SDCFans - The Unofficial Fan Site For Silver Dollar City
Silver Dollar City & Celebration City Discussion => General Silver Dollar City Talk => Topic started by: U Smell Smoke on August 06, 2009, 08:52:11 PM
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If the powers that be at SDC came to you and asked what one thing you would do to improve the park, what would your answer be?
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Good question. The first thing I would do would be to make a list of things to do.
Of course, I'm the guy who would wish for three more wishes if I found a genie.
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It's hard to improve on such a job well done, but I would take out the air-brush t-shirt booth. I can deal with the other games as long as they're kept up nicely and stay in the areas that work for them, but air-brush t-shirts are too far even for me.
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Oh geez. Just one thing? Well, I suppose if they asked each and every one of us one thing, we could put together a list and split it amongst us. LOL
I would add more face characters to walk around the park and interact with people. Terry does, like, five or six characters just himself; talk about dedication! They need more people out there!
Joy
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It's hard to improve on such a job well done, but I would push an intamin catalog in front of them. ;)
I would also take out the air-brush t-shirt booth. I can deal with the other games as long as they're kept up nicely and stay in the areas that work for them, but air-brush t-shirts are too far even for me.
OK, first on my list: have a totally non-green bonfire for the tattoos, air-brush items (as mentioned) and every last BASKETBALL - everything that's not well-disguised as being in-theme would go in the fire or be fired (as in discount, catalog-selected theme park acts brought in, etc.), and SDCFans would be invited to have a big party! That's just the first thing on my list.
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I agree regarding the basketballs, air brush shirts and tattoos. They all need to go. I would add to that list the glow in the dark light sabres kids were running around the park with when I was at Moonlight Madness last week. I felt trapped in a movie that featured Star Wars going back to the Old West. I kept waiting for Terry to show up dressed as Darth Vader. I love 70's music, but when I heard Firefall playing over the park's sound system I about passed out. I realize it was part of their effort to change the mood for MM but it just didn't feel right. My family left early because it was kind of depressing to see SDC making a half hearted effort. So many things were closed or not operating. They need to do Moonlight Madness up right or not do it at all.
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Yeah, you can see my rant about the music at Moonlight Madness in the "How was your trip?" thread... LOL
Maybe I'll finally get myself sat down and write an article for the site. Even though this is a fansite, I think part of the best thing about fandom is that we can be constructively critical, and I think I may write a kind of treatise listing all the things that I like and am not entirely crazy about concerning the park. Maybe the higher ups will come across it and get some ideas out of it...
Joy
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I'd have to do two things. Bring back interactive face characters to reinforce the theming around the park (i.e. Geyser Gulch, Wildfire, FiTH, ThuNderaTion). I'd also bring back the street shows (the rainmaker, the mayoral election, Hatfields and McCoys, and the sheriff).
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There is great theming around wildfire but without charcter interaction I believe the story has been lost. :'(
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I agree with many of your comments about staying true to theme. In fact I try my best to have a Far Cheef in front of FITH on the weekends. I have a budget and have to stick to it after all. Yes, the MM music is strange. I don’t agree that MM is a half hearted attempt. It is still in experimental faze. Last year we tried it for a short period and this year for a longer one. The reason why so many shops are closed is: they wouldn’t make the money that it would cost to keep the employees. MM is all about attractions, it’s a rides night. I can see it getting better the more they learn about it.
I do think that we can have an 1880s evening themed event!
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I wonder... Maybe they should be taking exit surveys of the people who come for Moonlight Madness, to ask them what shops they missed and what merchandise/food in particular it is that they missed from those shops. Then they could possibly put those things in one of the open shops next year...
Joy
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I would agree about taking out the basketballs!! Most things I can ignore if I don't care for it, but it's hard to avoid a line of kids bouncing basketballs coming at ya.
In fact, my husband hasn't been to WoF for years because he hated the basketballs. Imagine the disappointment when he first saw them at SDC. But, so far, it's not a deal breaker for him.
I love the idea of SDC staying open later. I guess I'm weird, but I really didn't miss anything that wasn't open, and I wasn't even riding rides that night! I still got my BBQ and my daughter got taffy from the taffy shop. I did think the music was a little weird, like they brought over the CC soundtrack or something, but it didn't ruin the experience for me. We were in SDC at night in the summer, after all!! How cool is that!!
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Everything that is not 1880's themed needs to go. Basketball need to go you say........
Mr. Naismith invented basketball in 1891. So it needs to be themed........basketballs need to look like the ones they used in 1981. The line jump passes need to go away. If people want to buy seats to see free shows ok???????? Live jump passes are not SDC.........
