I am so ready for an OTC at SDC... I was looking at the Christmas Brochure. It sayd that Powder Keg will only be open on Saturdays during Dec... I find this kind of odd. So if you want to Ride Powder Keg in Dec you better go on a Saturday.
Whoah, really? Can anyone get a shot of this? That's an extremely odd measure to go to, with no clear purpose. I mean, if there was a staffing issue, they'd close TNT before PK. I can't think of any reason why they'd do this.
We'll have to ask for some confirmation/details if anyone else sees this.
Yeah, on the brochure uploaded to the SDC website, it says that PowderKeg will only be open Saturdays in Dec. Maybe it's a maintainence issue? I know when we were there Friday that PowderKeg was down in the morning for awhile.
It must be a maintenance issue. Here's the link to the brochure, and the info on PK is on page 2.
http://hfeimages.aristotle.net/General/Cmas%20Brochure.pdf (http://hfeimages.aristotle.net/General/Cmas%20Brochure.pdf)
Thanks, I'll definitely ask about it. Since this is only during Dec., I'm guessing it has to do with limiting the amount of time the ride is run in the cold.
ok.. I got an email back from the park about PK only being open on Sat in dec...
This decision was made due to last years attendance numbers during the other 3 days we are open (Thur, Fri & Sun). This is why the decision was made to only open it on Saturdays when the attendance is much higher and will not affect the other rides line wait.
Sincerely,
HFE Marketing/Customer Service
2800 W Hwy 76
Branson, MO 65616
So they're trying to balance out the ride's popularity? I gather the problem is that on slow days it's the only ride with a line, so the solution is to close it so people spread out to other rides. Weird. Doesn't make much sense to me.
I read it as they will open it on Saturday to have another ride available for guests so the other rides won't have long waits due to one less ride being open. IOW, PK being open will make the wait times on all the rides less on Saturday.
^Lol, that's certainly looking at it from the positive perspective. It's not like PK is a bonus ride though, you pay to ride it with your $55 admission, so IMO, if it's not broke, they sure better have it open or it's just an insult to anyone who pays the full ticket price. I mean, does anyone want to pay $55 to look at lights and browse stores?
There's got to be more to this than crowds. If they wanted to cut something based on that, there are plenty of other rides. This has got to be tied to a maintainence issue tied specifically to PK and its cold-weather operations.
Yeah, you are right. After thinking about my response, it only makes sense if they never intended on PK to be open at all during Christmas.
Has anyone heard what the theme is for Christmas? I have to admit it was very disappointing to walk into the Hospitality House last year for the first time to see a western theme decorations. Hopefully this year will be something more traditional as you walk into the park.
I believe "Let it Snow" or something to that effect is the Christmas theme this year. I agree that the stuff in the Hospitality House was ugly, looked like a bunch of dead animals on a tree. I like the decorations that are up now, lots of blue and white, it's pretty or nice, something like that...
I don't think I ever realized there was a full theme each year.
I figure the theme is really something more like "Let It Snow (after our season is over!!!)".
how about wildfire will it b open in december?
^It should be. It seems like Wildfire is more resistant to the cold than the other coasters. PK is the most temperamental by far. I think they shut down both Wildfire and TNT at 34 degrees F.
Just let me say- last year on the 21 of December when the actual temp. was 18 and the pipes in molly mill's were bursting- nothing was operating.
I remember when it was bone chilling last December. FITH tracks froze and had to close. FITH hardly ever closes.
I guess I can (barely) see only running Powderkeg on Saturdays in December while school is in session, but during the school holidays when more kids are at SDC they need to have it running. Using their attendance argument, they should probably shut down Wildfire too. I don't see a tremendous amount of seasoned citizens on that ride either. Then they could argue the Barn Swing and Thunderation ought to be closed. I hope the Powderkeg closing is not a trial balloon to see what reaction SDC gets before making other closures. Oh the slippery slope......
The weather was beautiful today, so it was NO surprise that ALL parking lots were full at 4pm. A great, but crowded day, the longest lines were for the train (the one I was on broke down), all the way up to were you get your xmas ornaments, and the opera house had lines running up the hill to Honey Heaven. Powder Keg has been running all weekend, the past 2, by the way...
That's good to hear about Powederkeg. But their closure announcement for it only mentioned December and not November.
I agree with Tinmann, it was a beautiful day. We were there from a little after 12 until about 8:30. If we didn't have the baby, they would've had to chase us out at closing. We did most everything we wanted. We were warm all day. I wore a short-sleeved shirt until about 8 when I put my sweatshirt on. We saw Dickens, a must-see for us. We rode Wildfire in the afternoon--walk-on. We rode Powderkeg at dusk--about a 20 minute wait for the front seat. We always skip the tree-lighting, but we watched the 7:00 parade across from the Culinary School. I'd been to the baby care center in the area, then I sat with the baby in a rocking chair on the Culinary School porch. My family saved us a spot across the street. We had two sets of grandparents with us. After the parade, we rode the train--about a 3o minute wait. We then gazed at the tree for awhile. When we left, we had the shortest tram line--stayed at Deer Run so we were at tram stop 7. We passed by long lines to the other stops.
