First day of the season for SDC 2009. The day started off a bit nippy, with rain clouds threatening. But by noon it started to warm up as the clouds started to break some. The rain stayed away and by the time I went home around 3:30, there were a lot of people on park, enough to extend the park hours by one. I hope that bodes well for the season we are going to have.
Y'all come see us.
I was so glad when the extended the park hours, ended up riding thunderation 3 times! It was a beautiful day in a beautiful park!
How is the word gotten out when the park hours get extended?
We heard about it at a show, other than that I dunno, I'm sure the vendors let everyone know.
As I had said on the other thread on the site, I was also in attendance, and my Dad and I had a wonderful time. I agree, it was a bit chilly at first, but it did warm up after a while, and I doubt if I will be in for a day that allowed me to take so many photos of the city without people obstructing the views. I will be posting the MANY MANY photos from today on my Flickr soon...
It was a great day at the City. I think FITH had the longest line I had ever seen and we had three trains on. I know I am somewhat inaccessible when I am working, but if you want you can get my attention and say hello!
Quote from: Copper on March 19, 2009, 11:39:12 PM
I know I am somewhat inaccessible when I am working, but if you want you can get my attention and say hello!
Do you look like your avatar? ;D
You were calling for the 3rd train as I was getting on so I couldn't say anything to you, I'll see you on saturday!
I was there on Thurs and Friday with my kids. Had a great time. There was over 12,000 in the par both days. I talked to the transportation people and they said that they could no longer find parts to keep the green trams running anymore. and the fact they were not ADA. I was also told that the Trolley Buses were the next thing to go. They were bought in the 60's and they are having the same problems with parts and the ADA aspect on them as well. They do not have all the signs up on the Parking Lots yet. Some signs still say Lot C and others say Lot 4, Also the lots are not numbered anymore the stops are. Stop 1-2-3 and so forth, in old lot C there are 2 Stops now. I think they are 3 and 4. The lines for the cave were insane. I waited for over an hour to take the cave tour... Yes Doc I took them on a different tour... :P Over all a great time. I will be back next month.
I'll be back today, praying for as little as possible or no rain at all!
I forgot to mention in my other post. All the signs for the new ride are gone. They have nothing in the park talking about the new ride in 2010. They have even taken it off the map. I think they must have pushed it off even further. Copper, Zephon, or Doc do you all know anything? Oh and if you have not ridden FITH yet , they have rebuilt the care and some of the track. The ride smoother and the cars look great.
^No mention of the "New Ride in '10" in the Pathfinder, either - just a bunch of trees in its place. I wonder if something else is in the works for the anniversary and the River Battle will be in '11...
In other changes, much of the rope-rail around the mulch beds in the Riverfront have been removed, allowing more roaming areas for the redneck children who think it's OK to walk through the landscaping.
There were some new signs in the ThuNderaTion queue (I'll upload some pictures.), showing mining operations - even mentioning Henry Blow and Greedy Brothers Dynamite.
The "funhouse" mirrors in Grandfather's Mansion were new and shiny. You could actually see yourself in them.
We spotted new safety signs that warned us to not cross a fences or great injury could be the result.
The book store is no more. A broom maker has taken its place, complete with a demo - nice to see a demo go in, but sad to see no book shop in the park. Here's an idea - a Barns and Pebbles Bookseller in the old basket shop.
The new art gallery in the old Christian gift store has caused them to declare that area of Midtown an "art mecca" in the Pathfinder.
The cave tours seemed more backed up than usual - I'm not sure the new system or limited number of tours is really working yet.
The toy store needs to refocus attention on toys - too many clothing and junk items in the front half.
Bummer and Lazarus has moved to the Ozark Marketplace, while the Christian gifts have taken the old dog and cat venue.
Geyser Gulch looks better and appears to half an upgraded sound system. It looks like everything is working - maybe even too well, since Splash Harbor had to be evacuated due to a broken water line (I'm not sure how they knew.). There was a new vending machine at the entrance to SH that dispensed "waterproof bags" for a quarter.
There's new gravel at the RR crossing, but that's already been reported over the winter.
We think the citizens in the GE have donned new costumes - long black coats with long sleeves for the men - and were looking quite dapper and appropriate for the area.
Still no Genesis on Wilson's Farm - I'm wondering if, during lean economic times, the Wilson's might have butched the last cow they had.
The white tram-trailers are being pulled by large white pickups - our with a Georgia license plate, BTW - and look kind of odd. I would like to see the menagerie of school buses and others being uniformly painted. The green trams are in the service parking lot off of Hwy 76 if someone would like to get pictures for posterity.