Air brush needs to go. If that is what is keeping the gates open.......raise prices of everything .10.
Make sure that the people who work at the city know their jobs and the history of the park. The train skit needs to be fixed, and the staff needs to get back to being overly friendly. The reason that SDC was the best place to go for years was the people who worked there. I am not sure you can say that anymore.
Late night.....if SDC wants to stay open then do it. Stop doing everything on the cheap. Want to be the best......be the best. This place is one of the very best (dollar friendly) memory makers in the world. The people who run it need to take the time to see what they have. "You have a great past ahead of you." Both guest and staff need to read this sign daily.
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Everything that is not 1880's themed needs to go. Basketball need to go you say........
Mr. Naismith invented basketball in 1891. So it needs to be themed........basketballs need to look like the ones they used in 1981.
I guess they can have basketballs, just don't give them as prizes to the guests--people bouncing basketballs while walking through the park make me crazy.
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I ABOUT LOST IT is how I will preface this story...
Picture this, bright sunny 72 degree Saturday about 9:15am (last week-Aug 1) standing in a line about 5 deep to get into the park, the man behind me stating
"well if they don't let me in I'll call Pete Herschend, I used to work here, and he'll get us in, When life hands you lemons you don't always have to make lemonade (to his young daughter-or granddaughter) Huff Puff blah blah blah"
That was the bearable part, the next thing that happened is when I ABOUT LOST IT. A boy about 12-13 yrs old came up behind us in line to enter the park WHILE bouncing a basketball. WHY WOULD YOU BRING a basketball to a theme park such as SDC? Babies-yes, guide dogs-yes, umbrellas-yes, grandma-yes -all logical things to bring...basketballs NO!!! It is bad enough they give them out as prizes but I must have missed that it was bring your ball to the park day.
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BAn the ball ;)
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I'm sure a lot of folks will disagree with me but, (assuming they fill in the big hole with the new Splash Battle ride) I would like to see them complete the loop between Wildfire and Powderkeg. Linking the two areas would open some space for some new things and also ease the traffic congestion that happens often near the Saloon, FITH and Opera House. The crown jewel of the area would be a new wooden roller coaster between the two existing ones. The new woodie would make great use of the terrain out in that area and would be themed (as would the entire new loop area) to the highest SDC standards and traditions. If a wooden coaster is not in the cards, a Mystery Mine type coaster would work although I still think a wood coaster themed well would work best between the two steel ones. To cap off the redo of the area I would refurbish American Plunge and restore it to its former glory, maybe even lengthening the ride if possible and figure out a way to make better use of the waterfall. I know there are lots of components but I'm still calling it one project.
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Would like too see some balance over by thunderation. Me thinks echo hollow is basically a dead spot occupying valuable real estate.
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Yeah, does Echo Hollow ever get full enough to justify its size? Is it at all possible to move the evening show to a different stage/venue in the park?
I could totally see a wooden coaster taking up that area...
I like your idea, too, though, USS.
Joy
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Echo Hollow does get filled up during the Southern Gospel Picnic. But that's only for evening shows and the festival only lasts a couple of weeks. If they want to keep Echo Hollow, they need to figure out a way to utilize it more during daytime hours rather than just using it for the evening show when the park closes. I agree, that is some prime real estate.
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A wooden indoor mine ride is what needs to be built. How great a theme could they make out of it. Mine cars break lose in an indoor mine shaft. Tracks appear to be broken........rock slides, water falls, miners blasting, all coming to the end of the line.....
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I'm sure a lot of folks will disagree with me but, (assuming they fill in the big hole with the new Splash Battle ride) I would like to see them complete the loop between Wildfire and Powderkeg. Linking the two areas would open some space for some new things and also ease the traffic congestion that happens often near the Saloon, FITH and Opera House. The crown jewel of the area would be a new wooden roller coaster between the two existing ones. The new woodie would make great use of the terrain out in that area and would be themed (as would the entire new loop area) to the highest SDC standards and traditions. If a wooden coaster is not in the cards, a Mystery Mine type coaster would work although I still think a wood coaster themed well would work best between the two steel ones. To cap off the redo of the area I would refurbish American Plunge and restore it to its former glory, maybe even lengthening the ride if possible and figure out a way to make better use of the waterfall. I know there are lots of components but I'm still calling it one project.
Dude that would be a really good idea USS the park needs another thrill ride... Sdc doesn't really have a wooden roller coaster like most parks so thats what they should build............ i like USS's idea a lot!!!!!!
