SDC's 2012 Project

Zephon · March 11, 2011, 06:51:22 PM

Quote from: mhguy77 on March 10, 2011, 07:51:38 PM
I gave them my money this year hopping something new would occur, alas.....nothing.
I realize that it takes a lot of money to put in a new ride or major improvement but I am losing my willingness to hold a seasons pass waiting and contributing to a improvement that is not occurring.
I am interested in a family attraction, something that we can all enjoy.
They have lost me on the shows as well, they have ridden the same shows long enough.

2012 will have to have some real promise to have me bring $150 out of my wallet for passes. I have contributed $500 solely in passes during the past 3 years and am still without something new.
Basically that news pisses me off a little.

I'm truly sorry that you can't find anything at the park to enjoy anymore. Fact is, there is something new this year...something that will appeal to families. It's called Half Dollar Holler, just in case you haven't heard about it yet. There will also be some new food offerings. Concerning shows, counting all the Festivals, shows rotate in and out on an almost weekly and in some cases daily basis. Sure, there are the standards like Horse Creek, Pure Heart, Sons of the Silver Dollar, Cajun Connection, Echo Hollow (and that gets revamped to some degree every year), Dickens Christmas Carol, and The Nativity that are back from year to year. But they're there why? Because people demand it! What do you think those surveys that they take on park everyday are all about? BTW, according to those surveys, RB is quite well received.

Soapbox rant---
I love this forum, but, being a long term citizen of SDC, sometimes I really have to bite my tongue when reading some of the opinions expressed here. And I do realize that that's what they are...just feelings and wishes...and all of them worthwhile and valid to some degree or another. But I swear, sometimes I get the feeling that some of the members here regard SDC as their own personal and private playground. It would be good for those people to remember that SDC caters to a wide variety of people, of all ages and backgrounds, all with their own needs and wishes. It's just not physically possible to please all of the people all of the time. I, for one, think SDC does a pretty darn good job at keeping most of 'em happy though.
Off the soapbox now.

Swoosh · March 11, 2011, 08:35:48 PM

The main problem is that a lot... sorry... A LOT of people got spoiled with SDC additions.
If you look back a few years you have the following *BAM* *BAM* *BAM*

-PowderKeg Area
-Grand Exposition Area
-Wilson's Farm Area.

3 huge new areas with lots of attractions and other stuff.
The issue, and I addressed this with Genesis at the media event for Wilson's Farm, is that people are going to start expecting each year that a whole new land would be unveiled. Sure enough here we are 3 years later and we have sour grapes because the park is not expanding enough to their liking. Fact of the matter folks, we are back on "typical SDC expansion mode" -- there were YEARS before the major expansion boom mentioned above where nothing was added except upgrades to festivals.

I will say this, the park plans 5 years out minimum. This is standard practice in the amusement industry - so the neext big thing has been planned. With that being said, there are a bunch of perfectly fine rides at CC that need a home and it would be silly not to include them into SDC or another property. SO do not be surprised if that happens here in the near future - it may not be popular among you "SDCana" (to ripoff the Disneyana label) people but it makes sense on a business standpoint.

About done - my point is you can either gripe and complain about the park and not renew your season pass, but the park is not really going to care one way or the other as you are just ONE individual and if you think someone else won't step up and fill your void, you need to recheck your self worth. Just saying.

/soapbox

Zephon · March 11, 2011, 09:55:25 PM

Right you are, Swoosh. I might just say that the park does care what everyone thinks...there have been instances where a single letter got something changed. But on average, the park cannot feasibly accommodate everyone's wishes.

Swoosh · March 11, 2011, 10:43:16 PM

They care to a point... but if all the person is doing is complaing that the park isn't adding what they THINK should be added, they are going to turn a deaf ear to it. It quite easy to play armchair Imagineer - the Disneyana people do it all the time, but there is a lot more to it then opening the Sears-Roebuck book of thrill/family rides and picking one out.

mhguy77 · March 12, 2011, 09:10:52 AM

Swoosh do you pay admittance when you go to SDC or are you admitted as a member of Media?

Swoosh · March 12, 2011, 09:28:23 AM

I have had a season pass for 12 years now.

sanddunerider · March 12, 2011, 09:57:52 AM

Added thrill ride or not. I will be going, without too much concern as long as i see improvements..

HDH is a noticebale improvement obviously..

