middle between the two garage doors. There was, in spite of the rain, a mass of people trying to get in, and because of it, a mass of people trying to leave. Needless to say, it was a jumbled up mess at the HH. After some time, I was able to establish an in-going line and an out-going line, on opposing sides of the booth. These lines stretched for a good distance on either side of the HH. People were moving smoothly along until a girl, I'd say about 14 or 15 years old, tried to buck the in-coming line. One person fighting against a flow of people five or six wide, you get the picture. I tried to encourage her to get into the out-going line, but apparently, she had somewhere she had to be in a hurry. She started calling me every name in the book as I continued to tell her she'd have an easier time getting out in the other line. But she finally pushed me aside and continued against the flow. Well, my frustration got the better of me and as she disappeared into the on-rushing mass, I called after her "OK, be a b..tch if you want to." Well, the crowd that was around and had witnessed the whole debacle cheered and clapped when I said that. Admittedly, as an SDC employee and the Marshall no less, I shouldn't have done that, but it is what it is. Anyway, after 20-25 minutes the mass of people eased to the point that I was able leave, so I went directly to my supervisor and told him what had happened. He said not to worry about it, that he'd take care of it if any complaint came about due to my indiscretion. Sure enough, the girl's mother came and found me about an hour later and complained that I had called her daughter a b..tch. I explained what had happened, and that I hadn't actually called her one, but merely that she could be one if she wanted to be, as in, it was her option. She was somewhat mollified after my explanation and apology, but still wanted to see my supervisor so I pointed her in his direction. I never heard any more about it, so I guess he handled it, or she decided not to pursue it further.
That was probably my worst experience with a guest, although when I worked as the Saloon crowd-controller, I had to step between fighting guests several times to ease tensions that arose when people tried to cut in line. We employees are there for the guests, but sometimes they can put us in very sticky situations. In spite of that, we still love 'em all.
^Ah, the joys of the customer service profession! ;)
My, or should I say worst experience at SDC happened in 2006. My family and I have been going to SCC since 1967, I have gone with may Grandparents, Parents,Children, and GrandChildren. We have been to the park at least 100 times and had never had a bad day, not even a bad hour, until this day.
The people that were at the park were the worst I had ever been around. So many really bad moods. We wondered why you would ever be in a bad mood and come to a park. (unless you were a Cub fan then you would always be in a bad mood)
The food service at the lumber camp was terrible. The people were rude, the food was cold, and the table were all very dirty. (The kind of dirty where soda was spilt all over the table on Tues, salt on Wed, trash of Thurs, and left until Saturday.) I e-mailed SDC to tell them about this and they never replied.
To finish the day the people in the little rascals were running over everyone. Everytime you turned around here came another at high speed.
Zephon, I have my days like that!
My worst experience:
I was off work and dressed in street clothes and was trying to make it from the restrooms to the cave information desk in the hospitality House. The place was packed and my friend and I were trying to get through a narrow isle and a lady shoved her stroller into an already packed area. I had to jump on a scale and squeeze my way through a hat rack to get out of the isle. My friend and I made it to the cave desk and I was talking to some friends all the while I heard someone shouting behind me. Finally she ran up to me and started screaming every four letter word in the book and said that I almost knocked her stroller over. I never touched the stroller. She screamed that I should be careful around children and how I almost hurt her child. All the while a young boy was standing next to her and I said that she shouldn't be using such language in front of her child. She said that isn't my f@*#?!& child! Then I said she should work on being a better person and not talk like that around children. She said she didn't care about other kids and went on screaming. My friend with me was pissed by this and said, "You are being White Trash!!!" The lady was shocked at this statement and was really quite afterward. I had to drag my friend off. That was the last I heard of her. I guess she never complained. Maybe she realized she was an awful person.
I deal with people like this a lot. I never get mad if it only affects me, but when it affects others I don't tolerate it. He doesn't work at SDC, but I had to explain to him you can't say things like that!
Well it wasn't a worst experience, just a strange one...this past Fall Festival when the tornado struck and everyone had to wait until the trees were cleared in THE CITY....Danny Eakin came out front and later was joined by Greg Bailey and Greg Becker, and they played with Ken (the accordian player) entertaining and trying to keep people happy... Danny cracked up when I asked Ken to play THE CHICKEN DANCE... (it's played at most we4dding dances up here)it was fun making the best out of a tense situation trying to pass the time away.
I was playing music down by the lumbercamp the day of FITH's accedent.
