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[DollarCityBoy]

Ya know what Junior, I think you are right about the pea gravel, I seem to remember that as well.

[husker92]

I wanted to give a recap of our trip to SDC on 06/09-06/10.  We had an incredible time and I wanted to share.

We stayed at the Deer Run Motel, mainly because it is close to SDC and offers a free shuttle (I hate traffic).  The hotel was fine.  It was dated, but clean and the people were sooooooooooo nice.  The owners made my girls promise to stop by the office each night after the  park to tell them all about it.  They really made them feel special.

We arrived at the park at 8:40 on Thursday.  We just wandered around the open shops and waited for the opening ceremony.  It was very nice.  Anytime you can honor veterans, it is a good thing.  Once the park opened, I took my 8yo daughter to flooded mine (she has never been on a roller coaster, so she was not ready yet).  My wife and 10yo daughter went off to ride Wildfire and PowderKeg.  I usually go on the coasters with her, but these looked out of my league.  She was sure she wanted to ride them.  She took one look at all the loops on WF and backed out.  They did go on PK though, but it scared her to death.  She would not ride any coasters the rest of the day.  But, we still had a great day.  We did the cave and saloon.  I think they rode the swings and galeon about 20 times.  I loved seeing them sprint to re-ride rides.  Makes you feel like a kid again.  We eventually found our way to Thunderation.  The 10yo would not even think about it.  The 8yo wanted to try it.  She loved it.  So did I.  I think we road it 10 times.  There were no lines at anything we rode (we did not do water rides this day).  We closed the park and stayed for the show.  We all loved it.  Got back to the hotel about 9:30.  Shower-BED!!!!!!

We arrived at the park at 8:40 again on Friday.  We wore swimsuits this day to take advantage of the water rides.  We started off with Thunderation, which the 10yo decided to try.  She liked it so we rode it again.  She still liked it, but she didn't ride it again.  She was still pretty freaked out by PK.  Anyway, we did the Lost River, Riverblast and plunge.  My 8yo and I could have stayed at Riverblast all day shooting people (that did not sound right).  The family didn't seem interested in the gulch or in re-riding any water rides, so we dried off and put our sneakers back on and hit the dry rides again.  We spent a lot of time in the expo area riding the swings and galeon again.  THE ONLY BAD EXPERIENCE WE HAD was on Friday afternoon.  The had the trapeze artist in the helicopter.  We were not very intersted so we decided to use that hour to ride our favorites before we left - only they closed Thunderation because of the helicopters.  WHAT??  I did not take the family to SDC to see a freak show, I came to ride rides.  Very disappointed.  They finally re-opened it, but it was almost time to leave (5:00 shuttle).  So we decided to stay until closing again and were able to get in all the rides we needed. 

So, we spent 13 hours at the park on Thursday and 11 hours at the park on Friday.  We had a great time.  As I said, it was not real busy.  I think people must have been waiting for Kids fest. 

Thanks to all to offered tips.  The "free ice water" tip was a lifesaver!!!!!

[Ozark Outlaw]

Thanks for the awesome review husker92!

It sounds like you, and your family had a great trip, and the kiddos got to experience lots of things that they have not tried before. It's good to know that the motel was truly appreciative of having your family stay as guest, and the shuttle service is very convenient.

I remember as a kid there were rides at different theme parks that I would not ride because they looked too scary. Heck, even today there are rides at different theme parks that I will not ride because they look too scary. Did your kids get a chance to try the small rollercoaster in the Grand Exposition? It is definitely less intimating than those big boy rollercoasters, especially Wildfire. Thunderation is a good starter, or family rollercoaster too, and I am glad your kids warmed up to it.

I can imagine being disappointed that Thunderation was closed during the helicopter acrobat show at the Echo Amphitheater. However, with both attractions being right next to each other, and with having two low hovering helicopters, with one having an unrestrained acrobat hanging from it, I am sure management had no choice but to close it. I totally agree that is was a bit out of theme, but that has because the accepted norm for Kids Fest.

Sounds like overall, it was a fantastic visit. Thanks for sharing!

[pintrader]

It was great you had such a good time husker92!  I noticed in your review no Fire In The Hole!  If you loved Thunderation I would just about guarantee you would have also liked FITH.  Thanks for sharing!  And I guess this means you will be back in the future  .

[sanddunerider]

husker,  glad you had a good trip.!  thats was a great review~

[husker92]

Oh yes, we did Fire in the Hole.  I was unaware that it ended in a bath  .  Someone mentioned the "surprise" on this site, but I never questioned what it was.  The girls really liked that one too.  My wife and I don't really like to get wet, but we enjoyed the dark surprise!