Towards dark, the park was busier than we've ever seen it for any reason. The beautiful day made it a great idea for many people. But, by staying at Deer Run, we had a stress-free visit, even with a three- month old. We never drove our car on property.
I have a question about the Saloon show. The fellow who is the leader of the group during the Christmas season-Choctaw Charlie. He is always great, very entertaining, but I was wondering what he does the rest of the year. Is he at the park in another position or what? I am just nosy I guess.
So Choctaw Charlie IS still around? I haven't seen the Christmas show since they changed the regular season show, so didn't know that Charlie was there for Christmas. I guess that explains why the show is still called "Choctaw Charlie's Frontier Follies"; I'd been wondering about that but never got around to asking.
Joy
They're sending a group around to promote OTC. This was on a Shreveport station:
http://www.ktbs.com/news/celebrating-the-holidays-branson-style/
I heard a commercial for OTC on the radio and just about cried. The boy they've got narrating parts of the commercial sounds like they're aiming for a "Tom Sawyer" voice. And darn it if it didn't grab my heart right where it's meant to...
Man, I hope things work out to be able to go for OTC this year!
Joy
The guy that plays Choctaw Charlie looks a lot like one of the guys in the Comedy Jamboree at Grand Country...I thought about that when my wife and I were talking about the Frontier Follies show earlier this year. I don't know if it's the same guy, but they sure look alike. Maybe that's what he's doing the rest of the year.
Choctaw Charlie is Jae McFerron. He hosts the Echo Hollow show in the summer and is the funny man in the Comedy Jamboree.
Thanks to you two ladies for the answer. Now I want to see him in those two venues just to see if he's just as good there. ;D
Terry at Kringle's Krossing:
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii154/MrHoggatt/Silver%20Dollar%20City/Christmas/Terry.jpg)
I'll be visiting the park solo on Sunday, Dec. 20. They're open 1-9pm. I could use everyone's advice:
- How early would you arrive in order to hit the gate running at 1pm?
- What kind of crowds do they normally have on the last day before the Christmas holiday closure?
- What are your favorite can't-miss holiday shows? I'll definitely hit the Dickens Christmas Carol.
Thanks!
Well, I can say that a good portion of the crowd will often leave after the first run of the parade is over. So the crowds tend to thin out a bit after that.
But when I was there, I've gotta say I was surprised how many families with young children/babies were still there when my friend and I left at 8:30.
Thanks for the advice, Tina. I'll be sure and stay after the first parade.
I also got a private message from a member who suggested getting there an hour before the park opens. Apparently the square is open and you can claim an early spot in line for the Dickens Christmas Carol.
^First and last shows are the least crowded.
Really? The first show last Saturday was packed.
Yes really. I was behind you last Saturday. If you are in the gate before opening, you can get to a shorter line than later shows.
Yeah but that doesn't really count as there was no line because the park just opened. I guess if you run or walk briskly to the Opera House once the chains drop then yeah the line will be short -- but the shows are always packed with the exception of the last show.
Oh and don't hate that I didn't have to wait in line for the show. We went in the back door. :) "VIP" yo, :)
Was there Sunday the 20th and SDC was pretty full. Temps were OK until the sun went down....then it got butt cold! I think someone in my group heard that there was 12 thousand. All I know is lines were way too long for me. The train line was incredible! Was anyone else there Sunday?
Saturday night we spent at SOTH and saw the "Cowboy Christmas" and that was pretty good. The trail of lights took us a little over an hour to drive.
Wishing all "fans" & friends here a Merry Christmas & All the Best in 2010! I'll be down on the 26th, for 1 more photo shoot of the GG area. Now I'm wondering the fate of Lost River, seeing the new ride has combined so many attractions...
The Lost River will remain Splash Harbor will be getting the boot.
Though it is officially after Christmas, today was wonderful. Walked right into the Dickens show, no lines anywhere for any beverages/food/crafts. It was around 20* when the tree started, so needless to say it was COLD!!!. Great day overall to end the season even if it was too overcast to try out my new fisheye lens for my camera.
In addition to my last comment I comp[letely forgot to thank everyone that urged me to go see the Dickens show. I went with the wife, and my parents, and it was great. As good as any Muny (Municipal Theater) shows here in StL. And even though it was snowing outside during the show, I couldn't help but smile as the finale came about, and we were snowed on! Ironic, we came inside to get OUT of the snow!
It slipped right by that you commented about seeing the show, but had not seen it before. About the only thing that could be added to make that show better would be a live orchestra.
AN OLD TIME CHRISTMAS
Silver Dollar City - Photo Trip Report
December 19th, 2009
FULL UPDATE: the HOLLY JOLLY FAMILY UPDATE (http://www.midwestinfoguide.com/migcrew/2009/sdc_otc2/)
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa109/Dustijn/ptr2009/12-7.jpg)
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa109/Dustijn/ptr2009/16-2.jpg)
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa109/Dustijn/ptr2009/45-2.jpg)