I was told to move to the middle of the street in front of the Saloon and they roped off the street behind me. I was given no instructions other than to keep people entertained but not say anything about what had happened. I had to listen to people bitch about not being able to go down the street and could say nothing. It was a sad day.
Wow, that day is interesting to me. Aunt June from the Candy Shop has told me stories. I just can't imagine something like that happening.
Is that the story I think it is, any details?
My WORST SDC experience is when I have to go home at the end of the day.
I hate having to leave SDC and go back home.
Yeah I hate seeing the tram coming from the parking lot :'(
The worst day in the park for me was when we would make black licorice flavored hard candy in the basement of the candy factory. June had to warn me about a day in advance or I would have to go home sick...ugh.
Otherwise, I've experienced downtimes, crowds and the general unpleasantness of the great Ozark thunder storm...but the great thing about SDC is the fact that you can escape to almost anywhere and just people watch if that happens and then all becomes right with the world.
Leaving stinks! I think that is the worst part of every trip. I played hooky from my duties here in StL one day, and told everyone I was doing something important (Fiance, mom, dad all included) LEft @ 7am, and spent from 11am-6pm in the park, then drove back. Returned @ 11pm physically exhausted from the 8 hours of driving, but mentally refreshed. No one ever knew! I needed some ME time! but all day knowing I still had 4 hours of driving in store for me made me REALLY, REALLY not want to leave.
My family and are getting to load onto the green tram in C parking lot. We are the first people to the little loading area, but by the time the tram comes there is a pretty big crowd. Usually when it is like this we don't mind to just walk, but I figured we were at the front so I guess we will get on. I always marvel at people looking like an Oklahoma Sooner dashing for their land claim when it comes to loading time. We always take our time and let others ahead of us...always. My kids are 3 and 5, but are taught good manners to the point of exhaustion. As we walked to the tram it was comical that even though we were the first in line we were probably not going to get on because of the mad dash everyone was making. It looked like the chaos during the sinking scene of the movie "Titanic". Finally we came to a tram cart that only had a man seated and we started to board. Out of the corner of my eye, I see an elderly couple struggling to get on and tell them to get on first. Then another couple was having difficulty during the melee', so we let them on also. Then my family and I boarded. Enjoying the day with our little munchkins and talking to the very appreciative elderly people across the aisle we headed on our way.
Just then behind us I keep hearing a woman ranting and raving. Apparently I wasn't aware that she was the queen of England and the seats we eventually occupied were hers, and it was her husband who had broke from his family in his panic filled quest to get a seat that we sat next too. At first I thought she was mad at him, which she probably was, as she railed on someone. Finally I realized it was me and my family that she was furious with over the seats. We had no idea that the man seated was her husband or quite frankly she would have been sitting there even if we would have had to walk, because that is the way I want to raise my kids. She rails on me and my family the whole way, in that cowardly just loud enough for us to hear sort of way, all the way to the gate. The more she thought we wouldn't say anything the louder she got. Finally just before we were told to go ashore she tells her daughter, "see those people", there are some really bad people in this world, and those are some of the worst. That was it, call me what you will, but leave my kids/family alone. As usual with these kind of people, she had mistaken kindness for weakness, but the look of shock on her and her husbands face when I spun and faced her as she exited the tram was so comical in retrospect. I told her, "Lady, would you please shut up, I can only bear fools for so long, and now I'm done! I don't know you or your husband, and since I am not Miss Cleo, I didn't realize he had other family members left behind." The funny part is her husband glared at her and shouted for her "not to say a word". This is extremely out of character for me, and try as I may it tainted the first hour or so of our trip. I bet in the end it probably ruined her husband's also for side'un with the enemy. Of course the way she was acting he probably wasn't used to having a good time anyway.
I always feel sorry for the husband or wife that has to be married to a person like that. I always want to say, "Your at a theme park just have fun!" I have been screamed at on several occasions, it's usually over someone having to leave their purse or bag behind. My family thinks I am crazy for working at a theme park. I don't know I love it. Maybe when I graduate college I can get one of those real jobs they talk about.
Steamfreak someone on Wikipedia posted the FITH information. I think that is what you were asking.
I notice it's getting dark towards the lake. I tell my mom. She asks an employee, and he says, "It's probably just the lake." About 15 minutes later, we were under a pretty strong storm. We took cover in the barbecue place, only to find the only part we could stand in was under a net. We decided to eat, and our food was soaked. We didn't have to leave, but many of the rides were shut down long after the storm.
