I always have tweaks I would like to share with someone who cares. Is there anything you would like to change at the SDC OTC?
I myself would like to see a few new food choices. What about you guys?
Less congestion near Saloon.
I also think that the parade should go around the square and not just straight across - this would create more prime viewing near the front of the park.
QuoteLess congestion near Saloon.
Seems like they could move out that Berries and Cream booth and that would sure open up a larger walkway.
It is a mess there.
Quote from: mhguy77 on October 28, 2015, 08:06:34 AM
QuoteLess congestion near Saloon.
Seems like they could move out that Berries and Cream booth and that would sure open up a larger walkway.
It is a mess there.
Yes that would open up some space but at least the line goes with the flow. The kettle chip line however goes against the flow and spills across the street causing a lot of congestion.
I know I am going to get slammed here. But, Just how many years are they going to keep Dickens. Maybe its just because I have seen this story in so many forms over the years I absolutely cannot stand it. Another thing is if you are not going to have a attendance cap make sure you schedule enough shows that everyone gets to enjoy the things that are advertised as available. I know several people who will never go back to SDC because they crammed so many people in you had to devote 3 hours of your time just to see one show. If you put 20000 plus in make sure you can accommodate them.
Quoteif you are not going to have a attendance cap make sure you schedule enough shows that everyone gets to enjoy the things that are advertised as available. I know several people who will never go back to SDC because they crammed so many people in you had to devote 3 hours of your time just to see one show.
Amen brother!!
I hope they don't get rid of Dickens, and I don't think they will. It is a very good productions, lots of people want ot see it.. I don't watch it every year, because it is a repeat. But it is still first class production..
I also believe they should do both of the bid productions, dickens and wonderful life, top of the hour starting at 2 all day long, maybe up unitl 6 or 7 in the evening.. I realize part of the performers are probably in the parade also, but they have lots of employees....
That would really give people more of a chance to see both shows and enjoy the park more. Would help scatter people out more evenly over the park..
I hope Dickens stays around, also. It's a Christmas tradition, and the best version of Dickens that I've seen. Sand, I don't see it every year, either. I see it every other year and always look forward to it. I like your idea of having it run more frequently. It's hard giving so much time standing in line and cold!
I do think the basis of the complaint is very valid. It seems that Saturdays at Christmas guest counts surpass the summer. Consider that all of the water rides are closed and that if its cool the coasters are down. You must increase the shows to absorb the guests. I don't think the lights are enough to validate someone spending $65 to get in. You better give them a cpl of shows for their money.
Even Santa and the reindeer run on a schedule. Most of the times I have peeked my head into the Santa building to say hello to Terry there is no Santa or Rudolf or the Bumble on duty. Why not rotate them so there is always actions on the building. I would think when removing attractions and things that fill a guests time you would try to make sure that you replace the experience with another. This is not being done. I love the city at Christmas but they do need to pick up the pace and the number of shows and offerings on traditionally peak days.
Quote from: mhguy77 on October 29, 2015, 09:03:27 AM
I do think the basis of the complaint is very valid. It seems that Saturdays at Christmas guest counts surpass the summer. Consider that all of the water rides are closed and that if its cool the coasters are down. You must increase the shows to absorb the guests. I don't think the lights are enough to validate someone spending $65 to get in. You better give them a cpl of shows for their money.
Even Santa and the reindeer run on a schedule. Most of the times I have peeked my head into the Santa building to say hello to Terry there is no Santa or Rudolf or the Bumble on duty. Why not rotate them so there is always actions on the building. I would think when removing attractions and things that fill a guests time you would try to make sure that you replace the experience with another. This is not being done. I love the city at Christmas but they do need to pick up the pace and the number of shows and offerings on traditionally peak days.
I agree. There are tons of places now days to see lights and not at $65.00 a pop to do it. Walking around cold just does not justify this kind of cash outlay. Sadly as long as the turnstiles click though we won't see much improvement or additional things to do. My group that i know that will never be back did complain to the customer service but just kind of got a we will look into it type of answer. I think they gave it a bad Trip Adviser review after that.
