Messages

91

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2019 Daily Attendance

« on: August 19, 2019, 01:41:03 PM »

I've not experienced a visit there yet this summer that was as crowded as last year.  But, the lake is crazy!  So many boats and the newest kid on the block - wake boats! My boat used to look fairly good sized in a rental slip, and the last year I rented space it was a minnow.  I now have a long term lease at a marina, and there's a waiting list for those wanting in.  I wonder if there's a migration towards other types of entertainment rather than a theme park.

92

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2019 Daily Attendance

« on: August 16, 2019, 11:54:33 AM »

Me too!  I think this is the second year in a row I've done this.  Good thing I looked on line to check opening.

93

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2020 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: August 14, 2019, 08:00:54 AM »

Great posting!  Thanks for your insight and the photos.  I'm sad to hear about the reduction of Lake Silver, but WOW! It looks awesome, and tie in to the history and lost elements of the park is very cool!

94

White Water Discussion / Re: WW day tickets

« on: July 28, 2019, 12:15:28 PM »

From a couple of employees that I know that work on the boat, they had a valid reason for letting her go.

95

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2019 Trip Reports

« on: July 26, 2019, 01:51:24 PM »

That pretty much sums it up, Chittlins. 

96

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2019 Trip Reports

« on: July 24, 2019, 07:58:23 AM »

I'll put it in a list for you.  Maybe I can avoid all of my previous rhetoric about somebody needing to be fired or disowned for signing off on this trash.

*I hate stories that just jump from one "adventure" to another one with no climax or resolution.  There was no story here.

*The music selections were terrible and not catchy.  Most were unrecognizable to the general public.

*The jokes were generic.  I know some 10-year-olds who could come up with better ones that would not be as predictable.

*For me, the Disney ripoffs with Pirates of the Caribbean,  You've Got a Friend in Me, and Orlando are pretty much an acknowledgement of inferiority.  Even though some of the other characters are classics, Disney has already exploited them to the point that characters like Robin Hood (Friar Tuck) and Peter Pan (Mr. Smee) are almost fully Disney characters.  It's hard to take back such rooter characters, and this was a weak effort.  If this is anything like the Pirates and Princesses Cruise on the Branson Belle, I don't need to take that cruise either.  At the same time, someone didn't even think to cross-market the cruise with this show, which would have been quite simple to do.  I'd mention that they even used a song from the Muppets, but people don't relate that to Disney.  And, although it's not Disney, they jabbed a line in there about Shrek and Donkey, as well, just to get a cheap laugh.  All of these things take the audience outside of Silver Dollar City.

*Isn't Mr. Smee and Peter Pan character who runs around with Captain Hook?  Why is he here with Long John Silver?

*He is the cook, but is John Silver ever called a "captain" in Treasure Island?

*At least twice, they referenced the "very expensive forest" as if to say that they even know that it was overpriced.

*The flat sets looked cheap.  In fact, they also don't even fit behind each other well enough to hide them when they are not on stage.

*The line about margarita night in one of the songs was inappropriate for the setting, especially if the show was supposed to appeal to kids.

*The hiphop monks were pandering and mildly offensive.  Their colorful socks worked for the gag, but the Converse shoes were stupid.  I'm not sure if they were just trying to force a gospel message into the show, but this was too weird.

*The kid being named Reuben Branson was a cheap gag, and they practically had to beg the audience to laugh at it, as if they thought they had to explain the joke before the punch line ever arrived.  By the way, why are so many SDC characters named Rube and Reuben?  Had the boy been a Dugan, it would have been a nice nod.

*Dialogue was boring, as if the writer was forcing scenes together with a lot of explanation.

*There was no reason for a bunch of gimmicky singing skulls on Long John Silver's ship.

*The soundtrack does not blend as one show.  The songs don't even stick to a particular genre.

*No swashes were buckled.  At some time it would have been nice to have felt like Reuben was in danger.  It would have been nice to have forgotten that it was all a dream.  It would have been nice to have some kind of struggle, some emotional drama.