Lo and behold, we only packed some t-shirts and shorts, and this storm came with a cold front. On the way to the car, we were freezing our butts off, and the car was always just too cold. Meh.
Don't go into the "Real World" Copper..stay there as long as you can! It is not all it is cracked up to be out here! I wish I could trade you! But people say the same things about me being crazy because I chose to be a teacher!
^^Copper: "Maybe when I graduate college I can get one of those real jobs they talk about."
"REAL JOB????!!!!!!" Perish the thought!
I've never had much luck with real jobs....
I once worked in a brassiere factory. It fell flat.
I once was a carpenter....til I got board.
I once worked in a donut shop. It went in the hole.
I once was a singer. They told me to sing tenor twelve miles away.
But then...I got a job as a Pilot.
I had to pile it here and pile it there. Ba-dum-bump!
No sir! No real job for me. My worse day here was still better than any other job I've had.
i can't remember the exact date, i'm pretty sure it was the late 80's. it was before they started putting out the "if you come on this day your going to probably be miserable cause we are going to be really busy so pick another day or your on your own" disclaimer. it was a saturday on memorial day weekend. cars were backed up to springfield( ok maybe not that far maybe it was ozark)anyway we had to park in a farmers field (parking lot z sublot z) a good 2 or three miles from the existing lots and be bussed in on rented school buses from the Branson school district. as you can guess the park was packed, if there was a fire marshals law on the number of people allowed on site they probably broke the law that day. i would akin it to the ol' elbows and a---oles adage and say that there were more a---oles than elbows that day as there was absolutely no room to walk and people were getting on each others nerves due to whinning kids(including my 3 brothers and myself) and the general lack of availible things to do because everything was full or had lines that would not shrink even if someone yelled fire(cause by thunder it took us this long to get here and we ain't leaving until we ride this darn thing so just quit whinning that you have to go to the bathroom or that your hungry cause there are lines there too) needless to say we never tried memorial day weekend again
I always say my worst day in SDC beats my Best day at home. And I stick to it. I try to not let negative people bother me and ruin it for me. It has worked for 28 years!
i would have to agree with you on that, even if it is just one day away from the real world it's worth the trip
Quote from: Hatfield McCoy on January 12, 2009, 01:30:07 AM
...As usual with these kind of people, she had mistaken kindness for weakness, but the look of shock on her and her husbands face when I spun and faced her as she exited the tram was so comical in retrospect. I told her, "Lady, would you please shut up, I can only bear fools for so long, and now I'm done! I don't know you or your husband, and since I am not Miss Cleo, I didn't realize he had other family members left behind." The funny part is her husband glared at her and shouted for her "not to say a word".
I'm sure her husband is all too aware of what he married, and has been for years. He was grateful to you for shutting her down, since he didn't dare (and I'm sure he suffered for it later).
Once when I took my boys to McDonald's (a decade ago, when they were about 8 & 3), there were some hooligans there with their grandparents. Several of them were way too big for the Playland, and were running wild, climbing the outside of the structure, bulldozing toddlers, slamming into and off of everything, basically acting like thuglets who had never been taught that the real world was not Mortal Kombat and WCW.
One other father and I got onto them, hard, not putting up with that crap. The grandparents just tucked their chins, embarrassed, but didn't say anything. Even the other parents, whose kids were being bullied, were afraid to say anything. One mother quietly mouthed a silent "thank you" to me.
I am unfailingly polite and don't hesitate to allow others to go ahead when there is some doubt. But like you, I don't suffer insults to or abuse of my family.
I'm a correctional officer. I can put up with a lot of verbal abuse, with a grin. But there is a line, and I won't allow it to be crossed.
I don't use profanity routinely, but is a useful tool for shocking idiots when necessary. I once had a knucklehead at work on the verge of inciting a riot, something he had been working on all day while I maintained my usual low-key demeanor. He reached my tripping point, where I responded with a brief and loud explanation of exactly why we would
not be doing things his way. There may have been a f-bomb or two, and the food slot on his cell door may or may not have gotten slammed shut by a well-placed boot.
The entire range, which previously had been laughing and egging him on, was suddenly pin-drop quiet. Some seconds passed (seemed like five minutes of silence), then waaaay down the hall a voice rang out: "Dayummmm, dude! You pissed Craig off, you
really screwed up!"
End of problem. ;)
Hey KBCraig.. I am a correctional officer also.. any way...
