Messages

1

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Disappointed in SDC website orders

« on: June 07, 2023, 12:43:26 PM »

Great news!  I took your guys advice to log in to my account (I didn't even remember that there was an account associated with ordering) and there it was.
I forwarded it in an email to guest services and they said they think there must have been a mistake at check-out on my end, but there's proof I tried to order it so they are going to create an Adventure pass for my daughter.
While it was a hassle, I'm very pleased with the outcome and appreciate their help.
Looks like my family will be getting season passes this year, which we didn't last year.  Not sure after FITH leaves but for now I'm wanting to give them my business.

Thanks for the reminders about the login.

2

Construction/Rumors / Re: Future SDC Development Speculation (Long-term)

« on: June 06, 2023, 12:50:54 PM »

For me I think American Plunge needs more love.  Although I will say last year a few things were working that werent the year before.  I think American Plunge can be an absolute home run when it comes to good theme and I don't think it would cost a whole crap ton.

Please, for the love of all that is right and good, hand-painted signs!

3

Construction/Rumors / Re: Future SDC Development Speculation (Long-term)

« on: June 06, 2023, 12:48:07 PM »

I think over the past five years they've done well with flooded mine.  Seems every time I go there's something fixed that wasn't working a few years back.
My only complaint is they need to get the voice back..."I'm gettin' outta here, no matter what!".
But FM is still a fantastic ride.  I won't complain about it because it will just give them an excuse to take it away.

4

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Disappointed in SDC website orders

« on: June 06, 2023, 12:45:15 PM »

I dunno if anyone else has ever had trouble with this kind of stuff, but I ordered an adventure pass for my 4 year old this past winter and now SDC says they have no record of it, so now we're stuck without one.
Last year I ordered one for another daughter who was eligible and never got anything in the mail nor did I get a confirmation email or letter.  However, when I emailed before our trip they said I just had to go to the ticket booth and bring the birth certificate and pick it up there so that's what we did.
Since I didn't get anything in the mail or via email this time either I just figured it was normal and just like last year.  Nope.  They say they don't have it and don't seem too empathetic, either.
I understand they are a business, but I ordered that pass, and if they want to go everything digital they better make sure it works.  So now I'm not sure if we can do season passes or just the 2 day pass as this is another $150 bucks for our family of 6.

Anyway, that's my rant!

5

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Danny Eakin retiring

« on: May 02, 2023, 08:45:11 PM »

Sad news. Knew it was coming one of these years. Glad to know theres one summer left.

Almost fitting he’s going out with fire in the hole as the park continues to shed the original theme.

Homestead Pickers really are one of a kind, you don’t just find them anywhere.

6

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2023 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: November 06, 2022, 12:35:10 PM »

I expected a new entrance for everyone - not some special season pass perk for the more expensive tiers.

Ugh....

Just noticed: "Priority Gate Entrance"

What is this?

Brad's video mentioned a revamped entry system, and there will be a different gate for those passholders who opt to pay the higher fee.  We've talked about the entry being remodeled for a couple of years, and it sounds like that might come in some form for 2023 - another vintage memory succumbing to progress - but we just can't be sure how intrusive the new system might be on the classic entrance.  It may be no more than a dedicated turnstile.

Ive never understood the complaints about the entrance.
It never takes more than five minutes from off the train to through the turnstyles. It usually moves pretty good.
I dont get it.

7

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Old Time Christmas Shows poll

« on: November 06, 2022, 12:31:47 PM »

The park claims they changed the music in the Christmas Carol because of copy right laws. Well ALL the other shows on the Branson Strip seem to have no problem with "copy rights"? I think another Great idea would be to replace the Christmas Carol with "Santa Claus is coming to Town." A Broadway show with popular songs as "Santa Claus is coming town, Toymaker of the King and One foot in Front of another. Would be great. The park has the "rights" to Rudolph the Reindeer, why not add on to this with Santa Claus is coming to Town.

Its a cop out.
Not only did they change the show but they fired the two best actors.
Anyone know of a video of the old dickens show?

8

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: How is Foggy Hollow/Harvest festival?