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Ok i don't know how to put my own words out of the quote box so the last part that started with dude was my own words...... still not good with this postin' stuff.. lol
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It's alright. You just missed a bracket on the quote code. I fixed it for ya.
Joy
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I have just one word to describe what is missing...ambiance.
It is missing from the front gate all the way down to ride theming.
Where is the feeling?
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You are right about that. On some days it feels like you are bothering people who work there. Some days they are GREAT!!!!! Some days.......................welcome to Six Flags.
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^I disagree. I have had bad days in the park, and they are miles better than the best day I've ever had at Six Flags. Six Flags is unimaginably terrible, in my opinion. SDC would have to try really, really hard to sink as low as a SF park.
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Maybe the word I should have chosen was...Magic.
The magic is missing. I wonder how many people walk through the gate without understanding that it is the 1880s. Or other things like that each ride REALLY DOES have a story.
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It's easy to forget it's the 1880s when 1980s music is pumping through the rock-speakers!
Did they bring in the soundtrack from Wild Adventures or what? It's kind of a bizzaro idea.
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I feel ambiance is the one think the park always has by the nature of its design and layout.
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Everytime I walk through the gate at SDC I get excited. It really is a special place with lots of personality and feel. But, I can't help but think the "feel" is not as good as it once was. Maybe I'm just getting older and changing. But I hope that SDC doesn't feel the need to dumb it down to the lowest common denominator to compete with the other so called amusement parks out there. That's why I don't like the airbrush t-shirts, cheap toys, basketballs, etc. If they just focus on what they do best, they can make the feel as good as its ever been. I'd still rather go to SDC than any other theme park!
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I know this thread is about a year old, but I have been reading back through it and thought it was interesting for a couple of reasons. First, we have several new members from this time last year and I would like to read their input on what "one thing he/she would do to improve the park". Second, many of the concerns we voiced a year ago about Moonlight Madness and the direction of the park are still concerns we have now. I hoped SDC would have learned from the first 2 Moonlight events and improved things a bit. As fans are we not doing a good enough job of making our feedback known? Or, is the park not listening thinking things are all good and headed in the right direction? It is interesting to me that many of the concerns we had then are concerns we still have now. Given the passing of a year, what one thing would you do now to make SDC a better place?
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I know this thread is about a year old, but I have been reading back through it and thought it was interesting for a couple of reasons. First, we have several new members from this time last year and I would like to read their input on what "one thing he/she would do to improve the park". Second, many of the concerns we voiced a year ago about Moonlight Madness and the direction of the park are still concerns we have now.
A little off topic, but I just wanted to add that there is absolutely nothing wrong with digging up an old thread. People around here have come, and gone since then, and viewpoints have changed, and matured over time. I always enjoy sharing a fresh prospective on an old issue! ;D
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I would like to see them bring gun show how they use to do in the square in know for this year they are kinda bringing it back but it still not the same and then to have more street troup people out interacting with people. I think this has kinda fallen off over the years.
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All I've seen of the street troupe is their hosting water balloon tossing contests with guests. I can do that at home; we would rather see a show, something funny, a feud, a gunfight - something unique.
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It is very obvious that the further Jack and Pete get away from SDC the more it is losing its charm. Miss Mary would roll over!!
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Let me put it another way... We all know the feeling that we (long time visitors) get when we go through the entrance, right? Heck it even started with the green trams and the smell of Butane. Well......the people calling the shots now never had the feeling in the first place.
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As I understand Walt Disney used to go into his parks and walk, and pick up trash....etc.
Maybe the directors of SDC should spent a mandatory day at the park, out of the offices Actually IN the park watching what people are doing, what is crowded and what isn't.
Numbers only tell you so much.
Sometimes a multiple choice question is damning because of the options.
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I think the problem is that the "Directors" have no clue about the REAL SDC
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Speaking of picking up trash! Has anyone just been walking around SDC and seen trash laying around? Then you have this uncontrollable urge or feeling to pick it up? I am kind of like that anyway but SDC seems to bring it out of me more. I feel that it is hallowed ground or that I owe this little theme park something. And I guess when I think of it I really do owe it something.
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All I've seen of the street troupe is their hosting water balloon tossing contests with guests. I can do that at home; we would rather see a show, something funny, a feud, a gunfight - something unique.
Actually on a hot summer day I like the idea of a water balloon contest! ;D It's simple, and yet still fits within the theme somewhat. It's sort of along the lines of playing with an old fashioned string, and top, or whitewashing a fence.