I think the most upsetting that happened to me was that I was waiting in line at the Big Skillet with my 3 and 5 year old girls and they were getting bouncy.. My 3 year old bumped into a woman and I told the lady I was sorry that she had done that. She told me if I would leave my brats at home things like this would not happen. I again told her I was sorry and she was rude again. I was about to say something but just then the SDC Employee that was taking orders told the woman if she had a problem with children SDC was not a good place for her to be. She puffed up and stomped away. I think that is the only time I have really ever had someone be rude at the park.
I think I would also include this in my "Best SDC experience". I appreciate the SDC employee standing up for you.
SDC employees are always there to help in any way they can. That is a big difference between this and other parks.
They are always at the top of their game but having been to disneyland this last christmas- they were equally good if not better.
I think for lots of kids FitH is their worst experience at SDC. Our preacher tells this story, and used it once again this morning.
Sometime before his daughter started kindergarten, he took her on Fire-in-the-Hole. Like most, she ended the ride in tears. Later she told him that when she gets to Heaven, she's going to ask God WHY He made Fire-in-the-Hole.
Worst for me as a kid was the runaway sawblade in the Flooded Mine (yes pre shootout) I would wait in fear until that point...then joyfully watch for the canary, then worry that the canary had died, were we next? Yes these things entered the mind of a child, but for me it still makes the ride memorable!
Quote from: rubedugans on March 01, 2010, 10:54:27 AM
Worst for me as a kid was the runaway sawblade in the Flooded Mine (yes pre shootout) I would wait in fear until that point...then joyfully watch for the canary, then worry that the canary had died, were we next? Yes these things entered the mind of a child, but for me it still makes the ride memorable!
You know, that saw blade used to scare me, too. It used to be much more dramatic. Now, If you're not careful, you just might miss it altogether.
Yes, the lights used to go off as the saw blade fell towards you on the FM. For some reason the Waterboggan used to scare me. Something about rushing through an enclosed tube and getting wet.
Quote from: Copper on March 01, 2010, 07:36:42 PM
For some reason the Waterboggan used to scare me. Something about rushing through an enclosed tube and getting wet.
That first drop is even scarier now! :D
:D
In fall of '79, I had a little kid come to the float trip, kicking, screaming, crying, and in complete terror. He was afraid the ride was all going to be dark and scary like the flooded mine. I was alone on the dispatch stand that afternoon, all other employees were gone on breaks. This kid was giving such a fight, his parents were having trouble getting him on the boat. The line was starting to back up. What was I going to do? I began a long, drawn out speech directed at the kid. I told him I was a bona fide river rat, on the mighty James River. I told him the river was magical. It was the eighth wonder of the world...the only river that ran in a complete circle! I showed him the hillbilly hat I was wearing, and I told him it was my magic hat, the hat that protected me from anything and everything. I asked him if he would wear the hat while he rode in the boat. I promised it would keep him safe, and that he would be able to get through the whirlpool, he could go through the cave, and pass the water geysers, and nothing would happen to him, in fact, he would have a good time with his family, and since he wore the magic hat, he'd be protecting them, too. The kid was wide eyed, but stopped crying, I handed the hat to him, and his dad put it on his head. I asked the kid if he was ready to go and have fun, and he nodded he was. With that, I dispached the boat...and as it went off the dock, the fifty or so people waiting to board burst out in massive applause and laughter. Seven minutes later the kid came back around, safe and sound. He had a big ole smile on his face, and his parents said he had a good time on the ride. The look on that kids face when he got off the boat and bounded down the path on to his next adventure at SDC has lasted with me for over thirty years, now. Sometimes the guests gave me more pleasure than I could give back to them. That kid would have to be near 40 years old now. Hey kid, if you're reading this...thanks for the memories! You really made MY day! ;)
;D
Quote from: rubedugans on March 01, 2010, 10:54:27 AM
Worst for me as a kid was the runaway sawblade in the Flooded Mine (yes pre shootout) I would wait in fear until that point...then joyfully watch for the canary, then worry that the canary had died, were we next? Yes these things entered the mind of a child, but for me it still makes the ride memorable!
LOL, Rube - it STILL makes me nervous when riding on the outside!!!
My worst experience happens every time I go to SDC...its having to LEAVE.
We were on the Buzz Saw Falls lift hill almost to the top when the ride broke.
