SDCFans - The Unofficial Fan Site For Silver Dollar City

Silver Dollar City & Celebration City Discussion => General Silver Dollar City Talk => Topic started by: kurtbach on July 16, 2015, 12:40:58 PM

Title: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: kurtbach on July 16, 2015, 12:40:58 PM
Anyone know if you can buy Trailblazer passes after 6pm during Moonlight Madness?  I'm wondering if I could buy a single day ticket, enter the park after 3 for the next day free.  Then use a trailblazer pass to knock out the rides with the longest lines and use the free day to enjoy the park.  I think during Moonlight Madness though, the next day free is if you enter after 6. 

Thanks In Advance!
Title: Re: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: shavethewhales on July 16, 2015, 01:13:31 PM
I'm not aware of any time restriction for buying them, but if they're actually needed then they'll probably be sold out by then. From what I remember, sometimes the booth closes down anyway due to slow sales.
Title: Re: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: Copper on July 17, 2015, 09:06:14 AM
If you purchase the full price ticket and enter after 3pm on your first visit you can come back the next day with no additional charge; that offer goes through October 29th.  If you enter on the Moonlight Madness ticket at 5pm it is only good for that evening unless you upgrade it to a season pass or purchase a come back ticket at the Rental Booth.  And yes, they have trailblazers available all day long. 
Title: Re: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: kurtbach on July 17, 2015, 10:52:37 AM
Thanks for the info.  I really appreciate it!
Title: Re: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: Coaster on July 20, 2015, 12:41:58 PM
Long time no see, Copper!
Title: Re: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: Copper on August 11, 2015, 11:14:05 AM
Coaster - yes not on here too often, good to say hello!
Title: Re: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: MissinTheGreenTrams on November 28, 2015, 09:12:53 AM
Has anyone else seen that you are able to purchase a Season Pass Trailblazer good for all season long?? Its a cool 150.00 and will allow for unlimited line cutting all season!!
Title: Re: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: Duelist on November 28, 2015, 10:43:55 AM
didn't know that but don't care for it
Title: Re: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: kurtbach on November 30, 2015, 03:19:13 PM
That's actually pretty neat!  It's not a bad price either if it is the Super Pass version.  Use it more than twice and it's paid for itself.  The downside of course is how it could affect ride wait times for regular folk that don't have the Trailblazer pass.
Title: Re: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: Joy on November 30, 2015, 06:29:10 PM
Well, at that price, I'd imagine there wouldn't be a whole lot of people buying/using it.
Title: Re: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: mhguy77 on December 01, 2015, 08:18:24 AM
Although there is not much of a reason to need this pass I despise the idea. 
The Show lovers pass falls right in next to it.  Charging twice.......
Title: Re: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: MissinTheGreenTrams on December 01, 2015, 08:37:56 AM
This is seriously obnoxious. There should be no fast pass/trailblazer pass to begin with. Now this updated all year line cutting card??? Not cool. Not cool at all.
Title: Re: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: DollarCityBoy on December 01, 2015, 11:07:27 AM
Quote from: kurtbach on November 30, 2015, 03:19:13 PM
That's actually pretty neat!  It's not a bad price either if it is the Super Pass version.  Use it more than twice and it's paid for itself.  The downside of course is how it could affect ride wait times for regular folk that don't have the Trailblazer pass.

Isn't this ON TOP of your season-pass? I don't see how it "pays for itself, if you use it more than twice."
Title: Re: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: MissinTheGreenTrams on December 01, 2015, 11:10:22 AM
It is an added cost. And only good for ONE person, not a family. And how does it pay for itself?? Standing in line is free. So the way I see it is just putting you in the hole.  :-\
Title: Re: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: runner1960 on December 01, 2015, 02:19:26 PM
Quote from: DollarCityBoy on December 01, 2015, 11:07:27 AM
Quote from: kurtbach on November 30, 2015, 03:19:13 PM
That's actually pretty neat!  It's not a bad price either if it is the Super Pass version.  Use it more than twice and it's paid for itself.  The downside of course is how it could affect ride wait times for regular folk that don't have the Trailblazer pass.

Isn't this ON TOP of your season-pass? I don't see how it "pays for itself, if you use it more than twice."

It  would be a cost savings if you were to visit the park several times and buy one each time you went. Just like a season pass saves over purchasing several 1 day admissions. I don't see a problem if that's how you want to spend your money.
Title: Re: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: kurtbach on December 01, 2015, 04:50:52 PM
Quote from: Runner1960 on December 01, 2015, 02:19:26 PM
Quote from: DollarCityBoy on December 01, 2015, 11:07:27 AM
Quote from: kurtbach on November 30, 2015, 03:19:13 PM
That's actually pretty neat!  It's not a bad price either if it is the Super Pass version.  Use it more than twice and it's paid for itself.  The downside of course is how it could affect ride wait times for regular folk that don't have the Trailblazer pass.

