Messages

601

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Christmas attendence

« on: December 25, 2016, 01:01:48 PM »

a real surprise to me, with so many people on thursday, i expected a big crowd friday..

friday, about 5100 people..

Weather was unpleasant all day.  Rain, drizzle, wet, windy and just yucky.  Not surprised those numbers were way down.

The rest of this week will likely make up for it, as it's supposed to be unseasonably nice weather most days.

602

Branson Talk / Re: The Branson Shuffle starts early

« on: December 17, 2016, 02:30:35 PM »

Announced Yestarday that AYO will be at starlite theatre,,,   LOL. 

I wondered where they would land after Six moved to Hughes Brotheres,,,

 
Starlite is a nicer Venue anyway,,,

Good to know.  I figured they were going to have to move after the SIX announcement, but couldn't see them leaving.  Hopefully it'll be a good spot for them.

603

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2 weeks left

« on: December 17, 2016, 02:27:09 PM »

Hoping to get out there at least one day this week if all goes well and the weather cooperates.  We have tickets for the Hughes Brothers we have to use this next week as well before they expire.  Not sure what day for either though.

604

Random Talk / Re: Full moon 12-13-16

« on: December 17, 2016, 02:25:27 PM »

Trust me.  You didn't need to tell us teachers it was a full moon.  The kids let us know.

Didn't know you were a teacher as well.  Oh yeah, dealing with the kids at school...  LOL   They do make it obvious, don't they?

605

Branson Talk / Re: RFD TV theatre going to auction

« on: December 07, 2016, 03:30:06 PM »

It sold for $3.2 million to a group that runs some theaters in Pigeon Forge.  They may rent the theater short term while they figure out their long term plans and deal with the fallout from the TN fires.

http://bransontrilakesnews.com/news_free/article_bd12942c-bcbb-11e6-b896-af954b8dadf3.html

606

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Last Days of the season

« on: December 06, 2016, 08:42:23 AM »

How is the week before Christmas?

The two weeks around Christmas are very dependent on the weather.  If it's wet, then crowds will be light.  If it's nice, then there will be huge crowds.  Put simply, on a day that you would probably like to go, so will everyone else.  Cold won't keep them away unless it's windy and bitter cold (think highs below freezing).  But if there's not something in the weather that is actively driving people away from the park, then they will be there and be there in force.

607

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Youtube video about the train robbers at SDC

« on: December 02, 2016, 10:12:05 PM »

I'm still loving the videos sirwillow! I just watched the one about faith and prayer in the parks and I think it's awesome you prayed with guests who you saw may have needed it. I know that is accepted at SDC but I was really surprised you were allowed to do something like that at Disney!

Thanks.  We really weren't supposed to do it at Disney, which is why I only did it a couple of times where the guest knew I was praying, and did it in such a way that it wouldn't look like it.  I didn't want to offend the guests, nor did I want management to notice either as it could have gotten me in trouble.  But sometimes you have to do what you feel you have to do. 

608

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Youtube video about the train robbers at SDC

« on: December 02, 2016, 09:50:17 AM »

Ok, here you go SDC/ train fans.  Part 1 of 2 of pranks and silliness that we pulled on the Frisco Silver Dollar train.  If you've ever been on the train, you'll get a kick out of this one (and maybe seen some of these things)  If not, you'll still get a good laugh out of this I hope.  I'd love feedback.

And if all goes well, part 2 will hopefully be up Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon.
https://youtu.be/L1h44kDJy8c

I've never worked at SDC, but I've ridden the train many times.

I'm sure you had fun with your fellow train robbers, and maybe got a laugh from the crowd at the end. Was it just polite laughter because they were polite?

As a guest, I really don't want to strain to listen to bad crackling audio of actors putting on a show. The train robber skit used to be about the Bolins interacting with the guests, and getting laughs up and down the line from other riders within direct earshot of those around them.

I know, I'm just a crotchety old-timer from the '70s. I don't have much sympathy for people who think their job is supposed to be entertainment for themselves and their friends.

I'm guessing that you didn't watch (which is ok).  If you do, you'll notice that pretty much every gag and prank we pull is either obvious to the people on the train so they can enjoy it, or it pulls them into it as well.  There's only one exception to that, and it happens really after the show is over.

Because I'm totally with you.  The people on the train are not props, they are the reason we're out there.  So if it wasn't something that wasn't going to be enjoyed by the people on the train, that they would laugh at, or if it would detract from the show at all, then we wouldn't do it.  So those watching either loved it or never noticed it, and that was on purpose.