It sure beats some of the other ridiculous out-of-theme ideas that they have been shooting out of the cannon this year. :D
Don't get me wrong though, I still want my daily fued, and gunfight too! :)
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They actually DO have more than just water balloons. If you look at the Pathfinder, you'll see that the Street Troupe has 5 or so times listed. Each of those times is a different skit.
I've personally seen:
~Waterballoon tossing
~Zeke Hatfield talking about snake oil that he bought (I've got this one on video)
~The sheriff and deputy teaching kids how to be deputies & then they actually encounter prison stripes-clad robbers
~There was one where... Sally?... was trying to get Zeke to take her to a dance
One of these days I plan to go to the park and spend the entire day on Main Street, filming each of the skits and stuff.
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sometimes though the opions of the few of us on this forum just does not out weight the thousands of paying customers that come to the park . I can only hope that the powers that be do read this forum and take some reference from the people that truly love this park from it's beginning
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Amen, Oldster, Amen! :)
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What one thing would you do to improve the park?
For me, I would continue to improve the park with a balance of new rides and other themed additions (food, shops, craftsmen, etc.) to go with them. A close second would be doing a clean sweep of the entire park and immediately removing or overhauling anything that doesn't feel like it belongs. The games in GE are a perfect example. I'm not opposed to a midway type area for interactive games, but have some games that make you feel like you're playing something or taking part in an activity that pioneers might have enjoyed long ago. And have prizes in keeping with that theme and SDC charm as well. A stuffed animal or rubber basketball has no place whatsoever in a nineteenth century era park. I really appreciated the edition of GE for it's variety of rides, but I was really shocked and disappointed to see some of the additions so out of place.
Others have touched on it, but I'll reiterate it. SDC is what it is and has withstood the test of time for a reason. They don't need to reinvent the wheel to be successful. If they just stick to what they do best, that's all they ever need. Bottom line, if there's a question about whether or not it belongs, you more than likely already have the answer.
While I'm not nuts about them adding RB this year, and I have yet to see it, the reviews and pictures indicate HFEC left no stone unturned to ensure the attraction oozes that SDC charisma we all love so much. If they continue doing that across the board, we have nothing to worry about.
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sometimes though the opions of the few of us on this forum just does not out weight the thousands of paying customers that come to the park.
Obviously all of us here are insanely passionate about the park. Otherwise we wouldn’t be here.
However, I often wonder if we are in fact not always in the minority? Perhaps many of those other “thousands” feel the same way about certain issues as we do, but just have no channel to express their thoughts?
If there was only a standard way for more visitors to express their concerns about the park. Surveys are nice, but Silver Dollar City seems to only send those to the people they pick, and choose to send them to. So they are not an accurate representation of their thousands of visitors.
Does the mom from Idaho (just making up a random location) really care about the basketballs, and stuffed animals that break the theme? Probably not, but how would Silver Dollar City really know? Such a slip up isn’t necessarily going to stop her, and her family from returning. However, in the back of her mind she may feel upset that Silver Dollar City is loosing some of its charm too.
Sorry, I am just doing some late night pondering. :-X ;)
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I think people are selling kids short when they insist some modern concessions must be made to make it fun for kids. I think kids today would be more fascinated by rollin' hoops and other primitive theme-appropriate fun, than by much of the stuff they can see at any other park (just with a different theme).
I was a kid before cell phones and the internet, but we had cable TV, video games, the first home computers were appearing, videotape and laser discs were on the market, etc., etc. And you know what? The thing I loved most about SDC in the 70s was leaving all that "modern technology" behind and enjoying the slower pace and simpler life.
I don't believe kids today are fundamentally different. Sure, they love the rides, but let's give them credit for not having to be inundated with Nickelodeon characters 24/7. They would love an original stage show just as much as one featuring Spongebob.
And they'd probably be even more fascinated with the rolling hoops.
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Under "shops" thread I posted the following, but it fittingly went here as well...
I miss interactive demonstrations at the stores during the kids fest. It wasn't called that 25 years ago, but here is how it went. Instead of Spongebob, and the similar modern "pop" image additions to the summer months, Kids could take part in the crafts. As a child I threw 2 pots on a pottery wheel on the porch of the Hillside Pottery shop (with assistance cenering the clay from the potter himself), made a butter churn out of barrel staves and hoops (which we were told would be sold the net day...later I found out that they were quickly dismantled for the next kid to put together), my sister StlPhotogal spun a jump rope, we pressed (minted) coins, tooled leather cuffs/ bracelets and keychains. There were no beanie babies or battery powered toys, we would buy marbles, or dolls (in Stl's case-not mine). Buy cap guns and pop/ cork guns, and enjoy every minute of it. We didn't need to bring in Smurfs or Sesame Street or any characters to make our trip worthwhile.
