Friday the 30th we also checked in to the Homestay and had a good nights sleep to rest up for the next day.
We had decided to attend Coaster Christmas as a group of 6 and were only able to attend on Saturday but what a great time and a great deal!
We arrived at the park at 9:30 and were checked in at a table out front of the big wreath.
They gave us lanyards and coupons for entrance both days into the park and also a voucher for a meal of your choice ( no limits!)
When the event started they marched all 160 of us down to the river front playhouse for a presentation. Outside the doors under cover was a huge assortment of plate sized cinnamon rolls, apple and cherry turnovers, huge cupcakes and coffee. Please keep in mind that everything was complementary for attending guests. I figure at this point we are up to 5.50 per person for drink and huge pastry.
We filed in the auditorium and were greeted by Brad Thomas of SDC with Martha Bonner and also Lisa Rau. They were with us all day answering questions and serving us with excitement and a humbleness not to be matched. There was the presentation of Outlaw Run with the entire POV shown for the first time, both Brad and the Rocky Mountain Coaster President spoke. Then I believe it was the Schlitterbahn folks talking all about the KC park and there upcoming event for next year. Six Flags sent a representative that talked about improvements and adding a new coaster, I believe it is the boomerang we are all familiar with if we have been to many other parks. Then Worlds of Fun talked about the new Dinosaur exhibit and their improvements to the water park. Then raffle prizes were given away. I myself caught a brown Outlaw Run Shirt ( 19.00) I figure at this point I have broken even with my $25 admission.
We were told to go ride the rides ERT time for 1 hour until meeting at the exit of FITH to see the new coaster. On the way out the door each attendee received a bag from SDC and a insulated cup from Schlitterbahn. The SDC bad contained a cpl of Outlaw Run pins, 2 Coaster Christmas T shirts, a 1 lb of candy from Browns and a magnetic Outlaw Run bumper sticker for your car. The Shliterbaun cup contained a necklace to hold your money that was waterproof a brochure for the park and 2 free tickets. I value the tickets and mug at $90 and the SDC bag at 20.00+5.99+5.00+4.50=35.49.
Off we went to ride PK without wait 3 times then FITH. At this time we decided we were not going to make Wildfire in the hour so we waited to get back to see Outlaw Run. Martha and the gang from SDC showed up and took us through a small door and we walked back to the OR station where a buffet of Potato Soup and a tomato soup rolls the 3 color bean skillet and the regular succotash skillet, drinks and Apple Dumplings were served. We ate lounging in the actual station that is decorated with western lights and a safe. This meal would have cost 16.00 minimally.
We were invited to eat all we wanted and told we could roam the grounds of the new coaster and sign our names under the 153. Man that coaster is much tighter than the maps show and the action just does not stop from the top of the hill until you reach the station. I questioned the workers about throughput and they said THEY did not know, but the ride would have 2 cars both seating 24. The ride will last 87 seconds and the load time at a good clip was 30 seconds. They thought they would know around mid season what the real throughput was.
After walking all over the coaster we departed and went to ride some rides before the 2 pm special seating of Dickens. It was a great show as usual. We then walked the park until about 6 and decided to go for the Prime Rib Buffet.
When we went through the line the first of the 6 of us looked back as I was getting a piece of Prime and said “ there are no places to sit”, I said '‘well ask someone what we are supposed to do'’.
The next thing I knew there was a little employee pow-wow and we were brought to a separate dining room with 1 large square table meant for 16. The waitress said we would be served right away. I noticed the room was decorated nicely and had a TV in it, that I found to be way out of theme and that tipped me off. The waitress walked back into the room and took our drink orders with the manager of the restaurant and said “ Will the Herschends be meeting you tonight?” I explained the situation and that we were just at the park as regular guests the manager then said that we need not worry that she had worked there for many years and that if the Herschends did show she would tell them they ran out of tables and seated us in their dining room. We let her know we would be happy to move if a table opened and did not mean for a misunderstanding. They were wonderfully gracious and said we would stay right there and enjoy the quiet away from the loud dining room. That really capped off the day. We tipped very well for the service they provided, I am sure many of them do not get the tips they deserve but these ladies were great. The Prime Rib Buffet was 20.00 tip 20.00 ( our portion)
Add up the day folks, what would you pay for a day spent with the SDC PTB having them serve you and answer any questions you had, interested in what you had to say as a fan, interested in your feedback on their park. Serve your breakfast, a buffet lunch, let you roam the woods around the new ride and sign it with a sharpie. Give you loads of swag and a Prime Rib Dinner in the private dining room where Mary herself probably ate her meals.
It cost me $25
If you add it us it would run about $ 185.00
And that does not include admission to the park itself for 2 days.
Look into the ACE club and its events. I am looking ahead and planning to visit other parks with them, it's a great time with fun folks andcan'tcan’t argue the value in what they put together.