Now, wherever you are parked, you can expect a 15-30 minute wait and ride. We had to park at Stop 5, which was unmarked as such, but had to tour the perimeter of the entire lot system (it seemed) to get to the front gate. There is still construction to the west (Another new lot or just a staging area?). The Clot signs are still standing, but I noticed new signage lying in wait to replace the old ones. One of the Clot stops, out by the road, had a striped, circusy awning.
We heard reports that PK was closed for a while, if not for the day, for technical problems.
The rednecks and the basketball bouncers were in full-force all over the park. I don't know how many kids I saw climbing rails, trapsing through flower beds, belching and making gaseous noises, and rudely yelling or running through crowds, even breaking between my wife and daughter who were holding hands to stay together. And the parents did nothing to stop any of this. It seemed more like a Six Flags experience, yesterday, with all the unattended brats.
All the lines were long. ThuNderaTion filled the queue house and was around and down the steps. Fire-in-the Hole was out the door and too long for me to consider (Sorry, Copper). At one time the Giant Swing had over an hour long wait (I can wait until next time.). It was cool that Flooded Mine was out the door and all the way to the entrance gate for the first time in years (They could have turned off the heater in the dark hallway though - It seemed more like the entrance to Hades than a cool mine.).
We saw Terry Sanders a total of three times in two costumes, as Deputy Birdie and the Undertaker.
Lots of the shops were still closed until April and even until May. It was odd that the patriotic shop will not even be open until after WorldFest - You mean, the USA won't be represented at a global festival???
All in all, the changes wouldn't be noticed by most visitors - only by true SDC Fans - except the new parking lot system. We didn't get to everything, so I'm sure other things were changed.
New signage in ThuNderaTion's queue:
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii154/MrHoggatt/Silver%20Dollar%20City/Where%20in%20the%20City/2009%20Round%201/100_6654.jpg)
New Broom shop:
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii154/MrHoggatt/Silver%20Dollar%20City/Where%20in%20the%20City/2009%20Round%201/100_6668.jpg)
Thanks for the updates guys, I really appreciate it being so far away from the park. It's too bad again about the parking lot situation, seems like that just keeps getting worse and worse. Why not build new trolleys? Why not get a new parking lot train from Mack? Those buses are a pain, and can't be all that much less expensive in the long haul.
The stuff about the ride is probably just them sprucing the area up to look nice. It will be awhile before they go back to do work there.
Sounds like a strong start for the season though, let's hope it keeps up.
WOW great post, we were just disscussing all of this, the next "extreme danger" signs are great, and the "Smoke in your face" ones are cute. I suppose they have something to do with the accident at six flags. I saw terry as Doc Harris and Auntie Mae on thursday, he even commented on my "SDCfans" tee shirt. I was chosen to be the "helper" in the chris stanley show today, not a bad performance, kind of corn ball, but it's a theme park. It was a little cold and wet but that just meant no lines! I must have ridden FITH 4 times, nice to have finally met you copper BTW.
^Lol, can you post a picture of your SDCFans shirt? I'd like to see that.
Also, what's the broom works like? Do they actually sell brooms? It seems unlikely that that would replace a book store. I guess it's quaint to some people though.
I can't believe how many changes you noticed Buff, you win 10 SDCFans points.
^What a great surprise! I'm gonna have 'em framed and hung up on the wall!!!
Thanks for the parking report. I'll miss the green trams. The ADA nonsense is just that: the only thing they could have lacked was storage space for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Even 30 years ago the trams were "race for your seat", but anyone capable of navigating the park could have easily ridden the trams.
Circa 1998, there were certain tram rows reserved for handicapped riders, and the waiting lanes were clearly marked. Ample time was provided for everyone to load up. The only problem was the occasional loudmouth who got separated from his wife (sitting two rows away), who insisted on berating everyone within earshot about how they'd been "screwed out of their seats".
I think I counted in one area that I was maneuvering through a swamp of electric carts (beeep beeep beeep) going this way and that. It was touch and go for a while, but we made it safely through.
I am getting ready to head out to the park I cant believe the green trams are gone but it seems like they are taking all of the old stuff out I am hoping that the tree house is still there but Im not holding my breath
Everything is as it has always been - except the things that were removed for the new attraction (They're still gone.).
It does seem strange that the signs for the River Battle that said "New in '10" back in December have been removed now, as well.
I'm not getting my hopes up for something big for the 50th anniversary (like a new coaster or anything). I'm guessing that they removed all of the mentions of RiverBlast for 2010 because they don't want to get egg all over their faces like last year, in case it gets pushed back another year (which wouldn't surprise me). So I bet they won't mention it at all until they're sure when it will open (whether that means the map will say 2010 or 2011, we'll have to wait and see).
Quote from: shavethewhales on March 21, 2009, 11:32:44 PM
^Lol, can you post a picture of your SDCFans shirt? I'd like to see that.