*They kept repeating "You look vaguely familiar" to David's characters, as if they thought the audience was too stupid to recognize he was the same actor in different roles.

*Why was he the same actor in different roles?  That didn't tie anything together, and could have made more sense if he had shown up as a real person in Reuben's cabin at the end (like the Wizard of Oz).

*No other characters had to have different names, so why the Marlin gag?  Just so they could make another reference to Orlando/Disney?

*How is it that Long John Silver stayed with Reuben for the entire non-adventure?  It might have been nice for Reuben to have discovered strength of character by protecting a weaker character along the way instead of dancing around with the pirate captain while trekking through the forest (Did I mention it's a very expensive forest?).

*Was Reuben sufficiently troubled by his lack of destiny at the beginning (He's not even wary of meeting Long John Silver.)?  Was there really a need for a swashbuckling adventure at all?  What was all of this talk of destiny?  I thought the kid just wanted to read himself to sleep, but all of the sudden the kid needs to find himself.

*Gypsies, who are called vagabonds (I don't think anyone ever mentioned the word gypsies.), suddenly appear, but why?  If all of these are supposed to be characters of classic stories, what book did the gypsies come out of?  I don't recall any of them being named.

*Sing along?  They ask the audience to sing along to a song most of us have probably never heard, carting out a giant, gaudy scroll and unfurling the words to one verse of the song.  For some reason the scroll remains unfurled during the next verse, even thought the words are different.

*Where was the million dollar show?  The only thing that looked expensive was the upstage digital screen.  Some live pyrotechnics could have also been engaged for the end celebration.

*The lyrics seem rushed and any witty ones are lost as it takes longer to mentally process them than the audience is provided.

*I'm not sure how Reuben and his mom get back to the fantasy at the end.  The whole thing was supposed to be a dream, but now they just have to "believe" and all the characters reappear for the finale.

*Usually these shows have a huge, natural standing ovation at the end.  Not here.  The audience stopped clapping before the actors faded into the background.  Actors waved as they walked upstage, and the audience was packing up to leave.  Embarrassing.

Again, they performers and crew work very hard with what they've been given.  They do the best job possible.  They try very hard to make this show as entertaining as possible, but they must be frustrated to find that the reaction is lackluster.  None of my critique is against the crew and cast who seem to have everything under control.  My criticism is completely against the creators of the show and whomever allowed this to be produced in the first place.

After setting the bar with their Christmas shows, they probably wanted something similar to appeal to kids, but they need to let Disney do Disney.  They've been successful with Dickens and Wonderful Life, but this one falls far short of its mark.

The best parts?  Long John Silver's entrance on the rope, the Defying Gravity entrance for Marlin, and the part where I got to leave.

I have to agree with you, HistoryBuff.  I went yesterday hoping it would be great. It wasn't! I was ready to leave before it was halfway through, but I'm not rude enough to do so.  Hubs hated it! He thought the nods to the Christmas show dumbed it down as though they couldn't think of any new material. Ten to fifteen people did get up and leave before it was over.  The acting and singing was okay, but the script was all over the place and just not entertaining. 

97

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2019 Daily Attendance

« on: July 24, 2019, 07:40:18 AM »

Tuesday July 23
Budgeted 10500
Real 14035

Yup, yesterday was busy! I wondered how crowded it might be but we decided to try it for a few hours because we wanted a sarsaparilla! Some things were surprising - the swashbuckling play at the Opera House was only about half full until a minute before it started.  It became "mostly filled". Mass exit near 5:00, so maybe not as crowded later on for moonlight madness.

98

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Fat Guy Needs Some Advice Please on SDC from peeps that know the place well

« on: July 24, 2019, 07:33:12 AM »

You will be able to get into most of the shops, but in my opinion (I had to rent a scooter once), it was so tight getting thru the door that I wished I hadn't.  If you aren't interested in rides, look at all the city has to offer and go the shows.  They are very good! Depending on crowds, ride time could be limited. Enjoy your day!

