Just announced on FB, SDC will be open unitl midnite this sat.. Aug. 3rd!! Hope they have GREAT weather!!!
Man, I wanna go! But I'm moving Friday/Saturday... :-(
Crossing my fingers that this is successful enough that they'll try it out on several Saturdays next summer!
I would love to attend, walk around the park after dark, and still be warm outside..But no way I can be there this weekend.
It will be interesting to hear what shops/eateries stay open for the additional hours...
Interesting thing they're trying here. I've noted before that moonlight madness always made me feel uneasy because it really just turns the place into an inconveniently spread-out amusement park in the dark. The only thing to do is ride rides, and you can't really take in much of the charm or atmosphere. It also simply brings in a cheaper crowd with cheaper tastes.
It's an excellent promotion for them though I'm sure. You get to bring in another customer base who just wants to ride rides for cheap, and effectively get two crowds into the park in one day as a lot of the regular guests leave at around the time that the moonlight madness people arrive. It also gives people a chance to visit the park without fear of the heat.
^I couldn't agree more. I don't want to be anywhere near this circus/party/carnival. There's a way to do it right, but it would take more effort. Money is the only thing driving this - i.e., selling more funnelcakes.
The good thing is employees are able to log more hours. Of course, with the healthcare rules, they may just bring in a second string of part-timers.
Yep! Y'all get excited for a little more extra time to ride your favorite attractions in the dark...especially Outlaw Run.
What will be nice about next summer is that with the 10pm hours being all summer, the crowds will be much more spread out. If we get lucky, they'll drop all the stupid modern music. Honestly, the main thing that attracts the younger set for Moonlight Madness is the later hours. Give 'em more later hours, and there's no need for modern music or what-not (the exception being the dance party, 'cause it's fun and isolated to the square for only a half hour each night).
SDC is behind the times when it comes to hours compared to the other parks in Missouri. Six Flags St. Louis summer hours are to 9pm each night except Saturdays, when it closes at 10pm. Worlds of Fun is all about the night hours -- their summer hours are Sun-Thu to 10pm, Fri to 11pm, Sat to midnight.
So, I'm excited for the new hours next summer at SDC, because it'll be a major step to competing with the other Missouri parks when it comes to night hours.
I am sure they are hoping for a BIG attendance day, last sat was 23,000. So maybe this sat with longer hours................................. we'll see.
last Monday was the 1st time i have ever been at the park past dark. with the sun going down around 8-9pm, we only got to ride 2 rides in dark. that was PK & TNT. atleast if they are open later, ya get a chance to ride more in the dark.
i just worry about the citizens of the park working all them hours. i know they probably get breaks & such, but when we got the hamburger in the late evening, the cook had been working since 7am.
myself, i would rather be at the park in the early morning, & at night. so i guess i'm one of the cheaper people with cheaper tastes.... ??? it aint cheap to go SDC, no matter what time a day you go.
I think this is just a convenient way for Silver Dollar City to take a bite out of the evening time profit, and rightly so. Let's face it, at night many people spend hundreds of dollars on shows, shops, dinning, and entertainment on the strip. The Herschend Corporation already tried this with Celebration City, and was unsuccessful, so it's good that they are trying alternatives. Besides, if it keeps the late night "carnival" goers out of the park until I am gone, I am okay with that. :)
Joy-
I'm with you on the modern music. I HATE it. When I rode Thunderation on Sunday, they were playing "Mother in Law" by Ernie Doe (1961). When I was walking around the Homestead, the band in the gazebo was playing "I heard it through the grapevine". As I walked by the glass blowing shop, one of the speakers was playing "Song of the South" by Alabama. They were also playing "new country" in Wilson's Farm.
I have never noticed so much "modern" music at the park. Bring back the bluegrass!
Yes, Bluegrass or old country..
"new" country sux!.. it aint really country..... LOL..~!!!
What's next? Beer? Can't imagine the price for that.
A few songs from the playlist of my new band - American Cousin
1) Mountain Music \ Tennessee River (same fiddle licks so I combined em)
2) I saw the light
3) Rolling in my sweet baby's arms
4) Hot Rod Lincoln - I'm billing it as the world's oldest rap song
5) Orange Blossom special (AKA the fiddle players national anthem)
6) Hey good looking
7) Rocky Top
8) Uncloudy Day
9) Rose of San Antone
AS far as I know, we are the only classic rock, old country, new country, gospel show in town
Aww man! I already have plans :(
Quote from: Ozark BBQ on July 31, 2013, 10:22:58 AM
Besides, if it keeps the late night "carnival" goers out of the park until I am gone, I am okay with that. :)
This.
About the only thing I'd like to do after dark is take a train ride.
Train ride would be very different..
flooded mine would also be different with NO daylight coming in between the boards/walls
I think walking around the park, in the dark, with NO OTC lighting would be very "calming", because as mentioned most of the people would be in line at the rides!!!
It would just be different....