They liked the expo coaster too, but there was a line on that one from time to time, so they only rode it about 6 or 7 times  .  Besides not riding WF and The Giant Swing and not enjoying PK, I think we rode every other ride and liked them all.  There was supposed to be some dinosaurs in a barn somewhere, but be forgot about it and never made it to them. 

Since we live in KC and the drive is not bad at all, I think we will be venturing to SDC more often!!!!

[Ozark Outlaw]

That's the cool thing about Silver Dollar City. Just when you think you have seen it all, there is always more to see!

[sanddunerider]

i think the dinosaurs were/are on the frisco barn..  you would have walked right past them going to the GE>!.. So you got "close"!!!!!

[Ozark Outlaw]

Oh the irony!

Most people around here complain that there are too many "modern," and out of theme elements at Silver Dollar City. Now it looks like the 1880's are too modern for the dinosaur area.

[joshblakebran]

i think the dinosaurs were/are on the frisco barn..  you would have walked right past them going to the GE>!.. So you got "close"!!!!!

The mechanical dinosaur is in the Frisco Barn, however, the barn didn't open until the 11th which would have been 1 day after you left. Anyway, the dinosaur is very life like and neat to see.

[sanddunerider]

very cool.  anxious to see it on sunday..

[jmc75]

Went to the park on Monday.
Was a little surprised that it was as crowded that it was, talking to one of the parking attendants that were surprised also.
Got to the park around 10am which was kinda later then planned but with a three year old and a 4 week old just seems harder to move on a timely schedule.
Had breakfast at the mill and as always very good was happy that they changed the pancakes back to silver dollar size. Last time I was there they were making them bigger I know this is not a big deal but something I have always been use to saying that and I did make a comment about it last time and the lady did say that she would pass it along.
After breakfast my son wanted to go on Fire in the Hole which makes me very proud. The line was just to the door of the building. Line went quick the only real holdup was when you had a couple of groups of more then 2 so that they could stay with their group, but it still went fast. Thought everthing looked fine during the ride and everything seem to be working from what I could tell.
After that went down and my son want to make a bear at the Bear Hollow, the citizens in there were great with him and made it a great experience for him I know he has been talking about the bear for two days now.
We then headed for the train and just missed it so headed over to the flooded mine got right on it another favorite for my son. Still  disappointed that the scene with the saw blade does not say anything wish they would get that going again with the sound effects.
After that went on the train all good there though at the hold up they skipped the part of their mom on the train kinda though that was odd since the park was not that busy.Also have one question and maybe I am getting old but are there normally just three passenger cars for the train for some reason I kept thinking that there were 4 normally but it could be me.
After the did flooded mine a couple of times since my son really likes shooting the bad guys. Also the 4Th go around I actually noticed something the first time and maybe this has always been there but it has been awhile that I had been on that ride continuously like that. At the scene toward the end before you get to the room with the prisoner climbing up the rope up towards the left at the door there is a prisoner in the corner that pops up towards the ceiling. Have never noticed that before.
After that headed over toward GG and spent about an hour over there for my son to run around. Seemed all was working and in decent shape. My only gripe is parents with older kids that just let them run loose with no concern for the little ones. Had one issue my son was playing with one of the vacuum hoses and a older kid came over and tried to take it away. Maybe I am just being over protective put if you have a older kid just make sure they are not running over the smaller ones.
After convincing the little one that we had to eat went to Aunt Polly's and was very good. Though I cannot say that I have ever had a bad food experience there.
After lunch walked around a little bit and tried to convince my son to go on AP or Lost river but he had no desire to get wet, 3yr old are so funny sometimes.
We then went on Flooded mine one more time and then finally convinced him it was time to go.
On the way out bought some lye soap to have on hand which I think is always go to have a bar or two laying around.
On the way out my son told my that he worked hard today and that we need to come back tomorrow and then passed out before we got out of the parking lot and keep in mind we only have to travel about 5 minutes to get back to our condo.
My only other thought is Half Dollar Holler when we walk by had a couple of kids there and granted the park was not overly crowded but not sure it is getting the draw they hoped. I do not think there is enough to do to keep a child interested enough to stay there very long. Nathan my son was there in April did the carousel, the swing went through the netting and then was done and wanted to do something else. Just not enough to keep ones attention, I know they were limited with space but not enough to keep one busy since you have one entrance and one exit.
OK now that I am done with my book. Overall another great day at the park and will be back probably on Wensday or Thursday.

[sanddunerider]

sounds like a good day,  and yes there are normally 4 passenger cars on the train..

[Parson B Ready]

I wonder if they adjust the number of train cars based on crowd expectations. When we rode the train in April there were only 3 cars, but at Christmastime I believe they have 5.

[jmc75]

One thing I forgot and not sure if anyone else had mentioned it when we were leaving saw that they had put up the SDC population sign on the way out