99

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2019 Daily Attendance

« on: June 29, 2019, 11:24:43 AM »

That makes sense.  Yesterday was the first very hot day in the area.  Today will be the same.  I was surprised there weren't more boats on the lake yesterday.  We'll see what today looks like.

100

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2019 Daily Attendance

« on: June 24, 2019, 10:09:37 PM »

Rainy weather = poor numbers..

only about 1500 today....

Yup!  I got 4 1/2" in my rain gauge yesterday. It rained buckets!

101

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2019 Trip Reports

« on: June 14, 2019, 09:44:32 PM »

We were back at the city this morning.  We were there at opening and headed for TT first since we did not ride it yesterday.  It was about a 20 minute wait by that point.  We then headed toward the train but was not going to wait in that line.  Then we went to PK and it was walk on, rode the front row.  Walked on to WF, then headed to FITH and walked on twice.  Walked right on to TGS.  After that stopped by the RB and let the kid shoot water at passing boats for a while.  We heard the train coming so headed up there.  Station was full and we were toward the back, but when the gates opened we got right on the front row of car 3.  The show only had 1 robber and was a little different but had most of the same jokes as always.  I did not really see anything different.  After the train we left right around noon.  Headed into town and was going to eat at Billy Bobs because the kid wanted to, but the place was full and there were about 25 people standing around waiting to get seated.  I really do not see the big attraction with that place.  It seems overpriced, cash only, no free refills on drinks etc.

Sounds like a good visit overall....
 
I also dont get the Billy Bob's attraction..?  I know people swear by the place, best burgers in town, and obviously they have a great following, i just go else where.

The one big thing I do for food in Branson, is I ALWAYS eat a locally owned businesses.   I am a firm believer in support the local/mom and pop places if at all possible.  Usually better food, good portions and less money..

I don't get it either, Sand.  I tried twice - first time took an hr. to get coffee, and the second time coffee arrived at the same time as the pancakes after about an hr. wait, and no refills.  Both times, my pancakes were like pudding in the middle.  I could only eat the edges and after complaining, we never saw another waitress at our table. Done!

102

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2019 Trip Reports

« on: May 18, 2019, 10:03:19 AM »

Oh yeah I dunno if this adds to the rumor and speculation that FITH is going away (or at least in its current form) but on my way out yesterday I noticed in the hospitality house a whole display dedicated to FITH merchandise placed on clearance. Considering what has been discussed on here, it does seem a bit alarming.

I purchased two shot glasses nonetheless.

I looked for this yesterday, but didn't see it.  However, there was a clearance rack in the Marketplace that had the shot glasses for 88 cents.  Score!

103

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2019 Trip Reports

« on: May 16, 2019, 12:50:04 PM »

I dont think you will see the "hillbilly" look come back to Echo Hollow, 
If they are indeed trying to get in some big names. 
It will need to be more modern look, or in this case...... A very neutral look,
Just needs to be updated in size and "mechanics"..  as it is now.

I cant make an honest excuse for it.  Hillbilly was not the only way they could have gone with a theme.  I believe this was a big mistake.

Yeah, I agree. A few others sitting nearby, including a couple of kids, were commenting that they thought maybe it wasn't finished and are hoping they would bring back the theming.

104

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2019 Trip Reports

« on: May 15, 2019, 04:13:52 PM »

I asked one of the workers that I often talk with what was going on with Echo Hollow.  The story is that Sherry Herschend was in the green room last season and was appalled at the condition and size of it.  She wanted it brought up to speed so they can attract big name bands.  Thus, the new Echol Hollow!  Will it remain as is, very plain and unassuming?  I was told that yes, it would remain as is.  New equipment and staging was purchased to improve sound and performance.  I hoped they would bring back the old look, but it appears that it's not going to happen.

105

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Kids get in free during May...

« on: May 03, 2019, 08:38:40 PM »

Why are they blacked out for tomorrow?