You do understand the cost of producing the three big Holiday shows isn't cheep and I think the ticket value isn't just based on lights alone. I do agree that both Dickins' and It's A Wonderful Life need to add a show on Saturdays - this means they need to do a quick turnaround during the busiest part of the day so that they can get people into the show faster and off the streets. As long as Jack and Sherry Herschend are around I don't think we will see Dickins' go away. I do think you will appreciate how they are re-doing some things for the Holidays. I don't want to ruin it, but I was excited about it. Also, I think it is time to completely overhaul the entrance and exits. A lot of people could be out of the park as a large number of people are entering, but it isn't possible with the bottleneck even when they reroute guest that are entering down to the Candy Gate Entrance. It needs to be like a revolving door and not the Berlin Wall.
For those complaining about cost:
2 Broadway Style Shows (each would cost MINIMUM $40 each outside park to see)
Lights. (other displays cost $10 MINIMUM per person)
and that's before you even get to the rides, parade, etc
If you're not getting your money's worth, THATS ON YOU.
Also if you're whining about not getting to see both shows, do some freaking research and go in with a plan. Flying blind is again ON YOU. That would be like going to WDW and not researching Fastlane+ until you got there then complaining that you didn't get to see everything you wanted because you didn't educate yourself ahead of time.
Absolutely no sympathy whatsoever.
What SDC needs is more indoor rides; the worst crowds happen at Christmas when it's too cold for any of the rides to run.
2 Things I would like to see, but doubt I will:
I would like to see a return of the Candy Mine (the transformation of the Flooded Mine in the 90's during OTC). Only happened one season, if I recall, but it was awesome!
Also, the 1st Christmas River Blast was open, they decorated it to the hilt with lights and decorations, turned off the water guns, and let people ride thru. We took Hot Chocolate with us, and it was nice and relaxing. Now its just dark, and the ride is shut down.
Santa is now in the River Blast load station.
I'm in the camp of hoping Dicken's stays around forever. I don't care how many times I've seen it, it's a tradition, and SDC's version is honestly the best I've seen live.
This discussion certainly opens up why they focus on the things they do though. Light shows are in much greater supply these days than when SDC started doing it, so it's not as big of a marketing hook as it used to be even though the place does look amazing and unique. The shows are awesome, but they'd have to build a huge set of theaters in order to actually guarantee a space to everyone a space. Rides are easy for them on all aspects though, as long as the weather cooperates. I'd like to see them build some bigger theatres though, and some more indoor rides.
But getting back to the actual original question, honestly I'd like to see even more of it all. For as many lights as they have, there are a lot of areas where they are really strung out. It'd almost be better to focus the lights in concentrated areas vs. trying to spread them out so evenly. I'd like to see some innovations, like roving carolers, or christmas characters, or season variations of certain rides, etc...
It seems like the whole thing has been on auto pilot with the exception of the parade and the Rudolph characters. It needs some new pizzazz.
Ha, I love Dickens so much I've seen it twice in one day!
Quote from: shavethewhales on October 30, 2015, 08:42:01 PM
I'm in the camp of hoping Dicken's stays around forever. I don't care how many times I've seen it, it's a tradition, and SDC's version is honestly the best I've seen live.
It seems like the whole thing has been on auto pilot with the exception of the parade and the Rudolph characters. It needs some new pizzazz.
OTC does need a shot of "excitement", Not sure what.....????
I think The new parade was supposed to be a big hit, and maybe it was, But it is still just a parade
We mentioned last year, the tree needs a redo... if nothing else reprogram the puter controlling the lights.. has been the same for years.... I don't think they need to change the tree, but the lights prgrams for sure.
And I said earlier more scheduled shows so people have a chance to see them., start earlier in the day, and run later...
We still love the new tree and the surrounding synced lights (if they're all working).
How about some high-resolution projections with an amazing music show at Lake Silver. Maybe set up some viewing bleachers for more people to watch it. It's something that could be used (with different programs) at other times of the year, too. The show MUST be in theme.
How about they add something like this?
http://www.marriott.com/hotel-info/bnago-gaylord-opryland-resort-and-convention-center/christmas/y477rbs/ice.mi
Would this be enough "excitement"?
I would also like another large theater for another musical to be added.
I think possible shows could be: Elf, Grinch, Babes in Toyland, Nutcracker
One last thing - I want the tree moved to Lake Silver and a new show that incorporates fountains and other trees. Dollywood does something like this already. With the tree moved, they can do more shows up at the Gazebo stage. How about some Victorian Carolers?
