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[sanddunerider]

Trams.. the only reason they would close it if the "law" required it to be 100% handicap accessable.

[Kentucky Optimist]

Well, this is just a slight bit off topic, but I'd like to extend a bittersweet thank you to everyone who has posted a trip review for this season.  My parents took me to SDC for the first time in approx 1984 and they have gone every single season since then.  We go at least every fall and for the past 10 or 15 years we've been going in the winter as well.  Some years as few as one 3 day trip, other years as many as two week long trips and a few weekend trips as well...but I almost always make it for at least one trip a year.  I've made it with them every year except for one year when I was in college AND this year.  Due to the birth of our first child and other factors I'm out of vacation time and won't be able to make it to SDC for my annual trip.  That's right, out of the last 27 or so years I've been to SDC for 25 of them.  I've been able to remotely experience SDC this year through all of the trip reviews and posted pictures...I feel like I've been there even though I haven't.  If it wasn't for all of you taking time to post trip reviews my life would have been "SDC-free" this year.  My wife has already promised me that we will make it next fall- It will be a great experience to get to take my son for the first time.  Thanks again for everyone who's taken the time to post the details of their trip this year, I've enjoyed the chance to experience SDC, even if it wasn't in person.

[sanddunerider]

we do what we can kentucky, 

glad to help you with your "virtual" SDC visit!

[saloongal]

Trip review for Friday Dec 2 and Sat Dec 3
Friday was just a quick run over to the park with my mom and sister to look around for a bit without the kids and to renew season passes.  It was fairly easy to park as it was after 6:30 and quite a few people were leaving.  Got to the gate and they had 2 turnstiles open resulting in long lines and quite a wait to get in.  Season pass renewal wasn't too bad got through as quickly as could be expected.  Walked through a relatively empty park and saw all the lights, grabbed a cocoa and a wassail and were back out of the park.
Saturday we parked about noon and had no delays getting in and since the park was already open were able to head straight to all our favorite rides.  Powderkeg for the big kids and FM and HDH for the younger ones.  PK had no line and we went through about 3 times before I had to tag in someone else to ride with the kids.  FITH looked good and had very little line.  About that time the rain really settled in. We rode the flooded mine again, TNT a couple times. Went back to HDH to find it closed for weather. Rode the little swings and the carousel.  Went to see Frosty, which was wonderful and all the kids LOVED.  Had a snack, glanced at the radar and decided we needed to call it a day.  Got soaked on the walk out but still glad we left when we did because the rain did not stop until Sunday morning.  Didn't get to see Santa (that line was crazy long).  So we hit the landing and saw the big man at bass pro.  Had dinner at Mr Gs and back to the room.
Another great stay at Homestay Inn and all around positive trip to SDC.
Side note: Season parking passes are no longer available.

[mhguy77]

Walked through a relatively empty park and saw all the lights, grabbed a cocoa and a wassail and were back out of the park.

I do this very thing most of the time. A walk through is a great little break even if time is short. I have seen all the crafters and the shows and ridden all the rides plenty of times so now i enjoy the atmosphere.  Although I still do ride and all its not as dire each trip.  I guess I am getting old because I enjoy wandering and hanging out as much as anything.
Living close, having a seasons pass is really a nice thing.

[sanddunerider]

Was at the city sunday, VERY low attendence because of rain in the morning and very coll weather, but afternoon was nice with no moisture,,
All of the big coasters were apparantly shut down, (i dont ride, but could not hear or see them moving).
Took monster in law to opera ouse 1st thing,,  @nd time for me this yearm that iis really a great productioin and could hold its own agains ANY branson show!
Rode the train, twice! Looked for markers, but did not see any "new" ones.
RB looks bad, they ignored that are this year.
went through GM of course,
Lights all looked nice, I still think they skimped on the trees by the lake over toward the rib house area
GG looked GREAT!
Had a good trip..
Planning on going back Friday the 30th..  LAST DAY!

[Parson B Ready]

Trip Review...December 3-4

Left home Saturday morning at 7:00 am arrived at SDC about 2:00pm (We had to stop and pick up Grandma along the way and we checked in at Homestay Inn first).  First ride was TNT.  It had about a 20 minute wait, they were only running one train.  Went over to Wildfire next. The line was so long, the kids opted not to ride it.  Again...only one train running.  Next, went to Powderkeg, but a light rain had started and Powderkeg was closed.  (I had heard that rain adversely impacts PK's sensors)   Stopped by FITH next, the line was out the doors.  So we skipped that. (My family is extremely spoiled when it comes to ride times.  We have been incredibly fortunate that most the time when we go to SDC ride times are minimal.)   I was perplexed at how many rides only had 1 train running.  By evening time, the park had a pretty good crowd, but it was raining pretty steady. Given the fact that I was pretty tired from driving that morning, and the weather was rainy.  I was ready to go (and so was grandma) but I couldn't pry my wife and kids away from the place (they took naps in the van on the way down.) I later found out that attendance was around 13,500 that day.  Not as much as they had expected, but still a pretty good crowd considering the weather.

