Just out of curiosity and also some commentary I am curious when you go how much did or do you normally spend. On what and why? I know the SDC people read this and although they do send out survey takers in the park we may not be as candid with them as we are when we are on-line. So, last time you went, with the exception of admission how much did you spend on drinks, food, trinkets? were you satisfied with what you spent your money on.....? And why?
I can go usually on 200 or 300 dollars. Reason being is I just don't spend much. I drive there from Kansas city too. So I try and pinch every dollar. I might get a shirt or something. And eat. But Thts about it.
I live 1.5 hours away so I frequently go for half a day. I do not buy drinking in the park and if I do it is the frozen lemonaide. As far as food goes I will buy the Apple dumpling as a standard snack. Normally I do not eat in the park.
When I go I may spend $5 to park close then buy a bag of black walnut brittle for a friend.
I would eat more but there isn't much that appeals to me anymore.
Total cost per trip 17.00.
Most trips we buy 1 or 2 frozen lemonades and a bag of kettle corn. Occasionally we buy a loaf of cinnamon bread. Last week my husband bought a BBQ brisket dinner in Red Gold and used his season pass for the discount (food was not very good). About once a year 1 of us buys a t-shirt. So most trips we get out for less than $20 and from April through December we usually go at least once a month.
We used to plan on eating a meal in the park but quit doing that when the meal prices started averaging $8 - $10 a person and the food quality went down.
On opening day I ate breakfast before leaving the house, walked the park and snapped photos, checked out some shows and rides, and all I purchased was a 20 ounce bottle of Coke. That was a cheap day on park. Fortunately for them, most people aren't that tight with their cash.
Just earlier this evening I was engaging in my semi-monthly winning lottery fantasy session, and SDC featured prominently in the "entertainment" category.
It ranged from the minimal (win a couple hundred thousand, take the immediate family) to the extreme (MegaMillions, buy season passes for everyone I know).
Visting the City gets easier when you own a condo with room for your whole family and kennels for the pets. Or, at least I assume it does, since that was part of my lotto fantasy!
thats funny mhguy77, i was gunna start a topic like this a few weeks ago.
we are the same as "big doings", we can go on $200-$300, if not less. our first purchase is a motel, just over $40.00 -- eat cheap on Sat. night & Sun. morning. eat lunch at the park, thats around $18.00. eating dinner on our last night is usually our biggest purchase, $25.00-$30.00. every once in a while we may ride a go-kart or 2 & buy a t-shirt at SDC. and ofcourse ya gotta have gas to get back home.
so, if we be total tightwads, we can go on about $120-$150. but, we all know that you always find something at SDC or in Branson, to purchase, that just hits ya right in the face. there has been alot'a times when i take $300 & come home with more than $100.
cool topic! ;)
Well MH, At the city, usually not much expense, depending on days,
maybe lunch for the 3 of us..20-25.00
I drink water, ( except OTC, hot chocolate).
Afternoons- Kettle corn for sure 6.00
thats about it unless i get an "urge", (which doesnt usually happen)
My dentist has backed me off of the taffy purchases.. :'( :'(- Normally that would be 15-20 per trip ;D)
About once every 3 months we will breakfast out there. 20-25.00
If we are doing a down-and-back trip, that usually gives us 6 hours on park. In that time we will usually spend 30.00, including parking. A couple refills, maybe a popcorn, a piece of candy for the kids.
If we are staying in the hotel and going to be there a couple days, we still make an effort to eat off-park. Usually take food with us.
I figure the less I can spend on each trip adds up to more trips I can take.
We *may* buy a tshirt for the kids if I find one on clearance.
Not counting hotel stay, we spend about 5$ We pack a lunck/snack and water. We have refillable mugs and will get a soda for the kiddo here and there. Once a year we will go crazy and get food at park.
2 adults and two grandkids
gas (up and back) - 80
hotel deer run 2 nights - 120
food 160
cottage resort restaurant - 60
hardee's - 20
mill restaurant - 40
barbecue - 40
Ozark market place(pictures) - 16
waxworks (kids hands) - 20
leather shop (suspenders and whip) - 75
apple butter shop - 20
Hannah's ice cream - 18
barbecue sauce - 15
blue grass cd's - 80
parking - 12
misc - 50
TOTAL - 676
new memories with grandkids - PRICELESS
Other than gas, nothing. The rest is comp'ed
QuoteOther than gas, nothing. The rest is comp'ed
Interesting
Swoosh do you find its hard to give a realistic opinion and report in a non biased way when your trip is supported by those you are reporting on?
As in, they are comping everything so there is nothing but praise of the company on your website and in your public opinions?
I can see how that could be a conflict of interest.
Last time I was at SDC, I only spent $1.99 (+tax) on a garter, but I'm not sure how much my mom spent buying everyone's lunch and she also bought a few things at some of the shops. It was probably some where around $50 because of jewelry and some candles and other little random things.
I'll defend Swoosh until he answers. I was a news reporter for about 20 years. I got in free to everyplace I went...complementary entrance, free meals sometimes, and so on. I was usually at a place or event to cover the event or to cover a speaker at the event. No comp ever influenced the outcome of the story. Ever. If a comp meant I had to do a complementary story in return, I didn't go. Ever. I assume he follows the same guidelines as a print or broadcast journalist, because that what he is. He takes photos, he writes a story/review, he is allowed in his area of work to give his opinion. That's the view from where I sit. I'm interested to see Swoosh respond to your question.
