SDCFans - The Unofficial Fan Site For Silver Dollar City
Silver Dollar City & Celebration City Discussion => General Silver Dollar City Talk => Topic started by: Joy on April 26, 2008, 11:19:00 PM
-
I know that there are lockers over by the Ozark Marketplace, but I was wondering if there are any other lockers (I want to say someone had mentioned there are some near the Waterboggan?) elsewhere in the park. I'm also curious about their size. I was figuring that since my friend and I will be leaving for home when the park closes, we ought to bring a change of clothes to put in a locker, then get them and change in the restrooms before we head for the car.
I'm also curious as to whether or not SDC still allows you to bring food into the park. We're doing this daytrip on a very, very tight budget, and hope to bring some Powerade (32 oz. bottles are only $1 a piece at Hy-Vee right now) and sandwiches in a little bag to save us money.
~ "Becky" Joy ~
-
^Your still allowed to bring food into the park. I don't know where the lockers are though because we never use them.
-
^I think you're right, Coaster. They don't search your bags (as of the end of last season), and they never mention no outside food or drink in their policies; so whatever you can carry you can bring.
As for lockers, I thought there were some over by the Lost River at one point as well as the Marketplace. I'm not sure about the Waterboggan, though.
-
Thanks for the info, guys!
Another quick question...
I could swear that SDC had a dress code posted on their website once upon a moon. Does anyone remember what the dress code is? I seem to recall something about not wearing only a swimsuit.
I got a new swim "suit" yesterday that consists of swimshorts and a tankini that looks like a tank top. The shorts look like THIS (http://i.charmingshoppes.com/is/image/FashionBug/FP001788?wid=204&hei=248&fmt=jpeg&qlt=95,0&op_sharpen=0&resMode=sharp) and the top looks like THIS (http://i.charmingshoppes.com/is/image/FashionBug/1354711?wid=204&hei=248&fmt=jpeg&qlt=95,0&op_sharpen=0&resMode=sharp) (only the top actually falls more like a tank top; it's not as form fitting as it is in that pic). I was just wondering if I would be able to get away with just wearing my swim shorts and top as everyday clothing rather than as a "swimsuit". The reason I got them was because they looked like I could pull them off as being regular clothing, and then I wouldn't be uncomfortable walking around after going on water rides like I would with chaffing jeans.
~ "Becky" Joy ~
-
^I don't think they'd mind if you did that Joy. I'd take just a t-shirt to wear over the swim suit just in case though. I've seen people walking around in their swimsuits all the time.
-
There are lockers just inside the ticket sales booth area (by the restrooms). I was able to fit my laptop in one (without the bag) and lots of other little things. They are plenty big and cost 50 cents. There are also lockers near Wildfire.
-
^^I don't see them making a fuss about that. Those rules are in place to keep people from walking around the park in bikinis and such.
This brings up another interesting point about SDC, in that they still hold on to the traditional locker system for rides - which I truly appreciate. Most parks these days are demanding that you pay a dollar or more to store your belongings in a locker before you get on a given ride. This can get brutally expensive if you plan on riding many rides.
I'm glad their stand-alone lockers aren't very expensive either, 50 cents is a steal compared to the several dollars other parks may charge you.
-
^^I don't see them making a fuss about that. Those rules are in place to keep people from walking around the park in bikinis and such.
I see people do that anyway. SDC doesn't seem to enforce their policies. As long as no one complains, you should be alright.
-
Thanks for all the info, everyone. Maybe we should make a thread (or convert this one) for questions like this that we could compile into an FAQ for the site; anything that isn't addressed on SDC's site.
~ "Becky" Joy ~
-
This brings up another interesting point about SDC, in that they still hold on to the traditional locker system for rides - which I truly appreciate. Most parks these days are demanding that you pay a dollar or more to store your belongings in a locker before you get on a given ride. This can get brutally expensive if you plan on riding many rides.
I just got back from SDC for the weekend and found out on this trip that they have done away with the cubbies on the Rapids so on that ride you have to rent a locker. (they have not posted a sign telling you this yet either). I was told when I was about to get on the ride that I had to take my Camera with me because I brought it into the ride Que. I asked the guy what happened to the wooden cubbies and he told me that they have removed them because noone was using the cash lockers. I dod not ride on the rapids but I did go to guest relations and file a complaint. That was on Sat. They said they would call me. If I have not heard from them by Tuesday I will call the park and ask for management. Sorry to go on so long about this but this really twirked me off.
-
^Holy crap, I wouldn't have imagined. That's exactly that kind of crap I usually hail them for avoiding. Surely they aren't trying to squeeze a few extra bucks out of people like that when they don't even have a system set up to do it correctly. If they for some reason wanted people to use the lockers they should have more of them - but it shouldn't be an issue.
