Search

Sure does sound like a low RPH for all that investment.

That's what I was thinking.  But then they aren't always known for thinking about capacity to much.  I remember a few discussions where they tried to convince me that our 750pph on the train was a huge capacity, and I couldn't help thinking about the rides at Disney that do well over 2000pph in comparison.

We drove by yesterday on our way home from shopping in Branson, and they had the lots in Branson West full, and a huge stream of cars leaving the main lots at 7pm.  With all of that, I'm sure it was a huge day attendance wise.

didn't notice that at all when we were there a couple of weeks ago.  We only saw Dicken's, but the sound was as good as it normally is.  I'm particularly annoyed when instruments drown out vocals, but didn't notice that being a problem when we saw it.

Maybe a couple of new sound techs they were training?  Don't ask me why, but it seems like it's typically the young guys that get the balance mix backwards when it comes to music vs. voice and drown out the vocals. Not always, but more often that way than the other.

Train (it doesn't get much more original SDC than that) and Outlaw Run

Just saw him last Friday ourselves.  Wow.  Thanks for letting us know.  Will be praying for a speedy and complete recovery.

It is a shame about RFD, But that is their owner..  HE doesnt care if it sits empty,,,

AYO?  maybe they will move to a morning slot at Hughes.. Or maybe morning 2 or 3 days, and afternoon when SIX isnt playing..  We dont know if hughes is going to afternoon slot, OR only 3 nights a week...  LOts of vague info out there on this move....  LOL...  hopefully answers will come in, inquiring minds want to know....

One of the SIX brothers said on Facebook that they will be alternating afternoon and evening slots with the Hughes.  So except for Sundays when neither performs it will be one in the afternoon and the other in the evening every day.  So there won't be any afternoon slots open.

Hughes has another couple of shows in the morning, and that could change, but I don't see AYO moving to the morning when there are less people who watch.  They're popular enough that they are an afternoon show at the least, and maybe ready to take over an evening slot.  With SIX coming it, it looks like it leaves them out in the cold.

With empty theatres I am surprised also.  Lots of other options, The Americana would have been a good one for them.

it's to small for them.  They need more seating and a bigger stage than what the Americana has.

What will be interesting is to see where AYO/ Voices of Glory end up, as Six/ Hughes Brothers will essentially be taking their time slots and splitting them between the two.  I can see them at the Americana if they can get someone else to share it with them.  Or a couple of the other theaters in town that need something.

Hate seeing RFD theater sitting empty.

Wait... Wuh???  Ok, had to drop over to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SixBros/?fref=ts
And they have the announcement there announcing the move and the times for next year.  In digging through the comments, you can see why.

Apparently Mickey Gilley has sold the theater (no surprise there) but it wasn't to the Knudsen's (that's a surprise, as I thought they had a plan in place for them to buy it).  And with the new owners coming in, that meant that SIX was out.  So they're going back to where they started.

I'm honestly shocked.  I thought that SIX was in the process of buying the theater from Gilley.  I wonder what happened to that plan and what caused it to fall through and go to other new owners instead.

^ I was just going to post the same link up.    It's step one, and they do address a couple of my concerns (the funds raised and if it fails will it be left standing)  It's still early and it's informal, nothing official yet, but have to say good for them for bringing those up.

There's also a short article at: http://www.ktts.com/news/a-new-gandola-system-announced-in-branson
That mentions this tidbit: "Tickets are expected to cost $15 per person for a daily pass, with discounts for multi-day passes."
Wowch, that can be a lot just for a one day trip to Branson.  With my family of 4, I'd rather drive the slow strip at that price.

As of right now my chance to attend is looking like Christmas week or the following week. I gotta bad feeling about that. lol

You should.  You're looking at huge crowds every day that week after Christmas.  The week before on the weekdays won't be quite so bad since most kids will still be in school with Christmas being on a Sunday, but I would be sure if you go to go on the Weds or Thurs.  Starting Friday the 23rd the crowds are going to be ugly packed.

Plus you'll have to worry about the weather if you're wanting to do rides.  Most days that time of year it's cold enough to affect ride operation and which rides open.

I'm looking forward to checking it out.  Looks like it could be a lot of fun.

Not sure it's a bad opening time.  They should get a good rush of people with the holidays, and then after that, they'll have some time to take a look at how things worked and what they can do to fix, improve, and streamline things, and then have them ready for the tourist season next year after some time to get everything down and running smooth.

sirwillow, when you say crowds can be "enormous" can you give me any idea how bad enormous is?  We once went to Disneyland the first week of January when schools were out and many of the lines were an hour (and it wasn't uncommon to get near the front of the line and they'd tell you the ride was down after wasting 45 minutes).  Like that sort of enormous?  The only time I've been to Silver Dollar City was a couple years ago in late August.  We went on a Saturday and crowds were what I'd call "moderate".  There were a lot of people there and we had to park quite far away in the lot, but line times were not prohibitive to ride anything.

We are not looking specifically to visit SDC so aren't looking for the very best time to visit or anything.  It's that we'll be passing by it on the road on the Wed before Thanksgiving and the Saturday after so are wondering if it's worth trying to stop to see the Christmas festival or if the crowds would be too miserable.

Having worked at Disney- you caught a light to moderate crowd if you were there the first week of January, having missed the actual Christmas/ holiday crowds.  So imagine that, but much much worse.

On Saturdays the crowds are often so think that you are shoulder to shoulder, front to back, solid with other people the entire time you are there.  Think 45-60 minute lines for a snack.  The train on Saturdays will often have an hour wait with running 2 trains- I've seen that line over the top of the corkscrew hill, all the way down it, and to the trestle crossing at the bottom near the saloon.  And Thanksgiving weekend you can fully expect both the Friday and the Saturday to look like that.  Honsetly, I wouldn't even bother attempting on the Saturday.

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving while better is still going to be very busy and the crowds will be pretty heavy because of the number of people on vacation at that point.  It's still likely to be fairly ugly, but at least a manageable ugly.  But that whole weekend, as well as the week between Christmas and New Years are days to avoid if you can and try to go some other time.

SirWillow (or others), is a Friday or Sunday visit likely to be less crowded?

Both and neither.  lol

Fridays start slow, so they are less crowded in the early part of the day, but it picks up as the sun goes down and people get off of work, so it can be pretty crowded at night.

Sunday on the other hand starts off busier than Friday daytime, but clears out more earlier as people go home and get ready to go to work.  The park can be near empty after the first parade giving you some time without the crowds if you're willing to stick it out.  Good to catch the shows early if you can, then enjoy the lights and rides later.  And weather doesn't look like it will be an issue these first couple of weekends at least.

it's a Saturday with the Christmas stuff.  It's going to be packed.  This one might be lighter- you might get to use the parking lot instead of parking 3 miles down the road- but honestly if you're going to go on a Saturday you're going to have to deal with huge, heavy crowds and long lines.

I can not recommend strongly enough, do not go to SDC on a Nov or Dec Saturday.  Friday nights and Sunday nights are better, though still busy.  But they are manageable, especially in November.  But if there is any way at all possible, go on a Wednesday or Thursday.  You will have a much, much better day.

Very cool!  That was something they were just talking about and starting when I had to leave SDC.  At the time it was just ribbons.  Neat to hear that they've gone beyond that with the extras.