Messages

271

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: A Detailed Discussion: KidsFest

« on: August 14, 2010, 09:00:37 PM »

I think Doc Gizmo is at SDC during family Spring Break Days.

272

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: A Detailed Discussion: KidsFest

« on: August 10, 2010, 09:12:24 PM »

Pintrader said "I would add a kids related show to the Riverfront Playhouse/Why this was closed during this year's fest is a mystery to me."

I can only guess the Smurfs, the Powerpuff Girls, the Rugrats and Veggietales were already booked somewhere else. 

273

Branson Talk / Re: Gambling in Branson?

« on: August 10, 2010, 06:30:04 PM »

NO and NO. 

274

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: A Detailed Discussion: KidsFest

« on: August 09, 2010, 08:51:14 PM »

Very funny....but true!

275

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: A Detailed Discussion: KidsFest

« on: August 09, 2010, 07:18:52 PM »

We have attended Kidsfest in the past at both Dollywood and SDC.  No contest in my book, Dollywood's festival is much better.  The decorations, the attention to detail, the shows and the overall atmosphere seem so much better at DW.  I get the impression SDC is going through the motions with Kidsfest and it seems to decline every year.  It's as if they feel obligated to do it but their heart isn't in it. Part of me wishes they would do away with it and just make the park the best it can be for the summer. The decorations this year at SDC were paltry (in past years they have had some really cute stuff).  Once past the square you really couldn't tell a festival was going on.  The show offerings were not very good either, nothing that you just had to see.  A woman behind me at the magic show fell asleep and was actually snoring....loudly.  I looked around and her husband was asleep too.  I don't have a favorite show during Kidsfest, none excite me. They need a serious revamp.  No favorite activities really, the sand on the square seems a bit tired.  Why not let kids whitewash a fence down by Riverbattle?  Least favorite shop has to be the Frisco Barn where they sell all the cheap stuff that has nothing to do with SDC.  I would get rid of the cartoon characters. I hate to be so negative, but if they want to continue this festival they need to throw it all out, start over and come up with some fresh ideas.  All hope is not lost as better things are on the horizon.  SDC does a nice job with Southern Gospel Picnic, the Fall Harvest Festival and Christmas...so good times are on the way. 

276

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2011 Project

« on: August 08, 2010, 09:28:04 PM »

Several people on this thread have referred to SDC as being the flag ship park of the HFE chain....and I agree with that.  However, it has also been mentioned several times that Dollywood gets all the love as far as new rides and investments.  Just wondering out loud here, has anyone given any thought at all to the possibility that HFE is slowly transitioning to a point where Dollywood becomes the main cog in the chain?  It is located near the entrance to the most visited national park in the country.  Another question, if HFE is moving that direction how much thought have they given to the future of Dollywood after Dolly is no longer around?  I'm not saying this is the direction they are going....I'm simply throwing it out for discussion.  It's hard not to notice all the improvements made at Dollywood over the past several years.

277

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Change out " Heading West"?

« on: August 05, 2010, 09:35:05 PM »

I really can't complain about "Heading West".  I think they do a very nice job with it. The music is entertaining and you gotta love the old prospector!

278

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Why do I keep reading that the coasters are closed?

« on: August 05, 2010, 09:31:31 PM »

I agree The Boss is rough. However, I think The Voyage at Holiday World is even rougher.  When I was on the Voyage in June I was just hoping I would be able to walk when I exited the ride.  That's what I love about Powderkeg and Wildfire, the smoothness of the ride.

279

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: SDC Overflow Parking

« on: August 04, 2010, 08:29:35 PM »

I must say the parking/tram service was the best I have seen in a few years during my visits last week (Wednesday, Thursday night and Friday).  Both Wednesday and Friday morning we parked and walked right on a tram.  In fact, Wednesday as we boarded a tram two other trams were waiting (stop 4) right behind it.  Thursday evening we had to wait only a couple of minutes to get picked up and all three nights when leaving the park the wait for a tram was very short.  I was very pleased.  I was glad they started (at least while I was there) unloading at stop 4 first and then backtracked to stops 3, 2 and 1.  That seemed to make the most sense to me as the most people seem to exit at stop 4.  Plus, that kept people from having to walk around the tram at stops 1 and 2.  One note of disclosure, I always get to the parking lots early, usually between 8:15 and 8:30 so I beat the larger crowds that show up later in the morning.

280

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Why do I keep reading that the coasters are closed?

« on: August 04, 2010, 08:11:04 PM »

All coasters were running fine during my three visits to the park last week.  Although Powderkeg did open 15 minutes late last Wednesday morning.  It was nice during MM when they ran three trains on Powderkeg.  It really kept the line moving.

281

SDC Memories/ Park History / Re: Where would you live?

« on: July 20, 2010, 08:41:27 PM »

I would live in the furniture store.  I love the cozy little room towards the front that has windows on three sides. Plus, I would have an awesome wood shop right outside!

282

Random Talk / Re: All Time fav movies ever!

« on: July 19, 2010, 09:10:02 PM »

I don't watch a lot of movies; however, there are a few that when I am flipping channels and I run across them I have to watch the entire thing.  They are:

Con Air
True Lies
Shawshank Redemption
Hoosiers
Happy Gilmore
Rudy
Old School
My Cousin Vinny

283

Branson Talk / Re: SDC's Wilderness Campground

« on: July 19, 2010, 08:35:54 PM »

I have two (other than the waterslide across the street) fond childhood memories of the campground.  First is my grandma.  It never ceased to amaze me the kind of breakfast buffet she could whip up with nothing more than a Coleman stove and a cooler. The food was great and the smells were not bad either!  The second memory regards some folks camping next to us.  They must have had a wild night.  A couple of them crawled out of the tent early one morning and proceeded to pull out all the poles holding the tent up. As the tent collapsed on those still sleeping inside, one of the bandits yelled out at the top of his lungs "Fire in the Hole".  Needless to say, the folks inside the tent were not amused.  However, we were!

284

White Water Discussion / Re: WW in 2011

« on: July 19, 2010, 08:23:32 PM »

I sure hope you are right.  As has been discussed many times on this site, Whitewater is in dire need of a makeover and reinvigoration.  I would love to see the concepts redoing the lazy river to integrate it into the entire park.  It would be interesting to see how they pull that off. A water coaster would go a long way towards updating their image.

285

Dollywood Discussion / Re: Dollywood Theming

« on: July 19, 2010, 08:17:03 PM »

Let me start by saying I don't think Babes in Toyland is that great of a show.  It is certainly not up to the level of Dickens' Christmas Carol. I definitely do not want to see it come to SDC.  The point I was trying to make in my earlier post is that it is my feeling that from "top to bottom" the Christmas shows are better at DW than SDC.  As far as transplanting them to SDC, I don't think that is plausible as several of the shows at DW are themed to the Smoky Mountains or a certain area of the park.  Side note--I am a big fan of southern gospel music. The Kingdom Heirs at Dollywood are one of my favorite groups and I feel one of the best going.  I sure wish SDC would bring back a southern gospel quartet as a fixture on park.