Also, what's the broom works like? Do they actually sell brooms? It seems unlikely that that would replace a book store. I guess it's quaint to some people though.
I can't believe how many changes you noticed Buff, you win 10 SDCFans points.
I'll post a pic when I'm on park the 28th!
I was thinking of a simple button to identify our people - it would be cheap and easy to design.
I have often thought about ways for us to easily identify a fellow "fan". a ribbon, a button, I could easily come up with a design (the artist part of me) it is something fun for me to do... we just need to figure out an object, belt buckle, lanyard, giant over-sized foam cowboy hat...just let me know and I will come up with a design in a jiffy.
I was thinking about bringing the SDCFans store back before summer, but I need to find a cheaper venue. $20+ was a little ridiculous.
If anyone wants to send in T-Shirt designs, I'll throw them in when I create the new store.
I am so in on that one!!! I will check my sources as well to see what kind of $$ on line apparel/accessory orders would be.
SILVER DOLLAR CITY OPENING WEEKEND PTR
MAR 21, 2009
FULL UPDATE: HERE (http://www.midwestinfoguide.com/migcrew/2009/sdc1/)
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa109/Dustijn/ptr/13-1.jpg)
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa109/Dustijn/ptr/29.jpg)
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa109/Dustijn/ptr/30.jpg)
Great report! I think they moved the train scenes around quite a bit last year if I remember correctly.
Nice update, Swoosh! Thanks for posting!
I spent so much time taking photos on Opening day and decided I would try something new. I have begun to piece together multiple photos to create panoramic and collaged images of the park. I had so much fun with it that I plan on getting to many of the structures/attractions in the park this season. The Law Offices were done using 15-20 photos, and the lost river was created with 4-5 photos.
(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/lawofficescopy.jpg)
This is a collage of the mural in the Hospitality House (Entrance/Cave Side).
Wow, those are awesome - just curious how many pix did each one take?
Wow, those are cool, rubedugans! Please post more when you get them.
QuoteThe Law Offices were done using 15-20 photos, and the lost river was created with 4-5 photos.
The lost river DID lose some of its detail since the starting photo collage was over 15MB! Needless to say it was scaled down immensely. I hope to get a few poster sized to see how the quality is in the large printed format.
I also used my 3-D camera last week at the park, and I have yet to get the pictures developed...I have no clue how it will work, this is the first time I have used it..We will have to wait and see.
Question for anyone who made it to opening weekend:
With the parking lot system being so screwed up, would you suggest just walking to the park instead of waiting for half an hour like History Buff pointed out?
We parked in what used to be called "c" and walked in for the morning, in the afternoon, we decided to ride, and it would have been quicker overall to walk since they have to take you down the hill because there is no turn around at C anymore. I say walk!
Have the prices for preferred parking changed?
I think I saw a sign say pass holders were $5. I'm still editing thru the 500+ pics I took opening weekend!
My five-year-old walked the whole park without complaint, last week. It was the first time we didn't take a stroller. I don't want to also make her walk from the lot. That being said, I'd say walk if you're in the old Clot, but the other lots do add quite a few steps. Young and spunky? Go for it. For the rest of us, save your energy for Hill Street.
Hey, those pictures are real cool, Rube. Did you use photoshop to piece them together?
Thanks! I stitched the mural together using a stitch-assist program and layered all the Law office photos in photoshop.
Quote from: shavethewhales on March 21, 2009, 11:32:44 PM
^Lol, can you post a picture of your SDCFans shirt? I'd like to see that.
Also, what's the broom works like? Do they actually sell brooms? It seems unlikely that that would replace a book store. I guess it's quaint to some people though.
I can't believe how many changes you noticed Buff, you win 10 SDCFans points.
Here's me wearing the shirt, with a fellow SDC'er. Great day at the park today BTW, short lines, good weather, all-around fun experence.
^picture missing ???
^ Whoops, I'll fix that when I get home, had some trouble uploading last night, hope I can get it to work.
I am still having trouble uploading photos as well. Dont worry Steam, it is my fault since I attached those pano's on this thread, it ate up all the space. I will go back and imbed them in the text if I can figure it out how!
UPDATE!!! I signed up for a photobucket account, and am now able to add photos!
It's there now!
Quote from: SteamFreak on March 29, 2009, 10:49:35 PM
Quote from: shavethewhales on March 21, 2009, 11:32:44 PM
^Lol, can you post a picture of your SDCFans shirt? I'd like to see that.
Also, what's the broom works like? Do they actually sell brooms? It seems unlikely that that would replace a book store. I guess it's quaint to some people though.
I can't believe how many changes you noticed Buff, you win 10 SDCFans points.
Here's me wearing the shirt, with a fellow SDC'er. Great day at the park today BTW, short lines, good weather, all-around fun experence.
Looks awesome!