Isn't this ON TOP of your season-pass? I don't see how it "pays for itself, if you use it more than twice."

It  would be a cost savings if you were to visit the park several times and buy one each time you went. Just like a season pass saves over purchasing several 1 day admissions. I don't see a problem if that's how you want to spend your money.

Exactly!  If you were to visit several times it would pay for itself versus buying a Trailblazer Pass each time you were at the park.  Just like buying a season pass saves money versus buying individual daily tickets several times a season.   Thanks, Runner!  I'm surprised others didn't see the potential cost savings through their hate of the "line cutter" passes.
Title: Re: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: sanddunerider on December 01, 2015, 06:27:03 PM
for the regular visitor that likes to ride a lot..  This would be a great time and money saver.
Title: Re: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: DianaGail on December 01, 2015, 07:23:04 PM
How much do trail blazer passes truly impact ride wait times? 
Title: Re: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: runner1960 on December 01, 2015, 09:29:50 PM
Quote from: DianaGail on December 01, 2015, 07:23:04 PM
How much do trail blazer passes truly impact ride wait times? 

In the past I have seen very few using them. So I would guess not very much. Myself I do not see the need for one since I have rode everything several times over the years. But if you want to lay out the cash I say go for it. If I was going back to Universal studios soon I would sure buy  there version of it just for the Harry Potter rides.
Title: Re: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: shavethewhales on December 04, 2015, 11:12:43 PM
You'd be surprised how many people will shell out $115. It's not all that much for an entire year of no lines for well off people who visit a few times a year, which is a fair bit of SDC's customer base.

The problem is that SDC's version of skipping the line sucks. Unless they've changed it recently, it is literally cutting people in line. Cedar Fair parks do it right by merging people at the entrance.
Title: Re: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: Hollwood on December 05, 2015, 07:18:21 AM
I helped roll out the Trailblazer program and I feel that it fills a very real need. Regardless of how anyone feels about it, it is an industry standard and guests WANT to buy them. We started out selling 50 a day during Moonlight Maddness and the response was overwhelming. Guests were actually thanking us for allowing them to purchase such a service. The passes were limited to 50 a day, and are still limited, although not as much, to ensure that there is not a major impact on the other guests who do not have them. It is simply a tool to help you plan your day and to ensure that you get to experience all that Silver Dollar City has to offer during your visit, no matter how long you have to spend there. It's a great service, it has UNBELIVABLE margins, and is in theme (slight stab at those who complain about theme :) ). I personally will never buy it. Waiting in line and taking in the beauty of Silver Dollar City as well as watching the rides in motion is one of my favorite things, especially if I'm doing it with family. But watching a family of 4 buying 4 of them, and being excited about it after they handed me $100 was a pretty cool experience as well.
Title: Re: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: MissinTheGreenTrams on December 05, 2015, 08:36:48 AM
Life is far fast the way it is. Seriously take time to enjoy the park and your vacation. Dont speed through it.
Title: Re: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: Swoosh on December 05, 2015, 09:13:31 AM
Quote from: shavethewhales on December 04, 2015, 11:12:43 PM
The problem is that SDC's version of skipping the line sucks. Unless they've changed it recently, it is literally cutting people in line. Cedar Fair parks do it right by merging people at the entrance.

This is pretty standard in all of the chains now.  Cedar Fair's Fast Lane insures they are on the next 1-2 cycles of the ride - most cut the line right to the station. SF's Fast Lane either cuts through the exit with immediate boarding or to the station with boarding in 1-2 cycles.  Universal is immediate boarding or 1-2 cycles.  Disney is s merge.  Busch/Seas is immediate.
Title: Re: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: shavethewhales on December 05, 2015, 11:17:19 PM
Yeah you really have to build the station with the setup in mind though which makes it a pain for all these older rides like TNT. Now that I've been back through the place again I see that they have moved to doing a sort of merge in most of the stations, but it's not very handy. Wildfire's station seems to be the most problematic at this point.
Title: Re: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: sanddunerider on December 07, 2015, 02:38:51 PM
Wildfire does have the best set-up, Its almost as if they designed it that way..... ::)
Title: Re: Trail Blazer Passes
Post by: Swoosh on December 08, 2015, 12:22:39 AM
Well WF's TB Lane was originally for single riders