It was 100 degrees, there was a woman behind me with a little boy 7? , behind her some others. The " Fix it" guys climbed all the way to the top to tell us they were going to have it fixed in 10 min they were sorry and everything was fine it was a computer glitch, 2 cars in 1 zone. At this point the woman told the guys that her son was upset and wanted down, the boy then started crying. Maintenance said they were several stories above the ground, it would be fixed right away and they really didnt think it was safe to get out that high up. At this point the woman started swearing like a sailor, I mean it was really bad, I was embarrassed and i can swear with the best of them ( and often do) but not like this in public with others around. The guys tried to tell her that it was much safer to stay put but she would have none of this, her son wanted OUT. They carried a large metal contraption to the top so they wouldn't fall as they got out of the car at the angle we were at. They started to walk down the hill and I had another ride op come up to the car and I commented " Man that was ridiculous" She needs to be taken back to the stable she escaped from talking to those guys like that. My buddy sitting next to me kept telling me to shut up but hey everyone in the car was there the whole time.
We got to the bottom of the hill after it started and I realised that the man sitting behind the empty seat was her husband, lord he was embarrassed, I felt bad for him but you know what. HE should have told her to clam up and deal with it.
On the way out I found the manager and applauded the workers she swore at and how professional they were in this bad situation.
I always try to pat people on the back that often go unoticed. I have never seen such bad behavior.
LOL funny now that I think of sitting in that car with sweat pouring down my back berating this woman's poor behaviour while her husband sat ashamed behind the empty seat.
Oh well......
Its a great story to tell.
My worst day was last summer, we took family and they could ONLY go on a Saturday. The park was absolutely packed!! I remember we ended up parking in some grass field that felt like it was part of Rock Lane. It took about a hour to get from there to the entrance because the trams were always full by the time they got to us.
Once we got in the park, they wanted to ride PowederKeg because they hadn't yet, so we waited in like for about 40 minutes and we were 3 trains from riding when it shut down!
My worst experience was during the Moonlight Madness times last year. More people, less employees and long lines did not equal out to more fun. Sure it's extended time in the park, but they don't tell you that means you'll spend it in line (for everything)
Mine was not Citys fault, but.. I had riden go-carts in Branson the night before & broke my prescription glasses, well, the next day i went to the park without them & had a headache all day. Still had fun tho'.
Late August, 1984. Last day on the job at SDC. :'(
When I went in 08', it was around the 20th of May (give or take a day). I guess there is a "school day" to celebrate the kids getting out of school or something because there were kids EVERYwhere!!! School buses were coming and going back and forth! It wasnt really a bad day, but I think I'll time my next trip to SDC a little better!
I am a frequenter of the city I have been going at least once a year evey year since I was well again knee high to a pigs eye. LOOOOOOVE IIIIIIT! Except one time when my daddy took me and it was still early yet and BAM! The special once a month gramma came to visit me in full force! Ruined my whole day!
I was about 4, I got misplaced while watching the log-rolling contest by the waterfall
I have two. Misplacing my son. The good news is that I did find him latter. And getting beat up in the parking lot.
I have a new one. My last experience. Day after Christmas, my wife wasn't there; her mother had passed about 10 days earlier. It rained and one of my children was sick all day so we had to stay close to the bathrooms. Still I took comfort in the fact that I was there and it always seems like home.
Another bad experience is when I got puked on by my little sister in Mary's springhouse when she was 12... eewww
Cousin Bubba, beat up on the parking lot? Gee, I sure hope it was not an employee that did that! Okie, puked on at the Springhouse? Kind of ruins your lunch, huh? Other than my last day at work at SDC being a sad day, I probably mentioned somewhere on the forums about the unfortunate experience I had playing Junior Dugan one day. Part of the job was to pick up the trash on the capsule after a ride. One day a lady...and I use that term loosely...decided to change her tampon onboard! Yeah, I had to clean that up. You know I washed my hands after that sad experience!
Quote from: Junior on March 20, 2012, 04:44:20 PM
Cousin Bubba, beat up on the parking lot? Gee, I sure hope it was not an employee that did that!
Yeah, we need to hear that story!
Moonlight Madness and any Saturday during Kidsfest.
1)A couple of years ago...shortly after Veteran's Day- we were boxed in the parking lot. Literally, could not move in any direction! Called security - said there wasn't anything they could do;I guess we weren't the only ones stuck. I would have been happy to wait it out, but was with the family member that hates the City and we were stuck listening to her wrath for awhile. Geesh! Glad that experience is over.
2) Same time frame as above. Walked in the gates and could go no further than Main Street. It was so crowded it was impossible to move. Sadly, we left, but happily came back next day and all was well.