I can see how it would be old and repetitive to some of us who are there every year, but I'm still happy with it the way it is. I've been there with first time visitors who were amazed at how beautiful it was, and I remember how excited I was the first time I was there. I couldn't imagine a more creative, beautiful place at Chrismas time. I think strolling Victorian Carolers would be cool, especially if they hung around the shows while people are standing in those long lines waiting to get in. It would break up the monotony. The new parade is just okay IMO. I think they should've kept more of the old floats and merged them into a longer parade. A few more drink stands near the back of the park would be helpful, and put a lid on those hot drinks! Hubs wasn't happy with the lady that spilled her steamy wassail all over his arm as she grabbed it from the counter. Those drinks can be wickedly hot, and people walking through crowds trying to carry them makes for a dangerous situation.
I like Swoosh's idea to move the tree to Lake Silver. It'd give a wider area for people to watch (it gets SO crowded on the Square for the first show just before the parade). I still feel very strongly about updating the tree with more dynamic LEDs like we discussed in a previous thread; the blockiness of the current lights just... don't work for me nowadays with all the cool new tech that I've seen in the past few years.
And yes please to Victorian Carolers!
Victorian Carolers is a good idea.
I vote for keeping Dickens. It's just really, really good and as others have said it's a tradition for a lot of people.
It's a wonderful life I could do without, however. But it's still a Broadway style show that fills up.
I agree they have been coasting on Christmas for awhile. A new tree in Lake Silver is a good idea. They could make great use of water screen technology to enhance the show. That would help clean up the square. I would also like to see them get rid of the temporary food and drink stands on the square. It is just a mess and dangerous with the lines and crowd during parade times. How about retheming The Springhouse restaurant as a Hot drink area during Christmas. It would bring more foot traffic to midtown and decrease the crowd on the square.
I still want to see Dickens go bye bye, but I am in the minority on that. How about adding a third production of Rudolph and do the 3 shows on a rotating basis. The shows they have now are close to Broadway Caliper but not quite there. They could do Rudolph in the way Disney did Lion King on Broadway with elaborate costuming and live actors. Every year 1 show would drop out of the lineup. Just don't see them building another theater when the ones they have sit most of the summer.
Also Santa needs to be available from opening on Saturdays. Victorian Carolers would be nice too. But all of this stuff is out of Theme. And More shows on Saturdays. Give people what they pay for.
Jacks Sandwich Shop would be a great coffee house.
These fire baskets like Williamsburg would be awesome in safe areas - only for Christmas:
(http://makinghistorynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Halloween-DoG-Street.png)
We've talked about theme extensively in the past. The carolers could certainly fit the theme, and they have had them in the past (Of course, they also had Boys II Men.).
In the first of the Christmas seasons, they had dancing Raggedy Ann and Andy, teddy bears, and wooden soldiers in the square for a cool little street show, sledding down a hillside near where the pizza place is now, and celebrities (Mormon Boys Choir and Bob Hope) to light the tree along with candles for visitors to hold around the lighting of the tree.
The only problem with moving the tree to lake silver is that ther tree would be tiny relative to that area. The tree is only 50 feet, and you have 20-30 foot buildings along with 20-30 foot real trees on the square. This perspective makes the tree look huge. You move it to lake silver where the 20-30 foot trees are an a 10-15 foot embankment (assuming they still drain the lake a little), FL, and LR on each side PLUS the size of the lake with reflections you will have a tiny dancing tree that is being looked down instead of towering above you. There is also the issue of 10,000 people looking at it at once. Sure the square is not huge, but it is 360 where the lake would be one sided (FL) at best.
I guess I'm failing to see the problem. You guys were wanting a new tree anyway.
Quote from: Hollywood on November 01, 2015, 06:48:28 AM
The only problem with moving the tree to lake silver is that ther tree would be tiny relative to that area. The tree is only 50 feet, and you have 20-30 foot buildings along with 20-30 foot real trees on the square. This perspective makes the tree look huge. You move it to lake silver where the 20-30 foot trees are an a 10-15 foot embankment (assuming they still drain the lake a little), FL, and LR on each side PLUS the size of the lake with reflections you will have a tiny dancing tree that is being looked down instead of towering above you. There is also the issue of 10,000 people looking at it at once. Sure the square is not huge, but it is 360 where the lake would be one sided (FL) at best.