We never wanted to take away from what the train robbery was and what it was supposed to be- and that was for the people on the train.  Some of the things we did were things that were actually done repeatedly over decades past.  We actually resurrected a couple of old gags, and the newer ones that we did went over well.

The only time I can think of where I got "polite laughter" for doing something unexpected was my pirate show, and that lasted for the first couple of minutes while I think people were trying to figure out if we were really doing what we were doing.  By halfway through they were laughing hard and the end we got a great response (actually had a couple stand up to applaud).

So I'm in total agreement with you on that.  in fact, I think that if you watch, you'll probably see that, and even notice on the one "live" clip in there that it's more than "polite laughter" At some point I'll do another video that will talk about a lot of my banter and interaction with the people on the train, because that was my favorite part and had a ton of fun with it.

On a side note- The sound system was actually a point of contention between us and the park on a number of occasions because of it did and didn't work.  We tried to get it upgraded and improved, and proposed a number of ways to do that, but were never able to get the budgets or improvements approved.  Never liked that because of how it's set up that the very front and back of the train have a hard time hearing.  We pushed the system to the limits, on the verge of feedback loops, trying to make sure everyone could hear everything. 

609

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Youtube video about the train robbers at SDC

« on: December 01, 2016, 06:53:37 PM »

Just posted an update video on what it's like to visit and work during Christmas.  For veterans of the park there may not be a whole lot new here, but hopefully you'll enjoy seeing a look at Christmas season through an employee's eyes. 

https://youtu.be/KRc4eAlX8mg

610

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Tennessee Tragedy

« on: November 30, 2016, 03:52:19 PM »

Dollywood had a few of their cabins damaged and destroyed by the fire, but no damage in the park itself or to the new resort.  I heard they made a fireline outside of the park that came into play, but I have no idea if that's actually true or not. Pigeon Forge outside of some smoke seems to have come through ok.

611

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2018 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: November 30, 2016, 03:49:21 PM »

Can we put a lid on the "insider knowledge" stuff again?

Done.  Removed my follow up.  Sorry about that.  Wasn't comfortable in what I posted and regret doing so.  Thanks for the reminder.  Unfortunately I can't remove the quote, so hopefully someone can fix that.

612

Branson Talk / Re: Proposed Branson Tram Project

« on: November 30, 2016, 03:45:51 PM »

A couple of interesting tidbits in that article:

The system would run from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. for 50 weeks a year, with two weeks of scheduled maintenance.

A 24-hour pass would cost $15, Green said, and a weeklong pass somewhere between $28 and $30. The company envisions offering an annual pass for Branson residents who want to use it to commute to work. 

50 weeks a year?  I'm surprised they would run it in January and February when the area is a ghost town.  Though I guess it could help cover some of the transportation for people working in the area when the roads are a mess.

And I love the idea of them offering an annual pass for locals and commuters.  If they can make that affordable- especially if they have some sort of a monthly payment plan for commuters- then they may be on to something.  But I'm wondering on that "affordable" part when they are hoping to get $28- $30 for a weeklong pass.  Their week prices are what a lot of commuters pay for a month on various systems, and with many of these area jobs being low paying just above minimum wage types of jobs, if they go much more than that it's not going to be affordable or cost effective for those that might need or want to use it the most.  We'll have to see.

613

Branson Talk / Re: RFD TV theatre going to auction

« on: November 28, 2016, 04:50:57 PM »

Big price tag..

Not necessarily from a court house sale.  oftentimes those will go just for back taxes owed, which may not be much, especially in comparison to the value of the property.  But I haven't seen it said what is owed so don't know.

614

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2018 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: November 28, 2016, 08:23:52 AM »

Flooded Mine still does more riders per day than Outlaw Run

That would be a change in the last year then.  Outlaw Run definitely had larger numbers 2013 - 2015, at least according to the ridership numbers that I saw while working there.  While watching my NDA from my time, I will say that they weren't in the same tiers.

Are you sure you're not thinking of FITH?

615

Branson Talk / Re: RFD TV theatre going to auction

« on: November 28, 2016, 08:17:57 AM »

I noticed last weekend that all the RFD signs had been removed. 

Hmm? I was there 2 weeks ago and I am sure the signage was still up..

They were definitely down last weekend.  We drove by last Friday and I noted to my car load of shoppers that the signs were gone and wondered if it meant something.  Guess so.