When we were leaving Silver Dollar City, we got the last two seats on the bus. A man standing in the door way of the bus thought that the seats should have been his and said as the doors were closing,"I'll see you in the parking lot". I don't know how he knew which parking lot I was going to be in since the bus stopped at 3 or 4 stops. Guess who was waiting for me when i got off the bus? It wasn't much of a fight. I'm a lover not a fighter.
He pushed me in the back and slapped me in the back of the head. I think he was afraid the bus driver was going to do something so he left.
HOLY COW, BUBBA! THE BUS DRIVER SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING!
It happened to fast for the bus driver to help. It was not Silver Dollar City's fault or their employees. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Something that happens to me quite often.
I'd say my second worst visit( since I already posted a first) would be a trip back in 2002 or 2003 during the Christmas season. It seemed that everyone wanted to congregate around the square and it was bottle necked at every turn when trying to get down into the rest of the park. Ended up having to use our stroller to try to bulldoze our way through to get past, saying excuse me of course. After about an hour we finally did. Once down the hill It was like having the park to ourselves but it was the getting there and back out that were the pain.
On second thought, I think it was a baldknobber that attacked me in the parking lot.
Awkward, awkward moment last season when Barnstormer broke down and we were waiting for it to reopen and some little creep was flirting like crazy with my sister. We were finally like, yeah, we're not gonna wait for this :P
Barnstormer? Um, wrong park.
Wow Bubba...that's called "assault." Stone County deputies should have been notified...it would make yer "pal" think twice about the bull he pulls on vacation.
Quote from: cousin bubba on March 21, 2012, 10:23:46 AM
Guess who was waiting for me when i got off the bus?
If he beat you to the parking lot, I guess he didn't need to take the bus in the first place!
Yesterday, I Was just recovering from the 102.5* fever (after spending 2 days in bed I felt so good to be out and about) while taking the 5 mnth. daughter to the park for the first time. It was our first time with a stroller, spring break hooligans darting in and out of the crowds attempting to get a bit more ahead, running through medians, and over ropes/ barriers trying to beat crowds. While waiting at the train crossing a bug flew in/ entered my ear... I was like "weird...it flew up and tickled my ear and is gone!". We walked all the way over to GE from the Pottery shop only to have me still digging at my ear with my pinky finger, only to feel something...YES, it was still in there despite about 5 minutes of ehh, it's gone, wait is it? I fekt it moving in there and about freaked out to the wife "is there a bug in my ear"...wife "nope"...okay...ahh something is hurting in there!!! yep it was there, and I managed to get it out with a pinky it looked between an and and a termite (heckl maybe a flying ant of a decent size. Wow was that a relief to have it out. But that was not the worst part of the day despite I am still fiddling with my ear a day and a half later! While getting off of the tram at almost the last row in the parking lot #3 after fighting crowds... and digging for bugs I threw my back out trying to carry the car seat WHILE in mid air stepping off of the tram. The moment my foot hit the groud it was excruciating. Day 2 was managable, I just had to take things a bit slower. I feel much better now (end of day 2) Still ...I would rather this happen there than at home, I forced my self to get up and move around today despite the back pain. If I dropped anything, it is your gain, I couldn't bend over to pick it up! Chiropracter here I come!!!
dang rube, that sucks. hopefully ya had a few moments of enjoyment.
Wow, Rube what a trip! It may not have been your best, but it sure was memorable. What is with those pesky bugs, and aiming right for a person's ear? Although years ago I made the mistake of riding a bike with my mouth open, and a bug flew into my mouth, and straight down my throat. Eh, extra protein for the ride I suppose. I feel your pain with the crowds this past weekend. My father said it took him over an hour to make it from the Sheppard of the Hills, to the Silver Dollar City parking lot. Kids are awesome, but kids let loose by their parents to run wild will ruin anyone's day quickly. It sounds like your tram ride was a real pain in the back! Although I hope you haven't sworn off riding the tram ever again. :)
Rube, I'm telling ya, preferred parking with a stroller, especially a baby carrier and stroller, is the way to go....
Quote from: StaceySue on March 27, 2012, 07:58:54 PM
Rube, I'm telling ya, preferred parking with a stroller, especially a baby carrier and stroller, is the way to go....
AMEN!!!!!!
I know. I am feeling a bit better today, and actually ran a mile faster than I have in a while...I can bend over most of the way, but the side to side torquing is still a bit gruesome. The preferred was full, and we took the first spot we found honest!
I hate when the park is so packed. I do believe there is a happy medium. I dont mind a crowd but when every ride is an hour wait....... :-\