I was thinking brand new tree myself. This one is at the end of its useful life.
No need for new tree, just update the lights and such.. it is the right size for the square, Which is where it should be... Not shuffled to the other end of the park.. The Christmas Tree should be one of the first things to greet you, and should by in the "way".... lol
And as someone already commented not enough room by or in lake silver to move it down there..
Quote from: sanddunerider on November 01, 2015, 10:37:18 AM
No need for new tree, just update the lights and such.. it is the right size for the square, Which is where it should be... Not shuffled to the other end of the park.. The Christmas Tree should be one of the first things to greet you, and should by in the "way".... lol
And as someone already commented not enough room by or in lake silver to move it down there..
I have to agree with Sand. The tree should be seen immediately for impact and to set the mood.
Not enough room in Lake Silver? Um... You serious, Clark?
There would be A LOT more viewing capacity at Lake Silver.
You guys do realize that's how Dollywood does their tree, right? No of course you didn't.
I love the idea of moving the tree to Lake Silver...That would be awesome!!!
Quote from: Swoosh on October 31, 2015, 03:27:52 PM
How about they add something like this?
http://www.marriott.com/hotel-info/bnago-gaylord-opryland-resort-and-convention-center/christmas/y477rbs/ice.mi
Would this be enough "excitement"?
I would also like another large theater for another musical to be added.
I think possible shows could be: Elf, Grinch, Babes in Toyland, Nutcracker
One last thing - I want the tree moved to Lake Silver and a new show that incorporates fountains and other trees. Dollywood does something like this already. With the tree moved, they can do more shows up at the Gazebo stage. How about some Victorian Carolers?
The tree would need to be on a "dock" if it were in the water. You can build a dock many heights and many ways. I think they might have to reconsider drawing the lake down so far but they could put on a cool fountain, music, light show. The entire back of the lake could be used as well. Very cool idea.
The Lake is only down in the Winter because they don't use LR then.
I wouldn't mind a second tree on Lake Silver. That would help out a lot actually. They would want to clear out and expand the docks around the shore though. I'm not sure where you're seeing all this viewing space Swoosh. FL opens up some, but we're talking thousands of people here.
There would be equal (if not more) viewing at the Lake when compared to the square - and possibly even more unobstructed views
Since Lost River is closed during Christmas, the long walkway into the LR queue would be open for viewers, if the tree is centered in the Lake.
I've seen Victorian carolers at SDC. I think it was 2007 or 2008. There were four of them singing near the train overpass.
I have been pondering this for a while now. I would like to see less crowds. It sounds so Bah Humbug of me but its true. I really dont like going at Christmas time for this reason. I have been twice and both times the experiance was poor due to crowds. When it becomes that crowded it is just not fun. Its BEAUTIFUL at this time. Love that it is biblical and not secular like. But there is waaaaaaaaaaaaay to many people there. Gives me the vapors. lol.
It's good that they have business. But last year we went Thanksgiving weekend. We knew it would be busy we just didn't have any other time to go. Man, it was so busy I couldn't believe it.
Probably going the weekend after Thanksgiving this year. Anyone know if that will be busy too? I can't imagine ever seeing it busier than last year.
This is off topic, but I was surprised how busy the park was the weekend after opening weekend this year. I feel like the rides are always the least busy during the summer.
QuoteI have been pondering this for a while now. I would like to see less crowds. It sounds so Bah Humbug of me but its true. I really dont like going at Christmas time for this reason. I have been twice and both times the experience was poor due to crowds.
As a rule of thumb I don't go on Saturdays and try to go see the lights before Thanksgiving. I know that's early but if you do go on a Friday night in November you will have warm evenings' and great lights with little crowds. It allows you to see the shops and lights and all including the rides without the crowds and then if you go back in December and its crowded ....well you have already seen it and you don't feel cheated out of anything. I am also not a fan of freezing my butt off looking at the lights but I have done it. I always enjoy Friday nights in November but DO NOT GO ON SATURDAYS. ::)