SDC open on Thanksgiving evening. whats your thought?

sanddunerider · November 23, 2010, 06:08:44 PM

I am seeing a lot of rebuttle on "momsblog" about this topic. So i thought i would bring it over here.

I see nothing wrong with the city being open in the evening for festivities, and a chance to get away from the house,

What a great way to spend some extra time and burn some of those extra calories

What do you think?

History Buff · November 23, 2010, 06:19:17 PM

Hey, it's their business. Let 'em open it whenever they want. Do we blast WalMart for being open? The gas station? Other companies? Thanksgiving is usually over after the noontime meal for most people. Maybe SDC is performing a service by spreading the holiday into the evening. As mentioned on Facebook,

Quotemake a visit to the park on Thanksgiving evening a new family tradition!

Any who are concerned about the workers should remember that they are getting one more day of pay in a business that you have to find a second job during the winter months. Plus, the park will only open at 4pm, so the employees are virtually finished with the traditional T-giving celebrating.

Is it greed or survival or just plain business sense? I'll let them decide that for themselves.

sanddunerider · November 23, 2010, 06:39:51 PM

AGREED!!! history my thoughts exactly! """"""" Hey, it's their business. Let 'em open it whenever they want. Do we blast WalMart for being open? The gas station? Other companies? Thanksgiving is usually over after the noontime meal for most people. Maybe SDC is performing a service by spreading the holiday into the evening """"""""

Parson B Ready · November 23, 2010, 07:41:52 PM

It would be interesting to hear the perspective of some of the people who work there on this subject. Do you get paid extra to work Thanksgiving? Is it an optional day to work? Just curious.

sanddunerider · November 23, 2010, 08:01:26 PM

parson, i was hoping to get some input from employeees about that.

did they get elected to work or did they take volunteers?/

My wife place of employment (restauraunt)ask for volunteers first for having to work on turkey afternoon or x-mas eve. then if roster does not fill they go by seniority..

rubedugans · November 23, 2010, 09:24:15 PM

Burger King is open on Thanksgiving here in StL!

I would think for the employee "family" it would be a great time to get together and be thankful for the co workers/ company, but it does take away a bit from their own families. I worked the 3am shift one year at Target, and went into work about 5 hrs after my glutonous thanksgiving feast ended, and that was too soon to be out.

WOuld I choose to go on Thanksgiving...no, but that is not to say that others will not, I think it is their call!

okiebluegrass · November 24, 2010, 08:31:47 AM

Where I work they asked for volunteers and when they didn't get enough, they made everyone their regular shift. I need a new job!

betamike · November 24, 2010, 05:02:23 PM

It could be that they have a plan for holiday pay incentive.

I see nothing wrong with being open for Thanksgiving. If you are in the theme park industry, it comes with the territory. I mean, it's great to observe balance for the folks that work in the City, but why is SDC so successful? Because of tourism!

At Disney, we used to have a slogan that said "We work while others play" and I think it stands to reason that if you are going to operate a successful business in this economic climate, you need to operate smart.

sanddunerider · November 24, 2010, 05:08:29 PM

beta, you are right with that statement.. in fact lots of industries work for the holiday,and on the holiday, and play other days!

Zephon · November 24, 2010, 10:03:04 PM

As it happens, I am usually taking some of my vacation time over the Thanksgiving holiday. But I can tell you that for most employees, it pretty much just another work day. No special pay or anything like that. With the park being closed on Monday and Tuesday of said week, it pretty much works out to a 40 hour work week for most people. I'm sure that some do request to have the day off, especially if they are traveling a long way for their celebrations.

MissinTheGreenTrams · November 26, 2010, 11:56:57 AM

To me, Thanksgiving isnt a real holiday. Yes, you are thankful and what not but its not something truly meaningful like Christmas. Not only do I agree with SDC being open I applaud them. You get to walk off the turkey pounds. The Pumpkin blubbers. It is healthy to get out of the house and walk! To not be glutonous (sp?) and sit around fat buttin it.

DollarCityBoy · November 26, 2010, 04:00:17 PM

I think it is a good idea that the park is open on Thanksgiving EVENING. The fact that they are closed till 4:00, I would hope that would give the "citizern" time to spend with family and loved ones. I would, however, hate to see it open all day on Thanksgiving.
My family has spent about 3 Thanksgivings at the Park. Since our family is smaller, we would have our Thanksgiving meal at Molly's Mill Restaurant or Reunion Hall. After our meal, we would gather around the Tree and watch "carol of the Bells" together (our favorite). Those are wonderful memories we all cherish.
The staff at the Restaurants were always very very pleasant (as typical), and we would visit with them about how they spent the morning and afternoon with their families; everyone seemed to be ok with the fact.
We spent Thanksgiving this year at home (in Arkansas), but we are heading up tomorrow morning to spend the weekend!

sanddunerider · November 26, 2010, 04:23:32 PM

have a safe trip. we will be there sunday also.

Copper · November 27, 2010, 12:55:16 AM

Thanksgiving IS a holiday; people get time off of work that week unlike most other weeks of the year. Also it is one of the few times of the year large quantities of family members can get together. The rumor around SDC is that they promised their citizens when creating an Old Time Christmas that they would never be open on Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas. If this is true, they have broken a promise. I for one don't mind being open for Thanksgiving it gives you hours which means more money on the pay check, also if you are full time it gives you holiday pay, which is always a plus. SDC is a theme park and is part of the hospitality and tourism industry, so I feel we are some what obligated to welcome our guests. I do understand why people can see it as a negative, but I enjoy the busyness of the Thanksgiving week and don't mind that we are open. I'm a little sad that this one turned out to be a frosty one. I wish congress would have gone along with Roosevelt back in the day when he tried to make Thanksgiving a week earlier.

joshblakebran · November 28, 2010, 03:51:18 PM

Just returned from SDC...over 10 hrs in the car...Anyway, I'm very thankful that SDC was open on Thanksgiving...Our kids decided they wanted to go to SDC for Christmas and Thanksgiving Break was a perfect time for us to go...Although it was a bit chilly on Thanksgiving, we deeply enjoyed SDC and got to see many of the shows that we were hoping to see since it wasn't too busy...We ate at The Mollie Mill Restaurant for our Thanksgiving dinner and it was delicious...Thanks for the memories SDC...