I've done the "walk the park after dark" thing, and let me tell you, it really IS calming. The park is SO beautiful after dark. And this was on the anniversary, so it was May 1st and therefore still two months away from the longest day of the year. So plenty of time to enjoy the nighttime....
Walking around SDC after dark last week made me wish so hard that they had some kind of "camp out over night" kinda thing like zoos do. God, I'd give anything to set up a tent and go walking around the park late at night!
Quote from: Joy on August 01, 2013, 11:52:37 AM
Walking around SDC after dark last week made me wish so hard that they had some kind of "camp out over night" kinda thing like zoos do. God, I'd give anything to set up a tent and go walking around the park late at night!
We've talked about that, but unfortunately the city is a busy busy place overnight and in the early morning. The streets get swept and hosed down, there's maintenance and deliveries, etc.
I would love to be there in the dark. I also find the dark to be calming, and interesting. There's a lot to see when you can't see. ;D
I loved being on park late at night or early morning when I worked there. Do not underestimate what squirrels, chipmunks, possums, coons, and other critters can do overnight. They do a pretty good job of getting any food or drink not disposed of properly. My biggest fright came when I got to the old float trip early one morning to clean up prior to opening. I kept hearing a scratching sound inside a trash can and was petrified to turn it over to let the critter out because I just knew it would be a skunk. I finally mustered up the courage and kicked over the can...and out scampered a very scared and happy chipmunk!
There is a peace and calm to the park late and early when it is closed. The floodlights hidden in trees allowed employees to get from place to place without totally stumbling around in the dark. The street crews do a great job of hosing down the streets, and the Cushman delivery carts and small trucks were all over the park, making deliveries. Security guards were spread out around the park, and you could never make it from one end of the park to another without bumping into one or two of them, and being asked what you were doing at work late at night or early in the morning. It is a very secure place.
FB book just posted reminder for midnite tomorrow nite, AND also said the "Joel Mamby" might be there too!!!..
I bet they are hoping for perfect weather and a HUGE crowd...
hope they have it..!
DH and I might go at some point on Saturday, but we haven't decided yet. We've done the rollercoasters in the dark at OTC before (obviously not OR of course), but never the water rides. It could be fun, depending on the crowds. There's a chance of rain on Saturday I think, and although that has never deterred us I know it does to a lot of folks. Here's hoping for good weather for the City's sake!
Quote from: KBCraig on August 01, 2013, 06:55:14 PM
Quote from: Joy on August 01, 2013, 11:52:37 AM
Walking around SDC after dark last week made me wish so hard that they had some kind of "camp out over night" kinda thing like zoos do. God, I'd give anything to set up a tent and go walking around the park late at night!
We've talked about that, but unfortunately the city is a busy busy place overnight and in the early morning. The streets get swept and hosed down, there's maintenance and deliveries, etc.
I would love to be there in the dark. I also find the dark to be calming, and interesting. There's a lot to see when you can't see. ;D
30 minutes before legal shooting leaning against a tree in flooded timber is peace on earth to me. Provided it's cold enough to shoo the bloodsuckers and snakes away. ;D
As much as I am not a fan of the newer music during Moonlight Madness, as long as it is somewhat Country, and not Lady Gaga like a few years ago I am happy! ;)
Quote from: sanddunerider on August 01, 2013, 10:08:37 AM
I think walking around the park, in the dark, with NO OTC lighting would be very "calming", because as mentioned most of the people would be in line at the rides!!!
Great point; I agree all around.
I just found this on the show schedule for this weekend.. Joel Manby is listed as a "performer" at the Gazebo, later on in the evening. check it out, belowe schedule on the left column in the yellow box...
Reads like this::""
SpeCial MidnigHT MadneSS ConCerTS
SaTurday, auguST 3
9pm to 10pm MILE ZErO And
10pm to Midnight THE THUNDErING rED rOCkETS
Rockin' the Gazebo (H-5) on The City's Square with cover favorites from the 80s & 90s
including David Bowie, Eagles, Bruce Springsteen and many more.
Plus, Featured Guest Performer...Herschend Family Entertainment CEO,
Author of Love Works and Undercover Boss Star—Joel Manby
http://www.silverdollarcity.com/~/media/ParkContent/SDC_COM/Documents/SDC/Entertainment%20Schedule/July%2029-August%204.ashx
Quote from: Ozark BBQ on August 02, 2013, 10:31:18 AM
As much as I am not a fan of the newer music during Moonlight Madness, as long as it is somewhat Country, and not Lady Gaga like a few years ago I am happy! ;)
I love Lady Gaga, but yeah, her genre of music does not fit the theme. At least modern country is still country.
I got a good compromise
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7_T095ja78
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkvEH9jyoc4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVg1u6KqqqE
I suggested that approach two or three years ago. I think it would be hilarious and just enough tongue-in-cheek to work. It would be a great way to honor bluegrass AND make light of it at the same time.
Quoteit aint cheap to go SDC, no matter what time a day you go.
unless you have season passes ;D