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8/22/10
Face characters were out in force today, Ill tell you I hate to see the Madonna head sets on them but what are you gonna do.
They however weren't getting any feedback from the audience.
I felt a little sorry for them.
Maybe we are just to difficult to entertain these days.
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I forgive the headsets 'cause at least it means we can hear them better.
I've found that of the skits I've seen so far, some are more interesting and better written than others.
Plus, the feedback (or lack thereof) is always gonna differ based on each new audience.
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I have been waiting for someone to finally mention the headsets! :p
As much as I want Silver Dollar City to be authentic, at the end of the day it is still an 1880's themed amusement park functioning in 2010. So technology, and electronics will always filter through. Actually I am okay with that so long as it does not stick out like a sore thumb.
I wonder if lapel mics would hide better though? Such as the ones that news reporters, and television host use?
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They have tried Lapel mics but you have to keep your head facing forward on them so it will pick you up.
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They have headset mics that are less obtrusive and really blend in well with the face of the speaker. Maybe they could get some of those. I wonder how the new FCC laws regarding the 700mhz frequency (the frequency which most wireless mics operate over) impacts them?
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Under "shops" thread I posted the following, but it fittingly went here as well...
I miss interactive demonstrations at the stores during the kids fest. It wasn't called that 25 years ago, but here is how it went. Instead of Spongebob, and the similar modern "pop" image additions to the summer months, Kids could take part in the crafts. As a child I threw 2 pots on a pottery wheel on the porch of the Hillside Pottery shop (with assistance cenering the clay from the potter himself), made a butter churn out of barrel staves and hoops (which we were told would be sold the net day...later I found out that they were quickly dismantled for the next kid to put together), my sister StlPhotogal spun a jump rope, we pressed (minted) coins, tooled leather cuffs/ bracelets and keychains. There were no beanie babies or battery powered toys, we would buy marbles, or dolls (in Stl's case-not mine). Buy cap guns and pop/ cork guns, and enjoy every minute of it. We didn't need to bring in Smurfs or Sesame Street or any characters to make our trip worthwhile.
Rubes a liar, the dolls WERE for him :)
In all seriousness though I so very much miss the "old" kids themed items/activities. My daughter was fortunate enough to get to press a few coins herself with "Santa" (Garry) prior to his move to the gun/knife shop and then subsequent departure from the park. I remember we got to go down a zipline once too (remember, Rube?) - it was made of the jump rope material and you would crash into some hay bales at the end. I still have the tooled leather band I made with my name on it. Sigh...I miss all of that (not just for me but for my daughter and everyone elses kids too). :(
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What one thing would I do to make SDC a better place? I myself would take out the barrels of fun. These are the things shaped like a barrel, with a small back support and foot rest. You sit down on the barrel and put a quarter in and it starts vibrating on your, well let's just say your backside :). I am not sure what service these vibrating barrels provide in an 1880's theme park. Anyway I kind of think their annoying and a little out of place at SDC.
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those are all great suggestions! One thing I think I would like to see some things fixed. Ya know I have been recently and plan to be there saturday and well.....one thing I loved when it opened was Gyser Gulch. Not so much now. It needs to be painted and fixed. Grandfathers mansion needs a bit of paint and minor repair. I saw they did do a little work to the flooded mine which I appriciated. I dunno maybe I am getting old and crabby, but its not the same. Fix up what you have. Make it look nice. If I am paying around 250 a year on season passes alone, I think they could use that money to fix stuff up.
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If I am paying around 250 a year on season passes alone, I think they could use that money to fix stuff up.
Amen to that.
I think the idea that the suits don't care as much about our opinions as new visitors may be true. But we are the ones that tithe yearly to the Hershings and they need to remember the faithfull.
Wait, its not the Hershings, its some group of people in Atlanta.
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Perhaps the “suits” as they are so elegantly called, consider adding a new attraction every year as a better way to attract guest than simply sprucing up an older ride.
To Silver Dollar City’s credit, they have touched up many of their attractions around the park this season. Fire in the Hole is the perfect example of that. However, the American Plunge is the perfect example of an attraction that has been left to "fall into shambles" so to speak.
We all know that a new attraction will be here within the next year, or so. However, I wish Silver Dollar City would step away from the planning table for at least one year, and breathe additional life into some of their older rides, gags, and attractions. :)