2011 Trip Reviews

Ozark Outlaw · May 14, 2011, 10:49:27 AM

Thanks for the pictures Pintrader! Disembarking the train by ladder in the middle of the route is definitely a unique experience. It's nice to see how many Silver Dollar City Citizens sprung in to action to assist! Just from a quick glance, it looks like they have maintenance workers, medical technicians, security personnel, transportation drivers, management employees, and of course the character actors who stuck around to keep the spirits high.

Those train engines are true workhorses considering their age, and experience. It is a wonder this happens so infrequently! This is just another great example of Silver Dollar City coming through in the face of adversity.

pintrader · May 15, 2011, 02:05:21 PM

You're absolutely right Ozark BBQ! SDC is first rate and first class, like we didn't already know that

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pintrader · May 15, 2011, 02:54:08 PM

I got my first taste of modern music at the park Friday. I was all hyped up about the Bluegrass & Barbecue Festival because it's probably my favorite. Well as soon as we walked onto the square which was about 20 minutes before opening ceremonies, I saw young children dancing. They were dancing to a medley of Elvis then after that it was a medley of the Beatles, then Black Eyed Peas, Pink, Beyonce and a few other artists that I can't Remember. I love a lot of this music but I really was in the mood for Bluegrass. I was very surprised the first thing SDC wanted their visitors to hear for their festival would be that type of music. I guess so much for first impressions

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Junior · May 15, 2011, 04:26:12 PM

WHAT! Don't understand why the guests would hear this type of music at this time. Moonlight Madness, uh, yeah...I'd expect it. Not during bluegrass time.

sanddunerider · May 15, 2011, 07:50:44 PM

Really? I ddint notice that this morning (music), BUT will listen closely tomorrow, Now i did eat at mollys about 10:30 and they were playing johnny cash music that had been redone by somebody else? poor copiers!! but it was JC's music!

On another note the carosoul had music playing today, was glad to hear that.

Park looked pretty good today, slow crowd today because of the cooler weather i would guess, rode the train, FITH, TNT, no lines, we left by 12:30 or so. going back in tomorrow, hoping to see rhonda vincent..

no SDC pics today, maybe tomorrow.

I know mhguy was there today, so i am sure he will have a report also.

pintrader · May 15, 2011, 08:31:06 PM

The kids dance group could have been a one or two day thing, not sure how they set up a little entertainment skit that is not part of the regular entertainment. Just seemed odd on a Friday of the second day of BG&B you would enter the park listening to modern music.

Ozark Outlaw · May 15, 2011, 08:53:31 PM

I hope your experience with the out of the theme music was an isolated incident! One of the things that makes Silver Dollar City so great is its unique atmosphere. Why Silver Dollar City feels it must change what works just to stay "cool," and "hip" is beyond my understanding.

sanddunerider · May 15, 2011, 09:25:28 PM

i agree with pintrader, has to be an isolated thing. I will pay attention in the morning

DollarCityBoy · May 16, 2011, 11:12:44 AM

Quote from: sanddunerider on May 15, 2011, 07:50:44 PM
On another note the carosoul had music playing today, was glad to hear that.

YES!!!!
Don't know why that has been so important to me, but I am so excited that it has the music up and playing again! Do you know/remember if it is the same music that use to play?

sanddunerider · May 16, 2011, 06:57:24 PM

I would have no idea if it was new or original music..

I did NOT hear any modern music when passing through HH or in the courtyard this mornging. I was there 1st thing.

DollarCityBoy · May 17, 2011, 09:59:29 AM

Quote from: sanddunerider on May 16, 2011, 06:57:24 PM
I did NOT hear any modern music when passing through HH or in the courtyard this mornging. I was there 1st thing.

GOOD!

Ozark Outlaw · May 17, 2011, 11:05:08 AM

Quote from: sanddunerider on May 16, 2011, 06:57:24 PMI did NOT hear any modern music when passing through HH or in the courtyard this mornging. I was there 1st thing.

That's the best trip report I have read so far! Okay, I might be overly excited, but keeping bluegrass, or at least traditional music throughout the park is very important to me.

sanddunerider · May 17, 2011, 11:28:15 AM

Agreed. It all seemed in theme this weekend..

mhguy77 · May 18, 2011, 08:04:03 AM

Well here is my short trip report.
Headed out of Mountain Home on Saturday around noon made it to old town at 1:30. We made a few stops at some usual stores, walked the old antique stores downtown and Dicks 5 & 10.
Pulled up to the Eagles Lodge in the afternoon as I walked in and there was a couple standing in the lobby talking, the man turned to me and introduced himself as Sandunerider, a very nice guy and I found out we travel Branson much the same way. The seasons pass allows you to go for partial days without hurry. I am sure we will bump into each other again, I think he may be as hard core SDC as I am. After we discussed plans for the trip I drove to Springfield for dinner at a place called TOUCH http://www.touch-restaurant.com/ I highly recommend this restaurant, the food is great it is not much higher than eating at the Olive Garden but you sure feel like you have had a special night when you leave.
We drove back to the room and got a good nights rest for SDC on Sunday. In the morning the sun was shining but it was cool outside, but I am a trouper so off we went to the park. Parking was easy and it really was a sparsely crowded day. Powder Keg was down but everything else was running. We rode some rides, went to check out the huge apple pie they were selling at the BBQ section, we didn't get any ( I regret this). The ride lines were short and we got in most before 2 when we went back into Branson. The flowers in the city are nice and really help to spruce things up. Crowds were great, music was nice although I think they should space the groups and stages out and have them playing more often. I did not here any music from the gazebo in the square during this trip.
Bluegrass is a favorite of mine and I think I may travel up again this weekend to listen a little more!

Baldknobber · May 20, 2011, 04:53:45 PM

I had gotten to the park around 8am on Friday the 13th. There was a dance squad that had unloaded off of a bus and went straight thru the season pass entrance prior to the park opening to get ready for their "routine". At 8:30 when they dropped the chain out front to enter the park, the squad was set up behind the gazebo. From there, they were playing the various tunes as stated above by pintrader and dancing?? to the music in what seemed to have been "choreographed". The kids were of preteen to teenagers ( I think). I did not care for it at all. It was loud enough that I could hear it while in the apple butter store. I would imagine it went on for about 15 minutes or so.

During the time our veterans were called up to help with the carrying of the flag, the kids all seemed to try to gather around and in the line of the walk they take to the flagpole. The character actors had a tough time trying to get them all to move out of the way. Our veterans finally made the walk while everyone clapped, flag was raised, the Pledge of Allegiance was spoken, park opened, chains were dropped, and SDC became an 1880's town once again.