Quote from: mhguy77 on June 08, 2012, 02:11:07 PM
QuoteOther than gas, nothing. The rest is comp'ed
Interesting
Swoosh do you find its hard to give a realistic opinion and report in a non biased way when your trip is supported by those you are reporting on?
As in, they are comping everything so there is nothing but praise of the company on your website and in your public opinions?
I can see how that could be a conflict of interest.
Not any different than any other news source. If you'll notice, I don't really give an opinion strongly either way. I just present it and let the reader formulate their own opinions.
QuoteNot any different than any other news source. If you'll notice, I don't really give an opinion strongly either way. I just present it and let the reader formulate their own opinions.
Very good responce, I myself have been in broadcasting, reporting on a story, event or situation you do need to remain neutral. However what and how you report can definitely make a difference. I am glad to hear that you are conscientious of your position and the perks you are receiving and balancing them appropriately.
But
You dont even buy a coke or eat Swoosh? You buy nothing?
Not usually and I don't drink soda.
It is me observation that people are not making the purchases they made in the past @ SDC. I can remember being a kid where everyone had bags when they were leaving. That no longer seems to be the case. I wonder what they could do to increase purchases.
Quote from: mhguy77 on June 09, 2012, 09:55:00 AM
It is me observation that people are not making the purchases they made in the past @ SDC. I can remember being a kid where everyone had bags when they were leaving. That no longer seems to be the case. I wonder what they could do to increase purchases.
MORE Craftsman
MORE made in USA
MORE one-of-a-kind pieces
LESS China crap they one could buy @ Wal-Mart
QuoteLESS China crap they one could buy @ Wal-Mart
Amen to that. I do think that the key is the specialty items and things that one can only find at SDC.
That would apply to merchandise, candy and food.
While walking through Sullivan's Mill prior to rope drop on opening day this year I overheard three employees who said they were glad when they came into the shop they discovered this year there was more made in USA merchandise as opposed to last year. There is hope. Rejoice!
junior, someone had posted thet earlier this season.
More Made in the USA would be great! Made in branson would be better, Made in SDC would the BEST!!.... (in my opinion) ::)
i agree sanddune, & in bulk so the prices aint too high for us average folk. i know they can only make certain things in a working day at the park, but it sure would be nice. i miss my ol' coffee cup that i broke.. :'(
Quote from: DollarCityBoy on June 09, 2012, 02:27:47 PM
LESS China crap they one could buy @ Wal-Mart
Well, just to keep things in perspective... even in the grand old days of SDC in the '70s, most of what we bought was "China crap" (or the imported equivalent for that era).
I'm pretty sure my Hillbilly Hat and coonskin caps and hillbilly flip-flaps from way-back-when weren't gen-u-wine products of the Ozarks.
Well I usually I and my family which is a total of 4 people.
Usually go to the mill for breakfast which which is normally about 30.00
Usually we will do lunch somewhere which I would would say is another 30.00
probably another 10-15 for some desserts and drinks through out the day.
As for as mechandise we will get mix from sullivan's mill if we are out usually a big bag of the pancake/waffle mix. I believe thise are are about 15.00 a bag.
Then I normally try to pick out something from one of the craftsman for my collection.
So I would say I probably spend about $100-$120 at the park on occasion.
I look at it like this we usually go just one day while we are down there and since we have our own condo to stay we eat in the rest of the time so I feel it kinda evens out.
Today,
Succotash $8.75
Taffy 5.38
Apple Dumpling 0.00 ( they didn't have them)
14.13 for 2 of us.
If there were Apple Dumplings they would have gotten 10.00 more
Great day at a bargain price. I am aware that SDC operates on $ and almost feel guilty that I am not paying my way while expecting quality entertainment and rides that are operational and up to quality. The problem is things are expensive and there isn't much I feel is exceptional enough to comand the price.
Not too long ago, we would enter the park and eat our way through it. We took advantage of the 20% off coupons that came with each season pass. We typically ate breakfast at the Mill and finished with dinner at the Mine before we left. A stop at the Taffy Shop was a must.
This year, one our first trip we shared a dinner during World Fest and a cinnamon roll.
BBQ - cinnamon roll
2 ice teas
shared dinner at World Fest
$20.00 on 75% off items
$10 on 30% bbq sauce (Christmas gifts for son)
Kids Fest on Sunday - 2 coffees
cinnamon roll
2 Sarsaparilla's to go
woodworking tool (with 20% off coupon)
We'll be limiting our daily allowance to $15-20.00 per trip (that includes sarsaparilla and taffy). I'm increasingly unhappy with the food quality and pricing. It just makes more sense for us to eat before we arrive, buy a snack, and have dinner at our condo. I usually put something in the crock pot so it's ready when we get back. If I see something I really want, I will probably buy it, but it takes a lot for me to hand over cash these days. And, I think a 20% coupon should be given for each season pass purchased - it used to be that way. Now, it's one per family.
QuoteI'm increasingly unhappy with the food quality and pricing.
This seems to be the concensus from responces. My stand is that if the quality is there I am willing to pay the price.
This seems to be an underlying message from others on this blog as well.
We try not to spend more than $100.00 when we go down for just a day trip. We usually try to take water bottles with us and refill them at the drinking fountains ect. Our biggest expenditures are always lunch, be it at the Rib House or the buffet at the Mine Restaurant, and the souvenirs, as all the kiddos think they have to have something to take home to annoy us with LOL. We do use our Season Pass discount as much as possible so we usually end up making it home with $50 or more!!!