Sunday morning. The weathermen were predicting rain and cold temperatures all day. I thought seriously about packing it up and heading home.  But the little voice inside my head told me it was going to be a good day.  We were going to wait a while to see what the weather was going to do.  But the kids were bouncing off the walls in the hotel room, and the weather was dry. So I decided that we would head out early. It turned out to be a really good day.  It was cold, but dry.  And the crowds were lite. We arrived at SDC around noon.  The park wasn't open yet, except for the HH and the square but we puttered around.  (The kids running around SDC was a lot better than them running around the hotel room.)  We went to church at 1:00pm and enjoyed a nice service, and a really good sermon, so much so, that my church will here a modified version of it this Sunday!  As Sanddune said, WF and PK were closed on Sunday, but TNT, FITH and the Flooded Mine were all open.  The family attended various shows..the saloon, Dickens, Pure Heart, and Frosty and we rode the aforementioned rides. We enjoyed multiple cups of hot chocolate with "the works" and several apple dumplins.  My children tricked me into riding TNT with them at night when I couldn't see, in 38 degree weather!  We visited Santa, and Clarence Peabody.  Watched the parade (the parade was canceled on Saturday night due to the weather).

I didn't see many shows or ride many rides. My greatest thrill at SDC these days is just walking around, soaking up the atmosphere, and occasionally watch a craftsman.  Sunday was a perfect day for doing that. We concluded our day at SDC in the traditional manner..a visit to the dulcimer shop in the Ozark Marketplace.  Several years ago  I bought a dulcimer kit there and my dad and I put it together.  My dad passed away almost 5 years ago.  So every time I leave SDC I play a song on the Dulcimer there in memory of him.  All in all it was a good day at SDC.

As always, we had a good visit with Paige at Homestay Inn. My son Caleb has adopted her into the family, and he still wants to work there when he gets bigger.  Thanks Sanddune for setting this up.  We would have never met Paige, without your arrangement.

I bought an engraved mug at the glass-cutting shop.  It has the wilderness church on one side and DAD on the other.  I now have my own cup at home. I'm so proud.  (In a family of seven, "Is this your cup?" is a frequent question throughout the day.  Now everyone knows which one is mine!).  We also made a family portrait at the tintype shop.

A note about the "Frosty the Snowman" show.  They have a different voice for Frosty this year.  In the past, the voice was a recording.  This year it's a live person.  They changed it to create more interaction between the actors and the snowman.  The new voice takes a little getting used to since its a woman's voice.

Misc. information I learned from staff—Wildfire is about 13,000 people away from reaching its goal of 1,000,000 riders this year.  So far SDC is about 50,000 people below their attendance goal this year.

[sanddunerider]

Parson, wish i had known you were in the area,,,,,

did u get and input about the new "woodie" for 2013?

I talked to the guys at the railroad and people greeting at the OH.  and nobody is saying anything,,,

[Parson B Ready]

That's okay Sanddune.  I'm sure we'll meet up again some time.  Paige pointed you out to me Saturday night.  Well, there was a person outside running around in the rain, and she said that was you!  I was with the my kids in the lobby, they were in their PJ's but they wanted to say "hi" to Paige before they went to bed.

I didn't even think to ask anybody about what new attractions are coming up!  It didn't dawn on me till after I got home...."You should have asked about the roller coaster!"

[jmc75]

So I was at the city on the 9th and finally got a chance to ride in one of the new train cars. I had one issue and maybe its just me but it seems as the back of the seat were alittle lower then the original cars. To me this was a little less comfortable.
Also I I took an idea from a past poster and at 8:55 went on the FM and asked if they could turn on the house light and they did. Was very excited that is such a completely different perspective when you get to ride it like it.
Once again why the citizens at SDC are the friendliest people around.
And with out question it was a great day at SDC, granted I do not think it is possible to have a bad day. Since any day I am at the park is a good day.

[sanddunerider]

thats right jmc,  every trip is a good trip!!

BUT only 10 days left to enjoy it this year

AND after that, we have to wait 72 days to go back!!

Going to be  a loooonnnggg  winter.

[MissinTheGreenTrams]

We have 89 days 20 hours 21 minutes till the opening season next year!!!! 

[sanddunerider]

not that anybody is keeping track yet.....    right trams!?

[MissinTheGreenTrams]

no.....I cant imagine ANYONE here keeping track or making a countdown timer for that matter. Thats preposterous! 

[jmc75]

I know shave is already a very busy person but it would be kinda cool to have a timer on the web site for some of us anxious people.