« on: November 06, 2022, 12:29:43 PM »

The clientele seems to be changing as of late, so this is of no surprise to me.

As the park changes, so goes the clientele. Six Flags-type parks attract Six Flags-type customers.

Bingo

9

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2022 Crowds / Trip Reports

« on: November 06, 2022, 12:26:28 PM »

While there is a divide between old SDC and new SDC...it is still way better than your average theme park. In Missouri, it blows Worlds of Fun and Six Flags St. Louis out of the water. So what if it's "covered in roller coasters" it's 2022 and that's what the new generation is going for. It pays the bills. Plus, it's not like the coasters are sitting right there in the middle of the park, they're all hidden in their own way.

There is still plenty of old SDC for everyone to enjoy. The festivals are incredibly themed and fun to attend and the only one that has seemed to be omitted from years past is World Fest. Just because things may not be the same as they were 5, 10 or 20 years ago, doesn't make it bad. To say "they've stopped caring a long time ago" is a complete insult to the citizens who have put a lot of time and effort to making SDC a national destination.

They stopped caring a long time ago.

Its well on its way to being six flags branson.
Thats what the powers that be prefer.
Heck some of them are probably happy about the train being down. Now they can “update” it and get rid of the classic aspect of it.
Wait til you see the new FITH.  No doubt it will be a soulless PC glitzy ride with no real history or theme.

I try to enjoy the remaining aspects of what made the park special before they transition those out too, one by one as they have been.

10

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Train Crash?

« on: November 06, 2022, 12:17:48 PM »

Not only would I ride the train right now, but I’d bring my kids.
Ot’d be great.
The wreck was a fluke thing.
That train has had a lot of miles on it with no issues.
I have full faith in sdc fixing it, and doing it quick.
If people dont want to ride, then dont.
Whatever happened to personal responsibility?

11

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC’s 2022 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: August 06, 2022, 07:13:29 AM »

Been noticing as I was at the park tonight that Flooded Mine is in it's worst shape ever. Almost nothing was working outside of the audio and water effects. All the belt driven pulleys and such had broken or removed belts and one guy had his head decapitated and dangling on his chest. I could imagine that freaking out some little kids. Also one of the boats was taking on water in the station so they moved me to another one. I chatted with the workers and they too talked about how they love the classics and hope to keep them around, and they too couldn't talk about the building under construction or "they would get fired" but as for Flooded Mine they smiled and said they are aware of all the issues and that a real plan has already been set in motion that will make everyone happy in the near future.

Dang, it was working great when we went earlier this year.

12

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2021 Crowds/Trip Reports

« on: December 08, 2021, 02:43:31 PM »

If thurs-sun wasnt the busiest weekend, at least busiest non-holiday weekend the park has ever seen I’d be stunned. I couldnt believe how busy it was Thursday. We were there all day.

Friday we planned on going late as we always do on the friday of our winter trip. The line to get into the park was very long, and lots were full down Indian point. We stayed on indian point. We waited an hour and went back, got in fairly easily but the lines for everything were huge. (It’s impressive how long people will wait for taters or hot chocolate.)

We decided to get in line for the train Friday since the lines were so long Thursday.  It went pretty fast as there were two trains….however, at 7:15 when our train rolled in we were told that train was going to be put back for the night and they would get us on the next one. This made us have to wait another 15 minutes, and much of the line was turned away after our train left. I thought this was a poor move by SDC. People were waiting a long time….they could have filled that train for one last 7:15 run and the next one at 7:30.

We were disappointed dickens was cancelled both first shows on Thursday so we didn't get to see it. They said technical difficulties. Lines for other shows were very long until the 6:00 saloon show which was surprisingly empty due to the parade starting.  This was really a great saloon show….too bad it wasnt in the actual saloon. But they did a great job.

Crowds like this with nothing really to do but wait in line make me question whether to go back next year. Seeing things sitting closed due to staffing furthers my belief that they need to take the money they’d spend on stuff and put it toward increasing pay and maintenance to attract workers. MRF was quite an expense to be unused half the year and not work anyway.