But I am sure the park could spend BIG money on small repair/maintenence that the everday SDC goer would not even notice.And if that is what they decide to do, Good for them!

Some money reinvested into current rides/ some money back into the shows. That would all be good.

StaceySue · March 12, 2011, 10:29:25 AM

I loved the park as a kid before many attractions that we have now were added. Do I love when something new is added? Of course. But my family will continue to visit the park even if they don't add new things for awhile. It's a getaway place. When we need a little break from life, we head to Branson. We usually take a bigger vacation each summer so we can see what's out there in this great country of ours, but Branson is near enough that we can also get away to somewhere familiar that feels like home.

SDC season passes are a great value for this purpose. If you live near enough to take little getaways throughout the year, you can come to Branson and a big chunk of the entertainment expense is paid for. We pay for very little beyond SDC entertainment-wise. There is something for everyone, and the festivals change enough to keep us busy. I'm always looking forward to what SDC has in store, but I love my old familiar SDC, too.

mhguy77 · March 12, 2011, 11:00:08 AM

QuoteWhen we need a little break from life, we head to Branson. We usually take a bigger vacation each summer so we can see what's out there in this great country of ours, but Branson is near enough that we can also get away to somewhere familiar that feels like home.

This is my situation as well. I take half days to SDC. I have seen the shows and ridden the rides and just wish they would shake it up a little.

History Buff · March 12, 2011, 12:06:11 PM

I think we have all mentioned before (somewhere in this maze of threads) that a year off for maintenance and upgrades would be a welcome investment. I'm perfectly OK with that. Get this up to date all at once - FitH, AP, FM, etc. Make some technological upgrades to all of these and improve the special effects. How about adding the splash to PK and sticking some Fountain of Youth surprises in the final LR room? And that's just the rides...

...I'm sure there could be some improvements made to shops, as well as to the kitchens and dining rooms. Bring back roaming characters, and stick a full-blown comedy show back into the Riverfront Playhouse (After all, it is a playhouse, not a concert hall.).

An investment like this could be a part of a super advertisement campaign: "How long has it been since you've been to Silver Dollar City? After 50 years, the Ozark playground is looking better than ever. Now it's shinier, cleaner, smoother, better...and funner than ever! Yeah, that's right, we said 'funner', and we know some people who say that's not a real word, but guess what: it is now!" [pumping music montage] "Silver Dollar City! 2011! Funner than ever before!"

MandyTG · March 12, 2011, 12:31:15 PM

I agree, History Buff. A little spiffing-up would go a long way!

And if I were adding things to the list, I would have to say the bathrooms right after the ticket windows, before the turnstiles really need some help! Yikes!

sanddunerider · March 12, 2011, 12:50:24 PM

Yes, sounds like we are all in agreement. hopefully somebody is listening..

Zephon · March 12, 2011, 08:28:15 PM

There are those kinds of improvements that do happen every year. A new roof here, a new floor there, shoring up the foundation of a building here or there, new counters for a food shop, etc., etc. Improvements this winter, just off the top of my head include but are not limited to- New deck for Fried Fancies eating area, new roof for Heartland Furniture, new roof for the Blacksmith shop, the new food place in front of Lumbercamp (a place that sells those spiral potatoes on a stick from what I hear), and new street surfacing in several areas. And besides construction maintenance, they do electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and mechanical upgrades and maintenance every year. Enough to keep the Maintenance & Construction division working 7 days a week, 10 hours a day for most of the off-season. Thank God, I don't work that hard. The improvements that you all can see, whether it be refurbished scenes in FITH, new service counters, or whatever...those are just the tip of the iceberg.

History Buff · March 12, 2011, 08:41:05 PM

...not to mention new felt on the pool table.

But I'm talking about a complete sweep - really getting in there and covering the PVC, filling in the cracks, shining the light fixtures - making a real effort to earn the cleanest park award - more than routine maintenance. Make it so that more than just the diehard fans will notice.

Maybe even putting some serious money into employee training to go for the friendliest park award, too.

And making it a point to advertise it as such.

sanddunerider · March 12, 2011, 09:45:09 PM

Zephon you're right of course, and we all realize there is the daily/monthly/yearly maintenance that is involved with a park this size.

I am simply saying/suggesting more in depth projects..As history suggested more in depth work.

Making the little doodads that used to work in different attractions work again. and so on. No real complaint list.. just thinking out loud.