-
^I second that, Steve. I guess there is a potential liability issue with the unsecured storage bins. The solution is to use the lockers on the Lost River, leave your valuables with a non-rider, or plan ahead and don't bring really bulky things such as waist or fanny packs into the park.
I have contacted SDC and asked them about this and whether there is a plan to remove all of the unsecured storage bins. I will post their response when I get one.
-
Seeing as how we have never had a problem with leaving our stuff in a stroller outside of a ride, I've never felt like the cubbies were any less safe; in fact, I've always felt they were MORE safe because they're where employees can see them.
I think SDC should look into possibly installing loose article pouches ON the rides, like some Disney rides have. It'd keep people's items close at hand, secure, and it'd move people through the rides a bit faster because they wouldn't have to walk THROUGH the ride to get to the cubbies, and then back to get seated. They can just stuff their things in a secure pouch in front of them and get seated.
~ "Becky" Joy ~
-
I just talked to Linda in Cust Service. She said she is checking in to it. Said she did not know that they had been removed but she will get to the bottom of it. She told me that I would hear back from her on Wed.
-
^That's good news. I thought they'd get back to you quickly. SDC is good about that. Hopefully you and I's visits with Customer Service will be helpful and informative.
-
Dang that kinda ticks me off. I have left my cell phone just sitting there in the cubby on Powderkeg and Wildfire and it was still there when I got back from my ride. If they removed the cubbies because things were getting stolen, that is one thing that I understand. If they removed them to get an extra dollar, that is not Herschend like at all. They will never admit to hounding people for a few extra dollars though so we may never know.
>:( Grr.
-
i can assure you that the cubbies were not removed because people were not using the pay lockers enough, from what i understand at Lost River anyway, is that items were accidently picked up by the wrong people or were stolen out of the cubbies in the last few years, and that it is impossible for the loaders/unloaders to keep track of every item and who it belongs to. Also it does speed up the loading process especially when on the long que line.
SDC is a great place to work, a very caring company, and i know for a fact that they are not trying to get into your pocket on this issue. :)
-
^Thanks for the clarification. Still though, while it may increase line speed a hint, I'd prefer they just let us risk having our belongings stolen. If they ever did move in the direction of using external lockers for rides, I hope they come up with a more sensible solution than making us pay $1 every time we want to ride something like at other parks. Being the Herschends though, I'm sure they've already been over this issue a gazillion times, and they won't disappoint us.
-
Maybe they could have some sort of "item check" similar to a "coat check" where they have lockers, but it's behind a desk or something manned by an employee. Have one per "land" of SDC (aka Hill Street, the Landing, Riverfront, etc.), so that people can check in their stuff before heading for the rides in that one area instead of using a new locker every time they go to a ride.
Thanks for the info, SDC Citizen. You are one of the many people that I envy, being an employee of the park.
~ "Becky" Joy ~
-
I just talked to Ed at SDC. He called to let me know about the cubbies.... He said that they had several reasons that they did away with them. One of them is because they had a hard time getting people to give up their items and it was slowing down the ride. He also said that one reason was that no one was using the pay lockers. Now they have moved them right by the entrance. He also said that now they will have a person at the entrance to the ride to tell everyone they need to rent a locker or leave their things with someone. I told him that I did not like the way this went down. He asked me for any suggestions that would make it so people could take things on that ride. I asked him if they could have bags that they could give the rider to put their stuff in. He said that he would ask the ride sup.. He was very nice. I appreated that they called me back like they said they would.
-
^I was also contacted by someone, John from Attractions. He was very nice. He said much of what Ed told you, oklaSDCfan. A couple highlights are that he said they're trying to find better, more convenient, and more efficient ways for visitors to store their belongings on the rides. He also mentioned that there are no plans to replace the unsecured storage bins throughout the park with lockers. He said he will also email me, so I'll let you know if there's anything else in the email worth mentioning.
-
^Ah that's great to hear - not only are the other cubbies safe, but they're researching a better system. I'll be eager to see what they come up with, though most of the time the plain old cubby system works well enough from what I can see. The system mentioned earlier where riders put belongings in a container near their seat could work theoretically, but how much different would that be from the current system? Plus, some belongings can get mashed from the forces, and the containers could become germ-ridden and nasty. We'll just see what happens.
-
^If they put containers on the rides they'd have to make sure they were air tight (to keep water and other elements from getting in) but also extremely secure, especially on the more extreme rides. It would be a nightmare for SDC if something valuable tumbled out of a container on Wildfire or Powderkeg, for example!
-
Well, on my trip yesterday, I noticed lockers EVERYWHERE. Pretty much every ride has lockers by them now. The only issue I had was that the lockers at a couple rides were WAY too small to hold much more than a wallet and sunglasses. American Plunge and Thunderation were the ones with those size lockers; Lost River and Powderkeg had very decent sized lockers--we fit a whole backpack into Lost River's. I'd say that they need to upgrade the size of the lockers at the Plunge and TnT, and that'd be a good start.