Flooded Mine was the highlight of the trip for the family. Everyone loves it. Living nativity was good as was the aformentioned saloon show.  Lights look good but I feel like I spent most of my time trying to navigate the crowd I couldnt really take it all in as usual. Theres just SO MANY people that it seems like people are all you see.
The tree show on the hill is impressive as always  but on a personal preference level I dont care for many of the songs they use.

We didnt go saturday but they were already filling the back lots down by indian point at 12. Seemed as though they were filling those lots first.

It might be time to increase prices…. for the Christmas season at least. Demand is simply too high for people to have an enjoyable experience. It doesnt feel like I even really went to SDC.

13

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2021 Crowds/Trip Reports

« on: November 25, 2021, 08:41:55 PM »

Before the pandemic hit we were discussing how the park unfortunately needs drastic change to accommodate even the current crowd levels. The past few years have seen them chipping away at what needs to be done with large pathway expansions around Time Traveler and Mystic River, not to mention the added holiday area.

The main square and entrance are unfortunately what needs to be addressed next. I say unfortunately because that will change a good bit of the nostalgia and atmosphere of the park. Perhaps why it's been avoided so far.

Parking is the other issue... they simply need to invest in a disney style parking deck at this point. So all in all, they need at least $100 million worth of infrastructure improvements just to handle crowds.

But for all that to be worth it, they need enough employees just to run the park as it currently stands! Lots of tricky issues for them to sort out, but this has been going on for years.

I don’t understand this logic.

The problem has absolutely nothing to do with space. I have been to the park hundreds of times and have never felt like I couldn’t get in or out. The entrance and exit has never been more than a minor inconvenience if someone stops right in front of me. Then I simply walk around them. You are too set on getting rid of the old SDC you are looking for excuses.

The problems are staffing. They need to hire more people and open everything up when they say the park is open. They need to have powder keg up and running before chain drop. They need to build rides that work, not rides like MRF. They need to use at least two trains on the rides. They need to open the mine back up. They need to be sure all snack stands, lemonade stands, etc are open when the park is open.

SDC needs to take the money they are going to invest in the next “NeW bIgGeSt SpIn DrOp omg!” ride that won’t work, or the money they’d waste on expanding the entrance and invest it instead on staffing and overall park maintenance. 

14

White Water Discussion / How is white water this year? Any reviews?

« on: July 29, 2021, 03:59:03 PM »

My family is considering going to White Water on the next trip down this month.

Reviews online make it sound like it's always busy and hard to find chairs.

No way in heck I'm spending extra on a cabana, so what are the odds of getting chairs with umbrellas if we're there right at open?
Also, there's always different stuff online about bringing small coolers.  What is the policy, really?

Thanks

15

Construction/Rumors / Re: Future SDC Development Speculation (Long-term)

« on: July 29, 2021, 03:54:51 PM »

Between the aging FM and FiTH.  The issues they are having with the live shows (both legal and covid related)....it feels like SDC has to invest in either a new indoor attraction....or dump money in the old indoor rides.  If they redo the old rides they would have to be from scratch to get any of the general public to really care.  Which is really not unlike what happened to the raft ride.  So many possible options they could do if a new site/attraction is created.  Really like to see a true family ride with lots of tech.  Soaring like ride in the Ozarks?  FM 2.0 with 3D?

They have bigger worries than the aging FM and FITH.  I understand that FITH has been down at times this year, but whenever I have gone it has never been down and unless the park is empty, it usually has a decent to long line.  Flooded Mine never breaks down and my kids love it.
They better be worrying about Powderkeg being down mutliptle times a week, OR being down, Wildfire being down, and that terrible new ride they constantly advertise being down more than it's open. 
Considering they never advertise flooded mine and it barely has a sign and new people have no idea how to even find it, maybe they should invest in some signage and advertising for it to distract people from the other rides not being open and keep people cool.  It's a great ride, it really doesn't need changed other than maybe changing the exit.

I do agree with the others.  Pay people legit money to come be entertaining.  Pay people really good money to come to their crafts or learn crafts.

I'm not against a new indoor ride, so it's not that I totally disagree with you.  I disagree that FITH and FM are problems and need removed/replaced, however, or that rides in general should be the priority.