They did have someone standing in the queue for Lost River making sure that people had put their stuff in lockers. And they no longer allow camcorders on Thunderation (I had taken my mom's with me back in '06 and got some good on-ride footage; I was hoping yesterday to get of the Gumbo Gang campsite).
~ "Becky" Joy ~
-
Well, on my trip yesterday, I noticed lockers EVERYWHERE. Pretty much every ride has lockers by them now. The only issue I had was that the lockers at a couple rides were WAY too small to hold much more than a wallet and sunglasses. American Plunge and Thunderation were the ones with those size lockers; Lost River and Powderkeg had very decent sized lockers--we fit a whole backpack into Lost River's. I'd say that they need to upgrade the size of the lockers at the Plunge and TnT, and that'd be a good start.
They did have someone standing in the queue for Lost River making sure that people had put their stuff in lockers. And they no longer allow camcorders on Thunderation (I had taken my mom's with me back in '06 and got some good on-ride footage; I was hoping yesterday to get of the Gumbo Gang campsite).
~ "Becky" Joy ~
Were they 50 cent per entry lockers (50 cents to open and put stuff in and 50 cents to open and get stuff out)? Also, did they still have the unsecured storage bins at the rides that had the lockers out front (besides Lost River)?
-
Nope, not 50-cents per entry. Empty lockers are unlocked and have a little orange key with a black strap stuck in. You put your stuff in the locker, put in the two quarters, close the door, then turn the key to the right and pull it out. When you want to get back into the locker, you just use the key to open it up. It'll cost another 50-cents if you want to lock the locker again.
Yes, the cubbies were present at all the rides (well, can't say whether the Plunge did, 'cause it was closed when we were in that area).
I kinda like the cubbie system they have at, I believe, Patriot. Where it's a double-sized cubbie with a plastic door that the employees slide to cover the items of the people who are currently on the ride. Keeps people from grabbing other people's stuff when more than one train is being used.
~ "Becky" Joy ~
-
I kinda like the cubbie system they have at, I believe, Patriot. Where it's a double-sized cubbie with a plastic door that the employees slide to cover the items of the people who are currently on the ride. Keeps people from grabbing other people's stuff when more than one train is being used.
~ "Becky" Joy ~
That sounds like a really good idea! I guess I didn't notice that when I was at Worlds of Fun last.
-
This locker system isn't too bad. If you get a decent sized locker at Lost River or Powder Keg you can put your stuff in it for the whole day and get it out when you're ready to leave and it'll only cost you 50 cents.
-
The crown jewel of SDC is their christian principles and knowing that most of their guests are families, many with young children. It cost a fortune to take a family to an amusement park for the day. I hope they keep this in mind when making changes. I can't think of a better place to get the most bang for your buck and feel that your family is safe and happy than inside the confounds of SDC. Our family members that that ride the water rides usually wear nylon gym shorts because they dry so quickly.
-
^SDC is usually pretty good at keeping their visitors' interests at heart. If you've got a camera (or something similar of great value) and you can't leave it with a non-rider a 50 cent locker is the best bet, IMO. They're also leaving the unsecured storage bins on the other rides (just not the Lost River), so it looks like they will still be available.
-
Yes, I do like the idea of the lockers for expensive stuff (I've got a nice digital camera AND camcorder). Though I'll admit, I've never felt bad leaving them in the cubbies... I mean, shoot, people will leave their strollers outside the Flooded Mine with stuff in them and not give a single thought to anything getting stolen. That's what I love about SDC...
~ "Becky" Joy ~
-
^Yeah, we sit stuff behind trash cans and signs near the rides. Some inexpensive personal belongings, drinks, etc. and they've never been touched. All in all, SDC is pretty safe. We've never had anything stolen in over twenty years of visiting the park. But I can see their reasoning behind adding more lockers; many people don't want to take chances with their stuff.
-
I've left my cell phone in the open cubby holes. I'll admit I worried that it wouldn't be there when I got back but it was. SDC is pretty safe when you get down to the basics.
-
Lockers are a great idea for guests' peace of mind, but there's no reason for them to be 50 cents. The mechanism works just as well with a single quarter as with two, and I've been to places (spas in Europe) where they don't take any coins at all -- just turn the key and take it, and your stuff is secure until you return.
Lockers aren't a high-dollar item. They can certainly be covered by the cost of admission.
-
^It's the world we live in today (sadly), just another way to make a quick buck.
-
When we were at Kennedy Space Center earlier this month, you had to put everything in a locker to ride the Shuttle Experience (not worth the time, BTW). It was pretty silly that you had to put a quarter in the locker to get the key, and when you re-opened the door to retrieve your things, the quarter came back to you - - as if I came back to get that stupid quarter, but I would have left all my other possessions.